Committee approves bill letting Game and Fish cap landowner hunting licenses; bill moves forward 8-4

A joint Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee voted to advance 26LSO0176 after amending the bill to clarify that any limit on landowner hunting licenses must be applied when deemed necessary to "maintain a public hunting opportunity." The measure, which passed the committee by an 8‑4 roll call, would amend Wyoming statute 23‑1‑302(h) to permit the Game and Fish Commission to limit the number of landowner hunting licenses issued in a limited‑quota hunt area.

The bill drew testimony from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. "This bill draft is entitled 26 LSO 1 76 landowner hunting licenses limitation," LSO staff told the committee, and Director Angie Bruce said the commission developed the idea after an 18‑month wildlife task force review and numerous commission meetings. Bruce said the proposal is intended as a narrowly applied management tool. "They would…