HB0286

Establishes an annual mountain lion hunting season without area-based quotas, bag limits, or time-of-day restrictions, and allows mountain lions to be taken with traps and snares.

• Creates a continuous annual mountain lion hunting season running from September 1 through August 31 each year. (W.S. 23-2-110(b))
• Prohibits the Game and Fish Commission from establishing hunt areas, hunt area mortality limits, statewide mortality limits, or bag limits for mountain lions. (W.S. 23-2-110(c)(i)-(ii))
• Allows mountain lions to be taken during any hour of the day, eliminating time-of-day restrictions. (W.S. 23-2-110(c)(iii))
• Permits persons holding valid antelope, deer, or elk licenses to take mountain lions without a separate mountain lion license. (W.S. 23-2-110(d))
• Requires the Game and Fish Commission to establish possession tags for mountain lions before skulls and pelts may be sold, gifted, or mounted. (W.S. 23-1-302(a)(xxxiv))
• Authorizes the taking of mountain lions with traps or snares as allowed by commission rules. (W.S. 23-3-304(a))
• Updates the definition of illegal game taking to clarify that killing mountain lions during a mountain lion pursuit season is prohibited except as otherwise permitted by this act. (W.S. 23-3-102(d))
• Grants the commission authority to regulate the use of dogs to take mountain lions and bobcats during hunting or trapping seasons. (W.S. 23-3-109(a))
• Repeals provisions establishing hunt zones and areas specifically for mountain lions and prior mountain lion pursuit season regulations. (Section 3, W.S. 23-1-302(a)(xxxiii), W.S. 23-2-307(c))
• Directs the Game and Fish Commission to promulgate all rules necessary to implement the act. (Section 4)

Effective: July 1, 2025

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