Wyoming Wilderness Drop Camp?

[apkleinschmidt]

Can a non-resident hunt wilderness if they sign with a guide to do a drop camp but don't actually hunt with the guide?

I read the statute to require the guide to actually accompany you. Is that correct?

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[Forest]

I read the statute to require the guide to actually accompany you. Is that correct?

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Thats the way I understand it too. Need to be with you at all times during the hunt. But I'll be watching other responses as well


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[Poser]

Can a non-resident hunt wilderness if they sign with a guide to do a drop camp but don't actually hunt with the guide?

I read the statute to require the guide to actually accompany you. Is that correct?

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It’s been discussed on here before and I understood that a guide/resident liaison must be with you at all times when hunting. You can’t drag your wife’s resident cousin out and leave him in camp while hunting.

Never to let an opportunity criticize this stupid regulation pass, I have done backcountry climbing trips deep into WY wilderness without a guide to hold my hand. Somehow I survived. Put in a rifle in my hand and somehow I become incompetent in the wilderness.

 

[apkleinschmidt]

It’s been discussed on here before and I understood that a guide/resident liaison must be with you at all times when hunting. You can’t drag your wife’s resident cousin out and leave him in camp while hunting.

Never to let an opportunity criticize this stupid regulation pass, I have done backcountry climbing trips deep into WY wilderness without a guide to hold my hand. Somehow I survived. Put in a rifle in my hand and somehow I become incompetent in the wilderness.

What has their justification for the reg been over the years? Safety?

If so, that's laughable.

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[Rokbar]

I wonder why other states don't reciprocate with Wyoming on their wilderness hunting rules?

 

[Poser]

What has their justification for the reg been over the years? Safety?

If so, that's laughable.

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I’ve read some justification as it being about “safety.” That being said, I believe a challenge of this reg went as far as the WY Supreme Court and the judgement was that the state has a right to regulate hunting how they see fit.
Outfitters for the win.

 

[jmez]

Guide has to accompany you.

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[cnelk]

BuzzH should be along momentarily to set everyone straight on this.

 

[All American Boy]

It has a lot more to do with money than safety.

 

[AaronMColeman]

It has a lot more to do with money than safety.

I think this is the answer. We can't change the rule but, the "guide" has to be with you while you hunt. It's silly and it's a thing pushed for by the guides. There could be more to it (I doubt it), but my understanding is it's just a way to help out the guide industry.

Honestly, even as a resident, I don't know a ton of people who pack in to the wilderness areas. We mostly hunt the standard public lands. However, the people who do pack in tend to get really nice bulls, and get a much different experience hunting animals that are less pressured. I think a lot of the success has to do with 1) only the hard core locals pack in for the most part, 2) the elk in wilderness are far less pressured, and 3) wilderness areas tend to be higher elevations so elk won't move down until it's cold enough.

All that to say, yes you need a "guide", but you can hunt really successfully and have a great experience without ever going into the wilderness areas.

 

[wapitibob]

A nr only needs a wilderness guide when hunting big game.

 

[LostArra]

Wyoming or any other state can impose whatever hunting rules they want on non-residents. They could require hot pink camo for non-residents which might actually be more reasonable than the wilderness guide rule.

If this is about safety why not ban solo elk hunting in grizz country. At least that gives an appearance of a safety measure.

 

[hutty]

Need to have a guide with you.

I bow hunted last season in a Wilderness Area (cloud peak). Hired a guide and hunted hard for 5 days. It was funny because one area we would be hunting would be non wilderness and then we would hike 40 yards and then enter the wilderness area. Same terrain, just a line.

If I were a resident, I definitely see the advantage of the wilderness area. We were the only non-residents hunting the area. Ran into a few local hunters who regularly hunt the area and scout it year round.

 

[jmez]

I don't like the law but unless you horse back hunt it really doesn't affect you much other than the Bighhorns. That stuff out in the western part of the state isn't foot country.

 

[AaronMColeman]

Wyoming or any other state can impose whatever hunting rules they want on non-residents. They could require hot pink camo for non-residents which might actually be more reasonable than the wilderness guide rule.

If this is about safety why not ban solo elk hunting in grizz country. At least that gives an appearance of a safety measure.

Because the entire state would revolt if they banned solo hunting in grizzly country!

I do like the hot pink idea, and Wyoming did approve hot pink camo last year so it's an easy fix. I'll suggest it to our state representatives!

 

[Scorpion]

What has their justification for the reg been over the years? Safety?

If so, that's laughable.

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The explanation given to me this fall by a Wyoming game warden was that the rule exists to prevent illegal outfitting operations within wilderness areas. By requiring the resident guide permit this allows them to monitor all non-resident hunting activity in the wilderness areas and the backcountry wardens check in with most hunters. I hunted with a good friend and we were grilled pretty hard to ensure we were not compensating him as a “coyote” outfitter.

ETA: Yes, it is a ridiculous answer. He did also mention that he didn’t agree with it in principle but felt it was one of those laws old enough that no one would be inclined to change it.

 

[jmez]

That explanation is as dumb as the law.