The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will conduct informational meetings in May to hear comments about hunting seasons for the gray wolf, hunter licenses and safety regulations, its law enforcement supervisor said Monday.

The proposed 2014 gray wolf hunt area mortality quotas will be available at the meetings, somewhat later than information used to set other hunting seasons, said Mike Choma of the Casper regional office of the department.

"Our 2013 harvest data was not completely analyzed and ready for us to make proposals for the individual hunt area quotas, but that is completed now," Choma said. "We identified those proposed quotas would be available by the time we started our public meeting."

During the meetings, the department will hear comments about changing the nonresident deer and antelope hunting application deadline from March 15 to May 31, according to a news release from the department. It also will propose sandhill crane licenses to be available only through the department’s website.

The department, Choma said, also has proposed combining a series of regulations about upland game birds and small game into one regulation. It also has combined regulations about big horn sheep and mountain goats into one regulation, even though the seasons for those animals will still be different, he said.

The department also will recommend transferring its hunter safety regulation to the Game and Fish Commis­sion as an administrative policy, Choma said. The change aligns with Gov. Matt Mead's directive to reduce state regula­tions. It will not alter the program, which is summarized in Wyoming statute.

"All these things were just as a result of the governor's initiative to reduce rules where  possible," Choma said.

All policy changes and hunting seasons must be approved by the governor, he added.

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These are the scheduled meetings:

Gray Wolf, License and Hunter Safety Regulations

  • May 1 -- Laramie Game and Fish Office at 6 p.m.
  • May 7 -- Sheridan Game and Fish Office at 3 p.m.
  • May 19 -- Pinedale Game and Fish Office at 6 p.m.
  • May 20 -- Casper Game and Fish Office at 6 p.m.
  • May 20 -- Green River Game and Fish Office at 6 p.m.
  • May 22 -- Dubois Headwaters Arts & Conference Center at 6 p.m.

License and Hunter Safety Regulations Only

  • May 5 -- Cody Game and Fish Office at 5 p.m.
  • May 6 -- Jackson Game and Fish Office at 6 p.m.

Gray Wolf Regulations Only

  • May 7 -- Jackson Ranch Inn Hotel at 6:30 p.m.
  • May 15 -- Cody Bighorn Federal Bank at 6 p.m.

If you cannot attend a meeting, you can view and comment on the proposed regulations through the department's website at wgfd.wyo.gov. You also can write to the department at Regulations, 3030 Energy Lane, Casper, WY 82604.

Comments must be received by 5 p.m., May 30. They will be presented to the Game and Fish Commission before its meeting in Dubois on July 7-9.

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