Moving to Evanston, Residency Question

BlazeOrange · Mar 20, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Mar-20-17 AT 10:07PM (MST)[p]I currently live in Utah. This summer we're looking at moving to Evanston. I put in for the draw in Utah for 2017 as a resident, but when the season rolls around I'll be living in Wyoming. I won't be a Wyoming resident, but can I still hunt Utah LEGALLY? I only want to obey the law, and if that means turning in my tag I'll gladly do it. We won't be moving until July. And, if I am able to legally keep my Utah general season tag, and do, can I hunt Wyoming as a resident in 2018? I've been trying to find answers but can't find much. I've really only been able to find this.

"A person shall be domiciled in Wyoming for not less than one (1) full year immediately preceding the date the person applies for the license, preference point, permit or tag and shall not have claimed residency in any other state, territory or country for any purpose during that one (1) year period."

Thanks for the help.

Zeke · Mar 21, 2017

I'm not the Wyoming G&F attorney so I'm shooting from the hip but here goes.

If you hunt Utah this Fall under a resident license is that claiming residency "for any purpose"? I think it is so you may not even apply for a Wyoming tag until a year from the end of Utah's hunting season for which you had a tag. You'd end up skipping a year of hunting since you'd not truly qualify in either State.

That's just my personal interpretation of what's in writing so it would be in your best interest to speak with the appropriate wildlife LEO for both States and get it in writing from them before you forge ahead.

Zeke

MaineFlatlander · Mar 21, 2017

I would agree with Zeke but why not give them a call? But I don't see why you cant hunt Wyoming in 2018 as a NR just don't apply anywhere as a R in 2018.

Zeke · Mar 21, 2017

+1
You can alway hunt as a NR if you don't qualify in a State because you're "in between" residency status!

I also agree: make a call to someone with authority (write or record it and get their name and by what authority they give you advice) and maybe you won't need to skip a year as a resident somewhere. Who knows? I sure don't but the topic interests me.

Best of luck,
Zeke

pookiebar · Mar 22, 2017

By hunting Utah on a resident tag you are not claiming residency in the state any longer. You claimed being a resident when you applied for the tag, which was true at the time. Using the tag is simply exercising your previous claim. The rule in WY is so that you won't apply as a resident at discounted prices in two states. When you apply in WY in 2018 you will meet their resident status whether you used a tag in Utah or not.

Put another way, you claimed being a resident in UT in February 2017 in order to buy a tag at that time. When you move to WY in the summer you are no longer claiming residency in UT. Using the tag to hunt is not a NEW claim of residency. You made the claim of residency in February not the fall. That is how tax law works and a state usually follows the same rules in applying their different sets of rules.

BIG · Mar 22, 2017

I thought you had to live in Wyoming a full year before claiming residency.

Technically I don't think you would be a Wyoming Resident until Summer of 2018. The other tough part is the second you don't live in Wyoming anymore you are no longer a resident.

pookiebar · Mar 22, 2017

That's correct. He has to live there a full year. But I'm saying even if he lives there, but hunts in Utah in fall of 2017 it won't "undo" the months he has already been living in WY. So whenever he moves up there the year starts.

BlazeOrange · Apr 4, 2017

Just an update in case you were curious.
I called Utah DWR and they said I will qualify as a resident this year, because I claimed my residency when I put in.
Called Wyoming. They said it starts when I move in, even if I hunt on my Utah tag this year.

desertpointbrian · Apr 4, 2017

Hey Gabe do you dare to chime in / clarify

pookiebar · Apr 7, 2017

Sounds good! You should be good to go. It's nice to see someone being so honest.

Zeke · Apr 7, 2017

>Just an update in case you
>were curious.
>I called Utah DWR and they
>said I will qualify as
>a resident this year, because
>I claimed my residency when
>I put in.
>Called Wyoming. They said it starts
>when I move in, even
>if I hunt on my
>Utah tag this year.

That's great, Blaze!
Thanks for the update.

Zeke

nv_hunter · Apr 7, 2017

Ok so if I can give you any kind of advice it would be GET IT IN WRITING! I moved from Nevada to Utah 4 years roughly ago. I owned a restaurant in Nevada and was still living there part time and at my GF house in Ut part time the first year. I called F&G and was told " If you apply as a resident in one state and a non res in the others then it doesn't matter where you live for that year. She was wrong!!!! It cost her job and my hunting and fishing rights for the last 3.5 years! I drew 3 BIG tags in NV that year and was told by F&G that it was my right to keep them. I didn't feel right and I turned them in and thank god I did because they were WRONG AGAIN!! If I had went out and killed the sheep or bull then it would have been a felony. My point is that you cant believe everyone you talk to even if they work at F&G. If I were you I would call the offices of F&G for both states and get the email addresses of the law enforcement officers and make one email with both the states officials on the email and ask your questions. Those are the offices that can answer correctly and if you have it in writing then you should be safe. Its a HUGE grey area so be very careful. I'm an avid hunter and outdoorsman so not being able to do ANYTHING involving a license has been true torture! Plus I lost all 15 points for most all species of game except deer. Good Luck!! Abe

pookiebar · Apr 8, 2017

Good advice but here's the difference. You owned a restaurant in NV, primary source of income? Were bills being sent to you at the gf's house? Or did you own the home in NV?

In order to change residency you have to have more than 50% of ALL time and money being done in the new state of residency. You got crappy advice for sure. But a court would probably say you weren't truly a resident in UT because all or most of your financial activity was still happening in NV.

Like I said your advice is good. But if the OP is going to email the LEO's then he will need to tell them the WHOLE situation.