wyoming state land

24_7hunter · Mar 18, 2006

I have been around this site for a little while and finally registered. this is my first post. Can people hunt on Wyoming state land? My grandpa and I went on a muley hunt in WY last year and wanted to hunt state land and a guy that said he leased it told us to stay off it. So, do hunters need to stay of state land leased for cattle ranching, or can it be hunted by the public? thank you

huntinco · Mar 19, 2006

Ranchers and outfitters can lease stale lands in Wyoming with exclusive use rights, However, all this does is give them exclusive use against other outfitters and ranchers NOT THE GENAL PUBLIC, This is the case if you were able to reach this land legally.

hunterbob · Mar 19, 2006

If it is public land and you can get to it without trespassing you can hunt it. There is alot of public land that gets posted as private or no trespassing allowed. Alot of these people will try to intimidate you, most times when they try and you call thier bluff they'll back off. So check your maps and don't take thier s---.
Bob

HuntElk4Fun_ · Mar 19, 2006

This is a famous one for Wyoming ranchers. They are so worried about the cattle and sheep on the leased land they will try to act like they own it. Wyoming has an awesome grazing lease program, but they don't own it and have ZERO authority to tell you what to do on it.

Just remember, if it's public land and you can get to it, it's your right to be there.

ODDNUT1
Kirt C.
Hunt Odds.com

24_7hunter · Mar 19, 2006

Since the state land bordered a public highway on one side, it can be hunted, right?

hunterbob · Mar 19, 2006

Yes. Just be careful of land swaps. You do need to keep up on this. Here in the Gillette Wyoming area this happens quite a bit. We just had a land swap where the owner traded different area's that created an 18000 acre public walk in area (which is great) but in return it closed some smaller area's that became private. Local G&F or chamber of commerce can help with this info.
Bob

fuzzy · Mar 20, 2006

You can go up to the courthouse and check the land status off there plat maps to see if it has been traded out or sold.

mmwb · Mar 20, 2006

Yeah, if you can legally get to it, I don't believe they can keep you off of state land. BLM, on the other hand really varies from section to section. Some the rancher only has grazing rights to, others full control over under the lease. As stated above, you need to check with the BLM on the status of those lands. Most of the leasees really believe they have full rights to limit access whether they do or not. I

org · Mar 21, 2006

I could be wrong, but I think BLM has only grazing rights leased. Don't know about WY state land.

idhunters · Mar 21, 2006

Having held a BLM grazing lease and knowing multiple persons who currently hold BLM/Forest/State Land leases....none of them give any rights other than grazing. This is in Idaho and all the land is grazing. Possibly if the state land is farmable/irrigated there may be some other restrictions, but again, I have never seen or heard of a lease on any public land (including state) that excludes the general public from any other activity. Obviously if you don't hold a grazing lease you can't graze it. Same goes for mining, although there may be some restrictions on mine leases for safety of the public. Outfitters may hold exclusive leases but that only excludes other outfitters, not general public.

Triple_BB · Mar 21, 2006

No one mentioned that most state lands are closed to camping. Also a rancher can make a request to the state land board to close off state grounds. It doesn't happen often during hunting season. Let's say a piece of state ground is leased. If a rancher was having cattle being shot or people were tearing up pasture, the lease holder can petition to have it closed. If granted, the state land board will post it and lock it up so it's off limits to everyone.

24_7hunter · Mar 21, 2006

The guy lives out of sheridan in a town called wyarno and said he charges $400 a gun to hunt it.

MartinHunter · Mar 21, 2006

The rancher has zero authority to keep you off the land. In fact, it is against the law for him to tell you that you can not be on it or access it unless you cross his private property to get to it, even if he holds the lease. I have had a rancher her East of Casper (Russell Gordy) try multiple times to keep me off a state section my family hunts and fishes on. He tried first saying he owned it, so we called him, then he tried the lease line, we called him, and get this he even tried telling us he owned a clearly marked County road! Not to mention he drove across state land cross country in his Hummer with a pistol on his lap. We called the sheriff on him and he backed down, but has since tried to do it again. Don?t take it, have a map with you, know were you are at, and if he still feeds you a line, call the authority.

Michael