Hold your horses and your headlamps.
Wyoming Game and Fish wants to gently (but firmly) remind everyone that winter wildlife closures are still in effect until May 1, even though your inner shed-hunting gremlin is getting antsy.
Yes, we know you’re itching to get out there and find that prize six-point antler, but for the sake of the mule deer and elk who’ve had a rough winter, patience is a virtue.
🫎 So here’s the scoop:
May 1 at midnight is the official kickoff to shed hunting season on public lands west of the Continental Divide. If you’re planning to hit the hills in hot pursuit of dropped antlers, don’t jump the gun, unless you’re hoping to swap your spotting scope for a citation.
The closures are in place to give wildlife a little breathing room during the tail end of winter. They’ve been dodging snowdrifts, wolves, and sub-zero nights; let’s not add humans in camo sprinting uphill to the list.
Quick Hit Reminders:
- ❌ No shed hunting on public land until May 1.
- ✅ You can start planning your shed-hunting outfit now.
- 🕛 Season officially opens at 12:01 a.m.: Yes, people actually set alarms for this.
- 🦌 Wildlife needs peace and quiet, give ‘em space to recharge before the tourist season begins, and we all lose our minds again.
WY Game and Fish will be out patrolling, so don’t test them. They have binoculars. And clipboards. And possibly coffee-fueled grudges.
Until then, get your boots ready, brush up on your GPS skills, and practice saying, “No, I totally found this on May 1” in front of a mirror (just kidding… don’t do that).
See you on the hills, legally.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
