According to a release by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department on Monday, many of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Wildlife Habitat Management Areas are closing to human presence — or already have — for the season to provide protections for wildlife on their winter ranges.

The majority of WHMAs close or have restrictions for the winter annually.

Protecting crucial habitats for wildlife is one of the main reasons the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission invests in the land throughout Wyoming. WHMAs provide a refuge for big game that must conserve energy and rely on fat stores to survive the coldest months of the year.

Ray Bredehoft, habitat and access branch chief for Game and Fish said, “seasonal closures are essential for minimizing stress-causing disturbances to wintering deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and other wildlife. Closures also reduce the human and recreational impacts to the forage, which supports the wildlife on their winter ranges.

WHMA CLOSURE DATES

HABITAT AREANEAREST TOWNDATES AREA CLOSEDRESTRICTIONS
Forbes/Sheep MountainAlbanyJan. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence.
Greys RiverAlpineDec. 1 thorugh April 30Closed to human presence.
Wick/BeumeeArlingtonDec. 1 through May 15Only lands south of I-80 are closed. Vehicles restricted to FS-111 for access to the Forest Service boundary, otherwise closed to human presence.
Bud LoveBuffaloJan. 1 through May 14Closed to human presence.
SunlightCodyDec. 16 through April 30Fishing along Sunlight Creek is open year-round.
Inberg/Roy (East Fork)DuboisDec. 16 through May 15Closed to human presence
Spence & MoriarityDuboisDec. 16 through May 15East Fork County Road and that portion east of the road is open year-round. Rest of the WMA is closed to human presence.
Whiskey BasinDuboisDec. 1 through May 15Closed to vehicles only. Open to foot/horse traffic.
Medicine LodgeHyattvilleJan. 1 through May 31Lower campground portion is open year-round.Turkey hunting allowed in lower portion during the seasonal closure.
RennerHyattvilleJan. 1 through May 31Upper portion closed to human presence. Lower portion remains open year- round.
Camp CreekJacksonDec. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence.
Horse CreekJacksonDec. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence.
South ParkJacksonJan. 1 through April 30Closed to vehicle traffic Dec 1 through April 30. Signed area open to foot traffic Dec 1. Through Dec. 31. Closed to all Human presence Dec 31- April 30.
Ed O. TaylorKayceeJan. 1 through May 14Closed to human presence.
Red CanyonLanderDec. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence
SunshineMeeteetseJan. 1 through May 31Closed to human presence after cow hunting seasons ends.
Half MoonPinedaleDec. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence.
Soda LakePinedaleDec. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence.
Fall CreekPinedaleDec. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence.
Luke LynchPinedaleDec. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence.
Black ButtePinedaleDec. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence.
Morgan CreekRawlinsNov. 1 through April 30Closed to vehicles only. Open to foot/horse traffic
Pennock MountainSaratogaDec. 1 through April 30Closed to vehicles only. Open to foot/horse traffic.
Amsden CreekSheridanNov. 1 through May 14Closed to vehicles. Open to foot/horse traffic Nov. 1 through Nov. 15.
Amsden CreekSheridanNov. 16 through May 14Closed to human presence.
KernsSheridanNov. 1 through May 31Closed to vehicles. Open to foot/horse traffic Nov. 1 through Nov. 15.
KernsSheridanNov. 16 through May 31Closed to human presence.
Laramie PeakWheatlandFeb. 1 through April 30Laramie Peak is open all year except the Hay Canyon, Tony Ridge, and Duck Creek Canyon areas shall be closed to human presence from Feb. 1 through April 30 each year.
Pilot HillLaramieFeb. 1 through April 30Closed to human presence



WHMAs OPEN YEAR-ROUND
 

HABITAT AREANEAREST TOWNDATES AREA CLOSEDRESTRICTIONS
Ocean LakeRiverton
Sand MesaShoshoni
Chain LakesWamsutter
Cottonwood Draw/GrayrocksWheatlandORV access prohibited.
JelmLaramieVehicular access is restricted to parking areas. ORV access prohibited.
RawhideLingleVehicular access is restricted to parking areas. ORV access prohibited.
Springer/Bump SullivanYoderClosed to motorized vehicles from Oct. 1 through May 15. ORV access prohibited.
Table MountainTorringtonClosed to motorized vehicles from Oct. 1 through May 15. ORV access prohibited.
Tom Thorne/Beth WilliamsWheatlandClosed to motorized vehicles beyond the reservoir from Feb. 1 through May 31.
YellowtailLovell
Red Rim/DaleyRawlinsDrifting snow closes most trails in early winter.
Red Rim/GrizzlyRawlins
Sand CreekSundance


PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS WITH SEASONAL CLOSURES
 

HABITAT AREANEAREST TOWNDATES AREA CLOSEDRESTRICTIONS
Mexican CreekLanderJan. 1 through Aug. 31County access road closed Nov. 22.
Mule Creek RanchLaramieFeb. 1 through Oct 14.HMA Permission slip required.
VonGontard LandingJacksonDec. 1 through Mar. 1Weather may affect closing and opening dates.
Pitcher/BrokawArlingtonJan. 1 through July 31ORV prohibited.
Cater/Billy MilesTen SleepJan. 1 through Aug. 31
Coco Belle VanMeerendonkJacksonDec. 1 through April 14Closed to wheeled motorized vehicles.

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