Hunting in Wyoming: Invasive Species to Wyoming and Its Rules for Hunting Them

Wyoming offers many different animals to hunt, but those interested in targeting invasive species need to look elsewhere.

Wyoming has invasive species, but they are along the aquatic and plant lines for the most part, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. So, with the diverse offerings for hunters in Wyoming, hunting an invasive species should not be on a to-do list for a hunter in Wyoming.

Some argue that the gray wolf, reintroduced to the area in the mid-1990s, is an invasive species, according to American Tradition Partnership. However, after Wyoming briefly allowed hunting of the animal, a federal judge stepped in and, in September 2014, granted the wolf protected status, the Casper Star-Tribune noted. Hunting the animal is now suspended in Wyoming.

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Wyoming has done a good job of keeping invasive species out of the state. Even the wild boar, which has rooted itself in 47 of the 50 states, has not gained a foothold in Wyoming, in addition to Delaware and Rhode Island, Aberdeen News noted.

Still, while invasive species are not in hunters' gun sights, they can affect the many things on the list for a Wyoming hunter, including bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and mountain lions.

Dalmatian toadflax, native to central Europe and Asia, is a pressing problem. The plant can cut into the good foraging areas of the state, which in turn can harm the species that can be hunted. According to the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council, the plant has found its way into all but two counties in Wyoming.

The toadflax has become such a concern that a Toadflax Field Day was organized in Cheyenne for June 2015. That is being used to provide information on herbicides and long-term effects of the plant.

The same goes for the spotted knapweed, and the Canada thistle can cause problems because it is inedible and causes a problem for outdoors enthusiasts because of its spiny structure.

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Wyoming has been very proactive in keeping invasive species down because the state relies on outdoor activities for tourism dollars. In 2013, the University of Wyoming tried to involve residents in keeping the state free of invasive plants by publishing a booklet that showed 24 different weeds and offered tips for spotting the invasive weeds before they gained a major foothold.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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