How to Get Your Wyoming Hunting License
Wyoming requires hunter education for anyone born on or after January 1, 1966, before hunting in the state, unless that person has obtained a Hunter Mentor Program special authorization and is hunting with a mentor. Hunter-Ed is a delegated provider for Wyoming's hunter safety course, and the certificate itself never expires once you've earned it.
Once you're certified, you'll need a species-specific license and the Conservation Stamp, which costs $21.50 for everyone regardless of residency, plus the license itself, such as $42 for a resident deer license or $374 for the non-resident equivalent.
You can purchase a license through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) website or an approved agent, and licenses run on a calendar year. Keep reading, we walk through how to get your Wyoming hunting license and hunter education certificate, step by step.
What Is a Hunting License in Wyoming?
Wyoming doesn't sell a single general "hunting license." Instead, WGFD requires a species-specific license, such as deer, elk, antelope, or game bird/small game, purchased alongside the universal Conservation Stamp before you can legally pursue any wildlife in the state.
Your hunter education certificate works differently. It's a one-time credential proving you completed a WGFD-approved safety course, and it lasts for life, while your species license and Conservation Stamp have to be renewed every year.
Who Needs a Hunting License in Wyoming?
Wyoming requires a license for anyone age 12 or older who hunts wildlife in the state, and hunter education adds an extra requirement tied to your birth date rather than your current age. Whether you were born on or after January 1, 1966, determines which path applies to you.
Hunter education runs on a separate track from the license itself. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1966, must complete an approved hunter education course, unless they qualify for one of Wyoming's exceptions instead:
- Born before January 1, 1966: Exempt from the hunter education requirement, regardless of current age.
- Born on or after January 1, 1966, without a mentor authorization: Must complete an approved hunter education course, including the required in-person Internet Completion Course.
- Younger than 12, or 11 and turning 12 by year's end, with a Hunter Mentor Program authorization: May hunt certain species with a qualified mentor without completing hunter education first.
- All licensed hunters, regardless of age or certification status: Must purchase the Conservation Stamp alongside any hunting license.
How to Get Your Wyoming Hunting License (Step-by-Step)
Getting licensed in Wyoming comes down to a few main steps, though the order shifts slightly depending on your birth date. Here's the full process from start to finish.
- Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born on or after January 1, 1966, then attend the required Internet Completion Course.
- Choose your species license: deer, elk, antelope, game bird/small game, or another species you plan to hunt.
- Purchase your license and Conservation Stamp through the WGFD website, by mail, or at an approved agent.
- Apply through the draw for limited-quota species like deer, elk, antelope, moose, or bighorn sheep, or buy an archery license if you're bowhunting.
- Carry your license, Conservation Stamp, and certificate any time you hunt.
Wyoming's draw applications for deer, elk, and antelope typically open in January, so plan ahead if any of those are on your list. Once your license and Conservation Stamp are in hand, you're ready for the field.
The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.
Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course
Wyoming's certification path requires an in-person component for every hunter, regardless of age.
- Online course plus Internet Completion Course: Complete the Hunter-Ed Wyoming course ($24.95) online at your own pace, passing only the unit quizzes with no separate online exam required, then attend the required in-person Internet Completion Course, 4 to 6 hours, to finish certification.
- Hunter Mentor Program: Skip certification temporarily by obtaining a special authorization to hunt certain species under the direct supervision of a qualified mentor instead.
Passing the online course doesn't guarantee an Internet Completion Course seat, so register for both well ahead of the season you're planning to hunt.
Step 2: Purchase Your Hunting License
Once you have your hunter education certificate or a qualifying mentor authorization, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through the WGFD website, by mail, or at an approved agent.
You'll need proof of Wyoming residency if applying for resident rates, the last four digits of your Social Security number, proof of hunter education if required, and payment for both your license and the Conservation Stamp.
Step 3: Apply for Draw Species and Go Hunting
A standard game bird/small game license doesn't cover deer, elk, antelope, or other big game. Those species each require their own license, most allocated through WGFD's annual draw, with a $5 resident or $15 non-resident application fee per species.
Once your license and Conservation Stamp are in hand, you're ready to hunt.
Wyoming Hunting License Requirements by Age
Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in Wyoming by age.
Wyoming Hunting License Requirements (by Age) | ||
| Age | Requirement | Supervision/Hunter Education |
| Younger than 12, or 11 and turning 12 by year's end, with mentor authorization | No standard license required for mentored species | Must hunt under the direct supervision of a qualified mentor |
| 12 through 17, resident | Youth species license (Deer $15, Elk $25, Antelope $15) plus Game Bird/Small Game ($27) | Certification required if born on or after January 1, 1966 |
| 12 through 17, non-resident | Youth species license (Deer $110, Elk $275) plus Game Bird/Small Game ($74) | Certification required if born on or after January 1, 1966 |
| 18 and older, resident | Species license (Deer $42, Elk $57, Antelope $37) plus Game Bird/Small Game ($27) | Certification required if born on or after January 1, 1966 |
| 18 and older, non-resident | Species license (Deer $374, Elk $692, Antelope $326) plus Game Bird/Small Game ($74) | Certification required if born on or after January 1, 1966 |
| 75 and older, resident, 50 or more years of continuous residency | Pioneer License, reduced fee as low as $2 per species | Certification not required, since anyone this age was born before the 1966 cutoff |
| Resident with a qualifying disability | Disabled Hunter license (free) | Certification required if born on or after January 1, 1966 |
Privileges and stamps: Every hunter needs the $21.50 Conservation Stamp regardless of species or residency.
- Archery hunters need a separate Archery license ($16 resident, $72 non-resident), and waterfowl hunters 16 and older need a Federal Duck Stamp.
- Wyoming's Pioneer and Pioneer Heritage licenses offer steep discounts to long-tenured residents.
- Honorably discharged Purple Heart recipients qualify for a free lifetime game bird, small game, and fishing license.
Season dates and regulations vary by species and hunt area, so check before you plan a hunt.
Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost
Wyoming stands out for requiring the in-person Internet Completion Course for every hunter who takes the online path, with no age-based shortcut to a fully online certificate. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.
Wyoming Hunter Safety Course Formats Comparison | ||||
| Format | Provider | Cost | Time | Exam |
| Online course plus Internet Completion Course | Hunter-Ed | $24.95 | Self-paced online, a few hours, plus a 4- to 6-hour in-person session | Unit quizzes only online, 80% passing score, plus a written and practical test at the Internet Completion Course |
Hunter Mentor Program | WGFD | Free, special authorization required | Ongoing, hunting alongside a qualified mentor | No hunter education exam (mentor supervision substitutes for certification) |
Whichever path you choose, your hunter education certificate is permanent once WGFD issues it. Only your species license and Conservation Stamp need renewing, and that happens every year.
Documents Required To Buy Your License
Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Wyoming hunting license. You'll need:
- A valid Wyoming driver's license or other proof of residency, if applying for resident rates
- The last four digits of your Social Security number
- Proof of hunter education certification, if you were born on or after January 1, 1966
- Payment for your species license, the Conservation Stamp, and any application fees
Wyoming Hunting Laws and Penalties
Hunting without a valid license in Wyoming can lead to restitution to the state for the economic value of any wildlife taken illegally. Additionally, you could face criminal penalties that range from low misdemeanors up to high misdemeanors carrying fines up to $10,000, up to 12 months in jail, and license revocation for the remainder of the year plus suspension for up to six years.
The most serious wildlife violations can escalate to felony charges. Wyoming is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, so a suspension here can follow you into other member states, and non-residents cited for violations are treated the same as residents under that agreement.
Read more on Wyoming's hunting laws and regulations before you head out.
What About Reciprocity with Other States?
Wyoming accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards. Your card is also accepted in most states and travels with you if you hunt elsewhere.
What Out-of-State Visitors Should Know
Non-resident hunters pay dramatically more than residents for the same species, such as $374 for a deer license compared to $42 for residents, plus the same $21.50 Conservation Stamp everyone pays.
Hunters born on or after January 1, 1966, must still meet Wyoming's hunter education requirement regardless of home state, and non-residents hunting in designated wilderness areas are required by law to hire a licensed guide.
Start Your Wyoming Hunter Safety Course Today, Then Get Your Hunting License
The Hunter-Ed Wyoming course is approved by WGFD, self-paced, and available on any device, with a required in-person Internet Completion Course to complete your certification.
Complete the course and get your lifetime Wyoming hunter education certificate.
Approved by Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) | Last verified August 14, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do I need a hunting license to hunt in Wyoming?
A: Yes, anyone 12 or older who hunts wildlife in Wyoming needs a species-specific license, such as deer, elk, or game bird/small game, plus the Conservation Stamp. There's no single general hunting license that covers every species.
Q: How much does a Wyoming hunting license cost?
A: A Wyoming resident deer license costs $42, while a non-resident license costs $374, and every hunter also needs the $21.50 Conservation Stamp regardless of species. Other species like elk, antelope, and game bird/small game are priced separately.
Q: Who needs hunter education certification in Wyoming?
A: Wyoming requires hunter education certification for anyone born on or after January 1, 1966. Hunters born before that date are exempt from the requirement, regardless of their current age.
Q: Can I take Wyoming's hunter education course entirely online?
A: No. Wyoming's online hunter education course still requires an in-person Internet Completion Course for every hunter, regardless of age. After passing the online unit quizzes, you must attend and pass the in-person session before you're fully certified.
Q: What is Wyoming's Hunter Mentor Program?
A: Wyoming's Hunter Mentor Program allows young hunters, generally younger than 12, to obtain special authorization to hunt certain species without completing hunter education first. Mentored hunters must hunt under the direct supervision of a qualified mentor at all times.
Q: What is the minimum age to hunt big game in Wyoming?
A: The minimum age to hunt big or trophy game animals in Wyoming is 11, as long as the hunter will turn 12 by the end of the calendar year. Younger hunters may still participate through the Hunter Mentor Program for certain species.
