Pacific Flyway Waterfowl Season

JACKSON- The season for late migratory waterfowl hunting opens September 26 in the Pacific Flyway portion of Wyoming. Hunters should be aware of a few specific regulations that apply in the Pacific Flyway area. The entire area is closed to the taking of light geese. Light geese include snow, blue and Ross’s geese. There is a season for these species in the Central Flyway portion of Wyoming, but not the Pacific. The dark geese which can be taken include Canada, cackling, white-fronted and brant. In the Pacific Flyway, the dark goose season closes on December 31.  The season for ducks, mergansers and coots closes on January 8.

A few closures exist within the Pacific Flyway of Wyoming where hunting waterfowl is not permitted throughout the waterfowl season. These include the Alpine wetland area located at the north end of Palisades Reservoir and Eden Reservoir north of Farson. Descriptions of these sites and a map of the Flyway areas in Wyoming can be found in the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission 2014-2015 Late Migratory Game Bird Hunting brochure available at all license selling agents, Wyoming Game and Fish offices or online on the Game and Fish website.   

There is an additional closure to a portion of the South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area south of Jackson through October 9. The closure applies to the wetlands that were created on the northwest portion of the habitat area. Maps which show the closed area are posted on site. This closure is to protect nesting Trumpeter Swans, a species of conservation concern in the state. The pair at South Park has recently produced more cygnets compared to any other nesting pair in the Snake River drainage. This partial seasonal closure also has proven valuable for providing a secure area for holding other waterfowl species that would otherwise leave the unit soon after the season opens.

The South Park WHMA is located just five miles south of Jackson with 1200 acres of cottonwood bottomlands along the Snake River. The area is closed to public access from December 1-April 30 each year to prevent disturbance to wintering elk. However, the Game & Fish Department typically allows walk-in only waterfowl hunting to the extent possible on the eastern portion of the WHMA away from the elk.  

~WGFD~