I'm certain you're feeling the excitement building in the air, right? It's only February, but in just 3 1/2 months, the 2026 hunting application process will close. Sure, you have time to get it done, although it's never too early to start thinking about it. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department sure has, and they're crunching all the numbers from this past hunting season and all the data they've collected.

Over the next month, the WGFD crew will prepare their proposals for this year's hunting seasons. It's a heck of a process that never really ends. You may think that when the hunting seasons end, they get a chance to relax. In reality, they're as busy, or in some cases, even busier now.

The season-setting process has several phases.

  • Data collection and processing.
  • Public Comment Period
  • Season Setting Meetings
  • Hunting Season Proposals
  • Commission Meetings
  • Seasons Set

Since we're now in the data collection and processing, and open public comment phase, the next phase is the season-setting meetings. This is where you step in and share your thoughts, ideas, and comments on the seasons. Each region will hold multiple public meetings where hunters, landowners, and concerned citizens can participate and speak up.

Dates For 2026 Season Setting Meetings

Casper Region:

  • March 19, 2026, 6 p.m. Casper
    Wyoming Game & Fish Regional Office, 3030 Energy Lane.
  • March 26, 2026, 4 p.m. Sundance
    Crook County Community Room – Courthouse Basement, 309 Cleveland St.
  • March 26, 2026, 7 p.m. Newcastle
    USDA Building, 1225 Washington Boulevard
  • March 30, 2026, 6 p.m. Lusk
    Niobrara County Fairgrounds, 4080 US-20
  • March 31, 2026, 6 p.m. Douglas
    Eastern Wyoming College, 800 S. Windriver Dr.

Sheridan Region

  • March 23, 2026, 4 p.m. Gillette
    George Amos Building, 412 S. Gillette Ave.
  • March 24, 2026, 5 p.m. Buffalo
    Buffalo Public Library, 171 N. Adams Ave.
  • March 25, 2026, 5 p.m. Kaycee
    Kaycee Public Library, 231 Ritter Ave.
  • March 26, 2026, 4 p.m. Sheridan
    Sheridan Game & Fish Regional Office,700 Valley View Dr.
  • March 30, 2026, 5 p.m. Sheridan
    Sheridan Game & Fish Regional Office,700 Valley View Dr.

Green River Region

  • March 24, 2026, 6 p.m. Mountain View
    Mountain View School Administration Building, 129 W. 2nd St.
  • March 25, 2026, 4 p.m. Cokeville
    Cokeville Town Hall, 110 Pine St.
  • March 25, 2026, 6 p.m. Baggs
    Carbon County Higher Ed Center, 360 Whippoorwill Dr.
  • March 25, 2026, 7 p.m. Kemmerer
    South Lincoln Training & Event Center,215 Wyoming State Hwy.233
  • March 26, 202,6 6 p.m. Evanston
    Superintendent’s Office, 1446 Main St.
  • March 30, 2026, 6 p.m. Green River
    Green River Game & Fish Regional Office, 351 Astle Ave.

Pinedale Region

  • March 24, 2026, 6 p.m. Pinedale
    Pinedale Game & Fish Regional Office, 432 E. Mill St.

Lander Region

  • March 19, 2026, 6 p.m. Dubois
    Dubois Headwaters Arts and Conference Center, 20 Stalnaker St.
  • March 25, 2026, 6 p.m. Rawlins
    Carbon County Higher Education Center, 1650 Harshman St.
  • March 26, 2026, 6 p.m. Riverton
    Fremont County Library, 1330 W. Park Ave.
  • March 31, 2026, 6 p.m. Lander
    Lander Game & Fish Regional Office, 260 Buena Vista Dr.

Laramie Region

  • March 23, 2026, 6 p.m. Cheyenne
    Cheyenne Game & Fish Headquarters, Elk Room, 5400 Bishop Blvd.
  • March 24, 2026, 6 p.m. Saratoga
    Platte Valley Community Center, 210 W. Elm
  • March 25, 2026, 6 p.m. Wheatland
    First Interstate Bank, 1405 16th St.
  • March 26, 2026, 6 p.m. Torrington
    Platte Valley Bank, 2201 Main St.
  • March 30, 2026, 6 p.m. Laramie
    Laramie Game & Fish Regional Office, 1212 South Adams St.

Jackson Region

  • March 18, 2026, 5:30 p.m. Jackson
    Jackson Game & Fish Regional Office, 420 N. Cache
  • March 19, 2026, 5:30 p.m. Thayne
    Thayne Community Center, Room B100, 250 Van Noy Pkwy.

Cody Region

  • March 20, 2026, 6 p.m. Thermopolis
    Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department, 400 S. 14th St.
  • March 23, 2026, 6 p.m. Powell
    Northwest College Yellowstone Building, 331 W. 7th St.
  • March 23, 2026, 6 p.m. Worland
    Washakie County Fairgrounds, 501 15 Mile Rd.
  • March 24, 2026, 6 p.m. Lovell
    Lovell Fire Station, 314 Nevada Ave.
  • March 25, 2026, 6 p.m. Greybull
    Greybull Town Hall, 24 S 5th St.
  • March 26, 2026, 6 p.m. Cody
    Cody Game & Fish Regional Office, 2 Tilden Trail
  • March 31, 2026, 6 p.m. Meeteetse
    Meeteetse Conservation District, 1906 State St.

Once the seasons are set, it's time for you to submit any changes to your applications and finalize them by June 1. Then we all wait on the edge of our seats, fingers crossed that we get at least one of the licenses we applied for. If not, we put in for the leftover draw. If we fail there, we look into the first-come, first-served licenses. THEN, it's on. The scouting, gathering, arranging gear, and planning our hunts.

It's a process, it's long, but it's worth it. For more, check out WGFD.WYO.GOV.

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