WYOMING – If you want to keep your previous year’s registered black bear bait site for the 2023 season, the time to renew is approaching.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) will open black bear bait site renewals at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 1. The site renewal process may be completed online or in person by visiting or calling a regional WGFD office. The application process for new black bear sites begins March 21.

Before renewing or registering a bait site, hunters must purchase a 2023 black bear license. Licenses can be purchased online and will be mailed within 10 days. Licenses can also be purchased at regional offices or from license-selling agents. A WGFD website login is required for online bait site renewal or to apply for new bait sites.

New site application process

Game and Fish will begin accepting black bear bait site registration applications at 8 a.m. March 21 on the Game and Fish website. The deadline for new bait site applications is March 28 at midnight.

To register a new site during the initial registration period:

  • Login to your WGFD account after 8 a.m. March 21
  • Applicants will have access to the online bear bait site map to review available bait sites and access the bait site location legal description (township, range, section) to record on their application.
  • Applicants can apply for up to six bait sites
  • Applicants can only submit one application

Black bear bait site application results will be available on the WGFD website by 8 a.m. April 1. Applicants can check their results by logging into their Game and Fish account. All available sites will be registered and bait-site holders will be notified by email before 5 p.m. April 4. 

Rules for bait sites

  • No bear bait may be placed on state, federal or Game and Fish lands without registering the bait site with WGFD. See Sections 4, 5 and 7 of the Black Bear Hunting Seasons regulation for black bear baiting requirements. 
  • Each bear hunter is allowed two bait sites; however, hunters may only have one per section.
  • Bear baits cannot be placed more than seven days prior to opening day and must be removed seven days after the last day of the spring or fall black bear hunting season.

Hunters who have additional questions should contact their local regional office.