Without a change in Wyoming law, people can potentially be tossed in jail for a year and fined $10,000 for trapping mice in their vehicles or shooting at prairie dogs out their car windows.
That’s why state Rep. Bill Allemand, R-Midwest, is sponsoring House Bill 211. He said it will clarify the law so people don’t get nailed for things like blasting at prairie dogs from inside their trucks or setting mousetraps in a vehicle.
He brought the bill before the House Travel, Wildlife and Cultural Resource Committee on Thursday.
Allemand, who is not a member of the committee, said his bill would change the wording to include any wildlife that doesn’t require a license to hunt or isn’t protected or endangered under state or federal law. It is now legal to shoot animals classified as predatory in Wyoming from inside a vehicle.
He said he was compelled to write the bill because one of his constituents was caught shooting a prairie dog from inside his truck.
The man was parked off the road on private property and, like many Wyomingites, was apparently unaware that it’s illegal to shoot at prairie dogs from inside a vehicle, Allemand said.
Though the man probably won’t be fined, the maximum penalty for that violation under current statute is a $10,000 fine and/or a year in jail, Allemand said.
Because of time constraints, the committee took no action on the bill and will take the matter up again Tuesday.
Don’t Admit To Trapping Mice
Under the current statute, people also could potentially get nailed for killing just about any critter inside or from the inside of vehicle, Allemand said.
“It was legal to shoot predators — coyotes, wolves, so on — out the window of your truck,” because they’re classified as predators, Allemand said. “But it was not legal to shoot a prairie dog out the window of your truck.”
He also pointed out another loophole in state wildlife laws.
“It is not legal to put a mouse trap on the floorboard of your truck because the mouse is eating the wiring, that’s illegal if your catch the mouse,” he said.
Committee member Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper, said he was surprised to learn that.
“Mousetrap in a truck? I thought, ‘Whoops, I’ve got two traps in a truck I have in storage right now,’” he said.
To which Allemand lightheartedly responded, “I wouldn’t admit that.”
“I know, but I’m admitting it, I never knew,” Harshman replied.
Confusing Classifications
Wyomng statutes related to wildlife classifications, and when and how certain animals may be hunted, are somewhat complicated.
It’s illegal to ever shoot from inside a vehicle that’s on Wyoming public roads or highways.
HB 211 wouldn’t change that, Wyoming Game and Fish Laramie Region Wildlife Supervisor Matt Withroder told the committee.
However, if a vehicle is parked off a public road or highway, it is legal to shoot predatory animals from inside that vehicle. Predatory animals include such species as coyotes and jackrabbits.
No license is required to shoot predatory animals, and there are no set hunting seasons or bag limits for them.
The big game and trophy game classifications include numerous large animals, such as deer, elk, moose and bison. Those may be hunted only with a license, and during specific hunting seasons.
Barring some special exceptions for disabled hunters, it is illegal to shoot those animals from inside a vehicle.
And HB 211 wouldn’t change that either.
Many animals, such as prairie dogs and mice, don’t fall under any specific classification but are still legal to kill.
So, Allemand hopes that HB 211 will save people from potentially getting in trouble for shooting varmints from their trucks, or trying to control vermin.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
