Wyoming is a bowfisher’s dream on paper — wide-open rivers, sprawling reservoirs, and a healthy population of carp and other nongame species just waiting to be targeted. But before you string up your bowfishing rig and hit the water, you need to understand exactly where the law draws the line.
The rules in Wyoming are straightforward in some ways and surprisingly nuanced in others. It is legal to take nongame fish with archery equipment without a license or permit, but it is always unlawful to take game fish with archery equipment. That single rule shapes everything about how you bowfish in the Cowboy State, and getting it wrong can cost you far more than a day on the water.
This guide breaks down every key regulation — from target species and gear requirements to night fishing and where you can legally shoot — so you can bowfish Wyoming with confidence.
Is Bowfishing Legal in Wyoming?
Yes, bowfishing is legal in Wyoming. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) permits the use of archery equipment to take fish, but only within a strict framework that separates nongame fish from game fish. It is legal to take nongame fish with archery equipment without a license or permit, but it is always unlawful to take game fish with archery equipment.
This is one of the clearest and most important rules in the state’s fishing code. No matter where you are in Wyoming, no matter what body of water you’re on, pointing a bow at a game fish is illegal. The prohibition is absolute and applies year-round with no exceptions.
Wyoming’s fishing regulations establish fishing season dates, locations, legal methods, creel limits, and limitations for all game fish species, and also address the possession and use of baitfish, fishing contests, and free fishing days. Bowfishing falls under the “legal methods” category, but only for nongame species.
Pro Tip: Always carry a copy of the current Wyoming Game and Fish Department fishing regulations when you’re on the water. Rules can vary by drainage area and specific water body, so what’s allowed on one reservoir may be restricted on another.
If you’re curious how Wyoming’s approach compares to neighboring states, check out the bowfishing laws in Arizona or the bowfishing laws in Missouri for a side-by-side perspective.
What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Wyoming?
The species you can legally target with a bow are limited to nongame fish. Nongame fish means all fish not defined as game fish or aquatic invasive species, including baitfish. That definition gives you a fairly broad pool of targets, but you need to know which species fall into each category before you draw back.
Wyoming has about 4,200 lakes with over 333,000 acres of water and over 27,000 miles of fishable streams. There are 78 fish species total, 28 of which are game fish and 50 are nongame fish. That means the majority of Wyoming’s fish species are technically fair game for bowfishing — but identifying them on the water is your responsibility.
Common nongame species you can bowfish for in Wyoming include common carp (Cyprinus carpio), which is by far the most popular bowfishing target in the state. Rivers, lakes, and reservoirs abound with carp and other species legal for bowfishing in the state. Suckers, chubs, and other rough fish also fall into the nongame category in most Wyoming waters.
Some species carry nongame status only on specific waters. Burbot (ling) and northern pike are designated as nongame fish in certain drainage areas, which means they can be targeted by bow on those waters. Burbot and northern pike are nongame fish with unlimited harvest in areas where they carry that designation.
| Species | Bowfishing Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common Carp | Legal (nongame) | Most popular target statewide |
| Suckers | Legal (nongame) | Multiple species found in Wyoming waters |
| Northern Pike | Legal on designated waters | Nongame on specific drainages only |
| Burbot (Ling) | Legal on designated waters | Nongame on specific drainages only |
| Trout (all species) | Illegal | Game fish — bow prohibited statewide |
| Bass, Walleye, Perch | Illegal | Game fish — bow prohibited statewide |
| Catfish & Bullheads | Illegal | Listed as game fish under Wyoming statute |
Wyoming game fish include bass, sunfish, crappie, walleye and sauger, yellow perch, trout, salmon and char, whitefish, grayling, pike, catfish and bullheads, burbot, sturgeon, and freshwater drum — all of which are off-limits to bowfishing unless specifically designated as nongame on a particular water. Always verify the status of any species on the specific water you plan to fish before shooting.
Bowfishing License Requirements in Wyoming
Wyoming’s license rules for bowfishing are unique compared to most other states. It is legal to take nongame fish with archery equipment without a license or permit, but it is always unlawful to take game fish with archery equipment. This means that if you’re strictly targeting nongame species with your bow, you do not need a fishing license to do so.
However, this exemption is narrow. The moment you carry a standard fishing rod alongside your bow, or target any species that could be classified as a game fish, you enter standard fishing license territory. Fishing licenses are required for resident and nonresident anglers 14 years of age or older.
Resident youth under age 14 do not need a license and their creel limit is the same as those requiring licenses. This applies to conventional fishing and would extend to any licensed activity they participate in alongside an adult bowfisher.
- Bowfishing nongame fish only with archery equipment: No license required
- Any conventional fishing alongside bowfishing: Standard fishing license required
- Resident anglers 14 and older using conventional gear: License required
- Nonresident anglers 14 and older: License required for any conventional fishing
Each person licensed to hunt or fish in Wyoming must purchase a single conservation stamp valid for twelve consecutive months, and proof of purchase of a valid stamp shall be in the possession of the sportsman at all times while hunting or fishing. If you hold a fishing license for any reason, the conservation stamp requirement applies to you.
Fishing licenses can be purchased online or at one of the many license-selling agents throughout Wyoming. Annual fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.
Important Note: Even though a license is not required to bowfish for nongame species, you are still bound by all other applicable fishing regulations — including water-specific closures, gear rules, and any nongame fish possession limits that may apply on certain waters. “No license required” does not mean “no rules apply.”
Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Wyoming
Wyoming’s regulations do not outline a highly specific list of bowfishing gear requirements the way some states do. The state’s approach is primarily focused on what you may not use rather than prescribing exact equipment specs. That said, several statewide rules directly affect the gear you bring to the water.
No person shall take, wound or destroy any fish of Wyoming with a firearm of any kind or nature. This rule reinforces that archery equipment — not firearms — is the only projectile-based method permitted for taking fish. Crossbows are not explicitly addressed in the bowfishing context, so you should contact the WGFD directly to confirm crossbow status before using one for fish.
Standard bowfishing setups using compound bows, recurve bows, or longbows with bowfishing reels and arrow rests are consistent with Wyoming’s legal methods framework. It is legal to take nongame fish with archery equipment, and artificial light may be used while fishing with legal fishing methods — meaning lights mounted to your bow or boat for nighttime visibility are permitted.
There is one important restriction tied to underwater gear. Fish may be taken by underwater spear gun fishing in lakes only. The use of artificial light to take game fish with a spear gun is prohibited. While underwater spear guns are a separate category from surface bowfishing, it’s worth knowing these distinctions exist in Wyoming law.
- Compound bows, recurve bows, and longbows: Permitted for bowfishing nongame species
- Bowfishing arrows with barbed tips: Standard and legal
- Bowfishing reels (hand-wrap, spin-cast, retriever styles): All permitted
- Artificial lights on bow or boat: Permitted for bowfishing
- Firearms of any kind: Strictly prohibited for taking fish
- Gaffs: The possession or use of gaffs for landing fish is prohibited.
For a look at how equipment rules differ in other states, see the bowfishing laws in Ohio or the bowfishing laws in Pennsylvania.
Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Wyoming
Wyoming gives bowfishers access to a vast network of public waters, but access is not unlimited. Several categories of water are closed to all fishing — and by extension, to bowfishing — regardless of what species are present.
Fishing is permitted year-round twenty-four hours a day in any of the waters in the state except as otherwise provided by the Commission for specific areas, streams, lakes, or portions thereof. That baseline rule is favorable for bowfishers, but the exceptions matter significantly.
All fish rearing and retaining ponds used by the state, including those located at state fish hatcheries or any that may be constructed elsewhere, are closed to fishing throughout the calendar year. Temporary facilities at spawning station sites are closed to fishing during the time they are in use by the Department. Never bowfish near a state hatchery or spawning facility.
Access to water is a separate issue from whether the water is open to fishing. Some waters that are open to fishing are not accessible due to other land use restrictions. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and US Forest Service have seasonal closures to protect wintering big game herds. Be sure to check with the appropriate land management agency before planning a winter trip.
Special rules apply within national parks. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department does not sell park service licenses nor manage fisheries within Yellowstone National Park. National Park fishing permits are not valid outside of the park boundaries. If you plan to bowfish near Yellowstone or Grand Teton, verify the applicable jurisdiction before entering the water. Fishing is permitted in Grand Teton National Park in conformance with laws and regulations of the Commission, the State of Wyoming, and the regulations of the National Park Service.
Tribal waters carry their own requirements as well. On the Wind River Indian Reservation, permits are required for fishing. Game and Fish does not sell reservation permits nor manage fisheries on reservation lands. Reservation permits are not valid beyond the boundaries of the reservation.
Pro Tip: Before heading out to a specific lake or reservoir, look up that water body in the WGFD’s area-specific regulations. Waters in Wyoming are divided into five drainage areas, and each has its own list of exceptions to the statewide rules. A water that appears open on a general map may have closures or gear restrictions that affect your trip.
Wyoming’s animal and land-use laws are interconnected in ways that can affect outdoor recreation. For context on other state regulations, you may find the roadkill laws in Wyoming or the leash laws in Wyoming useful reading.
Night Bowfishing Rules in Wyoming
Night bowfishing is legal in Wyoming, and the state’s regulations are relatively permissive when it comes to using lights after dark. Artificial light may be used while fishing with legal fishing methods except as prohibited for underwater spear gun fishing. This means you can run a bowfishing light bar, use a headlamp, or mount LEDs on your boat without violating state law.
The general fishing hours rule is worth understanding in context. Fishing is permitted year-round twenty-four hours a day in any of the waters in the state except as otherwise provided by the Commission for specific areas, streams, lakes, or portions thereof. Night bowfishing for nongame fish is covered under this broad permission, provided the specific water you’re on has no nighttime closure.
The one clear restriction on artificial light applies to underwater spear gun fishing. The use of artificial light to take game fish with a spear gun is prohibited. This rule does not apply to surface bowfishing, but it’s a reminder that light-related rules do exist in Wyoming fishing law.
A few practical considerations for night bowfishing in Wyoming:
- Lights on your bow, boat, or headgear are permitted for bowfishing
- Check area-specific regulations for any water with nighttime closures
- Game fish remain off-limits at night just as they are during the day
- Boating safety laws still apply after dark — all boats must carry a properly-sized, U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board
Carp are highly active at night and tend to move into shallow, weedy areas after dark, making nighttime bowfishing on Wyoming’s reservoirs and slower river stretches particularly productive. Rivers like the North Platte and reservoirs like Glendo and Pathfinder are well-known among local bowfishers for their carp populations.
For a comparison of how other states handle night bowfishing, see the bowfishing laws in Tennessee or the bowfishing laws in North Carolina.
Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Wyoming
Wyoming is a landlocked state with no coastline, no tidal waters, and no saltwater fisheries. Saltwater bowfishing simply does not apply here. All bowfishing in Wyoming takes place in freshwater — rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and ponds that fall under the jurisdiction of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
In Wyoming there are about 4,200 lakes with over 333,000 acres of water and over 27,000 miles of fishable streams. Every one of those water bodies is freshwater. If you’re traveling to Wyoming specifically to bowfish, you won’t find any saltwater opportunities within state lines.
If you want to combine a Wyoming bowfishing trip with saltwater bowfishing, you’ll need to cross into a coastal state. Wyoming’s neighboring states are Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska — none of which have ocean coastlines either. The nearest saltwater bowfishing opportunities are in the Gulf Coast states or on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
For bowfishers interested in reading about states with both freshwater and saltwater rules, the bowfishing laws in Virginia cover a state with both freshwater rivers and tidal water access. The bowfishing laws in Minnesota offer another useful freshwater-only comparison closer to Wyoming’s regulatory style.
Wyoming’s bowfishing scene is built entirely around its freshwater nongame fish populations, and that’s where your focus should be. Common carp in the state’s reservoirs and river systems provide plenty of action without any need for saltwater access.
Key Wyoming Bowfishing Rules at a Glance
Before you head out, run through this summary of the most important rules. Wyoming’s bowfishing framework is manageable once you understand the core principles, but the game fish prohibition is absolute and the area-specific exceptions are real.
| Rule Category | Wyoming Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bowfishing legality | Legal for nongame fish only |
| Game fish with bow | Always unlawful, no exceptions |
| License requirement | Not required for nongame fish bowfishing only |
| Night bowfishing | Legal; artificial light permitted |
| Saltwater bowfishing | Not applicable (landlocked state) |
| Firearms for fish | Strictly prohibited |
| Hatchery waters | Closed to all fishing year-round |
| National Park waters | Separate permits required |
Wyoming’s other animal-related laws can intersect with your outdoor activities in unexpected ways. The beekeeping laws in Wyoming and the goat ownership laws in Wyoming are examples of how the state regulates interactions with animals across a wide range of contexts.
Always verify current regulations directly with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department before your trip. Regulations are updated periodically, water-specific rules can change between seasons, and the WGFD’s official fishing regulation booklet is the authoritative source for any water you plan to bowfish. When in doubt, contact a regional WGFD office — game wardens are knowledgeable and generally happy to clarify rules before you’re on the water.