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Shed horn and antler gathering is prohibited on public lands west of the Continental Divide from January 1 through April 30. State lands are also off-limits to shed antler or horn gathering. Public lands in the Great Divide Basin are excluded from the regulation. The regulation has been in effect since 2009.

Public lands are defined as federal lands and lands owned or administered by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.

In addition, the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners has approved an annual restriction prohibiting the collection of antlers from Jan. 1 through April 30 on all parcels of land under jurisdiction of the Board of Land Commissioners west of the Continental Divide.

These lands are often referred to as "state lands" and are usually blue on land status maps.
The purpose of the regulation is to minimize harassment or disturbance of big game animals on their winter and spring ranges when animals are most vulnerable to stress, as well as potential displacement to less productive habitats. Colorado and Utah have similar regulations.

The regulation was made possible by legislation (W.S. 23-1-302) passed by the 2009 Wyoming Legislature that gave the Game and Fish Commission authority to regulate and control the collection of shed antlers and horns of big game animals west of the Continental Divide.