State Announces Seasonal Wildlife Area Closures, Local Access Changes

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department released its annual schedule of seasonal closures for Wildlife Habitat Management Areas on November 22, 2025, a formal notice intended to guide hunters, recreationists, and land users across the state. County 10 posted the department release the same day, and the statewide table provided in the notice lists closure start and end dates along with applicable restrictions such as vehicle limits and foot access rules.

For Albany County the release highlights two familiar locations. Laramie Peak is listed as remaining open year round except for certain WGFD lands that are closed to human presence annually. Pilot Hill is identified with a seasonal closure to human presence from Feb. 1 through April 30. Those dates are timed to reduce disturbance to wintering big game animals and to protect winter range forage that sustains deer, elk, and bighorn sheep through the cold months.

State wildlife managers design these closures to limit human activity during critical seasons when animals are most vulnerable. The release provides a full statewide table of WHMA closure dates and the specific types of restrictions that apply at each site. Restrictions range from limits on motor vehicle use on designated roads to prohibitions on foot access during closure windows. The notice functions as an official public advisory so that people planning hunts, hikes, or other uses of public lands can schedule activities outside restricted periods.

For local residents who use trailheads, open spaces, and public lands in and around Albany County, the announcement is a timely reminder to check WHMA specific rules prior to visiting. Seasonal closures may affect access to popular recreation routes, hunting strategies, and winter travel plans. Land users who encounter signage or barriers at trailheads should treat them as authoritative guidance from the department and adjust routes accordingly.

The department’s approach aligns with common wildlife management practices across North America that seek to balance public access with conservation of vulnerable populations. By protecting winter range forage and minimizing disturbance when animals are already stressed by winter conditions, these temporary closures aim to support healthier ungulate populations and reduce long term impacts to both wildlife and the outdoor recreation opportunities that depend on them.

Albany County residents can view the full closure schedule and site specific restrictions through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the County 10 posting from November 22, 2025. Planning ahead and observing posted rules will help ensure safe, lawful, and sustainable use of local public lands.