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Wyoming · 2026-27 season year

Wyoming Small Game Season 2026-27

Grouse: September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. Pheasant: October 15, 2026 to December 31, 2026. Every date below was read from Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s own published page, linked beside it, on September 19, 2026.

This page covers the 2026-27 season year. Dates were read from the agency sources linked below, last checked September 19, 2026. Seasons change annually and agencies correct their own pages; confirm against the linked agency page before you hunt.
October 15, 2026 to December 31, 2026
Pheasant
published
No open season
Quail
no season
September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026
Grouse
published
September 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027
Rabbit
published
September 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027
Squirrel
published
7 zone rows
Zone structure
as the agency draws it
Five seasons, one state

Wyoming small game seasons, 2026-27

“When does small game season open” is five questions wearing one coat. Wyoming Game and Fish Department dates pheasant, sage grouse, blue (dusky) grouse, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, chukar and gray partridge, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare and red, grey and fox squirrel separately, so each species is below under the agency’s own name for it, with the zone rows exactly as the agency lists them.

Pheasant

published

Pheasant runs October 15, 2026 to December 31, 2026 across all zones.

Wyoming pheasant, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1November 1, 2026December 31, 2026Fremont, Sheridan, Johnson, Park, Washakie and Hot Springs counties and most of Big Horn County, excluding the lands in Areas 2 and 5
Area 2 (segment 1)November 1, 2026November 30, 2026Ocean Lake and Sand Mesa Wildlife Habitat Management Areas and the Mile High Ranch and Killebrew Ranches access areas; two consecutive rows in Chapter 11
Area 2 (segment 2)December 1, 2026December 31, 2026
Area 5November 1, 2026December 31, 2026Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area north of U.S. Highway 14A
Area 7November 1, 2026December 31, 2026Goshen County excluding Area 8
Area 8 (segment 1)October 15, 2026October 31, 2026Springer and Bump-Sullivan Wildlife Habitat Management Area; the October segment is the Springer permit pheasant season
Area 8 (segment 2)November 1, 2026November 30, 2026
Area 9November 1, 2026December 31, 2026Bureau of Reclamation lands bordering and including Glendo State Park and the adjoining Access Yes walk-in area
Area 11November 1, 2026December 31, 2026The entire state excluding Areas 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 and 9

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Wyoming dates pheasant by hunt area in Chapter 11: nearly every area opens November 1 and most run through December 31, while Area 8, the Springer and Bump-Sullivan habitat area, has a permit season from October 15 to 31 and closes November 30. Youth only pheasant days are set inside particular areas rather than as a statewide youth season.

Opening day, the daily limit and the full season calendar are on the Wyoming pheasant season page.

Quail

no season

Wyoming has no open quail season for 2026-27. Wyoming's upland game birds in the 2026 regulation are sage grouse, blue (dusky) grouse, ruffed grouse, chukar partridge, gray partridge, sharp-tailed grouse and pheasant. Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Ruffed Grouse

published

Ruffed Grouse runs September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 across all zones.

Wyoming ruffed grouse, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1, the entire state of WyomingSeptember 1, 2026December 31, 2026

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Chapter 11 dates ruffed grouse and blue (dusky) grouse as separate seasons with the same statewide window, September 1 through December 31. The blue grouse row is recorded in the other seasons along with sharp-tailed and sage grouse.

Cottontail Rabbit

published

Cottontail Rabbit runs September 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 across all zones.

Wyoming cottontail rabbit, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1, the entire state of WyomingSeptember 1, 2026March 31, 2027

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Cottontail rabbit runs September 1 through March 31 statewide in Chapter 11's small game table, on the same dates as snowshoe hare and the squirrels.

Red, Grey and Fox Squirrel

published

Red, Grey and Fox Squirrel runs September 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 across all zones.

Wyoming red, grey and fox squirrel, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1, the entire state of WyomingSeptember 1, 2026March 31, 2027

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Red, grey and fox squirrel are dated together, September 1 through March 31 statewide, in Chapter 11's small game table.

There shall be a Springer permit pheasant season in Hunt Area 8 beginning October 15 through October 31.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department, read September 19, 2026. Read it at the source
A rooster ring-necked pheasant with a red face, iridescent green head and white neck ring striding through dry pale crop stubble
A rooster in harvested crop stubble in North Dakota. Most pheasant openers land in October and November, once the fields are cut. Photo: Courtney Celley, USFWS. “Ring-necked pheasant (54120901581)”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Public domain
The rest of the calendar

Other Wyoming small game seasons the agency names

Beyond the five main species, Wyoming Game and Fish Department dates 7 further seasons on the same small game pages. They are reproduced here under the agency’s own names, because a hunter reading a calendar needs to know which window a licence or stamp actually covers.

Blue (Dusky) Grouse

published

Blue (Dusky) Grouse runs September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 across all zones.

Wyoming blue (dusky) grouse, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1, the entire state of WyomingSeptember 1, 2026December 31, 2026

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Blue (dusky) grouse share the ruffed grouse window statewide.

Sharp-Tailed Grouse

published

Sharp-Tailed Grouse runs September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 across all zones.

Wyoming sharp-tailed grouse, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1, that portion of Wyoming east of the Continental DivideSeptember 1, 2026December 31, 2026

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Sharp-tailed grouse are open only east of the Continental Divide, September 1 through December 31.

Sage Grouse

published

Sage Grouse runs September 19, 2026 to September 30, 2026 across all zones.

Wyoming sage grouse, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1September 19, 2026September 30, 2026Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park, Sweetwater and Uinta counties plus the further portions Chapter 11 describes; Areas 2, 3 and 4 are closed

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

A twelve day September sage grouse season in Area 1 only; Chapter 11 lists Areas 2, 3 and 4 as closed.

Chukar Partridge

published

Chukar Partridge runs September 15, 2026 to January 31, 2027 across all zones.

Wyoming chukar partridge, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1, the entire state of WyomingSeptember 15, 2026January 31, 2027

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Chukar run September 15 through January 31 statewide.

Gray Partridge

published

Gray Partridge runs September 15, 2026 to January 31, 2027 across all zones.

Wyoming gray partridge, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1, the entire state of WyomingSeptember 15, 2026January 31, 2027

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Gray partridge run on the chukar calendar, September 15 through January 31 statewide.

Snowshoe Hare

published

Snowshoe Hare runs September 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 across all zones.

Wyoming snowshoe hare, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Area 1, the entire state of WyomingSeptember 1, 2026March 31, 2027

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Snowshoe hare share the cottontail window statewide.

Youth Only Hunt Days

published

Youth Only Hunt Days runs October 17, 2026 to November 29, 2026 across all zones.

Wyoming youth only hunt days, as published by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
ZoneOpensClosesNotes
Springer permit pheasant season, Hunt Area 8 (segment 1)October 17, 2026October 17, 2026Springer permit days reserved for youths
Springer permit pheasant season, Hunt Area 8 (segment 2)October 25, 2026October 25, 2026
Springer permit pheasant season, Hunt Area 8 (segment 3)October 31, 2026October 31, 2026
Glendo Pheasant Hunt Area 9 (segment 1)November 8, 2026November 8, 2026Sundays
Glendo Pheasant Hunt Area 9 (segment 2)November 15, 2026November 15, 2026
Glendo Pheasant Hunt Area 9 (segment 3)November 22, 2026November 22, 2026
Glendo Pheasant Hunt Area 9 (segment 4)November 29, 2026November 29, 2026
Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Area and Pheasant Hunt Area 2November 14, 2026November 14, 2026
Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area north of the Shoshone RiverNovember 13, 2026November 15, 2026

Dates read from Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, accessed 2026-09-19.

Wyoming has no statewide youth pheasant season; Chapter 11 sets youth only days inside particular hunt areas and habitat management areas.

Rules

Wyoming small game hunting regulations

Season windows are carried here with their source and read date attached. Everything else a hunter is bound by is set by Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and its regulations page is linked below.

Current Wyoming regulations

Bag and possession limits, legal methods, shooting hours, license and stamp requirements, and youth or special season rules for Wyoming are set by Wyoming Game and Fish Department, are legally binding and change annually. Its current regulations page is linked here.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department: current regulations
Close view of an eastern cottontail rabbit in green grass, ears up, dark round eye and white chin catching the light
An eastern cottontail. Rabbit is usually the last small game season to close, running into February in most of the East and Midwest. Photo: Grayson Smith, USFWS. “Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (48935527872)”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Public domain

Small game season dates in other Rockies states

Every state’s pheasant, quail, grouse, rabbit and squirrel dates are on the national small game season page.

A ruffed grouse standing on snow with its feathers puffed against the cold, crest raised, in front of bare frosted branches
A ruffed grouse in northern Minnesota snow. Grouse seasons open in September or October in the northern forest states and several run through the winter. Photo: Courtney Celley, USFWS. “Ruffed grouse (53480965635)”, USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Wyoming pheasant seasonOpening day, the daily limit and the full Wyoming pheasant calendar, read from the same agency.Wyoming deer seasonArchery, firearms, muzzleloader and youth deer dates for 2026-27, under the same sourcing rules.Wyoming turkey seasonSpring and fall wild turkey windows for 2026-27, read from the same agency.Wyoming duck seasonDuck and goose season dates by zone and flyway, read from the same agency.Wyoming fall foliagePeak color and the first grouse and squirrel weeks overlap. Plan the same trip.

Wyoming small game season questions

A fox squirrel with a grey back and rust orange belly crouched on a lichen covered branch against bare winter trees and blue sky
A fox squirrel in bare winter woods in Ohio. Squirrel is the earliest small game opener in many states, from mid August or September, and runs to January or February. “Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger vulpinus) (13255025953)” by Andrew C, CC BY 2.0

This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 19, 2026. Every season window is republished from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department page linked beside it, read on September 19, 2026; windows the agency had not yet published are labelled not yet published. Bag and possession limits, legal methods, shooting hours and licence rules are set by Wyoming Game and Fish Department, whose page is the final word on the day you hunt. See also the national small game season guide.