After 25 years, Wisconsin anglers won back the right to carry guns while fishing, but some Wyoming anglers said it would be stupid to ever give that right up in the first place.
Particularly where grizzlies are lumbering about, a .44 magnum could be part of the well-equipped Wyoming angler’s kit.
Even so, don’t entertain any thoughts of leveling your hand-cannon at a trout in a “make my day” moment with a menacing snarl like Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” character.
It remains patently illegal to shoot fish with a firearm in Wyoming or Wisconsin.
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Indeed, people who try to blast fish with guns might very well be why Wisconsin banned anglers from carrying firearms in 1999.
It is legal to shoot some species of fish with a bow in Wyoming, although it used to be illegal for bowhunters to carry firearms here, but now it’s allowed.
Questions about what is and isn’t allowed are good reasons to double-check hunting and fishing regulations before heading out with your fly rod, pistol, bow — or all three at once.
Wisconsin Ban Overturned
Wisconsin’s ban on anglers carrying firearms had long irritated gun rights advocates there.
The conservative activist group Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty finally made a successful push against it, suing on the grounds that it violated the Second Amendment.
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday agreed to overturn the ban, and the lawsuit was dropped, the Washington Times reported.
DRN spokeswoman Molly Meister told the Times that the ban hadn’t really been enforced since 2011, when Wisconsin legalized carrying concealed weapons.
The issue of anglers carrying firearms may be a debate in other states, but not Wyoming. (Getty Images)
A Matter Of Safety
Wisconsin banning anglers from carrying didn’t make sense in the first place, and in Wyoming such a ban would be stupid, Vince Vanata of Cody told Cowboy State Daily.
That’s because some of Wyoming’s best fishing is in the middle of prime grizzly habitat, said he retired Marine and law enforcement officer.
“If you’re fishing on the ground on the North Fork west of Buffalo Bill Reservoir, you’d better carrying a pistol and/or bear spray,” he said.
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“You can see grizzlies from the gate at Yellowstone all the way down to Buffalo Bill. And they all like to head right down to the river,” he said. “If you’re fishing from a boat, it’s not that big of a deal. But if you’re on the ground, you need to be prepared.
“One day, we had to retreat into out camper because a bear came right into the campground” at Newton Creek on the Shoshone National Forest.
Nic George of Sheridan said grizzlies aren’t a concern in most of the places he goes fishing, but he carries a pistol nonetheless because mountain lions might be around.
Anglers tend to be quiet and intensely focused on what they’re doing, he told Cowboy State Daily.
“That makes you a prime target for mountain lions, which is a good reason to carry a firearm while fishing,” he said.
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It’s legal to bowfish in Wyoming, but only for species that Game and Fish lists as non-game species, such as suckers and carp. Game fish, such as trout, may be caught with traditional fishing tackle only.
Bowhunters Can Carry Sidearms
Vanata also likes to hunt with a bow, and said he was happy when Wyoming lifted a ban on bowhunters carrying firearms several years ago.
“Do you lose your Second Amendment rights when you’re bowhunting?” Vanata said.
He said he understands game wardens’ misgivings about some unethical bowhunters trying to cheat and use their pistols to kill elk.
But gun rights and the need for archers to protect themselves from grizzlies and other large predators outweighs that, he said.
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Wyoming Game and Fish regulations allow bowhunters to carry sidearms for personal protection. But firearms may not be used to kill, or even to finish off, big game animals during archery-only hunting seasons.
George said he has an ultra-light Smith & Wesson .44 magnum that he carries when he goes archery hunting in northwest Wyoming.
Its featherweight frame makes the revolver great for carrying on long hikes in the backcountry. But a magnum cartridge in such a light handgun makes for wicked recoil, George said.
“If I ever ran into a grizzly, I’d almost be tempted to just try bludgeoning the bear with it, because it kicks so hard,” he said with a laugh.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.
For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.
Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.
The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.
In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.
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These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.
In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.
The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.
In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.
To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.
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Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX
Required Federal Funding statement: This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two men were detained in Wyoming in connection with a fatal shooting at a downtown Salt Lake hotel that killed one man.
Carlos Chee, 23, and Chino Aguilar, 21, were both wanted for first-degree felony murder after the victim, identified as Christian Lee, 32, was found dead in a room at the Springhill Suites near 600 South and 300 West.
According to warrants issued for their arrest, Chee and Aguilar met with Lee and another woman at the hotel to sell marijuana. During the alleged drug deal, Aguilar allegedly shot and killed Lee after he tried to grab at his gun.
MORE | Shootings
Investigators said they found Lee dead in the room upon arrival, as well as a single shell casing on the floor and a small amount of marijuana on the television stand.
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The woman told investigators she had met Chee on a dating app and that he agreed to come to the hotel to sell her marijuana. She had been hanging out with him in the room, which Lee rented for her to use, when Lee asked them to leave. Lee was then shot and killed following a brief confrontation.
Chee and Aguilar allegedly fled the scene in a 2013 Toyota Camry with a Texas license plate that was later found outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming just a few hours later.
The two men were taken into custody and detained at the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
