Wyoming metal detecting rule layers
Quick answer: a rule applies because of jurisdiction and managing authority, not simply because a place is publicly accessible. This page contains only rule layers actually inherited by current Wyoming records.
How to read these rules: detector use, digging, target recovery, artifact protection, permits and designated zones can be controlled by different provisions. A restrictive recovery rule is not automatically rewritten as a detector-possession ban, and an access permit is not automatically treated as recovery authorization.
Wyoming metal detecting law questions
Is metal detecting legal on all public land in Wyoming?
No. Public access does not create metal-detecting or target-recovery permission. The controlling rule depends on the land manager, property purpose, detector-use rule, digging/recovery restrictions, protected-resource law and any permit or designated-zone requirement.
Does a recreation, hunting or access permit authorize metal detecting?
Not unless the controlling rule expressly says it does. Access credentials and detector/recovery authorization are treated as separate legal questions in this database.
Can a map pin prove where metal detecting is permitted?
No. A map pin is only a public visitor/access reference point. It is never treated as a property boundary, detecting zone, archaeological location or legal permission boundary.
How many controlling rule layers are listed for Wyoming?
14 current rule layers are represented on this page. Each rule entry identifies its managing authority, status, official source, verification grade and verification date.
National Park Service park areas — 36 CFR §2.1
36 CFR §2.1 prohibits possessing or using metal detectors and related detecting devices in National Park Service park areas. The same section also prohibits digging, disturbing, removing or damaging protected natural, cultural and archaeological resources. current data uses this federal rule only for public visitor/reference points inside identified Florida NPS units; no search-target coordinates are exposed.
Important exceptions: The detector prohibition does not apply when a device is broken down and packed to prevent use, to navigation/safe-operation equipment for boats or aircraft, or to detectors used for authorized scientific, mining or administrative activities. These are not ordinary recreational detecting permissions. Park-specific closures and superintendent rules may be stricter.
Official source — www.ecfr.gov · Verified
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System — 50 CFR Part 27 search/resource restrictions
Federal Refuge System rules provide an A-grade negative decision for antiquity, buried-treasure/treasure-trove, specified mineral-object and prospecting searches and for unauthorized property disturbance/removal. They do not expressly answer every ordinary modern lost-item detector-use scenario. current decision therefore publishes the resolved restrictions while preserving the unresolved narrower detector-use dimension.
Important exceptions: Refuge-specific rules, closures, special-use permits and compatibility determinations may be stricter, including explicit detector prohibitions. Authorized activities may exist under applicable federal regulations. No permission is inferred from public access, beaches, waterways or absence of a refuge-specific detector sentence.
Official source — www.ecfr.gov · Supporting official source — www.fws.gov · Verified
Wyoming
Wyoming park rules prohibit use of a mineral or metal detecting device at a state park or recreation area without written permission of the superintendent. Park resources, soil, rocks, minerals, artifacts, relics and historic or prehistoric features are separately protected from unauthorized disturbance or removal.
Important exceptions: Written superintendent permission is the rule-based pathway for State Parks and the State Recreation Area; it does not authorize protected-resource recovery outside the written terms.
Official source — wyoparks.wyo.gov · Supporting official source — www.law.cornell.edu · Verified
Wyoming
Wyoming park rules prohibit mineral or metal detecting devices at state historic or archaeological sites except for official use. Protected artifacts, relics and historic or prehistoric features may not be disturbed or removed.
Important exceptions: Official agency use is not recreational permission. Museum and historic-site visitor access does not create a recovery pathway.
Official source — wyoparks.wyo.gov · Supporting official source — www.law.cornell.edu · Verified
Wyoming
WGFD administers WHMAs for wildlife habitat and public recreation subject to Chapter 23, seasonal closures and area-specific rules. Hunting, fishing, camping or wildlife-viewing access does not by itself establish metal-detecting, digging or object-recovery permission.
Important exceptions: Human-presence closures, travel limits and other site-specific restrictions can apply. Confirm the current WHMA page and Chapter 23 before any detecting or recovery activity.
Official source — wgfd.wyo.gov · Supporting official source — wgfd.wyo.gov · Verified
Wyoming
Public Access Areas are Commission-owned lands or permanent/long-term easements managed for specified recreational access. Each PAA has its own posted rules. Fishing or hunting access does not establish permission for metal detecting, excavation or recovery.
Important exceptions: Easement terms and the underlying owner may control activities beyond the posted hunting/fishing access purpose.
Official source — wgfd.wyo.gov · Supporting official source — wgfd.wyo.gov · Verified
Wyoming
Access Yes enrollment provides only the specific hunting or fishing access described for the property. Walk-In Areas are private property and only the landowner may allow other activities; HMAs likewise have property-specific permission and ranch rules.
Important exceptions: Public land inside an HMA/WIA can have different rules if legally accessed without crossing enrolled property. Always identify the actual parcel owner.
Official source — wgfd.wyo.gov · Supporting official source — wgfd.wyo.gov · Verified
Wyoming
BLM public access does not override mining claims, closures, special designations or cultural-resource protections. Metal detecting for lawful modern targets/prospecting may be possible on suitable BLM land where the activity is otherwise lawful and causes only permissible disturbance, but historic and archaeological resources are protected.
Important exceptions: Wilderness Study Areas, national trails, developed sites, active claims, cultural sites and special closures require exact current review. No protected artifact may be targeted or removed.
Official source — www.blm.gov · Supporting official source — www.blm.gov · Verified
Wyoming
A national-trail identity does not make every Wyoming segment NPS-administered. Apply federal NPS detector restrictions on NPS-administered parcels and the actual owner/manager rule elsewhere.
Important exceptions: Trail association, route history or signage is not evidence of parcel ownership or detecting permission.
Official source — www.nps.gov · Supporting official source — www.nps.gov · Verified
Wyoming
National Forest access is not blanket detector or excavation permission. Historic and archaeological resources, wilderness, developed sites, active claims, Forest Orders and other land-status restrictions can prohibit or limit detecting and recovery.
Important exceptions: Confirm the exact National Forest/Grassland unit, current Forest Orders, claim status and intended target before use.
Official source — www.fs.usda.gov · Supporting official source — www.fs.usda.gov · Verified
Wyoming
Reclamation owns or operates major Wyoming water projects, while recreation is often managed by a county, state agency, BLM or another partner. Reservoir access does not establish detector, excavation or recovery permission.
Important exceptions: Determine the exact recreation parcel and operating manager; State Park, refuge, county, BLM or other rules may control specific shorelines and facilities.
Official source — www.usbr.gov · Supporting official source — www.usbr.gov · Verified
Wyoming
Wyoming allows public hunting, fishing and general recreation on legally accessible State Trust Lands subject to Chapter 13 restrictions. Activities outside that scope require a temporary use permit or special use lease, and damaging activities are prohibited.
Important exceptions: Cultivated cropland, inaccessible parcels and lands under specific restrictions are not open under the general privilege. General recreation access is not a detector-recovery entitlement.
Official source — lands.wyo.gov · Supporting official source — lands.wyo.gov · Verified
Wyoming
Ordinary local-park access does not establish permission to detect, dig or keep recovered objects. Confirm the current local ordinance, property rule and any excavation/resource restrictions with the actual manager.
Important exceptions: Properties overlapping Reclamation, State Park, federal or other agency land can be governed by the underlying land manager rather than the local recreation operator.
Official source — www.natronacounty-wy.gov · Supporting official source — www.tetoncountywy.gov · Verified
Wyoming
The City of Laramie park rules expressly state “No metal detectors or digging.”
Important exceptions: A separate written authorization from the city would be required to depart from the posted city-park rule.
Official source — www.cityoflaramie.org · Supporting official source — www.cityoflaramie.org · Verified