The Office of State Lands and Investments will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in observance of Labor Day.

Restrictions Under Consideration

State Trust Values

When Wyoming became a state on July 10, 1890, the federal government granted approximately 4.2 million acres of land to the State of Wyoming. The law requires state lands be held in trust to produce income to support public schools and other state institutions named in the original grants.

State trust assets are managed for two key purposes consistent with traditional trust principles: (1) long-term growth in value, and (2) optimum, sustainable revenue production.

Recreational Use Restrictions

In the years since the privilege to recreate on State Trust Lands was granted by the Board of Land Commissioners (Board) to the general public, the Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI) has encountered numerous situations in which requests to restrict specific activities on certain State Trust Lands have been made.

Those requests have been submitted by state lessees, adjacent landowners, other state agencies, and the general public. Additionally, OSLI may also initiate a restriction upon the discovery of a detrimental situation occurring on State Trust Lands.

The most common restrictions placed on State Trust Lands by the Board have been Walk-In Areas and Habitat Management Areas (in conjunction with Wyoming Game and Fish Department), closure to motorized vehicles (due to resource damage, dumping of refuse, etc.), and firearms restrictions (due to safety concerns).

CURRENT RECREATIONAL USE RESTRICTIONS

8/21/2025 - Proposed Closure to All Public Use: Wyoming State Shooting Complex

The Wyoming State Shooting Complex Joint Powers Board has submitted a request to OSLI to close to all public use approximately 1,956 acres of state trust land leased for the development and operation of the Wyoming State Shooting Complex in Park County. The Wyoming State Shooting Complex initiative was developed by the Legislature to increase economic opportunity for the State of Wyoming. It is intended to do so by hosting large scale shooting competitions which will draw the interest of firearms related individuals and companies to Wyoming. It will also provide additional opportunity for Wyoming residents to become more engaged in shooting sports and increase education in firearms safety, outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation. The proposed closure would include the following state trust lands:

Township 51 North, Range 102 West

Section 1: Lots 1-6;S2N2;N2SW4:Resurveyed Tract 60A

Section 2: Lots 1-4;S2N2;N2S2

Township 52 North, Range 101 West

Section 31: Lot 7

Township 52 North, Range 102 West

Section 35: Resurveyed Lot 37; Resurveyed Lot 38 (A,B,G,H,I,J,O,P)

Section 36: Resurveyed Lot 37

If you would like to provide comments on this proposed restriction, please use the comment form to the right.