Wyoming hunters are shifting to migratory game bird and pheasant seasons as big game hunting ends, according to reminders from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Duck hunters should look for leg bands on harvested birds and send the band number, location, and species to the North American Bird Banding Program. Courtney Rudd, a migratory game bird and wetland biologist there, observed a mild fall so far with rising waterfowl activity in portions of Wyoming, adding that significantly colder weather to the north is required before larger bird numbers journey south through the state.

Nontoxic shot is required for ducks, mergansers, coots and geese. The same nontoxic requirement applies to shotgun hunting of game birds and small game at Springer wildlife habitat management area and at Table Mountain wildlife habitat management area, so hunters must review the regulations for remaining rules and dates.