Can you hunt in Yellowstone National Park?

Hunting is not allowed in Yellowstone National Park, and this prohibition has been a fundamental rule of the park since its earliest days. Yellowstone was established to protect wildlife in a natural state, and allowing hunting within its boundaries would directly conflict with that purpose. As a result, visitors cannot hunt, pursue, harass, or intentionally kill wildlife anywhere inside the park, regardless of the season or the type of animal involved.

Quick Reference: Hunting Rules in Yellowstone National Park

Topic	Rule in Yellowstone	Legal Basis	What It Means for Visitors
Hunting	Not allowed	36 CFR §2.2(a)	No recreational, subsistence, or sport hunting anywhere inside the park
Feeding wildlife	Not allowed	36 CFR §2.2(a)	Visitors may not feed animals under any circumstances
Wildlife protection	Full protection inside park	National Park Service regulations	Animals are managed for natural behavior and ecosystem balance
Management actions	Allowed only for safety or conservation	Federal authority	Any removals are done by park staff, not the public
Hunting outside the park	Allowed in some areas	State wildlife laws	Legal hunting may occur once animals leave park boundaries

This rule is clearly defined in federal law. Under National Park Service regulations, specifically Regulation Code 36 CFR §2.2(a), hunting and feeding animals are not allowed inside the park. The regulation applies to all wildlife species, from large mammals such as elk, bison, wolves, and bears to smaller animals and birds. Feeding wildlife is included in the same regulation because it can alter natural behavior, increase aggression, and create dangerous situations for both animals and people. Together, these restrictions are designed to keep Yellowstone’s ecosystem functioning as naturally as possible.

The ban on hunting inside Yellowstone does not mean that wildlife is unmanaged. Park biologists closely monitor animal populations, movements, and health through long-term research programs. In rare cases, animals may be relocated or lethally removed by park authorities for public safety or conservation reasons, but these actions are considered management interventions, not hunting. They are carried out by trained professionals under strict legal authority and are fundamentally different from recreational or subsistence hunting.

Outside the park’s boundaries, the situation changes significantly. Many species that are fully protected inside Yellowstone may be legally hunted in surrounding national forests or on state and private lands during regulated seasons. This contrast is especially important for wide-ranging animals such as wolves and elk, which often move beyond the park in search of food or territory. While these animals are safe from hunting inside Yellowstone, they can become subject to state hunting laws once they cross the park boundary.

For visitors, the no-hunting rule helps define the Yellowstone experience. Wildlife viewing is one of the park’s greatest attractions, and the absence of hunting allows animals to behave more naturally and be seen more frequently. It also reinforces the park’s role as a refuge, where ecological processes such as predation, migration, and competition unfold with minimal direct human interference.