Jackalope Population Boom Forces Wyoming to Establish Official Hunting Season With Extremely Specific Regulations

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has announced the establishment of the state's first official jackalope hunting season, effective March 1, following what wildlife managers describe as 'an unprecedented population boom that can no longer be managed through denial.' The jackalope, a creature traditionally classified as 'fictional' by the department, has been reclassified as 'provisionally acknowledged' after a two-year survey documented an estimated 4,200 individuals across the state's eastern grasslands -- a number that department spokesperson Russell Rack described as 'too many to pretend aren't there.' 'For decades, our official position was that jackalopes do not exist,' said department director Amanda Pronghorn. 'This position became untenable when a herd of approximately 300 was photographed crossing Interstate 25 during rush hour last October. Several had antler spreads exceeding eighteen inches. People noticed.' The hunting regulations, published in a 44-page supplement to the state's existing game code, are notably more complex than those for any other species. Hunters must obtain a Cryptid Game License ($75, limited to 200 per season), pass a 30-question written exam on 'antlered rabbit identification, behavior, and etiquette,' and demonstrate proficiency with what the regulations describe as 'a weapon the jackalope would consider sporting.' The etiquette exam has drawn particular attention. Sample questions include: 'If a jackalope speaks to you during a hunt, what is the appropriate response?' (Answer: 'Polite acknowledgment. Do not engage in extended conversation.') And: 'A jackalope challenges you to a race. Do you accept?' (Answer: 'Decline respectfully. They are faster than they appear.') The 'sporting weapon' clause has been interpreted by the department to exclude firearms, crossbows, and 'anything with a scope,' limiting hunters to slingshots, thrown nets, and 'cleverness, which is historically their natural predator.' Wyoming Governor Mark Antler signed the regulation into law with what his office described as 'a combination of institutional pride and mild bewilderment.' 'We're the first state to officially regulate a creature most people think is a postcard joke,' the governor said. 'I don't know if that's progress, but it's something.'