Buying a gun online in Wyoming (and hunting rifles for Wyoming game)
The short answer
You can shop online for a rifle or handgun, but you cannot have it dropped at your door. It goes through a licensed dealer (an FFL) who runs your background check. For Wyoming hunting rifles, the Game and Fish Department (WGFD) sets the license and hunter education rules.
How an online gun purchase works
- Pick the gun and pay online. Tell the seller which licensed dealer near you will receive it.
- The dealer checks your photo ID and contacts NICS, the federal background check system, before handing over the gun (27 CFR 478.102).
- The NICS transaction number is recorded on ATF Form 4473 (27 CFR 478.102).
- The dealer hands over the gun only after NICS answers "Proceed" or the allowed review time ends with no denial (27 CFR 478.102).
- Federal rules bar a dealer from selling most guns across state lines to a person who lives elsewhere. The narrow rifle and shotgun exception requires you to meet the dealer in person (27 CFR 478.96, 478.99). This is why online orders go through a dealer in your own state.
Shipping details can vary by seller and carrier. Ask your dealer about their transfer fee and process before you order.
Federal age rules at a dealer
| What you buy | Minimum age from a licensed dealer |
|---|---|
| Rifle or shotgun | 18 |
| Handgun (any other firearm) | 21 |
Source: 27 CFR 478.99(b)(1). Dealers also cannot sell to people in the federal prohibited categories listed there, such as felony convictions or unlawful drug use.
Wyoming state rules
State rules on purchase permits, registration and carrying are set by Wyoming law and can change. Check with the Wyoming Attorney General's office or your dealer for the current rules. This page is not legal advice.
Hunting in Wyoming: the basics from WGFD
- Buy licenses and apply for draws through the WGFD "Licenses & Applications" page. You can also find a license selling agent there.
- Big game species with their own application dates include antelope (pronghorn), deer and elk. Applications open in early January. Dates differ by species and by resident or nonresident status.
- Hunter education is required to hunt with a firearm if you were born on or after January 1, 1966. You do not need proof to apply, but you must carry proof in the field. Exemptions exist, so check the WGFD hunter education pages.
- Elk: residents can buy one general license per year. Nonresidents need a region general license. The WGFD elk page says season dates are in the Chapter 7 Elk Hunting Season Regulation.
| Species | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Elk | WGFD Hunt Planner, elk page and season regulation |
| Deer | WGFD licenses page and current regulations |
| Pronghorn (antelope) | WGFD licenses page and current regulations |
Season dates and hunt areas change every year. Always read the current WGFD regulations before you buy a license.
Choosing a hunting rifle
We did not find a WGFD page that names a required or suggested caliber, so we will not give one. Here is what is safe to say.
- Check the current WGFD regulations for any rules on firearms and ammunition for the species you hunt.
- Pick a rifle you shoot well. Practice at the distances you expect to shoot.
- Elk, deer and pronghorn are different sizes and are hunted in different terrain. Ask a Wyoming dealer or outfitter what works in your hunt area.
- Buy from a licensed dealer, and plan for the transfer before the season starts.
FAQ
Can I order a rifle online and get it at home?
Not directly. Online orders go to a licensed dealer who runs the NICS check first.
How old do I need to be?
Federal rules set 18 for a rifle or shotgun and 21 for a handgun when buying from a dealer. State rules may differ, so ask your dealer.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Wyoming?
If you were born on or after January 1, 1966 and hunt with a firearm, yes. Carry proof in the field. See the WGFD page for exemptions.
Official links
- WGFD Licenses & Applications: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/licenses-applications
- WGFD Elk Hunt Planner: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Hunting/Hunt-Planner/elk-Hunting
- WGFD Hunter Education: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/education-camps/hunter-education
- 27 CFR 478.96: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/part-478/section-478.96
- 27 CFR 478.99: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/part-478/section-478.99
- 27 CFR 478.102: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/part-478/section-478.102
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
