Our History
The Wind River Indian Reservation, covering a vast 2,268,000 acres is the home of two tribe’s Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho, with 11,914 enrolled members. There are 8,177 enrolled Arapaho and 3,737 enrolled Shoshones. There are 1,888,000 acres of private Indian owned land. The reservation is rich in oil, gas, and agricultural resources. A vast wilderness area covers some 180,387 acres. This area, plus lower lying land along the Big Wind River and its tributaries provide some of the best fishing in Wyoming.
Over 1,109 miles of streams and some 265 lakes provide the fishermen with multitude of fishing experience. Predominant fish species caught are brown, rainbow, brook, lake and cutthroat trout. Some of the world’s finest golden trout fishing can be experienced in the remote back country.
The Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Tribal Fish and Game Department currently provides wildlife management on behalf of the Tribes for big game animals, fishing seasons, the trapping of certain species and the hunting of upland game birds and waterfowl on the Wind River Indian Reservation. In addition, oversight is provided for tribal youth in forestry program, invasive species wildlife control projects, endangered species activities and search and rescue efforts.
Wind River Indian Reservation closed to hunting, fishing, trapping and trespassing unless authorized by a permit issued by the Shoshone & Arapaho Tribes or the Bureau of Indian Affairs.