JACKSON -- The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has set an antler and horn gathering season for public land west of the Continental Divide in an effort to protect big game on winter range.

In an unanimous vote Thursday, the commission set the season for April 30 to Jan. 1. It's not expected to affect antler hunting in Teton County, however, because most crucial winter range in the area is already off limits from December through April.

Antler hunting has become a profitable business, with a matched set, trophy rack going for thousands of dollars.

Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioner Clark Allan said previously that he regrets imposing more restrictions on public land.

"I hate to see something regulated that was such an easy and free thing to do," he said. "I think it's kind of regrettable, it's just come to the point where we have to."

Among the problems caused by people hunting for antlers is getting too close to the areas where elk and deer congregate and spooking the herds into running.

For animals weakened by months of wallowing in deep snow and nibbling on scarce forage, running can be deadly.

Utah and Colorado have adopted similar antler hunting regulations in recent years.

Wyoming's new regulations will not affect the annual Boy Scouts antler gather on the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, said Wyoming Game and Fish spokesman Mark Gocke. The Boy Scouts gather is done under the supervision of refuge officials, with a majority of the proceeds from the sale of the antlers going back to the refuge.

"It's business as usual for the Boy Scouts," Gocke said.