Wyoming Elk Pronghorn

Unit 006 (Snowy Range / Medicine Bow)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Pronghorn

Wyoming Elk Area 006 covers the Snowy Range and Medicine Bow Mountains in Albany County, managed primarily as Medicine Bow National Forest public land. The unit sits in southeast Wyoming and offers an accessible elk hunting option for hunters from Colorado, Nebraska, and eastern Wyoming. The terrain ranges from open high-country parks near Snowy Range Pass to dense lodgepole pine and spruce-fir forests at mid-elevation.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 006

Where to Find Elk in Area 006

Elk in Area 006 use the high parks and meadow systems near Snowy Range Pass (WY-130) in early season, then migrate toward mid-elevation lodgepole and spruce timber as weather cools. The open alpine terrain above 10,000 feet allows excellent glassing opportunities in September. Key areas include the drainages flanking the Snowy Range and the timbered slopes above Centennial.

Road Access

WY-130 over Snowy Range Pass provides direct access to high-country elk habitat. Multiple forest roads and trailheads allow hunters to quickly reach elk country without extended pack-ins. The combination of high-country visibility and accessible terrain makes this a productive early-season glassing area.

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How to Hunt Elk in Area 006

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 006 in the Snowy Range sees consistent elk hunting success supported by the Medicine Bow National Forest's large public land base. The accessible terrain and road network help hunters locate elk efficiently. WGFD annual harvest reports include Area 006 data — check the Big Game Harvest Report for current success rates.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	21	47	44.7%	0
Rifle— General	42	385	10.9%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

The Snowy Range area has historically offered general (Type 1) elk licenses in some seasons, making it more accessible to applicants without accumulated preference points. Limited quota seasons may also be available. Check the WGFD Hunt Planner and Applications & Drawings page for current Area 006 license availability and draw requirements.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 006

Pronghorn Area 6 covers the sage-grassland country around Gillette and Campbell County in northeast Wyoming. The area is a mix of coal-basin reclaimed grassland, deeded ranch country, and Thunder Basin National Grassland parcels. Three-year records show 790 applicants drawing 379 tags — a tighter Type 1 draw than most eastern-Wyoming units but still accessible with a point or two. The area produces solid 13-15 inch bucks, with the reclaimed mine grasslands holding surprisingly good densities.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 6

Area 6 pronghorn occupy a broad sage-grassland belt from the Powder River breaks east to the South Dakota line.

Reclaimed Mine Grassland

The reclaimed coal-mine grasslands around Wright and the Belle Fourche drainage hold dense pronghorn. Access requires checking with the coal companies or focusing on neighboring BLM parcels — the reclamation-era grass is some of the best pronghorn forage in northeast Wyoming.

Sage-Grass Transitions

Work the edges where big-sage stands meet grassland. Pronghorn feed on grass but bed in sage for cover. Rim-edge glassing pays off.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 6

Standard NE Wyoming spot-and-stalk with real attention to access. We spend as much time scouting private-public lines as we do glassing bucks.

Glass the Reclamation Edges

Set up on high points overlooking the reclaimed mine grasslands and their access roads. Bucks hold territories on subtle rises inside the reclamation tract. A good spotting scope earns its keep.

HMA and Walk-in First

The Campbell County walk-in program is robust. Pick 2-3 parcels before the trip and run them in rotation. Signed-in hunters push animals across the boundaries, so timing matters — the second and third mornings after the opener are often better than opening day itself.

Long-Range Shooting

Open grassland and few natural cover features mean 300-500 yard shots are routine. A dialable riflescope, bipod, and confidence at distance are worth more than fancy camo.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Area 6 rifle success runs 65-75%. With 379 tags against 790 applicants over three years, hunter density is low outside the opener. Archery from water blinds runs 25-40% when the pre-season is dry. Weather variance matters — a wet early October depresses water-sit success but can improve spot-and-stalk conditions.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	119	97	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming's 75/25 preference / random draw. Area 6 Type 1 non-resident tags have required 2-3 preference points in the Regular pool over the last three years. Residents draw with 0-1 points. Type 6 tags are yearly and leftover-available. This is the tightest draw of the eastern-Wyoming pronghorn units in this batch but still very doable inside one or two point cycles.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Road Conditions

WY-130 closes seasonally — typically closes in mid-October after snowfall; forest roads accessible through early October

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate — high-country terrain with good road access; less extreme than northwest Wyoming wilderness

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate — accessible location draws hunters from a large regional radius including northern Colorado

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Nearest Town

Laramie (approx. 25–35 mi via WY-130). Full services. Centennial (approx. 10 mi) has limited services near the mountain.

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Permit Notes

Check WGFD for current license type availability; some seasons offer general licenses without draw requirement

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does WY-130 over Snowy Range Pass stay open during elk season?

WY-130 (Snowy Range Pass) is typically open through early to mid-October but closes seasonally with significant snowfall. WYDOT publishes current road conditions at wyoroad.info. Check conditions before your hunt — the pass can close overnight with early-season storms.

How hard is Area 6 pronghorn to draw as a non-resident?

Non-residents typically need 2-3 preference points in the Regular pool. Residents draw with 0-1. Type 6 doe/fawn tags draw every year and frequently appear as leftover.

Is a guide required for non-residents in Area 6?

No. Area 6 has no federally designated wilderness inside its boundary, so Wyoming's non-resident wilderness-guide statute does not apply. Unguided DIY hunts are legal.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 006 boundaries, License types, Season structure · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunting Regulations Hub — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Season dates, Bag limits, Weapon restrictions · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Preference Points — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Preference point system, Application period, Draw split · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports & Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 006 harvest data, Hunter success rates, Population surveys · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Pronghorn (Antelope) Hunting — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 6 boundary and map, Season dates, Quota structure · accessed 2026-04-17
Thunder Basin National Grassland Overview — USDA Forest Service — Thunder Basin National Grassland · supports: Grassland boundary inside Area 6, Access rules, Grazing allotments · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 006 (Snowy Range / Medicine Bow)

Elk Hunting in Unit 006

Where to Find Elk in Area 006

How to Hunt Elk in Area 006

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 006

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 6

Reclaimed Mine Grassland

Sage-Grass Transitions

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 6

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification