Wyoming Elk Pronghorn Mule Deer

Unit 016

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Pronghorn, Mule Deer

Wyoming Hunt Area 016 elk is managed by Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) under a preference-point draw. Non-resident hunters apply through the regular draw, while residents enter the resident draw with separate quotas. Seasons, quotas, and license types are set annually by the WGFD Commission.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 016

Where to Find Elk in Area 016

Elk in Hunt Area 016 follow typical Wyoming seasonal patterns tied to elevation, forage, and cover. Focus on public-land benches, sage-grass transitions, and timbered drainages early in the season, then shift to wintering range as snow deepens and animals concentrate on lower ground.

Confirm current hunt-area boundaries, access easements, and land ownership using the WGFD Hunt Planner and the agency's access-map layers before scouting trips.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 016

Glassing from high vantage points at dawn and dusk is the most efficient tactic. Use quality optics to locate animals on shaded slopes or feeding openings before planning a stalk, and still-hunt brushy draws during mid-day.

Verify public-land boundaries carefully — Wyoming's checkerboard private/public pattern is common, and corner-crossing remains legally contested. Use onX or the WGFD access map to confirm every parcel before crossing.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Historical success rates and hunter numbers for Area 016 elk are published annually in the WGFD Harvest Reports. Refer to the draw odds chart below for recent tag-allocation trends.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	252	247	100.0%	0
Rifle— General	77	703	11.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming uses a preference-point draw with a 75/25 split for non-residents — 75% of tags go to highest-point applicants, and 25% are allocated via a weighted bonus-point random draw. Residents follow a similar preference structure. Build points steadily and monitor the WGFD draw statistics each summer.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 016

Pronghorn Area 16 wraps the sage country south of Casper between the Rattlesnake Hills and the Laramie Range foothills. The area is classic central-Wyoming pronghorn habitat — rolling sage benches, scattered windmills, and good mixtures of BLM and ranch walk-in access. Three-year numbers show 894 applicants drawing 602 tags, making this a slightly tighter draw than the surrounding units but still a yearly opportunity for most applicants. Bucks run 13-15 inches with occasional 16-inch frames out of the south-facing rims.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 16

Area 16 pronghorn hold in the sage benches and short-grass uplands on the south side of the North Platte River drainage.

Sage-Grass Benches

Focus on the rolling public-land benches south and east of Casper. Pronghorn feed on early-morning grasslands and bed in low sage through midday. Rim edges with long visibility are favorite territorial bedding sites.

Walk-in Areas

The WGFD walk-in and HMA program has several good parcels inside Area 16 — plan hunts around these ranches, which see less pressure than straight BLM during the opener.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 16

Classic spot-and-stalk pronghorn with a rifle. We treat Area 16 as a drive-glass-stalk cycle, not a stand-and-wait hunt.

High Vantage Glassing

Park on prominent rims and work grid patterns with a spotter. Bucks reveal themselves at first light as they move onto feeding areas. Spend the time to find the right buck before committing to a long approach.

Creek and Rim Stalks

Use shallow drainages and cutbanks to close distance inside 300 yards. Pronghorn pick up movement from a mile but forgive a careful silhouette-hidden approach through low ground. A bipod and a 150-300-yard zero handle almost every shot opportunity.

Walk-in Priority

Check WGFD walk-in maps and HMA signage before every hunt. Some parcels require sign-in at a box; others have pre-approval-only access. A single trespass can end the trip — do the access homework the night before.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Area 16 rifle success runs 70-80%, standard for central-Wyoming pronghorn. With 602 tags against 894 applicants over three years, tag availability is moderate. Archery hunters out of blinds near stock tanks report 30-45% success. Early-October weather is the single biggest variable — warm, dry years push animals to water and elevate both success rates.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	158	109	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming's 75/25 preference / random draw favors point holders, but with 602 tags and 894 applicants, the Regular pool typically clears at 1-2 preference points for non-residents and 0 points for residents. The Special pool requires 0-1 more than Regular. This is a reliable mid-tier pronghorn draw — not as easy as Area 25 but far more accessible than any premier deer or elk area.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 016

Deer Area 16 covers the sage-and-juniper country south of Casper, running from the Rattlesnake Hills east toward the Laramie Range foothills. It is a mixed-terrain mule deer unit — sage benches and dry canyons give way to scattered juniper draws and rim country on the south end. Three-year records show 143 applicants for 39 tags, making this a mid-tier central-Wyoming draw. We work Area 16 as a spot-and-stalk glassing hunt focused on the rim breaks, treating the November rut as prime time for mature bucks to show themselves.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 16

Mule deer in Area 16 rotate between the juniper-draw country on the Rattlesnake Hills edge and the lower sage benches as temperatures drop.

Early Season (Late September–Early October)

Bucks hold in the upper juniper draws and mountain-mahogany pockets on north-facing slopes. We glass the rim country at first and last light and move into cooler draws midday.

Rifle Season (Mid-October–Early November)

As cold fronts push through, deer shift toward south-facing sage benches and the cuts between the Rattlesnake Hills and the North Platte breaks. We focus on the edges where juniper cover meets open sage.

Rut Timing

When a November season overlaps rut activity, bucks break cover to cruise doe groups in the open flats. Glassing from a high rim at dawn often turns up mature bucks moving between bedding and feeding country.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 16

We hunt Area 16 as a glassing-first unit. The terrain is big enough to hide deer but open enough to sort bucks from miles away with good optics.

Rim Glassing

Set up on a juniper-covered rim before legal shooting light, put a spotter on the tripod, and grid the sage benches below for 45-60 minutes. The best bucks usually bed where the juniper thins into grass — watch those edges as the sun hits them.

Stalk Planning

Dry drainages and sage folds give usable cover. We pick the best buck located, mark a stalk line with the rangefinder, and plan a crosswind approach with the wind quartering toward our face.

Access Strategy

Public access in Area 16 is a patchwork of BLM, state sections, and walk-in parcels. We preload onX with the WIHA layer active and avoid crossing private between public pieces — the checkerboard is real here.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle35%

Area 16 mule deer success rates typically run 40-55% for rifle hunters and 15-25% for archery. Mature-buck harvest leans on rut timing and the willingness to pass younger deer through the first three or four days of a hunt.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	39	143	27.3%	0

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming runs a 75/25 preference-point draw — 75% of non-resident tags go to the highest point holders, and 25% are awarded in a random draw weighted by bonus points. Non-resident Area 16 mule deer tags historically draw with 2-4 preference points in the Regular category, with Special tags clearing one point lower. The 25% random pool gives zero-point applicants a realistic shot most years.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a Wyoming Area 016 elk tag?

Apply through the WGFD online license portal during the non-resident or resident application window. Wyoming uses a preference-point system — applicants with more points have priority in the 75% preference draw, with the remaining 25% allocated by weighted random bonus draw.

What is the best season to hunt Area 016 elk?

Season dates are set annually by the WGFD Commission and vary by license type. Refer to the current year's regulation brochure on the WGFD website for exact opening and closing dates before applying.

What preference-point level draws Area 16 pronghorn?

Non-residents have drawn Area 16 Type 1 pronghorn with 1-2 preference points in the Regular pool over the last three cycles. Residents typically draw with 0 points. Type 6 doe/fawn tags draw yearly and frequently go leftover.

Does Area 16 have wilderness-guide restrictions for non-residents?

No. Area 16 contains no federally designated wilderness, so non-residents can hunt without a licensed outfitter or resident guide. Wyoming's wilderness-guide statute only applies inside designated wilderness boundaries, mostly in the western mountain areas.

How many preference points do I need for Wyoming Area 16 mule deer?

Non-resident Regular tags in Area 16 typically draw with 2-4 preference points, and Special tags often clear one point lower. Wyoming's 25% random pool means zero-point applicants still draw most years.

Is Area 16 a trophy mule deer unit?

No. Area 16 is a mid-tier opportunity unit. Mature bucks exist, but it is not a destination trophy unit like the Wyoming Range. We hunt it as a glassing-heavy unit where patience during rut timing produces the best bucks.

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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 — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Hunt area boundaries, Season dates, License types · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Commission regulations, Season proclamations, License quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Applications & Drawings — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Preference point system, Draw schedule, Application deadlines · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Pronghorn (Antelope) Hunting — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 16 boundary description, Rifle and archery season dates, License type structure · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Wyoming Antelope Hunting Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Current regulation brochure, Area 16 quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunter Management Areas and Walk-in — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Walk-in access parcels inside Area 16, HMA enrollment, Access rules · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Mule Deer — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 16 boundary description, Season structure, Non-resident quota allocation · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports & Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 16 mule deer success rates, Buck age-class breakdown, Average days hunted · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 016

Elk Hunting in Unit 016

Where to Find Elk in Area 016

How to Hunt Elk in Area 016

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 016

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 16

Sage-Grass Benches

Walk-in Areas

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 16

High Vantage Glassing

Creek and Rim Stalks

Walk-in Priority

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 016

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 16

Early Season (Late September–Early October)

Rifle Season (Mid-October–Early November)

Rut Timing

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 16

Rim Glassing

Stalk Planning

Access Strategy

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Nearest Town

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification

Unit 016

Elk Hunting in Unit 016

Where to Find Elk in Area 016

How to Hunt Elk in Area 016

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 016

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 16

Sage-Grass Benches

Walk-in Areas

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 16

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 016

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 16

Early Season (Late September–Early October)

Rifle Season (Mid-October–Early November)

Rut Timing

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 16

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification