Wyoming Elk Mule Deer Pronghorn

Unit 023

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn

Wyoming's Unit 023 elk hunt is administered by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) as a limited-quota big-game tag. Applicants enter through Wyoming's preference-point draw, where accumulated preference points advance you in line for the unit's limited-quota tag pool.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 023

Where to Find Elk in Unit 023

WGFD manages elk distribution and habitat for Unit 023. Consult the WGFD Hunt Planner and unit management notes for the agency's most current distribution information.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 023

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Elk Success Rates

Archery22%

Rifle44%

WGFD publishes harvest and draw statistics by unit. The chart above reflects the data WGFD reports for the Unit 023 elk tag.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Archery— General	40	76	52.6%
Rifle— General	171	22	100.0%
Rifle— General	97	551	17.6%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming elk tags are drawn through WGFD's preference-point draw. Accumulated preference points advance you in line for the unit's limited-quota tag pool.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 023

Area 23 covers Johnson County on the eastern foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. Roughly 400 mule deer tags were issued over three recent reporting years against 185 applicants — a strong opportunity area that still produces solid foothill bucks. The terrain ranges from sage-grassland transition at 4,500 feet to juniper-pine breaks climbing toward 8,000 feet along the Bighorn front. BLM, state, and Walk-In Hunting Area enrollments combine to give walk-in hunters real access.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 23

Area 23 bucks move seasonally along the Bighorn front — high in early archery, dropping to foothill cover during rifle and late seasons.

Juniper-Pine Breaks

The juniper and pine breaks climbing out of the sage at 5,500–7,500 feet are the bread-and-butter. Bucks bed in the thick juniper during the day and feed on the sage-grass benches at dawn and dusk.

Rut Draws

Late November rut hunts concentrate on the south-facing draws where does hold. Cruising bucks cover miles in rut — we glass long draws from above and wait for movement.

WIHA and State Sections

Walk-In Hunting Areas fill out the access picture — several key enrollments in Johnson County bridge BLM and state sections. We cross-reference the WIHA atlas and onX before every hunt.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 23

The foothill mosaic rewards hunters who glass patiently and move with the wind.

Glass From Elevated Two-Tracks

We drive to elevated vantage points an hour before first light and glass the opposing juniper slopes. Mature bucks feed in the first 30 minutes of light, then vanish into juniper — the window is tight.

Stalk the Juniper Pockets

Once we locate a bedded buck, we circle wide and drop in from above using the wind. Juniper is quieter to walk through than you expect — wait for the wind to gust before each step.

Rut Stand-Hunting

In the late November hunt, we set up on doe groups along the south-facing draws. Rut-crazed bucks cycle through every few hours. Patience pays.

Access Planning

The checkerboard is manageable if you map it ahead of time. We build a day-by-day plan anchored on specific WIHA and BLM blocks, with a fallback plan if pressure shows up.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle35%

WGFD harvest reports show Area 23 mule deer success in the 40–55% range — solid for an opportunity foothill unit. Buck quality runs average, with most harvested bucks in the 3.5–4.5 year age class. The November rut hunt produces the best chance at a mature buck.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	400	185	100.0%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming uses a 75% preference / 25% random split. Area 23 mule deer tags (Region F / Region B depending on specific hunt structure) draw with 0–2 non-resident preference points in most cycles, with resident tags clearing point-free. We verify the current-year regulation brochure — hunt codes in Johnson County shift occasionally as WGFD balances herd objectives.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 023

Area 23 pronghorn hunting covers the Johnson County plains from the Bighorn foothills east toward Powder River country. Roughly 4,238 tags issued over three reporting years against 169 applicants makes this one of the highest-opportunity pronghorn areas in Wyoming — a great pick for first-time applicants, families, and meat hunters. The sage-grassland mosaic, mixed BLM, state, and robust WIHA enrollments all combine to make Area 23 a reliable draw with strong access.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 23

Area 23 pronghorn spread across the sage-grassland plains from the eastern Bighorn foothills out to the Powder River breaks.

Sage Flats Between Buffalo and Kaycee

The big rolling sage country south of Buffalo holds the highest pronghorn densities. Glass from elevated two-tracks at first and last light — animals feed on the open benches and bed in the sage pockets midday.

Foothill Transitions

Where the Bighorn foothills drop into the sage, pronghorn use the edge during early season. This country holds larger-bodied bucks than the pure plains.

WIHA Enrollments

Johnson County runs strong WIHA enrollment. We cross-reference the current-year atlas with the onX private-land layer before every outing — enrollments shift each year.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 23

The high tag count and generous access make this a great unit for teaching new hunters or chasing a DIY bull on a short window.

Road-Glass, Plan, Stalk

We run mapped public two-tracks at first and last light with glass in hand. Once we spot a shooter, we park well below the skyline and plan a wind-right stalk using the rolling sage benches.

Decoys During the Rut

Late-October hunts overlap the rut. A Montana Decoy pulled into a territorial buck's sightline often pulls him 200–400 yards across open ground.

First-Timer Friendly

Area 23 is one of the best places in Wyoming to take a first-time pronghorn hunter. The tag is accessible, success rates are excellent, and the terrain is forgiving.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Area 23 pronghorn success is among the best in Wyoming — WGFD harvest reports put rifle success in the 85–95% range. Days-to-tag is typically 2–4. With the generous tag count, success rate, and WIHA access, this is a reliable freezer-filler.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	1200	41	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming uses a 75% preference / 25% random split. Area 23 non-resident pronghorn tags typically draw with 0–1 preference points — making this a first-choice pick for zero-point applicants. Residents draw point-free in most cycles.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are elk tags drawn for Unit 023?

WGFD issues elk tags through Wyoming's preference-point draw, administered by the Department for resident and nonresident applicants.

Where do I find the official WGFD hunt information for this unit?

WGFD posts the Hunt Planner, current regulations, and Applications & Drawings pages on wgfd.wyo.gov. Those resources carry the authoritative boundary, season dates, and quota.

How many points do I need for Area 23 mule deer as a non-resident?

Most non-resident Area 23 mule deer tags draw with 0–2 preference points. Wyoming's 25% random draw means point-free applicants occasionally hit.

What is the best time to hunt Area 23 for a mature buck?

Late November rut hunts produce the most mature bucks. October rifle hunts produce solid 3.5-year-class deer with less rut chaos.

Is Area 23 pronghorn a good first Wyoming hunt?

Yes. The high tag count, excellent success rate, and strong WIHA access make it one of our top picks for first-time Wyoming pronghorn hunters.

How many points for Area 23 pronghorn non-resident?

Most cycles clear at 0–1 preference points. The 25% random draw gives zero-point applicants strong odds.

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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: Unit 023 elk hunt boundaries, Season dates and quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Elk regulation framework, License and tag rules · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Applications & Drawings — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Preference-point draw procedures, Application timelines and fees · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Mule Deer — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 23 boundary and season structure, Tag quota allocations, License type and weapon structure · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Walk-In Hunting Areas — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: WIHA enrollments in Johnson County, Access window (Sep 1–Jan 31), WIHA atlas · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports & Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 23 mule deer success rates, Buck age class averages, Historical harvest trends · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Pronghorn Antelope — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 23 boundary and season structure, Tag quota allocations, License types and weapon allowances · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 023

Elk Hunting in Unit 023

Where to Find Elk in Unit 023

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 023

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 023

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 23

Juniper-Pine Breaks

Rut Draws

WIHA and State Sections

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 23

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 023

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 23

Sage Flats Between Buffalo and Kaycee

Foothill Transitions

WIHA Enrollments

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 23

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Sources & Verification