Wyoming Pronghorn Elk Mule Deer

Unit 037 (Shirley Basin / Laramie Plains)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Pronghorn, Elk, Mule Deer

Area 37 encompasses the Shirley Basin and Laramie Plains country of Carbon and Albany counties. This is the origin stock for much of North America's modern pronghorn — transplant animals from here seeded herds across the West. Dense sage, modest elevation, and a strong mix of BLM and private ranch ground support some of the highest densities in the state, and tag quotas reflect it. Rifle success is very strong and the unit is a reliable yearly draw.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 037

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 37

Area 37 pronghorn densities are among the highest in Wyoming.

Habitat

Sage flats across the Shirley Basin and the open grass-sage of the Laramie Plains hold bucks and doe groups year-round. The mid-elevation benches between the Shirley and Laramie Mountains provide secure habitat all season.

Season Timing

Bucks are visible and territorial by early October. Rifle season hunters regularly encounter multiple shooter bucks per morning on productive BLM blocks.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 37

Area 37 is one of the easier pronghorn units to execute cleanly.

Volume Glassing

Cover country from high sage knobs and the rims on the basin edges. The high density means hunters rarely need to commit to a single buck early — glass widely, then pick the best shooter.

Buck-Selection

The density that Area 37 is known for means a patient hunter can spend the first day evaluating before committing. Look for prongs above the ears and heavy bases.

Access

US 30/287 and WY 487 flank the unit, with BLM two-tracks and county roads providing broad internal access. Checkerboard private ground is common — map carefully.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

We see Area 37 rifle pronghorn success in the 85-95% range — among the highest of any big-game hunt in the state. Archery success is correspondingly strong for Wyoming at 30-40%.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	316	195	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Area 37 pronghorn draws non-resident with 0-1 preference points most years, and reduced-price doe/fawn tags go leftover. Residents draw reliably. Under Wyoming's 75/25 split, even first-time applicants often pull tags in the random pool.

Elk Hunting in Unit 037

Elk Area 37 covers the Ferris and Seminoe mountain ranges in central Wyoming — a compact island-mountain elk area with sage-pine fringes and BLM access. About 387 tags against 638 3-year applicants place it in the solid mid-tier draw range. Trophy potential exists for hunters willing to get off the main roads.

Where to Find Elk in Area 37

Area 37 elk use the timbered crests of the Ferris and Seminoe Mountains, dropping to sage-pine fringes in winter.

High Timber

Archery bulls hold in pine and aspen stringers along the ridges.

Sage-Pine Transition

Late-season snow moves herds to the lower benches accessible by BLM road.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 37

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Elk Success Rates

Archery22%

Ferris-Seminoe elk hunts typically show rifle success in the 20-35% range per WGFD harvest data.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Archery— General	126	130	96.9%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Non-resident Type 1 tags typically draw with 2-4 preference points under the 75/25 draw.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 037

Mule Deer Area 37 covers Ferris-Seminoe edge country with sage-pine and rim terrain. About 109 tags against 568 3-year applicants makes it a tighter draw than Area 36 nearby.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 37

Area 37 mule deer use sage-pine transition country off the edge of the Ferris-Seminoe timber. Broken rim terrain holds mature bucks.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 37

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle35%

Ferris-Seminoe edge mule deer hunts typically show rifle success in the 35-50% range per WGFD harvest data.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	28	148	18.9%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Non-resident Type 1 tags typically require 3-5 preference points under the 75/25 draw. Tighter tag supply drives the curve up.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping on BLM throughout the basin. The Shirley Basin has abundant flat camp spots on public ground.

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Road Conditions

Paved state routes plus broad BLM two-track network. Gumbo after rain closes interior routes fast.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy. Rolling sage basin with minor relief.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate to high near main roads; low-moderate on interior BLM.

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Weather

October: 25-60°F. Wind is persistent; early cold fronts off the Snowies are common.

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Cell Service

Spotty along US 30/287; mostly absent on interior basin.

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Nearest Town

Medicine Bow (central) and Rawlins or Laramie (full services, 45-75 minutes). Elk Mountain has fuel and basic provisions.

Note: A great first-pronghorn-tag unit. High densities, easy draws, and straightforward logistics. Wyoming requires mandatory harvest reporting within 30 days.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Area 37 considered a 'classic' pronghorn hunt?

Shirley Basin is the source of many modern pronghorn transplants across North America. High historical densities, an open-country hunt experience, and generous tag allocation have made it a long-running favorite.

How easy is it to draw Area 37 as a non-resident?

Very easy. Most years the buck tag pulls with 0-1 preference points, and reduced-price doe/fawn tags regularly appear as leftover.

Can I hunt both Ferris and Seminoe Mountains on one Area 37 tag?

Yes — both ranges lie within the hunt area boundary. Confirm against the current-year regulation map.

Is the Mule Deer Area 37 the same boundary as Elk Area 37?

Not necessarily — WGFD draws species-specific hunt-area maps. We always cross-check the current regulation booklet for exact boundaries.

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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 — Pronghorn — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 37 boundary (Shirley Basin / Laramie Plains), Season structure (rifle/archery), High-quota pronghorn allocation · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Wyoming Hunting Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Current pronghorn season proclamation, Reduced-price doe/fawn tag structure, Regular vs Special license pricing · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports & Drawing Statistics — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Hunter success rates per hunt area, Drawing statistics under 75/25 split, Large historical tag allocation for Shirley Basin pronghorn · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Rawlins Field Office — Shirley Basin — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Public-land blocks within the Shirley Basin, Motorized access rules, Dispersed camping guidance · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Drawing Statistics — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 37 historical draw odds · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 037 (Shirley Basin / Laramie Plains)

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 037

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 37

Habitat

Season Timing

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 37

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 037

Where to Find Elk in Area 37

High Timber

Sage-Pine Transition

How to Hunt Elk in Area 37

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 037

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 37

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 37

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification