Wyoming Antelope Elk

Unit 053 (Jack Morrow Hills)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Antelope, Elk

Pronghorn Area 053 covers the Jack Morrow Hills and adjacent Red Desert country between Rock Springs and Lander — extremely remote sage and desert terrain that was historically one of Wyoming's top pronghorn producers. The 2023 winter hit this country hard and quotas have dropped substantially (134 tags against 1,149 applicants). Public land is almost entirely BLM (Rawlins and Lander Field Offices) at 75%+. Remaining bucks are of excellent quality for serious patient hunters.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Antelope Hunting in Unit 053

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 053

Area 053 is among the most remote sage country in the Lower 48. Antelope concentrate around water, rim features, and the few pockets of better forage.

Jack Morrow Hills Core

The Jack Morrow Hills themselves rise from the surrounding sage plain and hold scattered but high-quality bucks using the broken terrain for cover.

Oregon Buttes and Honeycomb Buttes

These iconic landmarks offer glassing vantage and concentrate water-seeking animals in the surrounding country.

Lost Creek / Red Desert Interior

The flatter interior of the unit holds transient groups following water and forage. Buck density is low post-2023; glass long before committing to stalks.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 053

This is expedition-style pronghorn hunting. Density is low, country is vast, and self-reliance is mandatory.

Vehicle-Based Glassing

Most successful hunts in Area 053 involve covering 50-100 miles per day on BLM roads, glassing methodically from vehicle-height setups.

Water Sits for Archery

The handful of reliable water sources (Lost Creek, Steamboat Lake, stock tanks) concentrate animals during hot September weather — sit blinds for archery.

Patience for Quality

Bucks here average 14-16 inches with occasional 17+ animals. With low density, taking time to classify and make the right first stalk matters more than ever.

Self-Recovery Essential

No services for 50-80 miles in any direction. Two full-size spares, winch, extra fuel, and satellite communicator are not optional.

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Antelope Success Rates

Area 053 rifle success historically ran 85-95% but dropped to 60-75% post-2023. Archery success 20-30%. Days per harvest has roughly doubled. Recovery is underway; expect gradual quota increases as the herd rebuilds.

Antelope Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	7	137	5.1%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming 75/25 preference-point draw (75% max-point holders, 25% random weighted by points — not squared). Area 053 Type 1 non-resident licenses have tightened to 3-6 preference points from their historical 0-2 range. Type 2 doe/fawn tags still accessible at 1-3 points. Low quotas mean the random tier is small but present.

Elk Hunting in Unit 053

Area 53 covers the southern Bighorn Mountains on Bighorn National Forest. Roughly 89 tags issued over three recent reporting years against 159 applicants puts this in the mid-to-difficult draw category. Parts of the unit touch the Cloud Peak Wilderness — non-resident wilderness-guide rules apply there. Non-wilderness Bighorn NF offers plenty of DIY elk country with mature bulls in the dark timber and high parks.

Where to Find Elk in Area 53

Area 53 elk move through distinct elevation bands across the southern Bighorn Mountains.

High Timber — Archery

September bulls hold in dark timber and aspen pockets at 8,500–10,000 feet. The upper drainages feeding west toward the Bighorn Basin and east toward the Powder River system both hold bulls.

Transition Benches — Rifle

October rifle hunts concentrate on the aspen-conifer benches at 7,500–9,000 feet. Elk shift down after early snows and bed in north-facing timber while feeding on south-facing openings.

Lower Drainages — Late Season

Storm pushes move elk into the lower country. Late-November hunts focus on the foothill transition zones.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 53

The Bighorns reward fit hunters with a plan that respects the wilderness boundary.

Non-Wilderness NF

Plenty of Area 53 lies outside Cloud Peak Wilderness — non-residents can hunt that country DIY without a guide.

Wilderness Hunts Need an Outfitter

Inside Cloud Peak Wilderness, Wyoming statute requires non-residents to hunt with a licensed outfitter or qualified resident guide. Verify your hunt area against the wilderness boundary using onX or the USFS overlay before applying.

Call During the Rut

Archery hunters set up on timber benches and call at dawn. The dense Bighorn timber amplifies bugles and makes locating responsive bulls straightforward.

Glass the Alpine Parks

Above tree line, the alpine basins hold bachelor bull groups through early season. Long-range glass pays off here.

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Elk Success Rates

Archery22%

Rifle44%

Area 53 elk success runs 22–32% for rifle and 10–15% for archery per WGFD harvest reports. Bull quality is solid, with 6-point bulls showing up regularly — wilderness-outfitted hunts consistently produce larger bulls than non-wilderness DIY hunts.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Archery— General	8	7	100.0%
Rifle— General	24	11	100.0%
Rifle— General	20	77	26.0%

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming uses a 75% preference / 25% random split. Area 53 non-resident Type 1 tags require 3–5 preference points in recent cycles. Type 6 (archery) tags draw at 1–3 points. Non-residents hunting inside Cloud Peak Wilderness also need an outfitter or qualified resident guide — a significant additional cost.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Rock Springs and Lander have full-service RV parks.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed BLM camping throughout. No developed campgrounds inside the unit. Killpecker Sand Dunes area has dispersed sites.

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Trailer Access

Major BLM arteries (Tri-Territory Road, Buffalo Hump Road) handle trailers in dry weather.

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Water

Very limited. Haul all drinking and camp water.

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Road Conditions

Graded gravel to rough two-track. 4WD essential. Bentonite becomes impassable in rain.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy on foot but huge in scale. Elevations 6,500-7,500 feet.

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Hunting Pressure

Low. The remoteness keeps casual hunters away.

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Weather

Highs 70-90°F early, cold nights 25-40°F. Sudden storms severe.

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Cell Service

None across most of the unit. Satellite communicator mandatory.

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Nearest Town

Rock Springs (50-70 miles south), Lander (60 miles north), Farson (30 miles west) for fuel-only stops.

Note: Area 053 is not a beginner hunt. The remoteness, low animal density, and self-recovery requirements demand experienced desert hunters with proper vehicles and supplies. Reward is solitude and quality bucks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How remote is Area 053 really?

Very. The core of the Jack Morrow Hills is 50-80 miles from pavement in every direction. A vehicle breakdown without satellite communication can leave you stranded for days. Plan accordingly.

How many preference points do I need post-winterkill?

Non-resident Type 1 tags now require 3-6 preference points (up from 0-2 pre-2023). Type 2 doe/fawn licenses still draw at 1-3.

Can I hunt Area 053 with a travel trailer?

Yes if you stage on the main BLM arteries and scout from a lighter vehicle. Don't pull a trailer off main roads — two-tracks are narrow, soft in spots, and have no turnarounds.

Does the Wyoming wilderness guide rule apply in Area 53?

Yes, inside Cloud Peak Wilderness. Non-residents must hunt with a Wyoming-licensed outfitter or qualified resident guide in any designated Wilderness Area. Non-wilderness Bighorn NF land is exempt.

How many points for Area 53 non-resident elk?

Type 1 tags require 3–5 preference points in recent cycles. Type 6 archery tags draw at 1–3 points. Wyoming's 25% random draw opens occasional zero-point hits.

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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 — Antelope — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Pronghorn Area 053 boundary, Quota history · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports and Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 053 success and harvest · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Lander Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Jack Morrow Hills public land, Oregon Buttes and Honeycomb Buttes access · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Preference Points — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: 75/25 preference-point draw mechanics · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 53 boundary and season structure, Type 1 and Type 6 quotas, License and weapon structure · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunting Regulations — Non-resident Wilderness Guide Requirement — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: W.S. 23-2-401 wilderness guide requirement, Applies to Cloud Peak Wilderness, Outfitter or qualified resident guide required · accessed 2026-04-17
Bighorn National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Bighorn NF southern Bighorn management area, Road and trail access, Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 053 (Jack Morrow Hills)

Antelope Hunting in Unit 053

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 053

Jack Morrow Hills Core

Oregon Buttes and Honeycomb Buttes

Lost Creek / Red Desert Interior

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 053

Antelope Success Rates

Antelope Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 053

Where to Find Elk in Area 53

High Timber — Archery

Transition Benches — Rifle

Lower Drainages — Late Season

How to Hunt Elk in Area 53

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification