Wyoming Elk Mule Deer

Unit 054 (Bald Ridge)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Mule Deer

Area 54 covers the Bald Ridge area in Park County, part of the Clark's Fork elk herd unit on the Shoshone National Forest near Cody. With 80% public land, low-to-moderate hunting pressure, and above-average trophy potential, this is a productive NW Wyoming elk area. The terrain is rugged Absaroka foothills — timbered ridges, open parks, and steep drainages. Bulls in the 300-340 class are common, with larger animals in the backcountry reaches.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 054

Where to Find Elk in Area 54

Elk in Area 54 use the timbered mountain slopes and park-studded terrain of the Bald Ridge area on Shoshone National Forest.

Archery Season (September)

Bulls hold in the spruce-fir timber and aspen parks between 8,500 and 10,000 feet along the Clark's Fork drainage. The upper timbered benches near Bald Ridge offer productive rut hunting with wallows concentrated in the dark timber.

Rifle Season (October–November)

Elk drop into the lower timber and sage transition zones as snow pushes into the high Absaroka country. The benches between 7,500 and 9,000 feet hold staging herds. Focus on the timbered ridges and parks along the drainages feeding toward the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 54

Area 54 rewards a combination of glassing and timber hunting tactics on Shoshone NF.

Park Hunting

The Bald Ridge area has numerous open parks within the timber. Set up overlooking these clearings at dawn and dusk — elk move through parks to feed and transition between bedding areas. Position yourself downwind at park edges with good visibility.

Timber Still-Hunting

During rifle season, slow-hunting through the dark timber benches on windy days is effective. Move through the timber pockets between parks along the Bald Ridge area, stopping frequently to glass ahead. Snow improves both tracking and sound cover.

Access from Cody

Forest roads off the Clark's Fork highway (WY-296) provide access to the Bald Ridge area. Day hunts from a vehicle camp along the highway are feasible, though hunters who push 2+ miles into the Shoshone NF backcountry find better elk concentrations and less pressure.

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Elk Success Rates

Archery22%

Rifle44%

Area 54 rifle success averages 20-28%. Archery success runs 10-14%. The Shoshone NF terrain and Clark's Fork elk herd support solid hunting. Success improves after early-season snow moves elk into predictable timber patterns.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Archery— General	34	61	55.7%	0
Rifle— General	16	103	15.5%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Non-resident Type 1 elk tags for Area 54 draw with 5-9 preference points. Type 6 archery tags often draw with 2-4 points or appear as leftover. A solid mid-tier NW Wyoming option for hunters who want quality Shoshone NF elk hunting without the extreme point requirements of the premier Absaroka areas.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 054

Area 54 mule deer inhabit the sage-covered foothills and aspen transition zones of the Bald Ridge area in Park County near Cody. With 80% public land on Shoshone NF and low-to-moderate pressure, bucks in the 145-170 class are realistic. The foothill terrain below the Clark's Fork elk country provides quality glassing opportunities, and the November rut overlaps rifle season. A good option for hunters combining deer and elk applications in the Cody area.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 54

Mule deer in Area 54 favor the sage foothills and lower mountain terrain below the Bald Ridge elk habitat along the Clark's Fork corridor.

Early Season

Bucks occupy the aspen draws and mountain mahogany patches between 6,500 and 8,500 feet along the lower Clark's Fork drainages. North-facing slopes on Shoshone NF hold deer through the warm early season.

Rifle Season

November moves deer onto south-facing sage slopes in the foothills below Bald Ridge. The rut concentrates bucks around doe groups in the open sage and grass country visible from WY-296 pulloffs and ridgeline vantage points.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 54

Spot-and-stalk mule deer hunting across the sage-covered foothills of the Clark's Fork area.

Glassing

The open foothill terrain is ideal for optics-intensive hunting. Set up on high points along the Clark's Fork corridor at dawn and glass the sage benches and creek bottoms. Bucks feed in the open early and bed on timbered points by mid-morning.

Stalking

Use draws and sage swales to approach bedded bucks below Bald Ridge. Wind patterns along the Absaroka foothills are consistent — plan stalks with the breeze in your face.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule deer success in Area 54 averages 35-45% for rifle hunters. The open foothill terrain makes spotting deer straightforward, and the low-to-moderate hunting pressure allows bucks to reach maturity. Rut-timed November hunts produce the best results.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Draw odds data not available for this specific unit/species combination in our database.

Search Wyoming Draw Odds

Non-resident mule deer tags draw with 2-4 preference points. Archery tags sometimes available as leftover. A reasonably accessible deer tag for the Cody-area Shoshone NF.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Some developed campgrounds handle smaller RVs. Cody has full-service RV parks.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping along forest roads in the Shoshone NF. Several developed campgrounds along the Clark's Fork highway (WY-296).

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Water

Good along the Clark's Fork tributaries and Shoshone NF drainages.

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Road Conditions

WY-296 (Chief Joseph Scenic Highway) is paved. Forest spur roads are gravel, 4WD recommended. Snow can close upper roads by mid-October.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous. Absaroka foothills with meaningful elevation changes. Less extreme than the deep wilderness areas but still serious mountain terrain.

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Hunting Pressure

Low-Moderate. The Bald Ridge area absorbs pressure well across the Shoshone NF. Push past 2 miles from roads for better hunting.

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Weather

Snow and cold from mid-October. Temps 15-45°F during rifle season. Mountain weather can shift rapidly.

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Cell Service

Spotty along WY-296. None in the Shoshone NF backcountry.

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Nearest Town

Cody (30-60 minutes depending on access point). Full services including outfitter supply shops.

Note: Cody is an outstanding staging town for Area 54 hunts. Multiple outfitters operate in the Clark's Fork area. The Bald Ridge country offers quality NW Wyoming elk hunting with more manageable logistics than the deep Absaroka wilderness.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Unit 54 compare to NW Wyoming elk units?

Unit 54 is less extreme in terrain and logistics, with lower draw requirements (4-8 points vs. 10-16 for NW units). Trophy potential is above average but below the Absaroka/Gros Ventre units. It is a good choice for hunters wanting quality public land elk without the wilderness commitment.

What is the best season for Unit 54 elk?

Rifle season after the first significant snowfall (typically mid to late October) produces the best hunting. Snow pushes elk into predictable patterns and makes tracking easier.

What size mule deer bucks does Unit 54 produce?

Bucks in the 140-165 class are realistic for most hunters. Occasional 170+ bucks come from the more remote drainages. The unit is a solid all-around mule deer destination.

Is Unit 54 good for a mule deer and elk combo hunt?

Yes. Both species occupy the same general area at different elevations, and draw odds are manageable for both. Many hunters apply for deer and elk tags in Unit 54 or adjacent units.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-16.

WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk (Elk Hunting) — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Wyoming elk hunt area boundaries, Season structure (rifle/archery), Non-resident quotas and Special vs Regular license structure, Land-ownership overview · accessed 2026-04-16
WGFD Hunting Regulations Hub — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Current regulation brochures (Commission Regs Ch. 1, 4, etc.), License classes and draw structure, Season proclamations · accessed 2026-04-16
WGFD Preference Points — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Preference point system rules, Application deadlines (resident + non-resident), Point purchase periods · accessed 2026-04-16
WGFD Harvest Reports & Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Hunter success rates per hunt area, Total harvest data by species and area, Mandatory harvest reporting via 'Make Your Hunt Count' · accessed 2026-04-16
Wyoming Elk Elk Area 54 Profile — GOHunt · supports: Hunter-community unit profile, Historical draw odds snapshot, Public-land access overview · accessed 2026-04-16
WGFD Hunt Planner — Mule Deer (Mule Deer Hunting) — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Wyoming mule deer hunt area boundaries, Season structure (rifle/archery), Non-resident quotas and Special vs Regular license structure, Land-ownership overview · accessed 2026-04-16
Wyoming Mule Deer Deer Area 54 Profile — GOHunt · supports: Hunter-community unit profile, Historical draw odds snapshot, Public-land access overview · accessed 2026-04-16

Unit 054 (Bald Ridge)

Elk Hunting in Unit 054

Where to Find Elk in Area 54

Archery Season (September)

Rifle Season (October–November)

How to Hunt Elk in Area 54

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 054

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 54

Early Season

Rifle Season

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 54

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification