Wyoming Elk Mule Deer Antelope

Unit 055 (Grinnell)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Mule Deer, Antelope

Unit 55 encompasses the Shoshone National Forest west of Cody — rugged mountain terrain with strong elk herds and above-average trophy potential. At 78% public land with moderate hunting pressure, this unit provides a balance between the extreme backcountry of the Absaroka units and the more accessible foothills. Bulls in the 300-340 class are common, and the varied terrain supports both road-based and backcountry hunting strategies.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 055

Where to Find Elk in Unit 55

Elk in Unit 55 distribute across the Shoshone NF from the river bottoms to the alpine ridges.

Archery Season (September)

Rutting bulls hold in the timbered basins between 8,500 and 10,500 feet along the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River. Wallows and rub lines concentrate in the dark timber. Access via trail systems from the main river corridors.

Rifle Season (October–November)

Elk shift to the mid-elevation timber benches (8,000-9,500 feet) as snow pushes into the high country. The main river drainages and their tributary sidehills hold staging elk. Timbered ridges between the river forks are productive.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 55

Unit 55 supports multiple approaches depending on your logistics and fitness level.

Corridor Hunting

The North Fork and South Fork of the Shoshone provide trail-accessible corridors into elk habitat. Day hunts from base camps along these corridors are feasible, with elk within 1-3 miles of trailheads during early rifle season.

Backcountry Camps

Pushing 4-8 miles up the major drainages accesses lower-pressure elk habitat. The upper Shoshone tributaries hold elk that see minimal human contact. Horseback or llama support recommended for deep camps.

Timber Hunting

Still-hunting through the dark timber during windy or snowy conditions is the bread-and-butter rifle tactic here. Elk bed in the thick timber and move to meadow edges to feed. Slow, methodical movement through timber edges pays dividends.

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Elk Success Rates

Archery22%

Rifle44%

Unit 55 rifle success averages 20-28%. Archery runs 8-12%. The mix of accessible and backcountry terrain supports consistent success. Hunters who reach the backcountry areas report significantly higher encounter rates than those hunting near roads.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Archery— General	21	35	60.0%	0
Rifle— General	50	196	25.5%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Non-resident Type 1 tags for Unit 55 require 5-9 preference points. Type 6 archery tags draw with 2-5 points. A solid mid-tier draw option that offers quality hunting without the extreme point requirements of the top wilderness units.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 055

Unit 55 holds solid mule deer in the foothills and lower drainages of the Shoshone National Forest. Bucks in the 145-170 class occupy the sage and aspen transitions along the North and South Forks of the Shoshone. The 78% public land and moderate pressure make this an accessible deer option in NW Wyoming, especially for hunters building elk preference points for the same area.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 55

Deer in Unit 55 concentrate in the lower elevation bands along the Shoshone River corridor.

Early Season

Bucks hold in the aspen and mahogany draws between 6,500 and 8,500 feet. The broken foothill terrain along the river provides quality browse and bedding cover.

Rifle Season

November shifts deer to south-facing sage slopes. The rut pushes bucks into the open, and the river corridor funnels movement. Glass the open benchlands above the highway for productive hunting.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 55

Spot-and-stalk across the open foothill terrain along the Shoshone River corridor.

Glassing

The foothills above the main highway offer excellent glassing from pulloffs and high points. Bucks feed on exposed slopes at dawn and bed on points with visibility by mid-morning.

Access

Many quality deer areas are within 1-2 miles of road access, making day hunts from a Cody base camp feasible. Push a bit further from the highway for reduced pressure and better buck quality.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule deer success in Unit 55 averages 35-45% for rifle hunters. The accessible terrain and visible sage-country deer make this a productive unit. November rut hunting produces 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 deer tags for Unit 55 draw with 2-4 preference points. Archery tags are even more accessible. A good option paired with elk point-building in the same unit.

Antelope Hunting in Unit 055

Area 55 covers the Shirley Basin north of Medicine Bow — a storied pronghorn basin with deep hunting heritage. Public access is solid via BLM and state sections. The basin's mature bucks are respected across Wyoming, and we approach 55 as a trophy-minded hunt where patience on the first few days usually pays off.

Where to Find Antelope in Area 55

Shirley Basin pronghorn concentrate where sage, water, and edge habitat meet.

Basin Floor

Big herds work the flats and benches within 10 miles of WY-487. Mature bucks favor the basin's north and east edges where private and public meet.

Ridges and Breaks

Older bucks bed on sage ridges with clear lines of sight. Glass from higher terrain.

How to Hunt Antelope in Area 55

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Antelope Success Rates

Buck success rates in Shirley Basin run 75-85% with above-average trophy quality. Draw opportunity is solid and the basin's hunting heritage translates to reliable DIY hunts.

Antelope Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	34	122	27.9%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Non-resident buck tags in Area 55 have historically required 1-3 preference points in the Regular category. Special tags clear at 0-2 points. Doe/fawn tags are reliably accessible.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Several campgrounds accommodate RVs along the main highway corridors.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping along the North Fork and South Fork highways. Developed campgrounds in the Shoshone NF.

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Water

Excellent along the Shoshone River and tributaries.

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Road Conditions

Paved access via US-14/16/20 (Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway). Forest spur roads are gravel, 4WD recommended.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous. Less extreme than the Absaroka but still serious mountain terrain.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. More hunters than the deep wilderness units due to road access.

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Weather

Snow and cold from October. Prepare for winter conditions.

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Cell Service

Spotty along main highways. None in the backcountry.

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Nearest Town

Cody (20-40 minutes depending on access point). Full services.

Note: Cody-based hunts are convenient. Multiple outfitters operate out of Cody for the Shoshone NF. Good option for hunters wanting NW Wyoming elk without the extreme logistics.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Unit 55 compare to Unit 7 for elk?

Unit 55 is more accessible and has lower draw requirements (5-9 points vs. 8-12). Trophy potential is slightly lower (300-340 vs. 320-360 class) but still above average. It is a good choice for hunters who want NW Wyoming elk without the extreme wilderness logistics.

Are there grizzly bears in Unit 55?

Yes. The Shoshone NF is grizzly country. Bear spray, proper food storage, and awareness are essential. The unit borders Unit 7 and the Yellowstone ecosystem.

Is Unit 55 worth a mule deer-specific trip?

It is a good unit for deer but is best as a combo hunt or point-building trip. Bucks in the 145-170 class are realistic. Pair with an elk application or use it while building points for a premium unit.

Is Shirley Basin a trophy unit?

It's among Wyoming's historic trophy pronghorn basins. Bucks in the 78-82-inch class are realistic for patient hunters.

Can I combine Area 55 with a deer hunt?

Seasons can overlap with regional deer hunts. We confirm overlapping season dates before planning combo trips.

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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 — 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 55 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 55 Profile — GOHunt · supports: Hunter-community unit profile, Historical draw odds snapshot, Public-land access overview · accessed 2026-04-16
WGFD Hunt Planner — Pronghorn Antelope — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 55 boundaries, Season structure, License classes · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Rawlins Field Office — Shirley Basin — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Public land access, Surface ownership, Roads · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 055 (Grinnell)

Elk Hunting in Unit 055

Where to Find Elk in Unit 55

Archery Season (September)

Rifle Season (October–November)

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 55

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 055

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 55

Early Season

Rifle Season

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 55

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Antelope Hunting in Unit 055

Where to Find Antelope in Area 55

Basin Floor

Ridges and Breaks

How to Hunt Antelope in Area 55

Antelope Success Rates

Antelope Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 7 — Laramie Peak Elk

Area 25 — Antelope

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification