Wyoming Elk Pronghorn

Unit 063 (Snowy Range)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Pronghorn

Elk Area 063 spans the Snowy Range (Medicine Bow Peak area) and upper Medicine Bow National Forest in southeast Wyoming between Laramie and Saratoga. It's a classic high-country cordwood elk hunt — dense lodgepole, spruce-fir, and glacial basins above 10,000 feet. Public land dominates (85%+ Medicine Bow NF), but quotas have tightened, and tag-to-applicant ratios are competitive (437 tags against 1,197 applicants). Bull quality is moderate — 270-310 class is typical, with occasional better animals coming out of the wilderness.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 063

Where to Find Elk in Area 063

Snowy Range elk are high-country animals that move with snow and hunting pressure. The range rises from 8,500 feet at the forest edges to 12,013 at Medicine Bow Peak.

Archery Season

Bulls hold in the spruce-fir timber and glacial basins above 10,000 feet. Glass the open fingers near Brooklyn Lake, Lake Marie, and Sugarloaf Mountain for rutting activity and bedded bulls.

Rifle Season

Elk drop to mixed-conifer benches at 9,000-10,000 feet as early snow closes the high basins. The country around Libby Flats and the upper Douglas Creek drainage holds concentrations.

Late Season

Heavy snow (common by late October at this elevation) pushes elk off the range entirely toward lower lodgepole pine ground around 8,500 feet on the east side toward Centennial or the west side toward Saratoga.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 063

The Snowy Range is a timber-heavy, snow-affected unit. Success depends on reading the weather and being in the right elevation band at the right time.

Weather-Driven Strategy

A 6-inch snow at 10,000 feet will strip the upper basins of elk in 24 hours. Stage your hunt to move with the animals — scout lower elevations as storms develop.

Timber Still-Hunting

The lodgepole and spruce-fir at 9,000-10,500 feet is the primary rifle-season habitat. Still-hunt slowly at dawn along bench edges and park perimeters.

Wilderness Push

The Savage Run and Platte River wilderness areas contain less-hunted elk. Pack into the east edge of the range along the Medicine Bow River drainage for thinner pressure.

Scenic-Byway Access

Highway 130 (the Snowy Range Scenic Byway) provides paved access across the top of the range and is plowed until heavy October snow. Spur forest roads off the byway access most of the good country.

Pro Members Only

Unlock detailed tactics for Elk Area 063

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 063 rifle elk success averages 22-32%, limited by dense timber and weather-driven herd movement. Archery runs 10-15%. Hunters who commit to snow-driven hunting (stage lower as storms hit) do materially better than those who hunt a set basin.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	83	19	100.0%	0
Rifle— General	54	279	19.4%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming's 75/25 preference-point draw applies (75% max-point holders, 25% random weighted by points — not squared). Area 063 has tightened over the last five years; non-resident Type 1 licenses typically require 4-7 preference points. Type 6 archery tags are more accessible at 2-4 points. Residents draw more easily but are no longer guaranteed.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 063

Area 63 wraps Natrona County around Casper — rolling sage and grass country with BLM, state sections, and Thunder Basin NG parcels. Access is a mix of public and private, with walk-in and HMA programs filling critical gaps. Buck quality runs 13-15 inches with occasional trophies. Proximity to Casper makes it a popular, moderately pressured unit.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 63

Area 63 pronghorn spread across the county's sage mosaic with concentration points at water and ag edges.

Opening Week

Bucks on sage ridges west and south of Casper. Glass along WY-220 and the Poison Spider Creek country.

Mid-Season

Pressure shifts animals to HMAs and less-accessed BLM. The country north toward Midwest holds mid-season bucks.

Late Season

Herds yard up near water and ag. Bucks separate into small groups.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 63

Area 63 rewards pre-hunt access planning.

Public-Land Circuits

Identify BLM parcels in advance using onX or the WGFD atlas. Many are reachable via county roads; plan a morning loop covering 3-5 parcels.

HMA Priority

Natrona County HMAs are consistent producers. Sign in, walk, and get away from the parking area.

Dry-Year Water Sits

Stock tanks on BLM draw bucks midday. Brush in a blind 48 hours out.

Pro Members Only

Unlock detailed hunting tactics for Area 63

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Pronghorn Success Rates

Area 63 rifle success averages 80-88%. Days-per-harvest 2.5-3.5. Hunters who leverage HMAs and public parcels outperform pure road-glassers.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	40	78	51.3%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Area 63 Type 1 non-resident tags draw at 1-3 preference points. Wyoming's 75/25 split provides random opportunity. Doe tags draw at 0 points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

🚐

RV Sites

Sugarloaf and Silver Lake take mid-size RVs. Laramie and Saratoga have full-service RV parks.

⛺

Camp Sites

Medicine Bow NF developed campgrounds along Highway 130 (Brooklyn Lake, Silver Lake, Sugarloaf, Nash Fork). Dispersed camping off forest roads.

🛻

Trailer Access

Highway 130 is paved and trailer-friendly until snow closes it (typically late October). Spur roads handle horse trailers in dry conditions.

💧

Water

Abundant — glacial lakes, creeks, and springs everywhere above 9,500 feet. Treat all water.

🛣️

Road Conditions

Highway 130 paved. Forest roads graded gravel to rough two-track. Snow closes upper roads quickly in October.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous. High elevation (9,000-11,500 feet hunting ground) is the primary physical challenge; terrain is less extreme than the Absarokas.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Heavy in front-country, moderate in the wilderness. Laramie proximity brings significant weekend pressure.

🌦️

Weather

Snow in October is the rule, not exception. Highs 20-55°F, lows down to 0°F. Pack real winter gear.

📱

Cell Service

Spotty on ridgetops; none in drainages. Laramie, Centennial, and Saratoga have service.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Laramie (east, 30 miles) and Saratoga (west, 35 miles) are the primary bases. Centennial sits at the east foot of the range with limited services.

Note: Altitude matters here — most hunters come from lower elevations and feel the 10,000+ foot hunt ground immediately. Arrive 2-3 days early to acclimatize. Check Highway 130 status daily in October; WYDOT closes it without warning once snow accumulates.

Pro Members Only

Unlock full logistics for Elk Area 063

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How many preference points do I need for Area 063 elk?

Non-resident Type 1 licenses typically require 4-7 preference points. Type 6 archery tags draw at 2-4 points. The 25% random component is small but real.

Is Highway 130 open during elk season?

Usually through early-to-mid October. WYDOT closes the Snowy Range Scenic Byway when snow accumulates. Once closed, access to the upper range is via foot, ski, or snowmobile.

Are grizzlies present in Area 063?

No — this is south of occupied grizzly range. Black bears are present but rarely interact with hunters.

Is Area 63 too crowded with Casper so close?

Pressure on opening weekend along main roads can be notable, but HMAs and walk-in parcels remove most competition. Midweek and away from main roads the unit hunts well.

Good family hunt option?

Excellent. Short drives from Casper, easy terrain, and reliable success make Area 63 a strong family or youth hunt unit.

What about trophy potential?

Bucks 15+ inches show up in less-pressured pockets, especially north toward Midwest. Mature 14-inch animals are the norm.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Elk Area 063 boundary, Season structure and license types · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports and Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 063 elk harvest data and success percentages · accessed 2026-04-17
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Snowy Range access and trailheads, Road closures for winter, Wilderness regulations · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Preference Points — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: 75/25 preference-point draw structure · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Pronghorn — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 63 boundary and quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Casper Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Natrona County BLM landownership, Public access map · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Walk-In & HMA — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 63 walk-in blocks and HMA listings · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 063 (Snowy Range)

Elk Hunting in Unit 063

Where to Find Elk in Area 063

Archery Season

Rifle Season

Late Season

How to Hunt Elk in Area 063

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 063

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 63

Opening Week

Mid-Season

Late Season

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 63

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Area 108 — Sierra Madre Elk

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Sources & Verification