Wyoming Pronghorn Elk

Unit 082 (Converse County)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Pronghorn, Elk

Area 82 covers Converse County east of Douglas — rolling grasslands, sage breaks, and Thunder Basin National Grassland parcels mixed with private ranches. It is predominantly private, but Thunder Basin public lands and WGFD HMAs provide meaningful public access. Pronghorn densities are high, bucks run 13-15 inches, and the unit consistently delivers quality hunts for those who prepare their access plan before arriving.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 082

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 82

Area 82 pronghorn use the grass-sage mosaic of Thunder Basin and surrounding private ag land.

Opening Week

Bucks are on bachelor ridges across Thunder Basin parcels. Focus the public land blocks north and east of Douglas along WY-59.

Mid-Season

Animals shift with pressure. HMA parcels see the best mid-season distribution as road corridors get hunted out.

Late Season

Winter herds concentrate near ag edges and water sources. Mature bucks separate into 2-4 animal groups.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 82

Access planning is the defining factor. Do it right and Area 82 is easy.

Map Public Parcels

Thunder Basin NG parcels are scattered — use onX or the WGFD hunt planner to identify access routes. Many parcels are accessible only through state-section bridges; plan routes before the hunt.

HMA Hunting

Converse County HMAs are among the most productive in Wyoming. Sign in, walk 500+ yards, and you'll often find pronghorn undisturbed.

Road-Glass and Stalk

Long gravel roads across Thunder Basin permit efficient glassing. Mark shootable bucks and plan 500-1,000 yard stalks with the wind.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Area 82 rifle success averages 75-85% — slightly below pure-public units because of private-land access challenges. Days-per-harvest runs 3-4. Hunters who pre-scout and plan HMA/public access consistently beat the average.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	80	148	54.1%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Area 82 Type 1 non-resident draws at 1-3 preference points. The 75/25 split under Wyoming's preference point system means random applicants have an annual shot. Doe tags draw at 0 points.

Elk Hunting in Unit 082

Area 82 covers the Sierra Madre range of south-central Wyoming in Carbon County — a rugged pocket of Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest rising from sage desert to timbered 10,000-foot peaks. Roughly 116 tags issued over three recent reporting years against 168 applicants puts this in the mid-difficulty draw category with solid trophy potential. The Sierra Madre is often overlooked in favor of the Wyoming Range and Bighorns, which is exactly why we like it for DIY hunters.

Where to Find Elk in Area 82

Sierra Madre elk use the timbered ridges and meadow-pocket country typical of south-central Wyoming's higher terrain.

Archery Season — Timber and Wallows

September bulls hold in the dark timber at 8,500–10,000 feet. Wallows in the spruce stringers along the upper drainages of the Encampment and Little Snake rivers concentrate bulls during the rut.

Rifle Season — Transition Benches

Once rifle opens, elk shift into the aspen-conifer transition at 7,500–9,000 feet. The north-facing timbered slopes hold bedding cover; south-facing openings offer feeding areas.

Late Season — Foothill Drift

Storms push Sierra Madre elk toward the lower country along the Encampment River and the sage-juniper edge.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 82

Sierra Madre hunting rewards hunters willing to work timber and invest in scouting.

Still-Hunt Timber Benches

The ponderosa-spruce transition ridges are prime still-hunting terrain. We work slowly along bench contours at 8,000–9,500 feet, glassing through the open timber and watching for fresh sign.

Call During the Rut

Archery hunters in the upper drainages find responsive bulls in the dark timber. Set up near wallows and call aggressively at dawn and again around 9 a.m.

Glass the Aspen Openings

Rifle hunters glass aspen-meadow openings at first and last light. Bulls feed on the grassy edges before retreating into timber for the day.

Access via FR 801 / FR 550

The Forest Road 801 and 550 networks provide vehicle access into the core Sierra Madre elk country. Hike 1–2 miles from parking for reduced pressure.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 82 elk success runs 20–30% for rifle and 10–15% for archery per WGFD harvest reports. The timbered terrain favors patient hunters who invest time learning specific drainages. Bull quality is solid — 6-point bulls show up consistently.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	34	39	87.2%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming uses a 75% preference / 25% random split. Area 82 non-resident Type 1 (any weapon) tags require 2–4 preference points in recent cycles. Type 6 (archery) tags are accessible at 0–2 points. The 25% random draw regularly puts zero-point applicants into the field.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Douglas RV parks. Dispersed Thunder Basin NG sites accommodate self-contained rigs.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping on Thunder Basin NG where posted. Douglas KOA and area RV parks. Curt Gowdy State Park (1.5 hours south) has developed sites.

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Trailer Access

WY-59 and main county roads. Secondary NG roads accept trailers in dry conditions.

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Water

Cheyenne River tributaries, stock tanks throughout. Water rarely an issue.

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Road Conditions

Paved WY-59 and I-25. County gravel maintained. NG two-tracks need high-clearance.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy. Rolling grass/sage, 4,500-5,500 feet. Walking is easy; access planning is the only real challenge.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. Regional hunters from Casper and Douglas. HMA parcels deliver much less pressure.

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Weather

October highs 55-75°F, lows 30-45°F. Wind 15-25 mph. Late storms bring sharp temperature drops.

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Cell Service

Verizon and AT&T cover most of the unit. Strong along I-25 and WY-59.

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Nearest Town

Douglas (base). Full services — motels, grocery, processing, sporting goods. Casper (45 minutes west) for larger options.

Note: Douglas is a great base — pronghorn capital of Wyoming in season. Pre-book motels and processing in advance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much public land is in Area 82?

About 30-40% — scattered Thunder Basin NG parcels, BLM, and state sections. HMAs add meaningful additional walk-in access. Pre-hunt mapping is essential.

Is Douglas crowded during pronghorn season?

Yes — Douglas is Wyoming's pronghorn capital. Motels and processors book out weeks ahead. Reserve early.

What about the Wild Horse and Sheep herds I hear about?

Thunder Basin is known for wild horses (BLM herd areas) and various wildlife, but those don't affect pronghorn hunting. Just don't shoot at anything you can't positively identify.

How many points for Area 82 non-resident elk?

Type 1 tags require 2–4 preference points in recent cycles; Type 6 archery tags draw at 0–2 points. The 25% random pool adds zero-point opportunity.

Is Area 82 less pressured than the Wyoming Range?

Yes. The Sierra Madre gets significantly less national attention than the Bighorns or Wyoming Range, which is exactly why DIY hunters should consider it.

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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 82 boundary, Quotas and license types, Season dates · accessed 2026-04-17
Medicine Bow-Routt NF & Thunder Basin National Grassland — USDA Forest Service · supports: Thunder Basin National Grassland parcels in Area 82, Public access and travel management · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD HMA & Walk-In Program — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 82 HMA listings, Converse County walk-in blocks · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 82 boundary and season structure, Type 1 and Type 6 quota allocations, License and weapon structure · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports & Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 82 elk success rates, Bull age class data, Historical harvest trends · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 082 (Converse County)

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 082

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 82

Opening Week

Mid-Season

Late Season

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 82

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 082

Where to Find Elk in Area 82

Archery Season — Timber and Wallows

Rifle Season — Transition Benches

Late Season — Foothill Drift

How to Hunt Elk in Area 82

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification