Wyoming Elk Mule Deer

Unit 100 (Sierra Madre)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Mule Deer

Area 100 covers the Sierra Madre Range in Carbon County — a timbered mountain range in south-central Wyoming between the North Platte valley and the Green River region. With 70% public land on Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, moderate hunting pressure, and above-average trophy potential, this is a productive mountain elk area. The terrain ranges from sage foothills to dense spruce-fir timber above 10,000 feet. Bulls in the 280-320 class inhabit the timbered parks and drainages of the Sierra Madre.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 100

Where to Find Elk in Area 100

Elk in Area 100 concentrate in the timbered terrain of the Sierra Madre Range and the sage-covered transitional foothills.

Habitat

Herds use the spruce-fir timber, aspen parks, and lodgepole pine ridges between 8,000 and 10,500 feet. The upper drainages of Battle Creek, Hog Park Creek, and the Encampment River hold the densest elk concentrations on the national forest. The Sierra Madre crest at 10,000+ feet provides summer range.

Rifle Season

Snow pushes elk from the Sierra Madre crest into the lower timber between 7,500 and 9,000 feet. The timbered benches and aspen parks along the major drainages hold staging herds. Focus on the transition from mountain timber to sage foothills as elk move toward winter range.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 100

Sierra Madre elk hunting combines timber tactics with park-edge glassing.

Park and Meadow Hunting

The Sierra Madre 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. The parks along Battle Creek and the Encampment River drainages are particularly productive.

Timber Still-Hunting

During rifle season, slow-hunt through the spruce-fir and lodgepole timber on windy days. Move through the timber pockets between parks, stopping frequently to glass ahead. Fresh snow improves tracking.

Sierra Madre Road Access

WY-70 (Battle Highway) crosses the Sierra Madre and provides access to forest roads on both slopes. Day hunts from a vehicle camp along the highway are feasible. Push 2+ miles from the road for lower pressure.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 100 elk success averages 18-25% for rifle. The Sierra Madre's timbered terrain and quality national forest habitat support consistent hunting. Success improves after the first significant snowfall pushes elk into predictable timber-edge patterns.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— General	126	318	39.6%
Rifle— General	83	515	16.1%
Rifle— General	84	330	25.5%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Non-resident Type 1 elk tags draw with 4-7 preference points. Archery tags draw with 1-3 points. A solid mid-tier option offering quality mountain elk hunting in the Sierra Madre without extreme point requirements.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 100

Area 100 offers quality mule deer hunting in the sage foothills and aspen transition zones of the Sierra Madre Range in Carbon County. Bucks in the 140-165 class inhabit the sage breaks, aspen draws, and lower timbered slopes along both sides of the range. The 70% public land base on national forest and BLM provides walk-in access. Moderate pressure and the November rut timing make this a productive south-central Wyoming deer destination.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 100

Mule deer in Area 100 occupy the sage foothills and lower mountain terrain on both slopes of the Sierra Madre Range.

Habitat

Deer concentrate in the sage breaks and aspen draws between 7,000 and 8,500 feet where the Sierra Madre timber meets the foothill sage. The drainages along Battle Creek, Hog Park Creek, and the Encampment River foothills hold quality bucks. Browse-rich south-facing slopes concentrate deer in late season.

Rifle Season

November rut moves bucks into the open sage-covered foothills of the Sierra Madre. Glass the breaks and aspen-sage edges for cruising bucks during peak rut activity.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 100

Sage-foothill mule deer hunting along the Sierra Madre Range.

Foothill Glassing

Set up on high points overlooking the sage-aspen transition zones on both slopes of the Sierra Madre. The foothill terrain provides excellent long-range visibility. Bucks feed on exposed slopes early and bed in aspen draws by mid-morning.

Rut Hunting

November rut is the most productive period. Focus on doe concentrations on south-facing sage slopes along the Sierra Madre foothills. Bucks cruise between groups and are more visible than at any other time of year.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule deer success in Area 100 averages 32-42% for rifle. The Sierra Madre foothills support healthy deer populations with reasonable age structure. 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.

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Mule deer tags draw with 1-3 preference points. Archery tags frequently available as leftover. Accessible draw for quality Sierra Madre deer hunting.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping along Sierra Madre forest roads. Developed campgrounds along WY-70 (Battle Highway). Backcountry camping unrestricted on the national forest.

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Road Conditions

WY-70 (Battle Highway) is paved/gravel crossing the range. Forest roads are gravel, 4WD recommended. Snow can close upper roads by mid-October.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Timbered mountain terrain with reasonable trail and road access. Less extreme than NW Wyoming but still involves meaningful elevation changes.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. The Sierra Madre draws steady hunter numbers from the I-80 corridor. Push away from WY-70 for better hunting.

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Weather

October-November: 15-45°F. The Sierra Madre catches consistent snowfall. Wind is a factor on exposed ridges.

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Cell Service

None on the mountain. Limited service in Encampment and Riverside.

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Nearest Town

Encampment or Riverside (20-30 minutes). Basic services. Saratoga provides additional services 30 minutes further. Rawlins offers full services 60 minutes away via I-80.

Note: The Sierra Madre is an underrated mountain range for elk hunting. Encampment and Riverside are classic small ranching towns that serve as good staging bases. The Battle Highway provides convenient access to both slopes of the range.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the public/private land mix a problem in Unit 100?

It is the primary challenge. At 45% public land, access requires careful planning. Use a GPS mapping app to identify public parcels, and consider reaching out to local landowners for permission. The Bighorn NF provides the most reliable public access along the mountain front.

What is deer hunting like near Sheridan?

Foothill and prairie hunting with average buck quality (130-155 class). The area has strong deer populations but access on the mixed public/private landscape is the main challenge. Easy draw odds and proximity to a well-equipped town make it practical.

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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 — Pronghorn (Antelope Hunting) — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Wyoming pronghorn 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 Pronghorn Antelope Area 90 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 100 Profile — GOHunt · supports: Hunter-community unit profile, Historical draw odds snapshot, Public-land access overview · accessed 2026-04-16

Unit 100 (Sierra Madre)

Elk Hunting in Unit 100

Where to Find Elk in Area 100

Habitat

Rifle Season

How to Hunt Elk in Area 100

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 100

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 100

Habitat

Rifle Season

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 100

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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