Wyoming Antelope Mule Deer Whitetail Deer

Unit 109 (109)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer

Area 109 sits in SW Wyoming near Kemmerer — sage flats, rolling mesas, and high-desert pronghorn country with strong public-land access. BLM surface dominates large portions, with state sections filling gaps. Buck quality trends above average thanks to lower hunter density. We treat 109 as an extended glassing hunt and plan multi-day stays from a Kemmerer base.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Antelope Hunting in Unit 109

Where to Find Antelope in Area 109

Area 109 pronghorn use the high-desert sage mosaic in predictable ways.

Mesa Tops

Mature bucks bed on flat mesa benches where they can see for miles. Glass from access roads rising onto the mesa edges.

Drainage Bottoms

Herds water at stock tanks and natural seeps in the Hams Fork and Ham's Fork drainages midday.

How to Hunt Antelope in Area 109

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Antelope Success Rates

Area 109 buck success rates run 75-90% for DIY hunters, with good trophy quality. The area's combination of public access, low pressure, and quality habitat drives consistent DIY results.

Antelope Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	199	111	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Non-resident buck tags in Area 109 have historically drawn with 1-3 preference points in the Regular category. Special tags often clear one point lower. Reduced-price doe/fawn tags are reliably available.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 109

Deer Area 109 covers the high-desert and foothill country around Kemmerer — sage flats, juniper draws, and the eastern face of Commissary Ridge framing the unit on the west. Public access is strong thanks to the BLM Kemmerer Field Office surface and overlapping Bridger-Teton NF parcels along the ridge. Three-year records show 103 applicants for 21 tags, making this a mid-tier southwestern Wyoming draw. We approach Area 109 as a glassing-and-stalking hunt with a base camp out of Kemmerer.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 109

Mule deer in Area 109 move seasonally between the higher Commissary Ridge benches and the lower sage basin as snow stacks up.

Early Season (Late September)

Bucks hold high on the aspen and sagebrush benches along Commissary Ridge between 8,000 and 9,500 feet. Glass the aspen edges at first light — velvet bucks feed in the openings and drop into dark cover by mid-morning.

Rifle Season (October)

As hunting pressure builds and early snow arrives, deer drop into the juniper draws and rim country above the Hams Fork and Fontenelle Creek drainages. We focus on transition benches around 7,000-8,000 feet.

Late Season

When storms drop snow on the ridge, deer pour into the sage basin on the unit's east side. Glass the sage-juniper edges from any high road turnout and move with the herd as it shifts.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 109

Area 109 rewards a patient glassing hunter willing to cover country on foot. The terrain is big and open, but deer density pockets up in specific draws.

Commissary Ridge Glassing

We hike a mile off the main access roads onto the ridge benches before first light, set up a spotter, and grid the aspen-sage edges below. Mature bucks bed on benches with quick access to both food and escape terrain.

Hams Fork Transition

As deer drop out of the high country, the Hams Fork drainage becomes the central east-west travel corridor. Set up on rims above the creek and glass both sides at dawn.

Weather Playbook

Time the hunt to the first real snowstorm of the season if possible — Area 109 gets dramatically easier to hunt once deer concentrate at mid-elevation. A mid-hunt storm can flip a slow week into a productive finish.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle35%

Area 109 mule deer success rates typically run 45-60% for rifle hunters and 15-25% for archery. Success tracks snowfall closely — dry early seasons push results down, while early-October storms consistently bump harvest numbers.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	20	101	19.8%	0

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming runs a 75/25 preference-point draw — 75% of non-resident tags go to the highest point holders, and 25% are awarded in a random draw weighted by bonus points. Non-resident Area 109 mule deer Regular tags have historically drawn with 3-5 preference points, and Special tags often clear one point lower. The 25% random pool gives lower-point applicants a real chance.

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 109

Area 109 covers the Belle Fourche and Little Missouri River drainages in Crook County near Devils Tower. Cottonwood-lined river bottoms and agricultural field edges hold a solid whitetail population in this northeast Wyoming unit. Hunting pressure is moderate, and the mix of public BLM parcels and private ranch land defines where hunters can access deer.

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 109

Whitetail deer in Area 109 concentrate along the Belle Fourche River and its tributary draws, particularly where cottonwood riparian strips meet agricultural crop fields.

Early Season (September–October)

Bucks use the dense cottonwood corridors along the Belle Fourche River and the brushy coulees running into the main drainage. Glass the agricultural edges at dawn and dusk where deer move from bedding cover to feed.

Rifle Season (October–November)

During the rut, bucks range widely across the open rangeland between river drainages. Focus on the draws and creek bottoms that connect agricultural fields to heavier cover. The timber patches near Hulett provide reliable bedding cover.

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 109

Area 109 whitetail hunting is fundamentally about accessing river-bottom cover on a heavily private-land landscape.

Stand Hunting on River Corridors

The most productive approach is stand or blind setups along the cottonwood corridors adjacent to agricultural fields. Deer follow predictable routes between bedding draws and crop fields. Identify pinch points along the river bottom and set up on travel lanes.

Permission Hunting on Private Land

Most prime whitetail habitat in Area 109 is private agricultural land. Knocking on ranch doors before the season is the most effective access strategy. Offer to help with fencing or pest control as an icebreaker.

BLM Public Access

Scattered BLM parcels exist in the unit — use the BLM Surface Management map to identify public tracts adjacent to river corridors. These public parcels often receive less pressure but require more scouting effort.

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Whitetail Deer Success Rates

Success rate data not yet available for this species in this unit.

Whitetail success rates in Area 109 are solid for hunters who secure private land access — river-bottom bucks in this unit are predictable feeders on agricultural edges. Public-land-only hunters face steeper competition for fewer deer.

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	28	115	24.3%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming whitetail tags in eastern units like 109 are generally among the more accessible draws for non-residents. Standard license quotas are relatively liberal compared to western trophy mule-deer units. Resident hunters may be able to draw over-the-counter or with minimal preference points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Kemmerer has RV park options.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed BLM camping is widely available.

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Water

Limited. Carry camp water.

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Road Conditions

County and BLM roads are good when dry.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy to moderate.

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Hunting Pressure

Light to moderate.

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Weather

Wind plus October cold. Late-season snow possible.

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Cell Service

Patchy. Stronger near Kemmerer.

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Nearest Town

Kemmerer. Full services.

Note: Area 109 pairs well with a combination pronghorn-deer trip given overlapping mule deer seasons in the region.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is Area 109 to draw?

Non-residents can draw with 1-3 preference points in most years. It's a realistic early-career Wyoming applicant target.

Can I drive a standard vehicle in Area 109?

Yes, in dry weather. 4WD is smart insurance — BLM two-tracks soften quickly in rain.

How many preference points do I need for Wyoming Area 109 mule deer?

Non-resident Regular tags in Area 109 typically draw with 3-5 preference points, and Special tags often clear one point lower. Wyoming's 25% random pool means lower-point applicants still draw most years.

Do I need a 4WD to hunt Area 109?

Strongly recommended. County roads are fine for any vehicle, but the BLM two-tracks that access the best rim country turn greasy with rain and drift in with early snow. A capable 4WD doubles the huntable terrain once weather moves in.

Is Area 109 a good whitetail unit for non-residents?

Yes — eastern Wyoming whitetail units draw with fewer preference points than western big-game units. Non-residents who secure private land permission can have excellent hunts in the Belle Fourche River corridor.

What is the primary terrain in Wyoming Area 109?

Rolling rangeland with cottonwood-lined river bottoms, agricultural fields, and brushy coulees. Elevation is low (3,800–4,500 feet) and terrain is gentle compared to western Wyoming units.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

WGFD Hunt Planner — Pronghorn Antelope — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 109 boundaries, Season structure, License quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Wyoming Antelope Hunting Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Season dates, License fees, Reduced-price tags · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Kemmerer Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Public land access, Surface ownership, Road network · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Mule Deer — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 109 boundary, Season structure, Quota allocation · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports & Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 109 mule deer success rates, Buck age structure, Hunter days per tag · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Wyoming Deer Hunting — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit boundaries, Season dates, License quotas · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 109 (109)

Antelope Hunting in Unit 109

Where to Find Antelope in Area 109

Mesa Tops

Drainage Bottoms

How to Hunt Antelope in Area 109

Antelope Success Rates

Antelope Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 109

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 109

Early Season (Late September)

Rifle Season (October)

Late Season

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 109

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 109

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 109

Early Season (September–October)

Rifle Season (October–November)

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 109

Whitetail Deer Success Rates

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Area 109 — Pronghorn

Area 118 — Mule Deer

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification