Wyoming Mule Deer Elk Whitetail Deer

Unit 116 (Bighorns Mule Deer)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Elk, Whitetail Deer

Mule Deer Area 116 covers Bighorn Mountain country — timber, aspen, and sage-pine fringes with Bighorn NF access. About 153 tags against 591 3-year applicants puts it in Wyoming's mid-tier mule deer draws.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 116

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 116

Bighorn mule deer use aspen and pine transition benches. Rut pushes bucks into open grass-sage saddles.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 116

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle35%

Bighorn mule deer hunts typically show rifle success in the 40-55% range per WGFD harvest data.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	52	155	33.5%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Non-resident Type 1 tags typically require 2-4 preference points under the 75/25 draw.

Elk Hunting in Unit 116

Hunt Area 116 covers the Sheep Mountain and east-front Bighorn country between Greybull and Shell in Big Horn County — mixed BLM, state, and Bighorn NF ground with sage-pine transitions climbing into high timber. We rate it as a solid mid-tier elk unit: limited licenses, real quality potential, and manageable point requirements.

Where to Find Elk in Area 116

Area 116 elk work the east front of the Bighorn Range, moving between alpine basins, timbered mid-slopes, and sage-aspen foothills.

Archery Season

Bulls bugle in the spruce-fir timber above 8,500 feet on Bighorn NF. Focus on the head of Shell Creek and the timber benches on the west side of Sheep Mountain.

Rifle Season

Snow moves elk into the mid-elevation timber (7,000–8,500 feet) along the east front. The transition between forest ground and lower BLM is the productive zone.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 116

Standard Bighorn-front elk playbook — high glassing and mid-slope timber hunting.

Basin Glassing

Early-season mornings start with a hike to a basin-edge glassing point above 9,000 feet. Bulls are visible at daylight before receding into timber.

Timber Still-Hunt

Work mid-slope timber benches slowly during the day, keeping the wind on our face. Soft-footed pace is required.

Front-Side Rifle

By mid-October, we focus on the sage-pine transition on BLM and state-land strips along the east face. Snow-line tracking becomes the single best scouting tool.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 116 elk rifle success has held in the 30–45% range. Three-year totals of 407 applicants and 258 licenses fit a classic Bighorn-front limited-quota profile with meaningful quality indicators.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	84	62	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Under Wyoming's 75/25 draw, Area 116 resident any-elk licenses have typically drawn with one to three preference points, and non-resident regular licenses with three to five points in recent statistics. The 25% random pool continues to produce low-point draws.

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 116

Area 116 covers the central Powder River drainage spanning Campbell and Johnson Counties. This is classic eastern Wyoming whitetail country — broad river valley with cottonwood-lined banks, brushy draws, and surrounding dry-land wheat and hay fields. Private land is extensive, making access permission the key to success.

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 116

Whitetail deer in Area 116 are tied to the Powder River valley and the tributary drainages cutting through the surrounding agricultural landscape.

River Bottom Habitat

The cottonwood and willow corridors along the Powder River are the primary deer factory in this unit. Bucks bed in the dense riparian cover during the day and move to agricultural fields at low light. Focus on areas where crop fields come within a few hundred yards of the river bottom.

Side Drainages

The creek and coulee drainages running perpendicular to the Powder River serve as travel corridors. These draws connect the valley floor to the surrounding dry uplands and funnel deer movement, especially during the November rut.

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 116

Area 116 whitetail hunting is a classic mid-western river-bottom approach transplanted into Wyoming's high-plains setting.

Food Source Stands

Identify the primary agricultural food sources adjacent to river-bottom cover — winter wheat, alfalfa, or hay fields pull deer into predictable patterns. Set stands on downwind edges of these fields near where deer enter from the cottonwood corridor.

Rut Cruising Bucks

During the November rut, mature bucks abandon their home-range caution and cruise between doe groups. Post up on elevated points overlooking the valley floor and glass for bucks working across open ground between drainages.

Walking Draws

Slowly working through the brushy side draws with wind in your favor can push deer into open shooting lanes. Pair a driver with a stander positioned downwind at the draw mouth for effective small-group pushes.

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Whitetail Deer Success Rates

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

Area 116 offers reliable whitetail hunting for those who invest in landowner relationships or carefully identify BLM river-access parcels. The Powder River corridor in this unit produces mature bucks annually.

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	74	179	41.3%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Eastern Wyoming whitetail tags in units like 116 draw with fewer preference points than the high-demand western WY units. Non-residents can realistically draw with 1-3 points in most years.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I combo Area 116 with an elk hunt?

Depending on overlap with the elk areas, yes. Verify which elk area your deer tag falls within, and whether seasons overlap.

Do I need a guide for Area 116?

Only inside the Cloud Peak Wilderness portion. Non-residents hunting wilderness must hire a licensed outfitter or accompany a resident relative. Non-wilderness portions are guide-free.

How do Area 116 bulls compare with Area 1?

Area 1 (Jackson-side) runs higher trophy potential; Area 116 is a legitimate quality unit with easier point requirements and more straightforward logistics.

How much public land is in Wyoming Area 116?

Public land in Area 116 is scattered BLM parcels — the majority of the unit is private ranch and agricultural land. Hunters should use the BLM Surface Management map to identify accessible public tracts before the season.

When is the best time to hunt whitetails in Area 116?

The October-November rifle season overlaps peak whitetail rut activity, which is the most productive window. Bucks are mobile and visible during the rut, improving success rates significantly over archery season.

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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 — Mule Deer — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Mule Deer Area 116 boundaries · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Wyoming Hunting Regulations — Deer — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Season dates, License types · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Drawing Statistics — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 116 historical draw odds · accessed 2026-04-17
Bighorn National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Forest roads, Public-land access · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk (Area 116) — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 116 boundary on the Bighorn front, Season structure and weapon types, Limited-quota license allocation · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports and Drawing Statistics — Elk Area 116 — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Rifle success rates for Area 116, Applicant and tag totals, Harvest composition · 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 116 (Bighorns Mule Deer)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 116

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 116

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 116

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 116

Where to Find Elk in Area 116

Archery Season

Rifle Season

How to Hunt Elk in Area 116

Basin Glassing

Timber Still-Hunt

Front-Side Rifle

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 116

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 116

River Bottom Habitat

Side Drainages

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 116

Food Source Stands

Rut Cruising Bucks

Walking Draws

Whitetail Deer Success Rates

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Water

Road Conditions

Hunting Pressure

Weather

Cell Service

Nearest Town

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification

Unit 116 (Bighorns Mule Deer)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 116

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 116

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 116

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 116

Where to Find Elk in Area 116

Archery Season

Rifle Season

How to Hunt Elk in Area 116

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 116

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 116

River Bottom Habitat

Side Drainages

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 116

Whitetail Deer Success Rates

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Area 122 — Elk

Area 116 — Mule Deer

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification