Wyoming Mule Deer Whitetail Deer

Unit 119 (Gros Ventre)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer

Mule Deer Area 119 covers the Gros Ventre Range east of Jackson, Wyoming — high, wild country on the Bridger-Teton National Forest with significant designated wilderness. We like this area for genuine trophy potential (bucks in the 170-190 class are realistic, 200-inch bucks come out some years) and for the remote backcountry feel. The trade-off is difficulty: steep terrain, long pack-outs, and non-resident wilderness rules that require either a Wyoming resident companion or a licensed guide in the wilderness portions.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 119

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 119

Mule deer in Area 119 migrate seasonally through one of the longest documented migration corridors in North America, running from summer range in the Gros Ventre to winter range near Pinedale.

Early Rifle (mid-October)

Bucks hold on high basins between 8,500 and 10,500 feet in the Gros Ventre Wilderness. The upper Crystal Creek, Granite Creek, and Fish Creek drainages all produce mature deer from high cliff country.

Late October / Early November

Migration begins. Deer drop out of the wilderness onto mid-elevation benches between Gros Ventre Road and the Hoback. Focus on south-facing aspen-sage transitions at 7,500-8,500 feet.

Late Season

By November, the leading edge of the migration is funneling toward wintering grounds on the Mesa and Ryegrass. Hunters positioned on migration pinch points see moving deer every day under winter conditions.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 119

Area 119 is a big-country hunt that rewards glass time and fitness.

Glass the Alpine Basins

Spend the first 2-3 hours of daylight on a high vantage overlooking a wilderness basin. Mature bucks feed and bed in predictable patterns tied to weather and moon phase. A single glassing session can locate multiple shooter bucks.

Plan the Pack-Out First

Do not shoot a buck you cannot recover. The Gros Ventre is notorious for bone-crushing pack-outs. Horses, a hunting partner, and/or a bush plane drop camp are standard approaches.

Time the Storm Window

A fall storm that drops 6-12 inches of snow in the high country will trigger immediate migration. Hunters positioned on the right side of the weather see more deer in two days than they would in a dry week.

Respect the Wilderness Rule

The Gros Ventre Wilderness covers a large share of Area 119. Non-residents must be accompanied by a licensed Wyoming outfitter or a Wyoming-resident hunter when hunting inside the wilderness boundary. Plan accordingly.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle35%

Area 119 rifle success runs 35-50% on buck tags — high for a Wyoming trophy mule deer unit. Success is strongly weather-dependent; warm, dry falls see deer hold high and scattered, while a mid-October snow event sends them through migration chokepoints and bumps harvest numbers considerably.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	40	103	38.8%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Area 119 is a premium non-resident mule deer draw. Under Wyoming's 75/25 preference/random split, non-resident Type 1 tags typically require 5-8 preference points to clear the max-point pool, with the random pool occasionally pulling 3-4 point hunters. Residents draw at 2-4 points. This is one of the higher-point non-resident deer areas in Wyoming.

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 119

Area 119 covers the Powder River basin along the Campbell and Converse County border. Thunder Basin National Grassland provides public access across portions of the unit. Whitetail deer occupy the river-bottom draws and cottonwood strips, while the broader grassland basin also holds mule deer on the drier uplands.

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 119

Whitetail deer in Area 119 are concentrated in the lower river-bottom drainages and the brushy coulee systems on the Powder River basin floor.

River Corridor Focus

The main Powder River channel and its tributaries provide the primary whitetail habitat. Dense stands of cottonwood and willow along the river banks are reliable bedding areas. Deer move from these corridors to surrounding hay fields and crop stubble at dawn and dusk.

Thunder Basin Grassland Draws

On the public Thunder Basin parcels, the brushy draws cutting across the grassland basin hold deer. These draws often have seasonal water and are magnets for deer bedding. Scout these areas before season using satellite imagery to identify the densest cover pockets.

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 119

Area 119 hunting combines river-bottom stand hunting with grassland draw hunting on the Thunder Basin public parcels.

Evening Field Edges

Position downwind of the primary feeding fields adjacent to the Powder River corridor. Deer pour out of the cottonwood cover into stubble and hay fields during the final hour of light. Glass from elevated banks for shooting opportunities across the flat valley bottom.

Morning Timber Beds

Work back from the field edges into the cottonwood timber at first light as deer return to day beds. Still-hunting the transition zone between open fields and dense river-bottom timber can catch deer during their morning return.

Rut Roaming

During the November rut, bucks from the surrounding uplands move down into the Powder River bottoms. Watch the edges of the valley where the upland sage meets the river-bottom draws for roaming bucks.

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Whitetail Deer Success Rates

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

Area 119 produces steady whitetail harvest, particularly for hunters willing to use the Thunder Basin public access parcels and put in scouting time on the river-bottom corridors. Rut-period hunts see the highest success rates.

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	72	80	90.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Whitetail tags in Area 119 are among the more accessible eastern Wyoming draws. The combination of Thunder Basin public land and moderate deer numbers makes this unit a solid choice for non-residents building WY preference points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Jackson has multiple full-service RV parks. Pinedale has more affordable options.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping on Bridger-Teton NF along Gros Ventre Road and Granite Creek Road. Developed campgrounds at Atherton Creek, Red Hills, and Granite Creek.

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Trailer Access

Gros Ventre Road and Granite Creek Road handle horse trailers and stock. Wilderness trailheads have stock facilities.

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Water

Excellent. Multiple creeks, springs, and the Gros Ventre River itself.

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Road Conditions

Maintained gravel to main trailheads, weather-dependent. Heavy snow can close access by mid-November.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Genuine wilderness-scale terrain with 3,000-5,000 ft elevation gains, avalanche-steep basins, and long pack-outs.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate given difficulty. Outfitter clients dominate the wilderness; DIY residents and resident-hosted non-residents work the accessible front country.

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Weather

October highs 30-55°F, lows 5-25°F. Snow any time after late September. Treat this as a genuinely cold-weather hunt.

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Cell Service

Good in Jackson, none in the field. Satellite communicator is essential.

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Nearest Town

Jackson (30-45 minutes to primary access points). Pinedale is an alternative south-side base.

Note: Lodging in Jackson is expensive — booking months in advance saves meaningful money. Pinedale and Hoback Junction are budget alternatives. Non-residents hunting the wilderness must book an outfitter or arrange a Wyoming resident companion before applying.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a guide to hunt Area 119?

Only inside the designated Gros Ventre Wilderness. Wyoming law requires non-residents in designated wilderness to hunt with a licensed outfitter or a Wyoming-resident companion. Area 119 also has significant non-wilderness country that is open to unguided non-residents.

What is the average buck size in Area 119?

Mature bucks run 170-190 inches with legitimate 200-inch potential every season. This is one of the premier mule deer units in Wyoming.

When is the best time to hunt?

The last week of October into the first week of November — timed around a snowstorm — is the consensus prime window. Migration is active, and daylight buck movement is at its peak.

Where do I park to access Thunder Basin in Area 119?

Thunder Basin National Grassland has designated public access points with parking turnouts. Use the USFS Thunder Basin National Grassland Motor Vehicle Use Map to locate legal parking and travel routes before your hunt.

What is the elevation in Wyoming Area 119?

Area 119 sits on the Powder River basin floor at approximately 4,000–4,800 feet elevation — relatively flat and open high-plains terrain compared to western Wyoming mountain 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 — Deer — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 119 boundary in the Gros Ventre, Season dates, License classes · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 119 hunter success and average buck size, Applicant-to-tag ratio · accessed 2026-04-17
Bridger-Teton National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Gros Ventre Wilderness boundary, Trail network · accessed 2026-04-17
Wyoming Non-Resident Wilderness Requirement — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Non-residents must hunt with a licensed guide or resident companion in designated wilderness · 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
WGFD Hunting Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: License structure, Season proclamations · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 119 (Gros Ventre)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 119

Where to Find Mule Deer in Area 119

Early Rifle (mid-October)

Late October / Early November

Late Season

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Area 119

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 119

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 119

River Corridor Focus

Thunder Basin Grassland Draws

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 119

Whitetail Deer Success Rates

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification