Wyoming Elk Whitetail Deer

Unit 122 (Buffalo)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Whitetail Deer

Hunt Area 122 covers the eastern Bighorn front around Buffalo in Johnson County — Bighorn NF timber, mid-elevation benches, and sage-pine transitions running down to I-25. Generous license issuance relative to applicants makes this one of our preferred low-point Wyoming elk plans.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 122

Where to Find Elk in Area 122

Elk in Area 122 use the timbered east slopes of the Bighorn Range and the sage-pine transitions running to the plains.

Archery Season

Bulls hold in the high timber above 8,000 feet along the Crazy Woman and Clear Creek drainages. We key on pocket parks and aspen stands for rutting activity.

Rifle Season

Snow pushes elk to mid-slope benches between 7,000 and 8,000 feet. The Hunter-Pole Creek country and the Tensleep-bound drainages hold animals into late season.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 122

We treat Area 122 as a forest-road-and-glass unit with realistic DIY access.

Trailhead Camps

Circle Park, Hunter Trailhead, and Pole Creek trailhead provide access to Bighorn NF. We camp trailhead-side and day-hunt 1–3 miles in.

Glass Park Edges

Small parks inside the forest pull elk at dawn and dusk. Sit these before committing to a stalk.

Snowline Tracking

Late-October snow makes tracking practical. Cut tracks early and stay patient — Area 122 bulls travel through the timber in predictable corridors.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 122 elk rifle success has held in the 30–45% range. Three-year totals of 399 applicants against 439 licenses reflect generous allocation — often with leftover licenses available.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	126	3	100.0%	0
Rifle— General	122	71	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Under Wyoming's 75/25 draw, Area 122 resident any-elk licenses often clear at zero to one preference points, and non-resident regular licenses at one to three points. Type 9 cow/calf licenses regularly appear as leftover.

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 122

Area 122 covers the headwaters of the Cheyenne River system in Weston County, where cottonwood draws, dry rangeland, and scattered pines support a resident whitetail population. The unit sits between the Black Hills forest edge and the open Wyoming plains, giving it a unique mix of habitat types. Private land is dominant, but the transitional terrain offers good deer habitat along every drainage.

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 122

Whitetail deer in Area 122 use the Cheyenne River headwater drainages and the transition zone where the Wyoming plains meet the eastern Black Hills pine fringe.

Drainage Corridors

The creek systems feeding the Cheyenne River headwaters provide the primary deer habitat in this unit. Cottonwood strips along the creeks and the brushy riparian edges hold deer throughout the season. Bucks bed in the denser cover and move to adjacent feeding areas at low light.

Pine-Edge Transition

Where scattered ponderosa pine extends westward from the Black Hills into Weston County, deer use the pine patches for bedding and thermal cover. The edge between these pine pockets and the open agricultural plains is a productive zone during rifle season.

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 122

Area 122 blends classic river-bottom whitetail hunting with edge-country tactics near the pine transition.

Creek Bottom Stands

Focus stands on the drainage corridors where creek-bottom cover narrows into pinch points or where trails cross between cover and feeding areas. Early morning hunts on these travel corridors are most productive before bucks retreat to heavy cover mid-day.

Pine Pocket Hunting

On the eastern edge of the unit where pine scrub extends onto the plains, bucks use these patches for thermal bedding cover. Still-hunt into the wind through scattered pine pockets, moving slowly and stopping frequently to glass ahead through the trees.

Rut Period

During the November rut, bucks from the higher terrain move down into the Cheyenne River headwater flats to find does. Post up on elevated terrain with a clear view of the flats and glass for bucks moving during the peak breeding period.

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Whitetail Deer Success Rates

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

Area 122 offers consistent whitetail opportunity in Weston County. Hunters who work the drainage corridors and pine-edge habitats find huntable deer numbers. Trophy potential is moderate with bucks averaging 110–140 class.

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	60	244	24.6%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Whitetail tags in Area 122 are generally accessible for both resident and non-resident hunters. The unit draws with few points for non-residents in most years, making it a good option for hunters wanting to experience eastern Wyoming whitetail country.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Developed Bighorn NF campgrounds (Circle Park, Tie Hack). Dispersed camping widely allowed.

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Road Conditions

US-16 paved over Powder River Pass. Forest roads maintained gravel; 4WD helpful on spurs.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Forest-road-accessible timber with short to medium hikes.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. Buffalo's convenient access brings hunters — push 1+ mile off roads for lower pressure.

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Weather

Archery 30–70°F, rifle 10–45°F with snow events likely at elevation.

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Cell Service

Strong near Buffalo and US-16. Spotty inside the forest.

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Nearest Town

Buffalo (full services, I-90 and I-25). Kaycee to the south for fuel.

Note: Area 122 includes portions of Cloud Peak Wilderness — non-residents hunting wilderness must hire a licensed outfitter or accompany a resident relative.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Area 122 a true zero-point elk unit?

Close. Recent WGFD statistics have cleared most resident any-elk licenses at zero points and non-resident regular licenses at one to three. The 25% random pool handles zero-point non-residents in generous years.

Does the wilderness rule affect my hunt?

Only if we hunt inside Cloud Peak Wilderness. Most of Area 122 is non-wilderness Bighorn NF, BLM, and state ground where the non-resident guide rule does not apply.

How close is Area 122 to Newcastle, Wyoming?

Area 122 encompasses the country around Newcastle in Weston County. Newcastle is the primary service town for hunters in this unit, with gas, groceries, and lodging available.

Can I combine a whitetail hunt in Area 122 with a Black Hills hunt?

Wyoming Area 122 borders the South Dakota Black Hills. Hunters with both WY and SD licenses can plan a regional trip combining Wyoming whitetail with South Dakota deer hunting, though separate licenses and tags are required for each state.

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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 — Elk (Area 122) — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 122 boundary east of Buffalo, Season structure and weapon types, License type allocations · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Wyoming Elk Hunting Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: 2025 season dates for Area 122, Quota and license type structure, Non-resident wilderness guide rule · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports and Drawing Statistics — Elk Area 122 — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Rifle success rates for Area 122, Three-year applicant and license totals, Harvest composition · accessed 2026-04-17
Bighorn National Forest — Buffalo Ranger District — USDA Forest Service — Bighorn National Forest · supports: Public forest access east of Buffalo, Cloud Peak Wilderness boundaries, Trailheads and campgrounds · 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 122 (Buffalo)

Elk Hunting in Unit 122

Where to Find Elk in Area 122

Archery Season

Rifle Season

How to Hunt Elk in Area 122

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 122

Where to Find Whitetail Deer in Area 122

Drainage Corridors

Pine-Edge Transition

How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Area 122

Whitetail Deer Success Rates

Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification