Wonder of wonders! My group of four drew tags for Mule deer and Pronghorn in Wyoming this year. We drew Pronghorn tags in Area 52, and Deer tags in Section D. These are in Carbon County.

This is our first hunt anywhere outside of Virginia and I am trying to get any help we can find on places to hunt in these areas. We are going un-guided and have rented a house in Ryan Park, just southwest of Saratoga. I have contacted Wyoming Fish and Game, but have received little assistance from them. I have contacted the BLM and Forest service, but have been kind of shut down on those fronts because apparently maps of these areas are in short supply, even though I already paid for them!

It is getting kind of frustrating because I cannot locate any help to locate an area to even start looking once we get out there. If there are any Wyoming residents that know these areas I would really appreciate a little assistance. If someone could give me a good place to start from would be great. We are all experienced deer hunters here in Virginia, but know nothing about the area that we will be hunting in September/October. I have a Wyoming state topographical map from Atlas and Gazetteer, but that is about the best I have been able to do so far.

Thanks for any assistance you could provide. I would be most appreciative.

Congrats on receiving the permits!

Don't give up on the G&F. They are generally very helpflul. Try to contact the regional office in Laramie or Rawlins. They should get you started, and maybe they could give you a number of a game warden in Saratoga. My experience with field personel has been very positive. Most seem very willing to help. Do a search and see if there is a sporting goods store in Saratoga. If so someone there should have a good deal of information. Call the West Laramie Fly Store to seek more information. Don't give up on the Forest Service and BLM. If that is unsuccessful, you can pick up those maps in Laramie or Rawlins from their district offices when you get to Wyoming. Come a couple of days early to familiarize yourselves with the area, if possible. Contact the Saratoga chamber of commerce. If they can't give you much info., ask them to give you the phone number of someone who can. MOST people you meet will be very friendly, because they want you to have a successful trip and come back as you will spend money in their community.

If I can think of anyone else, I'll let you know. I hope you have a super trip!

I don't know much about Saratoga, but i used to live south of Baggs in Craig, Co. The largest pronghorn herd in North America ranges across Carbon county, Wyoming and Moffatt county, Colorado. There are some big pronghorn around Baggs. Check out the Baggs and Dixon area. It should be pretty good for pronghorn. There is a lot of BLM land around. Search this site for Recoil Junky. He lives in Craig and might have some up to date info for you.

Thanks for the help and suggestions. Just receive a letter from WFG today with the contact info for the Laramie office and they suggested contacting them as well. Will send out a letter here this evening to them. If you think of anything else, let me know.

Go to www.igage.com or call 1-800-450-4922 to buy software called All Topo Maps of Wyoming. I have these discs and they are very useful, even if I know the area I'm hunting. You can print out the maps tape them together and have them laminated or just study them on the computer.

Bigbore, Congrats on your Wyo. hunt.
I use to live over around Saratoga and Encampment, many years ago. In those days, Pronghorn and Mulies were thick. No question about filling the freezer, just how long you wanted to wait for a bigger head. Nothing stays the same, many less of both species at this time. However, I've heard the deer are in upswing but not sure about the Pronghorn.
You will no doubt see a lot of hunter orange on the roads, don't be too discouraged. If they are driving the roads, you just have to get into the country to get away from them. There are a lot of 2 track dirt roads around so people want to drive to their hunt. They go up on a lot of ridges and try to scout.
Area 52 Antelope has a lot of BLM ground. There is a BLM office in Cheyenne,Wy. They should be able to get you a map of the area when you stop on your way through to hunt. The land will look very open and barren to you when you arrive. You'll be tempted to think you can see everything from miles away because in the flats there are very few trees. Make sure you resist the temtation to do a drive by without looking over the ridges and into the hidden pockets. When the sun is shining in your eyes on the prairie, the speed goats can hide in sage brush really well. They can see you coming for miles so pick areas that have some rolling terrain or your going to be doing a lot of belly crawling.
Just because you can see a herd of them from your car doesn't mean you can walk right up there and get a shot. You'll have to plan a circuitous route that hides your approach. By the way, they do have a decent nose. Think about the wind if your approach will be within a 100yds or so.
Deer area "D". Inclueds several hunt areas 66,70,74-81, 83 and 161. I don't know if you are legally allowed to hunt the whole area or not. Never had to deal with it from a non-res. standpoint. I will assume that you can. Which means you have a whole lot of area you could hunt. It would take seveal years to cover it thoroughly. Many different habitat types from creek bottoms, to major river ie Platte river. Open plains where Antelope and Deer play together. Heavily forested to above timberline where Deer and Elk play together. The north half of the area around 66 and 70 I haven't hunted. There is some interspersed BLM ground and road access. Some of that area has a lot of private mingled in so have to be careful with land owners. But probably some decent hunting. Areas closer to Ryan Park 78,79,80 and81 I'm more familiar with. Area 80 and 81 deer overlap your Antelope area pretty well. You are apt to find deer in irrigated meadows (private land) and anywhere getting close to timbered edges. Also along the Platte river, which is mostly private unless you head south toward the Colorado border, the river is on very steep forest and Blm ground at that point. The deer are very widely distributed throughtout the Medicine Bow Forest. There have been many shot around the edges of Ryan Park where you will be staying. One area near your antelope hunt you could try is on the northwest edge of the Jack Creek area. The timber comes down into sage that falls within your Antelope zone. I have seen Antelope right up in the edge of the timber and some pocket openings just inside the timber along that area. Deer use it as well.
If you have more specific questions I will try to help. But keep in mind this info is somewhat dated as I haven't hunted for a few seasons.

I have spoken to biologists both out of Sheridan (young lady) and a gentleman from Casper. Both went out of their way to help, including calling me back when the cell connection went down.

WGF is very helpful along with field officers. Haven't hunted big game there yet. Have made several trips over there to hunt prairie dogs and coyotes, which even a non-resident can do without a license.

Hope you are successful. Either way you will have a good time!

Thanks again for all the help. I will post our results when we get back in October.

Thanks again for all the help. I will post our results when we get back in October.


If you are driving to Wyoming don't miss the chance to stop at the State HQ of the Game and Fish in Cheyenne, WY. They have a ton of maps and information that may be of help. The chief game warden is also there and many of the guys can answer any question you have.

All of the other suggestions are right on the money especially talking to some of the locals in Saratoga and the surrounding area. Unless things have changed dramatically in the last couple of years, you will find the people friendly and helpful. If they aren't warn them I might come back from Texas and straighten them out. . . . :D

p.s. Don't forget October is "winter" in Wyoming. Bring appropriate gear and plan for snow. If it doesn't snow you could have great late summer weather. If it does snow at least you will be prepared. ;)

Thanks again for all the help. I will post our results when we get back in October.

Hope your hunt was enjoyable and am anxiously awaiting a report.