SU SLEEPER UNITS Wyoming Wyoming Unit 25 Hunt Planner Draw Odds
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Unit 25

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Area 25 sits in the northeast corner of Wyoming around Devils Tower and the Bear Lodge Mountains — a ponderosa pine-covered island rising out of the surrounding grasslands and agricultural plains. Elevations range from about 3,800 feet on the prairie floor to 6,000 feet in the Bear Lodge Mountains. The terrain is a mix of rolling grass and sage prairie, pine-covered ridges and draws, creek bottoms with cottonwood and chokecherry, and scattered hay meadows on the ranch land. The Bear Lodge Mountains proper are a modest uplift with an open ponderosa overstory, grassy understory, and scattered rock outcrops — very different from the big-mountain country in western Wyoming. Whitetail deer stack up in the creek bottoms and agricultural edges, mule deer work the pine ridges and sage draws, and antelope roam the open prairie between the timbered hills. The Black Hills National Forest manages a block of public land in the Bear Lodge Mountains, and BLM and state sections are scattered across the surrounding prairie, but private ranch land dominates the landscape. Access to private land is the key to hunting here — knock on doors early, be polite, and don't assume anything. US-14 and WY-24 provide paved access, and county roads reach most of the public land. Sundance, Hulett, and Moorcroft are the nearest towns with gas and basic supplies; Gillette is the nearest full-service city about 60 miles south. Cell service is decent along the highways and spotty in the timbered draws. This is pleasant country to hunt — no altitude sickness, no mountain goat terrain, and mild weather compared to the western ranges. The challenge is access, not endurance. Devils Tower National Monument draws tourists year-round, so if you're hunting nearby, expect some non-hunting traffic on the roads. Area 25 around Devils Tower and the Bear Lodge Mountains is a mixed-species unit where whitetail, mule deer, antelope, and wild turkeys all provide opportunity. Nonresident deer tags typically require 1-2 preference points. No wilderness designations apply, and no grizzly bears are present. The Black Hills National Forest provides a core block of public land, but private ranch land dominates the surrounding prairie and creek bottoms where game concentrates. The area is known for quality whitetail hunting in the creek-bottom cottonwoods and pine-edge habitat — bucks in the 130-150 class are common, with occasional 160+ animals. The relatively mild terrain and moderate elevations make this comfortable hunting that does not require mountain fitness. Access to private land through relationships or outfitters is the key variable that separates successful hunters from those who struggle on fragmented public parcels.

Unit Stats

Hunting Season Temps (3-yr avg)

Sep
71°
48°
Oct
51°
34°
Nov
37°
22°
Dec
28°
14°
Jan
25°
11°
Feb
22°
7°

Recent Trophy Scores · 2020–2025

Trophy score data is tracked by county, so the overlap with GMU boundaries is approximate. These numbers tell you whether the area is capable of growing big animals — they do not indicate public vs. private land. Big elk can come from anywhere; most elk in the lower 48 trace back to Yellowstone stock that was transplanted west after the species was nearly extirpated in the early 1900s.

CountySpeciesMethodCountAvg ScoreTop Score
FremontElkArchery7293350
FremontElkRifle2385394
FremontPronghornArchery47072
FremontPronghornRifle38286
SweetwaterPronghornArchery67478
SweetwaterPronghornRifle88386
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Nearest Towns

SundanceSmall town; gas, groceries, lodging. Gateway to Black Hills NF and Devils Tower.
GilletteFull services: gas, groceries (Walmart, Smiths), lodging, hospital (Campbell County Health). Largest NE WY city.
NewcastleFull services: gas, groceries, lodging, medical clinic. Southern Black Hills access.
MoorcroftSmall town; gas, basic supplies. Near Keyhole Reservoir and Devils Tower.
HulettSmall town near Devils Tower; gas, basic supplies, lodging.
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Campgrounds

Reuter CampgroundUSFS (Black Hills NF)Near Sundance; 24 sites; 6,200 ft; ponderosa pine setting.
Cook Lake CampgroundUSFS (Black Hills NF)Bear Lodge area; 32 sites; 5,800 ft; trout lake.
Devils Tower CampgroundNPSDevils Tower NM; 46 sites; scenic; fills up quickly.
Keyhole State ParkWY State ParksKeyhole Reservoir; multiple loops; good base for NE WY hunts.
Dispersed campingUSFS (Black Hills NF) / BLMAvailable along forest roads in the Bear Lodge Mountains and BLM land throughout the Powder River Basin.
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Statewide Outfitters & Directories

These outfitters operate statewide or in multiple regions. Check each one's website to confirm they cover Unit 25.

Pinedale, WY. Bridger Wilderness. Since 1976 (48 years). Elk, deer, bear, moose, antelope. 80% return/referral clients. Guide of the Year awards.
Douglas, WY. 300,000 acres, Area 7. License #BG 063. Trophy elk, deer, antelope, bear, birds. MBNF permitted.
Western WY. Pack-in wilderness + drive-in camps. 80% bull elk success (2024). Documented results 2009-2025. Elk, deer, sheep, moose, lion.
Cody, WY. East Yellowstone highway. Absaroka Range pack-in hunts. Elk, mule deer, bear. Guest ranch + outfitting.
Jackson Hole / Teton Wilderness. Thorofare and upper Yellowstone. 30+ years. Backcountry horseback elk hunts.
Cody, WY. North Fork Shoshone, near Yellowstone East Entrance. Guided elk and mule deer.
Sunlight Basin. Horseback wilderness hunts. Small group camps. Elk and mule deer. Cody area.
Star Valley / Wyoming Range. Units 90, 92, 94. Region G/H. Elk and mule deer. Verified live.

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Outdoor & Gun Stores

Sportsman's WarehouseGillette, WYFull hunting/outdoor retailer; firearms, ammo, optics.
WalmartGillette, WYAmmo, basic hunting supplies, camping gear.
Rocky Mountain Discount SportsGillette, WYHunting and fishing gear; ammo, clothing, knives.
Sundance HardwareSundance, WYBasic hunting supplies and ammo; local knowledge.
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Game Processors

Frontier Meat ProcessingGillette, WYWild game processing; sausage, jerky; (307) 682-0723
Sundance MeatsSundance, WYWild game processing; basic cuts and wrap; call ahead.
Newcastle Custom MeatsNewcastle, WYSmall processor; wild game cuts; verify hours during season.
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Gas Stations

Flying J / MaverikGillette, WY — I-90; 24-hr fuel.
Loaf 'N JugSundance, WY — I-90; convenient for Black Hills staging.
ConocoHulett, WY — last fuel before heading into Bear Lodge backcountry.
MaverikMoorcroft, WY — I-90; junction of US-14.
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Data from sleeperunits.com. Always verify with the official Wyoming Game & Fish proclamation.

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