3-D satellite terrain of Unit 49, served by Wayward — the free iPhone GPS app from the people behind Sleeper Units. Drag to turn, scroll or pinch to zoom. Get Wayward and the whole unit rides on your phone, offline.
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Area 49 covers the country around Glendo, Esterbrook, and the eastern Laramie Range foothills running up toward Laramie Peak (10,272 feet, the dominant landmark in this country). Elevations run from about 4,500 feet on the Glendo Reservoir shore to 7,500 feet on the foothill ridges. Laramie Peak itself sits in adjacent units, but the country here climbs the eastern shoulder—ponderosa pine breaks, Douglas fir on cooler aspects, mountain mahogany and juniper on the rocky shoulders, with sage and grass parks between the timbered draws. LaBonte Creek, LaPrele Creek, and Cottonwood Creek drain east out of the foothills and provide reliable water. The country has a different feel than the surrounding plains—you're climbing into actual mountain rather than just rolling country.
Medicine Bow National Forest covers the higher ground around Laramie Peak proper, with significant private ranch in the foothills and BLM and state trust filling gaps. The Walk-In and HMA ranches in this country open productive private—the Esterbrook area has historic ranches that have signed up for HMA access. I-25 and US-26 frame the country; the Esterbrook Road and forest roads climb into the timber. Glendo, Wheatland, and Douglas are the supply towns. Cell service drops past Esterbrook. Mule deer in the foothill mahogany and pine breaks, elk in the timber for those who draw, antelope on the surrounding sage flats. Quality elk in the Laramie Peak country.
Unit Stats
Roadless
5.2%
1+ mile from any road
Hunting Season Temps (3-yr avg)
Sep
76°
51°
Oct
56°
36°
Nov
43°
23°
Dec
35°
14°
Jan
33°
14°
Feb
28°
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.
County
Species
Method
Count
Avg Score
Top Score
Hot Springs
Elk
Archery
3
297
336
Hot Springs
Pronghorn
Rifle
1
85
85
Johnson
Elk
Archery
10
313
350
Johnson
Elk
Rifle
1
394
394
Johnson
Mule Deer
Archery
2
154
155
Johnson
Pronghorn
Archery
17
72
78
Washakie
Elk
Archery
2
296
310
Washakie
Pronghorn
Rifle
2
82
82
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Nearest Towns
Laramie
Full services: gas, groceries (Walmart, Safeway), lodging, hospital (Ivinson Memorial). University town; good staging hub.
Cheyenne
Full services: capital city; gas, groceries, lodging, hospital (Cheyenne Regional). I-80/I-25 junction.
Wheatland
Full services: gas, groceries, lodging, medical clinic. Hub for Platte County hunts.
Torrington
Full services: gas, groceries, lodging. Eastern WY hub near NE border.
Douglas
Full services: gas, groceries, lodging, hospital. I-25 corridor; access to units 47-49.
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Campgrounds
Laramie Peak Campground
USFS (Medicine Bow NF)
Near Wheatland; 8 sites; 8,000 ft; Laramie Peak area.