SU SLEEPER UNITS Wyoming Wyoming Unit 56 Hunt Planner Draw Odds
| |
All Units |

Unit 56

3-D satellite terrain of Unit 56, 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.

Edit
Area 56 covers the Red Desert and Continental Divide basin south of Lander and east of Farson—one of the most expansive and empty landscapes in the lower 48. Elevations sit between 6,500 and 7,500 feet across a rolling sagebrush steppe broken by rocky buttes, dry washes, sand dunes, and alkali flats. The Continental Divide splits here into a broad, closed basin that drains nowhere—the Great Divide Basin, where rain that falls technically sits on both sides of the Continental Divide simultaneously. Pronghorn are the stars of this landscape, migrating across the Red Desert in one of the longest ungulate migrations in North America. Mule deer use the rocky breaks and scattered juniper. Wild horses and sage grouse share the range. BLM manages the vast majority of this land, with state trust sections and some private ranch holdings. Access is via a network of BLM and county dirt roads branching off US-287, WY-28, and various pipelines. The roads are generally passable in dry weather but become problematic with rain. Lander, Farson, and South Pass City are the nearest services—and "services" is a generous term for Farson and South Pass. Cell service is nonexistent in most of the basin. This is pronghorn hunting at its purest—miles of open sage, no trees to obstruct your view, and antelope herds visible from ridiculous distances. The challenge is entirely in the stalk: the terrain is subtly rolling but offers minimal concealment, so you need to use every draw, swale, and sagebrush clump to close distance. Dehydration is a real risk—the desert air is dry and the walking adds up fast. Carry more water than you think you need. The Red Desert is hauntingly beautiful in its emptiness, and a pronghorn hunt here is as close to hunting on another planet as you'll find in the contiguous states. Area 56 in the Red Desert and Great Divide Basin is Wyoming's premier pronghorn destination, where nonresidents can draw antelope tags with 0-1 preference points in most hunt types. No wilderness designations, no grizzly bears, and no significant access restrictions — this is wide-open BLM sagebrush steppe. The land is approximately 80% BLM with state trust and scattered private ranch parcels. The area is known for the longest pronghorn migration corridor in the lower 48, crossing from the Green River Basin to the Red Desert, and the sheer density of animals on the fall range is impressive. Trophy bucks exceeding 80 inches (B&C) are realistic for patient hunters. Water sources are critical — the Red Desert is genuinely arid, and both game and hunters concentrate near windmill tanks, springs, and stock ponds. The terrain looks flat but subtle ridges and draws provide stalking opportunities for hunters who read the ground.

Unit Stats

Roadless
66.7%
1+ mile from any road

Hunting Season Temps (3-yr avg)

Sep
60°
34°
Oct
43°
21°
Nov
29°
6°
Dec
23°
2°
Jan
21°
0°
Feb
18°
-2°

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
ParkElkArchery17319373
ParkElkRifle3386410
ParkMule DeerArchery1164164
ParkPronghornArchery17070
Edit

Nearest Towns

RawlinsFull services: gas, groceries (Walmart, City Market), lodging, hospital (Memorial Hospital of Carbon County). I-80 hub.
SaratogaSmall town; gas, groceries, lodging, hot springs. Gateway to Sierra Madre and Snowy Range from the west.
Encampment / RiversideSmall towns; gas, basic supplies, lodging. Gateway to Sierra Madre.
Elk MountainTiny; gas, cafe. Near I-80; access to Elk Mountain area.
BaggsSmall town; gas, basic supplies. Southern gateway to Sierra Madre; near CO border.
Edit

Campgrounds

Ryan Park CampgroundUSFS (Medicine Bow NF)Near Saratoga; 48 sites; 8,000 ft; popular base camp for elk hunts.
Lincoln Park CampgroundUSFS (Medicine Bow NF)WY-130; 12 sites; 9,200 ft; Snowy Range.
Jack Creek CampgroundUSFS (Medicine Bow NF)Sierra Madre; 16 sites; 8,200 ft; quiet and close to elk habitat.
Battle Creek CampgroundUSFS (Medicine Bow NF)Battle Highway (WY-70); 5 sites; 8,400 ft; Sierra Madre access.
Bow River CampgroundUSFS (Medicine Bow NF)Medicine Bow Mountains; 13 sites; 9,000 ft; near good elk country.
Dispersed campingUSFS / BLMWidely available along forest roads in the Medicine Bow NF and BLM land south of Rawlins.
Edit

Statewide Outfitters & Directories

These outfitters operate statewide or in multiple regions. Check each one's website to confirm they cover Unit 56.

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.

Are you a guide or outfitter in this unit? Add your listing

Edit

Outdoor & Gun Stores

Hack's Tackle & OutfittersSaratoga, WYHunting and fishing gear; ammo, maps, local knowledge.
WalmartRawlins, WYAmmo, basic hunting supplies, camping gear, groceries.
Big RRawlins, WYFarm & ranch store; ammo, hunting clothing, supplies.
Edit

Game Processors

Saratoga Custom MeatsSaratoga, WYWild game processing; sausage, jerky; (307) 326-5644
Rawlins Meat ProcessingRawlins, WYWild game processing; basic cuts and specialty sausage; call ahead.
Encampment LockerEncampment, WYSmall-town processor; basic wild game cuts; verify hours.
Edit

Gas Stations

Flying J / SinclairRawlins, WY — I-80; 24-hr fuel; last major fuel before heading south.
Loaf 'N JugSaratoga, WY — WY-130; last fuel before Snowy Range or Sierra Madre.
SinclairEncampment, WY — WY-70; last fuel before Battle Highway into the Sierra Madre.
ConocoBaggs, WY — WY-789; last fuel before Little Snake River country.
Edit
Search all Wyoming hunts →

Data from sleeperunits.com. Always verify with the official Wyoming Game & Fish proclamation.

Suggest an edit