Area 31 covers the Shirley Mountains and surrounding sagebrush basins between Casper and Rawlins—an often-overlooked landscape of modest mountain ridges, sage flats, and rocky breaks in south-central Wyoming. Elevations range from about 6,500 feet on the sage flats to 9,000 feet on the Shirley Mountain crest. The mountains are a low, timbered ridge of lodgepole, Douglas fir, and limber pine surrounded by vast sagebrush plains. The Bates Hole area to the north is a broad depression of sage and grass that concentrates pronghorn. Mule deer use the timbered mountain and the sage-rock breaks, and elk inhabit the higher timber. The Seminoe Mountains and Ferris Mountains to the south add additional timbered ridges to the landscape. BLM manages most of the sage country, with scattered state trust sections and private ranches. The Shirley Mountains themselves are a mix of BLM, state, and private land—check ownership carefully. County roads from WY-487 and US-287 provide access. Casper and Rawlins are the full-service towns; Medicine Bow and Hanna have basic supplies. Cell service is spotty throughout. This is overlooked country that produces solid mule deer for hunters willing to explore. The sage breaks and rocky draws hold bucks that see minimal pressure compared to the more famous mountain units. Pronghorn hunting on the surrounding sage flats is classic Wyoming—miles of open country, good glass, and careful stalks. Wind is constant and cold by late season. The low profile of this area is its greatest asset—it doesn't appear in magazine articles, and the hunters who know it aren't sharing. Area 31 in the Shirley Mountains is a genuine sleeper for mule deer that flies under the radar of most nonresidents. Deer tags typically require 1-2 preference points, and elk tags for the small resident herd are limited. No wilderness designations apply, and no grizzly bears are present. Land is a checkerboard of BLM, state trust, and private ranch — the BLM and state sections provide huntable public ground, but access can require careful map study to avoid landlocked parcels. The area is known for producing quality mule deer bucks (160-180 class) in the sage breaks and timbered ridges with minimal competition from other hunters. Pronghorn on the surrounding sage flats are a bonus species with easy-to-draw tags. The low profile of this area among out-of-state hunters is its greatest asset — local knowledge and map skills reward those who invest the time.