Wyoming Unit 116 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 116 sits among the state's mixed-terrain mule deer units, spanning 238,956 acres with elevations ranging from 5,494 to 11,461 feet. That kind of vertical relief tells a story on its own — this unit holds everything from lower sagebrush benches to high alpine basins, giving mule deer plenty of room to migrate seasonally and giving hunters a genuine range of terrain to work depending on where in the unit they draw their attention. For hunters researching Wyoming Unit 116 mule deer hunting, the unit offers a mix of accessible ground and more demanding high-country pursuit, backed by recent harvest data that's worth examining closely before committing to an application.

With 48% public land, Unit 116 sits right at the line — just under half the unit is open to public access, which means private land plays a major role here. Hunters need to plan access carefully rather than assume they can roam freely; this isn't a unit where the majority of ground is open by default. The unit carries no designated wilderness acreage, so there are no state-mandated outfitter requirements tied to wilderness access for nonresidents hunting here — a meaningful difference from some of Wyoming's more remote sheep and elk country.

Harvest Success Rates

Recent harvest data gives hunters a real, unit-wide baseline to work from. In the 2024 season, 348 hunters pursued mule deer in Unit 116 and 214 tagged out, a 61% success rate — a strong number by mule deer standards anywhere in the West. That success rate dropped in 2025, when 368 hunters harvested 171 animals for a 46% success rate. That's a meaningful year-over-year swing, and it's worth noting before assuming the unit performs at a consistent 60%-plus clip every year.

The drop from 61% to 46% in a single season could reflect any number of factors — weather patterns affecting deer distribution, changes in hunter effort, or normal year-to-year variability in a herd that isn't enormous to begin with. Hunters should treat the 2024 number as a strong outcome rather than the expected norm, and plan around something closer to the average of the two recent years. Either way, both years reflect solid success rates relative to many Western mule deer units, where sub-30% success is common on similar draw-limited hunts.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data covering four survey years (2021–2024, based on 8 total surveys) shows an average buck-to-doe ratio of 32:100 in Unit 116. That ratio is on the lower end for mule deer herds, and it's a figure hunters should weigh seriously — a 32:100 ratio suggests a herd where does substantially outnumber bucks, which typically points to either heavier buck harvest pressure, natural post-rut buck mortality, or a herd still recovering from tough winters common in this part of Wyoming.

This is not a ratio to be alarmed about on its own — it falls within a plausible range for a hunted mule deer population — but it's also not a number that suggests an abundance of mature bucks relative to the doe population. Hunters expecting to see high buck densities during scouting or during the hunt itself should calibrate expectations accordingly. A lower buck:doe ratio generally means more time glassing to find a shooter buck, and it reinforces the value of scouting multiple drainages rather than committing to a single spot based on assumption.

Trophy Quality

Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 116 points to a moderate history of trophy production. That means the area has produced trophy-class bucks over time, but not at the volume or consistency seen in Wyoming's top-tier mule deer country. It's important to remember that record-book entries are logged by county, not by unit boundary — so any trophy history attributed to this area is shared with neighboring units that overlap the same counties, and a buck credited to the region could have come from adjacent ground rather than Unit 116 specifically.

Given the moderate trophy designation and the lower buck:doe ratio observed in recent survey years, hunters should temper expectations for consistently mature, heavy-horned bucks. That doesn't rule out a quality animal — moderate trophy history still means genuine trophy bucks have come from this general area — but hunters chasing an elite-class buck should understand this unit isn't among Wyoming's headline trophy destinations. It's a unit better approached with realistic goals: a solid, representative mule deer buck rather than a guaranteed shot at a record-book animal.

Access & Terrain

The elevation range in Unit 116 — from 5,494 feet up to 11,461 feet — is substantial, and it means hunters can expect drastically different terrain and deer behavior depending on where they focus their effort. Lower elevations likely hold sagebrush-steppe and foothill terrain typical of Wyoming mule deer range, while the upper end of that range pushes into true alpine country. Hunters willing to work the high country may find less pressure and potentially more mature bucks holding in remote basins, while lower-elevation ground will be easier to access but likely sees more hunter traffic.

With 48% public land, roughly half of Unit 116's 238,956 acres is open to public hunting, with the balance in private ownership. This is a critical planning point: hunters cannot assume open access across the unit and should identify public parcels well before the season, whether through public land mapping tools or direct research into land ownership boundaries. Because the unit falls just under the 50% public threshold, DIY hunters should expect some blocks of prime deer habitat to be closed off, and permission or access arrangements on private ground may factor heavily into a successful hunt plan. HuntPilot's unit data can help hunters cross-reference public land boundaries against terrain and elevation to build an efficient scouting plan before setting boots on the ground.

HuntPilot Analysis

Is Unit 116 worth applying for? The honest answer is: it depends on what a hunter is after. If the goal is a reasonably high-odds hunt with a real chance at filling a tag — supported by a 61% success rate in 2024 and a still-respectable 46% in 2025 — this unit performs well compared to many Wyoming mule deer options. Hunters looking for solid opportunity, meaningful public land to work with, and a real shot at success will find something to like here.

If the goal is a trophy-caliber buck specifically, Unit 116 is a more moderate bet. The moderate trophy history in the surrounding counties combined with a below-average buck:doe ratio (32:100 across recent surveys) suggests this isn't a unit stacked with mature bucks waiting to be found. Hunters chasing that specific outcome may want to weigh Unit 116 against other Wyoming units with stronger trophy pedigrees and higher buck:doe ratios before committing points here.

Where Unit 116 earns its keep is as a well-rounded option: decent success rates, meaningful public access (just under half the unit), and enough elevation variety to reward hunters willing to scout hard and work higher terrain for a better class of buck. It's a unit that rewards effort more than luck, and it's not one where hunters should expect an easy trophy without putting in the legwork.

How to Apply

For 2026, Wyoming's deer application structure includes several tag categories relevant to Unit 116.

Wyoming residents accumulate preference points for deer when they apply and don't draw, so repeated application in years without success builds toward future draw competitiveness. Nonresidents should budget for the full cost stack — application fee, tag fee, and point fee — when planning for this unit.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the state wildlife agency website, or check HuntPilot's Wyoming state page at /states/wy, before applying.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Wyoming page at /states/wy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 116? Unit 116 spans a wide elevation range from 5,494 to 11,461 feet, meaning hunters can expect everything from lower sagebrush and foothill terrain to high alpine basins within the same unit boundary. This variety allows for different hunting strategies depending on elevation band, though specific drainage names and access routes aren't detailed in available data — hunters should use mapping tools to identify public parcels and terrain features before the season.

What is harvest success like in Unit 116? Recent data shows meaningful variation: 61% success in 2024 (348 hunters, 214 harvested) and 46% success in 2025 (368 hunters, 171 harvested). Both are respectable success rates for a Wyoming mule deer unit, though hunters should plan around the average of these two years rather than assuming the higher 2024 rate is guaranteed.

How big are the mule deer in Unit 116? Trophy records for the counties overlapping this unit indicate a moderate history of trophy production, shared with neighboring units in the same county footprint. Combined with a below-average buck:doe ratio (32:100 in recent surveys), this suggests solid but not exceptional trophy potential — hunters can find a quality buck with effort, but this isn't among Wyoming's premier trophy units.

Is Unit 116 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing tag success and opportunity, yes — recent success rates of 46-61% are strong. For hunters chasing a top-end trophy buck specifically, the moderate trophy history and lower buck:doe ratio suggest tempering expectations. It's a solid all-around unit rather than a headline trophy destination.

How much public land is accessible in Unit 116? The unit is 48% public land, meaning just under half of its 238,956 acres is open to public hunting access. The remaining majority is privately held, so hunters need to identify public parcels carefully and may need to pursue private land access or permission for the best deer habitat.