Wyoming Unit 24 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 24 is a mule deer hunting unit that draws attention for its consistent harvest numbers, even as much of the state's deer herds face well-documented pressures. For hunters researching this unit, the combination of a large land base — 314,121 total acres — and recent success rates in the 48-55% range make it worth a close look, though the access picture and herd composition data tell a more nuanced story that every applicant should understand before committing points or tag fees.

Sitting at elevations ranging from 3,628 to 8,591 feet, Unit 24 offers a wide vertical range that typically translates into varied habitat — from lower sagebrush benches to higher timbered or rocky terrain. With only 12% public land, however, this is not a unit where hunters can expect to wander freely across open country. Understanding how that access constraint interacts with the unit's harvest and herd data is central to deciding whether to apply.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 24 Worth Applying For?

The harvest numbers here are genuinely strong on paper. Wyoming Unit 24 has produced success rates of 53% in 2025, 55% in 2024, 48% in 2023, and 49% in 2022 — all according to data compiled by HuntPilot. A near-coinflip-or-better chance at filling a tag is well above what many limited mule deer units in the West produce, and the jump in hunter numbers from 1,710 in 2022 to 3,167 in 2025 suggests this unit has become more attractive to applicants in recent years, likely as word of its success rates has spread.

But success rate alone doesn't tell the whole story. The buck:doe ratio here averages 34:100 across four survey years (2021-2024, 8 total surveys) — a figure on the lower end for mule deer herds. This ratio is a meaningful signal of herd composition: a healthy, mature buck segment typically supports higher ratios, and 34:100 suggests hunting pressure or winter mortality may be keeping the buck segment relatively thin compared to the doe population. This is worth weighing seriously against the flattering harvest percentages — hunters may be filling tags at a good clip, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're finding mature, big-bodied bucks to do it.

The public land situation is the other major factor. At just 12% public land, Unit 24 is overwhelmingly private property. This is a hard constraint for DIY-minded hunters: the vast majority of the unit's 314,121 acres sits behind fences that require either landowner permission, a leasing arrangement, or a guided access agreement. Hunters without an existing access plan should not assume they can show up and find open public ground to hunt — the numbers simply don't support that expectation. Unit 24 is better suited to hunters who already have a private land connection, are willing to pursue walk-in access agreements, or plan to hunt in partnership with a landowner or outfitter.

Trophy potential in the surrounding counties is moderate. Historical trophy-record data from counties overlapping Unit 24 shows some history of quality bucks being taken from this broader area, but the volume and consistency don't place this among Wyoming's elite trophy country. Hunters chasing genuine record-book potential should treat Unit 24 as a possibility rather than a primary target, tempering expectations set by the strong harvest percentages with the more modest buck:doe ratio and trophy history.

Put simply: Unit 24 is a good bet for hunters focused on filling a tag and who already have — or are willing to arrange — access to the limited private land base. It's a tougher sell for hunters purely chasing trophy quality or those without a plan for the 88% of the unit that isn't public.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The wildlife survey data available for Unit 24 covers four survey years between 2021 and 2024, drawn from eight total surveys, and shows an average buck:doe ratio of 34:100. This is on the lower side for mule deer management units in the West, where healthy post-season ratios often run higher. A ratio in this range typically points to either concentrated hunting pressure on bucks, winter-kill effects common to Wyoming's harsh climates, or some combination of both.

Hunters should read this ratio as an indicator of buck availability relative to the doe population rather than as a measure of total deer numbers — Unit 24 can still support a healthy overall population while showing a modest buck:doe ratio if buck harvest or mortality is proportionally higher. Given the multi-year nature of this data (four years across the sampling window), the trend appears to be a consistent feature of the herd rather than a single anomalous survey, which is useful context: this isn't a one-year statistical blip but a pattern applicants should factor into their expectations for buck density afield.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 24's harvest data over the past four years shows a unit that reliably delivers venison to a majority of its hunters:

• 2025: 3,167 hunters, 1,680 harvested, 53% success
• 2024: 2,856 hunters, 1,565 harvested, 55% success
• 2023: 1,585 hunters, 762 harvested, 48% success
• 2022: 1,710 hunters, 839 harvested, 49% success

The two most recent years show both a significant increase in hunter participation and an uptick in success rate compared to 2022 and 2023, when hunter numbers were roughly half what they became by 2024-2025. This shift could reflect a number of factors — improved herd conditions, more hunters gaining access arrangements, or simply more applicants being drawn into the unit as its reputation for filling tags grew. Whatever the cause, the trend line points toward a unit that has become increasingly productive for the hunters who draw a tag and get into the field.

It's worth noting these are unit-wide totals across all tag types offered, so hunters should not assume every specific hunt within the unit mirrors these exact percentages — but as a general benchmark, Unit 24 sits well above many Wyoming units where sub-30% success is common.

Trophy Quality

Trophy-record data for the counties overlapping Unit 24 indicates a moderate history of trophy-class mule deer coming from this broader geographic area. This isn't a unit with a deep, decades-long pedigree of exceptional bucks, nor is it devoid of trophy potential — it falls in the middle ground. Hunters should also remember that record-book entries are logged by county, not by unit boundary, meaning any trophy history associated with this area is shared with neighboring units that overlap the same counties; an entry attributed to the region doesn't necessarily mean the animal came from within Unit 24's specific boundary.

Combined with the below-average buck:doe ratio (34:100), the qualitative picture suggests Unit 24 is more of a solid opportunity unit than a trophy destination. Hunters focused purely on maximizing antler size may want to weigh this unit against others with stronger, more consistent trophy pedigrees, while hunters prioritizing a good chance at any legal buck will find the data here more encouraging.

Access & Terrain

Access is the single biggest limiting factor for hunters considering Unit 24. With only 12% of the unit's 314,121 acres classified as public land, the overwhelming majority — 88% — is private property. There is no wilderness designation in this unit (0% wilderness), so hunters won't face Wyoming's guide-requirement rules that apply in wilderness areas, but that's a minor consolation given how little public ground exists to hunt in the first place.

This low public land percentage means DIY hunters without an existing access plan will struggle. Successful applicants in Unit 24 typically need one of the following: a private land connection or lease, a walk-in access agreement, or a guided/outfitted hunt on private ground. Hunters should not plan a trip here assuming they'll find open public tracts to still-hunt or glass from — the numbers simply don't support that strategy for the vast majority of the unit.

Elevation in the unit ranges from 3,628 feet up to 8,591 feet, a substantial spread that likely produces a mix of lower sagebrush and agricultural fringe country transitioning into higher, rougher terrain at the top end. Hunters planning a scouting trip should use HuntPilot's mapping tools — including the public land overlay — to identify exactly where that limited 12% public access sits relative to the unit's elevation bands, since generic descriptions can't substitute for pinpointing the specific parcels available to hunt.

How to Apply

Wyoming's deer draw system requires nonresidents to draw for every tag, while residents can access some general opportunities without a full draw process, though limited-quota units like those associated with Unit 24 still require an application. Wyoming residents accumulate preference points for deer, so repeat applicants who don't draw will see their point total grow for future years.

For the 2028 application cycle, the application window opens January 5, 2028, with a deadline of March 1, 2028, according to HuntPilot's draw calendar.

For the 2026 season specifically, Wyoming has published the following fee structure:

• Nonresident regular tag: $15 application fee, $374 tag fee, $41 point fee — applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of June 1, 2026, and a point-only deadline of November 2, 2026.
• Nonresident antlerless tag: $15 application fee, $34 tag fee, $41 point fee — same application window (opens January 2, 2026, deadline June 1, 2026) and point deadline of November 2, 2026.
• Nonresident special tag: $15 application fee, $1,200 tag fee, $41 point fee — same open date and deadline structure as above.
• Resident regular tag: $5 application fee, $42 tag fee — opens January 2, 2026, deadline June 1, 2026, point deadline November 2, 2026.
• Resident antlerless tag: $5 application fee, $22 tag fee — same dates as the resident regular tag.

Nonresidents should budget for the full tag fee at time of application submission, since Wyoming requires payment upfront rather than only upon successful draw. Given the significant nonresident tag fee difference between the regular tag ($374) and special tag ($1,200), hunters should confirm exactly which tag type they're applying for before submitting.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 24? The unit spans a wide elevation range, from 3,628 feet up to 8,591 feet, suggesting a mix of lower-elevation sagebrush and agricultural-fringe habitat transitioning into higher, more rugged country at the top of that range. There is no wilderness designation in the unit (0%), so hunters won't encounter Wyoming's wilderness guide requirements here — but the terrain question is secondary to the access question, since only 12% of the unit is public land.

What is harvest success like in Wyoming Unit 24? Recent harvest success has been strong, running 53% in 2025, 55% in 2024, 48% in 2023, and 49% in 2022 according to HuntPilot's data. Hunter participation nearly doubled between 2022-2023 and 2024-2025, and success rates climbed alongside that increase, suggesting the unit has been consistently productive for hunters who secure a tag.

How big are the mule deer in Unit 24? Trophy-record data for the counties overlapping this unit shows a moderate trophy history — some quality bucks have come from the broader area, but it isn't among Wyoming's premier trophy destinations. The unit's buck:doe ratio, averaging 34:100 across recent surveys, is also on the lower side, which suggests a thinner mature buck segment relative to the doe population. Hunters should set trophy expectations accordingly rather than assuming the strong harvest rates translate to trophy-class bucks.

Is Wyoming Unit 24 worth applying for? It depends heavily on a hunter's access situation and goals. For hunters who already have private land access, a lease, or a walk-in agreement, Unit 24's harvest success rates (48-55% over the last four years) make it an attract