Wyoming Unit 87 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 87 is one of the state's historically respected mule deer units, mentioned in the same breath as other top-tier western Wyoming deer country. For hunters researching Wyoming Unit 87 mule deer hunting, the appeal is straightforward: a large unit with a strong share of public land, real trophy history in the surrounding counties, and recent harvest numbers that suggest a healthy, huntable deer population. This article breaks down what the data actually shows so hunters can decide whether to spend a point, or several, chasing a tag here.

Unit 87 spans 781,860 acres with elevations ranging from 5,847 feet up to 10,016 feet, giving hunters access to everything from lower sagebrush benches to high alpine basins depending on time of year and hunt pressure. With 70% of the unit in public ownership, this is a unit where do-it-yourself hunters can realistically plan a hunt without needing to lock up private ground access — a meaningful advantage compared to many Wyoming deer units where private land dominates the best habitat.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 87 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available through HuntPilot, Unit 87 earns a serious look from hunters willing to invest points or apply as a nonresident with a special tag. The most recent harvest data shows a 90% success rate in 2025 (43 harvested out of 48 hunters) and a 69% success rate in 2024 (31 of 45 hunters). Two consecutive years of success rates well above what's typical for limited-entry mule deer hunts signal both a healthy deer population and effective hunter access — hunters who draw this tag are converting at a high rate.

The counties overlapping Unit 87 carry a strong history of trophy-class mule deer entries in the record books, which lines up with the unit's reputation among Wyoming deer hunters. That trophy pedigree, combined with 70% public land and consistently high harvest success, makes this a unit worth prioritizing for hunters building points specifically for mule deer.

The one data point that deserves a measured read is the buck:doe ratio. The average across four survey years (2021–2024) sits at 46:100, which is a reasonable, believable ratio for a healthy mule deer herd — not inflated or suspicious like a single-year outlier would be. A multi-year average in this range suggests a stable buck segment of the population rather than a herd that's been overharvested or is riding a one-year anomaly. That's a positive sign for hunters concerned about buck age structure and future trophy potential.

Given the combination of majority public land, strong and recent harvest success, and a credible trophy history in the surrounding counties, Unit 87 is a legitimate target for both residents building points and nonresidents willing to pay for a special tag. It is not a unit hunters should expect to draw casually — the reputation this unit carries among Wyoming deer hunters means demand is real, and hunters should check current draw odds on HuntPilot's Unit 87 page before committing points.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data available through HuntPilot shows that the counties overlapping Unit 87 have a strong history of producing record-book mule deer entries. Because record-book entries are logged at the county level rather than the unit level, that trophy history is shared with neighboring units whose boundaries fall within the same counties — the specific bucks behind those records could have come from any unit sharing that county ground. Still, a strong multi-decade trophy history in this area is a meaningful signal: it indicates the habitat and genetics exist to produce mature, well-developed bucks, and that hunters with enough patience to pass younger deer have a real shot at something special.

Combined with the unit's elevation range — 5,847 to 10,016 feet — which allows bucks to summer in high country largely undisturbed before dropping into more huntable terrain, the conditions here support the kind of age structure that produces trophy animals. Hunters chasing a wall-hanger buck should treat Unit 87 as one of the stronger options in the state based on the available trophy record history, while recognizing that no unit guarantees a giant buck every year.

Harvest Success Rates

The harvest numbers for Unit 87 are among the more encouraging figures a mule deer hunter will find in Wyoming's limited-entry system. In 2025, 48 hunters harvested 43 bucks for a 90% success rate. In 2024, 45 hunters harvested 31 bucks for a 69% success rate. Both years reflect solid conversion rates for a limited-entry mule deer hunt, and the improvement from 2024 to 2025 suggests either favorable weather and deer movement during the season, strong hunter effort, or both.

A success rate in the 70–90% range over consecutive years is a strong indicator that hunters who draw this tag are finding huntable numbers of deer and are able to close the deal once they're in the field. This isn't a unit where hunters are burning through their entire season with no shot opportunities — the data suggests hunters who put in the time are converting their tag into a harvested buck at a high rate.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data covering four years from 2021 to 2024 shows an average buck:doe ratio of 46:100 for Unit 87. This is a believable, healthy figure for a mule deer herd — it falls within the range that wildlife managers generally consider indicative of a stable, well-structured population rather than a herd skewed by overharvest or a statistical fluke from a small survey sample.

Wyoming winters can be brutal on mule deer herds, and hunters familiar with the state's deer management know that severe winters have hammered mule deer populations in various regions over the years. The fact that Unit 87's buck:doe ratio has held in a reasonable range across a four-year survey window is a positive sign that the herd here has weathered recent conditions reasonably well relative to some other Wyoming deer units. Hunters should still expect natural year-to-year fluctuation in any wild herd, but the multi-year average is the more reliable number to lean on rather than any single survey year.

Access & Terrain

Unit 87 covers 781,860 acres with 70% public land, meaning the majority of the unit is open to hunters without needing to negotiate private land access — a real advantage in Wyoming, where many strong deer units are checkerboarded with significant private ownership. Elevation in the unit ranges from 5,847 feet at the low end to 10,016 feet at the highest points, which creates a substantial vertical range for hunters to work depending on time of year, weather, and how deer are distributed during the hunt.

There is no wilderness acreage recorded for Unit 87, which means nonresident hunters are not subject to Wyoming's mandatory outfitter requirement that applies in designated wilderness areas. This opens the door for nonresident DIY hunters to hunt Unit 87 without hiring a licensed outfitter, provided they're comfortable navigating the terrain and public access points on their own.

Given the wide elevation spread, hunters should expect a mix of terrain types across the unit — from lower sagebrush and foothill country up through timbered slopes and into high alpine basins near the top of the elevation range. Hunters planning a hunt should use mapping tools, such as HuntPilot's public land overlays, to identify specific public access points and plan routes into the higher-elevation basins where mature bucks often hold before weather pushes them lower.

How to Apply

Wyoming's deer application system requires hunters to apply well ahead of the hunting season, and Unit 87 follows the same statewide deadlines as other limited-entry deer hunts.

For the 2026 season, Wyoming's fee structure breaks down by residency and tag type:

For current draw odds specific to Unit 87 and each tag type, check HuntPilot's Wyoming state page at /states/wy, which tracks year-to-year data as it's published.

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 87? Unit 87 spans elevations from 5,847 feet to 10,016 feet across 781,860 acres, offering a wide range of terrain from lower sagebrush and foothill country to high alpine basins. With 70% of the unit in public ownership and no designated wilderness acreage, hunters have substantial room to roam without needing special outfitter arrangements for wilderness access.

What is harvest success like in Unit 87? Recent harvest data shows strong success rates: 90% in 2025 (43 of 48 hunters) and 69% in 2024 (31 of 45 hunters). Both years reflect solid outcomes for hunters who draw this limited-entry tag, suggesting a huntable deer population and good access to game.

How big are the mule deer in Unit 87? The counties overlapping Unit 87 carry a strong history of trophy-class mule deer entries in the record books. Because records are attributed at the county level, that trophy legacy is shared with neighboring units in the same counties, but it reflects genuinely strong genetics and habitat in the broader area. Hunters willing to be selective have a real chance at a mature, well-developed buck here.

Is Unit 87 worth applying for? Based on the available data — strong recent harvest success, majority public land access, a believable and stable buck:doe ratio across four survey years, and solid trophy history in the surrounding counties — Unit 87 is worth prioritizing for hunters focused on mule deer. It's not an easy draw given its reputation, so hunters should check current odds on HuntPilot before committing points or planning a nonresident application.

Do nonresidents need an outfitter to hunt Unit 87? No. Unit 87 has no recorded wilderness acreage, so Wyoming's mandatory outfitter requirement for wilderness areas does not apply here. Nonresident hunters can pursue a DIY hunt in Unit 87, provided they secure a tag through the special nonresident application process.