Wyoming Unit 87 Mule Deer Hunting Guide
Wyoming Unit 87 sits in a productive stretch of western Wyoming mule deer country, ranging from approximately 5,847 to 10,016 feet in elevation across a total footprint of 781,860 acres. With 70% of that ground in public hands and zero designated wilderness, this unit offers DIY hunters genuine access to huntable terrain without the logistical complications that plague more wilderness-heavy units elsewhere in the state. Hunters researching Wyoming Unit 87 mule deer hunting will find a unit with documented harvest success, a solid buck-to-doe ratio sustained across multiple survey years, and a location that overlaps counties with a meaningful trophy history.
The elevation range alone tells a story about the diversity of habitat hunters can expect. From lower sagebrush flats and rolling foothills near the 5,847-foot floor to timbered ridges and open alpine terrain pushing 10,016 feet at the upper end, mule deer in Unit 87 have access to a wide vertical corridor of seasonal range. That gradient is important for hunting strategy — deer use different elevations as seasons progress, transitioning from high summer range downward as cold weather pushes them toward lower winter ground.
For hunters trying to understand whether this unit fits their goals and application strategy, the data tells a fairly clear story. The sections below break down harvest performance, herd health indicators, trophy potential, access logistics, and exactly what applying for a tag costs.
Harvest Success Rates
Unit 87's recent harvest record is one of its strongest selling points. In 2025, 48 hunters pursued mule deer in this unit and 43 of them were successful — a 90% success rate that ranks among the upper tier of Wyoming limited-entry deer units. The 2024 season was more modest by comparison: 45 hunters afield produced 31 harvested deer, translating to a 69% success rate. Taken together, these two seasons reflect a unit that can swing meaningfully year to year — likely influenced by drought conditions, winter severity, and buck movement patterns — but maintains a baseline well above average.
The variation between 2024 and 2025 is worth paying attention to. A 21-percentage-point swing in one year suggests the unit is sensitive to environmental variables. Wyoming's deer populations are not immune to drought cycles and harsh winters, both of which can suppress body condition and alter deer distribution enough to affect hunter success. The strong 2025 rebound after a softer 2024 is an encouraging sign that the herd has resilience, but hunters should approach this unit with realistic expectations rather than banking on the peak year as the baseline.
What these numbers confirm is that when conditions cooperate, this unit can produce exceptional success rates for a mule deer draw unit. A 90% success rate in 2025 means nearly all hunters who drew a tag filled it — that kind of performance is not common across Wyoming's deer draw landscape.
Trophy Quality
The counties overlapping Wyoming Unit 87 carry a strong history of trophy-class mule deer production. Trophy records from this region reflect consistent output over multiple decades, not a one-time spike driven by a single exceptional year. Hunters targeting Unit 87 with a trophy buck as the primary objective have historical precedent on their side — this is not marginal or speculative trophy ground.
That said, trophy-class mule deer anywhere in Wyoming require realistic expectations. Limited-entry units consistently outperform general license units for mature buck age structure, simply because reduced hunting pressure allows more bucks to survive to full maturity. Unit 87's combination of controlled tag numbers and a 70% public land base gives mature bucks places to go undisturbed. The elevation range further contributes to trophy potential — high-elevation summer range supports strong antler development, and the transition to lower terrain as fall progresses creates predictable movement windows for hunters.
Hunters with trophy objectives should plan to invest significant time glassing and be prepared for physically demanding country as they work the elevation transitions. This is not a unit where trophy bucks are routinely encountered from the truck.
Herd Health & Population Trends
Wyoming Game and Fish has conducted four wildlife surveys in this unit spanning 2021 through 2024. Across those four survey years, the average buck-to-doe ratio is 46:100 — a meaningful benchmark for a mule deer unit.
A 46:100 buck-to-doe ratio is a healthy number for a Wyoming deer herd. Wyoming Game and Fish generally targets a post-season ratio somewhere in the 30–35 bucks per 100 does range as a management floor for most deer units, with higher ratios indicating better age structure and lower harvest pressure on bucks. A consistent 46:100 average sustained across four survey years suggests that managers are maintaining quality buck numbers in Unit 87 and that the herd is not being overharvested.
For hunters, a ratio in this range signals that mature bucks are present in meaningful numbers — not just young two- and three-year-olds that fill harvest statistics without delivering trophy-quality experiences. Combined with the strong 2025 harvest success rate of 90%, the herd survey data reinforces the picture of a unit in solid condition that supports both high success rates and above-average buck quality.
Access & Terrain
Unit 87's 70% public land composition is a genuine asset for DIY hunters. With nearly three-quarters of the unit in public hands, hunters are not in a situation where private land checkerboards the landscape and eliminates most realistic access options. Reaching productive country does not require knocking on doors or paying trespass fees for the majority of the unit.
The remaining 30% private land is worth noting, however. Private inholdings in Wyoming mule deer units often concentrate along drainages, valley bottoms, and lower-elevation areas — precisely the terrain deer migrate to as fall progresses. Hunters should map private versus public boundaries carefully before the season and not assume that deer spotted at one elevation during early fall will be accessible on the same land later in the season.
There is no designated wilderness within Unit 87, which matters for several practical reasons. Wyoming law requires all nonresident hunters in designated wilderness areas to be accompanied by a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide. Because Unit 87 carries zero wilderness designation, nonresident hunters can access the entire unit as DIY hunters without any legal obligation to hire a guide. This makes Unit 87 meaningfully more accessible to out-of-state hunters operating on a self-guided basis than the many Wyoming units where wilderness percentages create outfitter requirements for significant portions of the huntable terrain.
The 5,847 to 10,016-foot elevation range demands physical preparation. Hunters expecting to work the upper reaches of this unit in pursuit of early-season bucks on high summer range will be operating in genuine mountain terrain. Physical conditioning, appropriate footwear, and camp logistics suitable for changing mountain weather are baseline requirements — not optional considerations.
HuntPilot Analysis
Wyoming Unit 87 is a unit worth serious attention from hunters who have the points to compete for a tag. The combination of a 90% success rate in 2025, a sustained four-year buck-to-doe average of 46:100, 70% public land, zero wilderness (meaning full DIY access for nonresidents), and trophy history in the overlapping counties makes this a genuinely well-rounded draw unit.
The 69% success rate in 2024 is a reminder that this unit is not immune to down years, and hunters should factor that variability into their expectations. A unit averaging somewhere between 69% and 90% across adjacent seasons is still performing at a high level by any Wyoming mule deer standard.
For nonresident hunters, the primary constraint will be draw competitiveness. This is a limited-entry unit with documented harvest success and trophy history — those factors drive applicant demand. Hunters without meaningful preference point accumulation should research current draw odds carefully before committing application fees. Residents face a much more manageable cost structure given the fee differential detailed in the application section below.
The zero-wilderness designation is a distinct advantage that separates Unit 87 from many comparable Wyoming mule deer units. Nonresident DIY hunters who might otherwise be priced out of similar-quality units by mandatory outfitter requirements can hunt this unit independently — a genuine differentiator worth factoring into the application calculus.
HuntPilot's data assessment for Unit 87 is straightforward: this is a legitimate, data-backed option for mule deer hunters prioritizing both harvest success and trophy potential. For hunters with sufficient points and the physical capability to work steep, varied terrain, it belongs near the top of the Wyoming application priority list.
How to Apply
Wyoming mule deer draw applications are administered through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Hunters should verify current application details at the Wyoming Game and Fish application portal before submitting.
2026 Application Window: Applications for Wyoming deer tags open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of June 1, 2026. Hunters who miss the June deadline but still want to accumulate preference points have a separate point-only deadline of November 2, 2026.
2026 Fee Structure:
For residents, the application fee is $5. Tag fees in 2026 are either $22 or $42 depending on the specific hunt type. No license fee is required to apply in addition to these amounts.
For nonresidents, the application fee is $15. Tag fees in 2026 vary by hunt type: $34, $374, or $1,200 depending on the specific permit sought. A preference point fee of $41 applies to nonresident applicants. No additional license fee is required to apply.
The spread in nonresident tag fees — from $34 to $1,200 — reflects the different hunt types available within the unit draw structure. Hunters should identify the specific hunt type they are targeting before estimating total application costs.
2028 Application Deadline (All Hunts): Applications for all regular hunts open January 5, 2028, with a deadline of March 1, 2028.
Wyoming uses a preference point system for deer. Points accumulate when hunters apply and do not draw — building points over multiple seasons directly improves draw odds in subsequent years. Hunters who apply for points only during the 2026 cycle have until November 2, 2026 to do so.
Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wyoming Unit 87 worth applying for mule deer?
Yes — the data supports it. Unit 87 posted a 90% harvest success rate in 2025 across 48 hunters, with a sustained four-year buck-to-doe ratio of 46:100 and a documented trophy history in the overlapping counties. The 70% public land composition and zero wilderness designation make it fully accessible to DIY hunters, including nonresidents who would otherwise face guide requirements in wilderness-heavy units. For hunters with adequate preference points to compete, this unit consistently ranks as one of the stronger mule deer options in Wyoming.
What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 87?
Unit 87 covers terrain ranging from roughly 5,847 feet at the lower end to 10,016 feet at the upper reaches — a span of over 4,000 vertical feet. Hunters can expect a mix of sagebrush foothills, timbered slopes, and high alpine terrain depending on where they access the unit and what elevation deer are using at a given point in the season. The unit is physically demanding at elevation. With 70% public land and no designated wilderness, most of the unit is accessible to self-guided hunters willing to put in the legwork.
What is the mule deer harvest success rate in Wyoming Unit 87?
In 2025, Unit 87 recorded a 90% success rate with 43 deer harvested by 48 hunters. The 2024 season produced a 69% success rate (31 of 45 hunters successful). These figures reflect meaningful year-to-year variation, likely tied to weather and drought conditions, but both years still represent above-average performance for a Wyoming limited-entry deer unit.
How big are the mule deer in Wyoming Unit 87?
The counties overlapping Unit 87 have a strong history of trophy-class mule deer production, with consistent records documented across multiple decades. This is legitimate trophy ground backed by historical data — not speculative. Mature, high-scoring bucks are achievable here, though hunters should expect that trophy-class animals require significant glassing effort and the ability to cover mountain terrain. Tag numbers are controlled, which preserves the age structure needed for bucks to reach full maturity.
Can nonresidents hunt Wyoming Unit 87 mule deer without a guide?
Yes. Wyoming Unit 87 has no designated wilderness within its boundaries. Wyoming law requires nonresidents to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter only when hunting in designated wilderness areas — because Unit 87 carries zero wilderness designation, nonresident hunters can pursue mule deer throughout the entire unit as fully self-guided DIY hunters. This is a meaningful advantage compared to many other Wyoming deer units where wilderness percentages push nonresidents toward mandatory outfitter arrangements.