Wyoming Deer Hunting Season

Planning a deer hunting trip can be an overwhelming yet rewarding experience for any big game hunter. Coupling the deer population with the beautiful scenery make Wyoming deer hunting seasons some of the most desirable.

Deer Species Available

Wyoming is home to both mule deer and white-tailed species. Although the mule deer has the larger population and is the more popular of the two in Wyoming, white-tails are easy to come by in the Northeast and lower levels. The larger mule deer populations are typically found in the higher mountain elevations in the Western part of the state.

Seasons and License Fees

Rifle hunting seasons in Wyoming open in early season and extend into late December for doe seasons. Nonresident permits are granted through a draw process divided into 15 regions separated by geographic location. A region general license allows the hunter rights to any license area within that region. Often the availability of public hunting land will help the applicant choose which region for which they will submit a draw permit. Typically, hunters are allowed to use the same license to hunt the species of their choice. Each individual license will specify which species is permitted for that particular region. Some permits allow the harvest of any antlered deer, while others limit the harvest to any antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer.

The nonresident application period is open from January 1 to March 15 and the resident period runs during the month of May. Permits are priced and sold according to the sex of the species desired. A nonresident antlered permit costs $312 and the resident permit costs $38. Doe or fawn permits cost $34 for a nonresident and $2 for residents. All hunters born on or after January 1, 1966 are required to possess a hunter safety card or certificate and must be carried while in the field.

Methods of Harvest

Most big game regions participate in special archery seasons that open prior to the regular hunting season. These archery seasons require a separate license outside of the general hunting license. Hunters are only required to purchase one archery license per year that is valid for all big game specialty archery seasons. These seasons generally open mid August and run through early September. Rifle season is by far the most popular method of harvest for Wyoming deer. The bulk of the season is devoted to rifle hunting. Aside from a select few regions, Wyoming does not currently offer designated muzzleloader seasons for any of their big game.

Where To Hunt

Nearly 50 percent of the state of Wyoming is public land. The majority of which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Accessible public lands are open to hunting unless otherwise posted. State Trust Lands are leased to private parties, but are often open to public hunting if access is available. Generally those State Trust Lands used for raising crops require permission from the lease holder. Maps of these public hunting lands are available from Wyoming Game and Fish, the Bureau of Land Management, or the U.S. Forest Service.

Additional Rules

One exterior fluorescent orange garment is required for all hunters during regular big game seasons. This excludes the use of hunter orange during specialty archery seasons. Camouflage fluorescent orange is allowed in the state of Wyoming. The use of off-road vehicles is generally restricted to maintained roads and trails. In some instances, vehicles may be permitted to retrieve game if no damage will occur.

Wyoming boasts a large population of wildlife making it one of the more attractive big game hunting states in the U.S. For more information regarding Wyoming deer hunting seasons, refer to wgfd.wyo.gov.