Unit 100 Steamboat (Area 100)
Vast Red Desert antelope country — Steamboat Mountain, sand dunes and the Great Divide Basin, mostly public.
Red Desert · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
3,742
sq mi
Public land
73%
approx.
Elevation
6,300–8,600
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Hunt Area 100, Steamboat, is a sprawling pronghorn unit across the Red Desert of Sweetwater and Fremont counties, roughly bounded by I-80, WY 372, US 28 and the Sweetwater River. This is classic high-desert Wyoming: endless sagebrush basins, the volcanic mass of Steamboat Mountain, the Killpecker Sand Dunes, and the northern reach into the Great Divide Basin. Pronghorn are the marquee draw — Wyoming holds the world's largest antelope population and this desert is prime range — but the country also carries a desert mule deer population and Wyoming's noted Red Desert / Steamboat desert elk herd. Roughly three-quarters public land, though the I-80 corridor on the south is checkerboard.
Terrain
Open sagebrush basins and desert flats broken by Steamboat Mountain, White Mountain rim, the Boars Tusk volcanic plug and the active Killpecker Sand Dunes; the interior drains internally into the Great Divide Basin.
Cover: Wyoming big sagebrush, greasewood and saltbush flats, desert grasses, scattered juniper and aspen pockets on Steamboat Mountain, with shifting dunes and blowout habitat at Killpecker.
Landmarks: Steamboat Mountain · Killpecker Sand Dunes · Boars Tusk · White Mountain · Great Divide Basin · Oregon Buttes · Sweetwater River
Access
About 70% BLM and 3% state — largely open public land with an excellent road network. But the southern edge along the I-80 / Union Pacific corridor is the land-grant checkerboard of alternating public/private sections; corner-crossing and locked private squares matter there. Interior public is contiguous and easy to roam. Note only non-Indian fee-title lands are open where the boundary nears the Wind River Reservation to the north.
Managers: BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: I-80 exits north of Rock Springs (Steamboat/Wild Horse Loop) · US 191 north from Rock Springs · BLM Killpecker Sand Dunes / Steamboat Mountain roads · Oregon Buttes / South Pass roads off US 28 · county and BLM two-tracks throughout
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant qualityThe heart of Red Desert antelope country — high densities across the sage basins with good access and modest fencing relative to the unit's size. A high-quota unit that trends toward volume with some solid bucks.
- →Cover ground and glass from high sage benches and rims to locate bucks
- →Judge horn mass and prong from a distance before committing to a stalk
- →Use the dune fields and rough breaks near Steamboat Mountain for cover on stalks
- →Hunt water sources and greasewood draws in warm early-season weather
Mule Deer
common opportunityA desert mule deer population uses Steamboat Mountain, the rims and brushy draws — lower density than the mountains but genuine desert-buck opportunity on big public country.
- →Glass rimrock, juniper pockets and rough breaks around Steamboat Mountain and White Mountain
- →Hunt sagebrush draws and dune-edge cover at first light
- →Be prepared to cover miles between deer
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityThe Red Desert / Steamboat desert elk herd is an unusual sagebrush-dwelling elk population using Steamboat Mountain and surrounding basins — low density but a distinctive, hard-to-draw desert elk hunt.
- →Focus on Steamboat Mountain's aspen and juniper pockets and nearby springs
- →Glass at dawn as elk feed in the open sage before bedding in cover
- →Expect long spot-and-stalk approaches over open ground
Pro tips
- →This is a volume antelope unit — glass a lot of animals to find the mass-and-prong bucks worth a stalk
- →Carry more water and fuel than you think you need; the interior is remote with no services
- →Watch the I-80 checkerboard on the south end — map public/private and mind corner-crossing
- →Dry two-tracks become impassable gumbo after storms; plan around weather
- →Steamboat Mountain holds the desert elk and better mule deer cover — worth a look for a multi-species trip
Watch out for
- !Union Pacific checkerboard along the I-80 corridor on the south edge — trespass and corner-crossing exposure
- !Remote country with no water, fuel or cell service across much of the interior
- !Clay two-tracks become impassable when wet
- !Only non-Indian fee-title lands open where the boundary approaches the Wind River Reservation
- !Wild horse herds and range fires possible in dry years
Logistics
Rock Springs on I-80 is the full-service base — fuel, groceries, lodging and a hospital — and the main gateway north into the desert. Farson and Eden serve the north end off US 191. Services vanish quickly once off the interstate; carry extra fuel, water and recovery gear. Two-tracks turn impassable when wet.
Nearest towns: Rock Springs, Green River, Farson, Eden
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD 2024 Antelope Hunt Area maps · WGFD Antelope Hunt Planner · HuntScore — Wyoming Hunt Area 100 (Steamboat)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 100 in Wyoming?
- Unit 100 (Steamboat (Area 100)) covers about 3,742 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,300 to 8,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 100?
- Approximately 73% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, WY state trust, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 100?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 100 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.