Unit 110 Upper Platte River (Area 110)
Upper North Platte valley elk and mule deer between the Sierra Madre and Snowy Range, pronghorn on the valley floor
Platte Valley · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
457
sq mi
Public land
73%
approx.
Elevation
6,900–12,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 110 wraps the Upper North Platte River valley around Saratoga and Encampment, flanked by the Sierra Madre to the west and the Snowy Range (Medicine Bow Mountains) to the east — both part of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. The river-bottom sage and ranch valley holds pronghorn and wintering mule deer, while the timbered high country to either side carries elk, deer and a few Shiras moose. With roughly three-quarters public land and big blocks of national forest, access here is far better than the checkerboard basins to the north.
Terrain
Broad sage-and-ranch valley floor along the North Platte at ~6,900-7,500 ft, rising steeply into forested, rugged mountains on both sides — the Sierra Madre west and the Snowy Range/Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft) east. Terrain runs from open valley glassing to steep timber and alpine.
Cover: Sagebrush, grass and willow-lined river bottoms on the valley floor; aspen, lodgepole and spruce-fir up the slopes; alpine tundra on the highest Snowy Range and Sierra Madre ground.
Landmarks: North Platte River · Sierra Madre · Snowy Range / Medicine Bow Peak · Encampment River · WY-130 Snowy Range Scenic Byway · WY-70 Battle Highway · Continental Divide (Sierra Madre)
Access
About 73% public with large contiguous national-forest blocks on both mountain ranges — a big step up from the northern basins. The main private is the valley-floor ranch land along the North Platte, so respect posted river-bottom boundaries. Note the wilderness areas (Encampment River, Huston Park, Savage Run) where nonresidents must hunt with a licensed guide or resident companion and motorized use is prohibited.
Managers: BLM, USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: WY-130 (Snowy Range Byway) east of Saratoga · WY-70 (Battle Highway) west from Encampment into the Sierra Madre · US-130/230 corridor through Saratoga and Riverside · numerous Medicine Bow-Routt NF trailheads and roads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualitySolid elk on the timbered national forest of both the Sierra Madre and Snowy Range, tied to elevation and weather. A quality mountain hunt for those willing to climb into the timber and hunt the parks.
- →Hunt forest parks and timber edges at dawn/dusk
- →Follow elevation with the weather — early elk high, storms push them down toward the valley
- →Glass Sierra Madre and Snowy Range basins, then work the timber
- →Non-residents: know the wilderness guide requirement before hunting those blocks
Mule Deer
common qualityHealthy mule deer using the mountain slopes, aspen benches and lower foothills, dropping to the valley and river breaks as snow builds. Mature bucks live in the high aspen/timber transition.
- →Glass aspen benches and timber edges morning and evening
- →Hunt the transition zone between sage foothills and forest
- →Late-season snow concentrates deer at lower elevations near the valley
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn hold the sage valley floor and lower benches around Saratoga; the mountainous halves of the unit are largely void of them. A good-access opportunity hunt on the valley bottom.
- →Focus on the open sage valley and lower BLM/state benches, not the timber
- →Glass from valley high points and spot-and-stalk
- →Watch private ranch boundaries along the river
Moose
limited opportunityA limited Shiras moose presence in the willow bottoms of the Encampment/North Platte drainages and the Snowy Range — a hard-to-draw but genuine opportunity.
- →Hunt willow-choked creek bottoms and beaver-pond complexes at dawn/dusk
- →Glass riparian corridors in the Sierra Madre and Snowy Range
- →Move slowly and quietly along the drainages
Pro tips
- →Base in Saratoga or Encampment for quick access to both mountain ranges and the valley
- →Hunt species by elevation: pronghorn on the valley floor, deer in the transition, elk in the timber
- →Non-residents must plan around the wilderness guide requirement in Encampment River, Huston Park and Savage Run
- →Respect the private ranch bottoms along the North Platte; the public is mostly the forest and benches
- →Carry chains, a shovel and 4WD — the forest roads snow up early
Watch out for
- !Private ranch land along the North Platte valley floor — respect posted river-bottom boundaries
- !Wilderness areas require a guide/resident companion for nonresidents and are non-motorized
- !Early and heavy mountain snow can close forest roads fast
- !Steep timbered terrain and thin fall weather windows in the high country
Logistics
Saratoga and Encampment provide fuel, lodging and basic services, with the North Platte drawing anglers as well. Rawlins and Laramie are the full-service backups. Mountain roads are good gravel when dry but the high country gets early snow — carry chains, a shovel and 4WD for late-season forest access.
Nearest towns: Saratoga, Encampment, Riverside, Rawlins, Laramie
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Wyoming Unit 110 Upper Platte River profile · Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber - Fishing & Hunting · WGFD Hunt Planner
FAQ
- How big is Unit 110 in Wyoming?
- Unit 110 (Upper Platte River (Area 110)) covers about 457 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,900 to 12,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 110?
- Approximately 73% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, WY state trust, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 110?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 110 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.