Unit 113 Rochelle Hills (Area 113)
Rolling high-plains prairie and coal-country breaks around the Rochelle Hills — big pronghorn numbers, scattered mule deer, and a rebounding prairie elk herd.
Powder River Basin / Thunder Basin · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
861
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
3,800–5,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 113 sits in east-central Wyoming's Powder River Basin north of Douglas, a sweep of high-plains desert, sage flats, grassy draws, and the low sandstone escarpment of the Rochelle Hills. It blends private ranchland with substantial BLM and blocks of the Thunder Basin National Grassland, threaded by the huge surface coal mines of the Powder River Basin. Pronghorn are the headline, mule deer hold in the breaks and creek bottoms, and the Thunder Basin prairie elk herd gives the unit an unusual open-country elk opportunity.
Terrain
Open rolling prairie and sagebrush basins broken by grassy draws, sandstone rims, and the low Rochelle Hills escarpment, with big-sky sightlines that reward glassing and covering ground.
Cover: Shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie, big sagebrush and greasewood flats, ponderosa pine and juniper on the Rochelle Hills rims, with cottonwood and shrub cover along the creek bottoms.
Landmarks: Rochelle Hills · Thunder Basin National Grassland · Powder River Basin coal mines (Black Thunder / North Antelope Rochelle) · Cheyenne River drainage · Antelope Creek
Access
A patchwork of private ranch, BLM, state sections, and the Thunder Basin National Grassland — public land is substantial but scattered in an intermingled mosaic, so knowing exact section boundaries matters. This is not the southern Union Pacific checkerboard, but corner-crossing and interlocked private/public sections are still a real navigation and legality challenge. Active coal-mine leases and reclamation areas are closed to hunting; some private is in WGFD walk-in / Hunter Management access.
Managers: private ranch, BLM, USFS Thunder Basin National Grassland, WY state trust
Access points: Douglas (I-25) to the south · Wright and Bill along WY-59/WY-450 · Thunder Basin National Grassland access roads and two-tracks · county roads off WY-59 north from Douglas
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant qualityPrime Powder River Basin pronghorn country — the open prairie carries strong antelope numbers, and this region routinely produces good bucks with reasonable draw odds.
- →Glass big basins and the flats below the Rochelle Hills rims at first light
- →Cover ground between glassing points and use draws and rims to close on bucks
- →Watch stock tanks and water sources in warm early-season weather
- →Verify each public parcel — plan stalks around the intermingled private-land mosaic
Mule Deer
common opportunityGood mule deer numbers, but bucks are spread out — scouting the breaks, draws, and Rochelle Hills timber is the key to finding a mature deer.
- →Hunt the ponderosa and juniper of the Rochelle Hills escarpment and rims
- →Work brushy creek bottoms and grassy draws at dawn and dusk
- →Glass from high ground and cover country until you locate bachelor groups
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityThe Thunder Basin prairie elk herd offers a distinctive open-country elk hunt; elk shift readily onto private and use big basins and creek bottoms, so glassing and covering ground drive success.
- →Glass big open basins, creek bottoms, and rolling hills where prairie elk feed and bed
- →Be prepared to cover a lot of country — elk are localized and mobile
- →Secure private-land access where possible, as elk favor undisturbed ground
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails inhabit the wooded creek bottoms and riparian cover, offering a secondary opportunity along the drainages.
- →Focus on cottonwood and brush along the Cheyenne River and creek bottoms
- →Hunt edges where cover meets prairie at dawn and dusk
Pro tips
- →Load BLM and Forest Service land-status layers — the public/private mosaic is the biggest challenge here
- →Glass the Rochelle Hills rims for both mule deer and a vantage over the surrounding basins
- →Steer clear of active coal-mine leases and reclamation ground, which are closed
- →Hunt water in warm early-season weather for pronghorn
- →Ask about WGFD walk-in / Hunter Management access to open otherwise-landlocked private
Watch out for
- !Intermingled private/public sections and corner-crossing legality
- !Active coal mines, oil/gas operations, and reclamation areas closed to hunting
- !Gumbo two-tracks impassable when wet
- !Constant prairie wind and limited water/shade
- !Fire restrictions on grassland/BLM in dry years
Logistics
Douglas on I-25 and Gillette to the north are the main service hubs; Wright and Bill offer limited fuel and supplies. This is working ranch and energy country — respect active mine and oil/gas operations, gates, and no-hunting leases. Carry land-ownership maps; two-tracks turn to slick gumbo when wet.
Nearest towns: Douglas, Wright, Bill, Gillette (north), Newcastle (east)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Wyoming Area 113 (Rochelle Hills) Unit Profile · HuntScore — Wyoming Hunt Area 113 (Rochelle Hills) · WGFD Hunt Planner · BLM Wyoming Public Room — Hunt Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 113 in Wyoming?
- Unit 113 (Rochelle Hills (Area 113)) covers about 861 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,800 to 5,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 113?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, BLM, USFS Thunder Basin National Grassland, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 113?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 113 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.