Unit 128 Muskrat (Area 128)
Muskrat and Beaver Rim — big-basin sagebrush high desert that hunters know for one thing: lots of pronghorn on lots of public land.
Sweetwater / Beaver Rim · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,202
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
5,800–9,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Area 128 covers the Gas Hills, Rattlesnake Hills and Beaver Rim country north of the Sweetwater River, roughly between Riverton and Jeffrey City. It is classic Wyoming antelope high desert — endless rolling sagebrush, badland rims and scattered buttes on a base of BLM and state trust land. This is a high-participation, quantity-first pronghorn unit (the Beaver Rim antelope area historically draws hundreds of hunters), with mule deer in the breaks and elk on the higher ground to the south.
Terrain
Expansive rolling sagebrush basin broken by Beaver Rim, badland escarpments, and the low Gas Hills and Rattlesnake Hills; the ground climbs south toward Green Mountain and the Sweetwater divide.
Cover: Wyoming big sagebrush, greasewood and saltbush flats with short-grass parks; scattered juniper and limber pine on the rims and hills, aspen and conifer on the higher slopes to the south.
Landmarks: Beaver Rim · Gas Hills (uranium district) · Rattlesnake Hills · Sweetwater River · Green Mountain (to the south) · Castle Gardens · Muskrat Creek
Access
Public access is generally good — BLM dominates the basin with state trust sections mixed in — but ownership is a patchwork, and the Gas Hills carry a maze of two-tracks and old uranium-district roads, some on private mining ground. This is not the classic Union Pacific checkerboard of the I-80 corridor, but private ranch inholdings and mixed-section ownership still mean you must check the map before crossing fences and corners.
Managers: BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: US-20/26 (Riverton–Shoshoni) · Gas Hills Road / WY-136 · Castle Gardens Road (Fremont CR 507) · Beaver Rim / US-287 corridor near Sweetwater Station · BLM two-tracks off the main roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant qualityThe marquee species and the reason most hunters come — high pronghorn densities across the sagebrush basin on largely public ground, with a good mix of representative and better-than-average bucks.
- →Cover ground by vehicle on the road network, then glass big country from rims and high points
- →Use Beaver Rim and badland cuts to close the distance on stalks
- →Hit water sources and green feed in dry early-season conditions
- →Carry a land-status app to work BLM/state ground and avoid private inholdings
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer hold in the badland breaks, brushy draws, rim rock and higher hills; not a trophy-deer destination but steady opportunity on public ground.
- →Glass the breaks and rims at first and last light
- →Hunt the brushy draws and juniper pockets off the sage flats
- →Work the higher, rougher ground toward Green Mountain for better bucks
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityElk use the higher country to the south around Green Mountain and the Rattlesnake/Beaver Rim highlands; numbers on the open basin are thin and animals shift with pressure.
- →Focus on Green Mountain timber and the higher hills, not the open flats
- →Glass timber edges and parks early
- →Be ready to cover a lot of country to locate scattered herds
Pro tips
- →This is a road-and-glass unit — put miles on the two-tracks, then pick apart the country from high points
- →Beaver Rim and the badland cuts are your terrain for closing the last few hundred yards on antelope
- →In a dry year, hunt water — stock tanks, seeps and any green draw pull pronghorn
- →Watch for private inholdings and mining ground in the Gas Hills; a land app keeps you legal at corners and fences
- →Bring more water and fuel than you think you need — services are far and thin
Watch out for
- !Private ranch inholdings and mixed-section ownership within the public basin — verify before crossing
- !Corner-crossing between public sections; check the map
- !Old uranium-district roads and private mining ground in the Gas Hills
- !Gumbo clay roads after rain/snow; scarce water; relentless wind
Logistics
Riverton and Lander are the full-service supply hubs (lodging, fuel, groceries, sporting goods); Jeffrey City is a near-ghost town with minimal services. Dispersed camping is easy on the vast BLM ground. Water is scarce and roads turn to gumbo when wet — carry recovery gear and extra fuel.
Nearest towns: Riverton, Jeffrey City, Lander, Shoshoni
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Hunt Planner · WGFD Antelope harvest statewide report · WGFD Fremont County Walk-In Areas
FAQ
- How big is Unit 128 in Wyoming?
- Unit 128 (Muskrat (Area 128)) covers about 2,202 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,800 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 128?
- Approximately 60% 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 128?
- 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 128 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.