Unit 16 Shirley Mountain (Area 16)
Mature bulls in the Shirley and Seminoe mountains rising out of legendary antelope basin
Shirley Basin · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,759
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–8,900
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 16 sits in south-central Wyoming, taking in the Shirley Mountain and Seminoe Mountain ranges where they lift out of the high-desert Shirley Basin, bordered by the North Platte River on the west and Highway 487 to the north. It is one of the better general-license elk units in the region, known for producing mature bulls off the timbered mountains, while the surrounding sage basin is world-class pronghorn country and holds mule deer through the foothills. Straddling Carbon and Natrona counties, the unit mixes large BLM and state parcels with private ranch.
Terrain
High-desert basin floor climbing to moderate and locally rugged timbered mountains, with rocky ridges, canyons and aspen pockets in the Shirley and Seminoe ranges.
Cover: Sagebrush, greasewood and grassland across the basin, transitioning to mountain shrub, aspen stringers and ponderosa/lodgepole and Douglas-fir stands on the higher slopes.
Landmarks: Shirley Mountains · Seminoe Mountains · Seminoe Reservoir · North Platte River · Miracle Mile
Access
Roughly 55% public with large blocks of BLM and state land, but this is southern-Wyoming checkerboard country: Union Pacific land-grant odd sections alternate public and private across parts of the basin, so many public parcels are legally landlocked behind private corners. Verify ownership section-by-section and be aware of corner-crossing exposure. The Shirley Basin Hunter Management Area (Heward's 7E and 25 ranches) north of Medicine Bow opens additional access to elk with a permission slip.
Managers: BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: Wyoming Highway 487 (north) · County Road 483 · North Platte River / Seminoe Reservoir road (west) · Shirley Basin HMA access points
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe signature draw of the unit: elk hold in and around the Shirley and Seminoe mountains and it is regarded as an excellent place to take a mature bull, though hunting has gotten tougher over the decades with more ATV and bow pressure than the storied 1980s.
- →Get into the timbered pockets and canyon heads of the Shirley Mountains away from ATV trails
- →Glass basin-edge feed at first light and follow elk into cover
- →Hunt the roadless public blocks and use the Shirley Basin HMA for additional access
Pronghorn
abundant qualityThe Shirley Basin is some of the finest antelope ground in Wyoming, with high densities and good bucks across the sage flats surrounding the mountains.
- →Glass long from basin high points and stalk using terrain folds
- →Key on water in dry early seasons
- →Push into landlocked-feeling roadless BLM to find lightly-pressured bucks
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer work the foothill shrub and mountain fringe of both ranges; numbers are decent and bucks are opportunity-to-quality depending on access.
- →Glass mountain-shrub benches and aspen edges at dawn and dusk
- →Still-hunt canyon breaks between basin and timber
Pro tips
- →This is a checkerboard basin, so map the odd/even sections and expect landlocked public that needs a careful route in
- →Escape the ATV pressure by hunting into the roughest roadless timber for mature bulls
- →Use the Shirley Basin HMA permission-slip access to reach elk on otherwise-private ground
- →Rattlesnakes are present in the lower basin during warm early hunts
Watch out for
- !Union Pacific checkerboard landlocks many public sections; corner-crossing risk
- !Increased ATV and bow pressure has made mature bulls harder than a generation ago
- !Mountain roads snow shut early; basin roads slick when wet
- !Rattlesnakes in the lower elevations
Logistics
Casper to the north and Rawlins to the southwest are the full-service hubs for fuel, lodging and processing; Medicine Bow and Hanna are closer, smaller stops. The North Platte River and the Miracle Mile blue-ribbon trout fishery on the west edge make for a good off-day. Cell service is spotty in the mountains.
Nearest towns: Medicine Bow, Hanna, Casper, Rawlins
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Wyoming Area 16 Shirley Mountain Elk Unit Profile · WGFD Shirley Basin Hunter Management Area · WGFD Hunt Planner
FAQ
- How big is Unit 16 in Wyoming?
- Unit 16 (Shirley Mountain (Area 16)) covers about 1,759 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 8,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 16?
- Approximately 55% 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 16?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 16 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.