Unit 19 Muddy Mountain (Area 19)
Casper Mountain, Muddy Mountain and the Bates Hole breaks just south of town
Central Wyoming · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
745
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–8,800
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 19 covers the country immediately south of Casper, taking in Casper Mountain, Muddy Mountain and the Deer Creek mountain range as they rise from the North Platte River into timbered highlands and the Bates Hole sage breaks. It is part of the productive Laramie Peak/Muddy Mountain elk herd (Hunt Areas 7 and 19), where landowner cooperation and expanding Hunter Management and Walk-In areas have kept elk harvest strong. The unit also carries good pronghorn in the lower basin and mule deer through the foothills, on a mix of BLM, state, a slice of Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and private ranch.
Terrain
High-plains desert and river bottom climbing to timbered mountains, with intermittently forested slopes above open sage-and-grass benches and rocky uplands.
Cover: Sagebrush, grass and mountain shrub across the upland flats and basin, with intermittent timber (pine and Douglas-fir) on the higher slopes of Casper, Muddy and Deer Creek mountains.
Landmarks: Casper Mountain · Muddy Mountain · Deer Creek Range · Reno Hill · Bates Creek · Bates Hole · North Platte River
Access
A working mix of public and private with substantial BLM and state land plus a National Forest portion, but access to the mountains and Bates Hole runs through private ranch, so Hunter Management Areas and Walk-In areas are the key. The Muddy Mountain HMA was recently split into the Ice Cave Mountain and Muddy Mountain HMAs, both offering unlimited permission slips for antelope and elk. Note that HMA deer hunting is closed: permission slips will NOT be issued for deer, which requires separate written landowner permission.
Managers: BLM, WY state trust, USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, private ranch
Access points: Bates Creek Road (not winter-maintained) · Bates Hole Stock Trail · Casper Mountain Road · Ice Cave Mountain / Muddy Mountain HMA access · BLM Bates Hole two-tracks
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPart of the Laramie Peak/Muddy Mountain herd where overall harvest is described as outstanding; landowner cooperation and expanding HMA/Walk-In access give solid opportunity, especially for cow elk on private through the permission-slip areas.
- →Use the Muddy Mountain and Ice Cave Mountain HMAs with a permission slip for access to private elk ground
- →Hunt the timbered mountain pockets and their sage-edge feed at first and last light
- →Time hunts before early-December weather closes the unmaintained Bates Creek roads
Pronghorn
common qualityGood antelope numbers on the high-plains sage of Bates Hole and the lower benches; the HMAs offer unlimited permission slips for antelope, making access straightforward.
- →Glass the sage flats and stalk with the terrain
- →Use HMA permission slips to reach otherwise-private antelope ground
- →Key on water in dry early seasons
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer work the timbered slopes and mountain-shrub foothills of Casper, Muddy and Deer Creek mountains; note that HMA permission slips do not cover deer, so plan public land or separate written permission.
- →Hunt National Forest and BLM timber edges where deer are legal without a permission slip
- →Glass mountain-shrub benches at dawn
- →Secure separate written landowner permission for deer on private
Pro tips
- →Pull HMA permission slips early: antelope and elk applications open in mid-to-late July and slips are unlimited
- →Remember HMA access does not include deer, so line up public land or written permission for a buck
- →Hunt before the early-December weather window closes the Bates Creek roads
- →Separate the elk mountains (timber) from the antelope flats (Bates Hole sage) in your plan
Watch out for
- !HMA deer hunting is closed, no permission slips issued for deer
- !Bates Creek Road and Bates Hole Stock Trail unmaintained, impassable by early December
- !Access to the mountains and Bates Hole runs through private ranch
- !Scattered private inholdings among BLM/state parcels
Logistics
Casper is minutes north with full services, fuel, lodging, gear and processing; Glenrock sits on the North Platte at the northeast edge. Bates Creek Road and the Bates Hole Stock Trail are not maintained in winter and typically become impassable by early December.
Nearest towns: Casper, Glenrock
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Muddy Mountain Hunter Management Area · WGFD Casper Region Hunting Forecast · GOHUNT Wyoming Area 19 Muddy Mountain Elk Unit Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 19 in Wyoming?
- Unit 19 (Muddy Mountain (Area 19)) covers about 745 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 8,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 19?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, WY state trust, USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 19?
- 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 19 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.