Unit 23 Rattlesnake (Area 23)
Expansive BLM high desert and the rough, lightly timbered Rattlesnake Hills west of Casper.
Rattlesnake Hills / central Wyoming high desert · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,267
sq mi
Public land
—
approx.
Elevation
5,100–7,700
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Area 23 covers a broad sweep of central Wyoming high-plains desert and the rugged Rattlesnake Hills southwest of Casper, running toward the North Platte and the Sweetwater country. It is dominated by expansive BLM and state trust land with generally good public access, holding a small but very healthy elk herd in the roughest hills plus mule deer and abundant pronghorn across the sage. The best elk and deer country is the steep, lightly timbered core of the Rattlesnake Hills, while the surrounding basins are classic antelope ground.
Terrain
Gently contoured sage basins and rolling high desert that give way to extremely steep, rocky and rugged terrain in the Rattlesnake Hills (up to Sagehen Hill ~7,700 ft).
Cover: Sagebrush, grass and mountain shrub over most of the country; scattered Douglas fir, limber pine and Rocky Mountain juniper on the timbered hill slopes.
Landmarks: Rattlesnake Hills · Sagehen Hill · North Platte River · Sweetwater River country · Gas Hills · Green Mountain to the west
Access
Predominantly BLM and state land with good overall access via well-maintained roads, a dense BLM road network and two-tracks; the Rattlesnake Hills core is the hardest to reach and needs 4WD/ATV. Scattered private ranch parcels and some Great Divide Basin checkerboard exist on the fringes, so confirm section lines and look for Walk-In/Hunter-Management access where public is landlocked.
Managers: BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: US 287/WY 220 corridor · BLM roads off the Sweetwater Station/Jeffrey City country · county roads west of Alcova · two-tracks into the Rattlesnake Hills (high-clearance)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA small but very healthy elk herd tucks into the steep, lightly timbered Rattlesnake Hills; a coveted limited-quota tag can mean an excellent hunt.
- →Hunt the timbered fir/juniper slopes and hidden pockets of the Rattlesnake Hills
- →Glass from high points into rough draws at first light
- →Use 4WD/ATV to reach the rugged core, then hunt on foot
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the hills and sage breaks; bucks favor the mountain-shrub and rocky-draw cover.
- →Glass rocky draws and shrub pockets in the hills
- →Work sage-to-timber edges morning and evening
- →Get away from roads for older bucks
Pronghorn
abundant qualityAbundant pronghorn across the vast surrounding high-desert sage on plentiful public land.
- →Glass long across sage basins from rises
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain and cutbanks
- →Cover ground on the BLM road network to locate herds
Pro tips
- →Split effort between the rough Rattlesnake Hills for elk and deer and the open sage for pronghorn.
- →Use the extensive BLM road network to cover country, then hike into the roughest hill pockets.
- →Carry a parcel/section layer to sort out fringe private and checkerboard from the big public blocks.
- →Time a rifle hunt to a weather push for the best elk and deer movement.
- →Provision fully in Casper or Rawlins; interior services are essentially nonexistent.
Watch out for
- !Scattered private ranch parcels and Great Divide Basin checkerboard on the unit fringes.
- !Steep, rocky, rugged Rattlesnake Hills core; rattlesnakes on the lower slopes.
- !Gumbo clay roads when wet; wind, heat and early snow.
- !Long distances between services and poor cell coverage.
Logistics
Casper to the northeast is the full-service hub for lodging, groceries and fuel; Alcova offers limited services and Jeffrey City is nearly a ghost town, so plan on fueling and provisioning in Casper or Rawlins. Cell coverage fades quickly off the highways. High-clearance/4WD strongly recommended, and ATVs help in the Rattlesnake Hills.
Nearest towns: Casper, Alcova, Jeffrey City, Sweetwater Station, Rawlins
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 23 (Rattlesnake) Profile · HuntScore Wyoming Hunt Area 23 (Rattlesnake), Natrona County · WGFD Natrona County Walk-In Hunting
FAQ
- How big is Unit 23 in Wyoming?
- Unit 23 (Rattlesnake (Area 23)) covers about 1,267 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,100 to 7,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 23?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 23 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.