Unit 24 Green Mountain (Area 24)
A timbered desert island range holding a small, healthy elk herd on almost all-public ground.
Sweetwater / Green Mountain country (south-central Wyoming) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
680
sq mi
Public land
91%
approx.
Elevation
6,300–9,100
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 24 covers the Green Mountain uplift, a forested high-desert range south of Jeffrey City and north of Rawlins that rises abruptly from sage flats to roughly 9,100 feet. It is the heart of the EL638 Green Mountain elk herd (shared with Area 128) and runs some 91 percent public, almost entirely BLM and Wyoming state trust, bordered by US 287 on the north and east. Elk hold in the timbered core while pronghorn and mule deer work the surrounding sage and mountain-shrub, making it a cover-ground, scout-hard unit that rewards preparation.
Terrain
Sage and grass high-desert basins rising to the timbered, rolling-to-rugged crest of Green Mountain, with the higher, more remote pockets holding the better bulls.
Cover: Sagebrush-grass and greasewood flats on the periphery; aspen, lodgepole and Douglas fir stringers, mountain shrub and grassy parks across the mountain core.
Landmarks: Green Mountain · Crooks Mountain / Crooks Gap · Jeffrey City · Sweetwater River · US Highway 287 · Muddy Gap · Green Mountain Wild Horse HMA
Access
Largely contiguous BLM and state land administered by the BLM Lander Field Office, which makes this one of the more accessible elk units in the region. Classic Union Pacific checkerboard lies well to the south along the I-80/railroad corridor, so it is not the dominant issue here, but scattered state and private inholdings remain on the fringes; verify section lines and honor corner-crossing rules before stepping off public ground.
Managers: BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: US 287 corridor between Muddy Gap and Jeffrey City · BLM roads off US 287 onto Green Mountain · Crooks Gap / county roads on the west and south · two-tracks into the timbered benches (high-clearance/4WD)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA small but healthy resident herd (mid-winter objective around 500) holds in the timbered Green Mountain core; limited-quota tags and good bull ratios make for a quality, low-pressure hunt for those who draw.
- →Glass grassy parks and timber edges at first and last light
- →Push into the more rugged, remote timber pockets for mature branch-antlered bulls
- →Use a storm to move elk down out of the high timber
- →Cover ground and hunt away from the US 287 access points
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn are abundant on the sage basins ringing the mountain, on largely accessible BLM.
- →Glass long from the mountain foothills across the flats
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain folds and dry washes
- →Check water holes and two-tracks midday
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the mountain-shrub flanks, aspen stringers and surrounding breaks.
- →Work the sage-to-timber transition morning and evening
- →Glass rough draws and shrub benches
- →Still-hunt aspen pockets on the flanks
Pro tips
- →Scout the timber pockets and access roads first; on a compact range, knowing where the elk bed and how to get in is everything.
- →Chase the more rugged, remote timber for a mature bull; roadside country gets the pressure.
- →Carry chains/traction gear and watch the sky, wet clay roads can trap you fast.
- →Verify section lines on the fringes to avoid trespass on state and private inholdings.
- →Bring water, extra fuel and a paper map; services and cell coverage are thin.
Watch out for
- !Scattered state and private inholdings on the range fringes; confirm section lines and corner-crossing.
- !Gumbo clay roads that become impassable when wet, and fast-changing high-desert weather.
- !Very remote with minimal services and poor cell coverage.
- !Rattlesnakes and fire danger on the lower sage flats in early season.
Logistics
Jeffrey City and Muddy Gap are little more than junctions with limited or no services; Rawlins to the south and Lander to the northwest are the practical bases for lodging, groceries and fuel. This is remote high desert with poor cell coverage; carry water, recovery gear and extra fuel. High-clearance/4WD is needed for the BLM tracks onto the mountain, and the best elk country is a boots-and-horses proposition.
Nearest towns: Jeffrey City, Rawlins, Lander, Muddy Gap, Rock Springs
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 24 (Green Mountain) Profile · WGFD Elk Herd Status (EL638 Green Mountain) · WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Area Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 24 in Wyoming?
- Unit 24 (Green Mountain (Area 24)) covers about 680 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,300 to 9,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 24?
- Approximately 91% 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 24?
- 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 24 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.