Unit 31 Little Mountain (Area 31)
A high desert plateau of native cutthroat, big mule deer and limited-quota elk south of Rock Springs.
Greater Little Mountain / Flaming Gorge country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
281
sq mi
Public land
82%
approx.
Elevation
6,200–8,600
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 31 covers the Little Mountain uplift, a sage-and-juniper plateau rising south of Rock Springs toward the Flaming Gorge and the Colorado line in far southwestern Wyoming. The 'Greater Little Mountain' country is prized for native Colorado River cutthroat streams, moose and quality mule deer, with a small limited-quota elk herd holding in the broken high ground. It is a mostly BLM, big-country unit where glassing and knowing your section lines matter more than legwork alone.
Terrain
A broad, dissected plateau of rims, draws and aspen pockets standing above the Red Desert and the Green River / Flaming Gorge breaks, with the tableland topping out near 8,600 feet.
Cover: Sagebrush and bitterbrush flats giving way to juniper and pinyon on the rims, with aspen stringers, mountain shrub and a few conifer pockets and wet meadows on the high plateau.
Landmarks: Little Mountain · Flaming Gorge Reservoir / NRA · Green River breaks · Sage Creek · Red Creek (native cutthroat) · Wyoming-Colorado line
Access
The plateau core is largely contiguous BLM (Rock Springs Field Office), but the approaches from Rock Springs and along the I-80 / Union Pacific corridor run through classic land-grant checkerboard, alternating public and private sections that you cannot legally cross corner-to-corner in many spots. Verify section lines on a GPS layer before crossing, and watch for private ranch inholdings on the lower flanks.
Managers: BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: Aspen Mountain / Sage Creek Road south from Rock Springs · BLM roads off US 191 south · county/ranch roads toward the Flaming Gorge and CO line · Flaming Gorge NRA access from the south
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA small limited-quota elk herd holds in the broken timber and aspen pockets of the plateau; low pressure and mature bulls reward those who draw.
- →Glass aspen stringers and rim edges at first and last light
- →Still-hunt the conifer and mountain-shrub pockets on the high tableland
- →Push away from the roads into the folds most hunters skip
Mule Deer
common qualityLittle Mountain grows quality mule deer that tuck into the rims, juniper and shrub benches; a glasser's unit for a mature desert buck.
- →Glass rim breaks and draws from high vantage points
- →Work the sage-to-juniper transition morning and evening
- →Check aspen pockets and wet-meadow edges on top
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn work the sage flats and basins ringing the plateau on abundant public BLM.
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain folds across the flats
- →Glass from the plateau edge down onto the basins
- →Check water and two-tracks midday
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use the willow bottoms and riparian draws of the Greater Little Mountain streams; a rare, coveted limited draw.
- →Hunt willow-lined creek bottoms at dawn and dusk
- →Glass wet meadows and beaver complexes
- →Move slow and quiet along the water
Pro tips
- →Run a section-line GPS layer, the checkerboard on the Rock Springs approaches is a real trespass trap.
- →This is glass-first country, burn boot leather only after you have found the animal.
- →The Greater Little Mountain streams offer bonus native cutthroat fishing if you pack a rod.
- →Time high-country hunts around a front, snow pushes deer and elk down and out of the junipers.
- →Top off fuel and water in Rock Springs, there is nothing once you are on the plateau.
Watch out for
- !Union Pacific land-grant checkerboard and corner-crossing on the northern approaches.
- !Private ranch inholdings on the lower flanks.
- !Gumbo clay roads and early snow that strand vehicles.
- !Very remote with minimal services and poor cell coverage.
Logistics
Rock Springs is the full-service base for fuel, lodging and groceries, with Green River nearby; services thin to nothing once you drop south onto the plateau. This is remote high desert with poor cell coverage, gumbo clay roads that slick up when wet, and long distances between water. Carry recovery gear, extra fuel and a high-clearance 4WD.
Nearest towns: Rock Springs, Green River, Dutch John (UT), Manila (UT)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Hunt Planner · Wyoming Wildlife Federation - Greater Little Mountain Coalition · HuntScore - Wyoming Elk Hunt Area 31 (Little Mountain)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 31 in Wyoming?
- Unit 31 (Little Mountain (Area 31)) covers about 281 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,200 to 8,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 31?
- Approximately 82% 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 31?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 31 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.