Unit 32 Pine Mountain (Area 32)
A high-success, mostly-public elk unit of broken glassing country above Flaming Gorge.
Flaming Gorge country (Pine Mountain) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
378
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
7,200–9,375
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 32 wraps Pine Mountain, the high point of the Flaming Gorge 'trifecta' (Aspen 30, Little Mountain 31, Pine Mountain 32) in far southwestern Wyoming near the Utah and Colorado lines. It is a heavily public, sagebrush-and-juniper unit with concentrated elk, high hunter success and a solid bull-to-cow ratio, plus quality mule deer and pronghorn. Broken topography and high vantage points make it a glasser's paradise where you can cover ground with optics.
Terrain
Broken, benchy topography rising to Pine Mountain (about 9,375 ft) above the Flaming Gorge and Green River breaks, with abundant high points for long-range glassing.
Cover: Sagebrush, bitterbrush, juniper, pinyon and prairie grass across most of the unit, with aspen and scattered conifer stands on the higher mountain.
Landmarks: Pine Mountain · Flaming Gorge Reservoir / NRA · Sage Creek Road · Green River breaks · Wyoming-Colorado-Utah tri-state country
Access
Overwhelmingly BLM with good public access and remote dispersed camping allowed on BLM with no permit; established Forest Service / NRA campgrounds sit near Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Some ranch lands are interspersed and the broader region carries land-grant checkerboard, so confirm section lines before crossing between blocks. 4WD, snow chains and a shovel are recommended for rifle season.
Managers: BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: Sage Creek Road · BLM roads south off the Rock Springs country · Flaming Gorge NRA access · county/ranch roads toward the CO/UT lines
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPine Mountain holds concentrated, healthy elk with a strong bull-to-cow ratio and notably high hunter success across a long fall season; a glassing-and-stalking unit for a solid public bull.
- →Glass big country from high vantage points at first and last light
- →Locate herds early, then plan a stalk using the broken terrain
- →Focus juniper-to-aspen and conifer edges where elk hold cover
Mule Deer
common qualityQuality mule deer use the juniper rims, shrub benches and higher aspen pockets alongside the elk.
- →Glass draws and rim breaks morning and evening
- →Work the sage-to-juniper transition
- →Check aspen and mountain-shrub pockets up high
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn work the sage flats and open benches on abundant public land.
- →Spot-and-stalk across the flats using terrain folds
- →Glass from high benches down onto feeding groups
- →Check water sources midday
Pro tips
- →Set up on a high point and let your glass do the walking, this unit rewards optics over miles.
- →Carry chains and a shovel, the clay slicks up and the higher roads drift fast in a storm.
- →Dispersed camp on BLM with no permit, or use the Flaming Gorge campgrounds for a comfortable base.
- →Verify section lines where ranch blocks and checkerboard interrupt the public land.
- →Bring a rod, Flaming Gorge lake trout, smallmouth and rainbows are a bonus after the hunt.
Watch out for
- !Interspersed private ranch land and land-grant checkerboard, confirm before crossing.
- !Gumbo clay roads and early snow that strand vehicles.
- !Wind and fast fall weather on exposed benches.
- !Remote country with spotty cell coverage.
Logistics
Rock Springs and Green River are the practical bases for fuel, lodging and groceries; Dutch John and Manila (UT) sit closer to the Gorge for basic services and camping. Dispersed BLM camping needs no permit. Expect remote high desert, spotty cell coverage and clay roads that turn greasy when wet; run high-clearance 4WD and carry chains, a shovel and extra fuel.
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: GOHUNT Wyoming Area 32 - Pine Mountain Elk Unit Profile · WGFD Hunt Planner · Eastmans' Blog - Guy's Top 3 Wyoming Elk Areas (Flaming Gorge trifecta)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 32 in Wyoming?
- Unit 32 (Pine Mountain (Area 32)) covers about 378 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,200 to 9,375 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 32?
- Approximately 90% 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 32?
- 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 32 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.