Unit 9 South Snowy Range (Area 9)
South Snowy Range — general-license Region B deer in the high lake country of the Medicine Bow, from alpine peaks to the Laramie River foothills.
Snowy Range / Medicine Bow Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
410
sq mi
Public land
70%
approx.
Elevation
7,200–12,013
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 9 covers the southern Snowy Range in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest of southeast Wyoming, the high, granite-and-glacier country south and east of Medicine Bow Peak toward Centennial, the upper Laramie River and the Colorado line. It is one of the general-license deer areas that make up nonresident Region B, so it sees more hunters than the limited western units but offers accessible, mostly-public mountain hunting. Mule deer are the core species, joined by a solid elk herd, a prized Snowy Range Shiras moose herd, and a growing whitetail presence in the river bottoms. The forest core is solid public land; the lower and northern flanks toward the Laramie Plains run into private ranch and pockets of the Union Pacific checkerboard.
Terrain
Glaciated granite high country crowned by Medicine Bow Peak, with alpine lakes and cirques dropping into spruce-fir and lodgepole forest, then aspen and sagebrush foothills toward the Laramie River and Laramie Plains.
Cover: Alpine tundra and rock at the crest, spruce-fir and beetle-killed lodgepole across the mid-slopes, aspen groves and mountain meadows, and sagebrush, grassland and willow river-bottom on the lower flanks.
Landmarks: Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft) · Snowy Range / Libby Flats · Lake Marie & Mirror Lake · WY 130 (Snowy Range Scenic Byway) · Laramie River · Centennial
Access
The national-forest core is solid, contiguous public land reached off the Snowy Range Byway (WY 130) and its trailheads. The lower foothills and the country north toward the town of Medicine Bow and the Laramie Plains break into private ranch and Union Pacific land-grant checkerboard (alternating public/private sections) — verify section lines before crossing, and mind corner-crossing rules. WGFD Walk-In / Hunter Management Areas open some otherwise-private foothill ground.
Managers: USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF (Laramie & Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger Districts), private ranch, WY state trust, BLM
Access points: Snowy Range Scenic Byway (WY 130) from Centennial or Saratoga · Brooklyn Lake / Sand Lake / Libby Flats trailheads · Laramie River Road / upper Laramie River access · Forest roads out of Centennial and Albany
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe primary species and a general Region B tag — steady numbers rather than a trophy herd, with bucks scattered through the aspen benches, timber edges and high basins. More hunters here than in the limited western units.
- →Glass aspen-timber transitions and open parks at first and last light
- →Push into pockets away from the WY 130 corridor for less-pressured deer
- →Hunt the foothill sage-and-aspen edges early, then higher timber as pressure builds
- →Watch storm fronts that bump deer down out of the high country
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe Snowy Range holds a healthy elk herd using the beetle-killed timber, high meadows and dark north slopes; bulls hold in the roadless pockets.
- →Bugle timber edges and meadow parks at dawn in the September rut
- →Hunt the standing and downed beetle-kill blowdown where elk feel secure
- →Glass high open basins in the evening
Moose
common qualityThe Snowy Range Shiras moose herd is one of Wyoming's better moose areas — a coveted, hard-to-draw once-in-a-lifetime tag. Moose browse the willow bottoms and high lake basins.
- →Glass willow-lined creeks, beaver ponds and lakeshores morning and evening
- →Work the willow-timber edges around the high lakes slowly
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails have expanded into the Laramie River bottoms and lower agricultural draws on the unit's flanks, mixing with mule deer at the forest edge.
- →Hunt cottonwood and willow river bottoms at dawn and dusk
- →Be certain of species where the two deer overlap along the foothills
- →Secure private-land or Walk-In access for the best bottom ground
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn range the open sagebrush of the Laramie Plains fringing the mountains, mostly on private and checkerboard ground below the forest.
- →Glass the open plains margins away from the timber
- →Line up private or Walk-In access early — much antelope range here is deeded or checkerboard
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears (no grizzlies this far south) work the aspen, berry patches and timber of the range.
- →Glass aspen stands and berry-rich slopes in early fall
- →Watch meadow and timber edges at dusk
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the deer through the timber and rimrock; mainly a winter pursuit-season resource.
- →Cut tracks on snowy forest roads and ridges
- →Focus on rugged canyon country holding wintering deer
Pro tips
- →This is a general Region B tag — plan for company and get away from the WY 130 corridor for better hunting.
- →Watch the checkerboard and private on the north and lower flanks; confirm section lines and mind corner-crossing before stepping across.
- →Time it to a storm — snow bumping animals out of the high country is the best window.
- →The Snowy Range moose draw is a genuine prize if you build points for it.
- →Plan around the WY 130 top closing with snow; know your lower-elevation road exits.
Watch out for
- !Union Pacific checkerboard and private ranch on the lower/northern flanks — verify public sections and corner-crossing before crossing.
- !WY 130 over the Snowy Range closes with snow, cutting off high access fast.
- !General-license area — expect more hunting pressure than Wyoming's limited units.
- !Heavy beetle-kill blowdown makes travel slow and creates falling-timber hazard in wind.
- !Sudden high-country storms and cold at 10,000-12,000 ft; come prepared for winter conditions.
Logistics
Centennial sits at the east foot of the range with limited services; Laramie (30 minutes east, I-80) and Saratoga to the west are the full-service hubs with fuel, lodging, groceries and hospitals. The Snowy Range Byway (WY 130) is the spine of access but closes over the top with snow — the high road typically shuts down by late fall, leaving lower forest roads the way in.
Nearest towns: Centennial, Laramie, Saratoga, Encampment, Albany
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Deer Hunt Planner · WGFD 2024 Deer Hunt Areas map · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest — Snowy Range Area · BLM Wyoming Public Room Hunt Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 9 in Wyoming?
- Unit 9 (South Snowy Range (Area 9)) covers about 410 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,200 to 12,013 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 9?
- Approximately 70% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF (Laramie & Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger Districts), private ranch, WY state trust, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 9?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 9 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.