Unit 92 Piney-Horse Creek (Area 92)
The west slope of the Wyoming Range — Wyoming Peak, Piney and Horse creeks, big-buck migration country from sage benches to alpine.
Wyoming Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
659
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
6,800–11,378
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 92, Piney-Horse Creek, covers the west and central Wyoming Range above Big Piney, Marbleton and La Barge in Sublette and Lincoln counties. It climbs from BLM sage benches and creek-bottom ranchland on the east into deep Bridger-Teton National Forest timber and the alpine crest — including Wyoming Peak (about 11,378 ft), the range high point, plus McDougal Gap, Thompson Pass and the Piney, Cottonwood and Horse creek drainages. This is core Wyoming Range mule deer herd habitat, famous for heavy typical bucks and part of the longest mule deer migration in the country, and it carries strong elk, a share of the state's moose, and black bear. As with the whole herd, deer numbers are well down after recent hard winters and are managed conservatively.
Terrain
A long east-facing mountain front: sagebrush and grass benches and creek bottoms on the lower east side rise through aspen and dense conifer to a high alpine crest of peaks, cirque basins and talus at the top of the Wyoming Range.
Cover: Big sagebrush and mountain-shrub benches, cottonwood and willow creek bottoms, aspen stringers, lodgepole and spruce-fir timber, and whitebark pine, alpine meadow and rock along the crest.
Landmarks: Wyoming Peak · McDougal Gap · Thompson Pass · Middle Piney Lake · North, Middle and South Piney creeks · Horse Creek · La Barge Creek · North and South Cottonwood creeks
Access
The high country is solid Bridger-Teton National Forest with BLM on the lower benches; this is not the Union Pacific checkerboard (that lies far south along I-80). The access friction here is private ranchland and irrigated hay bottoms along the lower Piney, Cottonwood, Horse and La Barge creeks where they leave the foothills toward Big Piney and Marbleton — reach the forest through the maintained creek roads and trailheads rather than crossing ranches. Check for BLM/state parcels and any Hunter Management or walk-in agreements on the lower private edge.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF, BLM, private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: Middle Piney Lake Road (FR 10024) west of Big Piney · La Barge Creek Road into the south end · North Cottonwood / Snyder Basin roads · Horse Creek Road toward Thompson Pass · McDougal Gap trailheads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyThe marquee. Core Wyoming Range herd country capable of old, heavy typical bucks, and a key stretch of the famous long-distance migration. Density is low after recent winter losses — hunt it as a trophy unit that demands time and effort, not volume.
- →Glass high basins, aspen pockets and timbered breaks morning and evening
- →Hunt above and behind the road-accessible zones where mature bucks hold
- →Time hunts to weather — an early storm starts the migration off the peaks
- →Cover creek-head basins on foot and be ready to pack a buck out
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are strong through the timbered west slope and creek drainages, shifting with pressure, feed and weather. A solid backcountry timber hunt.
- →Work dark north-slope timber and timber-meadow edges
- →Hunt wallows and benches early, snow lines and lower drainages late
- →Get well off the roads to find undisturbed herds
Moose
common qualityThe Wyoming Range holds a share of the state's moose in the willow bottoms and spruce draws of the Piney and La Barge drainages — a limited, once-in-a-lifetime draw.
- →Hunt willow flats and beaver ponds along the major creeks
- →Glass timber edges at first and last light
- →Check side-drainage pockets where bulls tuck in
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the aspen, berry slopes and avalanche chutes of the range; a spring or fall add-on opportunity.
- →Glass green spring slopes and avalanche chutes
- →Hunt fall berry and mast-brush concentrations
- →Look for feed and carrion sign in the creek heads
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions trail the deer herds through the timbered slopes and rims — a limited winter tracking pursuit.
- →Cut tracks on forest and bench roads after fresh snow
- →Focus on deer-wintering canyons and rimrock
- →Work with experienced hound handlers
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a quality mule deer hunt — one mature buck, earned with boot leather
- →Enter the forest through the creek roads and trailheads; respect the private hay bottoms below
- →Wyoming Peak and the high cirque basins hold the least-pressured deer
- →An early storm is the signal — be positioned to catch migrating deer coming down
- →Scout BLM/state edges below the forest for extra public ground on the benches
Watch out for
- !Deer herd well below historic numbers after severe winters — conservative expectations
- !Private ranch and irrigated bottoms on the lower Piney/Cottonwood/Horse/La Barge creeks — don't cross without permission
- !Rough, remote upper roads that snow in early and strand vehicles
- !Steep terrain and volatile high-country weather
- !Grizzly bears are expanding in the region — carry spray and keep clean camps and carcasses
Logistics
Big Piney and Marbleton are the closest full-service towns, with La Barge to the south and Pinedale to the northeast. The Middle Piney Lake, La Barge Creek and Cottonwood roads are the main forest access; upper stretches are rough and remote, so carry fuel, recovery gear and supplies. Hunting the crest well means backpack or stock support.
Nearest towns: Big Piney, Marbleton, La Barge, Pinedale, Afton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Deer Hunt Planner · GOHUNT — Wyoming Area 92 Piney-Horse Creek profile · Wyoming Wildlife Federation — Wyoming Range
FAQ
- How big is Unit 92 in Wyoming?
- Unit 92 (Piney-Horse Creek (Area 92)) covers about 659 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,800 to 11,378 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 92?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF, BLM, private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 92?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, 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 92 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.