Unit 94 South Piney (Area 94)
Rugged Wyoming Range elk country above Big Piney and La Barge — mostly public, feedground-managed, in the great Sublette mule deer migration corridor.
Wyoming Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
977
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
6,900–11,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 94, South Piney, is a big western-Wyoming elk unit in the Wyoming Range foothills and crest of western Sublette and northern Lincoln counties — roughly north of La Barge Creek, east of the Greys River divide, west of the Green River and south of South Cottonwood Creek. It is the southern end of the Piney elk herd, country that runs from sage-and-aspen benches up through timbered ridges to the high Wyoming Range. Elk are the marquee, but this is also the heart of the famous Wyoming Range mule deer migration and holds Shiras moose, lower-elevation pronghorn, black bear and cougar. Most of the unit is public BLM and Bridger-Teton National Forest, though the region's brucellosis-management elk feedgrounds and special permit rules shape the season.
Terrain
Rises from sagebrush benches and creek bottoms on the east through timbered foothills and canyons to the steep, rocky Wyoming Range crest on the west, with high glassing points overlooking broad drainages.
Cover: Big sagebrush and grass parks at lower elevations, aspen stringers and mixed conifer (lodgepole, spruce-fir, Douglas-fir) on the slopes, willow-lined creek bottoms, and alpine rock and meadow along the crest.
Landmarks: Wyoming Range crest · Middle Piney Lake · South Piney Creek · La Barge Creek · Greys River divide · Snider Basin
Access
Roughly three-quarters public — BLM on the lower benches transitioning to Bridger-Teton National Forest along the Wyoming Range. This is not the southern Wyoming checkerboard, but private ranch inholdings on the creek bottoms and valley floor break up access; map land status carefully and get permission where two-tracks cross deeded ground. Region elk feedgrounds carry special management permit requirements — check current WGFD rules before hunting near them.
Managers: BLM, USFS Bridger-Teton NF, private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: Middle Piney Lake / Middle Piney road west of Big Piney · La Barge Creek road · Snider Basin and Greys River-side Forest roads · BLM two-tracks off US 189 north of La Barge · Wyoming Range trailheads into the Bridger-Teton NF
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe southern Piney herd holds solid elk numbers with historically good success; larger bulls hold in the more remote, timbered Wyoming Range benches away from roads, and late-season storms push elk down toward the feedground country.
- →Glass big open sage-and-aspen benches at dawn and dusk from high vantage points
- →Still-hunt the timbered dark north slopes and canyon heads where mature bulls hold
- →Work the transition from Forest onto lower BLM as snow builds late season
- →Cover ground on foot away from roads to reach the less-pressured pockets
Mule Deer
common qualityThis is core Wyoming Range mule deer country and part of one of North America's longest deer migrations; the herd took hard winters and is managed conservatively, but the unit still produces good bucks that summer high and migrate through in fall.
- →Glass high sage basins and aspen edges early season, then follow deer to lower migration ground as weather turns
- →Hunt the timber-and-brush transition zones bucks use as they move down
- →Be patient and selective — the herd is managed for recovery
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn use the lower sage benches and valley flats on the east and south of the unit, part of the vast Sublette antelope range.
- →Glass the open sage flats and low benches away from the timber
- →Judge prong and mass from a distance before stalking across open ground
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose inhabit the willow bottoms and riparian corridors of the Wyoming Range drainages — a low-density but genuine trophy moose population in a hard-to-draw setting.
- →Hunt willow-choked creek bottoms and beaver-pond complexes at first and last light
- →Glass mountain willow flats and aspen-conifer edges near water
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the aspen and berry-rich mid-elevation slopes of the Wyoming Range.
- →Glass green aspen slopes, avalanche chutes and berry patches in spring and early fall
- →Watch creek bottoms and forest edges at dawn and dusk
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions follow the deer through the timbered canyons and rimrock of the range.
- →Hunt after fresh snow to cut and follow tracks
- →Focus on rimrock, deer wintering areas and canyon travel routes
Pro tips
- →Carry a GPS with current land-status mapping — public and private interfinger on the bottoms
- →Check WGFD's elk feedground special management permit rules before hunting that country
- →Get high early to glass the big benches; move to lower transition ground as snow builds
- →This is prime Wyoming Range mule deer migration country — time weather for the movement
- →Forest roads to the crest turn slick and can close with the first real snow
Watch out for
- !Private ranch inholdings on creek bottoms and valley floor — map land status and get permission
- !Elk feedground special-management permit requirements in the region
- !Fast-changing mountain weather and slick, closable high roads late season
- !Wyoming Range mule deer herd managed conservatively after hard winters
- !Grizzly presence is expanding in the broader region — carry deterrent and be bear-aware
Logistics
Big Piney and Marbleton on US 189 are the closest services — fuel, groceries and basic lodging — with La Barge to the south and fuller services in Pinedale to the north. Beyond the highway, services disappear fast; carry extra fuel, recovery gear and be ready for rough Forest roads. Pinedale, BLM, Forest Service and WGFD offices provide land-status and access help.
Nearest towns: Big Piney, Marbleton, La Barge, Pinedale
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Area Maps · GOHUNT — Wyoming Elk Unit 94 (South Piney) · WGFD Wyoming Elk Herd Status 2022 (Piney herd EL106)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 94 in Wyoming?
- Unit 94 (South Piney (Area 94)) covers about 977 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,900 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 94?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Bridger-Teton NF, private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 94?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 94 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.