Hunt Area 102, Aspen Mountain, Wyoming

High desert plateau transitioning to steep, rugged mountain terrain. Elevation range 6,000 to 9,550 ft. Lower elevations dominated by open sagebrush flats and rolling hills; upper terrain includes aspen stands, mountain mahogany, serviceberry, and broken canyon country. The western edge drains to the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Total area approximately 1,211 square miles in Sweetwater County, southwest Wyoming.

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1. AREA NUMBER DISAMBIGUATION: In Wyoming, hunt area numbers are chapter-specific. Deer Area 102 (Chapter 6) = Aspen Mountain near Rock Springs. The elk unit covering the northern portion of the same geography is Elk Area 30 (Chapter 7, also named Aspen Mountain); the southern portion of Deer Area 102 (south of Mud Springs Road to the Colorado border) falls under Elk Area 32 (Pine Mountain). The pronghorn unit is Antelope Area 59 (Chapter 5, also named Aspen Mountain). The pronghorn Chapter 5 Area 102 is named Buffalo and is located in northeast Wyoming near the Bighorn Mountains — a completely different location. Similarly, Elk Chapter 7 Area 102 is West Green River (Lincoln/Sublette County). 2. CWD STATUS: As of 2025, southwest Wyoming remains among the least CWD-affected regions in the state. Statewide mule deer buck CWD prevalence reached 21.6% in 2025 (up from 19.4% in 2024), but specific confirmed detections in Sweetwater County deer Area 102 were not confirmed in available sources. Hunters should check WGFD mandatory sampling areas posted by August 1 each season. Statewide carcass transport rules apply: whole carcasses cannot leave Wyoming; only boneless meat, cleaned hides, cleaned skulls/antlers, or finished mounts may be transported. 3. POPULATION TREND: The South Rock Springs mule deer herd (Areas 101-102) did not experience the extreme 2022-23 winter losses seen in the Wyoming Range and Uinta herds. As of 2025 forecast, older age classes are available, and fawn production is at or above average. Drought through 2026 is flagged as a potential longer-term mortality risk. 4. ELK MANAGEMENT: Elk Area 30 (Aspen Mountain) Type 4 antlerless quota was set at 75 for 2026 in the final adopted regulation (reduced from 100 in the draft). Hunters should not rely on draft quota figures. 5. PRONGHORN POPULATION: Area 59 antlerless pronghorn quota increased substantially to 200 for 2026 (up from 125 in prior profiles and 150 in the January draft). This suggests a healthy herd in the northern portion of the unit. 6. PUBLIC LAND PERCENTAGE: The 77% figure is sourced from GoHunt's unit profile and is flagged as a third-party estimate. WGFD does not publish an official public land percentage per deer unit; verify via the WGFD Hunt Planner map or BLM Rock Springs Field Office. 7. WHITE-TAILED DEER: No specific white-tailed deer licenses appear in the 2026 Chapter 6 regulations for Area 102. The unit is mule deer country; white-tailed deer are not a meaningful huntable component here. The Type 1 any-deer license would legally cover white-tailed deer if encountered but the population is negligible.