Hunt Area 113, Boulder, Wyoming

High-plains desert in eastern Wyoming (Converse, Niobrara, and Weston counties), north of Douglas, encompassing a roughly 540,000-acre block that includes portions of Thunder Basin National Grassland. Terrain is predominantly rolling sagebrush and grassland prairie with big open basins, creek drainages, cedar breaks, and rocky bluffs in the Rochelle Hills proper. Elevation is relatively low by Wyoming standards (approximately 4,200–5,200 ft). Despite appearing flat, the landscape folds into numerous draws, coulees, and ridgelines that provide significant elk cover. BLM two-tracks and maintained roads grid much of the accessible public land. Stalking and glassing from high points are the primary hunting methods.

moderate

IMPORTANT - CROSS-SPECIES NUMBERING: Wyoming assigns hunt area numbers independently by species. Hunt Area 113 refers to three geographically separate units: (1) Elk Area 113 Rochelle Hills in Converse/Niobrara/Weston counties (Thunder Basin / high plains - this profile primary focus); (2) Deer Area 113 Boulder in Park County along the South Fork Shoshone River / Absaroka Mountains near Cody (east and south drainage up to Needle Creek, plus Sage Creek, Dry Creek west of WY 120, and Sulphur Creek); (3) Antelope Area 113 Salt Creek in Johnson/Natrona counties (bounded by WY 192/387 junction, I-25, and WY 192 - covering the area around Kaycee). Hunters must verify which species number system applies to their license. CWD STATUS: Elk Hunt Area 113 (Rochelle Hills) was confirmed CWD-positive in 2021 (WGFD news release dated November 22, 2021). It is one of seven CWD-positive elk areas bordering Elk Hunt Area 126 (Casper Region), per a November 2024 WGFD announcement. CWD is not yet confirmed in Deer Area 113 Boulder (Park County) based on available WGFD announcements reviewed, but CWD is widespread across Wyoming - hunters should check current WGFD CWD maps before hunting. Per WGFD regs, carcass transport regulations apply statewide for CWD-positive areas. ELK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY: The Rochelle Hills herd (EL344) is a PRIVATE LAND management strategy unit in the WGFD Sheridan Region. The herd unit encompasses both Elk Hunt Areas 113 and 123. Biologist: Erika Peckham. The 2023 Herd Unit Summaries show the 2023 proposed harvest target of 350, hunters 450, success 78%. ELK DRAW DIFFICULTY: Type 1 (any bull) is moderately competitive. Type 8 (private land cow/calf) requires no draw. Preference points accumulate in Wyoming system where 75% of nonresident tags go to the preference point pool. ACCESS CHALLENGE: Despite 54% public land, significant interior public parcels lack road access or are accessible only via routes crossing private land. Forum reports confirm that legal vehicle access is limited primarily to maintained county roads and identified BLM routes; oil and gas industry roads through the unit are generally private. Hunters planning to access interior BLM/Thunder Basin land should verify road status through the BLM Casper Field Office and Converse/Niobrara county maps before the season. SEASON DATES: 2026 regulations were in draft form (CH7 draft 03.16.2026.4) at time of research. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission adopted elk and antelope seasons as proposed in April 2026; mule deer seasons were adopted with some modifications to season dates and antler point restrictions in some areas. Final regulations confirmed at wgfd.wyo.gov before applying or hunting. UNCERTAIN DATA FLAGGED: (a) Public land pct of 54% for Elk Area 113 sourced from HuntScore (citing 47% USFS/1% BLM/6% state); WGFD does not publish a single authoritative pct figure - treat as approximate. (b) Draw odds for 2026 applications are not yet published; 2025 season data (not formal draw odds) shows Type 1 licenses sold = 55 against a quota of 50. (c) Antelope harvest for 2023 shows nonresident success of 80.2% vs resident 56.7% - likely reflects outfitter-assisted vs. DIY hunting modes. (d) No confirmed WHMA or Walk-In Area was identified within Elk Area 113 Rochelle Hills boundaries specifically; adjacent Natrona County WIAs border the antelope unit. (e) No independent population estimate with confidence intervals for herd unit EL344 was found in available WGFD documents; the original profile claim of 615 (572-658 90% CI) was incorrect - those figures are 2025 harvest totals.