Hunt Area 121, Heart Mountain, Wyoming

Low-elevation, semi-arid Big Horn Basin terrain with dramatic relief. Elevation ranges from approximately 4,800 feet on the basin floor to 8,123 feet at the summit of Heart Mountain (a volcanic remnant and geological landmark). The majority of the unit is rolling sagebrush hills broken by jagged dry washes, sandstone outcrops, and small canyons. The Clark's Fork River and Shoshone River corridors contain cottonwood and Russian olive riparian strips. Cactus is present at lower elevations. Limited conifer or aspen cover; virtually no timber except at the highest elevations near Heart Mountain itself. The eastern portion of the unit transitions to irrigated cropland (sugar beets, corn, hay) on private land. Road access is generally good but roads are unmaintained gravel/two-track; four-wheel drive and snow chains recommended during November firearms season.

moderate

CWD: Area 121 falls within the Shoshone River mule deer herd unit (HAs 121, 122, 123), which WGFD has designated a CWD sampling focus area. Sampling is VOLUNTARY — WGFD requests (but does not require) sample submission from mule deer bucks and adult elk harvested here. No confirmed CWD positives were reported in the WGFD news article covering this herd unit. Hunters should check current WGFD CWD pages before the season. General license private-land restriction: the General license in HA 121 is valid for ANY deer on private land, but only antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer off private land — effectively, no General-license mule deer doe harvest is allowed on public land. Nonresident General licenses for Region X are capped at 100 total across areas 121-124 and 127; apply early. Elk seasons use separate hunt area numbering (Area 65), but the geographic boundary of elk Area 65 Heart Mountain (all area west of the Bighorn River north of US 14-16-20 and east of WY-120) corresponds closely to deer HA 121. Heart Mountain HMA requires a free permission slip and vehicle pass from WGFD before entry — apply through the Cody Regional Office (307-527-7125). The HMA is open only for elk (Area 65 licenses), mountain lion, and black bear; deer and pronghorn hunting is NOT permitted on the HMA. Season dates in this profile are from Ch. 6 draft dated 03.16.2026 and Ch. 7 draft dated 03.16.2026; regulations do not take effect until signed by the Governor. Confirm final dates at wgfd.wyo.gov before hunting. Pronghorn Area 78 seasons are from the Ch. 5 draft dated 01.06.2026; verify in final 2026 antelope regulations. Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain lion opportunities exist in or adjacent to this area through separate limited-entry draws; no HMA-specific moose or bighorn data was confirmed in primary sources reviewed.