Hunt Area 127, Cottonwood, Wyoming

Hot Springs County, Wyoming. Low-elevation semi-arid basin, roughly 4,200–5,500 ft elevation. The unit is bounded by Wyoming Highway 120 to the northwest, the Gooseberry Creek/Grass Creek divide to the north, the Cottonwood Creek drainage divide to the northeast, Tie Down Gulch to the east, the Bighorn River to the southeast, and the Broadway Street bridge at Thermopolis to the south. Dominant vegetation is Wyoming big sagebrush steppe and mixed-grass prairie on uplands, with saltbush and greasewood in alkaline flats, and narrow cottonwood/willow riparian corridors along the Bighorn River and tributary creeks. Terrain is rolling to moderately dissected badlands; very little timber. Agriculture (irrigated alfalfa and hay along river bottoms) attracts white-tailed deer year-round. Nearest town: Thermopolis (Hot Springs County seat), immediately adjacent to the southern boundary.

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CWD ALERT — CRITICAL: The Basin Mule Deer Herd (MD209, Areas 125+127) has a 5-year average CWD prevalence of 34% in adult bucks (range 11–54%, n=47 samples, 2020–2024), with the most recent year at 54% (2024, n=13). The herd is at only 23% of its 3,600-deer management objective (~824 deer) as of 2024. WGFD states 'CWD is likely a contributing factor' to continuous population decline. CWD has been detected in 111 of 127 Wyoming mule deer hunt areas statewide as of Dec 31, 2025. White-tailed deer in the Bighorn Basin (WD201) show 39% CWD prevalence in adult bucks (5-year average, 2020-2024) within the MD209 Basin overlap area. Hunters are strongly encouraged to submit harvested deer for CWD testing; consult WGFD brochure 'Important Hunting Information' for carcass transport restrictions. BRUCELLOSIS NOTE: The Gooseberry Elk Herd (EL214) brucellosis seroprevalence figure could not be confirmed from the 2026 regulation PDFs; hunters should consult the current WGFD elk JCR or brochure for confirmed seroprevalence data before transporting carcasses. PUBLIC LAND ESTIMATE: The 8.3% figure is derived from the total Hot Springs County public hunting acres (~106,943 ac per HuntingLocator) divided by county total area (~1,294,080 ac); this is a county-wide estimate and the actual percentage within the specific deer area 127 boundary may differ and is unconfirmed by official WGFD GIS data — treat as approximate. QUOTA NOTE: The Type 8 white-tailed doe quota was reduced from 100 licenses (2025) to 50 (2026 adopted regulations); confirmed in the final 2026 Chapter 6 (WGFD media 33694). REGION X NONRESIDENT QUOTA: Confirmed in Chapter 6 Section 6 — nonresident General deer licenses for Hunt Areas 121-124 and 127 combined are capped at 100 total. This is a regional pool, not per-unit. EHD HISTORY: Significant EHD outbreaks in 2001, 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2020 reduced white-tailed deer numbers in the Bighorn Basin; the population has been recovering but remains susceptible. PRONGHORN GEOGRAPHY NOTE: Pronghorn Area 76 covers land north of Thermopolis; the WIA data confirms that WIAs valid for Deer 127 correspond to Antelope Area 83 (Owl Creek), not Area 76. ELK TYPE 6 SEASON STRUCTURE: Chapter 7 lists two separate Type 6 rows for Area 64. The first (quota 250) runs Sep 1–Nov 14 rifle only and is restricted to the Cottonwood Creek drainage downstream of and including the 21-Creek drainage, and the Grass Creek drainage downstream of the Grass Creek/Little Grass Creek confluence. The second runs archery Sep 1–Sep 30 and rifle Nov 15–Dec 21 valid in the entire area with no separate quota cap listed. The 250 quota does not apply to the full-area season. ELK TYPE 7 BOUNDARY: The Type 7 cow/calf license (quota 300) is valid south of AND INCLUDING the Cottonwood Creek drainage — the drainage itself is within the valid zone.