Hunt Area 131, Steamboat, Wyoming

High desert sagebrush basin in southwestern Wyoming (Sweetwater, Lincoln, and Fremont counties), ranging roughly 6,300–7,900 ft elevation. The unit sits north of I-80 between the Green River corridor and the Wamsutter-Crooks Gap area. Terrain is predominantly open sagebrush flats and rolling desert ridges with scattered buttes — Steamboat Mountain is the landmark high point. Long sight lines favor glassing from elevated terrain. Narrow canyons cut toward the Green River on the western edge. Vegetation is dominated by big sagebrush, greasewood, and rabbitbrush with sparse grass understory. Snow and mud during October rifle season frequently require four-wheel drive and chains.

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VERIFIED: Hunt Area 131 (Steamboat) — official legal name from WGFD Chapter 6 Draft 03.16.2026.4 Section 7. Boundary runs from I-80/WY-372 junction northwest along WY-372 to Fontenelle Dam Road (Lincoln County Road 313); northeast along that road to County Line Road (Sweetwater County Road 52); south to Eighteen Mile Road (Sweetwater County Road 49); northeast to US 191; south to US 28; northeast to the Sweetwater River; east to Three Forks-Atlantic City Road (BLM 2317) at Phelps-Dodge Bridge; southeast to Bison Basin Road (Fremont County Road 281/BLM 3221); south to Hadsell Road (BLM 3217); east to Osborne Road (BLM 3212); east to Wamsutter-Crooks Gap Road (Sweetwater County Road 23); south to I-80; west to WY-372. Counties: Sweetwater, Lincoln, and Fremont. Uinta County is NOT part of this unit. CWD STATUS (VERIFIED): Hunt Area 131 is CWD-positive. First confirmed detection in the Sublette mule deer herd in 2017. Five-year (2020-2024) sampling detected 9 CWD-positive mule deer bucks out of 506 tested (1.8% prevalence) and 1 positive white-tailed deer out of 17 tested (5.9%) in the broader Sublette herd. Area 131 is a WGFD CWD Focus Monitoring Area for deer. No mandatory sampling requirement specific to Area 131 was confirmed from available sources; hunters are encouraged to voluntarily submit samples. DEER POPULATION CONTEXT: The Sublette mule deer herd (including areas 130, 131, 138-142, 146, 150-156, 162) post-season 2025 population estimate is 22,437 (up 18% from 2024), with 43 bucks and 77 fawns per 100 does. The herd is in recovery following severe 2022-23 winter mortality. WGFD management goal is postseason buck:doe ratio above 30:100. General seasons remain intentionally short and conservative. ANTLER RESTRICTION: General tag valid only for mule deer with 4 points or more on either antler (or any white-tailed deer). The 2026 Chapter 6 draft (03.16.2026.4) retains the 4-point restriction for Area 131. Youth hunters are not limited to the antler point restriction. WALK-IN AREA (CONFIRMED): WIA #3 in Sweetwater County provides 20,641 acres of enrolled land open to public hunting, overlapping Deer Hunt Area 131. Access dates: July 1 - June 30 (effectively year-round). Species valid: deer, elk, antelope, moose, black bear, mountain lion, waterfowl, sandhill crane, doves, rabbit. NONRESIDENT DRAW: Region W (Areas 82, 100, 131) nonresident General deer license quota is 600 combined (confirmed from Chapter 6 Section 6). ELK OVERLAP NOTE: Elk Hunt Area 100 (Steamboat) overlaps the southeastern and central portions of Deer Hunt Area 131 but does NOT cover the northwestern Lincoln County area north of US 28/WY-372 toward Fontenelle Dam. Area 426 is only a harvest-reporting grouping. TYPE 7 MULE DEER (NEW FOR 2026): Chapter 6 adds a Type 7 doe/fawn mule deer license in Area 131 for 2026 to address agricultural damage concerns along the Green River irrigated area. Geographic restriction: valid only on or within one-half mile of irrigated land west of Blue Rim Road (Sweetwater County Road 5) and Old Stauffer Roads (Sweetwater County Road 7) and south of OCI Entrance Road (Sweetwater County Road 6). Quota 25. Season: archery Sep 1-30, rifle Oct 1-Oct 31. ACCESS CAUTION: Four-wheel drive and snow chains are strongly recommended during October rifle season. Fuel and supplies should be obtained in Rock Springs or Green River before entering.