Hunt Area 3, Keyhole, Wyoming

Rolling, mixed-topography terrain transitioning from open ranch flats and sagebrush-covered valleys to timbered ponderosa pine ridges and steep gullies; long drainages feed into Keyhole Reservoir. Elevation ranges from approximately 4,095 to 5,149 feet above sea level, with the reservoir surface at roughly 4,100 feet (confirmed by Wyoming State Parks). The terrain is less rugged than adjacent mountain units but includes enough broken country and draws to provide deer cover.

Primary road access is via Interstate 90 (forming the southern boundary between Sundance and Moorcroft) and US Highway 14 (running from Sundance northwest toward Hulett forming the eastern boundary corridor). Per the official WGFD Chapter 6 hunt area description, Area 3 is bounded by: I-90 at Sundance west to the D Road (Crook County Road 68); north along the D Road to the Oshoto Road (Crook County Road 263); east along the Oshoto Road to the Cabin Creek Road (Crook County Road 116); south and east along Cabin Creek Road to US-14; east and south along US-14 back to I-90 at Sundance. Public land constitutes only about 17.7 percent of the unit; BLM and Wyoming state land parcels are scattered and frequently landlocked by private ranch holdings. Keyhole State Park (I-90 Exit 165 near Moorcroft, elevation 4,100 ft) provides publicly accessible camping and recreation. Wyoming Game and Fish Walk-In Hunting Areas in Crook County total 8 areas covering approximately 26,945 acres of private and state land with seasonal hunting access; deer access is available in several of these areas. Cell service is unreliable throughout much of the unit. Hunters should carry GPS with downloaded ownership layers. WGFD Sheridan Region Office can provide current access details.

Dominant cover on the flats and lower slopes is shortgrass prairie of buffalo grass and blue grama grass, interspersed with sagebrush-steppe. Ponderosa pine occupies the ridgelines and breaks. Creek and drainage bottoms support narrow riparian corridors of cottonwood and willow. Agricultural fields and hay meadows occur near streams and private ranch headquarters. The unit sits at the ecological edge between the Black Hills pine belt to the east and the high plains grasslands to the west.

White-tailed deer and mule deer are both present, with white-tailed deer predominating on private land creek bottoms and agricultural edges; mule deer use the more open ridges and sagebrush flats. Both populations suffered severe declines from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) outbreaks in 2021-2022, compounded by drought; as of 2023 (most recent harvest data) herds are in recovery but remain below historical highs. 2023 WGFD harvest data shows 248 active mule deer licenses in Area 3 with 96 total harvest (38.7% success) and 252 active white-tailed deer licenses with 76 total harvest (30.2% success). Pronghorn antelope inhabit open grassland and sagebrush flats (managed under separate WGFD pronghorn hunt area numbers). Elk are present in Crook County (hunted under separate elk hunt area designations). Merriam's wild turkey are well established in the ponderosa pine Black Hills fringe. The Keyhole Reservoir and Belle Fourche River corridor serve as important habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Mountain lion is present statewide including this region under a quota system. The unit does not support bighorn sheep, mountain goat, or moose populations of note.

1. Harvest data for Area 3 is NOT suppressed in the 2023 WGFD Deer Harvest Report (contrary to the original draft claim): mule deer 248 active licenses, 96 harvest, 38.7% success; white-tailed deer 252 active licenses, 76 harvest, 30.2% success. 2. Area 3 season dates confirmed from 2026 Draft Chapter 6: archery Sep 1-Sep 30, general (rifle) Nov 1-Nov 20. 3. No separate muzzleloader season for Area 3; muzzleloaders hunt concurrently under the general season. 4. Region A nonresident quota confirmed at 2,000 General deer licenses shared across Hunt Areas 1-6. 5. The antler restriction for Area 3 Gen license is antlered deer unit-wide; any white-tailed deer (including does) valid on private land — NOT antlered-only everywhere as the draft implied. 6. Walk-in areas in Crook County: 8 areas, approximately 26,945 total acres (not just thousands — closer to 27,000 acres). 7. Keyhole State Park access point confirmed at I-90 Exit 165, elevation 4,100 ft. 8. Elevation range (4,095-5,149 ft) and 332 sq mi area size are sourced from GoHunt and not independently verified against WGFD GIS data.