Hunt Area 32, Beartrap Creek, Wyoming

Rolling to rugged foothill terrain on the eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains, cut by creek drainages and canyon breaks; elevation ranges roughly 4,500–7,000 ft across the hunt area, with the higher ridgelines on the western edge and broad river-bottom terraces along the Powder River forks on the east.

The area is bounded and accessed by: Slip Road (Johnson County Road 67) on the north and east, connecting to Mayoworth Road (Johnson CR 266) and the town of Mayoworth; Barnum Road (Johnson County Road 78) on the southeastern edge, running south through the small community of Barnum; Barnum Mountain Road connecting east to west across the southern boundary; and Hazelton Road (Washakie County Road 81 / Johnson County Road 3) on the western boundary. The Ken Graves Ranch Road defines part of the eastern boundary along the Powder River at the Ken Graves Ranch. Interior access is limited — much of the area is reached by unimproved two-track roads branching from these county roads. The area contains a mix of BLM surface and private ranch land; private inholdings are common in the Powder River foothills and can block contiguous public-land access. The Beartrap Creek Public Access Area (78.6 acres, fishing access only, approximately 21 miles south of Highway 16 on Hazelton Road) provides one guaranteed public access point along Beartrap Creek, but is restricted to fishing — it does not serve as a hunting-access staging area. No designated USFS trailheads exist within Area 32; the Bighorn National Forest boundary lies to the west, within adjacent Hunt Area 30.

Lower drainages and flats are dominated by sagebrush-steppe and mixed-grass prairie typical of the Powder River Basin transition zone. Ponderosa pine with grass and sagebrush understory covers mid-elevation slopes and ridge breaks. Scattered Rocky Mountain juniper appears on dry ridges and steep terrain. Riparian corridors along Beartrap Creek, Arch Creek, and the North Fork of the Red Fork of the Powder River support willow, cottonwood, and other riparian shrubs. These creek bottoms serve as thermal cover and travel corridors for mule deer.

Mule deer are the primary big game species and are managed as part of the Upper Powder River Herd Unit (WGFD herd unit 322, encompassing hunt areas 30, 32, 33, 163, and 169). The herd has been well below its 18,000-animal management objective since the early 2000s, with a 2020 sightability survey estimating approximately 8,500 animals across the unit. WGFD research documents vehicle collisions, disease, and malnutrition related to deteriorated habitat and extended drought as primary mortality factors for collared deer. CWD is documented as present across Wyoming with increased prevalence in deer statewide; a specific confirmed prevalence figure for this herd unit was not available from primary WGFD sources reviewed. Mountain lion predation is a documented management concern — WGFD has established liberal lion seasons in the Sheridan Region to relieve predation pressure on the deer herd. White-tailed deer also occur in the area, particularly along riparian corridors and brushy drainages. Elk inhabit the adjacent Bighorn foothills and move through the broader Sheridan Region. Pronghorn are present on sagebrush flats and lower-elevation grassland edges. Black bear are present throughout the Bighorn foothill country, with liberal bear seasons also established regionally. Wild turkey have established populations in Johnson County along riparian creek drainages. Moose occur at low densities. Blue (dusky) grouse are present in ponderosa and mixed-conifer habitat. Sage grouse occupy suitable sagebrush habitat on lower-elevation portions of the area.

1. Season dates are from the WGFD Chapter 6 Draft 03.16.2026 regulations (confirmed directly from PDF); final adopted 2026 dates should be verified at wgfd.wyo.gov/Regulations before hunting. The shortened Oct 15–Oct 21 mule deer rifle season represents a significant reduction from prior years and reflects the herd's below-objective status. 2. Public land percentage is not confirmed from a sourced figure; the Powder River foothills contain significant private ranch land. Hunters should obtain current land-status maps (BLM 100K surface management maps via WGFD Hunt Planner or onX) before accessing any parcels — private land blocks public access throughout this landscape. 3. Specific area-level harvest numbers and hunter success percentages for Area 32 alone could not be extracted from the 2023 WGFD harvest report PDF. The Upper Powder River Herd Unit (322) fawn ratio was 64 fawns per 100 does and buck ratio 34 per 100 does as of 2019 classification data. 4. CWD is confirmed present statewide in Wyoming with increased prevalence in deer; the draft claim of approximately 20% prevalence in does for this specific herd unit was not confirmed from primary WGFD sources — that figure has been removed. Hunters should follow WGFD CWD carcass transport regulations. 5. No muzzleloader-specific season exists for Area 32; Wyoming general deer license is valid with any legal weapon including muzzleloaders during the general season. 6. Elk, pronghorn, black bear, and mountain lion are present but use separate WGFD hunt area numbering systems. 7. The Beartrap Creek Public Access Area is confirmed fishing-access only (WGFD source) — it does not provide a hunting-access staging area.