Hunt Area 87, Ferris, Wyoming
Unit info
- Game species
- Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer
- Group
- Region Q
- Area
- 1,220 mi²
- Public land
- 70.9%
Mule Deer — season & harvest76.5% success
- Tag type
- Limited Quota Type 1 (antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer)
- Reported harvest
- 31
- Archery season
- Sep 1 – Sep 30
- General season
- Oct 15 – Oct 31
Spot-and-stalk in sagebrush foothills and broken rim country early season; glass high ridges in the Ferris Mountains and WSA. Mule deer move to lower benches and river breaks by late October. Rugged country requires physical conditioning. Limited-entry unit — draw tag required.
Draw odds for Mule Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Tag type
- Covered under Type 1 license (any white-tailed deer)
- Archery season
- Sep 1 – Sep 30
- General season
- Oct 15 – Oct 31
White-tailed deer present along North Platte River riparian corridor and private land edges. Type 1 license covers antlered mule deer OR any white-tailed deer. Stand hunting near cottonwood/willow draws is effective.
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedHunt Area 87 (Ferris) is a limited-quota mule deer unit spanning 1,220 square miles north of Rawlins in Carbon County, Wyoming, encompassing the Ferris Mountains, North Platte River corridor, and Pathfinder Reservoir. The unit offers roughly 70.9% public land — predominantly BLM — with rugged terrain ranging from 5,958 to 10,037 feet and historically strong hunter success for a limited-entry tag. In 2023, active hunters posted a 76.5% success rate on a quota of 50 Type 1 antlered mule deer licenses.
Spans 1,220 square miles north of Rawlins, Carbon County. Elevation ranges from approximately 5,958 ft in the basin floors to 10,037 ft at Ferris Peak — the highest point in the Great Divide Basin. Lower elevations feature rolling sagebrush prairie and choppy broken hills. Mid elevations transition to juniper and pine. The Ferris Mountains/Ferris Wilderness Study Area is steep and rugged with high ridges and deep canyons. Other landmarks include Independence Rock, Sentinel Rocks, Seminoe Canyon, and sand dunes near Bear Mountain. The North Platte River and Pathfinder Reservoir form part of the eastern boundary.
Approximately 70.9% public land, predominantly BLM. Unit boundaries run from the junction of US-287 and I-80 at Rawlins north to Muddy Gap Junction (WY-220), northeast to Pathfinder Road (Natrona County Road 409), south along Pathfinder Dam service road to the North Platte River, and back west along I-80. Access via US-287, WY-220, and Natrona County Road 409 (Pathfinder Road). Cell service is sporadic throughout; hunters should carry extra water and fuel. Walk-In Area (WIA) coverage varies by year — consult the annual WGFD WIA Atlas.
Lower elevations: big sagebrush, greasewood, native grasses. Mid elevations: mountain mahogany, serviceberry, bitterbrush. Upper elevations (Ferris Mountains): Rocky Mountain juniper, limber pine, mixed shrubs. Riparian zones along North Platte River support cottonwood, willow, and whitetail habitat.
Mule deer use the higher Ferris Mountain ridges and timber during early season and shift to lower sagebrush benches and river breaks as temperatures drop through October. Some white-tailed deer occupy riparian corridors along the North Platte River. The unit has historically been below population objective with low tag quotas maintained to allow recovery.
Season dates and quota from WGFD Chapter 6 Deer Hunting Seasons (2025 regulations, document wgfd.wyo.gov/media/29982). Harvest data from WGFD 2023 Mule Deer Harvest Report (wgfd.wyo.gov/media/29194). Terrain and public-land percentage from GOHUNT unit profile. Unit is well below population objective per multiple hunting forum sources; quota has been kept low (50 Type 1 tags) to support herd recovery. No muzzleloader-specific season listed for this unit in Chapter 6.
Questions, tips & discussion
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Boundaries: WGFD official Deer Hunt Areas. Community info last updated 24d ago.