Hunt Area 90, Muskrat, Wyoming

Central Wyoming high desert basin with significant topographic relief. Elevations range from approximately 4,780 feet in the Wind River valley bottoms to 7,598 feet along Beaver Rim and surrounding ridgelines. The unit encompasses the Gas Hills area — a series of rolling, uranium-bearing sandstone ridges and broad sagebrush basins between U.S. Highway 26 (north boundary) and the Beaver Rim escarpment (south boundary). Drainages include Muskrat Creek and Dry Creek. The Beaver Rim forms a dramatic rimrock escarpment that funnels deer movement and creates concentrated hunting opportunities. Terrain is described as relatively easy to navigate, with open country well-suited to spot-and-stalk hunting.

Approximately 78% public land (BLM ~70%, Wyoming State ~8%; private ~22%). The unit is accessed via U.S. Highway 26 on the north, Gas Hills Road (Natrona County Road 212) from the northeast, Dry Creek Road (Natrona County Road 321), and BLM Roads 2401 (Beaver Rim Road) and 2301 (Cedar Rim Draw Road). Wyoming Highway 135 (Sand Draw Road) forms the southwest boundary. There are no hospitals, hotels, campgrounds, or grocery stores within 20 miles — hunters should be self-sufficient. Walk-In Areas (WIA) may be available through the WGFD Access Yes program; current enrollment varies by year and should be verified with WGFD. Land status near the Wind River Reservation boundary is complex — only non-Indian-owned fee title lands are open to Wyoming license holders; hunters must verify land status before entering.

Dominant vegetation is big sagebrush with native bunchgrass understory across the basin floors. Junipers and scattered ponderosa pine appear on higher ridges near Beaver Rim. Riparian corridors along Muskrat Creek and Dry Creek support cottonwood and willow, attracting white-tailed deer. Mule deer use the sagebrush flats and broken draws throughout the unit; white-tailed deer are concentrated near creek bottoms and any irrigated areas near the Wind River Reservation boundary.

Deer movement in the unit is heavily influenced by weather and seasonal migration. Mule deer stage along the Beaver Rim and Gas Hills ridgelines in early season, moving to lower sagebrush basins as temperatures drop. White-tailed deer remain closer to riparian corridors year-round. Hunting pressure can push deer toward private land pockets. Winter weather in this basin is described as comparatively mild, reducing winter-kill mortality and supporting a stable population.

Season dates and quota from WGFD Chapter 6 Deer Hunting Seasons (effective April 22, 2025, signed by Commission President Ashlee Lundvall). Harvest statistics from WGFD 2023 Deer Harvest Report (most recent available at time of research). HuntScore and GOHUNT data used for terrain, elevation, and land ownership breakdown. Harvest report shows 2023 data only (labeled as 2023 Deer Report); 2024 data not yet published as of research date. The unit is purely limited quota (Type 1 / Full quota) — no general license exists for Area 90 mule deer. Area 90 borders the Wind River Indian Reservation; the WGFD regulation explicitly notes that only non-Indian owned fee title lands are open to hunting under a Wyoming license.