USDA Forest Service, Bighorn National Forest

Hunting is allowed on National Forest lands. There are many hunting opportunities in the Bighorn National Forest. Big game species include elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, black bear, mountain lion and pronghorn antelope.

Wildlife licensing, regulations, harvest limits, and seasons are set by the Wyoming Game and Fish department. Please contact them for more information.

Hunting and the use of ATVs

During hunting season, elk tend to retreat to the most isolated and remote location they can find. These are called security zones - areas of excellent hiding cover and minimal disturbance that will hold big game during periods of stress (i.e. hunting season).

Over the last decade, the number of people visiting this area has dramatically increased. At the same time, more people have begun using All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's). As a result of increased ATV use and the impacts of user created roads/trails, deer and elk have fewer security zones. Some roads and trails you see are in inappropriate locations and were created by ATV's driving off road. When you drive off a road you leave a track that others will follow, and you may be causing the start of the next illegal user created road or motorized trail. Some user-created trails access the same location that an existing, legal road does. In many areas, this has created a web and criss-cross of needless roads and trails, adding to the displacement and disruption of big game security, as well as creating resource damage There is growing evidence that increased motorized hunting activity is causing an unintentional, but nevertheless mounting toll on big game hunting quality and natural resource quality.

Preserving the Hunting Experience

A good hunt includes respecting the land and other hunters. ATV's can make hunting easier, because you can cover a lot of ground quickly. But they also make it easier to unintentionally cross an area someone else has staked out since dawn, scaring their quarry away. Similarly, with more hunters, scouting for game can often backfire. Rather than pinpoint the best place to hunt, scouting from an ATV often just adds to the overall traffic displacing game from an area. Where you go, and how you get there can mean the difference between a successful hunt and an unsuccessful hunt - both for you and the next person. Be prepared to pack your game out by foot or horse in areas where motorized travel is required to stay on designated routes. Please remember, discharging a firearm in a campground, occupied area, across roads or bodies of water, or within 150 yards of a residence, building, or developed camping area is prohibited.

Outfitters and Guides

Guide and Outfitter services are available and offered for a variety of services such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding. If you use the services of an outfitter, make sure they are licensed with the State and permitted to operate on the Bighorn National Forest. If they are not both licensed with the state and permitted by the Forest Service, they are breaking both State and Federal laws; steer clear of them! The permitted and legal operators are regulated and inspected to ensure you get a quality and safe service. Contact your local Forest Service office to make sure the outfitter or guide you hire is legal.

Hunting Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to hunt on national forest land?
The requirements for hunting on national forest land in Wyoming are that you must have a valid hunting license and follow all rules and regulations set forth by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

May I hunt anywhere on national forest land?
Much of the general forest area is open for hunting. Designated recreation areas and administrative sites are not open for hunting. Wildlife management areas are off limits. Certain hunting restrictions apply in the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area of the Bighorn National Forest. Check with the Wyoming Game and Fish for more information.

It is important to stay at least 150 yards from trails, roads, recreation areas, buildings, and residences. Pay close attention to the boundaries; what you may think is national forest land may be private. National forest land is marked with a yellow sign with black printing. These signs will be posted along the boundary. You may purchase a Bighorn National Forest map at any of the visitor's centers in the Forest.

Even though you may be within the national forest proclamation boundary, there are pockets of private land within that boundary. Abide by posted "No Hunting" and "No Trespassing" signs. Permission from the private property owner must be obtained prior to hunting.

Are the seasons different for national forest land?
Please contact the Wyoming Game and Fish for more information on this subject.

Fireworks and explosives are prohibited in the National Forests.
Firing a gun is not allowed: in or within 150 yards of a residence, building; campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area; across or on a road or body of water; in any circumstance whereby any person may be injured or property damaged.

Tell someone where you’ll be hunting.
Avoid outings alone. If you go alone, be extra careful and hunt in familiar areas.
Dress properly: be prepared for the worst conditions; protect against hypothermia.