Hunters in Area 4 - Sand Creek, Wyoming, report promising opportunities for both whitetail and mule deer, with potential trophy whitetail reaching 150+ inches, especially on private lands, although public lands offer strong prospects as well. There are noticeable challenges with hunting pressure, particularly impacting public land success rates which have surprisingly dipped to 7% last year, suggesting a need for strategic planning to distance from crowded spots. Those managing preference points can capitalize on “opportunity hunt” strategies to hunt less pressured units without losing accumulated points, a smart move for maximizing draw potential. Experienced hunters recommend learning the specific tag regulations, especially with general tags, as they allow various opportunities across public and private lands, ensuring informed hunting decisions in these dynamic units.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-150" | 160"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 120"-140" | 150"+ |
High
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Located in Northeastern Wyoming south of I-90, north of Highway 85 east of Highway 585, and west of the South Dakota State Border. Unit 4 is known for good success rates of harvest with a lot of quality bucks taken every year. The terrain allows for hunters to glass a lot of area from high vantage points.For nonresidents, this area is part of Region A and tags drawn for this area are also valid in: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
This area is known for the large numbers of deer. Both mule deer and whitetail deer can be found in most of the unit. Be prepared to look over a lot of terrain.
Mainly consisting of long deep canyons, sage brush flats, conifer forests and ranch lands. A majority of the unit is located in the Black Hills mountain ranges and provides vantage points for glassing and locating bucks. The Black Hills National Forest has the highest peaks in the unit.
The majority of land here consists of National Forest with private land and wildlife management areas. Most roads are marked with county and National Forest signs, that are allowed four-wheel-drives. Chains are recommended during late-season hunts when there is a lot of snow. Most dirt roads here are well-maintained.
The majority of the area is dominated by sage brush, pinyon and prairie grass. Ranches dominate the area in the west with creek bottoms that have willows and cottonwood trees.
Some hunters will camp remotely on the National Forest land on the unit with no permit required. Lodging at multiple motels can be located just north of the unit in Sundance. Sand Creek Access Area gives hunters a place to camp, fish for rainbow trout and find animals.
Roughly 318 square miles
39.8% public land
Elevation from 3,800-6,600 feet