The southern boundary of Region D is the Colorado border. The southern part of the region is known to have a lot of trophy-class bucks that score 180” with some 190” bucks being harvested every year. The bigger bucks are elusive but are not too difficult to find. In the northern units of the region large whitetail can be found roaming the Medicine Bow River, Sage Creek and Muddy Creek.
The southern Units 60, 75 and 76 are located in the Medicine Bow National Forest and have high elevations. Conifer forests dominate the landscape with aspen pockets and rocky outcrop ridges. The northern Units 70 and 74 have low river bottoms with cottonwood trees and willows. These are typically the best spots to find trophy class whitetail.
The National Forest has great public access with maintained roads that cut through Units 60, 75 and 76. Camping areas are found throughout the National Forest and any hunter can camp there for no cost. The northern units have more private land that has difficult public access. Most of the river bottoms in Units 70, 74 and 77 have ranches with irrigated fields. Most landowners will grant access to hunters if permission is granted before the seasons.
There is a very limited amount of nonresident permits issued for this region every year. Region D has become popular recently with big bucks found throughout most of the Medicine Bow National Forest. Walk in hunters that access areas away from roads and into rocky areas with long ridges will find the oldest bucks in hiding areas that are secluded from human contact. Once spotted bedding the buck then sneaking in for a close shot is a hunter’s best strategy.
Whitetail hunting is the best in the later parts of the rifle season. During archery season and rifle season, the best tactics are to find trails along river and creek bottoms and near the edges of irrigated fields. Sitting in tree stands and in ground blinds can let whitetail bucks get close enough for a good shot.