Overview

The western boundary of Region R is the Bighorn River whereas the eastern boundary consists of the divide between the Bighorn Mountains. The northern boundary is the Montana state line and the southern boundary is U.S. Highway 16. The demand for this nonresident general deer tag has increased steadily in recent years. Some bucks in this area measure 180” Boone and Crockett. Season dates within the region vary for mule deer. Be sure to reference the unit profiles for additional information on season dates.

On The Ground

Terrain

Units 46, 50 and 53 have primarily steep, mountainous terrain with several roads and ATV trails. Unit 46 is the only area to include wilderness area. Units 41, 47, 51 and 52 have gentler terrain and better general access, with a few BLM roads and ATV trails. These units surround the primary wintering range.

Access

A lot of the land in this region is public and hunters can hike from trailheads or off of paved or gravel roads. Units 46 and 50 are 100% National Forest and have many trailheads available for access. The rest of the units have BLM land and BLM access roads.

Species

Mule Deer

Early snows can have a significant impact on harvest success. Most of these units are migratory and early snows can push deer into more accessible places, which is when big buck harvest typically increases. There are staggered hunt dates between the units, so verify the dates before going to the field. Although great deer are harvested in Region R, these are still general deer units and hunter pressure is very high, even in remote locations. Hunters who want a low pressure hunt can look at limited draw units.

Whitetail Deer

Even though mule deer dominate the deer numbers in Region R, Units 41, 47, 51, 52 and 53 have whitetail deer. Whitetails are typically found along creek or river bottoms near agriculture fields. Whitetail bucks from these units can score over 140” B&C.