At a Glance
1,202Square Miles
22.7%Public Land
3,609 - 4,636Elevation Range
Quick Tips
- Cell service is spotty throughout the area
- Carry extra water
Hunters discussing Area 17 in Northwest Gillette, Wyoming emphasize its challenging terrain, consisting of rugged hills and diverse landscapes that demand physical endurance and strategic planning. The region is known for a mix of public and private land, requiring hunters to carefully navigate property boundaries and secure permissions where needed. Seasonality is crucial, as game movement and behavior significantly fluctuate, with many advising to scout in advance and adapt to the area's unique patterns. Overall, experienced hunters find success by being well-prepared, clearly understanding draw odds, and leveraging local knowledge and past experiences to effectively plan their hunts.
This area goes from from the Montana state line to Interstate 90, and is west of Gillette and the Powder River. Fortification Creek Wilderness Study Area and other public land can be hard to access here. Whitetails and mule deer are commonly found here.For nonresidents, this area is part of Region C and tags drawn for this area are also valid in: 18, 19, 23, 26, 29, 31.
Some mature mule deer and whitetail can be found here, but getting access to areas to where they can typically be found is hard. Spend a lot of time with binoculars or a spotting scope to help figure out which bucks are the best.