Can a hunter use a general deer licence to hunt area 156?

Yes. A Wyoming resident buys a general deer licence over the counter with no draw and no preference points involved, and may hold one general licence per year. A nonresident must instead draw a Region H general licence, which is valid across the general-licence hunt areas of that region. Nonresidents compete in a preference-point draw for three-quarters of the available Region H general licences, with a quarter awarded by random draw to all applicants regardless of points.

Which deer species are legal on the hunts in area 156?

Two hunts here are white-tailed deer only: Type 3 (any white-tailed deer) and Type 8 (doe or fawn white-tailed deer). The general-licence hunt, Type Gen, permits both mule deer and white-tailed deer, but under different rules—a mule deer must have four or more points on either antler, while any white-tailed deer is legal regardless of antlers or sex.

When does the regular (rifle) season run on area 156?

Type 3 (any white-tailed deer) runs September 15–November 30. Type 8 (doe or fawn white-tailed deer) runs September 15–November 30. The general-licence mule deer and white-tailed deer hunt, Type Gen, closes much earlier at October 2. All three hunts open to archery September 1–September 14.

How much of hunt area 156 is accessible to foot traffic?

National Forest comprises 99% of the area, about 347 square miles, offering general access via roads and trails. However, public land still requires hunters to navigate seasonal closures, trailheads, and private inholdings. The southern portion is best accessed on foot or horseback; the northern section has motorized routes available as well.

What does the point requirement on area 156's general licence hunt actually restrict?

The four-point requirement applies to mule deer only. Any white-tailed deer is legal on that hunt—buck, doe or fawn—because no antler or sex restriction applies to white-tailed deer on Type Gen. The restriction does not bind the white-tailed portion of the hunt at all.

Wyoming Hunt Area 156 (Spread Creek) deer hunting

Licence

General licence area

Open public land

99%

Elevation

6,700–10,700 ft

Terrain

Moderate

Deer region

Hunt area 156 spans 351 square miles from 6,700 to 10,700 feet, with elevations averaging around 8,400 feet. The country rolls from moderately timbered slopes to steep mountainous terrain, cut through by deep drainages and open valleys. South-facing hillsides carry sagebrush and aspen; higher elevations transition from lodgepole pine through spruce-fir to whitebark pine. About 52% of the area is gentle ground, 43% moderate slopes, and 5% steep. Conifer dominates at all elevations—50% or more of the cover at lower and mid elevations—with sagebrush present throughout.

Public land makes up 99% of the hunt area, chiefly National Forest. Access varies by section: the northern portion holds motorized routes, while the southern part is reached primarily on foot or horseback from the Gros Ventre Road, also reachable via Highway 26/287. Seasonal snowfall climbs sharply through the fall—September is nearly snow-free, October brings around 3.7 inches, and November averages 19.6 inches. Snow during late October typically pushes white-tailed deer to lower elevations and eastward toward Dubois. Early-season hunters often find white-tailed deer scattered at higher elevations; the general-licence mule deer hunt occurs before the main push downslope. Grizzly bear densities are high in this area, and hunters should plan accordingly.

Licence and how this hunt area is drawn

Hunt Area 156 (Spread Creek) is a general-licence hunt area, and how a hunter gets a licence for it depends on where they live.

A Wyoming resident buys a general deer licence over the counter — unlimited statewide, on sale from mid-July. No draw, no application, no preference points.
A nonresident cannot buy one. They must draw a Region general licence — for this hunt area, deer region H, which is valid across the general-licence hunt areas of that region and nowhere else.

A hunter may hold only ONE general deer licence in a year, so a general licence is a single choice rather than something to stack.

Wyoming residents have no preference points for deer — the resident deer draw is random, and no resident point cutoff exists for any hunt area in the state. For nonresidents points matter a great deal: Wyoming awards 75% of each nonresident pool through the preference-point draw, top-down by points, and the remaining 25% at random. Nonresidents also choose between the Regular and Special pools — the same hunts at two price points, competing separately.

Seasons (2026)

Type 3 · Any white-tailed deer
Legal: white-tailed deer only
Archery September 1 – September 14Regular September 15 – November 30
Type 8 · Doe or fawn white-tailed deer
Legal: white-tailed deer only
Archery September 1 – September 14Regular September 15 – November 30
Type Gen — general licence · Antlered mule deer four (4) points or more on either antler or any white-tailed deer
Legal: mule deer and white-tailed deer, under different rules
Archery September 1 – September 14Regular September 15 – October 2

Where a hunt above sets an antler requirement on mule deer and then allows any white-tailed deer, that point requirement is a mule deer rule only. And “any white-tailed deer” means any— buck, doe or fawn. WGFD writes “antlered” where it means a buck and “antlerless” or “doe or fawn” where it means a female, so an unqualified “any” sets no restriction on sex or age.

The wording of each hunt is the Wyoming Game & Fish Department’s and is legally exact — a “doe or fawn” hunt is not a deer hunt in general, and a hunt limited to part of the area is not valid across it. Confirm every hunt in the current regulations before applying.

Hunting each season

Type 3 — Any white-tailed deer · whitetail only (September–November)

White-tailed deer hunters on Type 3 pursue a wide-open hunt spanning archery and rifle seasons from September 1 through November 30. Archery in early September coincides with the velvet shed, when white-tailed bucks are still scattered across higher elevations and can be unpredictable in their movements; highs average 63 degrees and snow is minimal. The rifle season opens September 15 as weather remains mild and deer are still dispersed at higher elevations through late September and early October. By late October, snow accumulation accelerates—averaging 3.7 inches that month—and typically forces white-tailed deer downslope and eastward, concentrating them along migration corridors and at lower elevations through November. This hunt allows any white-tailed deer regardless of sex or age.

Type 8 — Doe or fawn white-tailed deer · whitetail only (September–November)

The Type 8 doe-or-fawn hunt mirrors the Type 3 calendar from September 1 through November 30, encompassing both archery and rifle seasons. Early September archery occurs as white-tailed females and fawns occupy higher elevations during the velvet shed phase, with warm conditions (highs near 63 degrees) and minimal snowfall. The rifle season starts September 15, and hunters encounter white-tailed does and fawns scattered across higher terrain through early October before late-month snow begins pushing them downslope. By November, heavy snowfall—averaging 19.6 inches—drives concentrations to lower elevations along drainages and valleys. This hunt is restricted to white-tailed does and fawns only.

Type Gen — Antlered mule deer four (4) points… · mule deer & whitetail (September–October)

Hunters pursuing the general-licence Type Gen hunt can pursue antlered mule deer with four or more points on either antler, or any white-tailed deer—buck, doe or fawn—from September 1 through October 2 via archery and rifle. Early September archery finds mule deer scattered at higher elevations during the velvet shed, with mild conditions favoring foot and horseback access, particularly in the southern portion. The rifle season opens September 15 while temperatures remain moderate and mule deer are dispersed; by late September and early October, cooling trends bring increased movement, and the rut begins pushing mule deer into migration corridors and downslope stages. October snow—averaging 3.7 inches—can accelerate movements. The point requirement applies to mule deer only; any white-tailed deer is legal regardless of antlers or sex.

Land and access

National Forest99%

Generally open to public hunting

private land1%

Private

About 99% of this hunt area is ground a hunter can generally count on — National Forest, roughly 347 square miles. Public ownership is not the same as easy entry: roads, trailheads, seasonal closures and private inholdings all still apply.

Where deer are mapped

Summer Range97%

used in summer

Winter Range3%

used in winter

Yearlong Range1%

the only layer that means year-round use

Each figure is the share of the hunt area that layer covers. It says where deer are mapped, not where inside the area they are, and not when they move.

Habitat and cover

Lower elevations

Conifer50%

Sagebrush41%

Riparian5%

Other cover2%

Grass and meadow2%

Mid elevations

Conifer66%

Sagebrush27%

Grass and meadow3%

Riparian3%

Higher elevations

Conifer69%

Sagebrush22%

Grass and meadow7%

Riparian2%

Shares are of each elevation band, not of the whole hunt area — they describe what grows up there, not how much of the area sits at that elevation.

Weather through the season

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Snowfall
January	26°F	4°F	29.3 in
February	30°F	6°F	22.3 in
March	39°F	13°F	18.9 in
April	46°F	21°F	9.6 in
May	55°F	29°F	1.3 in
June	64°F	36°F	0 in
July	73°F	41°F	0 in
August	72°F	40°F	0 in
September	63°F	33°F	0 in
October	49°F	24°F	3.7 in
November	35°F	13°F	19.6 in
December	25°F	5°F	28.3 in

Snowfall is the monthly total, not depth lying on the ground.

Common questions

Can a hunter use a general deer licence to hunt area 156?: Yes. A Wyoming resident buys a general deer licence over the counter with no draw and no preference points involved, and may hold one general licence per year. A nonresident must instead draw a Region H general licence, which is valid across the general-licence hunt areas of that region. Nonresidents compete in a preference-point draw for three-quarters of the available Region H general licences, with a quarter awarded by random draw to all applicants regardless of points.
Which deer species are legal on the hunts in area 156?: Two hunts here are white-tailed deer only: Type 3 (any white-tailed deer) and Type 8 (doe or fawn white-tailed deer). The general-licence hunt, Type Gen, permits both mule deer and white-tailed deer, but under different rules—a mule deer must have four or more points on either antler, while any white-tailed deer is legal regardless of antlers or sex.
When does the regular (rifle) season run on area 156?: Type 3 (any white-tailed deer) runs September 15–November 30. Type 8 (doe or fawn white-tailed deer) runs September 15–November 30. The general-licence mule deer and white-tailed deer hunt, Type Gen, closes much earlier at October 2. All three hunts open to archery September 1–September 14.
How much of hunt area 156 is accessible to foot traffic?: National Forest comprises 99% of the area, about 347 square miles, offering general access via roads and trails. However, public land still requires hunters to navigate seasonal closures, trailheads, and private inholdings. The southern portion is best accessed on foot or horseback; the northern section has motorized routes available as well.
What does the point requirement on area 156's general licence hunt actually restrict?: The four-point requirement applies to mule deer only. Any white-tailed deer is legal on that hunt—buck, doe or fawn—because no antler or sex restriction applies to white-tailed deer on Type Gen. The restriction does not bind the white-tailed portion of the hunt at all.

Sources

Wyoming Game & Fish — Hunting & Trapping — licence types, general and limited-quota hunts, and season structure
WGFD Hunt Planner — hunt-area boundaries, season dates and the unit descriptions
WGFD — Draw results and odds — how the resident random draw and the nonresident preference-point draw work
WGFD — Regulations — the legal limitations on each hunt, and the statewide licence rules
USGS National Land Cover Database (NLCD 2021) and 3DEP elevation — land cover and terrain by elevation band

Seasons, licence types and boundaries change. Confirm every detail with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department before applying or hunting.

All Wyoming deer hunt areas