Wyoming Hunting Cabin Rentals — Bighorn Mountains Base Camp
Elk. Mule deer. Antelope. Upland birds. Wyo Stays manages hunting cabins near Sheridan Wyoming and the Bighorn National Forest — licensed brokerage, local team, no platform fees.
The Bighorn Mountains — Wyoming's Most Underrated Hunting Country
The Bighorn National Forest covers 1.1 million acres in north-central Wyoming and produces consistent elk harvests year after year — with Wyoming Game and Fish reporting statewide elk harvests exceeding 25,000 animals annually, with success rates above 50% in prime units. Unlike the wilderness areas bordering Yellowstone — where nonresidents must hire a licensed outfitter to enter — the Bighorn National Forest is accessible public land. You don't need a guide. You need a tag, a good topo, and a place to sleep close enough to the mountain that you're at the trailhead by first light.
The terrain runs from sagebrush foothills at 4,000 feet up through ponderosa pine, spruce-fir timber, and open alpine meadows above 9,000 feet — classic mixed-bag elk country where bulls winter low and summer high. Early archery season typically finds elk in the higher basins. Rifle season pushes them into the timber. Mule deer follow a similar pattern — bucks use the high country in summer and migrate toward the foothills as temperatures drop in October. Hunters who know the transition zones fill tags. Hunters who don't know them drive home empty.
Sheridan County's eastern foothills and plains add another layer. Pronghorn antelope — one of Wyoming's most huntable species — are thick in the sagebrush flats east of the Bighorns. Pheasant, sage grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse hold in the mixed cover between the mountains and the plains. A Wyo Stays cabin near Sheridan puts you within reach of all of it — big game in the mountains, birds and antelope on the flats — without burning half your hunt in a two-hour daily drive.
What You're Hunting — Bighorn Mountains & Sheridan County
Elk — Bighorn National Forest
Wyoming's general elk season in the Bighorns typically runs September through October 31 for rifle. Archery seasons open earlier — check wgfd.wyo.gov for current unit dates. Nonresident elk licenses require a preference point draw with an application deadline in late January or early February. Standard nonresident elk licenses run approximately $692.
Mule Deer — Bighorn Foothills
Mule deer season typically runs early October through mid-November. The Bighorn foothills hold good buck numbers — look for bucks in the transition zones between timber and open sagebrush as the rut approaches. Nonresident mule deer licenses are issued through the preference point draw. Application deadline is typically late May or early June.
Antelope & Whitetail — Sheridan County Plains
Pronghorn antelope are thick in the sagebrush flats east of Sheridan. Whitetail deer hold along creek bottoms and agricultural edges throughout Sheridan County. Both species offer good nonresident draw odds relative to elk and mule deer. Sheridan County is one of Wyoming's more productive antelope regions.
Upland Birds — Pheasant, Grouse & Hungarian Partridge
Sheridan County holds pheasant in irrigated agricultural cover, sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse on the sagebrush flats, and Hungarian partridge in mixed terrain. Upland bird licenses are generally available over the counter — no draw required. Season typically opens early October. Good bird numbers east of the Bighorns most years.
What Makes a Good Wyoming Hunting Base Camp
A hunting cabin earns its keep by making the logistics disappear. That means enough parking for rigs and trailers. Space to hang and cool meat. A kitchen where you can actually cook — not a two-burner and a microwave. A central location that cuts your drive to the trailhead, not adds to it. And a host who understands hunting season isn't a vacation — it's a working trip.
Wyo Stays manages properties in the Sheridan County corridor specifically suited for hunting parties. Contact our team before booking to discuss your group size, season dates, and access requirements. We'll match you to the right property — whether that's a Bighorn Mountain cabin 20 minutes from national forest access, a foothills property closer to the deer and antelope country, or a larger ranch-adjacent property for a group that needs serious space. Licensed brokerage, real local team, no automated platform between you and an answer.
Wyoming Hunting Season Quick Reference — Bighorn Mountains
| Species | Season Window | License Type |
|---|---|---|
| Elk | September – October 31 (rifle general) | Draw — apply by ~Feb 1 (nonresident) |
| Mule Deer | Early October – mid-November | Draw — apply by ~May 31 (nonresident) |
| Pronghorn Antelope | August – October | Draw — apply by ~May 31 (nonresident) |
| Whitetail Deer | October – November | Draw / OTC varies by unit |
| Black Bear | April – June / Sept – Oct | Limited quota draw |
| Upland Birds | Early October – February | Generally OTC — no draw |
| Turkey | Spring & Fall seasons | Draw required |
Season dates and license fees set annually by Wyoming Game and Fish. Always verify current regulations at wgfd.wyo.gov before applying. Nonresident elk standard license approximately $692. Mule deer approximately $374. Antelope approximately $326.
Book Your Wyoming Hunting Cabin Direct — No Platform Fees
Every Wyo Stays property is available to book direct at wyostays.com — no Airbnb service fees, no third-party markup. On a week-long hunting camp, that savings is real money — put it toward your Wyoming Game and Fish application fees instead.
Wyo Stays is a licensed, insured Wyoming vacation rental brokerage. When you book direct, you get a local team that actually picks up the phone — before season, during your hunt, and if anything needs handling at the property. Book Direct — No Channel Fees.
Own a Wyoming Hunting Property?
Hunting season drives some of the highest short-term rental demand in Sheridan County. If you own a cabin or rural property in the Bighorn corridor, Wyo Stays manages hunting cabin rentals as a licensed Wyoming brokerage — with dynamic pricing calibrated to hunting season demand windows.
Learn about property management with Wyo Stays →Wyoming Hunting Cabin FAQ — Bighorn Mountains & Sheridan County
Your Wyoming Hunt Starts Here
You drew the tag. You've been building points for years or you got lucky in the random draw — either way, you're in. The only thing left is base camp. A licensed Wyoming brokerage manages hunting cabins in the Bighorn Mountain corridor near Sheridan — real properties, real local team, no platform in the middle.
Browse availability and book direct. We'll take care of the cabin. You take care of the bull.