Wyoming is one of the few places left where a nonresident can draw a mule deer license in big, open country without waiting a decade. It is also quietly good whitetail country, especially in the river bottoms and farm ground of the north and east. From the sagebrush basins to the high peaks of the Wyoming Range, there is a deer hunt here for almost every budget and style.
This guide covers the basics. Use the links at the bottom to go deeper.
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Wyoming deer hunting at a glance
| Where to apply | Online through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) |
| Applications | January 2 – June 1 (2026) for residents and nonresidents |
| Results | Mid-June (June 18 in 2026) |
| Leftover draw | June 22–26, results July 8 (2026) |
| Leftover and resident general licenses on sale | July 16 (2026) |
| Nonresident deer license | $389 regular price, $1,215 special price (2026) |
| Resident deer license | $47 (2026) |
| Seasons | Archery mostly in September. Rifle seasons mostly in October, with many whitetail seasons running into November and December |
Fees and dates are from WGFD for 2026. The 2027 numbers are not out yet, so check before you apply.
Mule deer or whitetail?
- Mule deer live almost everywhere in Wyoming, from low sagebrush country to alpine basins. The western mountain regions are famous for big bucks, and many of those areas have antler point restrictions and shorter seasons.
- Whitetails are most common along rivers and farm ground in the northeast, north-central, and southeast parts of the state. Many areas have separate, later whitetail seasons, and Wyoming sells whitetail-only licenses (Type 3 for any whitetail, Type 8 for whitetail does and fawns).
Many general licenses are good for either species, but some areas limit a license to one species or sex. Read your license type closely.
Step 1: Choose your license type
- Region general license. Nonresidents pick one lettered region. The license is good in any hunt area in that region that is not fully limited quota. Residents can buy a general deer license over the counter.
- Limited quota license. Good only in one hunt area, with set dates and a set type of deer.
- Doe/fawn licenses. Reduced price, no points, and an easy add-on for meat.
See how general and limited quota deer licenses work
Step 2: Apply by June 1
Unlike elk, Wyoming deer applications stay open until June 1, so you can decide after other states’ results are in. You pick regular or special price, pay the full license fee up front, and get the license fee refunded if you do not draw. Seventy-five percent of licenses go to the applicants with the most preference points and 25% are drawn at random.
Read our step-by-step deer draw guide
Step 3: Pick your season
Archery runs mostly in September. Most rifle seasons fall in October, but dates vary a lot by area. High-country trophy units often open and close earlier, and whitetail seasons often run later.
Step 4: Budget for it
A nonresident regular price deer license with a conservation stamp costs about $411. A DIY trip usually totals $1,150 to $4,100. Guided mule deer hunts commonly run $5,000 to $9,500.
Break down the cost of a Wyoming deer hunt
Step 5: Decide guided, DIY, or a mix
Much of Wyoming’s deer country is public land, and plenty of nonresidents hunt it on their own. But a lot of the best whitetail ground is private, and nonresidents need an outfitter or resident guide to hunt big game, including deer, in designated wilderness.
Compare guided and DIY deer hunts
Requirements every hunter needs
- Hunter education if you were born on or after January 1, 1966.
- Conservation stamp: $21.50 in 2026.
- Archery license for special archery seasons: $72 nonresident, $16 resident.
- Fluorescent orange or pink during rifle seasons.
- Landowner permission for private land. WGFD’s Access Yes Walk-in Areas and Hunter Management Areas open some private ground.
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Also see discount guided hunts, self-guided and DIY hunts, and hunting leases.
Hunting elk too? See our Wyoming elk hunting guide.