Antelope Hunt Area 53, Baggs: harvest, draw results and public land
Antelope Hunt Area 53 (Baggs) covers 1,002 square miles in WGFD's Green River Region and is 73.2% public land, most of it BLM (238,332 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 61 active hunters took 49 antelope here, 80.3% success. The 2026 season table lists 2 license rows here.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WGFD reports for 2021 to 2025. Seasons: WGFD Commission Chapter 5, final April 2026. Draw: WGFD 2026 demand reports. Land: PAD-US 4.1 and the Office of State Lands, read 2026-10-18.
National forestBLMState trust landArea 53Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Green River Region (also Laramie) |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Baggs (438) |
| Size | 1,002 square miles (641,063 acres) |
| Public land | 73.2% (469,083 acres) |
| Designated wilderness | 19,509 acres |
| Harvest, 2025 | 49 (80.3% of 61 active hunters) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 1, Type 7 |
| Special archery opens | August 15 |
| Towns in and near it | Baggs, Dixon, Encampment, Riverside and Saratoga |
How much public land is in Antelope Area 53?
73.2% of antelope Area 53 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 469,083 of 641,063 acres. The largest share is BLM, 238,332 acres or 37.2% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 53 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 238,332 | 37.2% |
| National forest | 165,626 | 25.8% |
| State trust land | 65,125 | 10.2% |
State trust land by access: the Office of State Lands and Investments' own parcel layer has 65,226 acres here (a few parcels overlap federal land in the source maps, so this can differ a little from the table). 31,479 acres next to other public land, 27,928 acres road access or reached from other state land and 5,819 acres no known public access. State trust land is open to hunting where it can be reached legally, but not to camping or open fires.
Designated wilderness: Huston Park Wilderness (19,509 acres). A nonresident hunting big game in a designated wilderness area must be accompanied by a licensed professional guide or a resident guide (W.S. 23-2-401).
WGFD access areas in Antelope Area 53
Wildlife Habitat Management Area: Red Rim-Grizzly (26,743 acres here). Walk-In Hunting: 4 areas covering 9,719 acres of private land enrolled in WGFD's Access Yes program.
Measured by FilledTag inside WGFD's hunt area boundary (WGFD antelope hunt areas) from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (federal land) and the Office of State Lands and Investments (state trust land). Access areas: WGFD's WHMA, PAA, HMA and Walk-In boundaries. Wilderness: USFS wilderness boundaries as WGFD publishes them.
How many antelope are harvested in Antelope Area 53?
WGFD estimates 49 antelope were taken in antelope Area 53 in 2025: 16 bucks, 33 does and 0 fawns. 61 hunters hunted, and 80.3% of them took an animal. Residents: 50 hunters, 68% success; nonresidents: 11 hunters, 136.4% success.
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bucks | Does | Fawns | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61 | 49 | 16 | 33 | 0 | 80.3% | 233 | 4.8 |
| 2024 | 32 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 62.5% | 92 | 4.6 |
| 2023 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 21.1% | 91 | 22.8 |
| 2022 | 191 | 180 | 154 | 24 | 2 | 94.2% | 611 | 3.4 |
| 2021 | 193 | 194 | 166 | 26 | 2 | 100.5% | 666 | 3.4 |
| License type | Licenses sold | Active licenses | Harvest | Success | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | 25 | 25 | 16 | 64% | 109 |
| Type 7 | 76 | 56 | 33 | 58.9% | 124 |
Source: WGFD 2025 antelope harvest report, page 12 of the PDF; earlier years from 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021. WGFD counts a hunter as active if he hunted. Days per animal is worked out from WGFD's own two figures. Success above 100% is as WGFD prints it: some hunters hold more than one license.
When is antelope season in Antelope Area 53 in 2026?
No general license season; every license here is limited quota. Special archery seasons open August 15. Every row WGFD prints for Area 53:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 | Sep 20 to Oct 31 | 25 | Any antelope |
| Type 7 also Area 57 | Aug 15 to Aug 31 | Sep 1 to Nov 30 | 25 | Doe or fawn valid south of Wyoming Highway 70 and west of Carbon County Road 601 in Area 53, and on private land within one (1) mile of Carbon County Road 603 in Area 57 |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 5 (final, April 2026), pages 3 to 4. WGFD can change a season by emergency rule: check WGFD's regulations page before you go.
What did the 2026 draw look like in Antelope Area 53?
From WGFD's 2026 initial drawing demand reports: each limited quota hunt's licenses, its first-choice applicants in each drawing, how many were drawn in the preference point drawings, and the fewest points that drew. WGFD does not publish how many drew in the random drawings. The rules for points and the deadlines are on the Wyoming draw page.
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, regular, random | 0 | 100 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 0 | 14 | not published | |
| Residents | 7 | 169 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 1 | 101 | 1 | 15 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 2 | 16 | 2 | 9 |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 5 | 129 | not published | |
| Residents | 20 | 91 | not published |
Source: WGFD 2026 antelope demand report, nonresident preference point drawing and the other 2026 demand reports on WGFD's draw results page. Applicants who miss in a nonresident preference point drawing go on to the random drawing, so one person can be counted in both.
How do you get to Antelope Area 53?
Highways through the area: WY 70 (about 44 miles inside it) and WY 789 (about 23 miles inside it). Towns inside: Baggs and Dixon. Nearby: Encampment (10 miles), Riverside (11 miles), Saratoga (19 miles) and Wamsutter (19 miles).
Which antelope hunt areas border Area 53?
Antelope Area 53 touches 4 other antelope hunt areas. Their size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 52 | Spring Creek | 616 | 64% | 122 (2025) |
| Area 55 | Red Rim | 382 | 47.8% | 31 (2025) |
| Area 57 | South Wamsutter | 1,775 | 73% | 109 (2025) |
| Area 108 | Bridger Pass | 192 | 56.5% | 24 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Antelope Area 53?
73.2% of antelope Area 53 is public land: 469,083 of its 641,063 acres, the largest share BLM (238,332 acres). Measured by FilledTag inside WGFD's boundary from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data.
What is the hunter success in Antelope Area 53?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 80.3%: 61 active hunters took 49 antelope. In 2024 it was 62.5% (20 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does antelope season open in Antelope Area 53 in 2026?
The special archery season opens August 15. The earliest regular season row opens September 1 and the latest closes November 30, by WGFD Commission Chapter 5. Each license type has its own dates and limitations, listed on this page.
How many licenses were in the 2026 draw for Antelope Area 53?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 2 limited quota hunts for antelope Area 53. The largest, Type 7, had 25 licenses and 220 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Antelope Area 53?
Baggs and Dixon are inside the hunt area. Just outside: Encampment (10 miles), Riverside (11 miles) and Saratoga (19 miles).
Is there wilderness in Antelope Area 53?
Yes. Huston Park Wilderness (19,509 acres) lies inside it. Wyoming law requires a nonresident hunting big game in a designated wilderness area to be accompanied by a licensed professional guide or a resident guide (W.S. 23-2-401).
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, hunters and days: WGFD antelope harvest reports, 2021 to 2025, listed here.
- Seasons, quotas and limitations: WGFD Commission Chapter 5 (final, April 2026), pages 3 to 4.
- Draw: WGFD 2026 demand reports; deadlines and fees on the Wyoming draw page.
- Hunt area boundary: WGFD antelope hunt areas. Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (federal land) and the Office of State Lands and Investments (state trust land). Highways and towns: Census TIGER/Line 2024 and the 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Numbers are copied from WGFD and the other agencies named, or measured by FilledTag from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag. WGFD's regulations are the final word on every rule.
Wyoming hunting Antelope hunt areas Green River Region Area 52 Area 55 Area 57 Area 108