Antelope Hunt Area 83, Owl Creek: harvest, draw results and public land
Antelope Hunt Area 83 (Owl Creek) covers 1,398 square miles in WGFD's Cody Region and is 46.7% public land, most of it BLM (351,066 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 296 active hunters took 302 antelope here, 102% success. The 2026 season table lists 4 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 landWind River Reservation (as PAD-US maps it)Area 83Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Cody Region |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Fifteen Mile (204) |
| Size | 1,398 square miles (894,913 acres) |
| Public land | 46.7% (417,691 acres) |
| Designated wilderness | 7,783 acres |
| Harvest, 2025 | 302 (102% of 296 active hunters) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 1, Type 6, Type 7, Type 8 |
| Special archery opens | August 15 |
| Towns in and near it | Thermopolis, Kirby, Lucerne, East Thermopolis, Worland and Meeteetse |
How much public land is in Antelope Area 83?
46.7% of antelope Area 83 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 417,691 of 894,913 acres. The largest share is BLM, 351,066 acres or 39.2% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 83 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 351,066 | 39.2% |
| Wind River Reservation (as PAD-US maps it) | 269,406 | 30.1% |
| State trust land | 41,520 | 4.6% |
| National forest | 25,105 | 2.8% |
State trust land by access: the Office of State Lands and Investments' own parcel layer has 41,902 acres here (a few parcels overlap federal land in the source maps, so this can differ a little from the table). 20,017 acres road access or reached from other state land, 19,736 acres next to other public land and 2,149 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: Washakie Wilderness (7,783 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).
PAD-US maps 269,406 acres here inside the Wind River Reservation. Tribal land there is not open to hunting on Wyoming licenses; some ground inside the reservation line is private or managed by WGFD and follows its own rules.
WGFD access areas in Antelope Area 83
Hunter Management Area: Absaroka Front (11,759 acres here). Walk-In Hunting: 6 areas covering 3,761 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 83?
WGFD estimates 302 antelope were taken in antelope Area 83 in 2025: 159 bucks, 137 does and 6 fawns. 296 hunters hunted, and 102% of them took an animal. Residents: 212 hunters, 98.6% success; nonresidents: 84 hunters, 110.7% success.
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bucks | Does | Fawns | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 296 | 302 | 159 | 137 | 6 | 102% | 816 | 2.7 |
| 2024 | 202 | 175 | 150 | 24 | 1 | 86.6% | 727 | 4.2 |
| 2023 | 128 | 127 | 113 | 14 | 0 | 99.2% | 391 | 3.1 |
| 2022 | 106 | 94 | 80 | 12 | 2 | 88.7% | 354 | 3.8 |
| 2021 | 230 | 161 | 135 | 20 | 6 | 70% | 601 | 3.7 |
| License type | Licenses sold | Active licenses | Harvest | Success | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | 203 | 188 | 162 | 86.2% | 492 |
| Type 6 | 102 | 80 | 78 | 97.5% | 152 |
| Type 7 | 50 | 37 | 19 | 51.4% | 79 |
| Type 8 | 51 | 46 | 43 | 93.5% | 93 |
Source: WGFD 2025 antelope harvest report, page 15 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 83 in 2026?
No general license season; every license here is limited quota. Special archery seasons open August 15. Every row WGFD prints for Area 83:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 | Sep 20 to Nov 7 | 200 | Any antelope |
| Type 6 | Aug 15 to Aug 31 | Sep 1 to Nov 30 | 150 | Doe or fawn valid on or within one-half (1/2) mile of irrigated land |
| Type 7 | Aug 15 to Aug 31 | Sep 1 to Oct 14 | 50 | Doe or fawn valid on or within one-half (1/2) mile of irrigated land within Gooseberry Creek drainage |
| Type 8 | Aug 15 to Aug 31 | Oct 15 to Dec 15 | 50 | Doe or fawn valid on or within one-half (1/2) mile of irrigated land within Gooseberry Creek drainage |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 5 (final, April 2026), page 6. 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 83?
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 | 5 | 136 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 3 | 54 | not published | |
| Residents | 105 | 476 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 16 | 155 | 19 | 10 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 12 | 68 | 14 | 7 |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 30 | 165 | not published | |
| Residents | 116 | 218 | not published |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 17 | 17 | not published | |
| Residents | 40 | 29 | not published |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 10 | 28 | not published | |
| Residents | 40 | 26 | 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. On some rows WGFD prints more licenses drawn than the quota; they are shown as printed.
How do you get to Antelope Area 83?
Highways through the area: WY 789 (about 38 miles inside it), US 20 (about 38 miles inside it), WY 120 (about 32 miles inside it), WY 431 (about 21 miles inside it) and WY 170 (about 12 miles inside it). Towns inside: Thermopolis, Kirby, Lucerne and Owl Creek. Nearby: East Thermopolis (on the line), Worland (8 miles), Meeteetse (14 miles) and Shoshoni (15 miles).
Which antelope hunt areas border Area 83?
Antelope Area 83 touches 6 other antelope hunt areas. Their size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 76 | Copper Mountain | 515 | 55.4% | 49 (2025) |
| Area 77 | Fifteen Mile Creek | 1,127 | 81.2% | 155 (2025) |
| Area 84 | Wind River | 1,246 | 84.8% | 123 (2025) |
| Area 110 | South Greybull River | 621 | 74.2% | 169 (2025) |
| Area 114 | Nowater | 755 | 86.1% | 60 (2025) |
| Area 117 | Crowheart Butte | 2,626 | 0% | 3 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Antelope Area 83?
46.7% of antelope Area 83 is public land: 417,691 of its 894,913 acres, the largest share BLM (351,066 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 83?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 102%: 296 active hunters took 302 antelope. In 2024 it was 86.6% (175 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does antelope season open in Antelope Area 83 in 2026?
The special archery season opens August 15. The earliest regular season row opens September 1 and the latest closes December 15, 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 83?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 4 limited quota hunts for antelope Area 83. The largest, Type 6, had 146 licenses and 383 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Antelope Area 83?
Thermopolis, Kirby and Lucerne are inside the hunt area. Just outside: East Thermopolis (on the line), Worland (8 miles) and Meeteetse (14 miles).
Is there wilderness in Antelope Area 83?
Yes. Washakie Wilderness (7,783 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), page 6.
- 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 Cody Region Area 76 Area 77 Area 84 Area 110 Area 114 Area 117