Bighorn Sheep Hunt Area 26, Bennett Mountain: harvest, seasons and public land
Bighorn Sheep Hunt Area 26 (Bennett Mountain) covers 252 square miles in WGFD's Laramie Region and is 54.1% public land, most of it BLM (77,230 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 5 active hunters took 5 bighorn sheep here, 100% success. The 2026 season table lists 3 license rows here.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WGFD reports for 2021 to 2025. Seasons: WGFD Commission Chapter 9, final April 2026. Land: PAD-US 4.1 and the Office of State Lands, read 2026-10-18.
BLMState trust landBureau of ReclamationNational wildlife refugeOther public (state parks, military)Area 26Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Laramie Region |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Ferris-Seminoe (615) |
| Size | 252 square miles (160,999 acres) |
| Public land | 54.1% (87,152 acres) |
| Harvest, 2025 | 5 (100% of 5 active hunters) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 1, Type 2, Type 6 |
| Special archery opens | August 15 |
| Towns in and near it | Hanna and Medicine Bow |
How much public land is in Bighorn Sheep Area 26?
54.1% of bighorn sheep Area 26 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 87,152 of 160,999 acres. The largest share is BLM, 77,230 acres or 48% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 26 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 77,230 | 48% |
| Other public (state parks, military) | 11,669 | 7.2% |
| State trust land | 8,161 | 5.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 1,761 | 1.1% |
| National wildlife refuge | 39 | under 0.1% |
State trust land by access: the Office of State Lands and Investments' own parcel layer has 8,169 acres here (a few parcels overlap federal land in the source maps, so this can differ a little from the table). 4,665 acres next to other public land, 2,470 acres no known public access and 1,034 acres road access or reached from other state land. State trust land is open to hunting where it can be reached legally, but not to camping or open fires.
WGFD access areas in Bighorn Sheep Area 26
Hunter Management Area: Hanna Draw (26 acres here).
Measured by FilledTag inside WGFD's hunt area boundary (WGFD bighorn sheep 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 bighorn sheep are harvested in Bighorn sheep Area 26?
WGFD estimates 5 bighorn sheep were taken in bighorn sheep Area 26 in 2025: 2 rams, 3 ewes and 0 lambs. 5 hunters hunted, and 100% of them took an animal.
| Year | Licenses | Active hunters | Harvest | Rams | Ewes | Lambs | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 100% | 14 | 2.8 |
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 100% | 43 | 10.8 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 100% | 14 | 2.8 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 36 | 18.0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 18 | 6.0 |
Source: WGFD 2025 bighorn sheep harvest report, page 8 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.
When is bighorn sheep season in Bighorn Sheep Area 26 in 2026?
No general license season; every license here is limited quota. Special archery seasons open August 15. Every row WGFD prints for Area 26:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Aug 15 to Aug 31 | Sep 1 to Nov 15 | 2 | Any ram |
| Type 2 | Aug 15 to Aug 31 | Sep 1 to Nov 15 | 2 | Any ram less than three- quarter (3/4) curl |
| Type 6 | Aug 15 to Aug 31 | Sep 15 to Nov 15 | 5 | Ewe or lamb |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 9 (final, April 2026), page 2. WGFD can change a season by emergency rule: check WGFD's regulations page before you go.
How do you get to Bighorn Sheep Area 26?
No numbered highway crosses the area. Nearby: Hanna (9 miles) and Medicine Bow (18 miles).
Which bighorn sheep hunt areas border Area 26?
Bighorn sheep Area 26 touches 1 other bighorn sheep hunt area. Its size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 17 | Ferris-Seminoe | 1,244 | 65.5% | 52 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Bighorn Sheep Area 26?
54.1% of bighorn sheep Area 26 is public land: 87,152 of its 160,999 acres, the largest share BLM (77,230 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 Bighorn Sheep Area 26?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 100%: 5 active hunters took 5 bighorn sheep. In 2024 it was 100% (4 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does bighorn sheep season open in Bighorn Sheep Area 26 in 2026?
The special archery season opens August 15. The earliest regular season row opens September 1 and the latest closes November 15, by WGFD Commission Chapter 9. Each license type has its own dates and limitations, listed on this page.
What is the closest town to Bighorn Sheep Area 26?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Hanna (9 miles) and Medicine Bow (18 miles).
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, hunters and days: WGFD bighorn sheep harvest reports, 2021 to 2025, listed here.
- Seasons, quotas and limitations: WGFD Commission Chapter 9 (final, April 2026), page 2.
- Licenses: WGFD issues bighorn sheep licenses by drawing; its demand reports are on WGFD's draw results page.
- Hunt area boundary: WGFD bighorn sheep 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 Bighorn sheep hunt areas Laramie Region Area 17