Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Area is 7,888 acres in WGFD's Sheridan Region, Johnson County. Wildlife Habitat Management Areas are lands WGFD manages for wildlife habitat and public hunting and fishing access. WGFD lists elk (hunt area 36), deer (hunt area 27), antelope (hunt area 102) and moose (hunt area 34) for big game hunting here.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: WGFD's WHMA data, updated 10/12/2026. Boundary: WGFD GIS. Harvest: WGFD reports to 2025.
National forestBLMState trust landBud Love WHMAElk hunt area lineLakeHighway
| Size | 7,888 acres (WGFD) |
|---|---|
| WGFD region | Sheridan Region |
| County | Johnson |
| Access dates | This area opens to all human presence at 8:00 am May 15th. |
| Seasonal closure | Jan. 1 - May 14 |
| Big game listed | Elk, Deer, Antelope and Moose |
| Facilities | Parking, Comfort Station |
| Nearest towns | Buffalo (7 mi), Story (9 mi) and Big Horn (17 mi) |
What are the rules on Bud Love WHMA?
Access: This area opens to all human presence at 8:00 am May 15th.
Exceptions: The Bud Love WHMA shall be closed to the use of any snare or quick-kill body grip trap with a jaw spread exceeding five (5) inches during any open pheasant hunting season.
Seasonal closure: Jan. 1 - May 14.
Area regulations: 14 day camping limit. No camping outside of designated camping area. Weed free certified hay only.
WGFD lists these uses: Fishing, Hunting, Camping, Hiking, Trapping.
In WGFD's words, from its WHMA data. WGFD's posted signs and its Chapter 23 rules for Commission lands are the final word.
What can you hunt on Bud Love WHMA?
WGFD lists the hunt area each big game species is hunted under here: elk in area 36; deer in area 27; antelope in area 102; moose in area 34. Also listed: waterfowl, pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, sandhill crane, doves, partridge, turkey, rabbit, mountain lion, black bear and mountain grouse.
What did hunters take in the hunt areas around Bud Love WHMA?
WGFD reports harvest by hunt area, not by access area. The hunt areas that overlap Bud Love WHMA, with the acres of the WHMA in each and WGFD's latest harvest for the whole hunt area:
| Hunt area | WHMA acres in it | Harvest, whole area | Hunter success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Area 36 | 7,888 | 145 (2025) | 17.7% |
| Deer Area 27 | 7,828 | 595 (2025) | |
| Deer Area 28 | 60 | 91 (2025) | |
| Antelope Area 102 | 7,888 | 251 (2025) | 74.3% |
| Moose Area 34 | 7,888 | 4 (2025) | 100% |
Harvest: WGFD harvest reports, latest year each area was reported (WGFD harvest reports). Acres measured by FilledTag from WGFD's boundaries.
What land is around Bud Love WHMA?
Inside the WHMA boundary, by manager (WGFD's own holdings and leases are not in the federal and state layers, so they show as unlisted land):
| Manager | Acres inside |
|---|---|
| State trust land | 7,764 |
| National forest | 9 |
| Other land (WGFD-held, leased or private) | 115 |
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (federal land) and the Office of State Lands and Investments (state trust land) inside WGFD's boundary (7,888 acres as drawn).
How do you get to Bud Love WHMA?
Highways within 8 miles: US 87, I-90, US 16, I-25 and WY 196. Nearest towns: Buffalo (7 miles), Story (9 miles), Big Horn (17 miles) and Powder Horn (17 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is Bud Love WHMA open?
This area opens to all human presence at 8:00 am May 15th. Seasonal closure, in WGFD's words: Jan. 1 - May 14.
What can you hunt on Bud Love WHMA?
WGFD lists elk, deer, antelope and moose for big game, and waterfowl, pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, sandhill crane, doves, partridge, turkey, rabbit, mountain lion, black bear and mountain grouse. Each species follows the season of the hunt area the ground is in.
What are the rules on Bud Love WHMA?
14 day camping limit. No camping outside of designated camping area. Weed free certified hay only.
Where is Bud Love WHMA?
About 7 miles from Buffalo, and 9 miles from Story, measured from the area's boundary.
Which hunt areas is Bud Love WHMA in?
By WGFD's boundaries it lies in elk Area 36, deer Areas 27 and 28 and antelope Area 102. Each hunt area's season applies to the ground inside it.
Get notified about FilledTag in Wyoming
Leave your email and we will let you know when FilledTag adds something new for Wyoming hunters.
The free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Wyoming included.
Where these numbers come from
- Area facts, access dates, rules and species: WGFD Wildlife Habitat Management Area details.
- Boundary: WGFD Wildlife Habitat Management Area boundaries. Surrounding land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (federal land) and the Office of State Lands and Investments (state trust land).
- Hunt area harvest: WGFD harvest reports, 2021 to 2025.
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 Sheridan Region Elk Area 36 Deer Area 27 Deer Area 28 Antelope Area 102 Moose Area 34