Ed O. Taylor Wildlife Habitat Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Ed O. Taylor Wildlife Habitat Management Area is 10,211 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 33), deer (hunt area 163) and antelope (hunt area 21) 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.
BLMState trust landEd O. Taylor WHMAElk hunt area lineLakeHighway
| Size | 10,211 acres (WGFD) |
|---|---|
| WGFD region | Sheridan Region |
| County | Johnson |
| Access dates | Open 05/15-12/31 this area opens to all human presence at 8:00 am May 15th. |
| Seasonal closure | Closed Jan. 1 - May 14 |
| Big game listed | Elk, Deer and Antelope |
| Facilities | Parking |
| Nearest towns | Kaycee (18 mi) |
What are the rules on Ed O. Taylor WHMA?
Access: Open 05/15-12/31 this area opens to all human presence at 8:00 am May 15th.
Seasonal closure: Closed Jan. 1 - May 14.
Area regulations: 14 day camping limit. No camping of state land. 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 Ed O. Taylor WHMA?
WGFD lists the hunt area each big game species is hunted under here: elk in area 33; deer in area 163; antelope in area 21. 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 Ed O. Taylor WHMA?
WGFD reports harvest by hunt area, not by access area. The hunt areas that overlap Ed O. Taylor 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 33 | 10,211 | 120 (2025) | 29.9% |
| Deer Area 163 | 10,211 | 72 (2025) | |
| Antelope Area 21 | 10,211 | 213 (2025) | 58.7% |
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 Ed O. Taylor 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 |
|---|---|
| BLM | 3,885 |
| State trust land | 729 |
| Other land (WGFD-held, leased or private) | 5,597 |
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 (10,211 acres as drawn).
How do you get to Ed O. Taylor WHMA?
Highways within 8 miles: WY 190. Nearest towns: Kaycee (18 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is Ed O. Taylor WHMA open?
Open 05/15-12/31 this area opens to all human presence at 8:00 am May 15th. Seasonal closure, in WGFD's words: Closed Jan. 1 - May 14.
What can you hunt on Ed O. Taylor WHMA?
WGFD lists elk, deer and antelope 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 Ed O. Taylor WHMA?
14 day camping limit. No camping of state land. Weed free certified hay only.
Where is Ed O. Taylor WHMA?
About 18 miles from Kaycee, measured from the area's boundary.
Which hunt areas is Ed O. Taylor WHMA in?
By WGFD's boundaries it lies in elk Area 33, deer Area 163 and antelope Area 21. Each hunt area's season applies to the ground inside it.
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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 33 Deer Area 163 Antelope Area 21