Kerns Wildlife Habitat Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Kerns Wildlife Habitat Management Area is 4,943 acres in WGFD's Sheridan Region, Sheridan County. Wildlife Habitat Management Areas are lands WGFD manages for wildlife habitat and public hunting and fishing access. WGFD lists elk (hunt area 38), deer (hunt area 24), antelope (hunt area 109) and moose (hunt area 1) 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 landKerns WHMAElk hunt area lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,943 acres (WGFD) |
|---|---|
| WGFD region | Sheridan Region |
| County | Sheridan |
| Access dates | This area opens to all human presence at 8:00 am June 1. |
| Seasonal closure | Nov. 16 - May 31 |
| Big game listed | Elk, Deer, Antelope and Moose |
| Facilities | Parking, Comfort Station, Horse Corrals |
| Nearest towns | Parkman (10 mi), Dayton (14 mi) and Ranchester (17 mi) |
What are the rules on Kerns WHMA?
Access: This area opens to all human presence at 8:00 am June 1.
Exceptions: Closed to vehicles Nov. 1 - May 31.
Seasonal closure: Nov. 16 - May 31.
Area regulations: 14 day camping limit. No camping or parking on TR Bench between gravel pit and 2.5 miles up access road.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 Kerns WHMA?
WGFD lists the hunt area each big game species is hunted under here: elk in area 38; deer in area 24; antelope in area 109; moose in area 1. 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 Kerns WHMA?
WGFD reports harvest by hunt area, not by access area. The hunt areas that overlap Kerns 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 38 | 4,943 | 407 (2025) | 36.2% |
| Deer Area 24 | 4,941 | 1,680 (2025) | |
| Antelope Area 109 | 4,941 | 145 (2025) | 51.8% |
| Moose Area 1 | 4,943 | 15 (2025) | 83.3% |
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 Kerns 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 |
|---|---|
| National forest | 3 |
| Other land (WGFD-held, leased or private) | 4,940 |
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 (4,943 acres as drawn).
How do you get to Kerns WHMA?
Nearest towns: Parkman (10 miles), Dayton (14 miles), Ranchester (17 miles) and Sheridan (29 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is Kerns WHMA open?
This area opens to all human presence at 8:00 am June 1. Seasonal closure, in WGFD's words: Nov. 16 - May 31.
What can you hunt on Kerns 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 Kerns WHMA?
14 day camping limit. No camping or parking on TR Bench between gravel pit and 2.5 miles up access road.Weed free certified hay only.
Where is Kerns WHMA?
About 10 miles from Parkman, and 14 miles from Dayton, measured from the area's boundary.
Which hunt areas is Kerns WHMA in?
By WGFD's boundaries it lies in elk Area 38, deer Area 24 and antelope Area 109. 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 38 Deer Area 24 Antelope Area 109 Moose Area 1