Pennock Mountain

Additional Information: This 9860-acre wildlife habitat management area is five miles northeast of Saratoga in the foothills below Pennock Mountain. The land is managed through a 1962 cooperative agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. Prior to the establishment of this wildlife reserve, elk were being pushed off the forest by heavy mountain snows and were causing considerable damage to stored crops belonging to a private landowner. In addition, these lands are crucial winter range for deer and pronghorn antelope. Most of the vegetation found here are sagebrush grasslands with antelope bitterbrush. There are some aspen and cottonwood trees along the riparian areas, with black chokecherry and serviceberry shrubs found on the coarse upland range sites. There are also 200 acres of irrigated meadows on the area. Two small creeks, Goetz and Lake creeks, flow through the northern half. Vehicular access is prohibited from November 15 to April 30 each year to reduce disturbance to wintering wildlife. There are hunting opportunities for elk, mule deer, antelope, sage grouse, blue grouse, and rabbits. The 33 miles of roads and trails make most of the area accessible and also provide access to adjoining U.S. Forest Service lands to the east. There are numerous birds and small mammals to watch or photograph.