Wildlife Habitat Management Areas (WHMAs) in the Sheridan Region remain closed to human presence to protect wintering big game from disturbance, but will begin opening in mid-May. Access to these areas for any reason is prohibited until the opening days and times. Anyone found violating the closures may be cited.
The Game and Fish Department manages six WHMAs along the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains and the eastern portion of the Sheridan Region – Ed O. Taylor and Ellis near Kaycee, Bud Love outside of Buffalo, Amsden Creek outside of Dayton, Kerns near the Montana state line and Sand Creek near Sundance. These areas were acquired by the Game and Fish Commission to provide habitat for wintering big game, public access, recreation and other wildlife.
The Ed O. Taylor, Amsden Creek, and Bud Love WHMAs are scheduled to open at 8 a.m. on May 15.
The Kerns WHMA is scheduled to open at 8 a.m. on June 1.
The Sand Creek WHMA is open year round.
The opening date for Ellis WHMA has been changed. It will open at 8 a.m. on June 1. In previous years, it opened on May 15, but its high elevation location and lingering snow conditions in the spring necessitate a later opening date. June 1 will be the standard opening date for Ellis WHMA for the foreseeable future.
When the areas open, all motorized vehicles, including e-bikes, must stay on established and marked roads, and there may be temporary road closures on the WHMAs to prevent resource damage if snow or rain create muddy conditions.
Recreationists are asked to give plenty of distance to and avoid stressing any big game animals they may encounter.
Please note: Lands enrolled in the Department’s Walk-In and Hunter Management Area programs are always closed to shed antler hunting. These areas are privately-owned lands enrolled by the landowner specifically for hunting or fishing of designated species during designated times of the year. They are never open for hiking, biking, shed antler hunting, horseback riding or other recreation without the explicit permission of the landowner.
WHMAs in other areas of the state have varying opening dates and times. Please check the Game and Fish website for current information on opening dates.
Additionally, some U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands may have seasonal closures in place. More information on these lands can be found online or by calling local USFS or BLM offices.
