Quick Tips
- GOHUNT Maps are recommended to help navigate this area
- Certified “weed free” hay required on National Forest
- Bottle Creek, Lakeview and Encampment River are public campgrounds
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Elk | 280"-310" | 320"+ |
On The Ground
This area is made up of high plains desert and parts of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Hunters can find this unit in the south-central part of the state with a lot of BLM, state land and in some parts of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Good numbers of. elkare found in this unit along with a great distribution of public lands.
Hunters can expect moderate to rugged terrain with elk typically found in the National Forest. This area is small, but has a lot of huntable terrain and hard hunting can lead to success.
Terrain
This area goes from Wyoming Highways 70 and 230, south across high desert plains and into the National Forest and the Colorado state line. Terrain here is more gently contoured at lower elevations, but changes to steep and rugged in the Sierra Madre Mountains. Road access is good in this unit and hunters can struggle to find remote areas at times. Most of the roadless country here is located within the few wilderness areas located here and nonresident hunters will not be able to hunt these without a guide or resident companion.
Roughly 304 square miles
74% public land
Elevations from 7,100-10,300 feet
Wilderness
Under Wyoming law nonresidents are not permitted to hunt big game or trophy game in any federally designated wilderness areas without the presence of a licensed guide or resident companion. The resident companion must first get a free non-commercial guide license from a Game and Fish office. The law does not prohibit nonresidents from hiking, fishing or hunting game birds, small game, or coyotes in wilderness areas.
11.2% Wilderness
Vegetation
Timbered slopes with a lot of upland areas are dominated by sagebrush, grass and mountain shrubs. Timber stands consist of limber pine, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, subalpine fir and scattered pockets of aspen.
Access
There is a decent amount of public access in this unit with several well-maintained roads, a network of forest roads and smaller two track roads. Most of the roads here are in good shape, with a few passable only with four-wheel drive or ATVs. Packing in with horses or backpack hunting is possible, but day hunts are more common. This area is bordered by Wyoming Highway 70 on the north, Wyoming Highway 230 on the east, the Colorado state line on the south and the Continental Divide on the west. This unit also contains part of the Huston Park Wilderness Area and the Encampment River Wilderness Area.
Camping and Lodging
Saratoga and Encampment are the closest towns here, and have a lot of options for lodging. Groceries, gas stations and other stores can be found here as well. Camping is allowed on all public ground for up to 16 days in one location. Hunters can camp in remote locations.
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