Due to the amount of public land leading up to the borders of the Badlands National Park offering hunters a chance at harvesting a deer that is older than the average bucks that are typically found in the surrounding areas, this unit is fairly popular. With very broken terrain making up the bulk of the unit, there is an endless amount of cuts and ridgebacks for these deer to live, and ample opportunities for hours of productive glassing.

Given that this unit wraps around the Badlands National Park, it is not out of the question for a hunter to have an opportunity to harvest an exceptional mule deer or whitetail buck that wanders off of the sanctuary that the park provides.

This unit is one of the more dramatic in the state with the Cheyenne River making up the eastern boundary and all that comes with a river of this size. What makes this unit so different from the others is the Badlands National Park and Wilderness that rises off of the prairie floor in a contorted mess of a landscape. The bare chalk dirt has very little vegetation that grows on it except for some sparse juniper trees that line the less steep areas of the landscape. There is very limited agriculture in this unit but what does exist in the northeast portion of the unit mixes with miles of broken prairie.

A mix of short and tall prairie grass, including Western wheatgrass which is the predominant grass, as well as countless species of wildflowers, can be found in most areas of the unit leading up to the higher elevation as you approach the Badlands National Park. Very sparse timber which is primarily a mix of Cottonwood, American Elm, Green Ash, and Bur Oak can be found along the riparian zones of the Cheyenne River, as well as other small creek beds scattered across the unit. As you get closer and into the National Park you can expect to see more juniper and sagebrush and different types of cactus, the yellow flowering prickly pear being the most common.

Shaped more like a triangle, Interstate 90 makes up the northeastern boundary and has small access roads all along that head south into the unit. Highway 240 heads south out of Wall until it hits the National Park where it turns back to the southeast staying inside the park boundary until it leaves the unit. There are limited roads leading off of Hwy 240 back into both public and private, but outside of specific circumstances this highway won’t offer much for actual access into areas to hunt. Other major routes are Hwy 44 running east and west just above the White River which is the southern boundary. There are a number of county roads heading in different directions off of Hwy 44, many located in Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Heading south out of Scenic, SD is the Bombing Range Road that will end up crossing a portion of the National Park, but for many miles you are in the National Grassland, with many different roads and two tracks that will allow access into some of the more remote areas of the unit.

Located in the northwest corner of the unit along Interstate 90 and State Hwy 14 is Wall, South Dakota, which is just across the northern boundary. This town has a population of just under a thousand people. It has a number of amenities you would not normally find in a town this small from drug stores and trading posts, as well as locally owned restaurants and a few fast food chains. You should be able to get anything you may need outside of any major sporting goods purchases. There are a number of lodging options from bigger chains to locally owned hotels -being that the railroad goes through this town, it is a good idea to call ahead and make reservations as any given night every room in town could be booked with rail workers. If you are looking for a place to camp there are very limited locations in the unit, however, there are a few established campgrounds in Wall. The town of Interior, located in the southeast corner of the unit, has groceries, hotels, and restaurants, along with the Badlands Hotel and Campground if you choose to base your hunt in the southern portion of the unit. Primitive camping is allowed in the National Forest but be sure to check current regulations before heading out.