This unit is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming between Meeteetse and Thermopolis, west of State Highway 120. This unit is like most of Wyoming, with a mix of National Forest, state land, BLM and private. This unit is approximately 70 miles long and 30 miles wide, but you really only need to focus on the northwest portion. Yes, there have been bears spotted outside of this portion of the unit, but they are usually the younger bears wandering because they got pushed out or are looking for food. There are grizzlies in this unit, so make sure you know for sure if the bear you are looking at is a black bear.

Because of the annual average black bear harvest, you could consider this a “sleeper” unit for Wyoming.

Like most of Wyoming, this unit has a little of everything to offer. Ranch and farmlands along the rivers, oil fields and prairies in the lower elevations, and steep, rugged mountains. Most of the mountains are in the northern portion of this unit. The further south you travel towards Thermopolis, the more you will run into rolling prairies. The terrain between Highway 120 and the mountains is a little different than most of the prairies in Wyoming; they are not the traditional flat prairies, as they roll more like the foothills of a mountain range. The mountains in this unit have steep, timber-covered ridges. Once above timberline, the mountains are wide open with grass covered prairies, unlike traditional alpine country.

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.

Like most units in Wyoming, you are going to find ranch and farmland along the river bottoms, oil fields and sage brush prairies in the lower elevations away from the rivers, and timber covered mountains. The Absaroka Range, however, is a little different. Once you get above timberline, you will find yourself in large grass-covered or vertical rocky mountain tops. The majority of the trees here are lodgepole pines.

Access to the public land in this unit is great. Leaving Meeteetse west on 290, you can take the Wood River Road, Timber Creek Road or the Greybull River Road to gain access to the northern portion of the National Forest. If you travel south of Meeteetse and take the Grass Creek Road, this will get you to the southern portion of the National Forest. There is a small amount of Wilderness Area for nonresidents to be concerned about, but there is plenty of good black bear hunting outside of that area. This unit would be a backcountry hunter’s dream.

If you are going to hunt in this unit, pack the food and supplies you need for your hunt and set up camp on the National Forest or on a section of BLM. The closest town to where you will be hunting is Meeteetse, and the only thing Meeteetse has to offer is a gas station. The closest towns with hotels, grocery stores and sporting goods stores are Cody and Thermopolis. There are 3 established campgrounds in this unit; one at the very end of the Greybull River Road and two at the end of the Wood River Road.