At a Glance
Quick Tips
- Cell phone service is spotty throughout the unit
- Bad weather in the later seasons
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | Dummy | Dummy |
| Whitetail Deer | Dummy | Dummy |


Area 26 in Ucross, Wyoming, is noted for its challenging terrain and variable game behavior, with hunters emphasizing the importance of preparation and understanding the landscape. Draw odds can be competitive, highlighting the need for strategic planning and perhaps collaboration with other hunters to enhance success rates. Seasonality plays a crucial role, as game movements and availability can shift dramatically, so it's advised to be well-informed about local patterns. Overall, hunters have found that adapting to the area's unique conditions and staying patient significantly improves the odds of a fruitful experience.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | Dummy | Dummy |
| Whitetail Deer | Dummy | Dummy |
Located in North Central Wyoming south of the Montana State Border, north of Highway 193, East of the BigHorn National Forest Boundary, and west of I-90. The terrain allows for hunters to glass a lot of area from high vantage points.
Mature whitetails can typically be seen near the creek bottoms and irrigated crops, but mule deer like the open grassland, around hills or creeks.
Piney and Clear Creek drain snowmelt off of the Bighorn Mountains and connect with the Powder River. Lake DeSmet can be found off of Interstate 90, north of Buffalo. Hiking through or around open grasslands, hills, draws and creeks bottoms is common here.
Public land can be tough to access here, but the state offers roughly 4,000 acres of walk in access. Snow or rain can make county and secondary roads hard to get through, four-wheel drive is recommended here.
Most of the land here is taken up by rolling grasslands that support buffalo, blue grama and sagebrush. Creeks are lined with willows and cottonwoods, with croplands irrigated by center pivots.
There are no designated or improved campgrounds on state or BLM land. Buffalo and Sheridan have RV campgrounds, motels, restaurants and other accommodations.
Roughly 842 square miles
26% public land
Elevations from 3,690-5,000 feet