Quick Tips
- Bring fishing gear to fish the Wind River
- Certified “weed free” hay required on National Forest
- Nonresidents must hunt with a guide in wilderness areas
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Elk | 270"-300" | 310"+ |
On The Ground
This unit is made up of the scenic mountains in the Shoshone National Forest, in the west-central part of the state. This is a steep and rugged unit, but elk can be found all over. This unit is mostly made up of wilderness, so the DIY nonresident hunters will want to keep that in mind. I wouldn't expect to have many grizzly encounters in this unit, but they are spreading, so having that in the back of you mind wouldn't hurt.
This is a large area with a lot of country to hunt and is a good place for hunters to take some good bulls. Hunters should consider bringing horses with them on this hunt.
Terrain
This unit reaches from the foothills along the Wind River Indian Reservation and the valley floor along U.S. Highway 26/287. South and west across a portion of the Wind River Mountain Range are some of the tallest peaks in the state. Terrain is more gently contoured at lower elevations, but becomes steep and rugged in higher elevations, with timberline at about 10,000 feet.
Roughly 332 square miles
94% public land
Elevations from 6,500–13,800 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.
88.9% Wilderness
Vegetation
Low and middle elevations have grassy and sage-covered meadows mixed with Douglas fir and aspen. Higher up near timberline, the country has thick spruce fir forest and some whitebark pine with a lot of grassy slopes, meadows and alpine basins.
Access
Public access here is limited, and horses are beneficial. A few roads come into or close to the unit from the northeast. Several trails go through the unit, but most country doesn’t have a lot of trails. Expect long hikes or horseback rides. This area is bordered by the Continental Divide and the Jakey’s Fork Creek on the west. U.S. Highway 26/287 can be found on the north, and the Wind River Indian Reservation is on the east. This unit has a lot of public land and the majority of it is in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area, within the Wind River Mountain Range. Some popular trailheads within this unit are Glacier Trail, Ross Lake and Jakey's Fork.
Camping and Lodging
Dubois is the closest town and has a lot of options for lodging. Grocery stores, gas stations and other stores are available 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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