Wyoming State Flag

Area 3 - South Fork

Last Updated: Oct 30, 2024
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Quick Tips

  • Hunting conditions generally improve as the season progresses
  • Quality optics will be important for the hunt
  • Wilderness area present within the unit

On The Ground

This unit is found in northwestern Wyoming and lies on the southeastern border of Yellowstone National Park. Populations of wolves in this area fluctuate as wolves move in and out of YNP. During periods of snow, large herds of ungulates will be driven into lower elevations in large concentrations the likelihood of seeing wolves will increase. This area is conducive to long hours spent behind optics but timber will still grow densely in areas and hunters may need to still hunt through these. This unit does have some areas that are designated wilderness and nonresident hunters will want to watch for this.

Decent numbers of wolves can be found here at times and hunters can do well. This is large and, at times, very open country. Optics will be very important. Nonresident hunters will want to pay close attention to wilderness boundaries.

Terrain

Throughout most of the unit the terrain is rugged with deep canyons and high elevation mountain peaks. Most drainages are steep and rocky with heavily timbered north and east facing slopes. High elevation areas are largely above timberline and glassing opportunities will be plenty here.

  • Roughly 1,100 square miles

  • 78% public land

  • Elevations range from 5,000 - 11,600 feet

Upper elevations above timberline have rocky faces with grassy patches. Mid elevations are heavily timbered with subalpine fir, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, whitebark pine and limber pine slopes with some open grass-covered hillsides. Grasses in this area include wheatgrass species and other native cool season bunch grasses. Lower elevations have a mixture of rolling sagebrush hills, grasslands and pine pockets. Creek and river bottoms are covered in willows, shrubs, grasses, forbs, sedges and timber pockets.

This area is largely public land but a good deal of the unit is composed of designated wilderness and nonresident hunters will need to pay attention to this if not hunting with a guide or sponsoring resident. Overall, in this area if hunters can see it they can generally hunt it. Cross country travel can be a chore in most places but trails are available to help hunters access deep areas, though.

If you are hunting in this unit, Cody is really the only town nearby with accommodations and provisions that can be accessed year-round. You can base out of Cody and day hunt anywhere in this unit and be back at a reasonable hour. There are not any established campgrounds up the Southfork, but there are quite a few trailheads for horseback riding that you can camp at.

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