- Some designated wilderness and potential for grizzly bear encounters
- Glassing is your best bet to locate sheep, bring good glass and put it to use
- Rugged backcountry hunt, physically demanding
Species | General Size | Trophy Potential |
---|
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | 160"-170" | 175"+ |
Area 2 is located just east of Yellowstone National Park and is considered among the best sheep units in the state for quality and opportunity. This is a great hunt for a mature sheep.
The terrain in this area is rough and rugged. Sheep hunters should expect to hunt by horseback or backpack in order to find rams. Hunters should expect a good hunt with the potential for a great ram. There is some designated wilderness and potential for grizzly bear encounters.
Terrain is rugged with deep canyons and high elevation mountain peaks. Steep rocky drainages with heavily timbered north slopes with a few open grassy ridges and slopes.
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.
River and streams provide riparian habitat made up of willows, cottonwoods, shrubs, grasses and forbs. The lower to mid elevations are covered with grass and sagebrush. Northeastern slope are heavily timbered with lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, Douglas fir, whitebark pine and limber pine. Higher elevations have wet meadow grasses, forbs and sedges. Above timberline the landscape is rocky with grassy pockets.
Primary access into the southern portions of the unit are from roads coming off of Highway 14 running between Cody and Yellowstone National Park. The Rattlesnake Creek Road, Trout Creek Road, Logan Peak Road and Jim Mountain Road can get you into the lower country and serve as a jump off points into the backcountry. The best option for a DIY nonresident is to hunt the non-wilderness portion just northwest of Cody off of the Logan Mountain Road and Trout Peak. A good map and GPS with land ownership and hunt boundaries overlaid is recommended.
Cody is located near the the area and has several hotels, campgrounds, gas stations, markets, restaurants, bars and a sporting goods store. Hunter Peak Ranch located near the middle of the unit offers lodging and dining. Hunter Creek, Lake Creek, Crazy Creek and Fox Creek Campgrounds offer developed campsites for camping. Camping is also allowed on public lands. Most backcountry guided hunts will be conducted out of wilderness spike camps.
Roughly 786 square miles
85% public land
Elevations from 4,500-11,900 feet
ATV not required
No motorized access within the wilderness area
Good existing pack trails located in most drainage bottoms