Known as an area with success on harvesting mature bull elk, this area has grown in popularity in recent years. Wilderness areas are found within the unit, so all nonresident hunters should plan to hire an outfitter or hunt with a Wyoming resident if planning to hunt within the wilderness areas. Rugged terrain where grizzly bear encounters are a possibility.

Area 63 typically offers a very good opportunity to hunt and harvest a good mature bull. Grizzly bear encounters are a very real possibility.

The terrain varies from deep narrow valleys to mountain peaks. The valleys have been deeply eroded into the volcanic ridges leaving behind irregular step like buttes and cliffs. Upper elevations are comprised of meadows, heavily timbered pine pockets and open rocky faces. Mid elevations are timbered pine pockets and open grassy faces. Moving to the east the land ownerships of this unit transitions into BLM and privately owned parcels. These areas are rolling sagebrush, juniper woodland and sagebrush.

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.

Primary access into the USFS and wilderness section of the unit is through the Grass Creek Road which can be accessed off of State Route 120. Another option is to take the Pitchfork Road out of Meeteetse then turning onto the Wood River Road. Once onto National Forest land, Area 63 can then be accessed by hiking or taking horses into the unit to the south. The area has one Hunter Management Area, the Absorka Front. Fish and game regulations should be reviewed for details on hunting that area.

The river and streams provide riparian habitat with a diversity of willows, cottonwoods, shrubs, grasses and forbs. Moving up in elevation vegetation transitions into grassy open hillsides and faces mixed with dark heavy timber pockets. Typical trees species include lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, Douglas fir, whitebark pine, and limber pine. A variety of native grasses, forbs, and sagebrush exist throughout mid elevations. Moving to higher elevations there are wet meadow grasses, forbs and sedges. The eastern portions of the unit has rolling grassland and sagebrush flats and hills with some juniper woodland pockets.

The Pitchfork and then Wood River Road run to the west out of Meeteetse WY. Meeteetse is a rural town with relatively few amenities. The Wea Market on State Street is your typical convenience store stop offering gas and some groceries. The Elk Horn Bar and Grill and the Outlaw Café offer drinks and dining. Lodging is available at the Oasis Motel. The nearest sporting goods stores is an hour’s drive north from Meeteetse, in Cody. Horseback and backpack style hunting is common. Day hunting from main road access points are another option, but will limit the amount of country you can cover. Camping is allowed on most public lands.