Area 34 is located along the southeast portion of the Bighorn Mountains. Drawing a permit here can be difficult, but this is a great hunt for big bulls, with high success rates.

This huge unit offers a month-long rifle hunt and few permits, giving hunters the opportunity to take a bull with a spread over 40”. This area has rough to moderate terrain with lots of public land to hunt.

The Bighorn Mountains form a northwest trending arc into Montana. Upper elevations within the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area are made up of rugged rocky mountain peaks with some pine pockets and high mountain grassy meadows. At lower elevations, ridges and valleys are comprised of heavy timber and grassy meadows. Several high mountain lakes can be found within the unit. Lowers elevations located to the east toward Buffalo, Wyoming are broken canyon country with rolling sagebrush steppe and grasslands found near the valley.

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.

Highway 16 runs through the unit and provides good access. Several USFS roads branching from Highway 16 allow access into various parts of the unit. Hunters can access a lot of country in this area. A good map and GPS unit with land ownership and hunting unit boundaries overlaid are recommended.

Several major creeks and rivers flow within the boundaries of Unit 34. The river and streams in this area allow for riparian habitat with a diversity of willows, cottonwoods, shrubs, grasses and forbs. Typical tree species that can be found here include lodgepole pine, Douglas fir and subalpine fir. High elevation wet meadow grasses, forbs, sedges and willows can also be seen here. A variety of grasses, forbs and some sagebrush are found throughout mid elevations.

Buffalo located on the northeastern boundary of the unit, has food, gas, and lodging. The Sports Lure, located downtown, is a great sporting goods/hunting equipment shop. Check out the Occidental Saloon for great sit down meals and drinks. Several campgrounds are located just off of Highway 16, including the South Fork and Tie Hack campgrounds that are centrally located in the unit. Camping is allowed on public lands.