Unit 111 Unit 111

Unit 111 carries the largest elk population in the 111-115 group, with strong five-year success (~64%). Good densities hold in the Duck Creek Basin and the upper Cooper Canyon/Cooper Wash area, with scattered elk from Cleve Creek to Muncy Creek and a growing herd around Becky Peak.

• →Hunt the Duck Creek Basin and upper Cooper Canyon/Cooper Wash, where densities are best.
• →During the rut, work the basins and Spring Valley edges where bulls gather with cows; the Becky Peak area also holds bulls.
• →After the rut, push into higher elevations and thick timber — the High Schell Wilderness holds a lot of bulls during the November rifle hunts.
• →Locate bugling bulls at dawn/dusk in the high aspen and conifer, then close with the wind.

Unit 111 supports the majority of the deer in the unit group and posts strong regional success (~54% over five years). The full elevation band of the northern Schell Creek Range gives deer summer range, migration cover and lower winter ground.

• →Glass the mahogany and timber edges on the Schell Creek slopes at first and last light.
• →Work the transition zones between sagebrush and timber during the migration windows.
• →Get off the roads into the canyons — mature bucks hold in security cover away from access.
• →Time later hunts to storms that move migratory deer down toward the valley benches.

Antelope work the open floor of Spring Valley and post high success (~79% five-year) on limited-draw tags. Bulls elk aside, this is a legitimate valley-bottom antelope hunt within the same unit.

• →Glass the open Spring Valley sagebrush from high vantage points early and late.
• →Key on water sources during warm early seasons.
• →Use swales and terrain folds to stalk within range across the open valley.
• →Cover ground to locate bands, then plan a foot approach on the best buck.