Unit 104 Lincoln (Area 104)
Overthrust-belt ridges and river valleys between Kemmerer, Cokeville and the Bear River divide
Overthrust Belt / Commissary Ridge · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
677
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
6,300–9,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 104 covers the country west of Kemmerer to the Idaho and Utah lines, running from US 30 and the Hams Fork up over Commissary Ridge and the Smiths Fork / Greys River divide down to the Bear River at Cokeville. It is classic overthrust-belt terrain: long timbered ridges and folded foothills split by ranch-lined river valleys. Elk hold in the Commissary Ridge and Tunp Range timber, mule deer work the sage-and-aspen transition, and Shiras moose use the willow bottoms, with a mix of Bridger-Teton NF, BLM and substantial private ranch ground.
Terrain
Parallel overthrust-belt ridges and forested divides (Commissary Ridge, Tunp Range) separated by broad sagebrush and hay-meadow valleys along the Hams Fork, Smiths Fork and Bear River.
Cover: Douglas-fir, lodgepole and aspen on the ridges; big sagebrush, mountain shrub and grass on the slopes; willow, cottonwood and irrigated meadow in the valleys.
Landmarks: Commissary Ridge · Tunp Range · Hams Fork River · Smiths Fork · Bear River · Sage Junction
Access
The timbered ridges (Commissary Ridge, upper Smiths Fork/Greys River divide) are largely Bridger-Teton NF and BLM with road access, but the river valleys along the Hams Fork, Smiths Fork and Bear River are heavily private ranch. Expect a public/private mosaic and some land-grant checkerboard near the US 30 and rail corridor; get permission or use a mapping app to stay legal, and mind corner-crossing.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Kemmerer RD), BLM, private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: Commissary Ridge Road (USFS) from the Hams Fork above Kemmerer · Smiths Fork road system from Cokeville · US 30 / WY 89 corridor via Sage Junction · BLM tracks off US 30
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk key on the timbered Commissary Ridge and Tunp Range and the upper Smiths Fork divide, sliding between dark timber and aspen-sage edges with pressure and weather.
- →Hunt the Commissary Ridge timber-sage transition at first and last light
- →Work the upper Smiths Fork and Greys River divide country on foot
- →Set up between bedding timber and lower feed as storms move elk down
- →Get behind the road-accessible fringe to find undisturbed animals
Mule Deer
common qualityOverthrust-belt mule deer use the sage-and-aspen benches and ridge breaks, with good bucks in the lightly pressured high country.
- →Glass aspen fingers and sage draws on the foothill benches
- →Hunt north-facing timber pockets holding bucks early
- →Cover ground with quality optics along the ridge systems
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose inhabit the willow bottoms of the Smiths Fork, Hams Fork and Bear River drainages in low, limited-quota numbers.
- →Still-hunt willow river bottoms at dawn and dusk
- →Check beaver ponds and riparian willow pockets
- →Glass slowly through thick cover along the creeks
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn use the sagebrush valleys and low benches along the Hams Fork, Bear River and US 30 corridor.
- →Spot-and-stalk the open sage valleys and benches
- →Glass from ridgelines down into the basins
- →Confirm public/private ownership in the valley checkerboard before stalking
Pro tips
- →Focus elk effort on the Commissary Ridge and Tunp Range timber, not the private valleys.
- →Run a land-ownership app — the public/private mosaic and checkerboard near US 30 is easy to trip over.
- →Line up ranch permission early if you want to hunt the productive river-bottom edges.
- →Hit the ridge roads before storms; wet clay strands trucks fast.
- →Glass the sage valleys for pronghorn while scouting elk on the ridges above.
Watch out for
- !Heavy private ranch ownership along the Hams Fork, Smiths Fork and Bear River valleys
- !Land-grant checkerboard and corner-crossing exposure near the US 30 / rail corridor
- !Slick clay ridge and two-track roads after rain or snow
- !Snow closing higher access in late season
Logistics
Kemmerer/Diamondville anchor the east side with fuel, lodging and groceries; Cokeville serves the west. Dispersed camping is available on Bridger-Teton NF and BLM ground along the ridges. Valley bottoms are ranch land, so camp on public ground and plan access ahead.
Nearest towns: Kemmerer, Diamondville, Cokeville, Sage, Frontier
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Chapter 7 Elk Hunting Seasons (Area 104 boundary) · WGFD Elk Hunt Planner · GOHUNT Wyoming Unit Profiles / Region H
FAQ
- How big is Unit 104 in Wyoming?
- Unit 104 (Lincoln (Area 104)) covers about 677 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,300 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 104?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Kemmerer RD), BLM, private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 104?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 104 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.