Unit 123 Black Thunder (Area 123)
Rolling sage-and-grass plains and creek bottoms southeast of Gillette in the heart of coal country
Powder River Basin (eastern) / Campbell County coal country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
627
sq mi
Public land
20%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–5,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 123 spans the open Campbell County plains southeast of Gillette, around the Black Thunder coal-mine country and the Belle Fourche and Little Powder drainages. It is gently rolling sagebrush and grassland cut by brushy creek bottoms, and it sits inside the nation's biggest coal district, so surface coal mining and oil-and-gas development shape the landscape and access. Pronghorn are the headline, with whitetails in the creek bottoms and mule deer in the draws; land is overwhelmingly private ranch with scattered public.
Terrain
Wide, gently rolling sagebrush and mixed-grass plains broken by low ridges, coulees and cottonwood/willow creek bottoms; active surface coal mines and energy fields dot the country.
Cover: Wyoming big sagebrush, silver sage and mixed-grass prairie; cottonwood, willow, buffaloberry and green ash in the draws and creek bottoms; scattered ponderosa on some ridges toward the east.
Landmarks: Belle Fourche River · Little Powder River · Black Thunder / North Antelope Rochelle coal-mine country · Rozet and the Moorcroft country to the east · rolling divides between the drainages
Access
Heavily private ranch and industrial (coal/energy) surface with only scattered BLM and state-trust sections; active mine and lease lands are closed to hunting. Not the southern-Wyoming checkerboard, but corner-crossing and land-status care are essential on the isolated public sections. Ranch permission and any Hunter Management Area / walk-in agreements are the practical path to good pronghorn ground.
Managers: private ranch, BLM, WY state trust, coal/energy company surface
Access points: US-16 and county roads southeast of Gillette (Rozet, Wright) · state-trust and BLM sections off the county grid · creek-bottom access via ranch permission
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant qualityThe marquee species. The eastern Powder River Basin plains carry strong pronghorn numbers across the sage and grassland, with good buck quality in favorable years. Regional herds have been below objective but improving.
- →Glass the rolling divides between the Belle Fourche and Little Powder drainages
- →Use the low ridges to spot-and-stalk across open ground
- →Watch reservoirs and stock tanks in the early, hot seasons
- →Hit accessible public and walk-in sections early before pressure builds
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails thrive in the brushy Belle Fourche and Little Powder bottoms, creek draws and around ranch shelterbelts and hayfields. Often the more numerous deer here, though largely on private land and with CWD present in the region.
- →Hunt the cottonwood and green-ash creek bottoms and field edges
- →Set up on trails between bedding brush and feed at dawn and dusk
- →Rattle and grunt during the November rut in the draws
- →Secure private permission along the drainages
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the coulees, sage ridges and rougher breaks away from the creek bottoms. Not a trophy destination, but mature bucks live in the less-disturbed draws. Regional herds near objective.
- →Glass the coulees and sage ridges at first and last light
- →Work the heads of draws for bedded bucks
- →Hunt the transition between plains and creek breaks
- →Focus on the least-accessible public and permission ground
Rocky Mountain Elk
transient opportunityPlains elk from the expanding Powder River Basin herds (e.g., the Fortification Creek country to the northwest) occasionally range into the unit's rougher breaks, but it is not a dependable elk area and cover is scarce.
- →Glass the roughest, most remote breaks for scattered groups
- →Chase up local reports of elk in the drainages
- →Be positioned at first light on the few brushy pockets
Pro tips
- →Whitetails in the creek bottoms are an underrated opportunity — target the Belle Fourche and Little Powder brush
- →Map public sections precisely; active mine and lease lands are closed and interspersed
- →Get ranch permission early for the best pronghorn flats
- →Glass from the rolling divides — you can cover big country from a single high point
- →Carry recovery gear and stay off the two-tracks after rain
Watch out for
- !Overwhelmingly private ranch and industrial land; limited scattered public
- !Active coal mines and energy sites are closed to hunting
- !Corner-crossing and trespass risk on isolated BLM/state sections
- !Gumbo roads impassable when wet; heavy industrial traffic
- !CWD present in regional deer
- !Early-fall fire danger on the grasslands
Logistics
Gillette is the full-service hub (fuel, lodging, outfitting, hospital) with Wright to the south and Moorcroft to the east providing basic services. Roads are gravel and dirt, sticky when wet; expect heavy coal-mine and energy truck traffic and active industrial areas that are off-limits. Cell coverage is decent near town and the highways, spotty in the backcountry.
Nearest towns: Gillette, Wright, Moorcroft
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Hunt Planner · WGFD 2025 Hunt Forecast (Sheridan region) · BLM Wyoming Public Room: Hunt Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 123 in Wyoming?
- Unit 123 (Black Thunder (Area 123)) covers about 627 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 5,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 123?
- Approximately 20% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, BLM, WY state trust, coal/energy company surface. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 123?
- Pronghorn, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
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