Unit 15 Spring Creek (Area 15)
Big, broken Spring Creek country from the North Platte to the Sierra Madre crest
Sierra Madre · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
504
sq mi
Public land
62%
approx.
Elevation
6,600–11,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 15 is a large 500-square-mile unit reaching from Sage Creek and the North Platte River south and west across high desert plains into the timbered Sierra Madre Range. The heavily forested, mountainous southwest corner holds elk, while the rest is open and broken country. Part of the Sierra Madre elk herd with stable numbers and a good distribution of public land, but the sheer size means you must be ready to cover ground.
Terrain
Open, gently contoured sage and broken breaks at lower elevations rising to steep, rugged, heavily timbered mountains in the southwest corner of the unit.
Cover: Sagebrush, grass and mountain shrub across the open lower country; lodgepole, limber and ponderosa pine, subalpine fir and aspen in the mountainous southwest.
Landmarks: Spring Creek · Sage Creek · North Platte River · Sierra Madre Range · Bridger Peak
Access
Good overall distribution of public land, but it is a mix: contiguous national forest in the timbered southwest versus a BLM/state/private mosaic across the open eastern and northern country where the southern Wyoming land-grant checkerboard shows up. Confirm section boundaries before hunting the flats, and be mindful of corner-crossing where alternating public/private sections meet. Some access runs through or past private ranch ground.
Managers: USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: Bottle Creek Campground · Jack Creek Campground · North Platte River corridor · Forest and BLM two-track roads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPrimary quarry and part of the Sierra Madre herd with stable populations. Elk are usually found in the national forest timber of the southwestern high country; the open eastern country holds few until weather pushes animals around.
- →Focus effort on the timbered southwest corner
- →Glass big open faces and timber edges at dawn and dusk
- →Be prepared to hike and cover country, elk are scattered across a large unit
- →Follow animals to lower broken country as snow builds
Mule Deer
common opportunityPresent through the sage breaks, shrub transition and forest edges, a reliable secondary opportunity across much of the unit.
- →Glass broken sage and draws in the open country
- →Work aspen and mountain-shrub pockets near the timber
- →Hunt the transition between forest and sage at first light
Pronghorn
common opportunityOccupy the open, broken high-desert plains that make up much of the unit outside the mountains, typical of Carbon County pronghorn country.
- →Glass the open flats and rolling sage from high points
- →Use terrain to close the distance for a stalk
- →Verify public/private section status before setting up in the checkerboard
Pro tips
- →Commit to the timbered southwest corner if elk are your target
- →Cover ground, the unit is large and animals are scattered
- →Pack quality optics for glassing both open breaks and timber edges
- →Use the North Platte and Sage Creek drainages as navigation anchors
- →Check land status carefully before hunting the open checkerboard country
Watch out for
- !Southern Wyoming land-grant checkerboard across the open eastern/northern country, corner-crossing exposure
- !Private ranch parcels and access easements on the plains
- !The unit's sheer size, plan logistics and don't underestimate travel time
- !Fast-changing mountain weather and early snow at elevation
- !Few elk in the open country until weather moves them
Logistics
Saratoga, Encampment and Riverside offer fuel, lodging and supplies and sit close to the North Platte corridor. National forest campgrounds (Bottle Creek, Jack Creek) anchor the timbered end. Certified weed-free hay is required on national forest land. Budget time and fuel, this is a big unit with a lot of country between the plains and the peaks.
Nearest towns: Saratoga, Encampment, Riverside
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Elk Hunting Guide · GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 15 - Spring Creek · Carbon County, Wyoming Hunting
FAQ
- How big is Unit 15 in Wyoming?
- Unit 15 (Spring Creek (Area 15)) covers about 504 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,600 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 15?
- Approximately 62% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, BLM, WY state trust, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 15?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 15 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.