Unit 2 Fortification (Area 2)
Introduced Yellowstone elk hiding in the juniper breaks of Campbell County high desert
Powder River Basin · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
393
sq mi
Public land
33%
approx.
Elevation
3,600–4,900
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 2 covers the Fortification Creek country of the Powder River Basin in Campbell County, roughly bounded by the Powder River on the west and Interstate 90 to the south. It is dry, broken high-desert breaks centered on the Fortification Creek elk herd, which was re-established in the early 1950s when WGFD and BLM transplanted elk from Yellowstone after the native herd was wiped out. Elk are scattered and hold in rugged juniper-choked drainages, and the same country carries strong Powder River Basin pronghorn and scattered mule deer, with whitetails along the river bottoms.
Terrain
Steeply dissected, gullied breaks of narrow ridges, rocky slopes and numerous drainages cutting through rolling high-desert flats.
Cover: Sagebrush and native grasses on open slopes and flats, with moderate to heavy juniper in the larger draws and scattered conifer and mountain shrub in the roughest breaks.
Landmarks: Fortification Creek · Fortification Creek Wilderness Study Area · Powder River · Interstate 90 corridor
Access
About a third public. County and BLM roads reach much of the unit and there are large tracts of roadless public land, but the Fortification Creek WSA core has no direct legal public access and is surrounded by private ranch that controls entry. This is not the classic southern-Wyoming Union Pacific checkerboard, but scattered private inholdings and blocked-in public parcels are common, so map ownership carefully before committing to a route.
Managers: BLM, private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: County Road 38 / 293 / 29 (northeast boundary) · Interstate 90 exits south of the unit · BLM two-tracks off the Powder River road
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe Fortification Creek herd occupies roughly 99% crucial yearlong elk range in the WSA; animals are scattered and heavily pressured, and big mature bulls are genuinely hard to find in this open, huntable country.
- →Glass the juniper heads and shaded north slopes of the deeper drainages at first and last light
- →Hunt the roadless public blocks where pressure pushes bulls off the county roads
- →Use early-season timing before elk drift onto inaccessible private, or wait for a snow event to concentrate animals
Pronghorn
abundant qualityClassic Powder River Basin antelope country with high densities across the sage flats between the breaks; a strong bet for a spot-and-stalk buck on the accessible public.
- →Glass sage benches and flats from high ridges in the cool of the morning
- →Focus on water sources and reservoirs in dry years
- →Walk into roadless BLM parcels to escape road pressure
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer hold in the juniper draws and rougher breaks; numbers are moderate and bucks are opportunity-class rather than trophy.
- →Still-hunt juniper pockets and shaded coulees mid-day
- →Glass draw edges at dawn as deer move between feed and bedding cover
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails use the Powder River bottom and brushy riparian corridors on the western edge, mostly on private ground.
- →Secure permission on river-bottom ranches
- →Hunt cottonwood and willow edges morning and evening
Pro tips
- →Big bulls are rare here, so set expectations toward opportunity and meat rather than a giant
- →Learn the exact public-private lines before the hunt; large roadless BLM blocks hold the least-pressured game
- →Watch the weather radar as closely as the animals, since a rain event can shut down every road in the unit
- →Carry extra water and treat rattlesnakes as a real hazard in warm early seasons
Watch out for
- !Fortification Creek WSA core has no direct public access and is ringed by private ranch
- !Scattered private inholdings can block otherwise-public parcels
- !Gumbo roads become impassable when wet
- !Rattlesnakes and limited cell coverage in the breaks
Logistics
Gillette to the north is the main hub for fuel, lodging, groceries and processing; Wright sits closer to the south end. Cell service is limited in the breaks, so download offline maps. Roads are dirt and gumbo that turn impassable when wet.
Nearest towns: Gillette, Wright, Buffalo
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: BLM Fortification Creek Wilderness Study Area · GOHUNT Wyoming Area 2 Fortification Elk Unit Profile · WGFD Elk Hunting
FAQ
- How big is Unit 2 in Wyoming?
- Unit 2 (Fortification (Area 2)) covers about 393 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,600 to 4,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 2?
- Approximately 33% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 2?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 2 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.