Unit 33 Middle Fork (Area 33)
Hole-in-the-Wall canyon country where Bighorn elk drop to winter range along the Middle Fork.
Southern Bighorn Mountains (Middle Fork Powder River) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
626
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–9,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 33 covers the Middle Fork of the Powder River on the southeastern flank of the Bighorn Mountains west of Kaycee, running from the I-25 interchange up through Hole-in-the-Wall and Outlaw Cave country toward the Bighorn National Forest. Elk summer high in the forest and winter down onto the sage and canyon breaks, sharing the ground with quality mule deer, river-bottom whitetails, moose and black bear. The Ed O. Taylor WHMA and adjoining public land anchor access in an otherwise ranch-dominated landscape.
Terrain
A steep east-to-west gradient from sage plains and red-rock canyon breaks along the Middle Fork up through foothill shrub and timber into the high Bighorn National Forest, with dramatic canyon walls above the river.
Cover: Sagebrush, mountain shrub and grassland on the lower breaks, wet meadows and rock outcrops through the mid-elevations, and conifer forest and aspen on the high country.
Landmarks: Middle Fork Powder River · Hole-in-the-Wall · Outlaw Cave · Ed O. Taylor WHMA · Bighorn National Forest · Red Wall
Access
Access is the crux: much of the lower and mid-country is private ranch, and reaching the public and the Bighorn NF often means crossing or bordering private, plus scattered checkerboard/state sections. The 10,215-acre Ed O. Taylor WHMA (about 19 miles west of Kaycee, straddling the Middle Fork) and BLM/Outlaw Cave access are the key public entry points; secure permission or use established public roads and verify section lines rather than corner-crossing.
Managers: private ranch, USFS Bighorn NF, BLM, WGFD WHMA (Ed O. Taylor), WY state trust
Access points: Kaycee I-25 interchange · Middle Fork / Outlaw Cave Road west of Kaycee · Ed O. Taylor WHMA · Bighorn NF roads and trailheads from the east · Hole-in-the-Wall / Bar C country (permission where private)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk summer in the Bighorn National Forest and winter down onto the Middle Fork breaks and WHMA; timing and access to the migration corridor drive success on mature bulls.
- →Hunt the timber and parks high in the Bighorn NF early in the season
- →Watch the canyon breaks and WHMA as snow pushes elk to winter range
- →Glass forest edges and aspen at first and last light
Mule Deer
common qualityQuality mule deer hold year-round in the canyon breaks and mountain shrub of the Middle Fork country, with mature bucks using the rough terrain.
- →Glass canyon rims and shrub benches morning and evening
- →Still-hunt the conifer and aspen stringers up high
- →Work the sage-to-timber transition on the flanks
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails use the willow and cottonwood bottoms along the Middle Fork of the Powder River.
- →Hunt the river-bottom cover at dawn and dusk
- →Watch travel between bottoms and adjacent fields
- →Move slow along the riparian edges
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use the willow bottoms and wet meadows of the Middle Fork drainage; a rare limited draw.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver complexes early
- →Hunt riparian corridors slowly and quietly
- →Check wet meadows near timber
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears range the timber, berry pockets and riparian draws of the Bighorn NF flank.
- →Glass avalanche chutes, meadow edges and berry patches
- →Hunt the forest-to-shrub transition at dawn and dusk
- →Focus riparian corridors in early fall
Pro tips
- →Nail down access first, this unit is as much a permission-and-boundary puzzle as a hunt.
- →Use the Ed O. Taylor WHMA and Outlaw Cave BLM as public anchors into the drainage.
- →Hunt high in the Bighorn NF early, then follow elk to the winter breaks after a storm.
- →Run a section-line GPS layer to stay legal through the ranch and state-section mosaic.
- →The Middle Fork is a blue-ribbon trout stream, worth a rod for an evening off the mountain.
Watch out for
- !Extensive private ranch land and scattered checkerboard/state sections, corner-crossing risk.
- !Steep canyon roads that turn impassable when snow or rain hits.
- !Poor cell coverage in the canyons and remote high country.
- !Elk may still be high and out of reach early before storms move them.
Logistics
Kaycee at the I-25 interchange is the closest fuel and small-town base, with Buffalo to the north and Casper to the south for full services. Roads west toward the Middle Fork and Bighorn NF turn rough and steep; run high-clearance 4WD, carry recovery gear, and expect poor cell coverage in the canyons. Confirm access and any permission before heading in.
Nearest towns: Kaycee, Buffalo, Casper, Midwest
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Ed O. Taylor Wildlife Habitat Management Area · WGFD Middle Fork Powder River Instream Flow · Eastmans' Forum - Kaycee Deer Expectations, Region Y / Unit 33
FAQ
- How big is Unit 33 in Wyoming?
- Unit 33 (Middle Fork (Area 33)) covers about 626 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 9,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 33?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, USFS Bighorn NF, BLM, WGFD WHMA (Ed O. Taylor), WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 33?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Moose, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 33 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.