Unit 35 Hunter Mesa (Area 35)
A high, well-accessed slice of the southeast Bighorns off the Highway 16 corridor with limited-entry bulls and good public timber.
Southeast Bighorn Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
251
sq mi
Public land
71%
approx.
Elevation
4,600–12,025
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 35, Hunter Mesa, sits in the southeastern Bighorn Mountains southwest of Buffalo, straddling the US 16 (Powder River Pass) corridor and climbing from foothill sage to the alpine edge of the Cloud Peak Wilderness. About 71 percent of the unit is public, mostly Bighorn National Forest, giving strong walk-in access and some roadless country for those willing to escape the road-hunters. It holds a small but decent limited-entry elk population along with mule deer and a few mountain moose; success rewards hunters who learn the seasonal elk movements and hunt the rough, roadless pockets hard.
Terrain
Foothill sage and grassland near 4,600 feet rising steeply through heavy timber to high alpine ridges above 12,000 feet on the Cloud Peak Wilderness edge; varied, rough country cut by the South Fork Clear Creek drainage.
Cover: Sagebrush and grass on the lower flanks, mountain shrub and aspen on the mid-slopes, dense lodgepole and spruce-fir timber with subalpine meadows and rock up high.
Landmarks: Hunter Mesa · US Highway 16 / Powder River Pass · South Fork Clear Creek · Tie Hack Reservoir · South Fork and Tie Hack campgrounds · Cloud Peak Wilderness (upper edge) · Bighorn National Forest
Access
Highway 16 runs through the unit and numerous USFS roads branch off it, giving good access to a well-distributed block of public Bighorn National Forest, with roadless pockets for solitude. The lower northeast foothills toward Buffalo carry private ranchland, so verify boundaries there. Cloud Peak Wilderness lies along the upper edge; nonresidents must hunt designated wilderness with a licensed guide/outfitter or a qualified resident companion, and the wilderness core is non-motorized.
Managers: USFS Bighorn NF, private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: US Highway 16 corridor from Buffalo over Powder River Pass · USFS roads branching off Highway 16 (South Fork drainage) · South Fork and Tie Hack campgrounds as trailhead bases · Bighorn NF trailheads toward the Cloud Peak Wilderness edge
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA small but decent limited-entry elk herd holds in the timbered high country; those who draw and hunt the roadless pockets hard have a real chance at a mature bull, and the September archery rut can be excellent.
- →Hunt roadless timber and hidden parks away from the Highway 16 traffic
- →Bugle and call rutting bulls in the September archery season
- →Learn the seasonal movement between summer high country and lower fall range
- →Glass subalpine meadows and timber edges at first and last light
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the mountain-shrub benches, aspen and timber edges; bucks hold in the rougher roadless draws off the main drainages.
- →Glass mountain-shrub and aspen benches at dawn
- →Still-hunt timber stringers and drainage heads
- →Push into roadless pockets away from the campground corridors
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use the willow bottoms and riparian drainages of the southeast Bighorns; a rare limited-draw opportunity for those who pull a tag.
- →Glass willow-choked creek bottoms and beaver-pond complexes morning and evening
- →Work the South Fork Clear Creek and side-drainage riparian corridors
- →Hunt slowly and quietly along water in the timber
Pro tips
- →Use Highway 16 to reach the country fast, then hunt hard away from the road for the mature bulls.
- →The September archery rut in the roadless timber is the standout opportunity here.
- →Watch the Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary; nonresidents need a guide or resident companion inside it.
- →Verify the private-land boundaries in the lower northeast foothills toward Buffalo.
- →Camp central at South Fork or Tie Hack and glass the timber edges at first and last light.
Watch out for
- !Limited-entry elk; expect to build preference points to draw.
- !Cloud Peak Wilderness guide/companion requirement for nonresidents on the upper edge.
- !Private ranchland in the lower northeast foothills; confirm boundaries.
- !Fast-changing mountain weather and early snow on the pass and USFS roads.
Logistics
Buffalo, on the northeast boundary, is the main base with food, gas and lodging, and Highway 16 gives paved access straight into the unit. South Fork and Tie Hack campgrounds sit centrally for a mountain camp. USFS roads reach much of the public timber, but the best elk hunting is on foot away from them; bring high-clearance/4WD, layers for fast-changing mountain weather and horses or a strong back for the roadless country.
Nearest towns: Buffalo, Ten Sleep, Kaycee
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 35 (Hunter Mesa) Profile · WGFD Hunt Planner · WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Area Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 35 in Wyoming?
- Unit 35 (Hunter Mesa (Area 35)) covers about 251 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,600 to 12,025 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 35?
- Approximately 71% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bighorn NF, private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 35?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 35 on your map.
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