Unit 36 Rock Creek (Area 36)
Heavily timbered, roadless elk country on the east face of the Bighorns above Buffalo.
Eastern Bighorn Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
209
sq mi
Public land
63%
approx.
Elevation
4,600–10,950
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Area 36, Rock Creek, sits on the eastern edge of the Bighorn Mountains just west of Buffalo, running from foothill ranchland up into the timber and the rugged high-country edge of the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Roughly 63 percent of the unit is public Bighorn National Forest, and most of the elk habitat is roadless public timber, so this is a hunt-hard, low-visibility unit where glassing is largely ineffective and success rates run modest. Elk are the draw, with mule deer and a few moose also present; the low eastern foothills are largely private and access there gets difficult when early storms push elk down.
Terrain
Foothill sage and grassland near 4,600 feet climbing steeply through heavily timbered ridges and valleys to rugged, rocky peaks and high meadows approaching 11,000 feet on the Cloud Peak Wilderness edge.
Cover: Sage and grass on the lower foothills, dense lodgepole and spruce-fir timber with grassy mountain meadows through the mid and upper slopes, and rocky peaks with scattered pine pockets up high.
Landmarks: Rock Creek · French Creek · Hunters Creek · Cloud Peak Wilderness · Bighorn National Forest · US Highway 16 (southern approach)
Access
USFS roads off Highway 16 (French Creek Road, Hunters Creek Road and their spurs) provide access north into the unit, and most of the elk habitat is roadless public timber. The eastern, low-elevation portions are largely private and hard to access, which matters when early storms push elk down onto that ground. The high-country edge lies within the Cloud Peak Wilderness; nonresidents must hunt designated wilderness with a licensed guide/outfitter or a qualified resident companion, and it is non-motorized.
Managers: USFS Bighorn NF, private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: French Creek Road off Highway 16 · Hunters Creek Road and spur roads · Bighorn NF trailheads toward the Cloud Peak Wilderness · Buffalo as the southeastern gateway
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA decent elk population lives in the roadless public timber, but heavy cover makes glassing ineffective and success rates run lower; hunters who work hard into the timber and hunt calling in the rut do best.
- →Hunt the roadless timber on foot; still-hunt and call rather than glass
- →Work the French Creek and Hunters Creek drainages up from the road ends
- →Hunt the rut with calls in September; slip through dark timber and meadow edges
- →Be positioned before storms push elk onto the private eastern foothills
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the timber edges, mountain meadows and mid-elevation benches; bucks hold in the rough roadless pockets.
- →Still-hunt timber and meadow edges at first and last light
- →Work drainage heads and roadless benches away from the USFS roads
- →Check aspen and mountain-shrub transitions on the flanks
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use the willow bottoms and riparian corridors of the eastern Bighorns; a rare limited-draw tag for the lucky.
- →Glass willow creek bottoms and beaver ponds morning and evening
- →Work the Rock Creek and French Creek riparian corridors
- →Hunt slowly and quietly along water in the timber
Pro tips
- →Forget glassing; this is a still-hunt-and-call unit in heavy timber.
- →Hunt the roadless public core hard; that is where most of the elk live.
- →Be positioned to intercept elk before storms push them onto private eastern foothills.
- →Watch the Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary; nonresidents need a guide or resident companion inside it.
- →The September rut is the best window to locate and call bulls.
Watch out for
- !Heavily timbered, low-visibility country where glassing fails and success rates run modest.
- !Largely private eastern foothills that draw elk during early storms.
- !Cloud Peak Wilderness guide/companion requirement for nonresidents.
- !Fast-changing mountain weather and early snow closing upper roads.
Logistics
Buffalo, on the southeastern boundary, is the main base with food, gas and lodging, reached via I-25 and Highway 16. From there French Creek and Hunters Creek roads climb into the unit, but the productive elk country is roadless timber best hunted on foot or with horses. Bring high-clearance/4WD, layers for fast mountain weather and be prepared for tough, cover-heavy hunting.
Nearest towns: Buffalo, Ten Sleep, Sheridan
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 36 (Rock Creek) Profile · Visit Buffalo WY - Wyoming Elk Hunting · WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Area Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 36 in Wyoming?
- Unit 36 (Rock Creek (Area 36)) covers about 209 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,600 to 10,950 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 36?
- Approximately 63% 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 36?
- 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 36 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.