Unit 48 Upper Nowood (Area 48)
The Upper Nowood — sage basins and creek breaks climbing the southwest slope of the Bighorn Mountains toward the forest.
Bighorn Basin · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
932
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
4,600–9,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 48 covers the Upper Nowood River country on the southwest flank of the Bighorn Mountains, roughly the Big Trails / Alkali ground south of Ten Sleep along the Nowood drainage. It steps up from sagebrush basin and cottonwood creek bottoms through juniper-and-shrub foothills to the timbered lower edge of the Bighorn National Forest. Mule deer are the headline in the breaks and foothills, with pronghorn on the open sage, elk shuttling out of the forest, and whitetail in the river bottoms. Access hinges on private ranch ground and Hunter Management / walk-in areas — the Upper Nowood HMA is a key public door here.
Terrain
Nowood River valley and its tributary creeks draining the southwest slope of the Bighorns; sage basins and badland breaks rising through foothill benches to the forested mountain front.
Cover: Big sagebrush and grassland on the basin floor, cottonwood and willow along the Nowood and its creeks, juniper and mountain shrub on the breaks, ponderosa and lodgepole at the forest edge.
Landmarks: Nowood River · Big Trails · Bighorn National Forest (southwest front) · Ten Sleep Canyon (to the north) · Alkali Road country
Access
No Union Pacific checkerboard in this part of the state, but the valley floor is heavily private ranch interlocked with BLM and state sections, and stretches of Bighorn NF along the mountain front are effectively landlocked behind deeded land. The Upper Nowood Hunter Management Area (private/leased ground of local ranches) opens otherwise-closed country — carry the required permission slip and vehicle pass. Corner-crossing between public sections applies.
Managers: BLM, private ranch, WY state trust, USFS Bighorn NF
Access points: WY 434 (Nowood Road) south from Ten Sleep · Upper Nowood HMA (permission slip required) · BLM roads off the Nowood corridor · Bighorn NF access roads at the mountain front near Big Trails
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer are the marquee animal, using the juniper breaks, creek draws and foothill benches of the Nowood; bucks push toward the forest edge as they mature.
- →Glass juniper-and-shrub breaks and creek heads at first and last light
- →Hunt the transition from sage basin to timbered forest front
- →Work HMA and walk-in ground where private otherwise blocks the breaks
- →Move higher toward the forest as pressure builds
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn hold the open sage flats and grassy benches of the lower Nowood basin, much of it on private ranch or HMA ground.
- →Glass open flats and use terrain to close the gap
- →Line up HMA or private permission early — much antelope range here is deeded
- →Hunt water in the warm early season
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk summer in the Bighorn NF timber above the unit and drop into the foothills and private meadows with weather and pressure.
- →Hunt the timbered forest front and meadow edges at dawn
- →Watch for elk feeding onto private ag and meadows at night, bedding in the timber by day
- →Be ready to hike into the forest above the private front
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetail hold the cottonwood and willow bottoms along the Nowood and its creeks, mostly on private ranch ground.
- →Glass river-bottom hayfields and cottonwood edges at first light
- →Secure private or walk-in access to the bottoms
- →Be certain of species ID where muleys and whitetails overlap
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions track deer through the breaks and forest front; a track-and-pursuit resource.
- →Cut fresh tracks after snow on breaks and forest roads
- →Focus on rough canyon country holding deer
Pro tips
- →The Upper Nowood HMA is the practical public key — arrange the permission slip and vehicle pass ahead of time
- →Hunt the sage-to-timber transition for mature mule deer bucks
- →Elk live in the forest above the private front — plan to hike for them
- →Watch the weather; the mountain front turns roads slick and can trap a truck
- →Confirm land status carefully — the valley floor is a tight private/public interlock
Watch out for
- !Heavy private ranch interlock and landlocked Bighorn NF along the front
- !HMA rules and required permission slips/vehicle passes
- !Corner-crossing between public sections
- !Gumbo roads when wet
- !Early mountain snow
Logistics
Ten Sleep (US 16) is the closest small town for basics; Worland to the west is the nearest full-service hub with fuel, groceries and a hospital. The Nowood Road (WY 434) is the spine of the unit. Interior ranch and BLM roads turn to gumbo when wet, and the forest front holds snow early.
Nearest towns: Ten Sleep, Worland, Big Trails, Buffalo, Thermopolis
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Upper Nowood Hunter Management Area · WGFD Deer Hunt Planner · Bighorn National Forest - Paintrock Recreation Region
FAQ
- How big is Unit 48 in Wyoming?
- Unit 48 (Upper Nowood (Area 48)) covers about 932 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,600 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 48?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, private ranch, WY state trust, USFS Bighorn NF. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 48?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 48 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.