Unit 49 Otter Creek (Area 49)
Otter Creek and Paint Rock — the west face of the Bighorns above Hyattville, where big elk herds and mountain mule deer meet Cloud Peak Wilderness.
Bighorn Basin · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,238
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
4,700–11,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 49 covers the west slope of the Bighorn Mountains above Hyattville — the Otter Creek, Paint Rock and Medicine Lodge country climbing from sagebrush basin and cottonwood canyons into the Bighorn National Forest and the edge of the Cloud Peak Wilderness. It spans a dramatic elevation band: red-rock canyons and ranch meadows at the base, ponderosa and lodgepole on the slopes, alpine parks and lakes up high. Elk are the standout here, with large herds using the mountain meadows and private hay ground; mule deer work the timber and breaks, pronghorn hold the lower flats, and whitetail line the creek bottoms. Public land is strong on the mountain, but the canyon mouths and lower access run through tightly held ranch country.
Terrain
West face of the Bighorn Mountains rising from the basin floor through Paint Rock and Medicine Lodge canyons to forested slopes, alpine parks and lakes on the edge of the Cloud Peak Wilderness.
Cover: Sagebrush and grassland with cottonwood canyon bottoms at the base, juniper and mountain shrub on the breaks, ponderosa, Douglas-fir and lodgepole on the slopes, spruce-fir and alpine meadow up high.
Landmarks: Paint Rock Creek · Medicine Lodge Creek · Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site · Bighorn National Forest (Paintrock) · Cloud Peak Wilderness (east edge) · Medicine Lodge Lake · Hyattville
Access
Not checkerboard country, but the classic Bighorn front problem applies: large blocks of national forest sit above private ranches that control the canyon mouths, so some public timber is effectively landlocked. Paintrock Road (FSR 17) out of Hyattville/Shell is the main legal door onto the forest. The Cloud Peak Wilderness on the upper east edge is non-motorized. Corner-crossing and inholdings apply on the lower BLM/state ground.
Managers: USFS Bighorn NF, private ranch, BLM, WY state trust
Access points: Paintrock Road (FSR 17) from Hyattville and Shell · Medicine Lodge State Site and campground · Medicine Lodge Lake Campground / Cloud Peak trailheads · BLM roads on the lower flats near Hyattville
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe signature animal — the west-slope Bighorn herds are large, wintering toward the basin and summering in the forest; herds of hundreds gather in the mountain and ranch meadows.
- →Locate bugling bulls at dawn in the forest parks and dark timber
- →Hunt meadow-and-timber edges at first and last light
- →Push into the roadless country toward Cloud Peak where bulls escape pressure
- →Watch elk shuttle between private meadows and public timber — hunt the transition
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the canyon breaks, timbered slopes and high basins; part of the Paintrock herd, with mature bucks summering high on the forest.
- →Glass high timbered basins and park edges for summering bucks
- →Hunt the canyon breaks and juniper heads lower in cold weather
- →Follow deer down as snow pushes them off the mountain
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn hold the open sage flats and benches of the lower basin below the mountain front, much of it private or BLM.
- →Glass the open flats away from the timber
- →Use terrain rolls to close on bucks
- →Secure private or BLM access early on the lower ground
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetail line the cottonwood and willow bottoms of Paint Rock and Medicine Lodge creeks, mostly on ranch ground.
- →Glass creek-bottom meadows and cottonwood edges at first light
- →Arrange private or walk-in access to the bottoms
- →Be certain of species ID where whitetail and muleys overlap
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the deer and elk through the canyon and timber country; a track-and-pursuit resource.
- →Cut fresh tracks after snow on forest and canyon roads
- →Focus on rugged red-rock canyon and timber holding game
Pro tips
- →Paintrock Road (FSR 17) is the legal key onto the forest — much surrounding timber is landlocked behind ranches
- →Time the hunt to the first snows that push elk off the high country
- →Get into the roadless ground toward Cloud Peak for less-pressured bulls
- →Watch land status at the canyon mouths — ranches control much of the lower access
- →Be prepared for a big elevation swing and fast-changing mountain weather
Watch out for
- !National forest landlocked behind private ranches at the canyon mouths
- !Cloud Peak Wilderness is non-motorized
- !Corner-crossing and inholdings on lower BLM/state ground
- !Early high-country snow closing forest roads
- !Slick canyon and gumbo roads when wet
Logistics
Hyattville is a tiny gateway with minimal services; Greybull and Basin to the northwest and Worland to the south are the nearest full-service towns for fuel, groceries and lodging. Paintrock Road (FSR 17) is the main forest access, graded but long. Higher forest roads are seasonal and hold snow; the canyons flash and roads slick when wet.
Nearest towns: Hyattville, Shell, Greybull, Basin, Worland
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: Bighorn National Forest - Paintrock Recreation Region · Medicine Lodge Lake Campground - Bighorn NF · WGFD Deer Hunt Planner
FAQ
- How big is Unit 49 in Wyoming?
- Unit 49 (Otter Creek (Area 49)) covers about 1,238 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,700 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 49?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bighorn NF, private ranch, BLM, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 49?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 49 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.