Unit 51 Sunlight-Crandall (Area 51)
Sunlight Basin and the Clarks Fork country — high, wild Absaroka backcountry off the Chief Joseph and Beartooth highways.
Absaroka Range (Cody Region) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
651
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
5,600–12,000
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Hunt Area 51 covers the Sunlight Creek and Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone drainages in the northern Absaroka Range northwest of Cody, reaching from the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296) and the Beartooth Highway (US 212) west to the Yellowstone National Park boundary. It is deep, rugged high country — glaciated canyons, timbered north slopes and alpine peaks — draining Sunlight, Crandall, Lodgepole, Dead Indian and Elk creeks. Elk are the marquee animal, backed by mule deer, a limited-draw Absaroka bighorn herd, moose and both black and grizzly bears. Most of the western half lies in the North Absaroka Wilderness, so nonresidents must hunt with an outfitter or a registered resident there.
Terrain
Steep, glaciated Absaroka high country of deep canyons and volcanic peaks; heavily timbered north- and east-facing slopes give way to open alpine basins and rimrock. The Clarks Fork carves a dramatic canyon through the unit's core.
Cover: Lodgepole, spruce-fir and Douglas-fir on the shaded slopes; sagebrush parks and grassy hillsides on south exposures; willow, cottonwood and shrub riparian along Sunlight, Crandall and the Clarks Fork; alpine tundra above timberline.
Landmarks: Sunlight Basin · Clarks Fork Canyon · Dead Indian Pass · Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296) · Beartooth Highway (US 212) · Pilot and Index Peaks · Cathedral Cliffs
Access
No Union Pacific checkerboard here — that pattern is confined to southern Wyoming. Access is instead about wilderness rules and private inholdings: most of the western half is North Absaroka Wilderness where nonresidents must be accompanied by a licensed outfitter or a registered resident. Sunlight Basin holds deeded ranches; know Shoshone NF boundaries before hunting the roaded eastern portion.
Managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Clarks Fork Ranger District), North Absaroka Wilderness, private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: Sunlight Creek Road · Lodgepole Creek Road · Dead Indian Campground and trailheads off WY 296 · Clarks Fork trailheads off US 212 · Crandall Creek access
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe signature hunt — Absaroka elk summer high and migrate through the Sunlight and Clarks Fork drainages with the first hard weather. Mature bulls are here for hunters willing to get into steep, remote country.
- →Glass alpine basins and timber edges at first light, then hunt the dark north-slope timber where elk bed
- →Follow migration into lower Sunlight and Dead Indian country after the first heavy snows
- →Work bugles at dawn in the September archery window
- →Be prepared for long horseback or backpack access into wilderness pockets
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the sagebrush parks, rimrock and open south slopes; bucks push into the high basins in early fall and drift lower as snow builds. A solid backcountry muley resource.
- →Glass open sage-and-grass hillsides and rimrock benches morning and evening
- →Hunt the timber-to-alpine transition early in the season for high-country bucks
- →Watch elevational migration to lower Sunlight and Dead Indian breaks with snow
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyPart of the storied Absaroka bighorn herd; a rare, hard-drawn once-in-a-lifetime tag hunted in the high crags and alpine ridges. Rams can be exceptional.
- →Glass alpine ridgelines, cliff bands and grassy benches above timberline
- →Plan multi-day backcountry camps with horse support
- →Expect a physically demanding hunt in remote wilderness terrain
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose hold in the willow bottoms and spruce riparian of Sunlight, Crandall and the Clarks Fork drainages — a coveted limited-quota tag.
- →Hunt willow-choked creek bottoms and beaver complexes at dawn and dusk
- →Glass timbered riparian edges
- →Move slowly and quietly along water
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common on the timbered slopes and berry patches. Grizzlies are also present throughout and are not legal to hunt — certain bear ID is mandatory.
- →Glass avalanche chutes, berry fields and green south slopes in spring and early fall
- →Be absolutely certain of species before shooting — grizzlies share this range
- →Hunt the timber-meadow edges morning and evening
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions track the deer and elk through the canyon and rimrock country; primarily a pursuit-season, track-up hunt.
- →Cut fresh tracks on forest roads and canyon rims after snow
- →Focus on rugged deer-holding terrain along the Clarks Fork
Pro tips
- →Carry bear spray and hunt with grizzly awareness — this is core grizzly range and gut piles draw bears fast
- →Nonresidents must have an outfitter or registered resident to hunt the North Absaroka Wilderness in the west
- →Time a rifle hunt to the first heavy snow that pushes elk down the Sunlight and Dead Indian drainages
- →Have a horse or serious backpack plan — meat retrieval from these canyons is brutal on foot
- →Watch the weather windows on WY 296 and US 212; both can close and strand you
Watch out for
- !Grizzly bears are common — carry spray, keep clean camps and never leave a carcass unattended
- !Sudden early-season snowstorms can close the Chief Joseph and Beartooth highways
- !North Absaroka Wilderness access restrictions for unaccompanied nonresidents
- !Private ranch inholdings in Sunlight Basin — know your boundaries
- !Steep, avalanche-prone terrain and long, difficult pack-outs
Logistics
Cody is the full-service hub with fuel, lodging, groceries and a hospital. The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296) and Beartooth Highway (US 212) provide the main paved access; both climb high and can close in early snow. Beyond the pavement, expect gravel forest roads, trailheads and horse or backpack travel into wilderness. Backcountry cell coverage is essentially nonexistent.
Nearest towns: Cody, Cooke City (MT), Powell, Clark
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Elk Hunt Area 51 boundary and description (GeoPDF) · WGFD Hunt Planner · WGFD 2025 Wyoming hunt forecast (Cody Region) · Shoshone National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 51 in Wyoming?
- Unit 51 (Sunlight-Crandall (Area 51)) covers about 651 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,600 to 12,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 51?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Clarks Fork Ranger District), North Absaroka Wilderness, private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 51?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Moose, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 51 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.