Unit 54 Bald Ridge (Area 54)
Bald Ridge — deep, roadless-feeling Absaroka canyon country that grows some of Wyoming's biggest bulls, with no wilderness lockout.
Absaroka Range (Cody Region) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
523
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
5,200–11,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 54 (Bald Ridge) sits in the Absaroka Range northwest of Cody, a maze of steep canyons and pine-timbered ridges dropping east toward the Bighorn Basin foothills. It is famous among elk hunters: the herd runs near objective with an extraordinarily high bull-to-cow ratio, and the deep, hard-to-reach nooks hold some of the largest bulls in the state. Crucially, there is no designated wilderness here, so nonresidents can hunt it without an outfitter. Mule deer, moose, black and grizzly bears and mountain lions round out the mix. The trade-off is grizzly-dense country, cattle grazing on the public ground, and genuinely rugged terrain.
Terrain
Steep, rugged Absaroka canyons and high peaks in the west grading to lower sagebrush foothills and rolling grassland on the eastern edge toward Cody. Pine-dominated canyons and open meadow hillsides throughout.
Cover: Douglas-fir, lodgepole and limber pine on the ridges and canyon walls; open grass-and-sage meadows on south slopes; sagebrush, rolling hills and grassland on the lower eastern half; riparian shrub and willow along the creek bottoms.
Landmarks: Bald Ridge · Rattlesnake Mountain · Jim Mountain · Absaroka front · Shoshone NF foothills west of Cody
Access
No Union Pacific checkerboard here — that is a southern Wyoming issue. And no designated wilderness, which is a real advantage: nonresidents can hunt the whole unit without hiring an outfitter. The catch is the lower eastern edge near Cody, where private ranch and scattered BLM/state parcels interlock with the national forest; verify boundaries and secure permission or use the Absaroka Front hunter-access ground where applicable.
Managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Wapiti Ranger District), private ranch, BLM, WY state trust
Access points: Forest roads and trailheads off the WY 120 / Chief Joseph corridor · Absaroka Front access areas · Shoshone NF trailheads west and north of Cody · Foothills two-tracks off the Cody Enterprise / Skull Creek country
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe headline hunt in the region — a herd at objective with a lopsided bull-to-cow ratio (reported near or above 80 bulls per 100 cows) tucked into deep, punishing canyons. Genuine trophy-bull potential for hunters who can reach the back country.
- →Get deep — the biggest bulls live in the steepest, least-accessible drainages
- →Glass canyon heads and timbered benches at first and last light
- →Bugle and cold-call the September rut in the high timber
- →Set up on migration corridors when snow starts pushing elk east and down
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer work the sagebrush foothills, open meadows and canyon rims; bucks summer high and drift to the lower eastern sage as weather builds. Good numbers on the transition country.
- →Glass sage-and-grass foothills and rimrock on the eastern half morning and evening
- →Hunt high timber-edge parks early season for summit bucks
- →Follow the drop to lower elevations with the first snows
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose hold in the willow and spruce creek bottoms of the higher drainages — a scarce, coveted limited-quota tag.
- →Still-hunt willow bottoms and beaver ponds at dawn and dusk
- →Glass riparian timber edges
- →Move slowly and glass often
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common in the timber and berry country. Grizzlies are also abundant here and are not legal to hunt — this is heavily used grizzly range, so bear ID is critical.
- →Glass green slopes, avalanche chutes and berry patches in spring and early fall
- →Be certain of species — grizzlies are common in this unit
- →Never leave a carcass unattended
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the deer and elk through the canyon and rimrock terrain; mainly a snow-track pursuit hunt.
- →Cut fresh tracks on forest roads after snow
- →Hunt rugged, deer-rich canyon country
Pro tips
- →This is a premier trophy-bull unit — the reward is proportional to how deep and how steep you're willing to hunt
- →No wilderness means nonresidents can hunt it solo — a rare draw-worthy DIY trophy-elk opportunity
- →Carry bear spray and hunt grizzly-smart; this unit is thick with them and cattle carcasses draw bears too
- →Expect cattle grazing on the public ground into fall — glass past them to find elk
- →Time rifle season to the first big snow that shoves elk toward the accessible east side
Watch out for
- !Grizzly bears are common — carry spray, keep clean camps, quarter and pack meat quickly
- !Rugged canyon terrain and hard pack-outs; a horse or a strong backpack plan pays off
- !Private ranch and BLM/state parcels interlock along the lower eastern edge near Cody — verify boundaries
- !Cattle grazing on public land complicates glassing and access in places
- !Early, heavy snow can shut down high roads and make clay two-tracks impassable
Logistics
Cody is right at the doorstep with full services — fuel, lodging, groceries, outfitters and a hospital. Paved highways (WY 120, US 14/16/20) give quick approach; from there it is gravel forest road, trailhead and boot or horse into the canyons. Roads turn greasy when wet and the high country gets snow early.
Nearest towns: Cody, Powell, Meeteetse, 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 54 (GeoPDF map) · WGFD Absaroka Front Hunter Management Area · Eastmans' Top Wyoming Elk Areas (Area 54 profile) · WGFD 2025 Wyoming hunt forecast (Cody Region)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 54 in Wyoming?
- Unit 54 (Bald Ridge (Area 54)) covers about 523 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 54?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Wapiti Ranger District), private ranch, BLM, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 54?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, 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 54 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.