Unit 61 North Greybull River (Area 61)
Trophy Absaroka bulls in the wild North Greybull drainage west of Meeteetse — one of Wyoming's top big-bull units.
Absaroka Range / Washakie Wilderness · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
385
sq mi
Public land
70%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–12,000
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Hunt Area 61 takes in the north and west drainages of the Greybull River west of Wyoming Highway 120, running from ranch-and-BLM foothills near Meeteetse up into the towering Absaroka peaks of the Washakie Wilderness on the Shoshone National Forest. It has ranked among Wyoming's premier trophy-elk areas for years — part of the belt of units ringing Yellowstone that consistently produce the state's biggest bulls. The upper country is steep, remote, all-public wilderness reached by trail and horse; the lower Greybull is a mix of private ranch and scattered BLM. As with all the Absaroka wilderness units, this is grizzly country and nonresidents must have an outfitter or resident guide to hunt the wilderness portion.
Terrain
Deep, narrow river valleys climbing from foothill ranch country into the rugged volcanic peaks, cliffs and high alpine basins of the Absaroka Range, drained by the North and Greybull river forks.
Cover: Riparian willow, cottonwood and shrub bottoms along the Greybull, sagebrush and grass parks on the lower breaks, lodgepole, subalpine fir, whitebark and limber pine on the slopes, and alpine tundra above treeline.
Landmarks: Greybull River / North Fork · Francs Peak · Washakie Wilderness · Wood River divide · Absaroka crest · Meeteetse (gateway town)
Access
No Union Pacific checkerboard up here, but the lower, non-wilderness end of the Greybull holds substantial private ranch mixed with scattered BLM — access into the high country often means crossing or getting permission through private, or using established forest trailheads. The wilderness backcountry is all public but has NO motorized access; entry is by trail on foot or horseback. By Wyoming law, nonresidents cannot hunt the designated wilderness without an outfitter or resident guide. Grizzly precautions are mandatory in the upper drainages.
Managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Washakie Wilderness), private ranch, BLM, WY state trust
Access points: Wood River / Greybull River road corridors out of Meeteetse · Jack Creek and upper Greybull trailheads (Shoshone NF) · Wiggins Fork / Washakie Wilderness pack trails · WY 120 as the eastern boundary
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe headline resource — Area 61 is a long-standing top trophy-elk unit, with limited public tags producing mature Absaroka bulls in the wilderness high country during the rut.
- →Pack into the wilderness and hunt the September rut — bugle-locate bulls in timbered basins
- →Glass big alpine parks, burns and timberline meadows at first and last light
- →Cover country on horseback; bulls hold in remote, lightly-hunted upper drainages
- →Follow elk down out of the high basins as early snow builds
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer summer in the high Absaroka basins and timber edges; the rugged backcountry can hold good bucks that see little pressure.
- →Glass high alpine basins and timberline meadows early in the season
- →Hunt the steep breaks and rimrock where mature bucks bed
- →Move with the deer as snow pushes them to lower elevations
Bighorn Sheep
limited qualityAbsaroka bighorn use the high ridges, cliffs and alpine basins of the wilderness peaks — a rare, coveted tag in extremely demanding terrain.
- →Glass alpine escape terrain, cliff bands and plateau rims
- →Plan long approaches above treeline and be ready for fast weather changes
- →Expect a physically hard spot-and-stalk hunt
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose hold in the willow bottoms and riparian meadows of the Greybull and its tributaries — a limited-draw opportunity.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver meadows along the river forks morning and evening
- →Still-hunt riparian stringers where bulls stay in cover
Black Bear
common opportunityThe upper drainages sit in core grizzly range, with black bears present as well. Grizzlies are the defining hazard of the wilderness portion — carry bear spray, keep a clean camp, and guard any kill.
- →Bear spray on your belt at all times in the backcountry
- →Hang meat and food away from camp; approach carcasses loudly and with caution
- →Glass black bears on open burn and berry slopes; confirm species and legal status before any shot
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow deer and elk through the timber and breaks; mainly a winter tracking/pursuit resource.
- →Cut fresh tracks after snow along forest roads and drainages
- →Focus on rugged breaks holding wintering deer
Pro tips
- →This is a genuine trophy-elk unit — hunt the September rut in the wilderness high country for the big bulls
- →Nonresidents need an outfitter or resident guide to hunt the Washakie Wilderness portion
- →Sort out the lower Greybull's private ranch and BLM mix before counting on access to the trailheads
- →Plan a horseback or backpack hunt; the best bull country is miles from any road
- →Grizzlies are present in the upper drainages — bear spray, clean camp, guard your kill
- →Watch for early snow that can strand stock and close high trails
Watch out for
- !Grizzly country in the wilderness portion — the primary hazard
- !Nonresident wilderness-guide requirement (Wyoming law)
- !Private ranch and BLM interlock on the lower Greybull — verify boundaries and access
- !No motorized access in the wilderness backcountry
- !Sudden mountain snow closing high trails and stranding stock
- !Remoteness — long evacuation times; be self-sufficient
Logistics
Meeteetse is the gateway with basic fuel and supplies; Cody to the north and Thermopolis/Worland to the east/south are the nearest full-service towns with lodging, groceries and hospitals. The lower Greybull is reached by county and forest roads, but the trophy country requires a horseback or backpack push into the Washakie Wilderness — most nonresidents hunt with an outfitter running stock. Early snow can close high trails quickly.
Nearest towns: Meeteetse, Cody, Thermopolis, Worland
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Wyoming Area 61 North Greybull River unit profile · DIY Hunting Maps — Wyoming Elk Unit 61 North Greybull River · WGFD Hunt Planner
FAQ
- How big is Unit 61 in Wyoming?
- Unit 61 (North Greybull River (Area 61)) covers about 385 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 61?
- Approximately 70% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Washakie Wilderness), private ranch, BLM, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 61?
- 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 61 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.