Unit 63 Wood River-Gooseberry Creek (Area 63)
Wood River and Gooseberry Creek — trophy-bull elk country where the Absaroka wilderness meets the big Meeteetse ranches.
Absaroka Front · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
366
sq mi
Public land
50%
approx.
Elevation
5,400–11,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 63 takes in the south-and-east drainage of the Wood River, the south-and-east Greybull River drainage east of the Wood River mouth, and the Gooseberry Creek drainage west of Wyoming Highway 120. It runs from the sage-and-ranch foothills southwest of Meeteetse up into the Shoshone National Forest and the flank of the Absaroka Range. Together with Areas 62 and 64 it forms the Gooseberry elk herd, one of the most sought-after trophy bull elk hunts in Wyoming. The lower country is dominated by large deeded ranches, so access planning is as important as the hunting itself.
Terrain
Foothill sagebrush benches and creek bottoms climbing west through timbered ridges into the high Absaroka volcanic country along the Wood River and Gooseberry Creek.
Cover: Sagebrush-grassland and irrigated ranch bottoms on the east end, cottonwood and willow along the creeks, then Douglas-fir and lodgepole timber, aspen, and subalpine spruce-fir on the higher western slopes.
Landmarks: Wood River · Gooseberry Creek · Shoshone National Forest · Absaroka Range · Wyoming Highway 120 · LU Ranch / PAR Ranch (Absaroka Front HMA)
Access
No Union Pacific checkerboard here. The western high end is national forest, but the productive foothill and creek-bottom country between it and Highway 120 is largely big private ranch. The Absaroka Front Hunter Management Area (LU and PAR ranches) opens otherwise-private ground for elk in Areas 62-64 with an advance permission slip and vehicle pass; note the seasonal road closures on Little Grass Creek and Enos Creek (foot/horseback only). Reaching public forest often means crossing or hunting from HMA and ranch access.
Managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Greybull Ranger District), private ranch, BLM, WY state trust
Access points: Wood River Road out of Meeteetse · Gooseberry Creek roads off WY Highway 120 · Shoshone NF Greybull Ranger District trailheads · Absaroka Front HMA (permission slip required)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant trophyThe headline hunt — part of the Gooseberry herd and one of Wyoming's top trophy-bull units. Elk summer in the Absaroka high country and move onto the foothills and ranches with weather and pressure.
- →Hunt the transition between Shoshone NF timber and the private-land benches
- →Use the Absaroka Front HMA to reach elk on otherwise-closed ranch ground
- →Bugle and locate herd bulls in high timber early season, then follow them down with snow
- →Glass Wood River and Gooseberry Creek drainages at first and last light
Mule Deer
common qualityPart of the Owl Creek/Meeteetse deer herd, with bucks on the timbered ridges, rimrock breaks, and sage-timber edges above the creek bottoms.
- →Glass high open ridges and rimrock early season
- →Work the sage-and-juniper transition on the foothill benches
- →Hunt migration lines off the Absaroka as weather turns
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn hold on the open sage flats and ranch benches on the east end near Highway 120, mostly on deeded ground.
- →Glass the open low-elevation sage away from the timber
- →Secure HMA or private-land permission — most antelope range here is ranch ground
Moose
limited qualityA few Shiras moose use the willow and spruce bottoms along the Wood River and its tributaries.
- →Still-hunt willow flats and creek confluences morning and evening
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the timbered slopes and berry patches on the west end; the upper drainages fall within occupied grizzly range, so identification and awareness matter.
- →Glass aspen, avalanche chutes, and berry patches in fall
- →Carry bear spray and confirm species before any shot on the west end
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions track the deer and elk through the timber and canyon country.
- →Cut fresh tracks after snow on forest and ranch roads
- →Focus on rough canyon terrain holding wintering deer
Pro tips
- →Sort out Absaroka Front HMA permission slips (available late July) before the season — the HMA is the key to much of the huntable ground
- →Hunt the forest-to-ranch transition and let storms move elk to you
- →Respect the Little Grass Creek and Enos Creek road closures — foot or horseback only
- →Be certain of black vs. grizzly bear ID on the western high end
- →Have solid private-land boundary maps; the low country is a patchwork of large ranches
Watch out for
- !Large private ranches control much of the productive low country between town and the forest
- !Absaroka Front HMA requires an advance permission slip and vehicle pass; some interior roads are closed to vehicles
- !Upper drainages are occupied grizzly range — carry spray and handle meat carefully
- !High-country weather and greasy clay roads can change conditions quickly
- !No checkerboard here, but corner-crossing/boundary awareness still matters amid mixed ownership
Logistics
Meeteetse is the closest town with basic fuel, food, and lodging; Thermopolis, Worland, and Cody are the nearest full-service hubs. The Wood River Road and Gooseberry Creek roads off Highway 120 are the main access; both degrade quickly when wet and the upper reaches need high clearance.
Nearest towns: Meeteetse, Thermopolis, Worland, Cody
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Elk Hunting Seasons (Ch. 7) — Area 63 boundary · WGFD Absaroka Front Hunter Management Area · Meeteetse Visitor Center — Big Game
FAQ
- How big is Unit 63 in Wyoming?
- Unit 63 (Wood River-Gooseberry Creek (Area 63)) covers about 366 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,400 to 11,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 63?
- Approximately 50% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Greybull Ranger District), private ranch, BLM, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 63?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 63 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.