Unit 69 Whiskey Mountain (Area 69)
Whiskey Mountain — legendary bighorn winter range and steep wilderness elk country above Dubois.
Wind River Range (East Slope) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
332
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
7,200–13,000
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
Hunt Area 69 climbs the east slope of the Wind River Range southwest of Dubois, from the foothills along the Wind River Indian Reservation and the U.S. 26/287 valley up into the Shoshone National Forest and the Fitzpatrick Wilderness, toward some of the tallest peaks in Wyoming. This is the home of the famous Whiskey Mountain bighorn sheep herd — a nationally important source herd — with its winter range protected in the Whiskey Basin (Whiskey Mountain) Wildlife Habitat Management Area east of Dubois. It is a steep, rugged, largely wilderness unit that also holds elk, moose and mule deer; DIY nonresidents should plan for horses and remote, timberline-height hunting.
Terrain
Gently contoured at the lower foothills, becoming steep and rugged with elevation; timberline near 10,000 feet, glaciated granite peaks and alpine cirques of the high Winds beyond.
Cover: Sage and grass foothills with Douglas fir and aspen, rising through spruce-fir and whitebark pine to open alpine tundra, talus and rock above timberline; willow bottoms along the creeks.
Landmarks: Whiskey Mountain · Whiskey Basin / Torrey Lakes · Fitzpatrick Wilderness · Wind River Range crest · Trail Lake
Access
No checkerboard here. Much of the unit is designated wilderness (Fitzpatrick) where mechanized and motorized travel is prohibited — plan for foot or horseback. The Whiskey Basin WHMA east of Dubois is public and open to hunting but is critical bighorn winter range with seasonal rules; check current WHMA regulations. The reservation boundary and valley-floor private ranches bound the low country.
Managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Wind River Ranger District), Fitzpatrick Wilderness, WGFD Whiskey Basin WHMA, private ranch
Access points: Whiskey Basin / Torrey Lakes Road off U.S. 26/287 · Trail Lake trailhead into the Fitzpatrick · Glacier Trail approaches · Forest roads south of Dubois
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyThe Whiskey Mountain herd is one of the most storied bighorn populations in North America — a historic source of transplant stock. A hard-to-draw, coveted trophy hunt in classic high alpine sheep country.
- →Glass high alpine benches, cliff bands and basins from long range
- →Scout the Whiskey Basin winter range in summer to pattern rams
- →Be ready for steep, technical, high-elevation stalks
- →Hire local knowledge or an outfitter for a first sheep hunt
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are found throughout the unit from timbered slopes to alpine basins; the wilderness character keeps pressure lower and bulls can be very good for those who get back in.
- →Pack in with horses to reach unpressured basins
- →Locate bugling bulls at dawn and hunt the dark timber
- →Hunt the timberline edge where elk feed at first and last light
- →Be self-sufficient for multi-day wilderness trips
Moose
common qualityShiras moose browse the willow bottoms and riparian corridors, including around Whiskey Basin and the Torrey Lakes — a prized limited draw.
- →Work willow flats and beaver ponds at dawn and dusk
- →Glass creek bottoms and lakeshore willows
- →Hunt slowly and quietly along water
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer summer in the high basins and drop through the aspen-and-sage foothills as weather pushes them; good bucks are possible in this rugged east-slope country.
- →Glass high open slopes and rimrock early season
- →Hunt aspen-and-sage transitions on the lower benches
- →Watch for storm-driven migration down the drainages
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the berry and aspen slopes; this is core grizzly range, so bear identification and bear-aware practices are essential.
- →Glass green draws and berry patches
- →Assume grizzlies present — carry spray, hang meat, never leave carcasses
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions follow deer and sheep through the rimrock and timber; a winter pursuit-season resource.
- →Cut fresh tracks after snow on lower forest roads
- →Focus on rugged, deer-holding canyon country
Pro tips
- →This is a horseback/backpack wilderness unit — do not underestimate the access or the elevation
- →Sheep and moose here are marquee limited draws; build points and scout the Whiskey Basin winter range in summer
- →Get above the Fitzpatrick trailheads to escape day-hunter pressure
- →Core grizzly country — spray, partners, and disciplined meat handling are non-negotiable
- →Know the reservation boundary and the WHMA seasonal rules before you hunt the low country
Watch out for
- !Extensive designated wilderness — no motorized/mechanized travel; plan for horses or backpacking
- !Core grizzly bear range
- !Whiskey Basin WHMA is critical bighorn winter range with seasonal access rules
- !Wind River Indian Reservation boundary — closed to non-tribal hunting
- !Severe, fast-changing high-country weather and early snow
Logistics
Dubois is the base — fuel, groceries, lodging, outfitters and the Whiskey Basin access road are all right there. Riverton and Lander offer full services and a hospital. Beyond the trailheads you are on foot or horseback into the Fitzpatrick, so pack for remote, self-supported hunts.
Nearest towns: Dubois, Lander, Riverton, Jackson
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Wyoming Elk Unit 69 (Whiskey Mountain) · WGFD — Whiskey Basin Wildlife Habitat Management Area · WGFD Hunt Planner
FAQ
- How big is Unit 69 in Wyoming?
- Unit 69 (Whiskey Mountain (Area 69)) covers about 332 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,200 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 69?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Shoshone NF (Wind River Ranger District), Fitzpatrick Wilderness, WGFD Whiskey Basin WHMA, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 69?
- Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Mule Deer, 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 69 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.