Unit 71 Pacific Creek (Area 71)
Steep, roadless Pacific Creek country walled between Grand Teton and Yellowstone — 100% public wilderness elk
Teton Wilderness / Pacific Creek (Bridger-Teton NF) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
234
sq mi
Public land
100%
approx.
Elevation
6,800–10,200
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
Hunt Area 71 follows the Pacific Creek drainage north and east from the Grand Teton National Park boundary up through the Teton Wilderness to the Yellowstone line, roughly 234 square miles of steep, timbered mountains inside the Bridger-Teton National Forest. It is 100% public and lies almost entirely within designated wilderness, part of the Jackson elk herd. Elk are scattered throughout, with the biggest bulls holding in the remote upper basins and canyons that pressure never reaches. This is prime grizzly country and a horseback hunter's unit.
Terrain
Steep, rugged mountains rising from the Pacific Creek bottom to high timbered ridges and alpine basins near the Yellowstone plateau. Deep side canyons and long climbs define the country.
Cover: Dense lodgepole and spruce-fir timber, willow and grass along Pacific Creek, scattered aspen and sage parks on lower slopes, and open alpine meadows and tundra at the heads of drainages. Burn mosaics and beetle-kill add downfall and regrowth.
Landmarks: Pacific Creek · Pacific Creek Trailhead · Two Ocean Plateau country (north) · Fox Park / Gravel Creek · Grand Teton National Park boundary (south/west) · Yellowstone National Park boundary (north)
Access
All public and almost entirely designated Teton Wilderness — no checkerboard, no landowner permission, but no motorized access. Wyoming law prohibits nonresidents from hunting big or trophy game in designated wilderness without a licensed guide or a resident companion (who must carry a free non-commercial guide license). The road up Pacific Creek (FR 30090) ends at the trailhead inside the park corridor; from there it is trail and stock only.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Teton Wilderness)
Access points: Pacific Creek Trailhead (end of Pacific Creek Road / FR 30090) · Pacific Creek Trail (USFS Trail 036) · Gravel Creek Trail (USFS Trail 042) at Fox Park · Two Ocean / Emerald Lake trail systems
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant trophyThe headline hunt and part of the storied Jackson elk herd. Elk are found throughout Area 71, but the mature bulls hold in the remote upper basins and steep canyons where access is hardest. Light pressure and rugged terrain let bulls reach age, and early timing can catch rutting activity. Snow and pressure move elk downhill and toward winter range as the season deepens.
- →Hunt the remote basins and canyon heads where big bulls escape pressure
- →Pack in on stock past the Pacific Creek Trailhead crowd to reach untouched country
- →Bugle and cold-call the dark timber early in the season
- →Glass high parks and burn edges at dawn and dusk
- →Position for the first hard snow that pushes elk out of the high country
Moose
common qualityPacific Creek's willow bottoms and beaver complexes hold Shiras moose within the Jackson moose herd. Tags are scarce draw-only permits, but a bull here can be a trophy. Focus on riparian willow and pond drainages.
- →Work the willow flats and beaver ponds along Pacific Creek at first light
- →Glass creek bottoms and spring seeps for bedded bulls
- →Hunt slow through willow-timber transitions
Mule Deer
limited opportunityMule deer occur on lower benches, aspen, and open parks but at modest density; they are a secondary target to elk in this steep timber country, with summer bucks leaving the high basins early as weather turns.
- →Glass sage-grass parks and aspen edges on lower south slopes
- →Hunt early before high bucks migrate off the peaks
- →Take deer opportunistically on a backcountry elk trip
Black Bear
common opportunityConfirmed prime grizzly country plus resident black bears. Grizzlies are protected and not huntable, but their density here shapes every decision about camp, food, and meat handling. Black bears have their own seasons.
- →Keep a clean, bear-safe camp and store food and meat away from sleeping areas
- →Carry bear spray at the ready and make noise in thick cover
- →Retrieve downed animals quickly — do not leave meat for a grizzly to claim
Pro tips
- →Nonresidents: arrange a licensed guide or resident companion (free non-commercial guide license) before entering the wilderness
- →The trailhead sees traffic — earn your bull by pushing into the far basins
- →Have meat-packing logistics solved before shooting deep in the backcountry
- →Hunt the weather; snow is what makes the elk findable
- →Carry certified weed-free feed for pack stock as the forest requires
Watch out for
- !Designated wilderness: no motorized/mechanized travel; nonresidents need a guide or resident companion by law
- !Prime grizzly habitat — bear spray, food storage, and fast meat care are essential
- !Steep, nasty terrain that punishes both hunter and stock
- !Early heavy snow can close high routes and strand horses
- !No cell coverage — carry a satellite communicator and a self-rescue plan
Logistics
Access is off US-26/287 near Moran onto Pacific Creek Road, which runs through a Grand Teton NP corridor to the trailhead. Jackson is the service hub. Nearly everyone hunts from horseback or with an outfitter; plan self-supported backcountry camps, weed-free certified stock feed, and expect no cell service beyond the trailhead.
Nearest towns: Moran, Jackson, Moose
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Elk Hunt Area Maps (2023) · WGFD Chapter 7 Elk Hunting Seasons (boundary descriptions) · GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 71 (Pacific Creek) Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 71 in Wyoming?
- Unit 71 (Pacific Creek (Area 71)) covers about 234 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,800 to 10,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 71?
- Approximately 100% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Teton Wilderness). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 71?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Mule Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 71 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.