Unit 80 Sheep Creek (Area 80)
The Gros Ventre front above the National Elk Refuge — winter-range elk, alpine bighorns, and a short walk from town.
Jackson Hole / Gros Ventre · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
89
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
6,300–11,116
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Hunt Area 80 (Sheep Creek) covers the western front of the Gros Ventre Range immediately east of Jackson and Kelly, running from where the National Elk Refuge boundary crosses the Gros Ventre/Flat Creek divide southeast along the ridgelines to Pyramid Peak on the Flat Creek/Granite Creek divide. It is compact but steep, draped over the Flat Creek, Cache Creek and Sheep Creek drainages of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, with the Gros Ventre Wilderness forming its high backbone. This is core Jackson elk herd country — much of the range summers here and drifts down toward the National Elk Refuge as snow deepens — and the Gros Ventre bighorn herd holds the alpine faces above.
Terrain
The steep west face of the Gros Ventre Range rising straight out of Jackson Hole: timbered creek canyons (Flat Creek, Cache Creek, Sheep Creek) climbing to open ridges and the alpine crest at Pyramid Peak. Short horizontal distances but big vertical.
Cover: Lodgepole, Douglas-fir and spruce-fir on the north slopes, aspen and mountain shrub on the sunny faces, sagebrush and grass benches on the lower front, and alpine tundra and talus on the high ridges.
Landmarks: Pyramid Peak · Sheep Creek · Cache Creek · Flat Creek · National Elk Refuge (closed to hunting) · Gros Ventre Wilderness boundary
Access
No Union Pacific checkerboard here — this is northwest Wyoming, almost entirely federal. The high country sits in the Gros Ventre Wilderness, where nonresidents are required by Wyoming law to hunt with a licensed guide or a resident companion and no motorized travel is allowed. The National Elk Refuge on the west edge is closed to hunting. Watch the private ranch and residential fringe around Jackson and the mouth of the Gros Ventre near Kelly.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Jackson Ranger District), USFS Gros Ventre Wilderness, US Fish & Wildlife (National Elk Refuge), private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: Cache Creek trailhead (from Jackson) · Game Creek and Flat Creek roads · Curtis Canyon / Sheep Creek road above the Elk Refuge · Gros Ventre Road out of Kelly · Bridger-Teton NF trails into the Gros Ventre Wilderness
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe marquee animal. Area 80 is prime Jackson herd summer and transition range; as autumn snow builds, elk funnel off the high Gros Ventre country toward the National Elk Refuge, and hunting the migration timing is everything.
- →Hunt the timbered benches and creek heads early, then key on migration lines as snow pushes elk west toward the refuge
- →Bugle and cold-call the dark timber of Cache and Sheep creeks during the September rut
- →Glass open sage-and-aspen fronts at first and last light for feeding herds
- →Be ready to move with the weather — a single storm can shift the whole herd
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyThe Gros Ventre herd is one of Wyoming's most consistent bighorn populations and rams use the alpine ridges and rock faces at the head of these drainages. A rare once-in-a-lifetime tag hunt, not an over-the-counter opportunity.
- →Glass the high talus, rims and grassy alpine benches near Pyramid Peak
- →Expect a physical backcountry hunt with big vertical gain
- →Nonresidents need a guide for the wilderness portion
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose browse the willow bottoms and riparian creek stringers; part of the closely-managed Jackson moose herd with very limited licenses.
- →Work willow flats along Flat Creek and the lower Gros Ventre
- →Hunt the aspen and shrub edges early and late
- →Sort out bulls carefully in thick cover
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer summer on the higher sage-and-aspen fronts and open ridges and drift lower with weather; a solid supplemental hunt rather than a trophy destination.
- →Glass aspen edges and open ridges at dawn
- →Hunt mid-elevation transitions after early snow
- →Push higher for older bucks that stay off the front
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the aspen, berry patches and creek bottoms. Note this is occupied grizzly country — bear ID and bear safety are mandatory.
- →Glass aspen benches and avalanche chutes for feeding blacks in early fall
- →Positively confirm black vs. grizzly before any shot
- →Carry bear spray and hunt with grizzly protocols
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the deer and elk through the timbered canyons; primarily a winter pursuit-season resource on snow.
- →Cut tracks on forest roads and ridges after fresh snow
- →Focus on the rugged canyon country holding wintering deer
Pro tips
- →Timing beats location — pattern the snow and hunt the migration off the high country toward the refuge
- →Cache Creek gives foot access to good elk timber almost from downtown Jackson
- →For bighorn, this is a draw-and-pray tag; if you draw, plan a physical alpine hunt near Pyramid Peak
- →Nonresidents cannot hunt the wilderness portion without a guide — line that up before applying
- →Treat every fall day as grizzly country: bear spray, clean camps, hunt in pairs
Watch out for
- !Occupied grizzly bear country — mandatory bear ID, bear spray and careful game handling
- !Gros Ventre Wilderness: nonresident guide requirement and no motorized travel
- !National Elk Refuge boundary is closed to hunting — know where it is
- !Private ranch and residential fringe around Jackson and Kelly
- !Early, heavy mountain snow can strand vehicles and close high routes
Logistics
Jackson is the full-service hub — fuel, groceries, lodging, outfitters and a hospital — and trailheads leave right from the edge of town, making this one of the most accessible Gros Ventre units. Curtis Canyon and Gros Ventre roads reach the forest boundary; everything above is foot or stock. Weather closes high routes fast in late season.
Nearest towns: Jackson, Kelly, Wilson, Hoback Junction
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Elk Hunting Seasons regulation (Ch. 7, hunt-area boundaries) · WGFD Bighorn Sheep Hunting · WGFD Moose Hunting · Bridger-Teton National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 80 in Wyoming?
- Unit 80 (Sheep Creek (Area 80)) covers about 89 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,300 to 11,116 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 80?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Jackson Ranger District), USFS Gros Ventre Wilderness, US Fish & Wildlife (National Elk Refuge), private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 80?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Bighorn Sheep, 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 80 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.