Unit 81 Spread Creek (Area 81)
Buffalo Valley and the Mount Leidy Highlands — rolling timbered migration country between Grand Teton Park and Togwotee Pass.
Jackson Hole / Mount Leidy Highlands · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
351
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
6,800–10,326
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 81 (Spread Creek) is the big, rolling highland block northeast of Grand Teton National Park, running from the Gros Ventre River near Kelly north along the Park boundary to U.S. 26-287, east along the highway to Togwotee Pass and the Continental Divide, then south to the Moccasin Basin Road. It takes in Spread Creek, the Mount Leidy Highlands and the Buffalo Valley fringe of the Bridger-Teton National Forest — lower and more forgiving than the wilderness peaks to the south, with broad timbered ridges, sage parks and aspen. This is a major Jackson elk herd migration and transition corridor and holds moose, mule deer and both bear species; it also sits squarely in grizzly and wolf country.
Terrain
Rolling forested highlands rather than sharp alpine — broad ridges, timbered plateaus and sage-and-aspen parks drained by Spread Creek, Ditch Creek and the upper Gros Ventre, topping out at Mount Leidy and climbing toward the Continental Divide at Togwotee Pass.
Cover: Extensive lodgepole and spruce-fir forest with big aspen stands, willow bottoms along the creeks, and sagebrush and grass parks on the open ridges and benches.
Landmarks: Mount Leidy · Spread Creek · Togwotee Pass · Buffalo Valley · Gros Ventre River · Continental Divide · Grand Teton National Park boundary (closed to hunting)
Access
No checkerboard — this is federal-forest country. Most of the block is roaded, non-wilderness Bridger-Teton NF with good general access via Spread Creek, Ditch Creek and the Togwotee corridor. The catch is the private ranch and lodge ground in Buffalo Valley and along the Gros Ventre and Buffalo Fork bottoms, plus the Grand Teton National Park boundary on the west, which is closed to hunting. Verify the Park line and private inholdings before setting up.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Blackrock & Jackson Ranger Districts), private ranch (Buffalo Valley / Gros Ventre bottoms), WY state trust, BLM
Access points: Spread Creek Road (off US 26-287) · Ditch Creek and Shadow Mountain roads · US 26-287 / Togwotee Pass corridor · Gros Ventre Road (upper end) · Blackrock Ranger District trailheads · Moccasin Basin Road
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityA central piece of the Jackson elk herd's migration. Elk pour through the Mount Leidy Highlands and Spread Creek country between high summer range and lower winter range, and hunting pressure and weather move them constantly. Seasons here are managed conservatively to protect long-distance migrants.
- →Hunt timber-park edges and migration saddles, adjusting to weather and pressure
- →Bugle the aspen-and-lodgepole pockets during the September rut
- →Glass the big sage parks at dawn and dusk
- →Watch the Grand Teton Park boundary — elk shelter inside where you can't follow
Moose
common qualityBuffalo Valley and the Spread Creek/Gros Ventre willow bottoms are classic Shiras moose country and part of the closely-managed Jackson moose herd. Coveted, very limited licenses.
- →Glass willow flats and riparian stringers morning and evening
- →Work the beaver-pond and creek complexes of Spread Creek and Buffalo Valley
- →Hunt aspen edges in the rut
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the aspen, sage parks and timber edges of the highlands and migrate with weather; a good supplemental hunt tied to the broader Sublette/Jackson deer.
- →Glass aspen and sage transitions at first and last light
- →Hunt the highland parks and burns
- →Drop to mid-elevation edges after early snow
Black Bear
common opportunityStrong black bear numbers work the aspen, berry fields and creek bottoms, but this is heavily occupied grizzly country — bear identification is critical.
- →Glass aspen benches, old burns and berry patches in early fall
- →Absolutely confirm black vs. grizzly before shooting
- →Run full grizzly protocols and carry bear spray
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions shadow the elk and deer through the timbered highlands; mainly a winter tracking hunt.
- →Cut tracks on forest roads after fresh snow
- →Focus on timber breaks holding wintering deer and elk
Pro tips
- →This is a migration unit — success is about being on the move when the elk are, not sitting one spot
- →Spread Creek and Ditch Creek roads open a lot of huntable non-wilderness forest without a wilderness guide
- →Buffalo Valley willow bottoms are your best moose glassing, but respect the private ranch and lodge ground
- →Know exactly where the Grand Teton Park boundary runs — elk use it as a refuge
- →Full grizzly country: bear spray, clean camps, and haul meat out promptly
Watch out for
- !Heavily occupied grizzly bear country — bear ID, bear spray and fast meat care are essential
- !Grand Teton National Park boundary on the west is closed to hunting
- !Private ranch, lodge and inholding ground in Buffalo Valley and the Gros Ventre/Buffalo Fork bottoms
- !Togwotee Pass gets early, heavy snow; back roads turn to slick clay when wet
- !Conservative elk seasons here to protect migrants — read the current regulation carefully
Logistics
Moran Junction and Buffalo Valley sit at the doorstep with lodges and limited services; Jackson (about 30-40 miles) is the full-service hub for fuel, groceries, lodging and a hospital, and Dubois lies east over Togwotee Pass. Spread Creek and Togwotee roads give good vehicle access to the forest, but back roads turn greasy when wet and Togwotee Pass gets early, heavy snow.
Nearest towns: Moran, Jackson, Kelly, Dubois (over Togwotee Pass)
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, Area 81 boundary) · Wyoming Elk Herd Status / Jackson herd management (2022) · WGFD Moose Hunting · Bridger-Teton National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 81 in Wyoming?
- Unit 81 (Spread Creek (Area 81)) covers about 351 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,800 to 10,326 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 81?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Blackrock & Jackson Ranger Districts), private ranch (Buffalo Valley / Gros Ventre bottoms), WY state trust, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 81?
- 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 81 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.