How big is Unit 82 in Wyoming?

Unit 82 (Crystal Peak (Area 82)) covers about 234 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,000 to 11,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.

What species does the catalog list for Unit 82?

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.

Unit 82 Crystal Peak (Area 82)

The wild heart of the Gros Ventre — Crystal Creek's alpine peaks, backcountry elk, and a true wilderness bighorn hunt.

Jackson Hole / Gros Ventre · Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Bull elk standing at the edge of dark timber

Area

234

sq mi

Public land

95%

approx.

Elevation

7,000–11,700

feet

Motorized

wilderness

access

Overview

Hunt Area 82 (Crystal Peak) is the rugged interior of the Gros Ventre Range north of the Flat Creek/Gros Ventre divide, built around the Crystal Creek drainage and the high peaks of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Most of it lies inside the Gros Ventre Wilderness — long, deep canyons climbing to alpine crest at Doubletop and Crystal peaks — where there is no motorized travel and nonresidents must hunt with a guide. This is backcountry Jackson elk herd country and prime range for the Gros Ventre bighorn herd, with moose in the willow bottoms and mule deer on the high basins. It is a physical, remote, weather-exposed hunt in the middle of grizzly country.

Terrain

Deep glacial canyons and high alpine peaks of the Gros Ventre Range — Crystal Creek and its tributaries cutting up to talus rims, cirques and the crest at Doubletop and Crystal peaks. Big country, big vertical, few roads.

Cover: Spruce-fir and lodgepole in the canyons, aspen and mountain shrub on the sunny slopes, willow and sedge in the creek bottoms, and expansive alpine meadow, tundra and talus up high.

Landmarks: Doubletop Peak · Crystal Peak · Crystal Creek · Gros Ventre River · Gros Ventre Wilderness · Flat Creek/Gros Ventre divide

Access

No checkerboard — this is nearly all federal, with the great majority inside the Gros Ventre Wilderness. That means no motorized travel and, under Wyoming law, nonresidents must hunt with a licensed guide or a resident companion. Practical access is on foot or horseback from the Gros Ventre Road and its trailheads. A little private ranch ground sits along the lower Gros Ventre River; the high country is essentially all public.

Managers: USFS Gros Ventre Wilderness, USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Jackson Ranger District), WY state trust, private ranch (lower Gros Ventre bottoms)

Access points: Gros Ventre Road (from Kelly) to Crystal Creek and Red Hills trailheads · Crystal Creek Trail into the Gros Ventre Wilderness · Bridger-Teton NF stock trails up the Gros Ventre drainage

Species notes

Rocky Mountain Elk

abundant quality

Backcountry summer and transition range for the Jackson elk herd. Elk hold in the high basins and timbered canyon heads and move with weather; reaching them means getting well back from the trailheads, and seasons run conservatively to protect migrants.

→Backpack or pack in beyond day-hunter range to the high basins and canyon heads
→Bugle the timbered stringers and parks during the September rut
→Glass alpine meadows and avalanche chutes at first and last light
→Set up on migration lines as early storms push elk downcanyon

Bighorn Sheep

common trophy

The Gros Ventre herd — one of Wyoming's most consistent bighorn populations — uses the alpine rims and grassy faces around Crystal and Doubletop peaks. A coveted once-in-a-lifetime tag and a genuine wilderness ram hunt.

→Glass high talus, cirque rims and alpine benches for rams
→Plan a multi-day backcountry hunt with serious vertical
→Nonresidents need a guide for the wilderness

Moose

limited quality

Shiras moose browse the willow bottoms of Crystal Creek and the Gros Ventre; part of the tightly-managed Jackson moose herd with very few licenses.

→Glass willow flats and beaver complexes morning and evening
→Work riparian stringers up the drainages
→Hunt aspen and shrub edges during the rut

Mule Deer

common opportunity

Mule deer summer in the high basins and open alpine edges and drop with weather; a worthwhile backcountry deer hunt for those already back in.

→Glass alpine basins and rockslide edges for bucks
→Hunt the timberline transitions
→Follow deer lower as early snow arrives

Black Bear

common opportunity

Black bears feed in the aspen, avalanche chutes and berry basins, but this is core grizzly country — bear identification and safety are non-negotiable.

→Glass avalanche paths, aspen and berry basins in early fall
→Positively confirm black vs. grizzly before any shot
→Carry bear spray and run full grizzly protocols in camp and on kills

Cougar

limited opportunity

Mountain lions range the canyons following deer and elk; a low-density winter pursuit resource limited by deep-snow access.

→Cut tracks on accessible lower roads and canyon mouths after snow
→Focus on rugged breaks holding wintering game

Pro tips

→This is a get-back-in unit — the elk and rams are where the day hunters aren't, so plan to pack in
→Nonresidents must have a guide (or resident companion) for the wilderness; arrange it well before applying
→Crystal Creek trail is the main artery into the high country from the Gros Ventre Road
→For a bighorn tag, plan a physically demanding multi-day alpine hunt around Crystal and Doubletop peaks
→Core grizzly country: bear spray, clean camps, and get meat off the mountain fast

Watch out for

!Core grizzly bear country — mandatory bear ID, bear spray and prompt game handling
!Gros Ventre Wilderness: no motorized travel and a nonresident guide requirement
!Remote, committing terrain with early, heavy snow that can strand stock and close access
!Very limited road access — this is a backcountry hunt requiring stock or a heavy pack
!Private ranch ground along the lower Gros Ventre River bottoms

Logistics

Kelly is the nearest hamlet at the mouth of the Gros Ventre; Jackson (roughly 20-30 miles) is the full-service hub for fuel, groceries, lodging, outfitters and a hospital. The Gros Ventre Road reaches the wilderness trailheads, but everything beyond is foot or stock — most hunters pack in or hire an outfitter. Plan self-sufficient backcountry logistics and an exit plan for early snow.

Nearest towns: Kelly, Jackson, Wilson, Moran

Nearby units

Unit 81 · Spread Creek (Area 81) Unit 80 · Sheep Creek (Area 80) Unit 87 · Raspberry Ridge (Area 87) Unit 83 · Fish Creek (Area 83)

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 82 boundary) · GoHunt — Wyoming Elk Area 82 (Crystal Peak) profile · WGFD Bighorn Sheep Hunting · Bridger-Teton National Forest / Gros Ventre Wilderness

FAQ

How big is Unit 82 in Wyoming?: Unit 82 (Crystal Peak (Area 82)) covers about 234 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,000 to 11,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
How much public land is in Unit 82?: Approximately 95% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Gros Ventre Wilderness, USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Jackson Ranger District), WY state trust, private ranch (lower Gros Ventre bottoms). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
What species does the catalog list for Unit 82?: 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.

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