Unit 83 Fish Creek (Area 83)
Remote, grizzly-country elk in the wild upper Gros Ventre drainage east of Jackson.
Upper Gros Ventre / Bridger-Teton NF · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
161
sq mi
Public land
95%
approx.
Elevation
7,500–10,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 83 (Fish Creek) reaches from the valley floor of the Gros Ventre River and Fish Creek east to the high mountaintops near the Continental Divide above Union Pass, deep in the Bridger-Teton National Forest east of Jackson Hole. It is almost entirely public national forest, including a slice of the Gros Ventre Wilderness, with a healthy elk herd, good moose and mule deer, and true backcountry character. This is remote, rugged, grizzly country a long way from any town, and it rewards hunters who can pack in and cover ground.
Terrain
Gently contoured sage and river bottoms along the Gros Ventre and Fish Creek climb to steep, rugged, timbered ridges topping out near timberline below the Continental Divide.
Cover: Sage and willow bottoms and grassy parks giving way to lodgepole, spruce-fir and aspen on the slopes, with alpine meadows and rock near the high divide.
Landmarks: Gros Ventre River · Fish Creek / North Fork Fish Creek · Union Pass · Darwin Ranch · Kinky Creek · Continental Divide · Gros Ventre Wilderness
Access
Overwhelmingly public national forest with no southern-Wyoming checkerboard; the main private wrinkle is the Darwin Ranch inholding on the upper Gros Ventre. Part of the unit falls inside the non-motorized Gros Ventre Wilderness. Good public access along the Gros Ventre River Road and Union Pass Road.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF, private ranch
Access points: Gros Ventre River Road from Kelly/Jackson Hole · Union Pass Road (USFS Road 600) · Darwin Ranch Road (USFS Road 620) · Moccasin Basin Road (USFS Road 30750) · backcountry trailheads into the Gros Ventre Wilderness
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA healthy elk herd is spread throughout the drainages; the timbered ridges and high parks hold branch-antlered bulls for hunters willing to get deep and hunt hard in grizzly country.
- →Glass high parks and timber edges at first and last light
- →Push into wilderness and roadless pockets away from the Gros Ventre River Road
- →Follow elk to higher timber early season, then hunt migration routes as snow builds
- →Be bear-aware: carry spray and get quarters out fast
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the mountain-shrub flanks and aspen benches; mature bucks tuck into rough, high draws.
- →Glass shrubby draws and aspen pockets on the slopes
- →Work the sage-to-timber transition morning and evening
- →Hunt higher and rougher country for older bucks
Moose
limited qualityThe willow bottoms of the Gros Ventre and its tributaries hold Shiras moose; a coveted limited-draw tag.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver complexes at dawn and dusk
- →Still-hunt riparian stringers
- →Check pond and creek edges midday
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the berry slopes and timber; note this is occupied grizzly range, so identify targets carefully and hunt bear-aware.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and berry-covered slopes late day
- →Watch aspen and green stringers in early fall
- →Absolutely confirm species before any shot in grizzly country
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a genuine backcountry hunt: pack-in capability with horses or a strong pack frame opens the best country.
- →Carry bear spray and have a fast meat-recovery plan; this is core grizzly range.
- →Watch the Gros Ventre Wilderness boundary and keep motorized use to legal roads only.
- →Hunt higher and deeper away from the river road, where most pressure stays.
- →Time a hunt around the first real snow to catch elk moving down the drainages.
Watch out for
- !Occupied grizzly country: bear spray, clean camp, fast quartering.
- !Darwin Ranch private inholding and Gros Ventre Wilderness non-motorized boundary.
- !Remote high country: early snow can strand vehicles and close Union Pass.
- !No services and no cell coverage; be fully self-sufficient.
Logistics
This is a long, rough drive from Jackson up the Gros Ventre River Road or in over Union Pass; there are no services in the unit. Base out of Jackson for supplies and fuel, come with a high-clearance/4WD rig, and be self-sufficient. Horses or a strong backpack effort open up the best country. Cell coverage is essentially nonexistent.
Nearest towns: Jackson, Kelly, Pinedale (via Union Pass), Dubois (via Union Pass)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 83 (Fish Creek) Profile · WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Areas map · Bridger-Teton National Forest Hunting & Shooting
FAQ
- How big is Unit 83 in Wyoming?
- Unit 83 (Fish Creek (Area 83)) covers about 161 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,500 to 10,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 83?
- Approximately 95% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 83?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, 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 83 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.