Unit 85 Fall Creek (Area 85)
Drainage-rich Snake River Range elk country west of Jackson to the Idaho line.
Snake River Range / Bridger-Teton NF · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
280
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
5,800–9,500
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Area 85 (Fall Creek) runs from the Snake River valley floor west and up to the mountaintop divide on the Idaho state line, in the Snake River Range portion of the Bridger-Teton National Forest southwest of Jackson. Bordered by State Highway 22 on the north and the Snake River on the east and south, it is a smaller, heavily dissected unit with excellent public access and a healthy elk herd, making it a good place to work drainages for branch-antlered bulls, with mule deer and Shiras moose also present.
Terrain
Gently contoured lower slopes near the Snake River rise into steep, rugged, timbered ridges toward the Idaho-line divide, with timberline around 8,500 feet.
Cover: Lodgepole, spruce-fir, Douglas fir and aspen across the slopes with grassy parks and openings; brushy draws and riparian stringers along the many creeks.
Landmarks: Snake River · Fall Creek · Mosquito Creek · Snake River Range · Idaho state line divide · State Highway 22 · Munger Mountain area
Access
Overwhelmingly public national forest with no southern-Wyoming checkerboard; the main private ground is ranch and residential land along Fall Creek Road and the Snake River valley edge, so respect boundaries near the valley. Public access is excellent along Fall Creek and Mosquito Creek roads with many maintained side roads, secondary logging roads and a large trail system.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF, private ranch
Access points: Fall Creek Road · Mosquito Creek Road · State Highway 22 corridor · secondary logging roads and forest trailheads · Snake River valley approaches
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA healthy elk herd is spread across the many drainages; the mix of logging-road access and abundant timber makes this a solid place to hunt branch-antlered bulls without a full backcountry commitment.
- →Work the numerous drainages and timber edges morning and evening
- →Use the road and trail network to cover ground and get into secondary creeks
- →Hunt higher, steeper timber early, then intercept elk moving lower with snow
- →Slip into pockets between logging roads where pressure thins
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the aspen, mountain shrub and open slopes; rougher upper country holds better bucks.
- →Glass aspen benches and brushy draws at first and last light
- →Still-hunt timber stringers
- →Climb into steeper upper drainages for mature bucks
Moose
limited qualityWillow and riparian bottoms along the creeks and the Snake River edge hold Shiras moose; a prized limited-draw tag.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver complexes at dawn and dusk
- →Work riparian corridors slowly
- →Check pond and creek margins midday
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the berry slopes and timber of the Snake River Range; be bear-aware as grizzlies increasingly range this country.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and berry slopes late day
- →Watch green aspen and creek stringers in early fall
- →Identify targets carefully as grizzly presence grows here
Pro tips
- →Use the excellent road and trail network to scout multiple drainages, then hunt the pockets between roads where pressure drops.
- →Play elevation: hunt higher timber early, then focus lower drainages as snow pushes elk down.
- →Respect private ranch and residential boundaries along Fall Creek Road and the Snake River valley.
- →Weekday and low-light hunting pays off in this well-accessed, popular unit.
- →Stay bear-aware and identify carefully; grizzly presence is increasing in the Snake River Range.
Watch out for
- !Private ranch/residential land along Fall Creek Road and the Snake River valley edge.
- !Higher hunting pressure than the more remote Hoback/Gros Ventre units.
- !Early timberline snow and muddy logging roads.
- !Growing grizzly presence: bear spray, clean camp, careful target ID.
Logistics
This is the most road-accessible of the Jackson-area units, reached via Highway 22 and Fall Creek/Mosquito Creek roads with a dense secondary-road and trail network; day hunts are common. Base out of Wilson or Jackson for lodging, groceries and fuel. A high-clearance rig helps on the logging roads, and horses or backpacking open the higher country. Cell coverage is decent near the valley, spotty higher up.
Nearest towns: Wilson, Jackson, Hoback Junction, Victor ID (over Teton 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 85 (Fall Creek) Profile · WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Areas map · Bridger-Teton National Forest Hunting & Shooting
FAQ
- How big is Unit 85 in Wyoming?
- Unit 85 (Fall Creek (Area 85)) covers about 280 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,800 to 9,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 85?
- Approximately 90% 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 85?
- 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 85 on your map.
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