Unit 87 Raspberry Ridge (Area 87)
Public forest elk unit west of Bondurant on Hoback Rim, backing to the Gros Ventre Wilderness — CWD country.
Wyoming Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
115
sq mi
Public land
86%
approx.
Elevation
6,700–10,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 87, Raspberry Ridge, sits just west of Bondurant in western Wyoming, beginning where US 191 crosses the Green River–Hoback divide on Hoback Rim and running through the Dell Creek, Riling Draw, Steamboat Peak and Hodges Peak country. It is about 86% public — overwhelmingly Bridger-Teton National Forest — with ranch land only along the Hoback and Dell Creek bottoms. Roaded lower country transitions to rugged high ridges, and the unit's northern edge butts against the Gros Ventre Wilderness. It's a solid limited-quota elk unit with good access, though chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in elk here.
Terrain
Rolling sage foothills and river benches on Hoback Rim climbing to steep, timbered ridges and high peaks — Steamboat Peak, Hodges Peak — along the northern Wyoming Range and the flank of the Gros Ventre Range.
Cover: Sagebrush-grass parks and aspen on lower south slopes, dense lodgepole and spruce-fir at mid-elevation, willow and beaver bottoms along Dell Creek and the Hoback, and alpine meadow above timberline.
Landmarks: Raspberry Ridge · Hoback Rim · Steamboat Peak · Hodges Peak · Dell Creek · Hoback River · Gros Ventre Wilderness boundary
Access
About 86% public — roughly 85% Bridger-Teton NF and a few percent BLM — with private ranch concentrated in the Hoback and Dell Creek valley bottoms near Bondurant. This is contiguous forest, NOT the southern-Wyoming checkerboard. Good road access off US 191 and Dell Creek Road serves the lower unit; the northern edge borders the Gros Ventre Wilderness, where travel is nonmotorized.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF, private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: US 191 over Hoback Rim · Dell Creek Road west from Bondurant · Riling Draw Road · Forest Service trailheads toward Steamboat and Hodges peaks · Gros Ventre Wilderness trailheads on the north edge
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe primary draw — a healthy Bondurant-area elk herd that summers in the high Wyoming Range and Gros Ventre flank and winters toward the valley feedground complex. Good numbers on mostly public ground make it a popular limited-quota tag.
- →Hunt high ridge saddles and timbered basins toward Steamboat and Hodges peaks early
- →Glass sage parks and aspen edges at dawn/dusk on the lower Hoback Rim benches
- →Backpack into the Gros Ventre Wilderness edge for pressure-free bulls
- →Work the Dell Creek headwaters as snow moves elk toward wintering ground
Mule Deer
common qualityWyoming Range mule deer use the high basins and mahogany benches — quality-buck potential on public land, but the herd is winter-sensitive and managed conservatively after hard recent winters.
- →Glass timberline basins and rockslides at first and last light
- →Hunt aspen and mountain-mahogany on south-facing benches
- →Hike above the roads for mature bucks and let early snow move deer lower
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose hold in the willow bottoms and beaver complexes along Dell Creek and the Hoback tributaries — low density but a genuine trophy presence.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver ponds morning and evening
- →Still-hunt riparian pockets and spring seeps in the high drainages
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the deer and elk through the timbered canyons and rims of the northern Wyoming Range.
- →Cut tracks in fresh snow along canyon rims and Forest roads
- →Hunt with hounds after storms in the drainage bottoms
Pro tips
- →Follow all CWD carcass-handling and testing guidance — chronic wasting disease is confirmed in Area 87 elk
- →Roaded lower country gets pressure; backpack toward the Gros Ventre Wilderness edge for undisturbed elk
- →Elk shift toward the Bondurant valley feedground complex as snow deepens — time late hunts to the migration
- →Pass young Wyoming Range mule deer bucks; the herd is recovering from hard winters
- →Watch Hoback Rim and Dell Creek Road for early snow; carry chains and recovery gear
Watch out for
- !Chronic wasting disease confirmed in Area 87 elk — handle and test carcasses per WGFD guidance
- !Private ranch in the Hoback and Dell Creek valley bottoms — map boundaries down low near Bondurant
- !Gros Ventre Wilderness on the north edge is nonmotorized — no vehicles or e-bikes beyond the boundary
- !Fast early snowstorms can close Hoback Rim and high Forest roads
- !Grizzly and black bear present — bear-aware camping and meat care essential
Logistics
Bondurant, immediately east on US 191, offers motel lodging and limited services; Pinedale to the south and Jackson to the north are the full-service hubs for fuel, groceries and hospitals. Dispersed and Forest Service camping along US 191 and Dell Creek serve as staging points. High roads get rough and snow-prone.
Nearest towns: Bondurant, Pinedale, Jackson, Hoback Junction
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Area maps · GoHunt — Wyoming Elk Unit 87 (Raspberry Ridge) · HuntScore — Wyoming Hunt Area 87 (Raspberry Ridge) · WGFD — CWD found in new Wyoming hunt area
FAQ
- How big is Unit 87 in Wyoming?
- Unit 87 (Raspberry Ridge (Area 87)) covers about 115 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,700 to 10,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 87?
- Approximately 86% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF, private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 87?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 87 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.