Unit 96 New Fork (Area 96)
New Fork drainage out of Pinedale into the Bridger Wilderness — valley floor to alpine divide, good branch-antlered bulls, and the nonresident wilderness-guide rule.
Upper Green River / Wind River Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
251
sq mi
Public land
76%
approx.
Elevation
7,200–12,800
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Hunt Area 96, New Fork, sits just north and east of Pinedale, running from the Green River and New Fork valley floor up the west slope of the Wind River Range to the mountaintop divide. Its boundary starts where US 191 crosses Pine Creek in Pinedale and climbs the New Fork and Pole Creek drainages to the crest of the Bridger Wilderness. Part of the Upper Green River elk herd, it grades from gentle sage-and-ranch valley bottom to steep, timbered slopes and alpine crest, with timberline near 10,000 feet. Elk are the marquee and it produces good branch-antlered bulls, alongside Sublette mule deer, Shiras moose, black bear and cougar. Much of the high elk country lies inside designated wilderness, a key access limit for nonresidents.
Terrain
Sage-and-hay valley floor and lake benches near Pinedale rising through timbered canyons and moraines to steep alpine ridges and the Continental Divide crest; timberline near 10,000 feet.
Cover: Sagebrush, willow bottoms and irrigated meadow low down; lodgepole, spruce-fir and aspen on the slopes; alpine tundra, granite and glacial lake basins high in the Bridger Wilderness.
Landmarks: New Fork River · New Fork Lakes · Fremont Lake / Elkhart Park · Pole Creek · Bridger Wilderness boundary · Fremont Peak
Access
Predominantly Bridger-Teton National Forest — including a large portion of the Bridger Wilderness — with BLM lower down and significant private ranchland on the New Fork and Green valley floor near Pinedale, Cora and the lake roads. Not the southern Wyoming checkerboard, but the valley bottom is heavily deeded; map land status and get permission there. Under Wyoming law nonresidents cannot hunt big or trophy game in designated wilderness without a licensed guide or resident companion, and much of the elk habitat is wilderness.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF, BLM, private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: Elkhart Park / Fremont Lake road and trailhead · New Fork Lakes road and trailhead (off WY 352 near Cora) · Pole Creek / Boulder Lake access · US 191 and county roads across the valley floor near Pinedale
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA good branch-antlered bull unit in the Upper Green herd; elk range from timbered benches to high wilderness basins, with the biggest bulls in roadless country and movement down toward the valley driven by late storms.
- →Work the timbered benches and canyon heads between valley and wilderness
- →Backpack or pack in with stock to reach roadless high basins for less-pressured bulls
- →Time the season to late storms that move elk down the New Fork and Pole Creek drainages
- →Glass open slopes and parks at first and last light
Mule Deer
common qualityStoried Sublette-herd mule deer summer high on the Wind River west slope near Pinedale and migrate through; managed conservatively after hard winters but still capable of good bucks.
- →Glass high alpine and timberline basins early season
- →Follow deer to lower sage-and-aspen ground as weather turns
- →Hunt migration corridors off the mountain during storms
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose work the willow bottoms and lake margins of the New Fork and Pole Creek country — a low-density, hard-to-draw trophy hunt.
- →Hunt willow flats, lake edges and beaver-pond complexes at dawn and dusk
- →Glass riparian corridors and aspen-conifer edges near water
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the aspen, berry slopes and timber of the west slope; this is expanding grizzly range as well.
- →Glass green avalanche chutes, aspen and berry patches spring and fall
- →Watch drainage bottoms and forest edges at low light
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions follow deer through the timbered canyons and rimrock of the range.
- →Hunt fresh snow to cut and follow tracks
- →Focus on deer wintering ground and canyon travel routes
Pro tips
- →Nonresidents need a guide or resident companion to hunt the wilderness — plan tags and logistics accordingly
- →The best bulls are in the roadless high country above Elkhart Park and the New Fork Lakes — be ready to pack in
- →Map the deeded valley floor near Pinedale and Cora and get permission before crossing
- →Time the hunt to late storms that funnel elk down the New Fork and Pole Creek drainages
- →Elkhart Park and lake roads can close with the first heavy snow
Watch out for
- !Nonresident wilderness rule — no big/trophy game in designated wilderness without a guide or resident companion
- !Heavily deeded private ranchland on the New Fork and Green valley floor near Pinedale
- !Serious alpine weather and closable high roads late season
- !Expanding grizzly range — carry bear spray and store food properly
- !Sublette mule deer herd managed conservatively after hard winters
Logistics
Pinedale sits right at the mouth of this unit — full services including fuel, groceries, lodging and a hospital — making it the easiest base of the three upper-Green areas. Paved roads reach Fremont Lake / Elkhart Park and the New Fork Lakes; beyond the trailheads it is foot or stock only into the Bridger Wilderness. Carry backcountry gear for the high reaches; BLM, Forest and WGFD offices in Pinedale help with access and land status.
Nearest towns: Pinedale, Cora, Boulder, Daniel
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Elk Hunt Area 96 (New Fork) Map · GOHUNT — Wyoming Elk Unit 96 (New Fork) · WGFD Wyoming Elk Herd Status 2022 (Upper Green River herd EL107)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 96 in Wyoming?
- Unit 96 (New Fork (Area 96)) covers about 251 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,200 to 12,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 96?
- Approximately 76% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF, BLM, private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 96?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, 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 96 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.