Unit 97 Pinedale (Area 97)
Pinedale's home mountains — steep Bridger-Teton timber climbing off Fremont Lake into the Wind River high country.
Upper Green River Basin · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
474
sq mi
Public land
84%
approx.
Elevation
7,000–12,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 97 (Pinedale) is a compact, mostly public unit wrapped around the town of Pinedale, running from sage foothills and lake benches up into the western face of the Wind River Range. It is roughly 84% public, dominated by Bridger-Teton National Forest with a slice of the Bridger Wilderness on its high eastern edge. Elk are the marquee draw of the Pinedale elk herd, backed by good mule deer, a strong Sublette Shiras moose population in the willow bottoms, and pronghorn on the sage margins near town. The country is more gently contoured low near the Green River valley floor and turns steep and rugged toward timberline around 10,000 feet.
Terrain
Sage-and-aspen foothills and glacial lake benches on the west rising sharply eastward into forested ridges and the granite peaks of the Wind River Range; timberline sits near 10,000 ft.
Cover: Big sagebrush and grass parks at the base, aspen and Douglas-fir on the mid-slopes, thick spruce-fir near timberline, willow and riparian meadow along Pole Creek, Fremont Lake and Fall Creek.
Landmarks: Fremont Lake · Half Moon Lake · Elkhart Park / Pole Creek trailhead · Pinedale · Bridger Wilderness boundary · Fall Creek
Access
One of the more accessible upper-Green units thanks to a high public-land share and forest roads out of Pinedale. Private ranch holdings cluster along the Green River and Pole Creek bottoms near town — check boundaries before dropping off the forest. This is not classic Union Pacific checkerboard country. Certified weed-free hay is required on National Forest lands.
Managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Pinedale Ranger District), BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: Elkhart Park / Pole Creek trailhead · Fremont Lake Road · Half Moon Lake Road · Skyline Drive · Fall Creek Road · US 191 corridor at Pinedale
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPart of the stable Pinedale elk herd. Elk hold in the forested mid-slopes and timber pockets; the biggest bulls come from the steepest, most remote ground toward the wilderness edge.
- →Hunt the timber-meadow transitions above Fremont and Half Moon lakes at first and last light
- →Push higher and steeper than the crowds near the wilderness boundary for mature bulls
- →Locate bugling bulls at dawn in September, then still-hunt the dark timber
- →Expect elk to shift with early snow and hunting pressure
Mule Deer
common qualityWestern Wind River muleys summer in the high basins and stage on the aspen and sage benches; this is Region G country, historically some of Wyoming's best mule deer ground.
- →Glass aspen-sage edges and open slide basins morning and evening
- →Hunt higher early, then follow deer down as snow pushes them toward the foothills
- →Focus on pockets away from trailhead traffic
Moose
common qualityThe Sublette Shiras moose herd is one of Wyoming's better moose populations; bulls hold in the willow bottoms and riparian corridors.
- →Glass willow flats along Pole Creek, Fall Creek and lake inlets at dawn and dusk
- →Work beaver-pond complexes and creek riparian in the timber
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn use the sage flats and foothill margins on the west side near town, thinning out as the country climbs into timber.
- →Glass the open sage benches below the forest edge
- →Hunt the transition where sagebrush meets aspen and lower ranch ground
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears range the aspen and berry slopes of the Bridger-Teton timber. Note this is occupied grizzly range on the upper end — bear ID and bear-country protocol matter.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and berry patches in late summer and fall
- →Be certain of black-vs-grizzly identification before any shot
- →Carry bear spray and keep a clean camp
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions follow the deer and elk through the timbered breaks; primarily a winter, tracking-snow pursuit.
- →Cut fresh tracks on snow along ridgelines and creek crossings
- →Focus where deer concentrate on winter range
Pro tips
- →The high public-land percentage makes 97 one of the friendlier upper-Green units for a DIY hunter — but the best bulls still require climbing steep, remote timber
- →Elkhart Park is the classic access; walk beyond the first pressure ring toward the wilderness for mature animals
- →Don't overlook the Shiras moose — the willow bottoms hold quality bulls
- →Watch private ranch parcels along the Green River and Pole Creek near town
- →Carry weed-free hay for stock and pack bear spray in this grizzly-fringe country
Watch out for
- !Occupied grizzly range on the upper end — correct bear ID and bear-country protocol required
- !Chronic wasting disease has been detected on Pinedale-area elk feedgrounds; follow carcass and sampling guidance
- !Private ranch inholdings along the Green River and Pole Creek bottoms
- !Sudden alpine weather and early snow at high elevation
- !Unreliable cell service off the highway corridor
Logistics
Pinedale is the hub — fuel, groceries, lodging and outfitters on US 191. Forest roads and the Elkhart Park trailhead put you on the mountain quickly; the wilderness half requires foot or horse travel. Cell service is unreliable off the highway.
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 Hunt Planner · WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Area Maps · GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 97 (Pinedale) Profile · CWD detected on Pinedale-area feedground (Wyoming News)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 97 in Wyoming?
- Unit 97 (Pinedale (Area 97)) covers about 474 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,000 to 12,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 97?
- Approximately 84% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Pinedale Ranger District), BLM, WY state trust, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 97?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Pronghorn, 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 97 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.