Unit 98 Boulder (Area 98)
Boulder country — sage flats and the Path of the Pronghorn running east into the Wind River crest.
Upper Green River Basin · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,934
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
7,000–13,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 98 (Boulder) is a big, varied unit that stretches from the Green River valley floor east to the Continental Divide on the crest of the Wind River Range. It runs from the New Fork and Boulder Creek drainages up through Bridger-Teton National Forest and into the Bridger Wilderness high country, with broad BLM sage basins on the west. This is the heart of the Pinedale elk herd (roughly 2,000 animals) and a corridor of the famous Sublette pronghorn migration — the Path of the Pronghorn — that funnels through Trapper's Point near Boulder. Expect strong pronghorn on the basins, quality Region-G mule deer, Shiras moose in the willows, and elk from the foothills to the alpine.
Terrain
Gently contoured sage basins and river bottoms on the west climbing to steep, rugged forest and glaciated granite peaks on the Continental Divide; timberline near 10,000 ft.
Cover: Big sagebrush, grass and greasewood flats in the basin, Douglas-fir and aspen on the mid-slopes, thick spruce-fir near timberline, willow riparian along the New Fork, Boulder Creek and East Fork, and sedge-filled alpine basins on top.
Landmarks: New Fork River · Boulder Creek · Boulder Lake · New Fork Lakes · Scab Creek trailhead / feedground · Trapper's Point migration bottleneck · Continental Divide crest
Access
A public-heavy unit overall — vast BLM sage on the west and national forest plus Bridger Wilderness on the east — but with substantial private ranch holdings threaded along the New Fork River, Boulder Creek and the East Fork bottoms. This is not classic Union Pacific checkerboard, but verify BLM/state/private boundaries on the basin, where ownership can interlock. Scab Creek and Boulder-area trailheads open the forest.
Managers: BLM, USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Pinedale Ranger District), private ranch, WY state trust
Access points: Scab Creek trailhead · Boulder Lake Road · New Fork Lakes / New Fork trailhead · Fremont Lake area · WY 353 (Boulder South Road) · US 191 corridor
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant qualityThe Sublette antelope herd is one of Wyoming's marquee pronghorn populations, and Boulder's sage basins sit on the celebrated Path of the Pronghorn migration corridor through Trapper's Point.
- →Glass wide-open sage flats and long ridgelines in the basin at midday when bucks move to water
- →Use terrain folds and the classic spot-and-stalk belly-crawl to close on bedded bucks
- →Watch the migration timing — animals shift through the corridor as fall progresses
- →Line up BLM/state access away from private-ranch river bottoms
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityCore of the Pinedale elk herd, which has been stable and within objective. Elk range from foothill timber up to alpine basins; the Scab Creek feedground anchors winter use.
- →Hunt the timber-park transitions above Boulder Lake and New Fork Lakes at first and last light
- →Bugle-locate rutting bulls in September dark timber, then still-hunt in
- →Push into the wilderness edge for less-pressured mature bulls
- →Follow elk down toward feedground winter range as snow deepens
Mule Deer
common qualityRegion-G Wind River muleys summer high and migrate through this country to winter range; historically premier mule deer ground, though the herd has fluctuated with hard winters.
- →Glass aspen-sage benches and open alpine basins morning and evening
- →Hunt high early, then intercept migrating bucks on the foothill transition after snow
- →Focus on rougher pockets away from trailhead pressure
Moose
common qualityThe Sublette Shiras moose herd holds good bulls in the willow bottoms of the New Fork, Boulder Creek and East Fork drainages.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver-pond complexes along the creeks at dawn and dusk
- →Work riparian corridors where willow meets timber
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the aspen and berry slopes of the forested east; the upper reaches are grizzly range, so bear ID is critical.
- →Glass berry patches and avalanche chutes in late summer and fall
- →Confirm black-vs-grizzly ID before any shot and carry bear spray
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyBighorns range the high alpine crest of the Wind River Range on the unit's eastern edge — a rare, very-limited-quota opportunity in extreme terrain.
- →Glass alpine cliffs and high basins along the Continental Divide
- →Plan a serious backcountry effort with horses or a heavy backpack approach
Pro tips
- →This is Sublette-herd antelope country on the Path of the Pronghorn — some of the best DIY pronghorn hunting in the West on the BLM basins
- →Split your strategy: sage-basin spot-and-stalk for antelope, trailhead-and-timber effort for elk and deer
- →Trapper's Point and the migration corridor concentrate movement — know the timing
- →Verify BLM/state/private boundaries on the basin where ownership interlocks near river bottoms
- →For elk, get past the first pressure ring at Scab Creek and the New Fork toward the wilderness edge
Watch out for
- !Private ranch holdings threaded along the New Fork River, Boulder Creek and East Fork bottoms
- !Interlocking BLM/state/private ownership in the basin — confirm boundaries before crossing
- !Chronic wasting disease detected on Pinedale-area elk feedgrounds; follow carcass guidance
- !Occupied grizzly range on the high east end — bear ID and bear-country protocol required
- !Sudden alpine weather and early snow at high elevation; long distances between basin and crest
Logistics
Pinedale and Boulder supply fuel, food and outfitters along US 191. The basin is drivable BLM two-track; the mountain half is trailhead-and-foot country via Scab Creek, Boulder Lake and the New Fork. Big unit — plan for long drives between the sage and the crest. Cell service fades quickly off the highway.
Nearest towns: Boulder, Pinedale, Cora, Big Piney, Marbleton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Hunt Planner · WGFD Sublette Antelope Migration Corridor · WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Area Maps · GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 97/98 (Pinedale) Profile · CWD detected on Pinedale-area feedground (Wyoming News)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 98 in Wyoming?
- Unit 98 (Boulder (Area 98)) covers about 1,934 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,000 to 13,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 98?
- Approximately 65% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Pinedale Ranger District), private ranch, WY state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 98?
- Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Black Bear, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 98 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.