Unit 99 Big Sandy (Area 99)
Big Sandy — high-desert sage sweeping east to the granite spires of the southern Wind Rivers.
Upper Green River Basin · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
689
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
6,600–13,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Hunt Area 99 (Big Sandy) runs from the Big Sandy River east across high-desert sage country to the Continental Divide on the crest of the southern Wind River Range, bounded by the Sweetwater River on the east and Wyoming Highway 28 on the south. It pairs expansive BLM sage basins around Big Sandy Reservoir with a slice of Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Bridger Wilderness — including the trailhead to the Cirque of the Towers. Land is overwhelmingly public: sprawling BLM and national forest. Elk hold in the rugged east, pronghorn and mule deer work the sage-and-desert lowlands, and Shiras moose use the willow drainages.
Terrain
High desert and sage basins near Big Sandy Reservoir rising eastward through fir-and-aspen foothills to spruce-fir timber, rocky ridges and alpine granite on the Continental Divide.
Cover: Grassy, sage-covered meadows and hills at low and middle elevations with Douglas-fir and aspen, grading to thick spruce-fir forest, rocky ridges and sedge-filled alpine basins near timberline.
Landmarks: Big Sandy River · Big Sandy Reservoir · Big Sandy trailhead (Cirque of the Towers) · Continental Divide · Sweetwater River · Wind River Peak
Access
Overwhelmingly public — expansive BLM sage on the west and national forest with Bridger Wilderness on the east. The southern fringe toward Farson/Eden and the Sweetwater County line edges into land-grant checkerboard country, so on the far south and southeast, watch for alternating public/private sections and confirm legal access before corner-crossing (now permitted for foot travel per recent 10th Circuit ruling). ATVs help cover the BLM two-track for day hunts.
Managers: BLM, USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Pinedale Ranger District), WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: Big Sandy trailhead / Big Sandy Opening · Big Sandy Reservoir Road (Sweetwater CR 28) · Lander Cutoff / WY 28 corridor · Scab Creek approach (north) · BLM two-track network in the basin
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityGood elk numbers, with the bigger bulls coming from the more rugged, remote timber and alpine on the east; those willing to pack in are usually rewarded.
- →Backpack or pack in with horses to the remote timber for mature bulls; day-hunt the accessible foothills
- →Hunt timber-meadow edges and alpine basins at first and last light
- →Bugle-locate rutting bulls in September, then still-hunt the dark timber
- →Let early snow push elk down onto more accessible ground
Pronghorn
abundant qualitySublette-herd pronghorn thrive on the high-desert sage flats around Big Sandy Reservoir and the lower basin — classic open-country antelope ground.
- →Glass long from high points across the sage flats and stalk with the terrain
- →Hunt water sources and travel lanes in dry early-season weather
- →Use ATV access on BLM two-track to cover ground, then hunt on foot
Mule Deer
common qualityRegion-G Wind River muleys use the sage-and-aspen foothills and migrate through to winter range; rougher desert breaks hold bucks that separate from the crowds.
- →Glass sage-aspen benches and rock rims morning and evening
- →Hunt high early, then intercept migrating deer on the foothill transition after snow
- →Work the broken desert draws where bucks bed
Moose
common qualitySublette Shiras moose hold in the willow bottoms of the Big Sandy and its tributary creeks.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver ponds along the Big Sandy drainage at dawn and dusk
- →Work riparian willow where it meets timber
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears range the forested and berry-rich east; the high wilderness edge is grizzly range, so bear ID is essential.
- →Glass berry slopes and avalanche chutes in late summer and fall
- →Confirm black-vs-grizzly ID before shooting and carry bear spray
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyBighorns range the alpine crest of the southern Wind River Range on the far eastern edge — a rare, very-limited-quota hunt in extreme country.
- →Glass high alpine cliffs and basins near the Continental Divide
- →Plan a committed backcountry approach on foot or with stock
Pro tips
- →Two units in one: DIY open-country antelope and desert muleys on the BLM sage west, backpack elk in the wilderness east
- →Big Sandy trailhead is the classic entry to the high country — push past the recreational-hiker zone for elk
- →On the south and southeast fringe near Farson/Eden and the Sweetwater County line, expect checkerboard sections — map ownership and know corner-crossing rules
- →Use ATVs to cover the BLM two-track, then hunt antelope on foot
- →Water is the antelope magnet in the dry desert basin — glass tanks, reservoirs and creek crossings
Watch out for
- !Land-grant checkerboard on the southern/southeastern fringe toward Farson, Eden and the Sweetwater County line — alternating public/private sections
- !Corner-crossing is now permitted for foot travel per the recent 10th Circuit ruling, but confirm the specific boundary before relying on it
- !Occupied grizzly range on the high east end — bear ID and bear-country protocol required
- !Chronic wasting disease in the broader Pinedale region; follow carcass and sampling guidance
- !Poor cell service and long distances between the desert basin and the wilderness crest; abrupt high-country weather
Logistics
Boulder and Pinedale to the north are the nearest full-service towns; Farson/Eden sit to the south along WY 28. Big Sandy trailhead is the gateway to the wilderness east; the basin is drivable BLM two-track. Day hunts are common on the accessible portions, but the best elk require packing in. Cell service is poor to nonexistent off the highway.
Nearest towns: Boulder, Pinedale, Farson, Eden, Big Piney
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Hunt Planner · GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 99 (Big Sandy) Profile · WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Area Maps · WGFD Sublette Antelope Migration Corridor
FAQ
- How big is Unit 99 in Wyoming?
- Unit 99 (Big Sandy (Area 99)) covers about 689 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,600 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 99?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Bridger-Teton NF (Pinedale Ranger District), WY state trust, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 99?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, 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 99 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.