Unit 6

Devils Monument, Steamboat Rock, and The Castle Rock provide distant navigation markers across the open country. Closer in, distinctive features like The Wall, Red Wall, and Black Rim serve as glassing reference points and ridgeline anchors. Named passes—Toll Gap, Fraker Pass, and Dull Knife Pass—mark natural travel corridors through the terrain.

Poker Butte, E K Mountain, and Tisdale Mountain help orient hunters in rolling country where ridges blend together. Beaton Basin and Bobcat Basin define broader terrain sections. These landmarks matter because vast stretches offer few obvious handholds; knowing where you are becomes critical in this complex, compartmentalized terrain.

Elevations climb gradually from the Crazy Woman valley floors near 4,600 feet to the Bighorn divide above 8,800 feet. Most of the unit sits in mid-elevation sagebrush country with scattered stands of ponderosa and Douglas fir becoming more prevalent toward the forest boundary. The terrain transitions from open basin floors with sparse grass and sage through foothills dotted with juniper and limber pine to timbered ridgelines.

Flat or rolling benches interspersed with steep drainages characterize the middle elevations. The sparse forest coverage reflects a semi-arid climate; trees cluster mainly along northfacing slopes and in canyon bottoms.

Despite 564 miles of county roads, actual access is limited. Most roads are rough ranch tracks requiring high-clearance or 4WD, particularly in wet conditions. I-25 provides the main highway corridor on the east; entry west of the interstate requires negotiating Natrona County roads from Midwest or heading north from Buffalo.

The vast size combined with limited road density means scattered hunting pressure, but access bottlenecks concentrate hunters near the few reliable entry points. Most of the unit sees minimal traffic because rough roads and lack of established trailheads deter casual visitors. Self-sufficiency and willingness to navigate poorly maintained roads separate those who explore deeply from those who don't.

Unit 6 is a vast expanse bounded by Interstate 25 on the east near Crazy Woman Creek, extending west across Natrona and Johnson counties to the Bighorn National Forest divide. The northern boundary follows the Bighorn Forest edge; the southern edge runs along a series of county roads (33 Mile, Wild Horse Trail, Dead Horse) that trace the dry country below the mountains. The unit encompasses roughly 564 miles of county and ranch roads but relatively sparse highway access, making it a destination requiring planning and local knowledge.

Towns like Mayoworth and Barnum sit within or near the unit boundaries, offering minimal services.

Water is the limiting factor. Named springs—Turk, Red, Trough, Thompson, Turkey, Taylor—exist but are widely scattered and reliability varies seasonally. Middle Fork Buffalo Creek, Eagle Creek, and Johnson Creek provide the most reliable flowing water; Crazy Woman Creek forms the eastern boundary.

Several small reservoirs (Greasewood Lake, Hole-in-the-Wall Lake, Applegate, Case, Peterson) exist but should be verified before planning water strategy. Many draws run dry except during spring runoff. Hunters must plan water supply carefully; carrying capacity and spring location research are essential for navigating the dry basins and ridges where thirst becomes a real constraint.

Black bear habitat exists across the timbered ridges and forested draws, particularly in drainage systems with oak, serviceberry, and aspen. Elevation bands mean early season hunting focuses on lower sagebrush country and rimrock as bears work down from higher elevations; late season pushes hunters toward canyon bottoms and the forest fringe where bears congregate before denning. The spring season (if applicable) targets emerging bears around known spring locations and south-facing slopes where vegetation breaks dormancy.

Glassing distant ridges from high points helps locate bears moving through open country. Water sources concentrate bear activity; canyons with reliable springs deserve repeated scouting. Success requires patience, physical conditioning for rough terrain, and ability to move quietly through sagebrush and timber without established trails.