Unit 32

The Red Creek Badlands provide dramatic visual reference and glassing opportunities from the rims—Four J Rim, Laney Rim, and Rifes Rim offer vantage points across the broken country. Richards Mountain and Potter Mountain serve as obvious navigation anchors on the higher ground. The scattered springs—Laney Spring, Richards Spring, Pio Spring, and others—mark critical water locations and draw wildlife patterns.

Drainages like Ely Creek, McKnight Creek, and Gap Creek channel through the badlands, creating natural travel corridors and ambush points. Scrivner Canyon and Owl Canyon provide deeper terrain for hunters seeking protection from wind and visibility.

The unit spans roughly 6,300 to 9,500 feet, with most country in the 7,000-8,500 foot band. Terrain transitions from open sagebrush flats at lower elevations through patches of juniper and scattered ponderosa to sparse aspen and lodgepole timber on the higher ridges and mountain slopes. The Red Creek Badlands dominate the central area—eroded, open country with minimal tree cover and plenty of exposed clay and sage.

Upper elevations near Potter Mountain and Richards Mountain carry more timber, though forest remains patchy throughout. This is fundamentally open country with timber pockets rather than forested terrain.

The 135 miles of maintained roads sound generous until you consider the unit's size and roughness—road density remains low, meaning real pressure centers near ranch roads and highway corridors. Most access comes from Highway 430 trailheads, a few county roads from the north, and potential entry from Colorado to the south. The interior country sees minimal hunter traffic simply due to distance and water scarcity.

Those willing to navigate rough terrain and pack water have genuine solitude opportunities. Greenhough Place and Petes Place are old cabins; some ranches border the unit but most interior is public land with limited mechanized access.

Unit 32 occupies the wild country where Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado meet—a remote section bounded by Highway 430 on the north and east, the state lines on the west and south, and U.S. 191 forming part of the western edge. The unit encompasses the Red Creek Badlands and surrounding plateau country, a landscape dominated by sagebrush basins, scattered buttes, and rim-rock formations. Most access comes from the south through Colorado or via ranch roads from the north, making this a moderately sized but somewhat isolated hunting block.

The Tepee Mountains anchor the western portion, while scattered ridges and draws characterize the interior.

Water is the limiting factor here. Reliable sources are sparse, with named springs (Laney, Richards, Pio, Titsworth, Castello, and Jim Washum) scattered across the unit—knowledge of their current condition is essential before entering. Small reservoirs and ponds (John Erickson, Pio, Potter Mountain) may provide supplemental water but can't be relied upon seasonally.

Ely Creek, McKnight Creek, and Gap Creek offer drainage-bottom water during wetter periods, but the high-elevation, semi-arid setting means many draws run dry by mid-summer. Success here depends on locating active water and understanding elk movement between reliable sources.

Elk are the primary draw here, and this is legitimate elk country for those equipped to handle the challenge. The high-elevation sagebrush and scattered timber support resident herds, particularly near the badlands rims and upper drainages. Early season hunting focuses on ridge systems and timber pockets where bulls use open country for feeding; mid-season rut hunting benefits from canyon calls and drainage work where water concentrates elk.

Late season pushes animals into remaining timber and toward lower benches. Success requires glassing from the rims, scouting water sources, and willingness to hike substantial distances with minimal crowds. The sparse forest means stealth is harder but visibility for glassing is excellent—plan accordingly.