Unit 35

Sheep Mountain and Bighorn Peak anchor the western ridgeline and serve as reliable glassing and navigation references. The high parks—particularly Buffalo Park, Circle Park, and Schoolhouse Park—are recognizable terrain features that concentrate elk and break the monotony of forested slopes. North Clear Creek and Pole Creek provide defined drainages for navigation and water access.

Several springs including Cow Camp Spring, Fox Cabin Spring, and Hospital Hill Springs mark reliable water in the backcountry. The Crazy Woman Mountain massif to the south offers another landmark for orientation. These features help hunters navigate the rolling complexity and locate productive areas where elk congregate seasonally.

Terrain spans from around 4,600 feet in lower benches to over 12,400 feet at the highest peaks, with most country falling between 7,000 and 9,500 feet. Lower elevations feature sagebrush parks and open grassland interspersed with scattered ponderosa and Douglas fir. Mid-elevation slopes transition into denser conifer stands with mixed open areas and parks.

Higher reaches above 9,500 feet become predominantly timbered, with alpine parks and meadows that provide critical late-season elk habitat. The variety creates excellent vertical migration corridors—elk summer high in the cool timber and parks, dropping to lower sagebrush and creek bottoms as snow accumulates. The moderate forest density means terrain feels relatively open despite the elevation, with good sight lines in many areas.

The unit has fair accessibility via roughly 240 miles of maintained roads, mostly concentrated in lower drainages and leading to trailheads rather than deep penetration. U.S. 16 and Highway 196 provide vehicle access to the unit's perimeter, while Crazy Woman Canyon Road (Johnson County Road 14) offers a main entry corridor. Multiple smaller roads branch into drainages like North Clear Creek and Pole Creek, but much of the upper terrain requires hiking.

This road density supports moderate pressure, typically heavier near roads and lower parks, but the terrain complexity and elevation gain discourage casual hunters. Patient elk hunters willing to climb often find much less pressure at higher elevations and farther up creeks.

Unit 35 encompasses the western foothills and slopes of the Bighorn Mountains immediately south of Buffalo, Wyoming. The unit boundaries run from U.S. 87 business loop east through Crazy Woman Canyon Road, then west along U.S. 16 to Powder River Pass, following the mountain divide northwesterly before dropping back down to French Creek and returning to the starting point. This moderate-sized unit sits at the geographic heart of Johnson County elk country, with Buffalo serving as the logical supply and staging point.

The terrain transitions from lower, more accessible valleys on the east to increasingly steep, timbered ridges as you climb westward toward the Bighorn crest.

Water sources are limited but strategically important. Permanent creeks including North Clear Creek, Pole Creek, Little North Fork Crazy Woman Creek, and several smaller branches provide reliable flow throughout the unit, particularly critical during early and rut seasons. A network of scattered springs—Cow Camp, Fox Cabin, Hospital Hill, and others—supplement creek sources in the higher benches and parks.

Several small reservoirs and ditch systems exist but are less consistent than natural water. During late season, these creeks and springs become focal points for elk movement. Understanding water availability at different elevations is essential for predicting where to find animals, especially if September temperatures remain warm.

Elk are the primary species in this unit, and the terrain supports both migratory and resident populations. Early season (September) finds elk high in the alpine parks and timbered upper slopes, where cool temperatures and fresh feed draw them above the tree line and into open meadows. Mid-season (October rut) concentrates bulls and cows in the timber parks, particularly around Buffalo Park, Circle Park, and Schoolhouse Park where cover and feed mix.

Late season (November) pushes elk down to lower sagebrush benches and creek bottoms as snow accumulates at elevation. The rolling, moderately steep terrain demands glassing from vantage points to locate animals, then careful stalking through mixed timber and brush. Water access makes creeks like Pole Creek and North Clear Creek natural focal points.

Success depends on understanding elevation-driven movements and picking appropriate seasons to intercept migrations.