Unit 58

Devils Tooth provides a distinctive peak for navigation and distance glassing from the lower valleys. Cedar Ridge and Cedar Mountain anchor the western side as terrain reference points. The South Fork Shoshone River and its major tributaries—Hoodoo Creek, Willow Creek, and Bridge Creek—serve as navigational corridors and water sources.

Shoshone Hot Springs marks a notable feature in the upper drainage. Indian Pass and Meeteetse Rim define southern and southeastern boundaries. These landmarks cluster around key drainages rather than scattered across the unit, so hunters benefit from choosing a specific creek system and navigating from there.

Terrain spans from the 4,800-foot Cody flats up through transition zones into high country exceeding 11,000 feet. Lower sagebrush basins and irrigated valleys give way to juniper and scattered ponderosa slopes in the mid-elevations, transitioning to subalpine timber and aspen stands above 8,000 feet. The sparse forest coverage overall reflects open sagebrush and meadow country dominating the lower elevations, with islands of timber in north-facing draws and upper drainages.

Expect a mix of open glassing country and timbered pockets—the challenge is connecting the dots between them across significant elevation gain.

Nearly 192 miles of roads provide fair access overall, but concentration matters—most mileage clusters near Cody and along Highway 120, meaning immediate outfitter camps and weekend pressure are predictable. Roads deteriorate heading upvalley into Hoodoo Creek and upper Willow Creek drainages, which filters casual hunters. The terrain complexity score of 8.9 indicates serious relief and rough country—even if a road exists, the terrain it connects may be steep, brushy, or snowbound early season.

Hunters seeking solitude must commit to foot traffic and elevation gain beyond the first couple miles from any trailhead.

Unit 58 forms a horseshoe around Cody, bounded by Highway 120 to the north and east, Meeteetse Rim to the south, and the Greybull-Shoshone drainage divide to the west. The South Fork Shoshone River defines the backbone, flowing northeast toward Cody. The unit encompasses roughly 190 miles of road access across moderate terrain, though actual square mileage reflects the complex boundary following drainages and ridgelines rather than simple rectangles.

This proximity to the town of Cody means early-season pressure is significant near accessible valleys, but elevation gain quickly distances determined hunters from weekend warriors.

The South Fork Shoshone River is the primary water artery, flowing northeast to Cody and providing reliable water year-round. Major tributaries include Hoodoo Creek, Willow Creek, Bridge Creek, Bull Creek, and Carter Creek—all support upper-elevation hunting camps. Several reservoirs dot the lower and mid-elevations (Sylvan, Nina, Foster, and others), though these are irrigation facilities with seasonal fluctuation.

Lily Lake and Hidden Lake add alpine options higher up. Water abundance decreases in upper sagebrush basins away from named streams, making drainage proximity critical for planning. Early season and spring elk hunting benefit from perennial flow in the main forks.

Elk are the primary target, with migration corridors running up and down the South Fork system tied to seasonal snow and feed availability. Early season hunts should focus on high meadows and aspen pockets above 8,500 feet where elk summer before pressure pushes them down. Mid-elevation sagebrush basins around 7,000-8,500 feet provide transition habitat during rut season when bulls move between bedding and feeding areas.

Late-season elk concentrate in lower drainages and south-facing slopes as snow piles up above. Water access is consistent, so hunting strategy revolves around elevation and aspect rather than creek-chasing. The rough terrain and elevation diversity reward hunters who scout specific drainages rather than trying to cover the whole unit.