Unit 62

Francs Peak and Chief Mountain dominate the skyline and serve as primary navigation anchors. Galena Ridge and the summits around Pappapau Butte and Jojo Mountain define the internal ridge systems. High basins like Galena Basin and Upper Sunshine Basin are key elk destinations.

Greybull Pass and Bear Creek Pass offer ridgeline corridors and vantage points. The Dick Creek Lakes and Jojo Lake provide reliable water reference points. Stonewall Creek, Paradise Creek, and Four Bear Creek are major drainages that concentrate elk movement and funnel hunters toward productive country.

These named features help hunters navigate the complex terrain and find water sources in high country.

Terrain spans from mid-elevation sagebrush and scattered timber around 6,000 feet up through dense forest bands to open alpine basins above 9,500 feet. The transition zones support classic elk habitat—aspen and spruce-fir in the mid-elevation draws, opening to high meadows where herds move seasonally. Lower elevations around the river valleys contain ponderosa and mixed conifer with understory grass.

Upper basins (Galena, Meadow Creek, Upper Sunshine) feature rolling alpine country with thin timber and expansive meadows. Sparse overall forest cover means significant open ridge and slope country ideal for glassing—elevation changes create natural funnels for animal movement.

About 150 miles of roads access the unit, but most are rough backcountry tracks—not maintained highways. Road density is fair but unevenly distributed; some drainages have surprisingly good access while others demand significant foot travel. Major jumping-off points are the small communities of Kirwin and Dumbell on the periphery.

The extreme terrain complexity means pressure distributes unevenly—most hunters stick to lower, more accessible drainages, leaving upper basins and high ridge country less crowded. Self-sufficiency and willingness to hike hard separates hunters from the crowds. The high terrain and rough access create natural filtering against casual hunters.

Unit 62 encompasses the southern and eastern drainages of the Greybull River west of Wood River, plus the northern and western slopes of the Wood River system itself. This puts it squarely in the northern Absaroka Range, anchored by major summits like Francs Peak and Chief Mountain. The unit is moderate in size but terrain complexity ranks 9.1 out of 10—steep, broken country with significant elevation gain and variable conditions.

The Absaroka Range forms the backbone here, with multiple subbasins (Galena, Brown, Upper Sunshine) creating distinct hunting zones separated by significant topography.

Perennial water comes from multiple sources throughout the unit. The Greybull and Wood River systems anchor the western and southern boundaries, providing reliable base-camp water. Higher up, Pappapau Creek, Rennerberg Creek, Rose Creek, Paradise Creek, and Timber Creek flow year-round through key drainages.

Dick Creek Lakes and Jojo Lake offer alpine water sources. The Sunshine Basin Ditch system provides additional reliable flow in that area. Water is moderate overall—not abundant like lower-elevation country, but not critically scarce either.

Hunters should plan routes that follow creeks; water sources dictate camp placement and movement patterns in this high terrain.

Unit 62 is core elk country, with habitat spanning desert-transition sagebrush at lower elevations through productive mid-elevation mixed conifer to high alpine meadows. Early season finds elk in scattered timber and parks at mid-elevations; rut activity concentrates around September in the transition zones and basins. Late season pushes herds lower into the river valleys and protected draws.

The sparse forest cover rewards optics and glassing from ridge vantage points—Galena Ridge, Chief Mountain approaches, and high basins offer excellent glassing with significant shooting distances. Water-focused hunting works well here; creeks and lakes channel elk movement. Expect to cover significant elevation and distance.

This unit demands strong map reading, route-finding ability, and physical conditioning to succeed in complex, remote terrain.