Unit 72

Key landmarks include Mount Berry and Elk Mountain as dominant visual references for orientation; both are useful for glassing and route-finding. Elk Ridge runs as a major spine through the country and provides travel corridors and vantage points. Jackass Pass and Moose Basin Divide mark natural saddles and transition zones between drainages.

Hechtman Lake sits as a water reference in the upper country. Owl Peak and Survey Peak anchor the northern section. These features help hunters break up the terrain mentally and establish their position relative to major drainages and ridge systems.

The unit spans from roughly 6,800 feet in the lower creek bottoms to above 11,000 feet on the high ridges and summits. The heart of the terrain is timbered mid-elevation slopes—moderate stands of fir and lodgepole mixed with open meadows and parks. Upper elevations transition to subalpine terrain with scattered timber and alpine basins.

Lower drainages support denser forest cover that provides thermal cover and winter range. Moose Basin and surrounding high country offer open glassing country, while the creek drainages are heavily forested corridors that concentrate elk movement.

Approximately 50 miles of road network provide fair access to trailheads and staging areas, though exact routing and condition vary seasonally. The steep terrain limits where roads can penetrate—most are at lower elevations providing access into the drainages rather than high-country routes. The Teton Park boundary to the south creates a natural barrier and reduces pressure from that direction.

Elk access and hunter access converge in the main drainages and lower basin country, making these concentration zones. Upper ridges and basins above the road network see less pressure but require significant foot travel. Early season often brings more hunters; late season sees fewer boots on the ground.

Unit 72 is a compact alpine area defined by the northern rim of the Grand Teton National Park boundary. The unit includes all drainages of Berry Creek, Owl Creek, and Webb Canyon Creek, plus the country north of Berry Creek up to the park line. This positioning puts the unit directly in the transition zone between the Teton wilderness and more accessible ridgeline country.

The drainages run generally north-south, carving deep channels through the high country. Understanding the park boundary is critical—much of the terrain's character and elk movement patterns are shaped by the proximity to protected lands.

Owl Creek and Berry Creek are the primary water arteries, flowing year-round through their respective drainages with cold, reliable flow. Webb Canyon Creek, Hechtman Creek, and Moose Creek are secondary drainages that provide water corridors and elk movement routes. Hechtman Lake offers alpine water storage.

The drainages themselves are the key to finding water; side slopes and bench country away from creeks can be dry, making the drainage bottoms critical during late season. Spring seeps occur in some tributary basins, but reliability varies. Water strategy centers on staying near main drainages or planning pack-in capacity.

This is elk country—primarily winter range and transition habitat. Early season hunting focuses on the higher basins and ridge systems where elk feed in open parks and meadows; Moose Basin and upper slopes offer glassing opportunities. The drainages funnel elk in both directions seasonally; hunting creek bottoms and bench country adjacent to Owl and Berry creeks can be effective for catching movement.

Late season concentrates elk in lower, timbered drainages where thermal cover and proximity to the park protect them. The steep terrain requires physical fitness and careful route-finding. Success depends on understanding which drainage elk are using and committing to time glassing ridges or sitting creek crossing points.