Unit 22

The Big Horn River forms the western boundary and serves as a major navigation reference; several canyons funnel toward it from the east. The Bighorn Mountains divide creates the backbone, with Cedar Ridge, Big Cedar Ridge, and Noble Ridge offering vantage points. Major basins—Joe Johns, Woods, Buffalo, Kennedy—provide natural staging areas and landmarks for cross-country travel.

The Honeycombs and The Vees mark distinctive terrain features visible from distance. Mexican Lakes and Meadowlark Lake anchor high country. Multiple passes (Birdseye, Davis, Cottonwood, Sioux) create logical travel corridors but require precise navigation in this complex terrain.

Terrain drops from high mountain ridges exceeding 9,500 feet down to basin floors below 4,000 feet, creating extreme elevation diversity within a relatively compact area. Lower basins are sagebrush-dominated with scattered juniper and open grasslands, while higher slopes carry ponderosa and Douglas fir timber. The median elevation lands in transition zones where sage gives way to scattered conifers on northfacing aspects.

Steep canyon systems cut through the landscape, creating pockets of riparian vegetation along perennial drainages. This vertical relief means seasonal migration corridors are pronounced—higher country summered, lower basins used in winter and early season.

Nearly 1,000 miles of roads crisscross the unit, yet access remains limited by distance, seasonal closures, and road quality. Forest Service roads dominate the network; primary entry follows Highway 16 north, Highway 20-26 south, and county roads threading through private land corridors. No major highways cut through the interior.

This forces hunters to commit to specific drainages or basins rather than day-tripping—anyone here is serious. The terrain's extreme complexity means many road miles lead to dead-ends or require high-clearance vehicles. Early season and late season see pressure concentrate near highway access; mid-season pressure thins in the remote interior.

Unit 22 encompasses a massive swath of central Wyoming bounded by Highway 16 to the north, the Wind River Reservation to the west, Highway 20-26 to the south, and a series of county roads establishing the eastern limits. The unit sprawls from the Big Horn River drainage west through the Bighorn Mountains down to the Waltman area, incorporating multiple drainage systems and basin complexes. Towns like Shoshoni, Worland, and Ten Sleep sit on or near the perimeter.

The landscape is fragmented by a web of Forest Service and county roads that provide the primary access skeleton across public land.

Water scarcity defines this unit's character. The Big Horn River flows permanently but sits outside much huntable terrain. Wind River, Reservoir Creek, and Tough Creek offer reliable water but concentrated in specific drainages.

Springs are scattered—Tallon, Sulphur, Taylor, Moses, Stove, Sand, and Rice Springs punctuate the landscape but aren't continuous. Most basins are dry, with water in canyon bottoms or seeps that require local knowledge to locate. Antelope Creek, Sage Creek, and Schoening Creek drain specific areas.

Hunting pressure tracks water availability, making spring locations valuable for solitude and game distribution planning.

Unit 22 holds mountain lion across sagebrush basins and forested canyons. Lions follow deer and elk migrations—expect higher concentrations where elevation bands transition and drainage systems funnel game. Lower basins (3,500-5,500 feet) harbor lions year-round; higher timber offers opportunity during summer and early fall.

Systematic drainage glassing from ridges works well; canyon systems create natural ambush zones where cats move between basins. Water sources are critical—springs and seeps concentrate activity. Hunting here demands extreme self-reliance: navigation skills, ability to read tracks in sand and snow, pack-in capability, and willingness to invest time in one drainage.

Success correlates more with commitment than luck.