Unit 31

The Snowy Range to the north frames the skyline and provides reliable navigation; Medicine Bow Peak and surrounding summits are visible from much of the unit. Saratoga Lake and smaller reservoirs like Finley and Greyhound serve as geographic anchors and water sources. Major drainage systems—Cottonwood Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, Hay Creek—cut through the basins and ridges, providing natural routes for both hiking and locating game trails.

Foote Creek Rim and Sederlin Slide offer glassing prospects. The scattered parks (Sawmill, Mullison, Chimney) break up the terrain and often hold water seasonally.

Elevations span from roughly 6,500 feet in the basin floors to nearly 12,000 feet on the highest ridges, though most huntable terrain clusters in the 6,500 to 9,000-foot band. Sagebrush and grassland dominate the open basins and lower slopes; scattered timber—primarily lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir—patches the higher ridges and creek bottoms. The country is predominantly open, reflecting the sparse forest badge, with brush and grass providing primary cover.

Transition zones between sagebrush flats and timbered slopes create natural corridors where mule deer and elk concentrate seasonally, making these edges prime lion habitat.

Fair access via two state highways bounding the unit, plus roughly 1,140 miles of total roads suggests a moderate network of ranch roads and Forest Service routes. Much of this access is likely low-standard or gated; pressure concentrates near major drainages and reservoirs accessible from Laramie. The terrain complexity score of 8.5 reflects the unit's size and ruggedness—big enough that hunters willing to walk can find solitude away from roads.

Mid-basin and ridge areas see less pressure than areas near Laramie or along main creeks.

Unit 31 forms a roughly triangular territory anchored by the city of Laramie at its southeast corner, bounded by Wyoming Highway 130 to the west and north, and U.S. Highway 30 to the east. The unit encompasses the lower foothills and basin country immediately west and northwest of Laramie, capturing the transition zone between the Laramie Plain and the Medicine Bow Range. This is developed country in places—scattered ranches, small towns like Carbon and Encampment occupy the margins—but the interior retains substantial backcountry character.

The unit's vast designation reflects its scope across multiple drainage systems and terrain types.

Water is limited and requires intentional planning. Saratoga Lake is the most reliable surface water, but much of the unit depends on springs—Quealy, Sulphur Springs, and others—and small reservoirs like Dana Meadows and Kinney. Creeks including Cottonwood, Rattlesnake, and Hay flow seasonally; reliable only in spring and early summer.

Irrigations ditches (Encampment Platte, Hay Creek, Brauer) suggest supplemental water exists near ranches but may be private or regulated. Lion hunting requires knowing spring locations in advance and planning water stops carefully, especially during dry months.

Unit 31 is mountain lion country, supported by healthy populations of mule deer and elk across the elevation range. Early season hunting focuses on high ridges and timber edges where lions prey on elk in the upper basins; summer pressure forces cats into shaded creek bottoms and timbered slopes. Glassing from ridgelines and basin rims is effective before timber gets too thick.

Spring and fall migrations concentrate both predator and prey; work transition zones between sagebrush and timber. Limited water means lions concentrate around reliable springs and creeks during dry periods. The terrain's complexity demands solid navigation skills and patience; expect to cover ground and glass extensively rather than hunt from one location.