Unit 26

Bunker Hill and Chalk Bluff provide elevated reference points for navigation and glassing across the open country. The Medicine Bow and North Platte rivers serve as critical water and boundary references. Schneider Ridge and Horseshoe Ridge break up the terrain and offer natural vantage points for surveying draws below.

The extensive draw system—Big Draw, Spencer Draw, Tin Can Draw, Balsam Draw, and others—creates natural features for stalking and navigation. Reservoirs including Kortes, Vivian, Cowden, and Red offer reliable water sources, while Dry Lake and its associated creek provide additional orientation points despite the name.

The unit spans roughly 3,200 vertical feet from low-elevation valleys near 5,800 feet to the higher ridges approaching 9,000 feet, with the bulk of terrain settling in the 6,500 to 8,000-foot band. Lower elevations feature sagebrush-dominated flats and open draws with minimal tree cover, transitioning to scattered juniper and ponderosa pine as elevation increases. The sparse forest badge reflects the fundamentally open character—this is high-desert country where views dominate and timber appears in pockets rather than solid stands.

Ridgetops and plateau areas provide the most expansive glassing terrain, while draws and creek bottoms offer concealment and natural travel corridors.

The unit's 70 miles of roads suggest a network that's functional but not dense, keeping pressure moderate relative to the overall size. County roads like Hanna-Leo Road and BLM routes like Pryor Flat Road provide primary access, but many are rough and require appropriate vehicles in wet seasons. The limited access designation reflects both road condition and distribution—not all terrain is easily reached, leaving significant country accessible only by foot.

Most hunters likely stick to reservoir areas and main creek drainages, making ridge systems and higher draws less pressured. The moderate terrain complexity means that ambitious hunters willing to hike can escape crowds.

Unit 26 occupies the country between two major water boundaries—the North Platte River to the south and west, and the Medicine Bow River defining portions of the eastern edge. The unit takes a rectangular shape carved by Sage Creek to the north and Troublesome Creek to the south, with access points along County Road 291 (Hanna-Leo Road) and BLM Road 3115 (Pryor Flat Road). The surrounding landscape transitions from irrigated agricultural valleys along the North Platte to progressively higher, drier terrain inland. This moderate-sized unit sits in a working landscape where public lands mingle with private ranches, requiring careful route planning to stay legal.

Water is scattered but consistent across the unit. Multiple small reservoirs—Kortes, Vivian, Cowden, Red, House Gulch, and Dry—provide reliable water sources crucial for extended hunting. The North Platte and Medicine Bow rivers anchor the southern and eastern boundaries, though their accessibility varies.

Troublesome Creek, East Bull Creek, Spring Creek, and Dry Lake Creek flow through major drainages and provide secondary water sources. A network of springs—Red, Sips, Nelson, Indian, Willow, Tennant, Threemile, Wildcat, and Sullivan—offer additional options, though reliability may vary seasonally. Smart water planning with knowledge of reservoir conditions is essential.

Unit 26 holds mountain sheep as the target species, and the terrain strongly supports this focus. The high-desert ridges, open flats, and scattered alpine basins provide excellent sheep habitat. Success depends on glassing from distance across the open country—ridges like Schneider and Horseshoe become glassing platforms where you can cover vast terrain.

Draws like Tin Can, Balsam, and Big Draw are natural sheep migration routes and bedding areas. Early-season hunting benefits from the sparse timber and open sightlines, while later seasons may push sheep to higher elevations. Water management is critical; knowing which reservoirs and springs hold water determines where sheep concentrate.

Plan access carefully using rough BLM roads, and budget extra time for foot travel in this moderate-complexity country.