Unit 152

Pyramid Peak and Cache Peak dominate the northern ridgeline and serve as excellent glassing vantage points. The Gros Ventre Range forms the unit's backbone with named ridges—Grayback Ridge and Deer Ridge—providing navigational anchors across the high country. The Hoback River canyon is the primary travel and drainage corridor, deeply cut and recognizable from distance.

Shoal Falls and Granite Falls mark water sources on main creeks. Camp Creek Saddle offers a key pass route. Pow Wow Point anchors the western terrain.

These landmarks create a logical grid for route planning and orientation in steep country.

The unit spans from 5,800 feet in the Jackson valley bottoms to over 11,000 feet on ridgetops, creating distinct habitat zones. Lower elevations support sagebrush parks and riparian willows along the Hoback River. Mid-elevation slopes feature scattered to moderate forest—Douglas fir and lodgepole pine mix with aspen groves in protected drainages.

High ridges above 9,500 feet support sparse timber and alpine vegetation. Open parks like South Park, Johnny Counts Flat, and Horse Heaven Meadows provide meadow habitat throughout. The terrain creates natural corridors and funnels through canyon systems where water is present.

The 563-mile road network reflects proximity to Jackson and developed access throughout much of the unit. Highway 191 provides direct entry from town to the north. Multiple canyon roads penetrate into the drainages—Hoback Road, Dell Creek Road, and others reach staging areas quickly.

This accessibility creates predictable pressure patterns near road ends and main valleys, while ridge country above receives less use. Hunters willing to climb away from vehicles find quieter terrain. Early season sees concentrated effort in accessible parks; later season spreads hunters higher.

The unit's moderate size and developed roads make it manageable for scouting.

Unit 152 forms a wedge-shaped area southeast and southwest of Jackson, bordered by Highway 191 to the west and the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary to the north and east. The unit encompasses the lower Gros Ventre Range and the Hoback River drainage system. Jackson sits at the northwestern corner, providing immediate access and services.

The eastern boundary follows the National Elk Refuge line and forest edges, while southern and western boundaries trace major drainages—the Hoback and Greys River systems. This positioning puts hunters 10-15 minutes from town amenities while accessing substantial mountain terrain.

The Hoback River is the unit's lifeblood, flowing northwest through the center with substantial flow even late season. Major tributaries—Cliff Creek, Shoal Creek, Dell Creek, and Hunter Creek—provide secondary water sources. Cache Creek drains the north, Granite Creek the northeast.

Springs scattered throughout the high country include Astoria Mineral Hot Springs, Granite Falls Hot Springs, and Boyles Hill Springs. Water availability decreases as you climb, but the drainage network is dense enough that high-elevation hunters rarely go far without access. Stream crossings can be challenging in some canyons during runoff.

Unit 152 holds mule deer and white-tailed deer across its elevation bands. Mule deer utilize the high parks and ridges through early season, dropping into mid-elevation aspen and fir as weather deteriorates. White-tails favor riparian cover along the Hoback River and creek bottoms year-round.

Early season success comes from glassing the parks—South Park, Horse Heaven Meadows, and Johnny Counts Flat—where deer feed in cool mornings. Mid-season hunting focuses on ridgeline routes where mule deer travel between feeding and bedding. Late season pushes both species to lower elevations and sheltered canyon bottoms.

The Hoback drainage and its tributaries concentrate deer during winter conditions. Know water sources; they dictate movement patterns in this terrain.