Unit 102
Buffalo
Rolling Bighorn foothills and high parks transition from sagebrush basins to timbered ridges.
Hunter's Brief
Unit 102 spans the transitional country between the Bighorn Mountains and lower elevation basins, with terrain rolling from high desert sagebrush into scattered timber and alpine parks. Access is reasonable via US Highway 16 and county roads, though the unit's complexity and 8,400-foot terrain spread create varied hunting conditions. Water exists but isn't abundant—springs and small reservoirs anchor the high country while lower basins dry out. The rolling topography offers glassing opportunities from park ridges, but reaching elk country requires elevation gain and the ability to navigate broken terrain.
- Compact: under 200 sq mi
- Moderate: 200 - 800 sq mi
- Vast: over 800 sq mi
- Few: under 25%
- Some: 25 - 60%
- Most: over 60%
- Limited: under 0.7 mi/mi² (backcountry)
- Fair: 0.7 - 1.5 mi/mi²
- Connected: over 1.5 mi/mi² (well-roaded)
- Flat: under 20% mountains
- Rolling: 20 - 55%
- Steep: over 55%
- Sparse: under 20%
- Moderate: 20 - 50%
- Dense: over 50%
- Limited: under 0.3% area
- Moderate: 0.3 - 2% area
- Abundant: over 2% area
Terrain Deep Dive
Landmarks & Navigation
Sheep Mountain and Crazy Woman Mountain anchor the western ridgelines and provide excellent glassing vantage points overlooking the lower basins. The series of high parks—Medicine Cabin Park, Soldier Park, Schoolhouse Park—serve as natural gathering areas and navigation waypoints. Elk Lake, Otter Lake, and the cluster of smaller lakes in the high country mark reliable water and thermal features.
Powell Creek and Penrose Creek drain the high basins and provide navigation through rougher terrain. Kingsbury Ridge offers mid-elevation glassing opportunities. These landmarks break the terrain into manageable sections and help orient hunters moving between different elevation zones.
Elevation & Habitat
The unit climbs from around 4,560 feet in the eastern basins to over 12,800 feet along the Bighorn divide, with most hunting occurring between 6,500 and 9,500 feet. Lower elevations feature open sagebrush parks and grassland benches—pronghorn country—while mid-elevations transition into scattered juniper and pinyon mixed with aspen groves. Higher ridges support denser conifer stands of lodgepole and Douglas-fir.
Alpine parks punctuate the high terrain, providing critical summer range and natural travel corridors. The rolling topography means elevation zones overlap significantly, creating a patchwork of habitat types rather than a clear progression.
Access & Pressure
The fair access rating reflects a mix of highway and county road corridors. US Highway 16 provides direct western access to Powder River Pass and the high country. County roads branch eastward toward Buffalo and Saddlestring, connecting to the rolling foothills and sagebrush parks.
The 525 road miles suggest a network sufficient for vehicle access to multiple entry points without extensive walking from the highway. However, the unit's complexity and elevation range mean that lower-pressure hunting typically requires moving away from road corridors into the broken terrain. Early season pronghorn hunters can access lower parks via county roads; elk hunters must navigate further into the ridges.
Boundaries & Context
Unit 102 occupies the transitional zone between Interstate 90 on the north and Interstate 25 on the south, with the Bighorn Mountains forming its western boundary along Powder River Pass. The eastern boundary runs through Johnson County lowlands near Buffalo and Saddlestring. The unit encompasses roughly 500 road miles and sits at the interface between Wyoming's high plains and mountain ranges.
Buffalo serves as the nearest town for supplies and services, with Saddlestring providing local access points. This positioning creates a unique blend of foothill hunting where elevation change drives significant habitat and species variation within a moderate geographic area.
Water & Drainages
Water is the limiting factor in this unit. High-country lakes and springs—Elk Lake, Otter Lake, Willow Lake, and numerous small reservoirs—support summer hunting but require reaching upper elevations. Springs like Hospital Hill Springs, Fox Cabin Spring, and Cow Camp Spring provide scattered moisture at mid-elevations.
Powell Creek, Penrose Creek, and Piney Creek are the main drainages with consistent flow, but lower basins can be dry. Early and late season hunters must plan around reservoir and spring locations. Mid-elevation hunters often key on creeks and seeps.
Lower basin hunting requires understanding which small drainages hold water seasonally.
Hunting Strategy
Unit 102 is pronghorn country in the lower basins and parks, particularly Medicine Cabin Park, Soldier Park, and similar open benches. Early season tactics focus on glassing from higher parks and ridges overlooking the sagebrush flats where pronghorn congregate. Water sources—small springs and seeps—concentrate animals during dry periods.
The rolling terrain allows spot-and-stalk opportunities across open parks with modest elevation gain. Mid-elevation hunters can target mule deer transitioning between elevation zones, particularly around scattered timber and aspen patches. The high country supports elk in summer and early fall, but access and water dictate season timing.
The unit's complexity rewards hunters comfortable navigating broken, mixed terrain and making longer moves between drainage systems.