Unit 47

Key features include Shirley Mountains defining the western boundary and the Freezeout Mountains to the south. Notable summits for orientation include Flattop Mountain, Battle Mountain, and Ninemile Hill—useful glassing points across the basins. Shirley Basin itself is the geographic anchor and primary open country.

Cameron Pass and Petes Gap provide natural travel corridors through the ridge system. Como Bluffs and the Chalk Hills offer visual reference points. The Shirley Ridge Road and Little Medicine Road serve as primary navigation routes through the unit's interior.

Terrain spans from 6,400 feet in the open Shirley Basin to 9,150 feet on the higher ridges and summits. The dominant habitat is high-elevation sagebrush basin with scattered juniper and Douglas-fir patches on north-facing slopes and ridges. Lower elevations feature more open grassland and sparse vegetation typical of the basin floors.

Upper elevations transition toward ponderosa pine and lodgepole forest, particularly where the unit borders the Medicine Bow National Forest. The landscape is characterized by gentle to rolling terrain in the basins with more defined ridges separating major drainages.

Nearly 400 miles of county and Forest Service roads provide reasonable access without major highway corridors. Most roads are lightly maintained county tracks and BLM routes requiring high-clearance vehicles. Primary access is from Medicine Bow to the south and Highway 77 to the east.

The limited road network keeps hunting pressure moderate—most hunters concentrate near the valley floors and main access roads. The interior basins receive less pressure due to distance from trailheads. Early season typically sees more activity near roads; later season allows for quieter backcountry access via walking established routes.

Unit 47 encompasses the Shirley Basin complex in south-central Wyoming, bounded by U.S. Highway 30 at Medicine Bow to the south and extending north into the Medicine Bow National Forest boundary. The western edge follows Wyoming Highway 72 and county roads through the lower basins, while the eastern boundary follows Highway 77 and Forest Service access near Laramie Peak. The unit is roughly 30 miles north to south and 25 miles east to west, capturing a transition zone between the lower desert basins and the forested mountain slopes of the Medicine Bow range.

Water is limited and concentrated in specific drainages. Little Medicine Bow River and its forks provide the most reliable perennial flow through the northern section. Troublesome Creek flows north through the western side.

Rock Creek and Cruikshank Creek are secondary drainages with seasonal flow. Several reservoirs—including Wild Irish Reservoir, Heward Reservoir, and multiple smaller impoundments—offer water storage but are seasonal and weather-dependent. Springs are scattered throughout but unreliable; Little Rock Spring, Withrow Spring, and Difficulty Spring are documented but require verification.

Hunters must plan water strategy carefully around known sources.

Pronghorn are the focus species in Unit 47. The open basins and ridges provide ideal pronghorn habitat—they graze the sagebrush flats and use the ridgelines for escape. Early season hunting concentrates near water sources and active grazing areas in the basin. Mid-season typically involves more active glassing from ridge vantage points where pronghorn migrate between summer and fall ranges.

The sparse timber and rolling terrain favor spotting-and-stalking tactics. Success depends on thorough glassing of basin country at dawn and dusk when pronghorn are active. The moderate terrain complexity means hunters can cover meaningful ground but must balance access roads with foot travel to find less-pressured animals.