Unit 71

Several small reservoirs anchor the unit: Adams, Blue Bank, Number 1, Shreiner, and Burke reservoirs provide water reference points and navigation markers. The Kendrick Canal and Johnson Ditch form visible linear features running through the unit and serve as both boundary markers and travel corridors. Notable terrain features include Haystacks and Emigrant Gap Ridge for orientation, Pine Mountain and Rattlesnake Hill as modest summits for glassing vantage, and a series of named canyons and draws (Reid Canyon, Smith Canyon, Johnson Canyon) that funnel drainage and concentrate game movement.

Hot Springs provides both a named reference and potential water source.

Terrain runs between 5,400 and 6,700 feet across relatively gentle topography—mostly rolling high plains with subtle elevation gain. Vegetation is predominantly open sagebrush steppe dotted with scattered juniper and ponderosa pine, creating a semi-arid character typical of the Powder River Basin. The sparse forest coverage means most country is exposed and visible, with timber concentrations occurring in small patches along canyon bottoms and ridge saddles rather than continuous forest cover.

This open-to-semi-open landscape dominates, making visibility and glassing feasible across much of the unit. Elevation change is gradual; hunters won't encounter dramatic vertical relief.

County roads provide the primary access network: Poison Spider Road forms a main corridor along the southern boundary, while Oil Camp Road runs northwest toward Highway 20-26. Highway 20-26 itself borders the north and east, offering easy staging access from Powder River town. Approximately 73 miles of roads traverse or bound the unit, providing multiple entry points despite the sparse road density. This combination suggests moderate accessibility with potential for lower pressure in areas away from main corridors.

The straightforward terrain and moderate size mean most of the unit is reachable with modest effort, but the limited road network keeps pressure from becoming overwhelming.

Unit 71 occupies a defined square bounded by U.S. Highway 20-26 to the north and east, with the Kendrick Canal and Poison Spider Road (Natrona County Road 201) forming the southern boundary and Oil Camp Road (Natrona County Road 210) the western edge near the town of Powder River. The unit sits in the Powder River Basin region of north-central Wyoming, bracketed by two major transportation corridors. Its moderate size and geometric shape create a compact hunting area with clear access points via county roads.

The landscape transitions from irrigated canal zones to drier upland terrain moving away from water infrastructure.

Water is limited but strategically placed. The Kendrick Canal and Johnson Ditch represent reliable irrigation infrastructure running through the unit, crucial for understanding where water persists. Five small reservoirs (Adams, Blue Bank, Number 1, Shreiner, Burke) provide concentrated water sources that may concentrate pronghorn and other wildlife during dry periods.

Natural drainage follows canyon systems including Reid Canyon, Smith Canyon, and Johnson Canyon, which trend toward creek bottoms. Seasonal springs exist but cannot be relied upon year-round. The limited overall water supply makes the reservoirs and canal systems critically important for planning water-dependent hunting strategies.

This is pronghorn country suited to the open plains hunting approach. The sparse, rolling sagebrush terrain with scattered timber pockets matches classic pronghorn habitat—extensive visibility for glassing, open approaches, and minimal escape cover. Early season hunting can focus on water-dependent patterns around the reservoirs and canal zones, especially during dry periods.

The gentle topography allows effective glassing from ridge systems like Haystacks and Emigrant Gap Ridge to spot pronghorn across open flats. The network of canyons and draws provides natural funneling zones for moving animals. With limited forest, success depends on fieldcraft, optics, and understanding how pronghorn use the sparse cover and water sources across the semi-arid landscape.