Unit 73

Kidd Flat and Cactus Flat anchor the central plateau and serve as natural glassing platforms and travel corridors. Deadman Butte, Three Buttes, and Shirttail Butte break the skyline and provide visual references for orientation. Cottonwood Rim, Black Rim, and Gray Wall form the western escarpment—critical for understanding terrain flow and locating pronghorn movements.

Statzer Point and The Reefs offer vantage points for scanning distant country. Smoky Gap and Cedar Gap represent natural travel routes through otherwise rolling terrain. These landmarks help hunters navigate the maze of county roads and anticipate where animals concentrate during different seasons.

Elevations span from just under 4,800 feet near Casper up to 9,100 feet on the western margins, though most country sits in the 5,000-6,500 foot band—open sagebrush and grassland plains with scattered juniper and low timber. The landscape transitions from desert scrub along lower drainages to ponderosa and Douglas fir on north-facing slopes and ridgetops. Habitat is predominantly sparse forest and non-forested rangeland, with extensive sagebrush flats broken by buttes (Deadman, Three Buttes, Shirttail) and rimrock (Cottonwood Rim, Black Rim). The country opens considerably compared to mountain units—long sight lines across basins but little thermal cover.

The 668 miles of roads are almost entirely rough county routes (Natrona County Roads 101-115, the 33-Mile Road)—high-clearance required, especially after rain or snow. Casper and Midwest provide the primary staging areas. Highway 25 and 387 offer easier access to the unit's edges, but interior access demands patience with rough terrain.

Most pressure concentrates within 5-10 miles of these highways and nearby towns. The interior remains relatively lightly hunted due to access difficulty and sparse water. County roads offer opportunity to push deeper into country, but doing so means self-sufficiency and careful route planning.

Road conditions can deteriorate quickly.

Unit 73 forms an irregular loop around Casper, bounded by Interstate 25 to the south and east, Wyoming Highways 387 and 259 on the northeastern perimeter, and an internal boundary traced by county roads and creek divides heading northwest. The unit encompasses roughly 500 square miles of high-desert plains and shallow mountain foothills north and west of Casper. Beaton Basin anchors the western portion while numerous draws, creeks, and small reservoirs punctuate the overall landscape.

The North Platte River forms the southern boundary, providing context for elevation and drainage patterns across this sprawling, semi-developed hunting district.

Water is scattered and often seasonal, requiring hunters to understand where it collects. Badwater Creek and Buffalo Creek (North and Middle Forks) drain the northwestern portion and hold water more reliably. South Fork Cottonwood Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Spring Creek, and First Water Creek are primary drainages but may be dry.

Numerous small reservoirs (Bad Water Creek Reservoir, Jackpot, Lox, Brewer, Metcalf, Sutterfield, Big Pike, Lower Hackett Creek) exist but vary seasonally. Springs (Bar, Dean, Sanchez, Clapp, Hackett, Big Sulfur) are scattered throughout. Most draws are dry washes.

Success depends on knowing which water sources are reliable in your season and hunting period.

Unit 73 is pronghorn country—vast sagebrush plains and open flats suit their speed and vision. Hunt from high points (Deadman Butte, Three Buttes, rimrocks) to glass distant basins and draws where animals concentrate, especially early season when water guides movement. Mid-season, focus on known water sources and cooler north-facing slopes as temperatures climb.

Late season patterns shift toward remaining green foliage and thermal cover near scattered timber. The open terrain rewards patience and optics; stalk setup requires using terrain features creatively. Private land scattered throughout—confirm boundaries carefully.

Early morning and late afternoon glassing sessions are most productive. Water knowledge is essential; find where animals are forced to drink.