Unit 75

Copper Mountain (the eastern high point) serves as a primary navigation anchor and glassing location. The Moneta Hills form a notable ridge system useful for orientation and hunting approach. Boysen Reservoir dominates the western boundary and is easily spotted from the surrounding terrain.

Key ridges including Noble Ridge, Cedar Ridge, and Lime Ridge provide elevation gains for glassing. The Wind River corridor anchors the northwest; Badwater Creek serves as a major drainage system hunters will navigate. These features help break the relatively uniform basin terrain into distinct sections, allowing hunters to focus effort and avoid getting lost in the sprawling country.

The unit spans medium elevations from around 4,600 feet in the western basins near Boysen Reservoir to nearly 9,100 feet on the higher ridges and peaks. The majority of huntable terrain sits in the 5,000- to 7,500-foot range, characterized by sagebrush basins and grasslands with scattered juniper and ponderosa pine on ridges. Vegetation is sparse overall; the open country supports pronghorn habitat across most of the unit.

Higher elevations above 8,000 feet support denser timber on the Moneta Hills and scattered peaks like Copper Mountain and Greer Peak. The transition from basin to ridge creates distinct habitat zones within relatively short distances—hunters will encounter dramatic changes in cover and visibility as they move through the terrain.

Limited road access characterizes the unit. A network of county roads (Natrona County Roads 101-104) and scattered two-tracks provides the primary access; these become impassable in bad weather. Highway 20-26 connects the towns of Shoshoni and Boysen, providing entry points.

The Oakie Trail and Bighorn Trail offer additional routes but require high-clearance or four-wheel drive. Most hunting pressure concentrates near town edges and accessible roads; the vast majority of the unit sees minimal traffic. Early season and opening weekends will have more activity; mid-season sees very few hunters.

The terrain's size and limited road network mean patient hunters willing to walk can find solitude.

Unit 75 encompasses the high-desert country of central Wyoming between the town of Shoshoni (southwest) and the Moneta Hills (northeast). The Wind River and Boysen Reservoir form the western boundary; the unit stretches east through rolling basins separated by low ridges toward the Nowood Creek drainage. The landscape sits at the transition zone between the Wind River Basin and higher foothill terrain. Natrona and Fremont counties comprise the unit; small communities like Arminto, Lysite, and Badwater dot the perimeter.

The terrain is semi-arid throughout—open enough to hunt from distance but complex enough to warrant careful navigation of the county road network.

Water is limited and seasonal—critical planning consideration. Boysen Reservoir and Graham Reservoir anchor the western side but are often far from hunting grounds. Springs like Swaim Spring and Sulphur Springs exist but may dry seasonally; confirm status before planning a hunt.

Major drainages including Badwater Creek, East Fork West Bridger Creek, and Poison Creek run intermittently; some hold water year-round in pockets, others are dry except after rain. Sand Creek and Sioux Creek provide additional drainage corridors. Hunters should plan water strategy carefully, carry extra capacity, and locate reliable sources before committing to remote country.

The scarcity of water shapes hunting logistics significantly in this unit.

Unit 75 is pronghorn country. The open sagebrush basins, grasslands, and sparse timber create ideal terrain for glassing and stalking. Pronghorn use the exposed terrain year-round, moving between basins and ridges based on wind and pressure.

Early season (September): focus on larger groups in open basins; use terrain features for stalking approaches. Rut season (mid-September): bucks become more visible and active; hunt water sources and vantage points. Late season: animals shift to protected drainages and timber edges; glass the ridge transitions carefully.

Elevation variation allows adjustment for weather—higher ridges offer cooler conditions early, lower basins provide shelter late season. The sparse forest and limited cover mean long-range optics and patience are essential. Focus on known water sources and major drainages where pronghorn concentrate.