Unit 78

Sheep Mountain and McCullough Peaks dominate the ridge systems and offer useful glassing vantage points above the surrounding flats. Red Point provides a recognizable cliff landmark for navigation. Bighorn Lake and Lovell Lakes anchor the water system and mark geographic clusters for area orientation.

The Bighorn and Greybull Rivers form the primary drainages—Greybull especially cuts through characteristic canyon stretches useful for location reference. Springs like Little Sheep Mountain Spring and Stone Barn Spring mark reliable water in an otherwise drier landscape.

The entire unit sits in lower-elevation terrain ranging from near 3,600 feet in the basin to approximately 6,500 feet on surrounding ridges—all well below timberline. This elevation band supports sagebrush steppe across the basin floor, with scattered juniper and low conifers on the buttes and ridge systems like Sheep Mountain and McCullough Peaks. Agricultural lands and irrigated pastures intersperse the native sagebrush, creating a mosaic of open grassland and shrubland.

The sparse forest designation reflects limited tree cover; most country remains open to semi-open.

Over 900 miles of roads crisscross the unit, indicating well-connected terrain accessible from multiple directions. Highway 14-16-20 and Highway 120 provide major entry corridors from Cody. Wyoming Highway 30 and county roads penetrate the interior, allowing fair penetration into the basin and foothills.

Agricultural lands mean mixed public-private access patterns, though most pronghorn habitat remains accessible. Pressure concentrates near developed areas and irrigated zones; the more remote sagebrush basins and higher buttes see less hunter traffic.

Unit 78 occupies the heart of the Bighorn Basin surrounding Cody, Wyoming. Boundaries run from Cody northward along Highway 120 to the Shoshone River, then follow the Bighorn River system before returning via the Greybull River drainage and county roads. The unit encompasses roughly the western Bighorn Basin agricultural zone and represents a manageable pronghorn country spanning from the foothills down to productive basin floor.

Towns including Cody, Lovell, Greybull, and Emblem bracket the unit's perimeter and serve as natural access points.

The Bighorn River dominates the unit's eastern drainage, flowing northward with consistent summer flow. The Greybull River enters from the west and merges with the Bighorn system, creating riparian corridors attractive to pronghorn. Several reservoirs—Bighorn Lake, Rolston, Snyder, and others—provide scattered water points but can fluctuate seasonally.

Irrigation infrastructure including canals and laterals adds complexity to the water picture. Springs exist throughout the foothills but require knowledge of specific locations. Summer water scarcity drives pronghorn movement toward river corridors and reservoirs.

Unit 78 is pronghorn country defined by open sagebrush basins and scattered buttes. The sparse forest and open terrain make glassing-and-stalking the primary method—locate animals on the flats, use terrain breaks and drainage bottoms for approach. Early season (September) typically finds pronghorn in higher sagebrush areas and near water sources; as hunting pressure builds, they shift to rougher terrain around Sheep Mountain and McCullough Peaks.

Late season pushes animals toward river corridors and protected draws. Water sources including Greybull River and reservoirs concentrate animals, especially in dry stretches. The irrigated agricultural lands create dynamic movement patterns; hunt the interfaces between developed land and wild sagebrush.