Unit 120

Major features include Wind River Canyon itself, a dominant geographic landmark offering water access and natural travel corridors. High-visibility reference points include Big Table Mountain, Spring Mountain, and Bald Mountain for orientation glassing. Several reservoirs—Buffalo Lake, Wales Reservoir, and Thompson Reservoir series—provide notable water landmarks.

The numerous springs scattered throughout (Boghole Spring, Big Eagle Spring, Sweetwater Spring, and others) are critical navigation aids and water sources. Teeter Canyon and Miners Gulch offer natural drainage corridors for navigation.

The unit spans from roughly 4,300 feet in the river bottoms to over 10,800 feet at the highest ridges, with most terrain falling in the mid-elevation range. Low-elevation sections feature sagebrush flats and desert valleys with scattered juniper and cottonwoods along creek bottoms. Higher elevations transition to sparse ponderosa forest and open ridgetop country.

The sparse forest coverage combined with expansive open country creates a mixed-habitat landscape where deer use both brushy draws and timbered slope transitions seasonally.

Over 200 miles of roads exist within the unit, but most are rough Hot Springs County backroads with limited maintenance. No major highways or developed infrastructure penetrate the interior. This sparse road network means most access is limited to experienced backcountry travelers, and hunter density is typically low.

Thermopolis serves as the primary staging point to the northeast. The combination of difficult terrain, limited roads, and remote location naturally restricts pressure, but self-sufficiency in navigation and logistics is required.

Unit 120 is bordered by Wyoming Highway 120 on the north near Thermopolis, the Bighorn River on the east, and the Wind River Reservation boundary on the south and west. The unit wraps around reservation lands and includes scattered private fee-title holdings within the reservation exterior boundaries. It encompasses portions of Hot Springs County with significant variation from low river valleys to high ridgetops.

The terrain is primarily remote and undeveloped, creating a large, complex hunting area that requires careful navigation and planning.

Water is the limiting factor in this unit. The Bighorn River provides reliable flow along the eastern boundary, but interior country relies on scattered springs and seasonal creeks. Named streams including Mud Creek, Willow Creek, Red Creek, and Rattlesnake Creek flow seasonally depending on snowmelt and precipitation.

Multiple small reservoirs exist but aren't guaranteed reliable during low-water years. Successful hunting requires detailed knowledge of spring locations and understanding seasonal water availability in specific drainages. Planning water sources before entry is essential.

Unit 120 holds mule deer and white-tailed deer across its varied terrain. Mule deer inhabit the open sagebrush flats and scattered timber transitions, using drainages for security. White-tailed deer favor the brushy creek bottoms and juniper-dotted valleys.

Early season offers opportunities glassing open ridges and sagebrush parks for mule deer; mid-season requires understanding water location as deer consolidate around reliable springs. Late season may push animals to lower elevations. The extreme terrain complexity means success depends on detailed scouting, knowledge of water sources, and willingness to move far from roads.

Expect solitude but demand high navigation skills.