Wyoming Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Moose

Unit 17 (Bighorn Mountains — Cloud Peak)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Moose

Wyoming Hunt Area 17 occupies the high Bighorn Mountains in Johnson and Big Horn counties, centered on the Cloud Peak Wilderness and the dramatic alpine terrain around Cloud Peak (13,175 ft). This is classic Rocky Mountain bighorn habitat — high alpine meadows, shale slides, and granite cliffs above 10,000 feet. The Bighorn Mountains support a well-established sheep population with ram quality ranging from 155 to 175 class. Access to the alpine zone requires serious backcountry hiking. Tags are extremely limited and highly sought after.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 17

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 17

Unit 17 bighorn sheep are concentrated in the alpine and sub-alpine terrain of the Bighorn Mountains above 9,500 feet in the Cloud Peak Wilderness and surrounding Bighorn NF.

Cloud Peak Wilderness (10,000–12,500 ft)

The high terrain surrounding Cloud Peak holds the core ram population. The granite basins, shale slides, and alpine meadows in the wilderness interior are prime sheep habitat. Rams favor the cliff-banded ridges above treeline — glass from high vantage points overlooking multiple basins to maximize your observation area.

Sub-Alpine Transition (9,000–10,500 ft)

Below the main alpine zone, sheep use the krummholz and rocky transition terrain for security cover. During the October–November rut, rams descend slightly and are found with ewe groups on the open sub-alpine slopes and rocky benches.

Trailhead Access Corridors

The main Bighorn NF trailheads — including Mistaken Creek, Edelman, and West Tensleep Lake — provide access corridors into the wilderness. Glass the terrain visible from the trails to locate sheep bands before committing to a specific basin.

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 17

Unit 17 is high-altitude alpine sheep hunting in the Bighorn Mountains — a physically demanding wilderness experience with exceptional scenery and quality rams.

Base Camp Strategy

Establish a high base camp (9,500–10,500 ft) in a basin adjacent to the primary sheep range. This eliminates the daily 3,000-foot elevation gain from valley trailheads and puts you in position for early-morning glassing when sheep are most active. The Cloud Peak Wilderness requires Leave No Trace camping.

Alpine Glassing

Glass from high points overlooking multiple basins. The open alpine terrain allows observation of dozens of square miles from a single vantage — morning light is critical for spotting sheep on the east-facing slopes. Identify rams, assess their age and score, and plan a stalking approach.

Stalk Execution

Alpine stalks in the Bighorn Mountains use shale ridges, granite boulders, and terrain breaks for concealment. Approach from above whenever possible. The wind in the alpine zone is variable and shifts with thermal currents — be prepared to abort and re-approach as conditions change.

Pro Members Only

Unlock bighorn sheep tactics for Unit 17

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Wyoming bighorn sheep success runs 85–95% statewide for tag holders. Unit 17's accessible alpine terrain (relative to the northwest Absaroka units) and concentrated sheep population produce high success rates for prepared hunters.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Draw odds data not available for this specific unit/species combination in our database.

Search Wyoming Draw Odds

Unit 17 bighorn sheep are highly competitive. Non-residents typically need 12–18 preference points to draw. The Bighorn Mountains sheep units are well-known for quality and attract significant applicant pressure. Apply annually under Wyoming's 75/25 draw system.

Moose Hunting in Unit 17

Wyoming Hunt Area 17 moose occupy the sub-alpine and montane zones of the Bighorn Mountains in Johnson and Big Horn counties. The transition zone between the high Cloud Peak Wilderness and the lower conifer forest (7,500–10,000 ft) provides willow-rich drainages, beaver pond complexes, and riparian corridors ideal for Shiras moose. The Bighorn Mountains are not a primary Wyoming moose unit, but resident bulls in the 38–48-inch class use the drainages regularly. Tags draw faster here than in the northwest — typically 4–8 preference points for non-residents.

Where to Find Moose in Unit 17

Unit 17 moose are distributed across the willow-lined creek systems and beaver ponds of the Bighorn NF between the cloud peak alpine zone and the lower ponderosa pine foothills.

West Tensleep Creek and Tributaries (7,500–9,500 ft)

The upper West Tensleep Creek drainage below the Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary holds moose in the willow flats and beaver pond complexes. This area is accessible from the West Tensleep Lake trailhead and has relatively low hunting pressure due to the distance from major population centers.

Paint Rock Creek Corridor

Paint Rock Creek and its tributaries on the eastern Bighorn slope carry willows and spruce-fir habitat that attracts moose from the lower foothills up to the sub-alpine zone. The creek corridor provides a natural travel route for moose moving between elevation zones seasonally.

Rut Window

Late September to mid-October rut activity brings bulls into the open along willow flats and beaver ponds. Moose in the Bighorn Mountains are responsive to calling during peak rut.

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 17

Unit 17 moose hunting combines willow corridor stalking with rut calling in the sub-alpine transition zone of the Bighorn Mountains.

Willow Flat Stalking

Walk the willow-lined creek corridors slowly in early morning and evening. Stop every 100 yards to glass ahead and listen. Moose feed in the willows at dawn and dusk, retreating to spruce-fir timber during midday. Move into the wind along creek drainages.

Rut Calling from Beaver Ponds

Beaver ponds in the Bighorn NF sub-alpine zone attract moose during the rut — bulls scent-mark the pond edges and respond aggressively to cow calls. Set up downwind of active sign (large tracks, stripped willows, water disturbance) and call for 30–45 minutes before moving.

Elevation Flexibility

Moose in the Bighorns move between elevation zones more than in flat-terrain units. Hunt the 8,000–9,500 ft zone early in the season before pushing into the lower drainages as animals move down ahead of snow.

Pro Members Only

Unlock moose hunting tactics for Unit 17

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Moose Success Rates

Wyoming moose success statewide runs 70–85%. Unit 17's moose density is moderate — not the peak of northwest Wyoming, but tag holders who pre-scout the creek corridors achieve solid results. The Bighorn Mountains setting provides an excellent wilderness moose experience.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	1	83	1.2%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 17 moose tags for non-residents typically require 4–8 preference points — more accessible than the premium northwest units. This makes Unit 17 a realistic 5–10 year draw for non-residents who apply annually. Check WGFD's current statistics for the most recent competitive point levels.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

🚐

RV Sites

Buffalo and Tensleep have RV facilities. Limited near wilderness trailheads.

⛺

Camp Sites

Cloud Peak Wilderness — backcountry camping with Leave No Trace protocols. West Tensleep Lake, Edelman, and Mistaken Creek trailheads have developed USFS campgrounds nearby.

🛻

Trailer Access

US-16 (Tensleep Canyon) handles horse trailers to the main trailheads. Wilderness boundary prohibits motorized use beyond trailheads.

💧

Water

Numerous alpine lakes, streams, and snowmelt sources throughout the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Treat all water.

🛣️

Road Conditions

US-16 and US-14 are paved. Forest roads to trailheads are gravel. Snow may close high forest roads by mid-October.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Extremely strenuous. Alpine terrain at 10,000–12,500 ft with elevation gains of 3,000–4,000 ft from valley trailheads. High-altitude fitness is essential.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Very low — tag numbers are minimal. Wilderness interior receives little non-hunting traffic in fall.

🌦️

Weather

Alpine zone above 10,000 ft. September–October brings freezing overnight temperatures and early-season blizzards. Plan for sub-zero wind chills on exposed ridges. Early October snowstorms can be severe.

📱

Cell Service

None in the wilderness. Limited in Buffalo and Tensleep. Satellite communicator is mandatory.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Buffalo (approx. 20–40 mi east on US-16) — full services. Tensleep is closer to the western wilderness access points.

📋

Permit Notes

Bighorn sheep tags are draw-only. Cloud Peak Wilderness has specific regulations — review current Bighorn NF wilderness use guidelines.

Note: Unit 17 is one of Wyoming's signature sheep hunts — the Cloud Peak Wilderness setting is spectacular and the ram quality is consistently high. Horse support dramatically improves access and pack-out logistics from the alpine basins.

Pro Members Only

Unlock full logistics for Unit 17 bighorn sheep

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is the sheep country in Wyoming Unit 17?

The prime sheep habitat in Unit 17 sits above 10,000 feet in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area of the Bighorn Mountains. Cloud Peak itself reaches 13,175 feet. Plan for significant altitude and prepare physically with months of cardiovascular conditioning before the hunt.

Can I use horses in the Cloud Peak Wilderness for sheep hunting?

Yes, horses are permitted in the Cloud Peak Wilderness on designated trails. Stock use requires specific Leave No Trace protocols and compliance with Bighorn NF wilderness regulations regarding grazing and camping. Contact the Buffalo Ranger District for current regulations.

Are there moose in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming?

Yes. The Bighorn Mountains (Hunt Area 17) hold a resident Shiras moose population in the sub-alpine willow and beaver pond corridors between 7,500 and 10,000 feet. The Bighorn NF drainages below the Cloud Peak Wilderness provide reliable moose habitat.

How does Unit 17 moose hunting compare to northwest Wyoming?

Unit 17 is a lower-density moose unit compared to the Park County and Teton-area units, but tags are significantly easier to draw (4–8 points vs. 10–20 points). Expect quality bulls in the 38–48-inch range rather than the 50+ bulls possible in the premium northwest units.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

WGFD Hunt Planner — Bighorn Sheep — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 17 bighorn sheep season structure, Tag quotas, Unit boundaries · accessed 2026-04-18
WGFD Hunting Regulations Hub — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: License classes, Season proclamations · accessed 2026-04-18
WGFD Hunt Planner — Moose — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 17 moose season structure, Tag quotas, Unit boundaries · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 17 (Bighorn Mountains — Cloud Peak)

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 17

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 17

Cloud Peak Wilderness (10,000–12,500 ft)

Sub-Alpine Transition (9,000–10,500 ft)

Trailhead Access Corridors

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 17

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Moose Hunting in Unit 17

Where to Find Moose in Unit 17

West Tensleep Creek and Tributaries (7,500–9,500 ft)

Paint Rock Creek Corridor

Rut Window

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 17

Moose Success Rates

Moose Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 18 — Bighorn Sheep

Unit 17 — Moose

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Sources & Verification