Wyoming Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Elk

Unit 4 (Hoback / Wyoming Range)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Elk

Hunt Area 4 covers the Hoback River canyon and the northern Wyoming Range — rugged limestone terrain offering a distinct mix of canyon-rim bighorn habitat and high-alpine sheep country south of Jackson. The Hoback canyon walls and the cliff systems above the Hoback River junction hold resident sheep populations managed by WGFD for trophy quality. This unit sits south of the high-profile Teton and Gros Ventre units, drawing fewer applicants while still producing quality rams. Access via US-189/191 through the Hoback canyon provides a base for hunting operations into Bridger-Teton NF lands.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 4

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 4

Bighorn sheep in Unit 4 inhabit the limestone cliff systems along the Hoback River canyon and the rocky ridges of the northern Wyoming Range. The canyon walls visible from US-189/191 between Hoback Junction and Bondurant are reliable sheep locations, particularly for ewes and younger rams. Trophy-class rams tend to hold in higher, more remote terrain above the main canyon.

Hoback Canyon Cliffs

The sheer canyon walls flanking the Hoback River support resident sheep throughout the year. Glass from canyon-bottom pullouts early in the morning — sheep on the upper cliff faces are visible with binoculars. These lower-canyon animals are accessible but require technical route-finding to approach.

Upper Wyoming Range

The high ridges of the northern Wyoming Range above the Hoback drainage hold rams in summer and fall before they descend to winter ranges. Access via Horse Creek Road and Wyoming Range trail system. Expect 2,000–3,000 feet of elevation gain to reach the primary sheep bands.

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 4

Unit 4 bighorn hunting offers a unique combination of canyon cliff hunting and high-country stalking within a single season framework.

Canyon Rim Approach

Access the Hoback canyon rim via the BTNF trail system above the highway. Set up glassing positions on the rim looking across the canyon at the opposite cliff faces at dawn. Sheep bed on ledges and move to grassy benches to feed. The canyon provides natural rifle shooting lanes across to identified rams.

High-Country Scouting

If canyon-floor sheep are inaccessible, push into the upper Wyoming Range via Horse Creek Road and the trail network. Rams at 9,500–11,000 feet are in country with less cliff-face density but more open terrain for stalking.

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Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Unit 4 bighorn sheep success rates average 70–80% for tag holders. The combination of canyon-accessible sheep and high-country populations gives hunters multiple opportunities within the season window. Canyon-based hunting has the highest success component.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

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

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Unit 4 bighorn sheep tags are competitive but may be slightly more accessible than the highest-demand Teton and Yellowstone units. Non-residents should plan for 12–17 preference points. Apply annually without exception.

Elk Hunting in Unit 4

Hunt Area 4 covers the Hoback River drainage and adjacent Wyoming Range foothills south of Jackson — a productive elk area in the Bridger-Teton National Forest with a strong mix of archery and rifle opportunity. Bulls in this unit benefit from Yellowstone-area migration pathways, with some animals moving into the Hoback basin from higher-elevation summer ranges in adjacent units. The combination of lodgepole pine timber, sagebrush open parks, and river-bottom meadows creates diverse elk habitat. Non-resident draw requirements are moderate compared to the high-demand elk units farther north.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 4

Elk in Hunt Area 4 use the Hoback drainage's mix of lodgepole timber, sagebrush parks, and river-bottom meadows through the fall season. The area serves as both a destination unit and a transition corridor for elk moving from higher summer ranges.

Archery Season (September)

Bulls are in the timber and aspen draws during September rut. Focus on the timbered benches above the Hoback River and the dark timber above Granite Creek. Wallow locations in spruce-fir stringers concentrate bulls early in the season.

Rifle Season (October–November)

Post-season pressure and cooling temperatures push elk off the high summer ranges into the Hoback basin's middle-elevation parks and sage openings. Glass from ridgelines overlooking the open parks and timbered edges at dawn and dusk.

Migration Corridor

Unit 4 sits astride an elk migration route — animals moving from Yellowstone-adjacent summer ranges to lower winter areas pass through the Hoback basin in October. Peak migration typically coincides with early-November cold fronts.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 4

Unit 4 elk hunting rewards hunters who key on seasonal movement and the transition between summer timber country and lower-elevation winter range.

September Bugling

The lodgepole and spruce timber above Granite Creek and along the upper Hoback are excellent bugling zones. Locate bulls with locator calls from ridgelines and then set up for an encounter in the timber. The steep drainages amplify bugling and make bull location straightforward in calm conditions.

Rifle Park Hunting

During rifle season, post up at dawn overlooking the sage-grass parks on south-facing slopes where elk feed before moving to timber cover. The parks between the Hoback River and the ridgeline of the Wyoming Range are consistent locations for large groups of elk in October.

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Elk Success Rates

Unit 4 elk success rates average 22–30% for rifle hunters and 12–16% for archery. The unit produces consistent harvest with occasional trophy bulls coming from the more remote Wyoming Range drainages. Migration timing significantly influences success in the October rifle season.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	0	0	0.0%	0

Data from 2022 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit 4 elk tags are moderately competitive. Non-resident Type 1 (any weapon) tags require approximately 4–7 preference points. Archery tags may be available with fewer points or occasionally as leftover licenses. The unit's position in the middle of the Hoback/Wyoming Range corridor makes it a popular but not overwhelmingly competitive draw.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Limited in-unit options. Jackson has full-service RV parks.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping on BTNF land throughout the unit. Hoback Campground on the river. Kozy Campground near the Hoback canyon.

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Trailer Access

Horse Creek Road and main forest roads handle standard trailers to primary trailheads.

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Water

Hoback River and tributaries throughout unit. Treat all sources.

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Road Conditions

US-189/191 paved through canyon. Forest access roads gravel, high clearance recommended in wet conditions or after October snow.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Canyon wall approaches involve technical scrambling on loose limestone. High-country access adds 2,500–3,000 feet elevation.

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Hunting Pressure

Very low — limited tag numbers.

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Weather

October temperatures 15–50°F. Canyon terrain channels wind. November storms can be severe.

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Cell Service

Limited along US-189/191. None in backcountry canyon or high-country terrain.

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Nearest Town

Jackson (40 minutes north). Hoback Junction is a small crossroads with limited services. Bondurant (small community). Full services in Jackson.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unit 4 a good bighorn sheep unit for first-time Wyoming applicants?

Unit 4 may draw slightly faster than the top-tier Teton units but still requires 12+ preference points for non-residents. It is not a 'quick draw' unit — plan for a long accumulation strategy regardless.

Can I see bighorn sheep from the road in Unit 4?

Yes — the Hoback canyon cliffs visible from US-189/191 hold sheep that are sometimes visible from pullouts with binoculars or a spotting scope. This makes pre-season scouting from the road feasible.

Is Unit 4 elk accessible without a horse?

Yes. The Granite Creek corridor and lower Hoback river-bottom elk habitat are accessible on foot within 2–4 miles of the road. A horse is helpful but not required for most elk hunting in this unit.

Does Unit 4 benefit from Yellowstone elk migration?

The Hoback basin receives migrating elk from higher summer ranges in the Tetons and Gros Ventre. Peak migration through the unit coincides with late October/early November cold fronts and is one of the best times to hunt.

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Sources & Verification

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

Wyoming 2025 Big Game Regulations — Hunt Planner — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 4 bighorn sheep season structure, License quota, Hunt area boundaries · accessed 2026-04-18
WGFD Hunting Regulations Hub — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Bighorn sheep seasons and license classes, Preference point system · accessed 2026-04-18
WGFD Harvest Reports & Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 4 bighorn sheep harvest data, Hunter success rates · accessed 2026-04-18
WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 4 elk season structure, License quota, Hunt area boundaries · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 4 (Hoback / Wyoming Range)

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 4

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 4

Hoback Canyon Cliffs

Upper Wyoming Range

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 4

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 4

Where to Find Elk in Unit 4

Archery Season (September)

Rifle Season (October–November)

Migration Corridor

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 4

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

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Unit 26 — Absaroka Elk

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification