This unit makes up the bulk of the Black Hills areas in the western side of South Dakota. This unit is almost entirely public land with some private land mostly located in the lower elevations. If you are looking for a chance to have a more classic western hunt for deer with lots of public land, easy access, and a solid deer population this is it. Not known to produce giant bucks, but with a great mix of both mule deer and whitetails there are always a handful of above average bucks taken in this unit each year.

There is less about this unit than expected, considering how much public land there is. That being said, with a healthy mix of both Whitetail and Mule Deer this unit offers a great opportunity to hunt either species. You may see elk, Bighorn Sheep, and even Mountain goats at any time as well could be seen while you are here.

This is a very broken landscape that you would expect in most western states when on a mountain hunt. Thick patches of timber, primarily conifer and aspen, that give way to little valleys and creek bottoms scattered across the bulk of the unit. Some areas have much more elevation change than others, and overall if you plan on hunting on your boots, this unit can be as physical as you would like it to be.

There are really three main access routes into and around the unit. The eastern boundary of this unit is Hwy 385 which moves north and south for almost the entire east boundary. Highway 16 in the southern half of the unit moves east and west across the unit moving west from Custer, SD and eventually crossing into Wyoming. While Highway 85 comes south west out of Deadwood, SD and again crosses into Wyoming. These three routes have many different less improved roads and two tracks coming off in all directions and allow access to the bulk of the unit.

A mix of short and tall prairie grass for miles in all directions as well as countless species of wildflowers can be found in the lower elevations of the unit that haven’t been turned for agricultural purposes. Very sparse timber which is primarily a mix of Cottonwood, American Elm, Green Ash, and Bur Oak can be found along the small creeks throughout the unit. As you gain elevation towards the center of the unit you can expect to run into more and more conifer and other forest trees leading up towards the edges of the Black Hills with pockets of aspen throughout.

As a general rule this is a rather remote unit especially comparing it to other units in the state. There are virtually no major townships located in the unit. The most notable towns would be Custer, SD in the southern half of the unit where highway 385 and highway 16 intersect. Deadwood, SD is located just outside of the unit in the far north but is worth mentioning. If you are looking for a jumping off point and last place for fuel, groceries, or even planning to hunt out of a hotel these two townships are going to make the most sense to stay here. If you are planning on camping this is an option and there are a few established campgrounds throughout the unit, but primitive camping will likely allow you to get to and from some deeper parts of the unit without much trouble. This being said, it's a good idea to double check current regulations prior to heading into the hills with primitive camping as your plan.