Unit 5 is in the northeast corner of the state along the Wyoming-South Dakota border. It is bordered on the north by Interstate 90, the east by the Wyoming-South Dakota border, the southwest by Highway 16, and the west/northwest by Highway 116. This unit can be a challenge to hunt due to the lack of public lands but hunters who stay committed and work hard can find success in these areas from time to time.

Smaller populations are found throughout this area with the bulk of them being on private lands. Securing private access is the best bet for success but tags do get filled on public lands each year.

Terrain here varies from prairie flats to areas of higher elevation with mountainous terrain transitioning into lower elevations. Hunters will be able to climb in elevation to vantage points for glassing. The east side of the unit offers part of the Black Hills National Forest and the foothills accompanied with it. The central part of the unit has much more deserty terrain, with rolling hills, steep ravines, valleys, basins, and sagebrush flats, however, most of this portion is private. The south and west sides of the unit transition back into badlands and hilly country with lots of vegetation, ravines, draws, and small basins.

It is tough to get access into this unit due to large amounts of private property. Obtaining access to hunt these properties should be finalized before applying. A few small areas of public land are located here with a few two-track and gravel roads that give access to vehicles. The Wyoming side of the Black Hills National Forest and a variety of public lands scattered throughout the southwest and south portions of the unit towards Newcastle all provide places to hunt. Getting directly off of Interstate 80, County Roads 108, 129, 4, and 21 all offer access to the Black Hills National Forest in the eastern portion of the unit; Highways 585 and 85 offer access to the central and southern portions of the unit and have several pieces of public land touching the road itself that you can hunt. Highway 16, Oil Creed RD, Skull Creek RD, Dry Creek RD, Community Pasture RD, and Arledge RD all offer access to south and southwest portions of the unit. A lot of public land touches each of these roads providing direct access to be able to hunt in these areas. There are networks of BLM, Forest Service, and County roads to help you get to public lands legally. Overall, roads in the unit are well maintained -there are some smaller two-track roads, but the majority are well used partly due to the gas and oil fields in the area. Pay close attention to county roads in Wyoming; although some roads are labeled “county”, they are considered private roads and are not for public use. Also, be cautious in using oil and gas roads to access public lands that aren’t labeled for “public use”. The best way to know for sure is to simply call the local game warden in the area.

Areas of grass and sage are found at the lower elevations of the unit and transition to mountain meadows and pine trees that are mixed with conifer at higher elevations. Recent pine beetle infestations have taken a toll and killed many of the pine trees in this area.

Lodging, fuel and food accommodations can be found in Newcastle, Sundance and Upton Wyoming. Sundance will be your best bet if you plan on hunting the northern part of the unit, and Newcastle is the best option if you choose to hunt the southern parts of the unit. Camping accommodations can be hard to find due to the lack of public land.