This unit is comprised of scenic mountains located in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests on the southern border of the state. Bordered by Wyoming Highway 70 and County Road 401 on the west, Sage Creek and the North Platte River on the north, Wyoming Highways 130 and 230 on the east and the Colorado state line on the south. This unit is comprised mainly of National Forest land throughout the Sierra Madre Mountains. Bighorn sheep are found only in the Encampment River Wilderness area.

Sheep are concentrated in the Encampment River Wilderness and adjacent lands in the south-central portion of the unit. Sheep tend to stay in the steep, rugged canyons close to the Colorado border. Recent fires have opened up some new habitat. Good rams can be found with hard work and the average age class of rams taken is 8+ years.

This unit spans from the valley floor of the North Platte River near the towns of Encampment and Saratoga, west across the Sierra Madre Mountains to the Battle Mountain area. The area along the Encampment River is steep, rugged and remote. It is the smallest Wyoming Wilderness area.

Wilderness

Under Wyoming law nonresidents are not permitted to hunt big game or trophy game in any federally designated wilderness areas without the presence of a licensed guide or resident companion. The resident companion must first get a free non-commercial guide license from a Game and Fish office. The law does not prohibit nonresidents from hiking, fishing or hunting game birds, small game, or coyotes in wilderness areas.

Public Access in this unit is good. Access to the Encampment River Wilderness is west on Wyoming Highway 70 from Encampment, then south on County Road 550. There is trail access from either side of the river and several gated roads that you can hike out to the rims of the canyon.

Vegetation consists primarily of mixed conifer-aspen woodlands on rolling uplands and steep canyon slopes that are timbered or covered in sagebrush grassland. Some of the roadless areas contain old stands of ponderosa and limber pines.

Encampment and Saratoga are the closest towns of any size, and offer several options for lodging. One motel in Encampment is the Bighorn Lodge. Some motels in Saratoga are the Sage and Sand Motel, Silver Moon Motel and the Riviera Lodge. Groceries, gas, and other amenities are available as well. Camping is allowed on all public ground for up to 16 days in one location. There are several designated campgrounds located throughout the unit. You may also camp in remote locations.