Area 1 sits in far northwest Wyoming bordering Yellowstone National Park—a slice of the Absaroka Range and the upper North Fork Shoshone country south of Cooke City. Elevations run from 6,500 feet on the lower drainages to over 12,000 feet on the Absaroka divide. The terrain is volcanic—crumbling ridges, slide-alder avalanche chutes, dense spruce-fir timber, and alpine basins above timberline. The North Absaroka Wilderness covers nearly the entire area, and motorized access is prohibited. Grizzly bears are at peak density. Shoshone NF and the North Absaroka Wilderness manage everything. Trailheads from the North Fork Shoshone corridor (US-14/16/20) reach into the wilderness. Cody is the supply hub; Cooke City has gas and basics. Cell service drops at the trailheads and stays gone. This is full wilderness pack-in country. The elk migration out of Yellowstone is the central story—when snow pushes animals out of the park, they pour through here. Bring serious bear protocol, plan multi-day pack trips, and don't go alone. Area 1 is the North Absaroka — the wild, roadless country east of Yellowstone National Park stretching from the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone south to the Shoshone River. This is grizzly bear country in every sense. The Shoshone National Forest manages most of the unit and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness covers the northern portion. The North Absaroka Wilderness covers additional roadless areas. Grizzly density here is among the highest in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem — you WILL encounter grizzly sign (tracks, scat, digs, rubs) and likely see bears. Carry bear spray on your body at all times, hang food or use bear-proof containers, and know how to field dress and cache a kill so you do not create a conflict. WGFD regulations require hunters to report any grizzly-related incident. Elk hunting is outstanding: the unit holds a large resident herd plus animals that migrate out of Yellowstone. The terrain is brutally steep — 4,000-5,000 foot elevation gains from valley floors to ridgelines are common. Dark timber, avalanche chutes, and cliffy basins define the landscape. Access from the east via the Chief Joseph Highway (Hwy 296) and the Sunlight Basin road, or from Cody via the North Fork Shoshone River road (Hwy 14/16/20). The western boundary is the Yellowstone National Park line — do NOT cross into the park. GPS your boundary carefully because there are areas where the line is not obvious on the ground. Pack-in hunts by horseback are the standard for the wilderness interior. Drop camps are popular: the outfitter packs your camp to a pre-set location and you hunt on your own. Expect to pay $2,000-$3,000 for a drop camp, $5,000-$8,000 for a fully guided hunt. Going on your own without stock is possible but extremely demanding. Cody is the service hub with full amenities 30-60 minutes from most trailheads. Cell service ends at the trailhead. The unit is in the special grizzly management area — check current WGFD regulations regarding carcass handling and reporting. Weather in October above 9,000 feet can produce blizzard conditions with little warning. This is a wilderness hunt that demands respect.