Area 3 covers the upper Greybull River drainage and the eastern slope of the Absaroka Range south of Sunlight Basin—steep, timbered mountain country draining east toward the Bighorn Basin. Elevations range from about 5,500 feet in the lower Greybull Valley to over 12,000 feet on the Absaroka divide. The lower country is sagebrush, grass, and scattered Douglas fir. Mid-elevation forests are dense lodgepole and spruce-fir with aspen groves on disturbed sites. Above timberline, alpine meadows and volcanic ridges stretch along the divide. The Wood River and Greybull River are the major drainages, cutting deep canyons through the range front. Elk are the primary draw, and this area holds strong herds that benefit from the adjacent wilderness. The Washakie Wilderness covers the upper high country, and the Shoshone National Forest manages the roaded portions. Forest roads from Meeteetse and the Pitchfork Ranch area reach trailheads along the range front. Meeteetse is the nearest town—small, authentic, and stocked with basic supplies. Cody is about 30 miles north with full services. Cell service works near the highways and disappears in the mountains. This area sees less pressure than the North Fork units closer to Cody because the approach is longer and the terrain is more demanding. The Greybull River trail system provides horseback access deep into the Absarokas, and hunters who commit to a multi-day pack trip find quality bulls in the high basins. The volcanic terrain is hard on horses and boots alike—loose rock and steep trails are the norm. Weather in the upper Absarokas is severe; snow arrives early and stays late. Area 3 is a limited-quota unit where nonresidents typically need 4-6 preference points to draw an elk tag, and resident demand is moderate. The Washakie Wilderness covers the upper half of the unit, preserving genuine backcountry character. This is grizzly country — all Greater Yellowstone grizzly regulations apply, including bear-proof food storage and incident reporting. Access is almost entirely USFS (Shoshone National Forest), with some private ranch land around Meeteetse controlling lower-drainage entry points. The area is known for quality over quantity — hunter success rates are moderate, but bulls that mature in the upper Greybull drainage run 300-320 class regularly. The volcanic terrain is notoriously hard on horses; shoeing before the trip is essential, and riders should expect loose-rock trails with significant exposure.