Area 20 encompasses the Bighorn Mountains' western slope between Ten Sleep and Shell Canyon—a dramatic wall of mountain rising from the Bighorn Basin floor. Elevations range from about 4,500 feet at the base to over 12,000 feet on the high Bighorn peaks. The transition is abrupt: sagebrush and juniper at the base, then mountain mahogany, Douglas fir, and limber pine on the lower slopes, transitioning through aspen and lodgepole into spruce-fir and alpine meadows on top. Ten Sleep Canyon and Shell Canyon are spectacular limestone gorges cutting through the range front. Elk inhabit the mid-to-upper elevation timber, mule deer are abundant in the foothill transition zone, and the high country holds bighorn sheep and moose. Bighorn National Forest covers the mountain terrain, with BLM and private ranch land at the base. US-16 through Ten Sleep Canyon and US-14 through Shell Canyon provide paved access to the high country. Forest roads extend across the mountain from these corridors. Ten Sleep, Shell, and Greybull are the staging towns with basic services; Worland has more options. Cell service works along the highways and at some high points but is unreliable in the timber. The west-slope canyons are among the most dramatic access corridors in Wyoming—driving up Ten Sleep Canyon from the basin floor to the mountain crest gains 5,000 feet in elevation. The steep terrain creates distinct habitat bands, and smart hunters match their species target to the right elevation: antelope on the basin, deer in the mahogany-sage transition, elk in the mid-elevation timber, and sheep on the alpine cliffs. Snow closes the high roads early—typically by mid-November—so have alternate access plans for late-season hunts. Area 20 on the west slope of the Bighorns offers general-license elk hunting for residents and limited-quota tags for nonresidents that typically require 2-4 preference points. No wilderness designations cover the area, but the steep terrain above Ten Sleep Canyon creates de facto wilderness conditions. The Bighorn National Forest provides excellent public access, with BLM and private ranch land at the mountain base. No grizzly bears are present — the Bighorn Range is outside the Greater Yellowstone recovery zone. The area is known for strong elk numbers in the mid-elevation timber and outstanding mule deer in the foothill mahogany-sage transition, where bucks in the 170-190 class are realistic. The dramatic canyon access corridors funnel hunter traffic, so those who hike away from the main trailheads find less pressure. Special archery-only seasons on the west slope can provide excellent early-season opportunity.