Area 22 occupies the eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains between Sheridan and Buffalo—the gentle side of the range, where timbered ridges and foothill benchlands slope gradually down to the Powder River country. Elevations range from about 4,000 feet on the prairie near Sheridan to 9,500 feet on the mountain crest. The lower foothills are grassland, sage, and scattered ponderosa pine savanna. Mid-elevations carry dense lodgepole and mixed conifer. The upper reaches are spruce-fir and alpine meadows. The east slope receives less precipitation than the west, creating a drier, more open forest with better visibility and more manageable undergrowth. Elk and mule deer are both abundant, and the foothill transition zone is premier mule deer habitat. Bighorn National Forest manages the timbered mountain terrain, with BLM, state trust, and private ranch land on the foothills and prairie. US-14 between Sheridan and Burgess Junction and US-16 from Buffalo provide paved access. Forest roads extend throughout the east slope. Sheridan and Buffalo are full-service towns with strong hunting cultures and abundant lodging options. Cell service is good in the towns and along the highways, fading in the interior timber. The east-slope Bighorns are popular—the easy access from Sheridan and Buffalo draws solid pressure during rifle season. But the amount of national forest is vast, and hunters who use the forest road system to reach less-traveled drainages find better hunting. The ponderosa-parkland foothill country above the prairie is excellent for mule deer—glass the openings between the pine and sage at dawn and dusk for bucks using the scattered cover. Elk are higher, in the lodgepole and spruce-fir, and respond to snow pressure by moving down the drainages toward the foothills. Area 22 on the east slope of the Bighorns is one of Wyoming's most popular elk and deer units due to easy access from Sheridan and Buffalo. Nonresident elk tags typically require 2-4 preference points. No wilderness applies — the Cloud Peak Wilderness is in adjacent Area 30, not here. The Bighorn National Forest covers the mountain terrain with private ranch land on the foothills and prairie. No grizzly bears are present. The area is known for consistent elk hunting in the lodgepole timber and excellent mule deer on the ponderosa-sage foothills, but the high hunting pressure from the I-90 corridor means animals are heavily educated by mid-season. The Walk-In Area program provides access to some private foothill parcels. Residents dominate the hunter numbers, and the easy access makes this a weekend-warrior destination where midweek hunts significantly improve success rates.