Area 4 covers the Washakie Wilderness and the upper South Fork of the Shoshone River—a massive block of roadless Absaroka backcountry south of Cody. Elevations range from about 6,000 feet along the South Fork to over 12,000 feet on the Absaroka divide. The lower South Fork canyon is sagebrush and Douglas fir, narrowing into a dramatic canyon before the valley opens into broader parks upstream. The upper country is classic wilderness: dense spruce-fir forests, alpine meadows, glacial cirques, and volcanic ridgelines stretching to the Yellowstone Park boundary. Elk densities are excellent, grizzly bears are common, and the remoteness of the upper drainage means mature bulls can live long enough to grow serious antlers. The Washakie Wilderness covers most of the area, with the Shoshone National Forest providing the surrounding management. The South Fork Road out of Cody reaches trailheads at the wilderness boundary, and trails penetrate deep into the Absarokas. Cody has full services and is the outfitter hub for the South Fork country. Cell service dies at the trailheads. This is a commitment hunt—the best country is 10-20 miles from the nearest road, and most hunters use outfitters with pack strings. The South Fork corridor is a classic elk migration route, and the timing of the fall push from Yellowstone determines the hunting quality. September rut hunts in the upper basins are the pinnacle experience—bugling bulls in wilderness meadows with no other hunters in earshot. The pack-out from a deep camp is measured in days, and the grizzly density means every aspect of camp life revolves around keeping a clean camp and hanging meat properly. Area 4 is one of Wyoming's premier limited-quota wilderness elk units, and nonresidents commonly need 5-8 preference points to draw. Resident tags are easier but still competitive. The entire upper portion lies within the Washakie Wilderness — no motorized access, no mountain bikes, no drones. Grizzly bear density is extremely high, and WGFD requires hunters in this area to follow all Greater Yellowstone grizzly protocols. Access is nearly 100% Shoshone National Forest, with a few private inholdings along the South Fork canyon. The area is known for producing trophy-class bulls (320-360+ inches) because the wilderness filters out casual hunters, allowing bulls to reach full maturity. Outfitter drop camps run $2,500-$4,000, and fully guided pack-in hunts cost $6,000-$10,000. DIY hunters need their own stock or exceptional physical conditioning for backpack hunts.