Hunt Area 52, Crystal Creek, Wyoming

Transitional foothill country rising from the Bighorn River valley floor at roughly 3,700 feet to the Bighorn National Forest boundary at approximately 8,000 feet. Lower reaches consist of sagebrush flats, deep-cut drainages, and agricultural land along irrigated benches; mid-elevations give way to steep, rocky canyons, long creek drainages, and rocky bluffs. The unit is bounded by the Bighorn River on the west and Bear Creek to the southeast, per the official WGFD legal description (Chapter 6, Area 52).

Primary vehicle access is via U.S. Highway 14A, which forms the northern boundary of the unit running east from Lovell (approximately 9 miles west) toward Burgess Junction (Medicine Wheel Passage). The eastern boundary is the Bighorn National Forest boundary. BLM land and Wyoming state land constitute the majority of public acreage in the unit; BLM roads and ATV trails provide motorized access into the canyons. Bear Creek drainage offers foot and vehicle access toward the southeastern boundary. No wilderness or designated roadless areas fall within the unit itself. Significant private land occupies the lower valley floors and irrigated benches near the Bighorn River; hunters must verify land ownership before accessing lower-elevation terrain. No WGFD Walk-In program areas were listed for Hunt Area 52 in Big Horn County per the WGFD Walk-In Hunting database. Lovell has gas, groceries, and lodging; Greybull also provides services. Camping is permitted on BLM land within the unit.

Sagebrush-steppe and grassland dominate the low-elevation benches. As elevation increases, juniper and mountain mahogany woodlands become common on rocky slopes, transitioning into ponderosa pine on north-facing aspects and canyon walls. Riparian corridors along the Bighorn River and Bear Creek support cottonwood, willow, and chokecherry. The upper boundary of the unit meets dense lodgepole pine, spruce-fir, and aspen within the Bighorn National Forest. Irrigated agricultural fields on private land in the lower valley provide supplemental forage that attracts deer year-round.

Mule deer occupy the full elevation range of the unit and are the primary big-game quarry. White-tailed deer are present primarily at lower elevations along river and creek bottoms adjacent to irrigated agricultural fields. The broader Bighorn Canyon/Lovell area supports pronghorn on the sagebrush flats, black bear in the foothill and forest fringe, and mountain lion throughout. The Bighorn National Forest boundary area carries elk and Shiras moose at higher elevations, though these species use their own separately numbered hunt areas. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are present in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area nearby. Sage grouse occupy sagebrush habitat on the lower benches, and Merriam's wild turkey are present in the ponderosa pine zones. Golden eagle and peregrine falcon use the canyon cliffs. The North Bighorn mule deer herd has been below population management objectives in recent years, affected by prolonged drought and increasing chronic wasting disease prevalence; fawn production appeared slightly improved in 2025 compared to prior years per the WGFD 2025 Hunt Forecast.

1. Season dates sourced from WGFD Chapter 6 Deer Hunting Seasons (2025 regulations PDF, verified by direct extraction). 2. CORRECTION: Draft note 4 incorrectly stated Areas 50 and 53 had a 3-point APR for 2025. Per the regulations PDF, neither Area 50 nor Area 53 has an antler point restriction; both list 'Antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer' with no point restriction. Area 52 likewise has no APR. 3. CORRECTION: The Oct 25–Oct 31 extended general season allows 'antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer' (not only white-tailed deer as the draft implied) valid on or within one-half mile of irrigated land. 4. ADDITION: A Type 3 limited quota license (100 tags, valid in Areas 47, 51, and 52) for any white-tailed deer was omitted from the draft; it extends the season through November 30. 5. No muzzleloader-only season for Area 52. 6. Region R nonresident quota is 500 licenses covering areas 41, 46, 47, 50–53, confirmed. 7. No Walk-In areas confirmed for Hunt Area 52. 8. public_land_pct 79% sourced from GoHunt (78.7% rounded).