Unit B1

The Chalky Buttes and Bob Denny Hills anchor the northern portions, providing major terrain references visible across considerable distances. Scattered summits including Bullion Butte, Black Butte, Chimney Butte, and Windy Butte serve as both navigation waypoints and glassing vantage points. Ridge systems like Rocky Ridge and Juniper Spur offer elevated travel corridors and observation positions.

The badland draws—particularly Dickey Draw, Badland Draw, and Plumley Draw—create natural travel routes and shelter areas. These named features help orient hunters across terrain that can appear deceptively similar at ground level.

The entire unit sits below 5,000 feet, spanning from roughly 2,200 to 3,500 feet elevation. This low-elevation prairie and badland country supports sparse grassland and shrub vegetation with virtually no forest. The habitat is primarily arid prairie interspersed with badland draws, exposed slopes, and occasional rocky ridges where vegetation thins further.

Sheep thrive on these exposed slopes and cliff faces where visibility is excellent and escape terrain is abundant. The sparse ground cover and open aspect make this ideal glassing country where terrain features and individual animals stand out clearly against the landscape.

A fair network of 2,676 miles of roads with 1.29 miles per square mile density provides reasonable but not overwhelming connectivity. However, 73 percent of B1 is private land, meaning much of the accessible terrain requires permission or reservation. Access towns include Medora and Beach on unit peripheries, offering staging points for hunters.

The combination of vast area and scattered public land means pressure concentrates where public access exists rather than distributing evenly. Early planning and permission arrangements are mandatory; random access attempts will fail regularly.

B1 occupies western North Dakota in the badlands region, centered roughly around Medora and extending across the high plains toward Beach and beyond. The unit encompasses vast open country broken by badland formations, coulees, and isolated buttes that rise abruptly from prairie flats. Elevation changes are subtle across most of the unit, with modest relief concentrated in scattered badland complexes and ridge systems.

The landscape is predominantly treeless prairie with sparse vegetation and minimal forest cover. These badlands and prairie breaks create distinct visual features in an otherwise open terrain.

Water is the limiting factor in B1. Named springs including Black Spring, Big Spring, Lime Spring, and Mineral Springs exist but are scattered and may be seasonal. Several creeks including South Mosquito Creek, Cottonwood Creek, and Bull Run Creek flow through portions of the unit but are often intermittent. Stewart Lake, Williams Lake, and Cedar Lake provide permanent water where available, though locations can be miles apart.

Sheep hunters must plan water access carefully and consider carrying water for extended periods between reliable sources. Seasonal conditions heavily influence both water availability and hunting feasibility.

B1 is specifically designated for mountain sheep, and the terrain is well-suited to the species. The open prairie, scattered buttes, and exposed ridges create ideal sheep habitat where visibility is exceptional and escape routes are numerous. Sheep occupy the more rugged badland complexes and ridge systems rather than flat prairie.

Early season success depends on locating sheep on high ground where they're visible from distance. Glassing from elevated positions overlooking drainages and plateau edges is far more productive than ground-pounding through sagebrush. Water access dictates seasonal movement and bedding locations.

The limited complexity of the terrain means efficient glassing and careful stalking matter more than wilderness navigation.