The only small ranches are mostly on lower (closer to highway) Embargo creek. The National Forest Map I mentioned will show private land, including my friends. Not to worry, I would say private only consumes maybe 3-4% of the entire unit.
Also most of the private land is along Embargo creek going up. This is not the area you will be interested in hunting elk during the 1st season anyway, so it's really a mute point. However private land can pop up in strange places up there, like a 160 acre parcel in the middle of thousands and thousands of acres of NF.
Again, the National Forest map I mentioned will plainly show these in white.
Now on a late season hunt after most game is pushed down, then the close observance of private land markings can be important.
Bill
