1950 Map of Shotgun Butte

About this map

The Wind River Indian Reservation landscape is defined by the winding course of Muddy Creek and the prominent landmark of Shotgun Butte. This 1950s study, conducted for the development of the Missouri River Basin, reveals a remote ranching territory at a time when water management was reshaping the High Plains. The Riverton Reclamation Project (Withdrawal Area) covers the southeastern corner, signaling a period of federal land-use transition. Scattered family-named ranching operations, such as Arapahoe Ranch and Merriam Ranch, are connected by an intricate network of waterways including Deer Creek and Shotgun Creek. The mention of the Shotgun Ranch (Aban'd) provides a specific waypoint for local historians tracking the cycle of settlement and departure in this arid Wyoming environment.