Wyoming's Top Limited Entry Elk Units
By Brad Vargo
MonsterMuleys.com Freelance Writer
Updated January 2017

The opening of the application period for Wyoming's limited entry elk signifies the start of a new year of planning for hunts in 2017. It's another year of submitting applications and hoping to draw that coveted tag we have waited so long for. This year's nonresident draw opened on January 3th and it closes at midnight Mountain Standard Time on January 31st. The modification period runs through the 3rd of February with results expected out by February 28th or a little sooner. Wyoming has an elk preference point system in place for nonresidents with residents having a straight draw. The preference point only application period is from July 3rd through October 31st. Wyoming does not require the purchase of a hunting license to apply for tags. Wyoming has both regular priced and special priced elk licenses. The special license costs $480 more than the regular priced license for elk. Wyoming uses a 60/40 split when dividing up regular and special licenses with 40% allotted for the special draw. Paying for the more expensive license normally gives an applicant better odds of drawing a tag, but please take a look at Wyoming Game and Fish Department's website to check past drawing odds to see if it is going to be beneficial to apply for your particular elk license.

Wyoming's overall elk quality seems to be slightly increasing when looked at as a whole, especially in the better limited and general units. There are plenty of elk units that are on the slight decline, but this can normally be contributed to an increase in tag quotas, so make sure you look for this trend in your own particular unit. Wyoming is not known as a top Boone and Crockett record producer unless you are hunting Park County. That being said, a 350 bull can pop-up in just about any of the better limited quality units. Most of the better quality limited entry elk units could take decades to draw, so before I get down to unit specifics, I should spend a little time on nonresident expectations. The most common question I get year in and year out with regards to Wyoming elk is, "what area should I apply for so I can go get my 350 bull either DIY or with what outfitter." This dilemma particularly applies to hunters who do not live close enough to the elk to effectively do their own scouting and prepare properly for a DIY hunt. They really want a big bull, but don't realize how difficult it can be to get a really big one...say 350 or better. I know guys that have went on over a dozen guided elk hunts that have not taken a 350 bull. The DIYer is in a tough boat as a lot of guys are putting faith in saving up points for that special elk hunt. A bad drought year, weather, forest fires, not being able to get off work for long enough to properly scout the area before the hunt, or family emergencies can ruin a hunt. Most guys with premium tags do not go home with monsters, some go home with raghorns and some even go home empty. If you are truly after a monster elk in Wyoming, make sure you have enough time off to scout and hunt, including multiple hunt trips. Otherwise, going guided with the right outfitter may be a better way to go, but you still need to have realistic expectations. Usually a good outfitter will get you a bull in Wyoming about 20 inches more then what you would get going DIY.

Before I get into discussing specific individual units, I would like to discuss the second most asked question I get, "For big bulls, is the Park County area better or are the ranch hunts in limited entry areas in the south central part of the state better?" This depends on what you are looking for as a hunter. There is still no doubt that the Park County units produce larger bulls more consistently then the other units in the state. Yes, those other areas can produce big bulls, especially on the higher priced outfitted hunts, but still in no way compare to the areas around Cody for big elk. The drawbacks are it is rough country, most units require a guide, and you have to put up with a lot of grizzly bears. Now if you are wanting an easier hunt and are going to shoot the first 300-320 bull you see, then I think you are better served at hunting those premium limited entry units in the south central part of the state. For a DIYer, I would focus on the latter, as those later season Cody hunts can be brutal.

I am going to individually discuss 27 of the better limited quota elk areas. The first units, area 1 and area 117 are located in the Black Hills with a season that is long and ends on the 30th of November. This can be a good hunt for a six-point bull, but access can be a problem and too much snow can limit your mobility. I would make sure you have some private access before you apply in either unit. The next unit, Area 2, is composed of mostly open elk country and has a short season. The unit is about three-quarters public, but better elk quality can be found on private ranches. This should be a good hunt for a 260-300 class bull if you can gain access to some quality private lands. There is no archery season here either. Unit 7, Laramie Peak, produces a lot of quality bulls with some of them even making the record book. The problem with area 7 is twofold...the high number of tags issued over a long period of years and the many large ranches that limit access through outfitters only. That being said, if one does their homework, access to private land and more importantly access to the national forest behind it can be secured. I took my biggest bull out of area 7, a 347 7 point, by securing just such access. The archery season may be a little less crowded and overall this is a good-solid unit for a 260-380 bull as long as you have secured private access.

Unit 16 has both an early and a late hunt, and is located in Shirley Basin. The elk can normally be found on the mountain during archery and the opening of the first rifle hunt, which gives hunters the best chance at a mature bull on public ground. As the pressure increases, the elk on the public ground move onto private ranches. The problem here is one ranch has bought up over 500,000 acres of prime elk habitat and the only access is through the outfitter. If you are planning on doing a guided elk hunt, I do not think I could recommend a better outfitter/unit as the elk hunting is about as easy as it gets and most bulls are in the 300-360 range. I spent six hours elk hunting that ranch a couple of seasons ago during last few days of the first season and saw over 1000 elk and took a really nice 320 bull. A DIYer really needs a GPS with the Wyoming map chip to navigate the public around all that private. It can be done, but requires greater attention to detail consistently throughout the hunt. There is public access to a Hunter Management Area, which is within the elk wintering area, which can be productive for 260-300 bulls during the late season hunt. Overall, for the public land hunter, the archery hunt in this unit might be the best option for a really big bull on this unit.

Area 22, Ferris Mountain, has lots of public land with great access, but the terrain can be rough. If you are able to secure private access, the quality of bulls will increase. This is another good cost effective option for the guided hunter as the price is very reasonable and the success at 320 plus bulls is great. The public land hunter can expect bulls in the 260-320 range with an outside chance at something bigger on a good year. Area 24 is west of 22 and includes the Green Mountain range. There is lots of public access to the mountain and the surrounding areas. The archery hunt here can be very good, but the rifle hunt can seem crowded at times. For bigger bulls, look to the lower country and the surrounding rugged draws/buttes. Hunters can expect bulls in the 240-300 range, but an occasional 340-350 bull can be found in the lower country in overlooked pockets.

The next three units, 30, 31, and 32 are located east of Flaming Gorge and have similar success rates and quality of elk. Area 30 has a long season, but has the most private land of the three to contend with, but can produce great bulls. Bulls here tend to top out at around 320, with the average bull running 260-280. Area 31 has always been one of the most popular elk units. Success historically has been very high, though quality has dipped a little in recent times. This area can produce 350 bulls on a regular basis, but it is a really great hunt for a 280-330 bull. Lots of public access and plenty of roads make this hunt a better choice for the mobility impaired. There is plenty of escape cover here for the elk to hide in and the archery hunt can be very productive on big bulls. Area 32 is another good hunt for 260-320 bulls with most being taken on the lower end of the scale. The herd is small and sometimes there is a problem with the elk being pushed over the border into Colorado. This is another good archery option. Area 45, located in the Bighorn Mountains, has produced bulls up to and over 400 inches. Over half the unit is public land, but some of the best hunting is found on private. Just like in unit 16, unit 45 can have huge elk herds on private ground. A 350 bull is a very real possibility here, especially if going through an outfitter that has access to large blocks of private land, but I have also seen plenty of 350 bulls taken by DIYers on public land in both the archery and rifle seasons.

The next eight units are located within Park County, Wyoming and are a hunter's best bet at a monster bull. There is plenty of wilderness and grizzly bears to contend with, with some areas requiring a guide. Areas 51, 53, 54 and 61 all produce bulls in excess of 350. Unit 51 has a lot of wilderness and is probably better suited for a hunter to go with a guide. Unit 61 has an early and a late season hunt. The early hunt is 100% wilderness so a guide is needed. The late season hunt in unit 61 has plenty of public land outside the wilderness to hunt. It is a great benefit in all four units to secure access to horses. Units 56, 58, and 59 all are considered late season trophy hunts. If the weather cooperates, these hunts can be the best Wyoming has to offer as bulls better than 360 can be taken. Area 63 is also partially within Park County and this unit along with unit 64 can be a great choice for a hunter with horses who is satisfied with a 320-340 bull. If you have your heart set on a 350+ bull and if you can afford a guide, then I usually recommend a Park County, Wyoming hunt. Just make sure to research your outfitter as well as you research your elk area.

The next unit, 78, is a very small unit right outside of Jackson. It is a late season migration hunt primarily consisting of private land with the best hunting being on the river bottoms of the Snake River. A quick call to the Jackson Regional Office will get a list of 4-5 landowners that allow access. Just like all late season migration elk hunts, success requires the weather to cooperate. Additionally, flexibility is needed as multiple trips may be required to find that mature bull. This unit borders the National Elk Refuge and bulls do move on and off the refuge unto unit 78 at times. This can be a good hunt for 280-320 late season bulls, but occasionally someone will harvest a 360 or better bull here. Unit 100, the Red Desert, is an open country desert elk hunt. The rifle season is just a short two weeks and with the amount of tags handed out it can become crowded in certain areas of the unit where elk are concentrated. Because of this, the quality of the hunt can suffer as hunters have reported other hunters chasing down elk with vehicles or with ATVs. The unit is huge and remote and elk can be found in small pockets just about anywhere. The archery hunt tends to be better than the rifle hunt in regards to quality of bulls. This is a good solid hunt for a mature 6 point bull in the 240-320 range with the greater majority of bulls harvested being in the lower range. There is talk of reducing the tag quota in area 100 and making it a serious trophy unit. As with most limited entry units, the occasional larger trophy bull is taken. I know of several 380 gross bulls that have been harvested out of area 100 in the past several years so it is a great unit for someone who is familiar with how to hunt the unit.

Unit 108 is composed of about two-thirds public land, but the better elk hunting is found on private ranches. Outfitters here do extremely well with success rates and quality of bulls. This is a great area for an outfitted hunt as bulls 320 or better are available at reasonable rates and the unit is easier to draw. The public land hunter should secure private access before applying for this unit in order to have a little better quality hunt. Unit 108 is on an upward trend and this is a unit to keep an eye on. Area 111, the Seminoles, can be a great hunt for 300-320 class bulls with the outside chance at a 330-340 bull. Tag quotas in this area have greatly fluctuated in recent years so look for an uptrend in the quota before you apply for this unit.

Area 113, the Rochelle Hills, is a hunt that is now usually offered every other year. Bull tags were offered in 2014 and are being offered again in 2017. The area is two-thirds private, but there is some public land with elk on it. There is also some mining land that has given out access in the past that holds good quality bulls. If quality private access can be secured, the opportunity to take a really big bull is outstanding. I have seen quite a few 350-360 class bulls taken here over the years. Archery hunters typically can do extremely well in this unit on mature bulls.

Area 118, the Shamrock Hills, can be an extremely good hunt for someone with less than max points. Like unit 100, this is an open country desert elk hunt, but unlike unit 100, the bulls are not as visible in this unit and are harder to find. A lot of the good elk habitat is found on private and with a little hard work access can be secured. The bulls here normally do not have a lot of mass but bulls can be found in the 280-320 range. I know a couple of landowners that have taken 360 bulls out of this unit. The problem with hunting here is the elk tend to be pushed out of 118 into the extreme eastern part of area 100 after the opener. The last unit I am going to discuss is another open area desert elk hunt. Unit 124 is another very large unit with a small concentrated elk herd that is doing very well. The season here is long and the area can be somewhat remote so plan according, especially if you plan on hunting into November. The bulls here tend to be slightly larger than in unit 100 (about 20 points higher) and can be pushed unto private land once the deer season shooting starts, making the elk extremely difficult to locate and access. The average bull here one can expect is in the 280-330 range, but I have talked with numerous resident hunters that have gone home with raghorns so beware. Several landowners have done extremely well here on really big bulls on their own property, but they do not grant access. The archery hunt here is one of the better archery hunts in the state with better success at bigger mature bulls. This wraps up my top picks for limited entry Wyoming elk for 2017. I may have missed a couple other units that are just as good or better, but I only discussed the areas that I have good, reliable information on. So good luck to all in the upcoming draw!