Planning 2025 Elk hunt

[RiverRatt]

This will be my 4th year hunting elk my 1st in Wyoming. I have 7 points coming in to 2025. I have 3 other guys applying with my who have 4 points coming in. We are looking at a general tag but not sure what area to hunt. We’ve hunted in the north central part of Colorado around the Wyoming border and had some success. So we some what have an idea on what that area is like.

I don’t understand Wyoming's application process very well. How do you figure which unit to go too? To have the most success? I’d like to hunt somewhere that isn’t dark timber and we can glass. There’s a lot more I’d like to ask but figured I’d start here.

 

[elkocd]

All the info you need and are looking for is on the WY Fish and game web site.

 

[Kevin W]

Use the hunt planner feature on the WY Game and Fish website. With 4 guys and a 4.75 point average last years regular price non resident draw for a regional general tag wasn't a sure thing. The special draw (high price) would open up more options though. I have 9 points for elk in Wyoming and have used the hunt planner to find a few possible draw options. I also joined a tag service to see what it comes up with (in early January) for Wyoming elk tag options as well.

 

[Pagosa]

Since you have previously hunted northern Colorado I would look into Region South. It's very similar terrain to northern Colorado and lots of elk with a pretty high success. But I think it took over 5 points in the regular draw

 

[RemingtonRules]

Hard question, even harder to get people to tell you specifics.

 

[nrpate05]

You basically have to pick a region and then go from there. It is East, South and West. East is mostly private, South has decent public, good amount of elk, but sounds like it gets hit pretty hard. West is the big alpine basin country that is basically all Grizzly habitat and good amount of Wilderness. Check out this podcast for a run down...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hunt-west-podcast/id1776477283

 

[shb]

You most likely won't draw anything at that point level, unless it's in the random.


You might never catch the point creep. You might have to go by yourself.

 

[Deerhunter6250]

I would only share points with one guy then you two will draw for sure and the other 2 can go in a year or two and use your hunt as preparation for there's. Since you hunted in Colorado and like that area I would put in for the south Zone.

 

[Addicting]

Yep, you’re shooting yourselves in the foot party applying with them.

 

[Archer86]

I would go west special and make them split the cost of your tag increase or make them apply special as a group and you apply alone in the regular. West region is better then south

 

[wytex]

You basically have to pick a region and then go from there. It is East, South and West. East is mostly private, South has decent public, good amount of elk, but sounds like it gets hit pretty hard. West is the big alpine basin country that is basically all Grizzly habitat and good amount of Wilderness. Check out this podcast for a run down...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hunt-west-podcast/id1776477283

Not all of the West is grizz country or wilderness.

 

[Blackcats06]

Not all of the West is grizz country or wilderness.

It's getting close to being all grizz country During this years rifle hunt there was a couple down by kemmerer

 

[wytex]

Yes but not in any numbers to be concerned with as of now.
Any incidents with those bears? Haven't heard of any but that doesn't meant they didn't happen.

 

[nrpate05]

True, it is not all Grizzly country, but most of the USFS land is grizzly habitat. Just because there haven't been any incidents doesn't mean it isn't possible for bears to be around.

 

[wyelknman]

This will be my 4th year hunting elk my 1st in Wyoming. I have 7 points coming in to 2025. I have 3 other guys applying with my who have 4 points coming in. We are looking at a general tag but not sure what area to hunt. We’ve hunted in the north central part of Colorado around the Wyoming border and had some success. So we some what have an idea on what that area is like.

I don’t understand Wyoming's application process very well. How do you figure which unit to go too? To have the most success? I’d like to hunt somewhere that isn’t dark timber and we can glass. There’s a lot more I’d like to ask but figured I’d start here.

I agree with applying as a party of two in order to draw with those points. With all 4 the average will be too low to draw unless you apply "special". With a western general tag there are areas where 2 would have bull/any elk tags and the other 2 hunters could pick up cow tags. I know of areas that had plenty of leftover cow tags in 2024.

 

[jason66]

west has bears and wolves and youll need horses to get back in the deep drainages

 

[wyelknman]

west has bears and wolves and youll need horses to get back in the deep drainages

Grizzlies aren't an issue in many of the west areas. Wolves are never a concern as we can never even find any to shoot. You can get into elk within a mile or two from your truck in many areas.

 

[wweaver79]

Get comfortable with bears. Look into Gen areas mixed in with draw areas south of the park. Most/all areas with open country for Gen and have lots of public and have quality bulls are draw only. There are some but no one will tell you. Homework and scouting can get you there if you have time.

 

[Archer86]

You are more likely to see sasquatch then a grizzly bear in alot of the west region unit yeah there are some units that are loaded with them but those also have a lot of wilderness so nr can't hunt them anyways. Plenty of areas to hubt in the west region that don't have bears.

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

I would only share points with one guy then you two will draw for sure and the other 2 can go in a year or two and use your hunt as preparation for there's. Since you hunted in Colorado and like that area I would put in for the south Zone.

@RiverRatt this is good advice. Filling all those tags in one hunt will be really really difficult. Better off to make multiple hunts out of it and have helpers go on each hunt