Wyoming Unit 100 Elk Hunting: Draw Odds, Success Rates & Hunt Analysis

Wyoming Unit 100 presents one of the state's most challenging elk draws, with nonresident hunters facing near-impossible odds for premium rifle tags and residents competing against thousands of applicants for limited opportunities. Located in Sweetwater County, this 2.39 million-acre unit spans elevations from 6,100 to 8,642 feet across south-central Wyoming's high desert and mountain terrain.

The unit's 74% public land access provides extensive hunting opportunities across varied terrain, though hunters should expect oil and gas development throughout much of the area. With zero designated wilderness, the landscape consists primarily of Bureau of Land Management and state lands interspersed with private holdings, creating a patchwork of accessible hunting ground that requires careful navigation and landowner permission considerations.

Unit 100's reputation stems from its combination of accessible public land, decent elk populations, and the presence of mature bulls that have produced trophy-class animals in recent years. However, the unit's popularity has created a highly competitive draw system that demands strategic planning for both residents and nonresidents.

HuntPilot Analysis

Unit 100 represents a premium elk hunting destination that comes with significant drawbacks for most hunters. The data from HuntPilot reveals this unit is extremely difficult to draw and may not be worth the investment for many applicants.

For nonresidents, the Type 1 general tags are virtually impossible to obtain through the regular draw, with 0% success rates in both 2024 and 2025 despite nearly 1,000 applicants each year. The preference point system offers slightly better odds, but hunters need 18-19 preference points to have realistic chances. Even the special preference point draw, which costs significantly more, requires 17-18 points for reliable tag allocation.

Residents face better but still challenging odds. The Type 1 tags carry only a 3-4% draw rate despite being the premier hunting opportunity, meaning residents can expect to apply 25-30 years before drawing this tag. Type 4 and Type 5 cow tags offer better resident odds at 34-40% respectively, providing more realistic opportunities for Wyoming hunters.

The unit's harvest success rates are impressive across most tag types, with Type 1 hunters achieving 87% success in both 2024 and 2025. Type 2 and Type 5 hunters also performed well with 74% and 70% success rates respectively. Only Type 7 hunters struggled with a 32% success rate, likely due to the late archery season timing.

Trophy potential appears strong based on county-level data showing consistent production of record-book bulls from the 2010s, though hunters should manage expectations as trophy-class animals represent a small percentage of the overall harvest.

Draw Odds & Tag Availability

Unit 100 operates under Wyoming's limited draw system with multiple tag types serving different weapon and timing preferences. The competition varies dramatically between tag types and residency status.

Type 1 (General Season - Either Sex): The most coveted tags in Unit 100, these either-sex licenses allow hunting throughout the general season. Residents faced a 3% draw rate in 2025 with 3,915 applicants competing for just 130 tags. Nonresidents have virtually no chance in the random draw at 0%, with 965 applicants competing for only 3 tags.

Through the preference point system, nonresidents needed 19 preference points for a 65% draw chance in the regular pool, while the special fee pool required 18 points for 78% odds. Hunters with 17-18 points in either system faced 0% success, creating a sharp cutoff point that demands patience and point accumulation.

Type 2 (Either Sex - Extended Season): These tags offer better draw odds for residents at 25% but remain difficult for nonresidents at 5% in the random draw. The preference point system showed 12+ points needed for reliable draws, with the special fee system requiring only 7+ points for guaranteed tags.

Type 4 (Female Only): Cow tags provide the most realistic opportunity for residents at 34% draw odds. Nonresidents face 5% random draw odds but can draw with 5+ preference points or immediately in the special fee pool with 0 points required in 2025.

Type 5 (Female Only - Archery): The most accessible option for residents with 40% draw odds. Nonresidents needed 2+ preference points for reliable draws, making this an attainable option for hunters willing to pursue cows with archery equipment.

Type 7 (Female Only - Late Archery): Limited to just 21 resident tags with 3% draw odds and 4 nonresident tags with 4% odds, this late-season option provides minimal opportunity.

Season Dates & Weapon Types

Unit 100 offers multiple season structures designed to distribute hunting pressure and provide varied experiences across weapon types and timing windows.

2026 Archery Seasons: Multiple archery opportunities run from September 1-30, including Type 1 either-sex tags (200 quota), Type 4 female tags (75 quota), Type 5 female tags (75 quota), and Type 7 female tags (25 quota). The September timing coincides with the elk rut, providing optimal calling opportunities and increased bull activity.

2026 Rifle Seasons: Type 2 either-sex rifle tags span an extended September 1 through November 9 season with a 100-tag quota, offering flexibility to hunt both the rut and post-rut periods. A Type 2 archery option runs concurrently from September 1-30 with an additional 100-tag quota.

The season structure provides strategic options based on hunter preferences and weapon choice. Archery hunters can target rutting elk during peak activity, while rifle hunters can choose between the chaos of September rut hunting or the more predictable patterns of late-season elk.

Weather conditions significantly impact hunting success in Unit 100, with early snowfall potentially pushing elk to lower elevations and making access more challenging on unplowed oil and gas roads.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 100 demonstrates strong harvest success across most tag types, reflecting healthy elk populations and huntable terrain that allows for effective elk location and harvesting.

Type 1 Performance: The premium either-sex tags delivered exceptional results with 175 elk harvested by 201 hunters in 2025, achieving 87% success. This rate matched the previous year's performance of 176 elk harvested by 202 hunters, indicating consistent opportunity. The high success rate justifies the difficulty of drawing these coveted tags.

Type 2 Results: These either-sex extended season tags produced 74% success in 2025, with 76 elk harvested by 102 hunters. The slightly lower success rate compared to Type 1 may reflect the extended season timing or different hunting pressure patterns.

Cow Tag Performance: Type 4 female tags generated 64% success with 63 elk harvested by 98 hunters, while Type 5 archery female tags achieved 70% success with 103 harvested by 147 hunters. These cow-focused opportunities provide reliable meat hunting with reasonable success expectations.

Type 7 Challenges: The late archery female season struggled with only 32% success, producing 8 harvested elk from 25 hunters. The challenging late-season timing and female-only restrictions likely contribute to the reduced success rate.

The overall harvest data suggests Unit 100 maintains healthy elk populations capable of supporting diverse hunting opportunities across multiple seasons and weapon types. Success rates above 60% for most tag types indicate huntable elk densities and accessible terrain.

Trophy Quality

Based on county-level trophy data, Unit 100 demonstrates strong trophy potential for hunters seeking record-book quality bulls. The unit's location within Sweetwater County places it in an area with documented trophy production from recent decades.

Trophy records from the 2010s show consistent production of exceptional bulls, with multiple record-book entries documenting the presence of mature, high-scoring animals. The trophy data indicates this area has supported trophy-class bulls across multiple years, suggesting favorable habitat conditions and age structure that can produce mature animals.

Hunters should understand that trophy-class bulls represent a small percentage of the total elk population, and success depends heavily on hunting skill, area knowledge, and favorable conditions. The high success rates for Type 1 hunters suggest good overall elk density, but hunters specifically targeting trophy animals should focus efforts on areas with minimal pressure and optimal habitat conditions.

The September archery seasons coincide with peak rutting activity, providing the best opportunity to locate and call in mature bulls. Rifle hunters during the Type 2 extended season can target bulls throughout the rut and into post-rut periods when mature animals may be more predictable.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data from 2021-2024 indicates a healthy elk herd with an average bull-to-cow ratio of 51:100 across four survey years. This ratio suggests a well-balanced population capable of supporting both bull and cow harvest opportunities.

The 51:100 bull ratio reflects successful recruitment and survival of male elk through hunting seasons, indicating the current harvest levels are sustainable. This ratio supports the diverse tag allocation system that provides both either-sex and female-only hunting opportunities without compromising herd productivity.

Survey data spanning four recent years provides confidence in population stability, with the herd maintaining consistent composition despite hunting pressure across multiple tag types and seasons. The balanced age and sex structure supports the high harvest success rates observed across different hunt types.

Access & Terrain

Unit 100's 2.39 million acres offer extensive hunting opportunities across 74% public land, providing hunters with substantial access to elk habitat without requiring private land permission. The elevation range from 6,100 to 8,642 feet creates diverse terrain from high desert valleys to mountainous ridges.

Access typically relies on oil and gas roads throughout the unit, with hunters reporting that weather conditions significantly impact road accessibility. Normal weather conditions provide reasonable access to most areas, but early snowfall can make travel difficult on unplowed roads beyond the main oil and gas routes.

The terrain lacks designated wilderness areas, meaning hunters can access most areas by vehicle or ATV where legally permitted. However, the oil and gas development creates a network of roads and disturbance that hunters must navigate while also providing access opportunities.

Elk distribution varies seasonally and by weather conditions. Reports indicate bulls and cows may separate at times, with hunters observing groups of 74 bulls without cows in some instances, while other sightings include herds of 400+ cows. This variability requires hunters to adapt strategies based on current elk patterns and weather conditions.

The diverse elevation range allows elk to move between summer and winter ranges within the unit, providing hunting opportunities from desert transitions to mountain terrain depending on seasonal timing and weather patterns.

How to Apply

For 2026, Wyoming elk applications open January 2 and close February 2 for nonresidents, with preference point applications accepted until November 2. Resident applications open January 2 with a deadline of June 1.

2026 Nonresident Fees: Application fees cost $15 per species across all elk tag types. Regular tag fees range from $288 for cow tags to $692 for general tags. Special fee tags cost $1,950 and provide better draw odds through a separate pool. Preference point fees cost $52 annually with a maximum of 19 points allowed in the system.

2026 Resident Fees: Wyoming residents pay $5 application fees with tag costs of either $43 or $57 depending on the specific tag type.

Application Strategy: Nonresidents should focus on achievable tags unless holding 17+ preference points for premium opportunities. Type 4 and Type 5 cow tags provide realistic chances with fewer points, while Type 1 tags require long-term commitment to point accumulation.

Residents have better odds across all tag types but should still plan for multiple years of applications for Type 1 tags. Type 4 and Type 5 cow tags offer the best resident opportunities with draw rates above 30%.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is it to draw Wyoming Unit 100 elk tags? Unit 100 is extremely difficult to draw, especially for nonresidents. Type 1 either-sex tags have 0% nonresident random draw odds and require 18-19 preference points for realistic chances. Residents face 3% odds for Type 1 tags but have better success with cow tags at 34-40% draw rates for Type 4 and Type 5.

What are the best elk hunting seasons in Unit 100? September archery seasons provide excellent rutting opportunities with high success rates. Type 1 hunters achieved 87% success in recent years. The extended Type 2 rifle season from September 1-November 9 offers flexibility to hunt both rut and post-rut periods with 74% success rates.

How many preference points do I need for Unit 100 elk tags? Nonresidents need 18-19 preference points for Type 1 tags, 12+ points for Type 2 tags, 5+ points for Type 4 cow tags, and only 2+ points for Type 5 archery cow tags. The special fee system reduces point requirements by several years but costs significantly more.

What is the success rate for elk hunting in Unit 100? Success rates are strong across most tag types: Type 1 either-sex hunters achieve 87% success, Type 2 hunters see 74% success, Type 4 cow hunters have 64% success, and Type 5 archery cow hunters achieve 70% success. Only Type 7 late archery hunters struggle with 32% success.

Is Unit 100 worth applying for as a nonresident? Unit 100 requires significant commitment for nonresidents due to low draw odds and high point requirements. Hunters should consider cow tags (Type 4 or Type 5) for more realistic opportunities, or commit to 15-20 years of point accumulation for premium either-sex tags. The special fee system can reduce wait times but costs nearly $2,000 per tag.