Wyoming Unit 102 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 102 is a large elk unit spanning 954,334 acres with 76% public land, giving nonresident and resident hunters alike a substantial base of accessible ground to work with. Elevations in the unit range from 6,135 feet up to 10,334 feet, offering everything from lower sagebrush benches to high-country timber and alpine basins depending on where hunters choose to focus their efforts. For hunters researching Wyoming Unit 102 elk hunting opportunities, this unit combines meaningful public access with a multi-year harvest track record that's worth examining closely before committing points or planning a hunt.

With no wilderness acreage recorded in the unit, nonresident hunters won't run into Wyoming's guide-mandatory wilderness restrictions here — this is a unit where DIY access is realistic given the public land base, though hunters should still expect competition given the acreage and the volume of hunters the unit draws each year. This article breaks down what the data actually shows: harvest trends, herd survey information, trophy potential, and exactly how to apply.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data for Unit 102 covers four survey years between 2021 and 2024, showing an average bull:cow ratio of 18:100 across the sampled surveys. That ratio is on the lower end for elk herds generally, and it's worth noting the data reflects a single survey period rather than a broad multi-year average broken out year by year. A bull:cow ratio in this range typically signals a herd structure where bulls are harvested at a meaningful rate relative to the cow population — consistent with a unit that sees solid hunter participation and consistent bull harvest, as reflected in the harvest numbers below.

Hunters should treat this ratio as one data point among several rather than the full picture of herd health. It doesn't necessarily indicate poor bull survival across age classes; it reflects the balance of bulls to cows observed during the survey window. Combined with the harvest data, it suggests a unit that produces good hunter opportunity but where bulls don't necessarily stack up in high densities relative to cows the way they might in a more restrictive, trophy-managed unit.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 102 has a solid four-year harvest track record. In 2022, 1,889 hunters took to the field and harvested 765 elk, a 40% success rate — the strongest of the recent years on record. That number held up reasonably well into 2023, when 1,762 hunters harvested 693 elk for a 39% success rate. Success dropped somewhat in 2024, with 1,947 hunters harvesting 666 elk for a 34% success rate, and continued to soften in 2025 with 1,759 hunters and 559 harvested elk for a 32% success rate.

The trend across these four years is a gradual decline in success rate — from 40% in 2022 down to 32% in 2025 — even as hunter numbers have stayed relatively consistent, ranging from roughly 1,760 to 1,950 hunters per year. This downward trend in success is worth watching. It could reflect increased hunting pressure relative to the elk population, changing elk distribution patterns, or other on-the-ground factors, but the data doesn't specify a cause. What's clear is that Unit 102 has consistently supported success rates in the 30s and low 40s, which is a respectable range for a unit of this size and with this level of public access — but hunters should plan for a hunt where a full-season effort, not a guaranteed tag punch, is the realistic expectation.

Trophy Quality

Counties overlapping Unit 102 show a moderate history of producing trophy-class elk in the record books. This is a meaningful data point for hunters weighing whether to prioritize this unit for a trophy-focused hunt versus a unit built more purely around opportunity. A moderate trophy history means bulls capable of reaching record-book consideration have come from the broader area historically, but it's not among the units with a strong or exceptional trophy pedigree.

It's worth remembering that trophy records are logged by county, not by hunt unit, so any trophy history associated with Unit 102 is shared with neighboring units that overlap the same counties. Hunters shouldn't interpret this as evidence that big bulls are concentrated specifically within Unit 102's boundaries — rather, the surrounding landscape has, over time, given up bulls that made the books. Given the bull:cow ratio data and the harvest trends showing solid but not exceptional success, hunters targeting Unit 102 should approach this as a good opportunity unit with realistic — not exceptional — trophy upside. Hunters chasing a genuine once-in-a-lifetime bull may want to weigh this unit against others with a stronger documented trophy history before committing years of point accumulation.

Access & Terrain

Unit 102's 76% public land figure is a real strength for hunters planning a DIY approach — the majority of the unit's nearly one million acres is open to public access, which is uncommon for a unit this size in Wyoming. With no wilderness acreage in the unit, hunters won't face Wyoming's mandatory-outfitter requirement that applies in designated wilderness areas, meaning nonresidents can plan and execute a self-guided hunt here without the added cost and logistics of hiring a licensed outfitter — a genuine advantage compared to wilderness-heavy units elsewhere in the state.

The elevation range of 6,135 to 10,334 feet gives hunters a wide vertical playing field. Lower elevations likely hold sagebrush and grassland habitat typical of Wyoming's foothill country, while the upper end of that range pushes into high-elevation timber and alpine terrain more typical of mountainous elk range. This spread means hunters can adjust their strategy based on season timing and elk movement — working lower benches early and pushing higher as conditions dictate. Given the size of the unit at over 954,000 acres, hunters should plan for significant scouting time or rely on mapping tools to narrow down productive areas before boots hit the ground. HuntPilot's public land and terrain overlays can help hunters identify likely access points and glassing terrain within the unit's public boundaries ahead of a hunt.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 102 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available through HuntPilot, Unit 102 presents a reasonable case for hunters prioritizing access and opportunity over trophy potential. The 76% public land figure is a genuine asset, and the absence of wilderness acreage means nonresident DIY hunters aren't locked into hiring a guide simply to access huntable ground — a real cost and logistics advantage over more wilderness-heavy Wyoming units.

The harvest data tells a consistent story: this unit has produced success rates between 32% and 40% over the past four years, which is respectable for public-land elk hunting at this scale. However, the clear downward trend from 40% in 2022 to 32% in 2025 is worth factoring into expectations — this is not a unit trending toward easier tag-filling, and hunters should plan accordingly.

On the trophy side, the moderate trophy history tied to the surrounding counties suggests this unit is not a premier trophy destination, but it's also not devoid of trophy potential. Combined with the lower bull:cow ratio observed in recent survey data, Unit 102 reads as a unit best suited to hunters who want a solid, huntable public-land elk experience with a realistic shot at a mature bull — rather than hunters holding out specifically for a record-book animal. For hunters who value access, acreage, and a fair — if declining — chance at success over trophy specialization, Unit 102 is a legitimate unit to include in an application strategy. For a dedicated trophy hunt, it's worth comparing against units with stronger documented trophy pedigrees before committing years of nonresident points.

How to Apply

For 2026, Wyoming's elk application structure breaks out by residency and tag type. Applications open January 2, 2026, for all elk tag categories.

Resident hunters face a deadline of June 1, 2026, for both antlerless and regular tags. The application fee for residents is $5 in both cases. Tag fees differ by category: a resident antlerless tag costs $43, while a resident regular tag costs $57.

Nonresident hunters face a much earlier deadline of February 2, 2026, across all tag categories — antlerless, regular, and special tags. The nonresident application fee is $15 across all three categories, with an additional point fee of $52 required for those applying with preference points, due by a point deadline of November 2, 2026 (note the point deadline falls after the application deadline itself — plan accordingly). Nonresident tag fees vary significantly by category: $288 for an antlerless tag, $692 for a regular tag, and $1,950 for a special tag.

Looking ahead to the 2028 draw cycle, HuntPilot's application calendar shows all regular applications opening January 5, 2028, with a deadline of March 1, 2028.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the state wildlife agency website before applying. Hunters can also track updated application windows and fee schedules at HuntPilot's Wyoming state page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 102? Unit 102 spans a wide elevation range from 6,135 feet to 10,334 feet across 954,334 acres, offering a mix of lower-elevation terrain and higher alpine country. With 76% of the unit in public ownership and no wilderness acreage, hunters have substantial room to explore both lower benches and higher timbered or alpine terrain without needing a licensed outfitter to access public ground.

What is harvest success like in Unit 102? Success rates have ranged from 32% to 40% over the past four hunting seasons. The most recent data shows 2025 at 32% success (559 harvested out of 1,759 hunters), down from 40% in 2022 (765 harvested out of 1,889 hunters). The trend has been gradually declining year over year, so hunters should treat the higher historical numbers as a ceiling rather than a current expectation.

How big are the elk in Unit 102? Counties overlapping Unit 102 have a moderate history of producing trophy-class bulls in the record books, but this is not among Wyoming's premier trophy units. Combined with a relatively low observed bull:cow ratio in recent survey data, hunters should expect a realistic shot at a mature bull rather than planning around a trophy-caliber hunt specifically.

Is Unit 102 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing public land access and a reasonable shot at filling a tag, yes — the 76% public land figure and lack of wilderness restrictions make this a practical DIY option. For hunters specifically chasing a record-book bull, the moderate trophy history suggests looking at units with stronger trophy pedigrees. Check HuntPilot's Unit 102 page for current draw odds before deciding how to allocate points.

Do nonresidents need an outfitter to hunt Unit 102? No. Unit 102 has no wilderness acreage, so Wyoming's mandatory-outfitter requirement for wilderness areas does not apply here. Nonresidents can legally hunt this unit DIY, though many still choose to hire a guide given the size of the unit and the scouting required.