Wyoming Unit 108 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 108 is a mid-elevation elk unit spanning 367,583 acres, with terrain ranging from 6,657 to 8,492 feet and 56% public land ownership. For hunters researching Wyoming elk units, Unit 108 stands out for one number above all others: a 75% success rate in the 2025 season — a figure that demands a closer look at what's driving it and whether it's sustainable heading into future draws.

This unit sits in the moderate-elevation band typical of Wyoming's foothill and timbered-breaks country, without any designated wilderness acreage, which changes the access calculus considerably compared to units buried deep in wilderness boundaries. With just over half the unit in public hands, DIY hunters have workable access, though private land still plays a significant role in how elk distribute across the landscape here. This article breaks down the harvest trends, application costs, and trophy potential hunters need to know before committing points or cash to Unit 108.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 108's harvest data over the past four years tells a story of real volatility. In 2025, 435 hunters took to the field and harvested 325 elk, a 75% success rate — an exceptional number by any Wyoming elk unit standard. But that number stands in sharp contrast to the three years prior: 44% success in 2024 (979 hunters, 427 harvested), 51% in 2023 (913 hunters, 462 harvested), and 43% in 2022 (938 hunters, 407 harvested).

The pattern worth noting isn't just the 2025 spike — it's the accompanying hunter numbers. Hunter participation dropped from roughly 900-980 hunters in 2022-2024 down to 435 in 2025, while harvest actually declined only modestly (325 vs. 407-462 in prior years). Fewer hunters afield with a smaller overall tag allocation appears to be concentrating success rates upward. This is a meaningful distinction for anyone evaluating the unit: the underlying elk harvest volume didn't spike dramatically, but the ratio of hunters to harvest shifted substantially. Hunters should treat 2022-2024 (43-51% success) as the more representative baseline for planning purposes, while recognizing 2025 suggests management may be trending toward lower hunter density and higher per-hunter success.

Either way, even the "down" years in this unit sit in a respectable 43-51% success range for Wyoming elk hunting, which is solid by regional standards and reflects a unit that consistently produces opportunity.

Trophy Quality

Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 108 shows a moderate history of trophy-class elk production. This isn't a unit with a heavy pedigree of record-book bulls, but it isn't devoid of trophy potential either — moderate history typically means hunters can expect solid, mature bulls with occasional trophy-class animals mixed in, rather than a unit defined by consistent, high-end production.

Because record-book entries are logged by county rather than by hunt unit, any trophy history attributed to the counties overlapping Unit 108 is shared with neighboring units drawing from the same county boundaries. Hunters shouldn't assume every recorded trophy came from within Unit 108's specific boundary — the reality is more nuanced and spread across a broader geographic area. For hunters whose primary goal is a wall-hanger bull rather than meat and opportunity, Unit 108 should be viewed as a solid, dependable unit rather than a destination trophy unit.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four years (2021-2024) shows an average bull-to-cow ratio of 31:100 in Unit 108. This is a meaningfully low ratio compared to healthy benchmark ranges typically seen in well-managed elk herds, and it's worth taking seriously as a signal about bull age structure and hunting pressure in this unit.

A 31:100 ratio suggests that a significant share of bulls are being harvested at younger age classes before they can mature into the higher end of their antler potential, or that overall bull survival through hunting seasons is limited relative to the cow population. This dovetails with the moderate — rather than strong — trophy history noted above: a lower bull:cow ratio generally correlates with fewer bulls reaching the age needed to produce larger, more mature racks. Hunters targeting bulls in Unit 108 should calibrate expectations accordingly — this looks like a unit that rewards hunters seeking a solid bull and a good chance at harvest, rather than a unit where trophy potential is being protected through conservative bull harvest.

Access & Terrain

Unit 108 covers 367,583 acres with elevations ranging from 6,657 to 8,492 feet — moderate country by Wyoming elk standards, avoiding the extreme high-alpine terrain found in some western units while still offering enough vertical relief to challenge hunters physically. With 0% wilderness designation, there are no wilderness-specific access restrictions here, and nonresident hunters are not subject to Wyoming's mandatory guide requirement that applies in designated wilderness areas elsewhere in the state.

Public land accounts for 56% of the unit, meaning the majority is accessible for DIY hunters, though a substantial 44% remains in private hands. This mixed ownership pattern is common across Wyoming's foothill and prairie-margin elk units, and hunters should expect elk to move between public and private ground depending on pressure and forage conditions throughout the season. Scouting boundary lines carefully and identifying which public parcels see less pressure will matter more in a unit like this than in units with overwhelming public land majorities. The absence of wilderness also means access via roads and trails tends to be more straightforward than in deep backcountry units, making this a realistic option for hunters without pack-stock or extensive backcountry experience.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 108 Worth Applying For?

Unit 108 presents a mixed but honest picture. On the opportunity side, this unit has real strengths: a majority-public land base at 56%, no wilderness-guide requirement complicating nonresident access, and a harvest track record that — even in its weaker years — clears 43-51% success, which is respectable for Wyoming elk hunting. The 2025 season's 75% success rate is a standout data point, though hunters should view it in context of the much lower hunter turnout that year rather than assume it represents a new normal.

On the trophy side, the moderate trophy history combined with a 31:100 bull:cow ratio from recent survey years suggests this is not a unit built for hunters chasing genuinely exceptional bulls. The bull:cow ratio in particular signals a herd where bulls are under real hunting pressure and mature bulls are less common in the population structure than in units managed more conservatively for trophy quality.

Tag quota trends offer a modestly encouraging signal for draw-focused hunters: Type 1 tags increased from 125 in 2025 to 150 in 2026 — a 20% jump — while Type 4 (100 tags) and Type 6 (300 tags) held steady both years. An increasing Type 1 quota can mean improving access to that specific hunt type, though hunters should check HuntPilot's Unit 108 page for current draw odds tied to their residency and point status, since quota increases alone don't guarantee improved draw probability.

Bottom line: Unit 108 is worth applying for if the goal is a dependable elk hunt with realistic success odds on a majority-public landscape, and hunters are comfortable with moderate rather than exceptional trophy expectations. It's less compelling for hunters willing to wait out a long point-accumulation strategy purely in pursuit of a top-tier bull — those hunters may find better-suited units with stronger trophy pedigrees and higher bull:cow ratios elsewhere in Wyoming.

How to Apply

Wyoming's elk application system requires hunters to hold a qualifying license before applying — for 2026, the license fee is listed at $0.00, which still functions as a required prerequisite step even though there's no associated cost.

For 2026 resident elk applicants: the application fee is $5, with tag fees varying by hunt type — $43 for one tag structure and $57 for another. Resident applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of June 1, 2026.

For 2026 nonresident elk applicants: the application fee is $15, with tag fees ranging significantly by hunt type — $288, $692, or $1,950 depending on the specific tag category. Nonresidents also pay a $52 point fee. Nonresident applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of February 2, 2026. Nonresident hunters preserving or purchasing points outside the main application should note the separate point deadline of November 2, 2026.

Looking ahead to 2028: Wyoming's application calendar shows the window opening January 5, 2028, with a deadline of March 1, 2028, for all regular applications. This aligns with the broader Wyoming draw calendar pattern of Q1 application windows.

For the most current draw odds specific to Unit 108 by residency and hunt type, hunters should check HuntPilot's Wyoming state page at /states/wy and the Unit 108 page directly, since quota and applicant pool shifts happen annually.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the state wildlife agency website before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 108? Unit 108 features moderate-elevation terrain ranging from 6,657 to 8,492 feet across 367,583 acres, without any designated wilderness area. This makes for more accessible country than Wyoming's high-alpine wilderness units — hunters can expect a mix of public and private ground without the road and trail restrictions that come with wilderness designation, and no mandatory outfitter requirement applies here for nonresidents.

What is harvest success like in Unit 108? Recent harvest data shows meaningful year-to-year variation: 75% success in 2025 (435 hunters, 325 harvested), compared to 44% in 2024, 51% in 2023, and 43% in 2022. The three-year span from 2022-2024 is likely the more reliable baseline for planning, with the 2025 spike coinciding with a substantial drop in hunter numbers rather than a proportional increase in total harvest.

How big are the elk in Unit 108? Trophy record data for the counties overlapping this unit shows a moderate history of trophy-class production — not a unit known for consistently producing exceptional bulls, but one that has produced trophy-class animals over time. Combined with a recent average bull:cow ratio of 31:100 across four survey years (2021-2024), the data suggests hunters should expect solid, huntable bulls rather than a high concentration of mature, trophy-caliber animals.

Is Unit 108 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing a realistic harvest opportunity on a majority-public unit (56% public land) without wilderness-access complications, yes — the harvest data supports consistent opportunity. For hunters specifically chasing trophy-class bulls, the moderate trophy history and low bull:cow ratio suggest better-suited units may exist elsewhere. Check HuntPilot's Unit 108 page for current draw odds before committing points.

Are elk tag quotas increasing or decreasing in Unit 108? Quota trends are mixed by hunt type. Type 1 tags increased 20%, from 125 in 2025 to 150 in 2026. Type 4 tags held steady at 100 in both years, and Type 6 tags remained flat at 300. These are hunt-type-specific figures and shouldn't be assumed to apply across other hunt types in the unit.