Wyoming Unit 108 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 108 covers 367,583 acres with elevations ranging from 6,657 to 8,492 feet, and it's a unit that hunters researching Wyoming elk hunting opportunities should take a close look at. With 56% public land, the unit offers a reasonable mix of accessible ground for elk hunters willing to put in the legwork, and recent harvest numbers suggest this unit can produce results in the right year. This article breaks down what the data actually shows — harvest trends, tag quotas, herd composition, and the application process — so hunters can decide whether Unit 108 deserves a spot on their Wyoming application.

Unit 108 sits in elk country defined by moderate elevation and a mix of public and private land ownership. That 56% public figure means a majority of the unit is accessible to hunters without needing private land permission, though the remaining 44% in private hands will concentrate elk in predictable ways during pressured periods, which hunters should factor into scouting plans.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 108 Worth Applying For?

The honest answer depends heavily on what a hunter is looking for. Unit 108's harvest data over the past four years tells an interesting story. In 2025, only 435 hunters pursued elk in the unit, and 325 of them harvested an animal — a 75% success rate, which is exceptional by any western elk-hunting standard. Compare that to 2024, when 979 hunters hit the field and only 427 harvested, a 44% success rate, or 2023's 913 hunters and 462 harvests for 51% success, and 2022's 938 hunters with 407 harvests for 43% success.

That swing from roughly 43-51% success in 2022-2024 up to 75% in 2025 is a significant shift, and it coincides with a dramatic drop in hunter numbers — from nearly 1,000 hunters down to 435. Fewer hunters in the field per available tag typically correlates with less competition for animals and better individual odds, though hunters should not assume the 75% figure will repeat every year. It's worth watching whether 2025 was an anomaly or the start of a new pattern, since HuntPilot's data shows notable year-to-year volatility in Unit 108's hunter turnout.

On the tag allocation side, the trend is generally favorable for hunters. Type 1 tags increased from 100 in 2024 to 125 in 2025, then to 150 in 2026 — a 20% increase from 2025 to 2026, indicating the state is expanding opportunity in this category. Type 4 tags have held steady at 100 for both 2025 and 2026 after rising from 75 in 2024. Type 6 tags similarly stabilized at 300 for 2025 and 2026 following a jump from 250 in 2024. Growing or stable tag numbers across all three hunt types suggest wildlife managers see a herd capable of supporting increased or sustained harvest, which is a positive signal for hunters weighing whether to apply.

Where Unit 108 falls short is herd composition data. The average bull-to-cow ratio across four survey years (2021-2024) sits at 31:100. That's a relatively low ratio for elk herds in the West, where healthy bull representation often runs higher. A 31:100 ratio suggests bull numbers relative to cows are on the thinner side, which can translate to more pressure on the bulls that are present and fewer mature animals surviving multiple seasons. Hunters chasing large, mature bulls should weigh this figure carefully against the unit's trophy history before committing points.

Speaking of trophy potential, the counties overlapping Unit 108 carry a moderate history of trophy-class elk records. This isn't a unit with an extensive, decades-deep record book, but it isn't blank either — some trophy-class bulls have come from this area over time, shared with neighboring units in the same counties. Given the 31:100 bull:cow ratio, hunters should treat this as a unit with occasional trophy potential rather than a consistent big-bull factory. This is a unit better suited to hunters prioritizing a solid opportunity to fill a tag over hunters holding out specifically for a record-book bull.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The bull:cow ratio data available for Unit 108 spans four survey years from 2021 through 2024, averaging 31:100. This ratio is on the lower end for elk units in Wyoming, and it's a figure hunters should factor into expectations. Lower bull:cow ratios generally mean fewer bulls per cow in the population, which can result from a combination of harvest pressure and natural mortality. It doesn't necessarily mean poor herd health overall — cow numbers can remain robust even when bull ratios run lean — but it does suggest hunters shouldn't expect to see large numbers of mature bulls relative to the overall population while afield.

Combined with the increasing tag quotas across Type 1, Type 4, and Type 6 hunts, it appears wildlife managers are comfortable maintaining or growing hunter opportunity even with a modest bull ratio, which likely points to a stable-to-growing overall elk population supporting the harvest levels seen in recent years.

Access & Terrain

Unit 108 spans elevations from 6,657 to 8,492 feet, a range that includes lower-elevation foothill and sagebrush terrain up through higher benches and timbered slopes. This elevation band is moderate compared to many high-alpine Wyoming elk units, meaning the terrain is generally more approachable for hunters without extensive mountaineering experience, though elk in this elevation range can still cover rugged, broken country.

With 56% public land across the unit's 367,583 acres, hunters have a genuine base of public ground to work with, though the 44% private-land component means elk will often concentrate on private parcels, particularly later in the season or during periods of hunting pressure. DIY hunters should plan scouting trips around identifying where public and private boundaries intersect, since elk movement between the two is often predictable once patterns are established. There is no wilderness designation in Unit 108, which means nonresident hunters are not subject to Wyoming's outfitter-guide requirement that applies in designated wilderness areas elsewhere in the state — hunters can pursue elk here without hiring a licensed guide, regardless of residency.

Hunters should use mapping tools — including HuntPilot's own public land overlays — to identify exact parcel boundaries and access points before heading into the field, since generic elevation and acreage figures don't substitute for on-the-ground boundary work.

How to Apply

Wyoming's application system requires careful attention to dates, since the state operates on a compressed timeline relative to some other western states.

Hunters planning multiple years out should mark these dates accordingly, though they should always confirm details closer to the season since deadlines and fees are subject to periodic adjustment. Alternatively, check the HuntPilot Wyoming state page at /states/wy for the latest updates.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Wyoming page at /states/wy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 108? Unit 108 ranges from 6,657 to 8,492 feet in elevation, putting it in a moderate elevation band that includes lower foothill and sagebrush country rising into higher timbered benches. This is not extreme high-alpine terrain, making it more approachable than some of Wyoming's higher-elevation elk units, though hunters should still expect broken, rugged ground in places. With no wilderness acreage in the unit, access is generally more straightforward than in wilderness-heavy units elsewhere in the state.

What is harvest success like in Unit 108? Harvest success has varied significantly in recent years. The 2025 season saw a 75% success rate among 435 hunters, a notable jump from 44% in 2024, 51% in 2023, and 43% in 2022. The dramatic increase in 2025 coincided with far fewer hunters in the field, dropping from roughly 900-980 hunters in prior years to 435. Hunters should view the 75% figure as an encouraging but possibly unusual data point rather than a guaranteed outcome, and should track how future seasons compare.

How big are the elk in Unit 108? The counties overlapping Unit 108 show a moderate history of trophy-class elk records, meaning some notable bulls have come from the broader area over time, but it isn't among Wyoming's premier trophy-producing regions. Combined with a recorded bull:cow ratio averaging 31:100 across recent survey years, hunters should expect a unit that offers a realistic shot at a mature bull rather than a unit defined by consistent trophy production. Hunters specifically targeting record-book-class bulls may want to weigh this data against other Wyoming units with stronger trophy histories.

Is Unit 108 worth applying for? It depends on hunter priorities. The tag quota trend is positive — Type 1 tags grew 20% from 2025 to 2026, and Type 4 and Type 6 tags have held stable after increases from 2024 — suggesting expanding or sustained opportunity. The 2025 harvest success rate of 75% is a strong signal, though prior years in the 43-51% range show more typical results. For hunters prioritizing a solid chance at filling an elk tag with moderate trophy expectations, Unit 108 is a reasonable unit to include in an application strategy. Hunters holding out for a unit with a deeper trophy pedigree may want to compare Unit 108 against neighboring units using HuntPilot's unit comparison tools before finalizing their draw picks.

What should nonresident hunters know about applying to Unit 108? Since Unit 108 has no wilderness acreage, nonresidents are not required to hire a licensed outfitter to hunt here, which keeps DIY options open for hunters willing to handle logistics independently.