Wyoming Unit 113 Elk Hunting Guide
Wyoming Unit 113 is a solid producer for elk hunters looking for consistent harvest success, with recent seasons showing some of the strongest numbers in the state. For hunters weighing whether to spend an application on this unit, the data tells a compelling story of a healthy, huntable elk population spread across a mid-elevation landscape that offers a mix of public and private access.
Sitting at a modest elevation range of 4,189 to 5,280 feet across 550,792 total acres, Unit 113 isn't high-alpine wilderness country — it's rolling terrain typical of much of Wyoming's elk range, with 57% of the unit in public ownership and no designated wilderness acreage. That combination matters for planning: hunters can access a majority of the unit without needing a guide for wilderness travel, though the remaining 43% in private hands means landowner relationships and access permissions still play a role in how a hunt unfolds.
Harvest Success Rates
The harvest numbers out of Unit 113 are what draw serious attention. In 2025, 419 hunters pursued elk in the unit and 349 tagged out, a success rate of 83%. That's not a fluke year — it continues a multi-year trend of strong performance. In 2024, a smaller pool of 140 hunters posted an even higher 87% success rate with 122 elk harvested. Going back further, 2023 saw 196 hunters take 154 elk for a 79% success rate, and 2022 produced 145 harvested elk out of 190 hunters for a 76% success rate.
Four consecutive years of success rates in the high-70s to high-80s percent range is a notable pattern. Very few Wyoming elk units sustain that level of consistency, and it suggests a herd with enough density and huntable access to convert tags into meat in the freezer at a high clip. Hunters should note that the 2025 season also saw a substantial jump in hunter numbers (419 versus 140-196 in prior years), yet success rate held strong at 83% — a sign the unit absorbed more pressure without a dramatic drop in success.
Trophy Quality
Trophy potential in Unit 113 is best described as moderate. The counties overlapping this unit carry a moderate history of trophy-class elk entries in the record books, meaning hunters have taken notable bulls from this area over time, but it isn't a unit defined by consistent production of elite, once-in-a-lifetime bulls. It's important to understand that record-book entries are attributed at the county level, not the specific hunt unit, so any trophy history connected to Unit 113 is shared with neighboring units that overlap the same counties.
For hunters chasing a genuine trophy-caliber bull as the primary goal, Unit 113 shouldn't be the sole basis for that pursuit — the moderate trophy history suggests solid, mature bulls are possible but not the norm. For hunters prioritizing a high-probability, fill-the-freezer elk hunt with a realistic shot at a respectable bull, the harvest data makes a much stronger case than the trophy data does.
Access & Terrain
With 57% public land, Unit 113 offers legitimate do-it-yourself opportunity, though hunters need to recognize that a substantial 43% of the unit sits in private ownership. That split means scouting and access planning matter — public parcels are workable, but hunters will want to identify boundaries carefully and, where private land borders public ground, understand where permission may be needed.
The elevation band here (4,189-5,280 feet) is on the lower end for Wyoming elk country, pointing toward foothill and lower-elevation terrain rather than high mountain basins. This kind of country typically holds elk in more open, rolling habitat rather than deep timber or alpine cirques, which can make spot-and-stalk tactics and glassing productive approaches. Because there's no wilderness acreage in this unit, nonresident hunters face no state-mandated guide requirement tied to wilderness travel here — a meaningful practical advantage for DIY-minded hunters compared to units with heavy wilderness overlap.
HuntPilot Analysis
Is Unit 113 worth applying for? Based on the harvest data pulled from HuntPilot, the answer leans yes for hunters whose priority is a high-probability elk hunt. Success rates sitting in the upper-70s to upper-80s percent range across four straight years (2022-2025) are difficult to find elsewhere in Wyoming, and that kind of consistency is a genuine signal of a well-managed, accessible elk population rather than a one-year anomaly.
The tradeoff is trophy quality. With only a moderate trophy history tied to the surrounding counties, hunters shouldn't expect this unit to be a trophy-bull factory. It's a numbers unit — good for hunters who want to hunt elk, see elk, and have a strong shot at punching a tag, rather than hunters holding out for a wall-hanger.
The 57% public land figure also works in the unit's favor for accessibility, though the sizeable private-land component means hunters can't treat the entire acreage as open country. Combined with the lack of wilderness designation, Unit 113 is a genuinely approachable unit for nonresident DIY hunters who don't want to deal with outfitter requirements but do need to be mindful of private boundaries.
Overall, this is a unit that rewards hunters looking for reliable opportunity over trophy potential — a strong pick for a nonresident or resident hunter building toward a hunt where actually harvesting an elk is the primary objective.
How to Apply
Wyoming's elk application system separates residents and nonresidents into different pools with different fees and deadlines, and understanding both is critical before applying for Unit 113.
Wyoming's nonresident elk draw pool operates alongside a separate points-blind random pool, and points do not improve odds in that random pool, so hunters should check HuntPilot's Wyoming state page or the current draw report for specifics on how points function in whichever pool applies to Unit 113 before committing significant point investment.
For exact, current-year draw odds and quota information specific to Unit 113, hunters should consult the HuntPilot unit page or Wyoming's state application portal directly.
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 113? Unit 113 sits at a relatively low elevation for Wyoming elk country, ranging from 4,189 to 5,280 feet across 550,792 acres. This points to rolling, foothill-style terrain rather than high alpine basins or deep timber. There's no designated wilderness in the unit, which typically means more road and trail access compared to units with significant backcountry wilderness acreage.
What is harvest success like in Unit 113? Harvest success has been strong and consistent in recent years. The unit posted an 83% success rate in 2025 (349 of 419 hunters), 87% in 2024 (122 of 140 hunters), 79% in 2023 (154 of 196 hunters), and 76% in 2022 (145 of 190 hunters). That four-year run of success rates above 75% marks Unit 113 as one of the more productive elk units for hunters focused on tag fulfillment.
How big are the elk in Unit 113? Trophy potential in Unit 113 is moderate. The surrounding counties have a moderate history of trophy-class elk entries in the record books, but hunters should keep in mind that record-book data is attributed at the county level and shared with neighboring units. Hunters should expect a realistic chance at mature bulls, but this isn't a unit with a strong track record of producing elite, top-tier trophy bulls.
Is Wyoming Unit 113 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing high odds of harvesting an elk, yes — the multi-year harvest data supports that conclusion strongly, with success rates consistently in the 76-87% range from 2022 through 2025. For hunters solely chasing a trophy bull, the moderate trophy history suggests other units with stronger trophy pedigrees may be a better fit. Unit 113 is best framed as an opportunity-first unit.
Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt elk in Unit 113? No. Because Unit 113 has 0% wilderness acreage, Wyoming's state law requiring nonresidents to hire a licensed outfitter for wilderness hunting does not apply here. Nonresident hunters can pursue elk DIY-style within the unit's 57% public land, though they'll still need to navigate the private-land portions carefully and secure permission where needed.