WYElkUnit 117June 2026

Wyoming Unit 117 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 117 sits in the eastern portion of the state, spanning roughly 485,656 acres across an elevation range of 3,514 to 6,623 feet. That elevation profile tells a significant part of this unit's story — it's lower and more accessible than the alpine wilderness units that dominate Wyoming's reputation, making it a fundamentally different kind of elk hunting experience. With just 22% public land, this is predominantly private ground, and that single fact shapes every strategic decision a hunter needs to make before dropping an application.

Unit 117 draws consistent hunter pressure. In the four most recent seasons on record, the unit hosted between 1,193 and 1,622 hunters annually, producing one of the more notable success rate profiles in Wyoming's eastern elk country. For hunters who understand the access dynamics and have the right connections — or are willing to work for public access — Unit 117 can deliver results. For hunters expecting to parachute into open public land, this unit will be a frustrating experience.

HuntPilot has compiled harvest trends, draw application data, and trophy history for Unit 117 to give hunters a clear-eyed look at what this unit actually offers versus what the headline numbers suggest.

Harvest Success Rates

The harvest numbers for Wyoming Unit 117 are among the more compelling in the state for hunters focused on putting meat in the freezer. Here's a breakdown of the four most recent seasons:

2025: 1,495 hunters, 664 harvested — 44% success
2024: 1,615 hunters, 846 harvested — 52% success
2023: 1,622 hunters, 855 harvested — 53% success
2022: 1,193 hunters, 556 harvested — 47% success

That's a four-year average hovering around 49% — a number most elk hunting units across the West would envy. For context, statewide Wyoming elk success rates often land in the 25–40% range depending on unit and tag type, so Unit 117 consistently outperforms the average.

The dip from 53% in 2023 to 44% in 2025 is worth watching. A 9-point drop in success rate alongside a declining hunter count (from 1,622 to 1,495) isn't an alarm bell on its own, but it's a trend that suggests pressure on the herd or tightening access conditions. Two years of data don't make a trend, but hunters planning an application should monitor whether 2026 and 2027 data continues that downward trajectory or reverts toward the 50%+ baseline.

One important qualifier: high success rates in units with limited public land often reflect that a substantial portion of participating hunters have private land access. Hunters with landowner permission or paid access arrangements are operating with a significant structural advantage over those hunting public parcels. The headline 44–53% success rates may overstate what's achievable on the public 22% of this unit.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for Wyoming Unit 117 suggests limited trophy potential for elk. The counties overlapping this unit have a modest history of trophy records, and the pattern is consistent with what hunters would expect from a high-pressure, predominantly lower-elevation unit in eastern Wyoming. This is not a unit with a deep legacy of producing exceptional bulls.

That assessment doesn't make Unit 117 a poor hunting destination — it means hunters should calibrate expectations accordingly. The unit produces legal elk at solid rates. Hunters chasing once-in-a-lifetime trophy bulls should look elsewhere in Wyoming's draw system. Hunters prioritizing consistent harvest opportunity, reasonable draw difficulty, and proximity to eastern Wyoming access points will find more to like here.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wyoming Game and Fish manages elk across this region with attention to both cow and bull tag allocations, and the harvest data from Unit 117 provides indirect insight into herd dynamics. A unit that consistently fields 1,200–1,600 hunters and sustains 44–53% success rates over four consecutive years has at minimum a stable population base capable of supporting that harvest.

The 2025 decline in both hunter participation and success rates deserves attention. Whether this reflects a Game and Fish decision to tighten tag allocation, reduced hunter demand, or early indicators of population adjustment is worth researching before applying. Hunters should review Wyoming Game and Fish's current population objectives and post-season survey data for Unit 117 to understand where the herd sits relative to management targets. The structured trend data available through HuntPilot provides a baseline, but the most current year's herd survey data from the agency will fill in what harvest statistics alone can't show.

Access & Terrain

At 22% public land across 485,656 total acres, Unit 117 presents a genuine access challenge for DIY hunters. To put that number in concrete terms: roughly 106,000 acres are publicly accessible out of the total unit footprint. The remaining 380,000-plus acres are predominantly private, and access to private land in eastern Wyoming typically requires landowner relationships, paid hunting programs, or significant pre-season scouting and permission work.

The elevation band of 3,514 to 6,623 feet places this unit firmly in lower-to-mid-elevation elk country. There is no designated wilderness within the unit, which means motorized access is more widely available than in Wyoming's backcountry units. This cuts both ways: the unit is more accessible for hunters who don't want a 10-mile pack-in, but it also means the elk face greater hunting pressure and are less isolated than animals in true wilderness terrain.

From a terrain standpoint, lower-elevation eastern Wyoming units like Unit 117 typically feature rolling terrain, mixed agriculture and sagebrush, and riparian corridors that hold elk — especially when fall conditions push animals out of higher country. Hunters familiar with eastern plains-edge elk hunting will recognize the pattern: elk that use grain fields, CRP ground, and creek bottoms, often under cover of darkness. This is glassing and ambush country more than spot-and-stalk alpine terrain.

For nonresident hunters specifically, the 22% public land figure makes DIY hunting feasible only with serious pre-hunt access planning. Unit 117 has no wilderness, so Wyoming's outfitter requirement for wilderness hunting does not apply here — nonresidents can legally hunt public parcels without a guide. However, if the majority of huntable elk habitat sits on private ground, the practical case for hiring a guide or securing private access arrangements is strong regardless of legal requirements.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Wyoming Unit 117 Worth Applying For?

For resident hunters: Unit 117 offers strong success rates at reasonable application investment. The 44–53% four-year success range is legitimate, and resident tag fees of $43 or $57 (depending on tag type) make the financial commitment modest. Hunters with private land access or established landowner relationships in the unit are well-positioned to capitalize. Resident hunters focused purely on numbers — elk in the truck at a competitive cost — have a real case for Unit 117.

For nonresident hunters: The calculus is more complicated. Nonresident tag fees range from $288 to $1,950 depending on the specific permit, and the application fee is $15 with a $52 point fee. At $692 or $1,950 in tag fees, nonresidents need to be honest about what this unit offers relative to the cost. With limited trophy potential and access predominantly gated by private land, nonresidents paying premium tag fees may be disappointed compared to what higher-investment limited-entry units in other parts of Wyoming can produce.

Nonresidents should ask themselves: Do I have private land access already arranged? Am I hunting for opportunity and meat rather than a trophy-class bull? If the answer to both is yes, Unit 117 at the lower nonresident tag price point can make sense. If the goal is a wall-hanger bull on public land with no pre-existing access, hunters should look at units with higher public land percentages and stronger trophy histories.

The honest bottom line: Unit 117 is a practical, meat-hunting unit with strong harvest rates. It is not a trophy elk destination. The access situation demands serious planning for anyone without existing private land relationships. Hunters who walk in clear-eyed about those realities can have a successful season here.

How to Apply

Wyoming's elk draw operates on a preference point system for nonresidents. Residents and nonresidents alike apply through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's online licensing system.

For 2026:

Applications open: January 2, 2026
Resident deadline: June 1, 2026
Nonresident deadline: February 2, 2026
Nonresident point-only deadline: November 2, 2026

2026 Resident fees:

Application fee: $5
Tag fee: $43 or $57 (depending on tag type)
License fee: $0.00 (required to apply — verify current license requirements with Wyoming Game and Fish)

2026 Nonresident fees:

Application fee: $15
Tag fee: $288, $692, or $1,950 (depending on tag type)
License fee: $0.00 (required to apply — verify current license requirements with Wyoming Game and Fish)
Point fee: $52

For 2028:

The application deadline for all regular hunts is March 1, 2028. Application opening for 2028 is January 5, 2028.

Note that nonresidents face a significantly earlier deadline than residents for 2026 (February 2 vs. June 1). Missing the February 2 nonresident deadline means waiting another year. Set a calendar reminder in January.

For draw odds and current tag availability specific to Unit 117, visit HuntPilot's Wyoming draw page for up-to-date draw statistics.

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

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 117?

Unit 117 spans elevations from 3,514 to 6,623 feet with no designated wilderness. It's lower-elevation elk country by Wyoming standards — expect rolling terrain, agricultural edges, sagebrush, and riparian corridors rather than high alpine basins. Motorized access is more available here than in Wyoming's wilderness units. The terrain is huntable without extreme backcountry fitness, but elk in this pressured, accessible country can be difficult to locate on public ground.

What is the harvest success rate in Wyoming Unit 117?

Over the last four seasons, Unit 117 has produced success rates of 47% (2022), 53% (2023), 52% (2024), and 44% (2025) — a four-year average of approximately 49%. These are strong numbers by Wyoming standards, though hunters should note that the majority of the unit is private land, and hunters with private access likely skew those rates higher.

How big are the elk in Wyoming Unit 117?

Based on available trophy history, Unit 117 has limited trophy potential. The counties overlapping this unit have a modest record of producing trophy-class bulls, and this reflects the unit's character as a high-access, lower-elevation hunting area with significant private land pressure. Hunters should expect opportunities at legal-class elk rather than record-book bulls.

Is Wyoming Unit 117 worth applying for?

That depends heavily on what a hunter is looking for. If the goal is consistent harvest opportunity at a reasonable draw investment — particularly for residents — Unit 117 has a strong case. If the primary goal is a trophy-class bull on accessible public land, this unit's limited public land (22%) and modest trophy history make it a poor fit. Nonresidents should weigh the higher tag fees carefully against the access realities of a predominantly private-land unit.

For current draw odds and tag availability for Wyoming Unit 117, visit HuntPilot's Wyoming draw page at /states/wy.

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