Wyoming Unit 117 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 117 sits among the state's lower-elevation elk country, ranging from 3,514 to 6,623 feet across nearly half a million acres of terrain. For hunters researching Wyoming Unit 117 elk hunting, this unit offers a data point that's rare in the draw-obsessed world of western big game: consistent, above-average harvest success across multiple recent seasons. That alone makes it worth a closer look, even though the unit comes with real access limitations that every applicant needs to understand before committing points or tag fees.

Unit 117 covers 485,656 acres, but only 22% of that ground is public land. There's no designated wilderness within the unit. That combination — large total acreage, small public share, zero wilderness — tells hunters a lot about what kind of hunt this is before they ever look at harvest numbers. This is not big, open, walk-in wilderness elk country. It's a unit where private land dominates the landscape, and where success is going to hinge heavily on how hunters navigate that reality.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 117 Worth Applying For?

The honest answer is: it depends entirely on what a hunter is looking for. If the goal is a high-probability elk hunt with a real chance at putting meat in the freezer, Unit 117's harvest data makes a strong case. According to HuntPilot's harvest figures, this unit posted success rates of 44% in 2025, 52% in 2024, 53% in 2023, and 47% in 2022. Those are unit-wide totals across all hunt types, but a success rate that consistently sits in the 44-53% range over four straight seasons is well above what most elk hunters experience nationwide. Hunter numbers have also stayed relatively stable — 1,495 hunters afield in 2025, 1,615 in 2024, 1,622 in 2023, and 1,193 in 2022 — with harvest totals moving in step (664, 846, 855, and 556 elk respectively). This isn't a unit where opportunity evaporated in a bad year; it's held up.

Where the calculus gets more complicated is trophy potential and access. Trophy history for the counties overlapping Unit 117 is limited, meaning hunters chasing a wall-hanger bull with documented pedigree should look elsewhere or temper expectations here. This unit is better framed as an opportunity-and-success play rather than a trophy hunt. With only 22% public land, DIY hunters also need to go in with eyes open — the majority of Unit 117 is private ground, and public-land-only hunters will be working a small fraction of the total acreage. That doesn't mean it's impossible, but it does mean hunters should scout access points carefully and, if going the private-land route, line up permission or lease arrangements well before the season.

For a nonresident weighing whether to spend points or apply for a special or regular tag here, the calculus should weigh heavily on the harvest data. A unit posting sub-50% and above-50% success in the same four-year window is unusual, and that consistency is the strongest argument in Unit 117's favor. For residents with a Wyoming general license, this unit is also worth serious consideration given how often that success rate has held up.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 117's harvest numbers are the centerpiece of its appeal. Over the last four reported 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

These are unit-total figures spanning all hunt types and sexes, so individual hunt codes will vary from the blended average. Still, a four-year stretch where success never dropped below 44% is a meaningful signal. Most western elk units struggle to crack 30% in an average year, so Unit 117 is performing well above that baseline consistently, not just in a single good season. The dip from 53% in 2023 to 44% in 2025 is worth noting — it suggests some year-to-year variability tied to weather, elk distribution, or hunter pressure — but even the "low" year here would be considered a strong season in many other units.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for Unit 117 is limited. The counties overlapping this unit have a limited history of producing record-book entries, which means hunters should not treat this as a trophy destination. That's not unusual for a unit with heavy private-land influence and relatively low elevation — big, mature bulls with wide-open winter range and minimal pressure tend to concentrate in areas with more contiguous public or wilderness habitat. Hunters targeting Unit 117 should plan around the strong odds of harvesting an elk, not around the odds of scoring a record-class bull. That's a legitimate and popular hunting strategy in its own right, but it's a different goal than a unit-shopping trophy hunter should pursue.

Access & Terrain

The terrain in Unit 117 runs from roughly 3,514 feet up to 6,623 feet, which puts it on the lower end of Wyoming's elevation spectrum for elk units. Lower elevation generally means less alpine and subalpine habitat and more foothill, sagebrush, and riparian country mixed with agricultural ground — terrain that tends to hold elk on private land for much of the year, especially outside of migration windows.

With 22% public land and no wilderness acreage, access is the defining challenge in this unit. The vast majority of the 485,656 total acres is private, which means DIY hunters relying exclusively on public ground will be working a small, likely fragmented portion of the unit. Hunters should expect competition for access on the public parcels that do exist and should be prepared to identify walk-in areas, road access points, or landowner permission opportunities well ahead of the season. Because there's no wilderness component here, there are no state-mandated outfitter requirements tied to wilderness access — but given the private-land dominance, many successful hunters in low-public-percentage units like this one still work with a local guide or lease arrangement to get onto better ground.

Hunters should use mapping tools — including HuntPilot's public land overlays — to identify exactly where the public 22% sits relative to elk habitat, water sources, and access roads before the season starts. In a unit this reliant on private ground, pre-season map work is not optional.

How to Apply

Wyoming's application system requires hunters to plan around specific dates and fees that change annually.

For the 2026 season, Wyoming has published detailed fee breakdowns by residency and tag type:

Wyoming's nonresident elk draw uses a preference point system layered alongside a separate random draw pool, and points are consumed upon a successful draw — so nonresidents building points for Unit 117 or comparable units should plan multi-year strategies rather than expecting a single application to guarantee a tag. Alternatively, check HuntPilot's Wyoming state page at /states/wy for the latest application calendar.

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 117? Unit 117 spans an elevation range of 3,514 to 6,623 feet, placing it on the lower and more moderate end of Wyoming's elk habitat. This lower-elevation profile typically means more foothill, sagebrush, and agricultural-adjacent terrain rather than high alpine basins. There's no wilderness acreage in the unit, and with only 22% public land across 485,656 total acres, much of the terrain hunters will encounter is under private ownership.

What is harvest success like in Unit 117? Harvest success has been strong and consistent in recent years. Unit-wide success rates were 44% in 2025, 52% in 2024, 53% in 2023, and 47% in 2022, according to HuntPilot's harvest data. That's a notably high and stable success range compared to most western elk units, though these figures reflect the unit total across all hunt types combined.

How big are the elk in Unit 117? Trophy data for Unit 117 is limited — the counties overlapping this unit have a limited history of record-book entries. Hunters should approach this unit expecting solid opportunity and above-average harvest odds rather than trophy-class bulls. Those specifically chasing record-book potential should look at units with a more established trophy history.

Is Unit 117 worth applying for? Based on the available harvest data, yes — particularly for hunters prioritizing success rate over trophy size. Four consecutive years of success rates in the 44-53% range is a strong track record. The tradeoff is access: with just 22% public land and no wilderness, hunters need a solid access plan, whether that's securing private land permission, working available public parcels carefully, or partnering with a local guide. For current draw odds specific to residency and hunt type, check HuntPilot's Unit 117 page.

What does it cost to apply for an elk tag in Unit 117?

Fees and deadlines change every draw cycle, so the current figures live on HuntPilot's Wyoming page at /states/wy rather than here.