Wyoming Unit 16 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 16 elk hunting draws serious attention from nonresident hunters willing to invest points, and for good reason — this unit combines a large land base, consistent harvest success, and moderate trophy potential into one of the more talked-about draws in the region. At just over 1.1 million acres with 55% public land, Unit 16 gives hunters real room to work, though it also demands a strategy for navigating mixed ownership. This isn't a unit where a hunter shows up cold and figures it out in a weekend — the terrain, tag structure, and access patterns all reward preparation.

Unit 16 sits in the category of Wyoming units that generates steady forum chatter every application season, and for good reason: recent harvest data shows success rates that outperform many comparable limited-entry units in the state. Elevations here range from 5,267 to 9,123 feet, meaning hunters can expect everything from lower sagebrush benches to high timbered ridgelines within the same unit boundary. That elevation spread is a meaningful factor in how and where elk distribute through the year, and it's part of why this unit consistently produces bulls worth the investment for hunters who draw a tag.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 16's harvest numbers are the strongest single data point supporting this unit's reputation. Recent seasons show:

• 2025: 1,033 hunters, 562 harvested, 54% success
• 2024: 1,024 hunters, 562 harvested, 55% success
• 2023: 963 hunters, 680 harvested, 71% success
• 2022: 855 hunters, 471 harvested, 55% success

These are unit-wide totals across all hunt types, and a 54-71% success rate range over four consecutive years is well above what most western elk hunters experience. Even the "low" year in this stretch, 2022 at 55%, would be considered an excellent season in many other units across the West. The 2023 season stands out at 71% success, though hunters should treat that as a strong year within the range rather than the new baseline — success has settled back into the mid-50s in both 2024 and 2025.

What's notable is the consistency of hunter numbers alongside these success rates. Between roughly 855 and 1,033 hunters have pursued elk in Unit 16 each of the last four years, and harvest totals have stayed in a fairly tight band (471 to 680 animals). This tells hunters that Unit 16 isn't a boom-or-bust unit dependent on a single good weather year — the elk are there consistently, and hunters who put in the effort are connecting at rates most units can't match.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four survey years (2021-2024) shows an average bull-to-cow ratio of 65:100 for Unit 16. That's a healthy ratio by elk management standards, well above the baseline levels many general units maintain, and it supports the idea that this unit is being managed with an eye toward maintaining a mature bull component in the herd rather than simply maximizing total harvest. A ratio in this range, sustained across a four-year survey window rather than a single anomalous year, is a genuinely reliable indicator of herd health rather than a statistical fluke.

Combined with the harvest success data, this bull:cow ratio suggests Unit 16 is carrying a solid bull population that can support ongoing hunting pressure without a crash in quality. Hunters targeting this unit should feel confident that the underlying herd metrics back up what the harvest numbers already suggest — this is a productive elk unit, not one running on borrowed time.

Trophy Quality

Trophy records tied to the counties overlapping Unit 16 point to a moderate trophy history — meaning there's a documented track record of trophy-class bulls coming from this general area, but it isn't among the handful of units nationally that reliably produce elite, top-tier entries every year. Hunters should calibrate expectations accordingly: Unit 16 is a legitimate unit for a hunter chasing a mature, respectable bull, and the bull:cow ratio data supports a herd structure capable of producing older-age-class animals. But hunters chasing a truly exceptional, once-in-a-generation bull should understand that Unit 16's trophy pedigree is solid rather than spectacular.

It's worth remembering that trophy records are logged by county, and the counties overlapping Unit 16 share those records with neighboring units — the specific bulls behind that trophy history may have come from anywhere within those county boundaries, not necessarily from within Unit 16's exact borders. Still, a moderate trophy history combined with a healthy bull:cow ratio and strong harvest success is a favorable combination that few units can claim simultaneously.

Access & Terrain

Unit 16 spans elevations from 5,267 feet up to 9,123 feet across its 1,125,083 acres, giving hunters a wide range of habitat types to work — from lower sagebrush and foothill country up into higher timbered terrain near the top of that elevation band. With 0% wilderness designation, hunters face none of the Wyoming outfitter-requirement restrictions that apply in wilderness areas elsewhere in the state; this unit is entirely open to unguided nonresident hunters from an access-law standpoint.

That said, public land sits at 55% of the unit's total acreage. That's a workable majority, but it also means a substantial 45% of Unit 16 is private land. Hunters need to be deliberate about mapping public parcels before the season, identifying where public and private boundaries intersect, and planning routes that keep them legally on public ground or negotiated private access. This isn't a unit where hunters can wander freely assuming everything is open — careful pre-season map work matters here, and tools like HuntPilot's public land layers can help hunters identify exactly where that 55% lies relative to elk habitat and access points.

The elevation range also matters for planning: hunters chasing elk that have pushed into higher timber should be prepared for more demanding terrain and longer approaches, while those working lower benches and sage country will find more moderate going. Scouting both ends of that elevation spectrum before committing to a hunting strategy is a smart use of pre-season time.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 16 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available, Unit 16 earns a strong recommendation for hunters with the points or draw position to pursue it. The case is built on three independent data points all pointing the same direction: harvest success has held between 54% and 71% over four straight years, the bull:cow ratio has averaged 65:100 across four survey years, and trophy records show a moderate, sustained history rather than a one-hit-wonder. It's rare to see harvest success, herd health, and trophy pedigree all align this cleanly in the same unit.

The tradeoffs are real, though. At 55% public land, this is not a unit where hunters can ignore land ownership — private parcels are woven throughout, and hunters need a plan for access before they show up. Tag quotas also tell an important story: Type 1 tags increased from 250 to 275 (a 10% increase) heading into 2026, and Type 2 tags jumped from 100 to 125 (a 25% increase) over the same period, while Type 4, Type 6, and Type 7 quotas held steady at 300, 300, and 200 respectively. Increasing quotas on some hunt types could mean modestly improved draw prospects going forward, though hunters should check HuntPilot's Unit 16 page for current draw odds rather than assuming quota increases translate directly into easier draws.

For a nonresident weighing whether to spend points here versus another Wyoming unit, Unit 16's combination of strong, consistent success rates and a healthy bull:cow ratio makes it a defensible investment — particularly for a hunter who has built enough points to be competitive and wants confidence that the unit will deliver both opportunity and a fair shot at a solid bull.

How to Apply

Wyoming's application system requires hunters to plan around several distinct dates and fees depending on residency and tag type. For 2026, nonresident hunters have three main paths: Alternatively, check HuntPilot's Wyoming state page (/states/wy) for the latest draw calendar 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 16? Unit 16 covers elevations from 5,267 feet up to 9,123 feet across more than 1.1 million acres, offering a mix of lower sagebrush and foothill terrain transitioning into higher timbered country at the top of that range. With no wilderness designation in this unit, all terrain is accessible without the Wyoming outfitter requirement that applies in designated wilderness areas elsewhere in the state.

What is harvest success like in Unit 16? Harvest success has ranged from 54% to 71% over the last four recorded seasons (2022-2025), with 562 elk harvested in both 2024 and 2025, 680 in 2023, and 471 in 2022. This is a notably high and consistent success rate for a Wyoming elk unit.

How big are the elk in Unit 16? Trophy records tied to the counties overlapping Unit 16 show a moderate trophy history, indicating some documented production of trophy-class bulls over time without ranking among the state's elite trophy units. A sustained bull:cow ratio averaging 65:100 across recent survey years supports a herd capable of producing mature bulls.

Is Unit 16 worth applying for? Based on available data, yes — the combination of consistently strong harvest success (54-71% over four years), a healthy average bull:cow ratio of 65:100, and a moderate trophy history makes Unit 16 a well-rounded option for hunters with sufficient points or draw position. The main caveat is the 55% public land figure, which requires careful access planning given the significant private-land presence.

Does Unit 16 require a guide for nonresident hunters? No. Unit 16 has 0% wilderness designation, so the Wyoming state law requiring nonresidents to hire a licensed outfitter in wilderness areas does not apply here. Nonresident hunters can pursue this unit without a guide, though private land access considerations still apply given the 55% public land split.