Wyoming Unit 19 Elk Hunting Guide
Wyoming Unit 19 draws consistent attention from elk hunters across both residencies, and the harvest numbers explain why. This unit delivers one of the more reliable success rates in the state, with four consecutive years of data showing bull harvests well above the statewide average for many limited-entry areas. Located in a broad elevation band ranging from 4,971 to 8,748 feet, Unit 19 covers 476,244 total acres of mixed terrain — rolling sagebrush country transitioning into timbered slopes and high ridgelines — giving elk a variety of habitat zones to use across the season.
At 48% public land, just under half the unit is accessible to DIY hunters. That figure matters: roughly half the landscape is private, which means access planning is not optional. Hunters who do their homework on public boundaries will find huntable ground, but this is not a unit where you can park at a trailhead and assume open country in every direction. Strategic access — either through public parcels or landowner permission — determines where most hunters end up spending their time.
There is no wilderness designation within Unit 19, which is a notable practical advantage. Wyoming law requires nonresident hunters to hire a licensed outfitter when hunting designated wilderness areas. With zero wilderness acreage in this unit, nonresident hunters can pursue elk here on a DIY basis without that legal obligation. That combination — reasonable public land percentage, no wilderness requirement, and strong harvest numbers — makes Unit 19 worth a serious look for hunters on both sides of the residency line.
Harvest Success Rates
The harvest data out of Unit 19 over the past four years is genuinely strong and remarkably consistent. Here is the full picture:
- 2025: 694 hunters, 287 harvested — 41% success rate
- 2024: 695 hunters, 348 harvested — 50% success rate
- 2023: 638 hunters, 302 harvested — 47% success rate
- 2022: 612 hunters, 287 harvested — 47% success rate
That four-year average lands right around 46% — well above what many hunters consider acceptable when evaluating a unit's productivity. Hunter participation has also grown steadily from 612 in 2022 to nearly 700 in both 2024 and 2025, suggesting the unit is drawing increased attention even as success remains near the 47% mark.
The 2025 dip to 41% is worth noting but does not suggest a structural decline. A single-year drop of that magnitude can reflect weather, timing of hunting pressure, or shifting elk distribution. The three prior years clustered tightly between 47% and 50%, which is the more informative trend. Hunters should not read the 2025 figure in isolation — the multi-year pattern is what matters, and that pattern indicates a productive unit.
For context, Wyoming's statewide elk hunting average across all units typically runs in the mid-to-upper 30s for mixed-residency hunts. Unit 19's consistent 47–50% range puts it meaningfully above that benchmark.
Herd Health & Population Trends
Wildlife survey data from 2021 through 2024 — covering three separate survey efforts — shows an average bull-to-cow ratio of 17:100 across the unit. That figure is below what hunters typically hope to see in a premier limited-entry unit, and it warrants honest interpretation.
A 17:100 bull-to-cow ratio indicates meaningful hunting pressure on the adult bull population. Bulls are the primary harvest target, and ratios in this range reflect that reality in high-harvest-volume units. Biologically healthy minimums typically sit in the 20–25:100 range for sustainable populations. Unit 19 is running below that, though not at alarming levels.
What the ratio data does not diminish is the harvest success rate. Unit 19 manages to sustain 46–50% annual hunter success in part because of elk numbers — cow, calf, and bull populations sufficient to support nearly 700 hunters per year. A unit producing that volume of successful harvests is not struggling. The bull ratio simply tells hunters what class of animal is most available: younger bulls and satellite bulls make up the majority of the harvest in units with these ratios, while mature bulls exist but require more focused effort.
Hunters targeting older, heavier-antlered bulls will need to hunt specifically for them — glassing, covering ground, and putting in the kind of effort that separates trophy-focused hunters from meat hunters in a high-pressure environment.
Trophy Quality
The counties overlapping Wyoming Unit 19 have a moderate history of producing trophy-class elk. This is not one of Wyoming's premier trophy units — hunters should set expectations accordingly. Trophy-class animals have been taken from this area, and the history is not negligible, but it is not a unit with the deep, consistent trophy production associated with Wyoming's most coveted limited-entry draws.
For hunters whose primary goal is meat in the freezer and consistent shot opportunities, Unit 19's harvest numbers are compelling. For hunters specifically targeting record-book potential, the trophy history suggests this unit offers a reasonable shot at a quality bull but should not be the top priority if trophy ceiling is the primary decision factor. The moderate trophy history reflects both the hunting pressure level and the bull age structure implied by the 17:100 ratio data.
Access & Terrain
Unit 19 spans a meaningful elevation range — from just under 5,000 feet at lower drainages to nearly 8,750 feet on the upper reaches. That vertical relief creates a classic western elk habitat gradient: sagebrush flats and shrubby foothills at the lower elevations, transitioning into mixed timber, aspen stands, and open parks higher up. Elk move through all of it, using thermal patterns and feed availability to dictate their position through the season.
With 48% public land, DIY access is feasible but requires deliberate planning. Hunters need to map public parcels carefully before the season — digital mapping tools are essential here — because the unit's roughly equal split between public and private creates a checkerboard pattern in places. Public ground that appears accessible on paper may require navigation around private inholdings to reach legally.
The unit carries no wilderness designation, which simplifies logistics for nonresident hunters. There are no pack-in requirements tied to wilderness access, and hunters can use motorized vehicles on open roads without the guide-requirement trigger that wilderness creates in Wyoming. That said, the upper-elevation terrain is rugged enough that physical fitness and logistical preparation still matter — this is not flat-country hunting.
Vehicle-based camping, spike camps, and day-hunting from a central camp are all viable strategies depending on where a hunter's public land access is located. Hunters willing to go farther from roads on the public parcels will encounter less pressure and, typically, better bull populations in the upper-elevation zones.
HuntPilot Analysis
Unit 19 is worth applying for — with clear-eyed expectations about what the unit delivers.
The harvest data is the strongest argument in its favor. A multi-year average success rate near 46–47% is legitimate, backed by four consecutive years of data across nearly 650–700 hunters annually. That is a large, statistically meaningful sample, and the consistency across years is more valuable than any single impressive season. Hunters looking for a Wyoming elk unit with genuine meat-on-the-ground probability will find Unit 19 difficult to dismiss.
The access picture is workable. At 48% public land with zero wilderness, both resident and nonresident DIY hunters have realistic options. It is not a unit with overwhelming public access, but hunters who prepare — identifying public parcels, scouting access points, and having a contingency plan if their primary spot draws pressure — can hunt effectively without hiring an outfitter.
Where Unit 19 falls short of elite status is in bull age structure. The 17:100 bull-to-cow ratio reflects sustained harvest pressure on bulls, and the moderate trophy history confirms that the unit produces quality animals but is not in the same tier as Wyoming's true trophy-priority limited-entry hunts. Hunters specifically chasing a once-in-a-lifetime bull may find better trophy ceilings in other units that trade lower success rates for higher quality.
The ideal candidate for Unit 19 is a hunter who values consistent success, can navigate a mixed public-private landscape, and is hunting for a quality experience with a bull elk rather than specifically targeting record-book potential. For that hunter, this unit is a strong play.
How to Apply
Wyoming's elk draw is open to both residents and nonresidents, with separate fee structures and deadlines.
For 2026:
Resident applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of June 1, 2026. The resident application fee is $5, with tag fees of either $43 or $57 depending on the specific hunt. No additional license fee is required to apply.
Nonresident applications also open January 2, 2026, but carry an earlier deadline of February 2, 2026 — nonresidents must submit well before the resident close date. The nonresident application fee is $15, with tag fees varying significantly by hunt type: $288, $692, or $1,950 depending on the specific draw. Nonresidents also pay a $52 point fee when applying. The nonresident point deadline is November 2 (of the prior year). No additional license fee is required to apply.
For 2028:
The application window opens January 5, 2028, with a deadline of March 1, 2028 for all applicants.
Wyoming nonresidents do not have preference points for elk — the system works differently than deer or pronghorn. For current draw odds and competition levels by hunt type within Unit 19, visit the HuntPilot Wyoming page for the most up-to-date draw analysis.
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 19?
Unit 19 covers a wide elevation band from roughly 4,971 to 8,748 feet, producing a varied landscape. Lower elevations feature open sagebrush and shrubby foothills, while upper slopes hold mixed timber, aspen, and open parks. Elk use the full range depending on season, weather, and hunting pressure. There is no wilderness in the unit, so access is primarily road-and-foot without the logistical complexity of pack-in wilderness hunts.
What is the harvest success rate in Wyoming Unit 19 elk hunting?
Unit 19 has been one of Wyoming's more consistent producers in recent years. From 2022 through 2025, the unit averaged approximately 46% annual success across 612–695 hunters per season. The strongest year in that stretch was 2024 at 50%; the most recent season, 2025, came in at 41%. The multi-year trend is the more reliable indicator, and it consistently shows nearly half of all hunters filling their tags.
How big are the elk in Wyoming Unit 19?
The counties overlapping Unit 19 have a moderate trophy history. Quality bulls are present, and the unit produces legitimate trophy animals, but it is not among Wyoming's elite trophy-ceiling units. The bull-to-cow ratio of 17:100 (averaged across surveys from 2021–2024) indicates meaningful harvest pressure on adult bulls, which means the average harvested animal skews younger than in lower-pressure units. Hunters specifically targeting heavy, mature bulls will need to work harder and hunt smarter in this environment.
Is Wyoming Unit 19 worth applying for elk?
Yes — particularly for hunters who prioritize consistent harvest opportunity over trophy ceiling. The multi-year success rates near 46–50%, combined with zero wilderness (meaning no guide requirement for nonresidents) and feasible DIY access at 48% public land, make Unit 19 a compelling draw target. It is best suited to hunters who want a realistic chance at taking a bull each season rather than those building points for a once-in-a-lifetime trophy hunt. For current draw competitiveness, visit the HuntPilot Wyoming page.
How does the public land access work in Unit 19 for DIY hunters?
At 48% public land, just under half the unit is publicly accessible — meaning the other half is private and off-limits without landowner permission. DIY hunters can absolutely hunt the unit, but access planning is essential. Public parcels are not uniformly distributed, and hunters should map boundaries before the season to identify accessible entry points and avoid inadvertent trespass. Hunters willing to cover ground and move away from high-traffic public access areas will typically find less competition and better hunting conditions.