Wyoming Unit 22 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 22 sits among the state's more accessible elk hunting opportunities, offering hunters a large chunk of public ground and a track record of harvest data that's worth digging into before committing an application or a point. With 208,507 total acres and a full 92% of that land in public ownership, Unit 22 gives both resident and nonresident hunters a legitimate DIY option in a state where private land lockup is often the biggest obstacle to a good elk hunt.

Elevations in the unit range from 5,854 feet up to 10,002 feet, meaning hunters can expect everything from lower-elevation sagebrush and foothill terrain to high-country basins near timberline. That elevation spread matters for elk hunting — it gives animals room to move seasonally within the unit itself, and it gives hunters a range of terrain types to hunt depending on time of year, weather, and personal fitness. With 0% of the unit classified as wilderness, hunters won't run into Wyoming's nonresident guide-requirement law here — this is unrestricted access for DIY hunters of any residency.

This article breaks down what the data actually shows for Unit 22 — harvest trends, bull:cow ratios, trophy potential, and the application process — using figures pulled directly from HuntPilot's unit database rather than speculation or forum hearsay.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 22's harvest numbers over the past four seasons show a unit that produces results, though with some year-to-year volatility that hunters should factor into their expectations.

• 2025: 312 hunters, 123 harvested, 39% success
• 2024: 184 hunters, 113 harvested, 61% success
• 2023: 100 hunters, 63 harvested, 63% success
• 2022: 103 hunters, 61 harvested, 59% success

The trend line here is notable. From 2022 through 2024, success rates held remarkably steady in the 59-63% range — a strong number for any elk hunt, regardless of state. But 2025 saw a significant jump in hunter numbers (312, nearly double the prior year) paired with a drop in success rate to 39%. That combination — more hunters afield, lower per-hunter success — is a classic sign of increased pressure on the same herd and habitat. It doesn't necessarily mean the elk aren't there; it likely means more tags were in hunters' pockets competing for the same opportunities.

Hunters weighing this unit should note both halves of that story: Unit 22 has a real recent history of success rates well above 50%, but the most recent season shows what happens when hunter density increases. Anyone applying should check current-year tag allocations and hunter numbers before assuming a repeat of the 59-63% seasons.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four survey years between 2021 and 2024 shows an average bull:cow ratio of 56:100 across three of those surveys. That's a solid ratio by elk management standards — it suggests a herd with a reasonable number of mature bulls relative to cows, which generally correlates with decent bull age structure and more opportunities to encounter branch-antlered bulls rather than just spikes or young bulls.

A 56:100 ratio doesn't scream trophy unit, but it's a healthy, sustainable number that indicates the herd isn't being over-harvested to the point of skewing heavily female. Hunters should view this as a positive but unspectacular data point — it supports a herd that's being managed conservatively enough to maintain bull numbers, which lines up with the strong harvest success rates seen in most recent seasons.

Trophy Quality

Trophy records from the counties overlapping Unit 22 point to a moderate history of trophy production. This isn't a unit with a deep or standout trophy pedigree, but it isn't a blank slate either — there's enough history in the surrounding county data to suggest that mature bulls have come out of this general area over time.

It's important to understand that these county-level records are shared across every unit that overlaps those same counties — the trophy bulls attributed to this geography could have been taken in Unit 22 or in a neighboring unit within the same counties. Hunters shouldn't read county-level trophy history as unit-exact evidence, but as a general indicator of what the broader landscape has historically produced.

Given the moderate trophy history and the healthy-but-not-exceptional bull:cow ratio, hunters should approach Unit 22 with realistic expectations: this looks like a unit capable of producing a mature, respectable bull, but it's not positioned as an elite trophy destination based on the available records. Hunters chasing a genuine top-tier record-book bull may want to compare Unit 22's data against other Wyoming units with deeper trophy histories before committing points here.

Access & Terrain

Access is one of Unit 22's clear strengths. At 92% public land across 208,507 acres, the overwhelming majority of this unit is open to hunters without needing to negotiate private land access, lease hunting rights, or work around locked gates. That's a rarity in parts of Wyoming where checkerboard land patterns can make DIY hunting a logistical headache.

The elevation range — 5,854 to 10,002 feet — means hunters will find a mix of lower sagebrush/foothill country and higher timbered or alpine terrain within the same unit boundary. This gives hunters flexibility to hunt lower elevations early in the season before elk push higher, or to work high basins and timber pockets depending on weather and where elk are holding. With 0% wilderness designation, there are no nonresident guide requirements tied to wilderness access here, and mechanized access options (where legal) remain on the table in a way they wouldn't in a wilderness-heavy unit.

Hunters should still expect the terrain to demand real physical effort given the upper elevation ceiling near 10,000 feet, but the lack of wilderness restriction and the high public land percentage make this a genuinely DIY-friendly unit for hunters willing to put in scouting time. HuntPilot's map tools, including public land overlays and terrain layers, are a useful way to identify specific drainages, elevation bands, and access points worth glassing before the season.

HuntPilot Analysis

So is Unit 22 worth applying for? Based on the data, this unit earns a qualified yes for hunters prioritizing access and consistent opportunity over trophy potential.

The case in favor: 92% public land on a quarter-million-acre unit is a significant asset. Three of the last four seasons posted success rates between 59% and 63%, which is strong performance for any elk hunt. The bull:cow ratio of 56:100 indicates a herd with reasonable bull representation, not a herd stripped of mature animals. And with zero wilderness acreage, nonresidents can hunt this unit DIY without the added cost and logistics of a mandatory guide.

The case for caution: the 2025 season's jump to 312 hunters and a corresponding drop to 39% success is a real data point that shouldn't be ignored. It suggests this unit may be seeing increased pressure, whether from tag quota changes, point creep, or broader trends in nonresident demand. Trophy history is moderate, not exceptional — hunters chasing a genuine record-class bull have better-documented options elsewhere in the state. And the survey sample behind the bull:cow ratio is limited to three of four years, so hunters should treat that figure as a useful but not definitive indicator of long-term herd trends.

Overall, Unit 22 looks like a solid opportunity unit — a place where hunters with reasonable expectations can find good public access and a real chance at filling a tag, particularly if recent pressure trends ease. Hunters should check HuntPilot's unit page for current draw odds before applying, since draw difficulty shifts from year to year and isn't something this article can responsibly predict.

How to Apply

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

For the 2026 season, Wyoming's fee structure breaks down by residency and tag type:

Note that Wyoming resident elk applicants do not accumulate preference points — resident elk draws are conducted without a points system, so residents should focus on picking the best unit for their goals rather than any points strategy.

Hunters can find current application details and deadlines through HuntPilot's Wyoming state page at /states/wy.

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 22? Unit 22 spans elevations from 5,854 feet up to 10,002 feet, giving hunters a mix of lower sagebrush and foothill terrain along with higher timbered and alpine country. With 92% public land across 208,507 acres and no wilderness designation, hunters have wide-open access to explore different elevation bands depending on season timing and weather conditions.

What is harvest success like in Unit 22? Recent harvest data shows meaningful variation. Success rates ran 59%, 63%, and 61% in 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively, all strong numbers for elk hunting. However, 2025 saw hunter numbers nearly double to 312 while success dropped to 39%, suggesting increased pressure. Hunters should factor in this recent shift rather than assuming the higher success rates of prior years will automatically repeat.

How big are the elk in Unit 22? Trophy records tied to the counties overlapping Unit 22 show a moderate trophy history — enough to indicate mature bulls have come from the broader area, but not a standout trophy pedigree compared to some other Wyoming units. The unit's bull:cow ratio of 56:100 supports a healthy herd structure with reasonable bull representation, though hunters seeking an elite record-class bull may find better-documented trophy units elsewhere in the state.

Is Unit 22 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing public land access and solid historical success rates, yes — 92% public land and three consecutive seasons above 59% success make a strong case. Hunters should weigh the more competitive 2025 season data and moderate trophy history against their personal goals, and check HuntPilot's unit page for current draw odds before applying.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt elk in Unit 22? No. Unit 22 has 0% wilderness acreage, so Wyoming's nonresident wilderness guide requirement does not apply here. Nonresidents can hunt this unit DIY, provided they navigate Wyoming's standard nonresident application and tag fee process.