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WYElkUnit 22June 2026

Wyoming Unit 22 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 22 elk hunting draws serious attention from both resident and nonresident hunters for good reason. Stretching across 208,507 acres with 92% public land and an elevation range of 5,854 to 10,002 feet, this unit offers genuine opportunity without the access headaches that plague so many western hunting units. The public land footprint here is exceptional — hunters can cover ground freely without constantly running into locked gates or private boundaries.

The unit's elevation profile tells its own story. From sagebrush foothills pushing toward 6,000 feet to high country approaching 10,000 feet, elk have room to move through distinct habitat zones as seasons progress. That vertical range creates the kind of thermal and vegetation diversity that supports solid elk populations year-round. With zero wilderness designation in the unit, there are no guide requirements for nonresident hunters — a meaningful advantage for DIY hunters who want to run their own show without hiring an outfitter.

This guide pulls together the most current harvest data, herd health surveys, application details, and trophy context available through HuntPilot to help hunters make an informed decision about where to invest their points and time.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 22's recent harvest history is one of the strongest arguments for this draw. The numbers speak clearly:

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

The 2022–2024 stretch shows exceptional consistency, with success rates holding between 59% and 63%. That is notably strong performance for a Wyoming limited-entry elk unit. For context, statewide Wyoming elk success rates often run 25–40%, which makes three consecutive years in the high-50s to low-60s a standout data set.

The 2025 dip to 39% deserves attention. Hunter numbers nearly doubled from 184 in 2024 to 312 in 2025, and that surge in pressure is the most likely explanation for the lower success rate. Success rate and hunter count moved in opposite directions almost exactly as expected — more hunters competing for the same resource. Hunters evaluating this unit should watch whether the 2025 tag structure was a one-time expansion or signals a new normal. If tag numbers contract in future years, expect success rates to recover toward the historical average.

Even at 39%, this unit outperforms the Wyoming statewide average. The three-year core average through 2024 sits at roughly 61% — a figure that would be the envy of most hunters looking at elk draws across the West.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data from 2021–2024 across three survey years shows an average bull-to-cow ratio of 56:100. This is a meaningful benchmark. Most western elk management objectives target a ratio somewhere in the range of 20–30 bulls per 100 cows for heavily hunted units, with premium units pushing toward 30–40. A 56:100 average is a strong ratio that reflects a relatively light harvest pressure on bulls relative to the cow population, which translates into genuine breeding-age bull structure in the herd.

A ratio at this level also correlates with competitive rutting behavior — hunters who time their hunts around the peak elk rut, which runs approximately September 10–25, can expect to encounter bulls that are actively bugling and responsive to calls. Strong bull-to-cow ratios support this kind of rut intensity in ways that low-ratio herds simply cannot.

The data is drawn from three surveys across a four-year window (2021–2024), which provides a reasonable sample to establish a baseline. No single survey dominates the average, suggesting some stability in the ratio over time rather than wild swings driven by a single data point.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Wyoming Unit 22 carry a moderate history of trophy-class elk production. This is an honest assessment: the area has produced trophy-caliber bulls, but hunters should calibrate expectations accordingly. Unit 22 is not the kind of historically famous trophy factory that generates consistent record-book elk year after year, but it is not a blank slate either. Trophy-class animals have been taken from this country.

The unit's elevation ceiling approaching 10,000 feet and its substantial public land base create the habitat conditions — summer range, security cover, mineral sources — that allow bulls to develop through multiple years. A mature bull that survives multiple seasons in this terrain can grow into genuine trophy territory. The key question for trophy-focused hunters is whether the current draw structure gives enough bulls the opportunity to reach full maturity.

Given the strong bull-to-cow ratio documented in survey data and the harvest success figures, hunters with realistic trophy ambitions — targeting mature, heavily antlered bulls rather than chasing record-book scores — will find this unit worth serious consideration. Hunters with strictly record-book-or-nothing standards may want to compare against Wyoming's most historically elite elk units before committing points here.

Access & Terrain

With 92% public land and no wilderness designation, Unit 22 is about as DIY-friendly as Wyoming elk country gets. The lack of wilderness means nonresident hunters are under no legal obligation to hire a licensed Wyoming guide — a significant cost reduction for hunters running their own operation.

The elevation range from roughly 5,854 to 10,002 feet captures multiple distinct habitat layers. Lower elevations are likely to feature sagebrush and mixed-grass terrain where elk utilize during shoulder seasons and early mornings. As elevation climbs, hunters will encounter more timbered country, north-facing slopes, and the higher parks and basins where bulls tend to spend summer and early fall before hunting pressure pushes them toward lower cover.

The 208,507-acre footprint is manageable for a serious hunter willing to put in scouting time. Units of this size reward hunters who cover ground during the off-season or in the days before the hunt opens. Glassing from vantage points and learning the drainage systems and bench terrain will pay dividends when the hunt begins.

Physical fitness is non-negotiable in any unit with nearly two miles of vertical relief. Hunters should be prepared for sustained elevation gain, variable weather across such a range, and the logistical challenges of packing out elk in steep or remote terrain — even without formal wilderness designation, high country is physically demanding.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Wyoming Unit 22 Worth Applying For?

Short answer: Yes — with a clear-eyed look at the 2025 data shift.

The core data package here is compelling. Three consecutive years of 59–63% harvest success through 2024, a 56:100 bull-to-cow ratio that reflects genuine bull age structure, 92% public land, no wilderness guide requirement, and a unit large enough to absorb hunting pressure — these are real advantages that stack up favorably against most Wyoming elk opportunities.

The 2025 expansion to 312 hunters and a resulting 39% success rate is the one caution flag. Hunters need to monitor whether that tag level was anomalous or represents a structural change. If tags return to the 100–185 range that characterized 2022–2024, this unit's historical success rates suggest it will bounce back. If the state maintains or grows the 2025 tag level, expect the unit to function more like an average limited-entry unit rather than the exceptional performer it has been.

For resident hunters, the tag fees ($43 or $57 depending on the hunt) represent strong value for the quality of opportunity the historical data reflects. Application fees are just $5 for residents.

For nonresident hunters, the math is more involved. Tag fees range from $288 to $1,950 depending on the specific hunt, with a $15 application fee and a $52 point fee on top. The zero wilderness percentage means DIY is fully legal, which keeps trip costs manageable relative to guided Wyoming hunts. Given no guide requirement and strong public access, the higher-tier tag fees can still represent competitive value compared to other western states where similar access requires an outfitter.

This unit fits hunters who want a genuine probability of success — not a lottery ticket. The harvest data from 2022–2024 reflects a unit that performs. Monitor the 2026 tag allocations and draw reports carefully before making multi-year point commitments based on this analysis.

How to Apply

2026 Application Details

Resident applicants should note the following for 2026:

  • Application opens: January 2, 2026
  • Application deadline: June 1, 2026
  • Application fee: $5
  • Tag fee: $43 or $57 (varies by hunt)
  • License fee: $0.00 (required to apply — no base license required)

Nonresident applicants face an earlier deadline:

  • Application opens: January 2, 2026
  • Application deadline: February 2, 2026
  • Point fee: $52 (for those wishing to accumulate preference points without applying for a tag)
  • Point deadline: November 2 (for point-only purchases)
  • Application fee: $15
  • Tag fee: $288, $692, or $1,950 (varies by hunt)
  • License fee: $0.00 (required to apply)

Nonresidents should note the substantially earlier February 2 deadline versus the resident June 1 deadline. Missing the February 2 window means waiting until the following year — there is no grace period in Wyoming's draw system.

Wyoming uses a preference point system for elk. Points accumulate when applicants apply and do not draw. Hunters with more preference points are drawn first in Wyoming's system, making points genuinely predictive of draw success in ways that contrast with some other western states' weighted-random systems. Nonresidents building toward this unit should track how many points the typical successful applicant has carried in recent draw reports.

2028 Application Dates

For hunters planning further ahead:

  • Application opens: January 5, 2028
  • Application deadline: March 1, 2028

Note the earlier March 1 deadline for 2028 versus the June 1 resident deadline in 2026 — Wyoming occasionally adjusts application windows, and hunters should verify current dates before each application cycle.

For current draw odds by point level, visit HuntPilot's Wyoming elk page at /states/wy.

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 22?

Unit 22 runs from approximately 5,854 feet at its lower elevations to just over 10,000 feet at the high end — a nearly 4,200-foot vertical range that captures everything from sagebrush and open foothills country to timbered upper slopes and high-elevation parks and basins. The unit covers 208,507 acres with 92% public land and no wilderness designation, making it highly accessible for self-guided hunters. Expect variable terrain depending on elevation, with lower country being more open and upper drainages offering the timber and security cover where mature bulls tend to hold.

What is the harvest success rate in Wyoming Unit 22 elk?

Recent harvest data shows strong performance through most of the tracked period. Success rates ran 59% in 2022, 63% in 2023, and 61% in 2024 — three consecutive years of elite performance relative to the Wyoming statewide average. In 2025, success dropped to 39% as hunter numbers nearly tripled to 312. The 2022–2024 average of approximately 61% remains the most informative multi-year baseline, but hunters should watch whether the 2025 tag expansion proves temporary or persistent.

How big are the elk in Wyoming Unit 22?

The counties overlapping Unit 22 carry a moderate history of trophy elk production. Trophy-class bulls have been taken from this country, but hunters should not approach this unit expecting elite trophy concentrations on par with Wyoming's most historically prestigious elk draws. The documented 56:100 bull-to-cow ratio from 2021–2024 surveys indicates a herd with meaningful bull age structure, which is a positive indicator for mature antler development. Hunters targeting mature, heavily antlered bulls — rather than strictly record-book minimums — will find this unit a realistic option.

Is Wyoming Unit 22 worth applying for?

Yes, for most elk hunters the data package makes this unit worth serious consideration. The 2022–2024 harvest success of 59–63% is exceptional, the 92% public land with no wilderness requirement keeps costs and logistics manageable, and the bull-to-cow ratio reflects a healthy herd structure. The main watch item is the 2025 jump in hunter numbers and resulting success rate decline. Hunters should review updated draw reports and tag allocations before committing preference points. For current draw odds by point level, visit the HuntPilot Wyoming page at /states/wy.

Do nonresident hunters need a guide to hunt Wyoming Unit 22?

No. Wyoming Unit 22 has zero wilderness designation, which means nonresident hunters are not legally required to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide. The mandatory guide requirement in Wyoming applies specifically to hunting within designated wilderness areas. With 92% of this unit in public ownership and no wilderness, nonresidents can plan and execute a fully self-guided DIY elk hunt here without any outfitter obligation.

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