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WYElkUnit 25June 2026

Wyoming Unit 25 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 25 elk hunting draws serious attention from hunters across the region for good reason. Spanning nearly 777,000 acres between 5,076 and 8,734 feet in elevation, this is a large, diverse unit with exceptional public land access — 91% of the unit is publicly accessible, making it one of the more DIY-friendly elk draws in Wyoming. With no designated wilderness, hunters don't face the guide requirement that complicates nonresident access in many other Wyoming units, and the road and terrain network remains navigable for hunters willing to put in the legwork on foot.

The unit's harvest data tells a compelling story. Over the past four seasons, Unit 25 has posted consistent success rates ranging from 57% to 64%, numbers that put it well above the statewide average for Wyoming limited-entry elk hunts. That kind of repeatable performance — not a one-year spike — is what separates genuinely productive elk country from units that flash and fade. The herd has been supporting increasing tag numbers, and success rates have held steady even as hunter pressure has grown, which suggests the population can absorb the harvest without degrading.

This guide pulls from HuntPilot's structured data on Unit 25 to give hunters an honest, research-grade breakdown of what to expect — from the application process to trophy potential to herd dynamics.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 25 has one of the more consistent harvest records among Wyoming's limited-entry elk units. Here's the four-year picture:

  • 2022: 325 hunters, 198 harvested — 61% success
  • 2023: 357 hunters, 227 harvested — 64% success
  • 2024: 426 hunters, 245 harvested — 58% success
  • 2025: 441 hunters, 250 harvested — 57% success

Several things stand out in this data. First, the unit absorbed a 36% increase in hunters from 2022 to 2025 — growing from 325 to 441 — while maintaining success rates solidly in the upper 50s and low 60s. That's not a unit getting hammered into mediocrity; it's a unit with enough elk density and huntable terrain to absorb pressure without collapsing success rates.

Second, the 2023 season was a standout year at 64%, suggesting conditions were favorable for hunters that cycle. The slight dip in 2024–2025 coincides with more hunters in the field, which is a natural consequence of tag growth — but 57–58% is still a strong result for any limited-entry Wyoming elk unit.

Hunters researching this unit should feel confident that Unit 25 consistently delivers above-average odds of punching a tag.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wyoming Game and Fish has conducted four wildlife surveys in this unit between 2021 and 2024. Across those surveys, the average bull-to-cow ratio came in at 36:100.

In context, a 36:100 bull-to-cow ratio reflects a moderately hunted herd where mature bulls are present but not dominant in numbers. This is fairly typical for a Wyoming limited-entry unit that offers a meaningful number of tags — it's not a trophy refuge with 50+ bulls per 100 cows, but it's also not a unit so pressured that bulls have become rare. Hunters applying for Unit 25 should calibrate expectations accordingly: bulls are available and the harvest data confirms they're being taken regularly, but this isn't a unit managed primarily for maximum age-class trophy development.

The consistency across four survey years carries more weight than any single data point. A stable ratio over multiple surveys suggests the herd is not in decline and that Game and Fish's management is maintaining a functional, harvestable population. Combined with the harvest data showing sustained success rates, Unit 25's elk herd appears to be in reasonable health.

Trophy Quality

Counties overlapping Wyoming Unit 25 carry a moderate trophy history based on available trophy records. This is not a unit with the deep, sustained trophy production of Wyoming's most celebrated limited-entry elk draws — those tend to be remote, wilderness-heavy units managed for maximum age structure — but the area has produced trophy-class animals and hunters willing to push hard into less-pressured terrain have found bulls worth talking about.

For hunters whose primary objective is a mature, representative bull — not necessarily a once-in-a-lifetime record-book animal — Unit 25's combination of solid success rates and moderate trophy history makes it a realistic target. The unit's 91% public land access means hunters can cover ground and find unpressured pockets without being blocked by private land checkerboards, and that freedom of movement can make a real difference when chasing mature bulls.

Hunters prioritizing top-end trophy potential over all else should weigh this unit's moderate trophy history against Wyoming's higher-tier limited-entry draws. But hunters who want a legitimate shot at a mature bull on public land — with above-average odds of coming home with elk meat in the cooler — will find Unit 25 an honest proposition.

Access & Terrain

The numbers here are straightforward and favorable: 91% public land across 776,984 total acres, with no designated wilderness. That combination is genuinely unusual in Wyoming's limited-entry elk draw landscape.

The elevation range — 5,076 to 8,734 feet — gives hunters a picture of the terrain diversity they'll encounter. Lower elevations in the 5,000–6,500 foot range typically feature rolling sagebrush, mixed shrublands, and transitional foothills where elk feed and move during low-light periods. As elevation climbs toward the 7,000–8,700 foot ceiling, timbered ridges, aspen draws, and higher parks come into play — the kind of terrain where bulls seek cover and hold during pressure.

The absence of designated wilderness is significant for nonresident hunters. In Wyoming's wilderness units, all nonresident hunters are required by state law to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide. Unit 25 has no wilderness, which means nonresidents can hunt this unit DIY without a guide. For hunters who prefer to run their own show — scout, camp, and execute without paying outfitter rates — this is a meaningful advantage that narrows the list of viable Wyoming elk units considerably.

With 91% public land, access is not a limiting factor the way it is in many other Wyoming units. Hunters can move freely across the majority of the unit and find legitimate elk country without needing landowner permission or access arrangements.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Wyoming Unit 25 Worth Applying For?

Yes — and the data is clear about why.

Unit 25 is one of the more reliable performers in Wyoming's elk draw system. A four-year average success rate in the upper 50s and low 60s, sustained even as tag numbers grew, is a strong signal of genuine elk density and good hunter access. The 91% public land figure is exceptional — most Wyoming limited-entry elk units that offer this level of success also have significant private land barriers or wilderness that drives hunters toward outfitters.

Tag quota trends reinforce the optimistic picture. Tags have remained stable or grown across the unit's hunt types. Notably, one hunt type saw a 40% increase — from 25 to 35 tags — from 2025 to 2026, which is a significant expansion. When Game and Fish increases tags, it typically signals either population growth or confidence in the herd's ability to support additional harvest. Combined with the stable success rates through the tag increases already seen in the 2022–2025 data, this is a good sign.

The moderate trophy history means Unit 25 is not Wyoming's answer to a world-class trophy destination, but it's also not a unit where hunters are settling for spikes and raghorns. Mature bulls are available, success rates are high, and the terrain is DIY-accessible for both residents and nonresidents.

Resident hunters should find this unit a reasonable draw target depending on demand in their application pool. The straightforward draw structure makes it worth including in a serious application strategy.

Nonresident hunters will face more competition in the draw — Wyoming nonresidents must draw for all big game tags — but the absence of wilderness removes the outfitter requirement, making Unit 25 one of the few Wyoming units where a nonresident can plan a legitimate self-guided hunt if they draw. The nonresident tag fees (ranging from $288 to $1,950 depending on hunt type) reflect the tiered structure of Wyoming's draw system, so hunters should review current fees carefully when building a trip budget.

How to Apply

2026 Application Details

Wyoming's elk draw operates on a preference point system for nonresidents, meaning points accumulate when applicants don't draw and improve future draw odds. Residents do not use a preference point system for elk — they simply apply and draw based on demand in their pool.

Resident applicants (2026):

  • Application fee: $5
  • Tag fee: $43 or $57 (depending on hunt type)
  • License fee: $0.00 (required to apply — no license fee for this draw)
  • Application opens: January 2, 2026
  • Application deadline: June 1, 2026

Nonresident applicants (2026):

  • Application fee: $15
  • Tag fees: $288, $692, or $1,950 (varies by hunt type — verify which applies to your target hunt)
  • License fee: $0.00 (required to apply)
  • Point fee: $52 (for hunters purchasing a preference point without drawing)
  • Application opens: January 2, 2026
  • Application deadline: February 2, 2026
  • Point-only deadline: November 2, 2026

Note the deadline difference: nonresident applications close February 2, which is nearly four months earlier than the resident deadline of June 1. Nonresident hunters who miss the February deadline lose their opportunity to apply for that draw year. The November point deadline is for hunters who want to purchase a preference point for the year without submitting a full application.

For 2028 planning: Applications open January 5 with a deadline of March 1, 2028.

Apply through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's online licensing system. For current draw odds by hunt type, visit the HuntPilot Unit 25 page at huntpilot.ai/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 25?

Unit 25 covers nearly 777,000 acres ranging from approximately 5,076 to 8,734 feet in elevation. The lower portions feature sagebrush flats, rolling foothills, and transitional country where elk move between feeding and bedding areas. Higher elevations push into timbered ridges, aspen draws, and open parks typical of Wyoming's mid-elevation elk range. Critically, the unit has no designated wilderness and is 91% public land, making it physically accessible for DIY hunters without the logistical complexity of pack-in wilderness hunts.

What is the harvest success rate in Wyoming Unit 25?

Recent harvest data shows strong, consistent performance: 61% success in 2022, 64% in 2023, 58% in 2024, and 57% in 2025. These rates held even as the number of hunters in the unit grew from 325 in 2022 to 441 in 2025, which is a reliable indicator of genuine elk density rather than a statistical anomaly in a single low-pressure year.

How big are the elk in Wyoming Unit 25?

The counties overlapping Unit 25 have a moderate trophy history based on available records. The unit is not one of Wyoming's premier trophy-focused limited-entry draws, but it has produced trophy-class animals and offers legitimate opportunity for hunters targeting mature bulls. The bull-to-cow ratio has averaged 36:100 across four surveys from 2021–2024, suggesting bulls are present and harvestable — not absent, but not dominant in number either.

Is Wyoming Unit 25 worth applying for?

For hunters prioritizing a high probability of harvesting a mature bull on accessible public land, yes — Unit 25 is one of the stronger data-backed options in the Wyoming draw. The four-year average success rate in the upper 50s to low 60s is above average for Wyoming limited-entry elk, the 91% public land access removes most access barriers, and the absence of wilderness means nonresidents can hunt DIY without a required guide. Trophy expectations should be calibrated to "moderate" — this isn't a unit designed for maximum age-class management, but legitimate bulls are taken here every season.

Do nonresidents need to hire a guide to hunt Unit 25?

No. The Wyoming outfitter requirement for nonresidents applies only to hunting in designated wilderness areas. Unit 25 has no designated wilderness, so nonresident hunters who draw a tag can legally hunt the unit without hiring a licensed Wyoming guide or outfitter. This makes it one of the more accessible Wyoming units for nonresident DIY elk hunters.

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