Wyoming Unit 31 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 31 is a 179,514-acre elk unit built entirely around limited-quota draw hunts — there is no general season here for elk. Every hunter who wants to chase elk in this unit, resident or nonresident, has to go through the draw for a specific hunt type before ever setting boot to ground. With 100% public land and a location that regularly comes up in nonresident point-holder discussions, Unit 31 draws attention from hunters willing to burn max points for a shot at a quality bull.

That combination — total public access, no general season, and a reputation among serious point holders — makes Unit 31 a unit worth understanding in detail before hunters commit points or planning to it. The terrain ranges from 6,033 feet up to 9,150 feet in elevation, giving hunters a mix of lower-elevation approach country and higher alpine basins to work depending on when in the fall they draw. This article breaks down what the harvest data, quota trends, and herd survey numbers actually say about Unit 31, and where it fits into a realistic Wyoming elk application strategy.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 31 Worth Applying For?

Based on data tracked by HuntPilot, Unit 31 is a legitimate limited-quota unit that rewards patience and point accumulation, but hunters need to go in with accurate expectations on both quotas and herd composition.

Start with harvest performance. Across the last four seasons of unit-wide data, success rates have been consistently strong: 61% in 2025, 55% in 2024, 65% in 2023, and 72% in 2022. That's a four-year range that never drops below the mid-50s, which is a good sign for a limited-quota unit — it means hunters who draw a tag here are finding and killing elk at a rate well above what most Wyoming general or OTC-style areas produce. However, hunter numbers and harvest totals have both been trending down over that same span — 265 hunters in 2023 dropping to 139 in 2025, with harvest falling from 172 to 85 over the same period. That decline lines up with what's happening on the quota side.

Quota trends are the biggest flag in the data. Type 4 tags were cut from 175 in 2024 to 100 in 2025, and cut again to 50 for 2026 — a 50% reduction in that single most recent step and a two-thirds reduction from the 2024 baseline. Type 1 tags have been more stable, holding at 40 for both 2025 and 2026 after coming down slightly from 50 in 2024. Hunters watching this unit need to recognize that Type 4 opportunity is shrinking fast, which will likely push draw competition higher for the tags that remain and could explain some of the drop in hunter numbers already showing up in the 2025 harvest data.

On the herd side, the four-year average bull:cow ratio sits at 24:100. That's a modest ratio by elk standards and suggests a unit that's managed with more liberal cow harvest or that simply carries a lower bull density relative to its cow population than some neighboring limited-entry units. It's not a ratio that points to an overabundance of mature bulls on the landscape, and hunters should factor that into expectations — this is a unit where success rates are high, but that doesn't necessarily mean bulls are thick on the ground; it may reflect experienced hunters, effective outfitting, and a smaller, more committed pool of tag holders working the unit hard.

Trophy potential is moderate. The counties overlapping Unit 31 carry a moderate history of trophy-class elk in the record books, which — combined with anecdotal accounts from hunters comparing Unit 31 against neighboring units — suggests it's a solid producer of respectable bulls without being a unit defined by consistent giant production. Forum discussion comparing Unit 31 to nearby units for elk quality suggests it holds more elk overall, with hunters noting neighboring units may edge it out on trophy quality for the occasional standout bull. That tracks with the moderate trophy designation: hunters can find good bulls here, but hunters chasing an elite-class animal should treat this as one solid option among several in the region rather than a guaranteed trophy factory.

Bottom line: Unit 31 is worth applying for if hunters value strong recent success rates and total public land access, and are prepared for shrinking Type 4 tag numbers going into 2026. It's not the unit to target if the sole goal is maximizing chances at an elite bull — treat it as a good, well-rounded limited-quota option rather than a trophy-only destination.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 31's harvest numbers are the strongest data point in its favor. Over the last four recorded seasons:

• 2025: 139 hunters, 85 harvested, 61% success
• 2024: 229 hunters, 125 harvested, 55% success
• 2023: 265 hunters, 172 harvested, 65% success
• 2022: 255 hunters, 183 harvested, 72% success

Every one of those years clears 50% unit-wide success, with 2022 topping out at 72%. That's a meaningful data point for hunters weighing point investment — a drawn tag in Unit 31 has historically converted to a harvested elk more often than not. That said, the trend line on hunter numbers is worth watching closely: participation has fallen every year from 2022 through 2025, nearly halving over that window. Given the parallel cuts to Type 4 quotas, hunters should expect fewer tags issued going forward, which may further concentrate pressure and effort among a smaller pool of tag holders — a dynamic that could sustain these high success rates, or could shift them if remaining tag holders face tougher hunting conditions with less overall coverage of the unit.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit 31 points to moderate trophy potential. This is not a unit sitting at the bottom of Wyoming's trophy pedigree, nor is it one of the state's marquee record-book producers. Forum chatter from point holders comparing Unit 31 against neighboring units for elk consistently frames it as a unit with strong elk numbers and volume, while neighboring units get the nod for a better chance at an exceptional, standout bull. That distinction matters for hunters setting expectations: Unit 31 can produce a genuinely good bull, and hunters willing to put in scouting time and pass on smaller animals early in their hunt stand a reasonable chance at a rewarding trophy. But hunters whose singular goal is chasing an elite, once-in-a-lifetime score should weigh Unit 31 against other limited-quota options in the region with a deeper trophy pedigree before committing points here.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The available survey data covers four years (2021–2024) and shows an average bull:cow ratio of 24:100. That's on the lower end for a limited-quota Wyoming elk unit, and it's a number hunters should take seriously when setting expectations for bull density on the landscape. A lower bull:cow ratio typically reflects either a management strategy geared toward cow harvest to control herd numbers, or simply a unit where bull survival to maturity is lower than in units with more conservative quotas.

This ratio helps explain — at least in part — why Unit 31 posts strong success rates without necessarily being described as a trophy powerhouse: there may be plenty of elk overall, but the bull component of the herd is thinner relative to the cow population than in units management for higher bull ratios. Hunters should not read the harvest success percentages as evidence of abundant mature bulls; rather, the numbers together paint a picture of a unit with good overall elk density and hunter effectiveness, but a bull segment that requires more selective effort to find a quality animal.

Access & Terrain

Unit 31 sits entirely on public land — 100% public access, with 0% of the unit falling under wilderness designation. That's about as favorable an access profile as a hunter can find in Wyoming: there's no need to negotiate private landowner access or worry about wilderness-area guide requirements, since none of the unit is designated wilderness. Nonresident hunters planning a DIY hunt here won't run into Wyoming's wilderness guide-mandate law, because that law only applies within designated wilderness boundaries, and this unit has none.

Elevation in the unit runs from 6,033 feet up to 9,150 feet, giving hunters a genuine range of terrain to work depending on time of year and hunt type drawn. Lower elevations offer more open, foothill-type country typical of Wyoming's transitional zones, while the upper end of that range moves into higher, more rugged alpine terrain where elk retreat as temperatures rise or hunting pressure builds. With full public access across nearly 180,000 acres, hunters have room to spread out, scout multiple drainages, and adjust strategy across elevation bands without needing to secure private permission. Hunters planning a scouting trip should use HuntPilot's public land and terrain overlay tools to identify specific drainages, elevation bands, and access points worth walking before their hunt.

How to Apply

Every elk hunt in Unit 31 is limited-quota — there is no general season option here, so both residents and nonresidents must apply through Wyoming's draw system to hunt elk in this unit. Wyoming's draw structure separates residents and nonresidents into different application pools, and nonresidents face a portion of tags allocated through a preference-pool structure where the highest point holders draw first, alongside a separate random pool where points do not influence odds. Residents applying for Wyoming elk do not accumulate preference points — resident elk draws are handled differently, so residents should focus on picking the best unit for their goals rather than any points strategy.

Given the recent cuts to Type 4 tags — down to 50 for 2026 from 175 just two years prior — hunters should expect increased competition for the tags that remain in this unit, particularly for nonresidents relying on the point-based preference pool. Type 1 tags have held steadier, at 40 for both 2025 and 2026, offering a slightly more predictable target for planning purposes.

Application dates and fees change every cycle, so hunters should not rely on any specific number carried over from a prior year. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds for Unit 31, see HuntPilot's Wyoming page at /states/wy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 31? Unit 31 spans an elevation range from 6,033 to 9,150 feet across 179,514 acres, all of it public land with no wilderness designation. That gives hunters a mix of lower foothill country and higher alpine terrain to work, with the entire unit open to public access and no private land negotiations required.

What is harvest success like in Unit 31? Recent unit-wide success rates have run strong: 61% in 2025, 55% in 2024, 65% in 2023, and 72% in 2022. Hunter numbers have declined over that period alongside quota cuts, but the success rate for those who do draw and hunt has remained solidly above 50% in every recorded year.

How big are the elk in Unit 31? Trophy records from the counties overlapping Unit 31 point to moderate trophy potential — the unit has produced quality bulls but isn't regarded as an elite trophy producer compared to some neighboring limited-quota units. Hunters focused purely on maximizing odds at an exceptional bull may want to compare Unit 31 against other regional options before committing points, while hunters looking for a solid, well-rounded elk hunting experience will find it a reasonable choice.

Is Unit 31 worth applying for? Yes, with realistic expectations. The unit offers 100% public land access, strong recent success rates, and no general-season crowding since all hunts are limited-quota. The tradeoff is a declining Type 4 quota — cut in half heading into 2026 — and a bull:cow ratio (24:100 average) that suggests bulls require more selective effort to locate than the strong harvest numbers alone might imply.

Does Unit 31 require a guide for nonresident hunters? No. Since the unit carries 0% wilderness designation, Wyoming's nonresident wilderness guide requirement does not apply here. Nonresident hunters can pursue a DIY hunt across the unit's fully public 179,514 acres without needing to hire a licensed outfitter, though many hunters unfamiliar with the terrain still choose to use local knowledge given the unit's size and elevation range.