Wyoming Unit 38 Moose Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 38 is one of the state's premier moose hunting destinations, drawing serious interest from residents and nonresidents alike for its consistently high harvest success and reputation for producing trophy-class bulls. Spanning 2,071,222 acres with elevations ranging from 6,545 to 11,924 feet, this unit offers a broad mix of terrain that supports a moose population capable of sustaining some of the more reliable success rates found anywhere in the state's moose hunting program.

Every moose hunt in Unit 38 is limited-quota — there is no general season here. Hunters pursuing moose in this unit, whether they're after a bull or drew an antlerless tag, must go through Wyoming's draw system to get in the field. That structure, combined with strong recent harvest numbers and a trophy history tied to the surrounding counties, makes Unit 38 a unit worth serious consideration for any hunter building a long-term moose hunting strategy.

This article breaks down what the data actually shows for Unit 38 — harvest trends, herd composition, terrain and access, and how the draw process works — so hunters can decide whether this is the unit to spend years of points on.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 38 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data compiled by HuntPilot, Unit 38 stands out as a strong option within Wyoming's moose program, primarily because of its harvest consistency. Over the four most recent years on record, hunter success in this unit has ranged from 85% to 96% — numbers that are exceptional for moose hunting anywhere in the West. That kind of consistency tells hunters two things: moose density here is sufficient to support reliable encounters, and hunters who draw a tag are converting those opportunities into harvested animals at a high rate.

The counties overlapping Unit 38 carry a strong history of producing trophy-class moose, which adds meaningful upside for hunters chasing a genuine record-caliber bull rather than just a tag to fill. It's worth noting that trophy records are logged at the county level and are shared with neighboring units, so this trophy pedigree reflects the broader region rather than being unit-exclusive — but it still signals that the habitat and genetics in this part of Wyoming are capable of producing exceptional animals.

The one data point that deserves a skeptical read is the bull:cow ratio. Across four survey years (2021-2024), the average came in at 87:100, which is far outside what's biologically typical for a wild moose herd. Ratios this high almost always point to a small survey sample rather than an unusually bull-heavy herd, and hunters should not treat this figure as evidence of an exceptional bull population. The more reliable signal remains the multi-year harvest trend, which has been strong and stable, rather than any single inflated ratio from limited survey data.

Tag quotas have also moved in a positive direction recently. Type 1 tags increased from 25 to 30 (a 20% increase) heading into 2026, and Type 4 tags rose from 33 to 35 (a 6% increase). Modest quota increases like these, paired with strong harvest success, suggest wildlife managers see a herd that can support slightly more hunting pressure without compromising quality — a good sign for the unit's long-term health.

Given all of this — high success rates, trophy potential grounded in real regional history, and quotas trending upward rather than being cut — Unit 38 earns a strong recommendation for hunters who can commit to the point-building process required to draw here.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 38's harvest numbers are the strongest argument for applying. Here's the recent breakdown:

• 2025: 62 hunters, 53 harvested — 85% success
• 2024: 59 hunters, 52 harvested — 88% success
• 2023: 50 hunters, 45 harvested — 90% success
• 2022: 53 hunters, 51 harvested — 96% success

Four consecutive years above 85% success is a remarkable track record. For context, moose hunts across the West often see success rates fluctuate more dramatically year to year based on weather, hunter effort, and herd conditions. The stability shown here — never dipping below 85% over a four-year stretch — suggests that hunters who draw a Unit 38 tag and put in reasonable effort have a very good chance of connecting. This isn't a unit where hunters spend an entire season searching and coming up empty; it's one where the animals are present in numbers sufficient to support consistent success, provided hunters scout effectively and hunt hard during their season.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 38 carry a strong history of trophy-class moose entries. This regional trophy pedigree is shared with neighboring units — since records are attributed at the county level rather than unit-by-unit — but it nonetheless reflects favorably on the habitat and genetic potential in this part of Wyoming.

Hunters targeting a bull with genuine record-book potential should treat Unit 38 as a legitimate option. That said, trophy quality in moose hunting is highly individual-dependent; not every bull taken here will be an exceptional specimen, and the high success rates mean many tags are filled on solid, representative bulls rather than exclusively on trophy-class animals. Hunters who are selective and willing to pass on younger bulls early in their season, combined with the regional trophy history, have a realistic shot at a bull that could rank among the better animals taken in the area in a given year.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The available survey data for Unit 38 spans four years (2021-2024) and shows an average bull:cow ratio of 87:100. This number should be treated with real caution — a ratio this high is unusual for any wild moose population and almost certainly reflects a small sample size in at least one of the survey years rather than a true reflection of herd composition. Hunters should not read this figure as confirmation of a bull-heavy or exceptionally healthy herd structure.

What matters more is the multi-year harvest trend, which paints a clearer and more trustworthy picture: consistent hunter numbers in the 50-62 range annually, and success rates that haven't dropped below 85% in four years. That combination — stable hunter pressure and consistently high success — is a more reliable indicator of a healthy, huntable moose population than a single inflated survey ratio. Combined with the modest tag quota increases for 2026, the overall picture is one of a herd that wildlife managers consider stable enough to support slightly increased hunting pressure.

Access & Terrain

Unit 38 covers 2,071,222 acres with elevation ranging from 6,545 feet up to 11,924 feet, giving hunters a wide vertical range to work with depending on where moose are concentrated during the season. This kind of elevation spread typically means hunters will encounter everything from lower-elevation riparian and willow-bottom habitat — classic moose feeding and bedding cover — up into higher alpine basins as the season progresses.

Public land makes up 45% of the unit. That's a meaningful share, but it also means the majority of the unit's acreage sits in private ownership. DIY hunters need to plan carefully around this reality — scouting public parcels ahead of time and understanding boundary lines will be critical, and hunters should not assume open access across the unit simply because it's a large piece of country. Some hunters have historically found success working with local landowners for permission on private ground, but that's not guaranteed and shouldn't be counted on as a fallback plan.

Wilderness designation in Unit 38 is minimal at just 2% of the unit's total acreage. That's well below the threshold where Wyoming's outfitter-guide requirement for nonresidents becomes a practical concern — nonresidents are only required to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter when hunting in designated wilderness areas, and with wilderness making up such a small fraction of this unit, the vast majority of huntable ground here is accessible to nonresident hunters without a required guide. That makes Unit 38 a realistic option for a self-guided nonresident hunt, provided hunters do their homework on public versus private boundaries beforehand.

How to Apply

Every moose hunt in Unit 38 runs through Wyoming's limited-quota draw system — there is no general season option here for any hunter. That means both residents and nonresidents must apply and be selected before they can hunt moose in this unit, regardless of residency.

For Wyoming residents, moose is one of the species where preference points accumulate over time, and building points is a legitimate long-term strategy for improving position in future draws. Nonresidents also accumulate points for moose, but should understand that a successful draw consumes those accumulated points — hunters who draw a Unit 38 tag will restart their point total afterward, not retain their point level for the next application cycle.

Nonresidents should also factor in Wyoming's separate application pools for residents and nonresidents, which affect how tags are allocated between the two groups. Tag quotas for Unit 38 have been modestly increasing — Type 1 tags rose from 25 to 30 and Type 4 tags rose from 33 to 35 heading into 2026 — which is a positive sign for long-term applicants, though it doesn't change the fundamentally competitive nature of moose draws in Wyoming.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle, so this article won't cite specific numbers that will go stale. For current deadlines, fees, and draw odds specific to Unit 38, hunters should check HuntPilot's Wyoming state page at /states/wy, which tracks the live application calendar and draw statistics as they're published each year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 38? Unit 38 spans a substantial elevation range from 6,545 to 11,924 feet across more than two million acres, meaning hunters will find everything from lower-elevation drainages and willow habitat favored by moose up through high alpine terrain. Public land accounts for 45% of the unit, with the majority in private ownership, so access planning around public/private boundaries is essential. Wilderness designation is minimal at just 2%, keeping most of the unit outside of Wyoming's outfitter-guide requirement zone for nonresidents.

What is harvest success like in Unit 38? Harvest success has been exceptionally strong and consistent in recent years, ranging from 85% to 96% across 2022-2025. This is well above what's typical for moose hunting broadly, indicating that hunters who draw a tag here have a high likelihood of filling it.

How big are the moose in Unit 38? The counties overlapping Unit 38 have a strong history of producing trophy-class moose, based on regional record-book data. Since these records are attributed at the county level and shared with neighboring units, they reflect the broader area's genetic and habitat potential rather than being exclusive to Unit 38's boundaries — but the regional trophy pedigree here is a genuine positive for hunters targeting a quality bull.

Is Unit 38 worth applying for? Based on the data, yes. The combination of consistently high harvest success (85%+ for four straight years), a strong regional trophy history, and modestly increasing tag quotas for 2026 makes this one of the more attractive moose units in Wyoming's draw system. The main tradeoff is that it's a limited-quota unit requiring a long-term points strategy, and just under half the unit is public land, so access planning matters.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt moose in Unit 38? Wyoming law requires nonresidents to hire a licensed outfitter only when hunting in designated wilderness areas. Since Unit 38 is only 2% wilderness, the overwhelming majority of the unit falls outside that requirement, making a self-guided nonresident hunt a realistic option here.