Wyoming Unit 39 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 39 elk hunting draws attention from both resident and nonresident hunters looking for public-land opportunity with strong access and consistent harvest numbers. Spanning 147,285 acres with elevations ranging from 3,626 to 9,954 feet, this unit offers a broad cross-section of terrain, from lower-elevation sagebrush country to high-elevation timber and alpine basins near the top of its range.

What sets Unit 39 apart for hunters doing their homework before applying is the public land situation: 99% of the unit sits on public ground, with 0% designated wilderness. That combination is significant — hunters get nearly unrestricted access to explore the unit without the added complexity or acreage restrictions that wilderness designations bring, and there's no Wyoming outfitter requirement tied to wilderness access here since none of the unit falls under that designation. For DIY hunters mapping out a season, that's about as favorable an access profile as it gets in Wyoming elk country.

HuntPilot Analysis

Is Unit 39 worth applying for? Based on the harvest data available, this is a unit that consistently delivers opportunity. Over the last four seasons of recorded harvest data, success rates have ranged from 44% to 54%, which is a strong and stable band for elk hunting anywhere in the West. In 2024, 440 hunters harvested 237 elk for a 54% success rate — the high point in the four-year window. The following year, 2025, saw more hunters afield (528) with a slightly lower 44% success rate, which is a normal fluctuation given the larger number of tags in the field that year. 2023 and 2022 both landed in the high-40s to low-50s range (47% and 53% respectively), reinforcing that this unit produces dependable results year over year rather than one lucky season propping up the average.

The near-total public land access (99%) combined with sub-50% wilderness designation (0%) makes this one of the more logistically approachable elk units in Wyoming for hunters who want to scout, camp, and hunt without navigating complicated land ownership patterns or outfitter mandates. That's a meaningful factor for nonresident hunters weighing where to spend point-fee dollars and vacation time.

Where hunters should temper expectations is on trophy quality. The counties overlapping Unit 39 show a moderate history of trophy-class elk in the record books. That doesn't mean big bulls aren't present, but it does mean hunters should view this unit as a strong opportunity and success-rate play rather than a unit built around chasing an elite, record-caliber bull. Given that record-book entries are logged by county and shared across all units within those county lines — including neighbors to Unit 39 — the moderate trophy signal should be read as a regional characteristic rather than a guarantee or a knock against any single drainage within the unit.

On the herd health side, the picture is more nuanced. The average bull-to-cow ratio across four survey years (2021-2024) sits at 26:100. That's a modest ratio by elk management standards and suggests a herd with more limited bull carryover relative to cows — worth factoring into expectations, particularly for hunters hoping to encounter a high volume of mature bulls during the hunt. Combined with the moderate trophy history, Unit 39 reads as a unit where consistent success on a representative bull is the realistic goal, not a unit where mature bull density is exceptional.

Taken together: Unit 39 is worth applying for if the priority is a good chance of harvesting an elk on almost entirely public land with straightforward access. It is less compelling for hunters whose sole objective is a record-book bull, given the moderate trophy signal and modest bull:cow ratio.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 39's harvest data over the past four years shows a unit that reliably produces:

• 2025: 528 hunters, 231 harvested, 44% success
• 2024: 440 hunters, 237 harvested, 54% success
• 2023: 495 hunters, 234 harvested, 47% success
• 2022: 470 hunters, 250 harvested, 53% success

Averaging these four seasons puts overall success in the high-40% to just-over-50% range, with harvest totals staying remarkably consistent — between 231 and 250 elk taken each year despite hunter numbers fluctuating from 440 to 528. That stability is a good sign for hunters concerned about a unit's harvest numbers being propped up by a single outlier season. Whether hunters draw an antlerless tag or a regular tag, the data suggests Unit 39 is a unit where putting in the effort translates to a real chance of tagging out, a favorable trait for hunters weighing whether to spend hard-earned points or apply as a lower-point nonresident.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit 39 indicates a moderate history of record-book elk production. This isn't a unit defined by an exceptional trophy pedigree, but moderate history means trophy-class bulls have come from this general area over time. Hunters should keep in mind that record-book entries are attributed at the county level, meaning any recorded trophy bulls credited to this area could have been taken anywhere within the overlapping counties — including neighboring units, not necessarily inside Unit 39's exact boundaries.

For hunters whose primary goal is a genuine shot at a record-caliber bull, Unit 39 should be viewed as a long shot rather than a target destination. For hunters focused on a solid, representative bull and a good overall hunting experience with high success odds, the unit's moderate trophy signal paired with strong harvest rates is a reasonable trade-off.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four years (2021-2024) shows an average bull-to-cow ratio of 26:100 for Unit 39. This is on the lower end for elk herds generally, and it suggests the herd carries a comparatively smaller proportion of bulls relative to cows year-round. This ratio, combined with the moderate trophy history noted above, paints a consistent picture: Unit 39 is a herd that supports solid harvest opportunity but doesn't carry an unusually high density of mature bulls compared to some other Wyoming elk units.

Hunters should treat the 26:100 average as the most reliable indicator of this herd's bull demographics, since it reflects a multi-year trend rather than a single-season snapshot. There's no unusually high single-year spike in this dataset that would suggest a survey sample-size anomaly — the ratio appears to be a stable, if modest, characteristic of the herd.

Access & Terrain

Unit 39 offers hunters an exceptional access situation: 99% public land across 147,285 acres, with no wilderness acreage in the mix. Elevations span a wide range, from 3,626 feet at the lowest points to 9,954 feet at the highest, meaning hunters can expect everything from lower-elevation sagebrush and foothill terrain to higher timbered country and alpine basins depending on where in the unit they choose to focus.

Because none of the unit is designated wilderness, there's no Wyoming state-mandated outfitter requirement here — nonresident hunters are free to hunt DIY without the legal obligation to hire a guide that applies in Wyoming's wilderness areas. That, paired with the near-total public land access, makes Unit 39 one of the more approachable Wyoming elk units logistically speaking for hunters willing to do their own scouting and legwork.

Given the elevation range, hunters should be prepared for varied terrain and weather conditions depending on the time of season and elevation band they're hunting. Lower-elevation areas will offer easier access and gentler terrain, while the upper end of the elevation range will demand more physical preparation and could hold elk later depending on weather patterns pushing animals to lower ground. Hunters planning their approach should use mapping tools — including HuntPilot's public land overlays — to identify specific access points, drainages, and elevation bands worth scouting before the season.

How to Apply

For 2026, Wyoming's elk application structure includes several tag types with distinct fees and deadlines that hunters need to track carefully. Alternatively, check HuntPilot's Wyoming state page for the latest application calendar updates.

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 39? Unit 39 spans elevations from 3,626 to 9,954 feet across 147,285 acres, offering a mix of lower-elevation terrain and higher alpine country. With 99% public land and 0% wilderness, hunters have wide-open access to explore and scout across nearly the entire unit without wilderness-related restrictions.

What is harvest success like in Unit 39? Harvest success has ranged from 44% to 54% over the last four recorded seasons (2022-2025), with harvest totals staying consistent between 231 and 250 elk annually. This makes Unit 39 one of the more dependable Wyoming elk units in terms of hunter success rate.

How big are the elk in Unit 39? Trophy records from the counties overlapping Unit 39 show a moderate history of record-book elk. Bulls of that caliber are possible but not common, and the herd's average bull:cow ratio of 26:100 across recent survey years suggests a modest proportion of bulls relative to cows. Hunters should set expectations around a solid, representative bull rather than targeting an elite trophy specifically in this unit.

Is Unit 39 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing high success odds on nearly all-public land with straightforward DIY access, yes — the harvest data supports it strongly. For hunters solely chasing a record-book bull, the moderate trophy history and modest bull:cow ratio suggest looking elsewhere might better match that specific goal.

Do nonresident hunters need a guide to hunt Unit 39? No. Since Unit 39 has 0% wilderness designation, Wyoming's mandatory outfitter requirement for wilderness hunting does not apply here. Nonresident hunters can hunt this unit DIY, though they still must draw a tag through Wyoming's nonresident application process.