Wyoming Unit 42 Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 42 is a pronghorn antelope hunting destination spanning 711,849 acres across a wide elevation range of 5,376 to 9,191 feet. For hunters comparing units across the state's pronghorn country, Unit 42 offers a combination of solid harvest success, a strong regional trophy pedigree, and application terms that are worth understanding in detail before committing points or preference to this unit.

This unit sits in a part of Wyoming where pronghorn hunting is a deeply established tradition, and the numbers back up its reputation as a productive draw. With 34% public land, hunters need to plan access carefully, but the harvest data below shows that hunters who do draw a tag here are converting at high rates year after year.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 42 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available through HuntPilot, Unit 42 presents a strong case for pronghorn hunters, particularly those focused on tag success and trophy potential over drawing ease. The harvest numbers are the standout feature: success rates have ranged from 85% to 93% over the last four years of recorded data, which is exceptional for any big game hunt in the West. In 2025, 308 hunters harvested 287 animals for a 93% success rate — the best mark in the four-year window and a sign that whatever pronghorn population Unit 42 is carrying, hunters are finding and connecting with animals at a very high clip.

The counties overlapping Unit 42 also carry a strong history of trophy-class pronghorn production, which adds meaningful upside for hunters chasing a wall-worthy buck rather than just a tag to fill. It's worth noting that record-book entries are logged at the county level, not the unit level, so this trophy pedigree is shared with neighboring units in the same counties — the animals credited to this history may have come from anywhere within that broader area. Still, a documented trophy history at the county scale is a meaningful positive signal when there's no unit-specific trophy data to fall back on.

The one number that deserves a caveat is the buck:doe ratio. Wildlife survey data across four years (2021-2024) shows an average ratio of 45 bucks per 100 does, which is a reasonable, believable ratio for a healthy pronghorn herd — not an outlier that suggests a small sample size artifact. That consistency across multiple survey years is a good sign of herd stability, and it lines up with the high harvest success numbers: hunters are finding a herd with enough bucks in the mix to make tag-filling realistic.

On the access side, 34% public land is a real limiting factor. This is below the threshold where DIY hunters can expect to freely roam — the majority of Unit 42's acreage is private land. Hunters without existing access arrangements or willingness to pursue landowner permission should factor this into their planning heavily. Pronghorn hunting in Wyoming often benefits from walk-in access programs and private land negotiations, and Unit 42 is a unit where that legwork will matter more than in units with majority public ownership.

Tag quota trends also deserve attention. Type 1 tags have held steady, moving from 200 in 2024 to 300 in both 2025 and 2026 — a meaningful increase in tag numbers that stabilized at the higher level. Type 6 tags, by contrast, jumped dramatically, from 50 in 2024 and 2025 up to 150 in 2026 — a 200% increase in a single year. That's a significant expansion of opportunity for hunters interested in Type 6 tags in Unit 42, and it's the kind of quota shift that can meaningfully change draw dynamics going forward. Hunters should check HuntPilot's Unit 42 page for current draw odds, since a quota jump of this size typically loosens competition for that hunt type.

Taken together, Unit 42 is worth serious consideration for hunters who value high success rates and legitimate trophy potential, and who are prepared to navigate a landscape that's roughly two-thirds private land.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 42's harvest data over the past four years shows some of the more consistent success numbers a pronghorn hunter will find in Wyoming:

• 2025: 308 hunters, 287 harvested — 93% success
• 2024: 236 hunters, 200 harvested — 85% success
• 2023: 242 hunters, 210 harvested — 87% success
• 2022: 226 hunters, 193 harvested — 85% success

Success rates have not dipped below 85% in any of the last four recorded years, and the unit posted its best performance in 2025. This is a strong indicator that hunters who draw a tag in Unit 42 have a very good chance of putting a pronghorn on the ground, regardless of which of the last four seasons is used as a benchmark. The steady climb in both hunter numbers and harvest totals from 2022 through 2025 also suggests growing tag allocations without a corresponding drop in success — a positive sign for herd health and huntability alike.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 42 carry a strong history of trophy-class pronghorn production. This is a meaningful data point for hunters weighing this unit against others in the region, but it comes with an important caveat: record-book entries are attributed to counties, not individual hunt units, so this trophy history is shared with neighboring units that fall within the same county boundaries. A trophy buck credited to this area could have been taken anywhere within that broader multi-unit footprint.

That said, a documented strong trophy history at the county level is still a useful signal. It suggests the genetics and habitat conditions supporting quality pronghorn exist in this part of Wyoming, and combined with the high harvest success rates and a stable buck:doe ratio, Unit 42 looks like a unit where hunters have a realistic shot at both filling a tag and encountering a mature buck. Hunters chasing a true trophy-class animal should scout thoroughly and be selective, since high success rates alone don't guarantee trophy quality — but the underlying pedigree here is a point in the unit's favor.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four years (2021-2024) shows an average buck:doe ratio of 45:100 in Unit 42. This is a solid, believable ratio for pronghorn — well within the range expected of a healthy, well-managed herd, and not the kind of statistical outlier that suggests a small survey sample. A ratio in this range indicates enough mature bucks in the population to support both consistent harvest opportunity and a legitimate trophy component.

This ratio, paired with the unit's high and improving harvest success rates, paints a picture of a herd that is being managed sustainably while still providing strong hunting opportunity. Hunters should still expect year-to-year variability in any wild population, but the four-year average here is a reassuring, stable data point rather than a red flag.

Access & Terrain

Unit 42 covers 711,849 acres with an elevation range running from 5,376 feet up to 9,191 feet — a wide vertical span that suggests hunters may encounter everything from lower sagebrush flats to higher, more broken terrain within the unit's boundaries. Pronghorn are creatures of open country, and this kind of elevation range typically means a mix of habitat types across the unit, from flatter basin terrain to more rolling or elevated ground at the upper end.

Public land accounts for 34% of the unit, which means the majority of Unit 42 — roughly two-thirds — is privately held. This is a critical planning factor. Hunters relying purely on public ground will find their options more limited than in units with majority public ownership, and should expect to do real homework identifying accessible public parcels, walk-in areas, or negotiate private land access before the season. The unit carries 0% wilderness designation, so there are no wilderness-specific access restrictions to plan around, and Wyoming's outfitter requirement for wilderness areas does not apply here.

Given the sub-45% public land figure, Unit 42 is not a unit to approach as broadly DIY-friendly. Hunters without a landowner connection or a plan for securing private access should budget extra scouting time or consider whether a guided or landowner-permission approach makes sense for this unit.

How to Apply

Wyoming's pronghorn application system requires hunters to plan around specific dates and fees each year.

Wyoming residents accumulate preference points for pronghorn automatically when applying and not drawing, and nonresidents do the same — a successful draw will consume those accumulated points, so hunters should plan their long-term application strategy accordingly. For current draw odds specific to Unit 42, hunters should consult HuntPilot's Wyoming state page or Unit 42 page directly, since draw statistics shift from year to year with quota changes like the Type 6 increase noted above.

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 42? Unit 42 spans a wide elevation range from 5,376 to 9,191 feet across 711,849 total acres, suggesting a mix of lower sagebrush basin terrain and higher, more rolling ground within the unit. There is no wilderness designation in this unit (0%), so there are no wilderness access restrictions to navigate.

What is harvest success like in Unit 42? Harvest success has been strong and consistent, ranging from 85% to 93% over the last four recorded years. The 2025 season posted the best results, with 308 hunters harvesting 287 pronghorn for a 93% success rate, up from 85% in both 2022 and 2024 and 87% in 2023.

How big are the pronghorn in Unit 42? The counties overlapping Unit 42 have a strong history of trophy-class pronghorn production, though these record-book entries are attributed at the county level and are shared with neighboring units in the same counties. Combined with a healthy average buck:doe ratio of 45:100 across recent survey years, the unit shows real potential for hunters seeking a mature buck, though trophy hunting still requires scouting and selectivity.

Is Unit 42 worth applying for? Based on the available data, yes — Unit 42 stands out for its consistently high harvest success rates (85-93% over four years), a stable and healthy buck:doe ratio, and a documented regional trophy history. The main consideration is access: with only 34% public land, hunters need a solid plan for either public parcel access or private land permission before committing to this unit.

How much public land is available in Unit 42 for DIY hunters? Unit 42 is 34% public land, meaning roughly two-thirds of the unit is privately owned. This is below the threshold typically considered DIY-friendly, so hunters planning a self-guided hunt should research specific public parcels carefully or pursue private land access arrangements well before the season.