Wyoming Unit 48 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 48 is a 596,180-acre elk unit that draws attention from both resident and nonresident hunters looking for a Wyoming elk tag with a track record of solid success rates. Spanning elevations from 4,529 to 9,100 feet, the unit offers a mix of terrain that supports elk throughout the year, and with 61% of the land base classified as public, there's meaningful access for hunters willing to do the legwork. For hunters actively comparing Wyoming elk units for an application strategy, Unit 48 deserves a close look based on the data available.

This unit has produced consistent harvest numbers over the past several seasons, making it a unit worth understanding in detail — not just for its numbers, but for what those numbers say about hunting pressure, opportunity, and what hunters can realistically expect once they're on the ground.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four survey years from 2021 to 2024 shows an average bull:cow ratio of 37:100 in Unit 48. This is a modest ratio by elk management standards and suggests a herd structure that leans toward a higher harvest of bulls relative to the cow population, or at least a bull segment that isn't stockpiling in large numbers year over year. A 37:100 ratio isn't alarming, but it's also not indicative of a unit loaded with mature bulls sitting untouched. Hunters should interpret this as a working, hunted elk population rather than a trophy-stockpile herd.

Because this figure represents an average across four survey years rather than a single-year snapshot, it's a more reliable indicator of the herd's general condition than any one year's count would be. Hunters relying on this data for realistic expectations should plan around a herd that supports solid hunting pressure and consistent harvest, rather than banking on unusually high bull numbers.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 48 has put up strong, above-average success rates over the last four seasons, and the trend is worth walking through year by year:

• 2025: 1,103 hunters, 420 harvested, 38% success
• 2024: 1,166 hunters, 605 harvested, 52% success
• 2023: 972 hunters, 464 harvested, 48% success
• 2022: 965 hunters, 417 harvested, 43% success

Across these four years, success rates have ranged from 38% to 52%, averaging in the mid-40s. That's a notably strong success rate for an elk unit of this size and public-land composition. The 2024 season stands out as the strongest of the four, with more than half of the 1,166 hunters in the field tagging out. Even the "weakest" year in this stretch — 2025 at 38% — is still a respectable number relative to many Western elk units where success rates in the 20s and low 30s are common.

It's worth noting that hunter numbers have also fluctuated, from a low of 965 in 2022 to a high of 1,166 in 2024, which suggests the unit isn't experiencing runaway pressure growth even as success rates have stayed solid. This is a favorable combination: a unit that consistently produces harvest opportunity without a hunter population that's ballooning out of control.

Trophy Quality

Trophy history for the counties overlapping Unit 48 reflects a moderate history of trophy-class elk. This isn't a unit associated with a heavy volume of record-book entries, but it isn't devoid of trophy potential either. Hunters should treat this as a unit where a mature, respectable bull is achievable, but where chasing an elite, record-class animal is a longer-odds pursuit than in units with a stronger documented trophy pedigree.

Given the moderate bull:cow ratio discussed above, this aligns with what the trophy data suggests — Unit 48 is a functional elk unit that rewards hunters with solid success, but it's not positioned as a destination unit for hunters solely chasing top-end antler mass or length. Hunters whose primary goal is filling a tag with a good bull, rather than holding out exclusively for a wall-hanger, will find the data here more encouraging than hunters fixated purely on trophy potential.

Access & Terrain

With 61% of Unit 48 classified as public land, hunters have a genuine base of accessible ground to work with, though the remaining 39% in private ownership means scouting and access planning matter. The unit's elevation range — from 4,529 feet up to 9,100 feet — provides a broad vertical gradient, giving elk room to move seasonally between lower foothill terrain and higher country as conditions dictate.

There is no wilderness designation within Unit 48 (0% wilderness), which is a meaningful access consideration. This means nonresident hunters are not subject to Wyoming's mandatory outfitter requirement that applies in designated wilderness areas — DIY nonresident hunters can legally hunt this unit without hiring a licensed guide. That's a significant advantage over Wyoming units with heavy wilderness acreage, where nonresidents are functionally locked into guided hunts.

Hunters planning access strategy should use the public land percentage as a starting point and factor in that a meaningful chunk of the unit remains in private hands — meaning boundary awareness and landowner relations (or leased access) can factor into a successful hunt plan. The elevation spread also suggests hunters should be prepared to hunt across varied terrain types depending on the timing of their hunt and where elk are concentrated seasonally.

HuntPilot Analysis

Is Unit 48 worth applying for? Based on the data pulled from HuntPilot, the answer leans positive for hunters prioritizing a realistic shot at tagging an elk over chasing a trophy wall-hanger. The four-year harvest trend — success rates ranging from 38% to 52% — is genuinely strong for elk hunting in the West, and it's backed by a public land base (61%) that gives DIY hunters real room to operate without needing to navigate wilderness guide requirements.

The moderate bull:cow ratio (37:100 average) and moderate trophy history data suggest this isn't a unit to bank on for a record-book bull. Hunters whose top priority is trophy quality above all else may want to weigh Unit 48 against other Wyoming units with stronger documented trophy pedigrees. But for hunters who want dependable opportunity, a healthy public land component, and a track record of hunters actually punching tags, Unit 48's numbers hold up well.

The unit's balance of accessible terrain, consistent multi-year success rates, and zero wilderness complications make it a practical option worth serious consideration in an application strategy — particularly for hunters who value tag-filling odds and straightforward access over trophy pursuit alone.

How to Apply

Wyoming's elk application system separates residents and nonresidents into different pools with different fees and deadlines.

Nonresident applicants should note that Wyoming requires holding a qualifying license to apply in some cases — hunters should confirm current licensing prerequisites directly with the state agency before submitting an application. For hunters weighing point investment strategy, remember that a successful draw consumes accumulated points for that species, so plan multi-year strategy accordingly.

For the most current draw odds, tag quotas, and any updates to this unit's application structure, visit HuntPilot's Wyoming state page at /states/wy.

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 harvest success like in Wyoming Unit 48? Harvest success in Unit 48 has been strong over the past four seasons, ranging from 38% in 2025 to a high of 52% in 2024. The unit posted 48% success in 2023 and 43% in 2022. This consistency across varying hunter pressure (965 to 1,166 hunters annually) makes Unit 48 one of the more dependable Wyoming elk units for actually filling a tag.

What is the terrain like in Unit 48? The unit spans a wide elevation range from 4,529 to 9,100 feet across 596,180 total acres, with 61% of that land classified as public. There is no wilderness designation in the unit, which means access doesn't require navigating Wyoming's wilderness guide mandate. Hunters should expect varied terrain across that elevation gradient and should factor in that roughly 39% of the unit remains private land requiring careful boundary awareness.

How big are the elk in Unit 48? Trophy history for the counties overlapping this unit reflects a moderate history of trophy-class elk, meaning mature bulls are attainable but the unit isn't known as a hotbed of record-book entries. Combined with a modest average bull:cow ratio of 37:100 recorded across four survey years (2021–2024), hunters should set expectations around solid, representative bulls rather than banking on an elite trophy animal.

Is Unit 48 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing opportunity and a realistic chance at harvest, yes — the four-year success rate trend (38-52%) and 61% public land access make this a practical unit. Hunters chasing top-end trophy quality specifically may want to compare Unit 48's moderate trophy history against other Wyoming units with stronger documented trophy production before committing points or tag fees.

Do nonresidents need an outfitter to hunt Unit 48? No. Unit 48 has 0% wilderness designation, so Wyoming's mandatory outfitter requirement for wilderness areas does not apply here. Nonresident hunters can legally pursue a DIY hunt in this unit, which is a meaningful cost and logistics advantage compared to Wyoming units with significant wilderness acreage.