Wyoming Unit 49 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 49 is a mid-sized elk unit covering 792,271 acres in western Wyoming, with elevations ranging from 4,041 feet up to 8,784 feet. For hunters researching Wyoming Unit 49 elk hunting, the numbers tell a clear story: this is a unit where success rates have been climbing and public access is genuinely strong, making it worth a hard look for both resident and nonresident applicants.

With 71% public land, the vast majority of Unit 49 is open to hunters without needing to negotiate private landowner access — a meaningful advantage over many Wyoming elk units where checkerboard land ownership complicates DIY planning. There is no designated wilderness within the unit (0%), which means nonresident hunters are not subject to Wyoming's mandatory outfitter requirement that applies in wilderness areas. That opens the door to unguided DIY hunts for nonresidents who draw a tag here, a rare combination in a state where many of the best elk units require a guide by law.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 49 Worth Applying For?

The harvest trend in Unit 49 is the strongest argument in its favor. According to data compiled by HuntPilot, success rates have risen every year over the last four seasons: 32% in 2022, 35% in 2023, 36% in 2024, and a notable jump to 44% in 2025. That's a 12-percentage-point improvement over four seasons, and it's happening while hunter numbers have stayed relatively stable — 1,003 hunters in 2022 versus 902 in 2025. Fewer hunters afield combined with more elk harvested is a strong signal of either improved herd availability, better hunter distribution, or both.

Total harvest has also grown substantially, from 324 elk taken in 2022 to 400 in 2025, even though hunter participation dropped slightly. That's a meaningful trend for anyone trying to gauge whether a tag in Unit 49 is likely to put meat in the freezer.

Where the picture is more mixed is herd composition. The average bull-to-cow ratio across four survey years (2021–2024) sits at 37:100. That's a modest ratio by Wyoming standards and suggests a bull population that is not heavily stacked with mature males relative to cows — consistent with a unit that produces solid harvest opportunity rather than a unit built around trophy bull density. Hunters should weigh this against their goals: if the priority is filling a tag, Unit 49's harvest trend is compelling. If the priority is chasing an exceptional bull, the herd composition data doesn't provide strong support for that expectation.

Trophy history for the counties overlapping Unit 49 is limited. There isn't a deep or consistent record of trophy-class bulls coming out of this area, and hunters should treat trophy potential here as a secondary consideration rather than the primary draw. This is a unit to apply for based on opportunity and access, not on the expectation of scoring a wall-hanger.

Tag quotas add another layer worth understanding before applying. Type 1 tags have held steady at 350 across 2024, 2025, and 2026 — a stable, predictable allocation. Type 7 tags have also remained flat at 500 across all three years. Type 6 tags dropped from 350 in 2024 to 300 in both 2025 and 2026, a modest but permanent reduction in available tags. The most significant shift is in Type 4 tags, which jumped from 100 in 2024 to 150 in 2025, then were cut back down to 100 for 2026 — a 33% reduction from the 2025 peak. Hunters targeting Type 4 tags specifically should note that the 2025 bump was temporary and plan around the lower 2026 baseline going forward.

Taken together, Unit 49 looks like a unit worth applying for if a hunter's priority is a reasonably high-percentage chance of harvesting an elk on accessible public land, without an expectation of trophy quality. It's a solid opportunity unit, not a trophy unit.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The four-year survey window (2021–2024) shows an average bull:cow ratio of 37:100 in Unit 49. This is on the lower end for Wyoming elk units and indicates a cow-heavy herd structure typical of units managed for higher harvest opportunity rather than bull age-class management. Hunters should not expect the ratio to translate into abundant mature bulls; instead, it aligns with the unit's rising harvest success rates, which are more a function of elk density and huntability than trophy bull surplus. Given only four survey years are available, hunters should view this ratio as a general baseline rather than a year-by-year predictive tool, but it's consistent enough across the sample to be a reasonable indicator of the herd's current structure.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 49's harvest data over the last four seasons shows a clear, positive trajectory:

• 2022: 1,003 hunters, 324 harvested, 32% success
• 2023: 1,035 hunters, 366 harvested, 35% success
• 2024: 1,040 hunters, 373 harvested, 36% success
• 2025: 902 hunters, 400 harvested, 44% success

The jump to 44% success in 2025 stands out, especially paired with the drop in hunter numbers from 1,040 the year before to 902. Fewer hunters combined with more total harvest suggests either improved elk distribution, better weather/timing for hunter success, or tighter tag allocations funneling hunters into more productive hunt types. Whatever the driver, the four-year trend is unambiguous: success rates in Unit 49 have improved every single year since 2022. For hunters comparing Wyoming elk units on raw odds of putting a tag on an elk, this recent trend is one of the more encouraging patterns available in the state.

Trophy Quality

Trophy potential in Unit 49 is limited based on available records. The counties overlapping this unit have a thin trophy history, and there isn't strong evidence of consistent trophy-class bull production here. This aligns with the herd survey data showing a modest bull:cow ratio, which points toward a unit managed for harvest volume rather than mature bull density. Hunters chasing record-book potential should look elsewhere or treat any trophy-class bull taken in Unit 49 as an exception rather than an expectation. Hunters focused on filling a tag and enjoying solid access, however, will find the unit's harvest data far more relevant to their goals than its trophy pedigree.

Access & Terrain

Unit 49 spans a wide elevation range — from 4,041 feet up to 8,784 feet — offering everything from lower-elevation sagebrush and foothill terrain to higher country as the season progresses and elk move with weather. With 71% of the unit in public ownership across 792,271 total acres, DIY hunters have substantial room to roam without needing to secure private land access, a meaningful advantage in a state where many productive elk units are dominated by private ranchland.

The absence of designated wilderness (0%) is a practical plus for nonresident hunters. Wyoming law requires nonresidents to hire a licensed outfitter when hunting in designated wilderness areas, but that mandate does not apply here — nonresidents who draw a Unit 49 tag can hunt unguided if they choose. This makes Unit 49 more accessible to self-guided nonresident hunters than many other Wyoming elk units where wilderness acreage forces a guided hunt regardless of budget or preference.

Terrain across this elevation band typically transitions from lower rolling foothill country to more rugged mid-elevation slopes and timber as hunters move toward the unit's higher ground. This variety allows hunters to adjust strategy — hunting lower-elevation edges early and pushing higher as elk respond to pressure or weather — without needing technical mountaineering skills or wilderness permits.

How to Apply

For the 2028 draw cycle, Wyoming's application window for all regular elk hunt types opens January 5, 2028, with a deadline of March 1, 2028. HuntPilot tracks this application calendar at /states/wy for hunters who want the most current cycle information.

For the 2026 season specifically, Wyoming's fee structure breaks out by residency and tag type:

• Resident antlerless tag: $5 application fee, $43 tag fee — applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of June 1, 2026.
• Resident regular tag: $5 application fee, $57 tag fee — applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of June 1, 2026.
• Nonresident antlerless tag: $15 application fee, $288 tag fee, plus a $52 point fee — applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of February 2, 2026, and a point-only deadline of November 2, 2026.
• Nonresident regular tag: $15 application fee, $692 tag fee, plus a $52 point fee — applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of February 2, 2026, and a point-only deadline of November 2, 2026.
• Nonresident special tag: $15 application fee, $1,950 tag fee, plus a $52 point fee — applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of February 2, 2026, and a point-only deadline of November 2, 2026.

Nonresidents should note the earlier deadline structure compared to residents — nonresident applications close in early February, months ahead of the resident June deadline. Nonresidents building or maintaining points outside of an active application year can do so through the November 2 point-only deadline.

For current draw odds specific to Unit 49's hunt types, hunters should check HuntPilot's unit page for up-to-date figures, since tag quotas and applicant pools shift from year to year. Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the state wildlife agency website before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is harvest success like in Wyoming Unit 49? Harvest success has trended strongly upward over the last four reported seasons, moving from 32% in 2022 to 44% in 2025. Total harvest also climbed from 324 elk in 2022 to 400 in 2025, even as hunter numbers dipped slightly. This makes Unit 49 one of the more encouraging Wyoming elk units in terms of recent success trajectory.

What is the terrain like in Unit 49? The unit spans a broad elevation range from 4,041 to 8,784 feet, offering a mix of lower foothill and sagebrush country transitioning into higher, more rugged terrain. There is no designated wilderness in the unit, and with 71% public land ownership, hunters have wide access to hunt this terrain without needing to arrange private land permission.

How big are the elk in Unit 49? Trophy history for the counties overlapping Unit 49 is limited, and the average bull:cow ratio of 37:100 recorded across four survey years (2021–2024) suggests a herd structure geared more toward harvest opportunity than mature bull production. Hunters should not expect strong trophy potential in this unit based on available data.

Is Unit 49 worth applying for? Based on the data, Unit 49 is worth applying for if the goal is a solid chance at harvesting an elk on accessible public land. The four-year harvest success trend is one of the strongest arguments in the unit's favor, and 71% public land combined with zero wilderness acreage makes it practical for both resident and nonresident DIY hunters. It is not a strong choice for hunters prioritizing trophy quality above opportunity.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt elk in Unit 49? No. Wyoming requires nonresident hunters to use a licensed outfitter only in designated wilderness areas, and Unit 49 has 0% wilderness. Nonresidents who draw a tag here can legally hunt unguided, though hiring a local guide service remains an option for those wanting additional support in unfamiliar terrain.