Wyoming Unit 5 Moose Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 5 is one of the most sought-after moose hunting destinations in the state, and for good reason. With consistently high harvest success, a strong bull:cow ratio, and a well-documented history of trophy production, this unit routinely comes up in conversation among nonresident hunters chasing a once-in-a-lifetime Shiras' moose tag. Wyoming Unit 5 moose hunting draws applicants who have waited years — sometimes over a decade — to build the points necessary to be competitive here.

Covering 421,312 acres with an elevation range from 7,397 to 13,676 feet, Unit 5 offers everything from mid-elevation timber and willow bottoms to high alpine basins near treeline. Public land makes up 94% of the unit, and 44% of that ground falls within designated wilderness — a combination that shapes both the opportunity and the access logistics hunters need to plan around.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 5 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data, Unit 5 stands out as one of the stronger moose units in Wyoming. Harvest success has been outstanding in recent years — hunters posted a 100% success rate in 2025 (18 of 18), 95% in 2024 (18 of 19), 77% in 2023 (20 of 26), and 100% again in 2022 (24 of 24). Across these four seasons, success rates never dropped below 77%, which is a strong signal that hunters who draw a tag here are very likely to fill it.

The wildlife survey data adds further support: the average bull:cow ratio across four survey years (2021-2024) sits at 69:100. That's a healthy ratio for a moose population and, combined with the sustained harvest success, points toward a herd that can support consistent hunting pressure without collapsing bull numbers.

Trophy potential is another major draw. The counties overlapping Unit 5 carry a strong history of trophy-class moose entries in the record books, which reinforces what hunters have reported anecdotally for years — this is a unit capable of producing genuinely exceptional bulls, not just meat animals. Forum accounts back this up, though they also caution that mature bulls can be harder to locate than their numbers suggest, meaning hunters should be prepared to cover ground and glass persistently rather than expect bulls to show up in the first drainage they check.

The tradeoff is access. With 44% of the unit in wilderness, a meaningful portion of the best country requires either a serious backcountry commitment or, for nonresidents, a licensed Wyoming outfitter — a legal requirement, not just a recommendation. Wyoming state law mandates that all nonresidents hunting in designated wilderness areas must be accompanied by a licensed outfitter or guide. Nonresident hunters who don't want to hire a guide should plan their strategy around the 56% of the unit outside wilderness boundaries, which still leaves substantial public ground to work with given the 94% public land figure overall.

For hunters who can draw a Unit 5 tag, either resident or nonresident, the data supports applying. High success rates, a favorable bull:cow ratio, and a trophy pedigree make this one of the more compelling moose opportunities in Wyoming — but nonresidents need to go in with a realistic plan for wilderness access and guide costs.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 5's harvest numbers over the past four seasons tell a consistent story of a productive moose hunt:

• 2025: 18 hunters, 18 harvested — 100% success
• 2024: 19 hunters, 18 harvested — 95% success
• 2023: 26 hunters, 20 harvested — 77% success
• 2022: 24 hunters, 24 harvested — 100% success

Even in the "weakest" of these four years, three out of every four hunters still tagged out. That kind of consistency is rare for moose hunting anywhere in the West and reflects both a healthy population and a limited number of tags relative to available habitat and huntable bulls. Hunters who draw Unit 5 should treat the tag as a serious opportunity, not a lottery ticket that might go unfilled — the historical data says the odds of connecting, once drawn, are strongly in their favor.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 5 have a strong history of trophy record entries, indicating this unit — and the broader area it sits within — has consistently produced trophy-class Shiras' moose over multiple decades. This isn't a fluke or a one-off; sustained trophy production across years is a meaningful indicator of quality genetics, adequate forage, and bulls being allowed to reach maturity.

That said, hunters should temper expectations with realism from the field. Forum reports from hunters who have hunted Unit 5 note that bulls can be "much harder to find than reports suggest," and that seeing a mature bull often requires patience, mobility, and willingness to work multiple drainages rather than sitting on a single spot. The trophy potential is real, but it has to be earned through scouting effort and time in the field — this is not a unit where trophy bulls are standing in the open waiting to be found.

Given the strong trophy history combined with the unit's high success rates, Unit 5 offers hunters a genuine shot at a wall-worthy bull, provided they put in the legwork once they're on the ground.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The wildlife survey data covering 2021-2024 shows an average bull:cow ratio of 69:100 across four survey years. This is a healthy ratio for a Shiras' moose population and suggests the herd is carrying a good proportion of mature bulls relative to cows — a positive sign for both trophy potential and long-term sustainability of hunting pressure.

Combined with the harvest data showing consistently high success rates year over year, the survey data supports a picture of a stable, well-managed moose population in Unit 5. Hunters concerned about herd health can take some confidence from this multi-year average rather than relying on any single year's snapshot, which is always the more reliable way to read moose population data.

Access & Terrain

Unit 5 spans a dramatic elevation gradient from 7,397 feet up to 13,676 feet, encompassing everything from valley floor riparian habitat — prime moose country with willow and aspen — up into high alpine terrain near the unit's upper elevation limits. This range means hunters may need to adjust their strategy depending on time of year and where moose are concentrated, from lower-elevation river bottoms to higher basins.

Public land accounts for 94% of the unit's 421,312 acres, which is an exceptional figure and means DIY-minded hunters have abundant public ground to work with. However, 44% of the unit falls within designated wilderness. For nonresident hunters, this is a critical planning point: Wyoming law requires nonresidents to hunt with a licensed outfitter or guide inside wilderness boundaries. With nearly half the unit under that restriction, nonresidents planning an unguided hunt should focus scouting and hunting efforts on the 56% of the unit outside wilderness, while those willing to hire a guide can access the full breadth of the unit, including some of its most remote and lightly-pressured terrain.

Wyoming residents are not subject to the guide requirement and can hunt the wilderness portions of Unit 5 without an outfitter, giving them full access to all 421,312 acres and the flexibility to hunt both wilderness and non-wilderness terrain as conditions and moose movement dictate.

How to Apply

Wyoming's moose draw operates on a points-based system for residents and nonresidents alike, and Unit 5 is a limited-quota hunt that draws sustained interest from point holders in both categories.

Both residents and nonresidents accumulate preference points for moose when they apply and don't draw, so hunters serious about eventually drawing Unit 5 should factor in a multi-year point-building strategy, particularly as nonresidents.

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 5?

Unit 5 covers a wide elevation range from 7,397 to 13,676 feet, spanning lower-elevation riparian moose habitat up through high alpine terrain. The unit is overwhelmingly public land at 94%, with 44% of that ground designated wilderness, meaning hunters will encounter a mix of accessible drainages and more remote, difficult-to-reach backcountry depending on where they choose to hunt.

What is harvest success like for moose in Unit 5?

Harvest success in Unit 5 has been exceptional in recent years, with success rates of 100% in 2025, 95% in 2024, 77% in 2023, and 100% in 2022. Hunters who draw a tag here have historically had a very strong likelihood of filling it.

How big are the moose in Wyoming Unit 5?

The counties overlapping Unit 5 carry a strong history of trophy record entries, indicating the area has consistently produced trophy-class bulls over multiple decades. That said, forum reports from hunters who've hunted the unit note that mature bulls can require real scouting effort to locate, so trophy potential exists but isn't a guarantee without putting in the time.

Is Wyoming Unit 5 worth applying for?

Based on the available data, yes. The combination of consistently high harvest success, a healthy average bull:cow ratio of 69:100 across recent surveys, and a strong trophy history make Unit 5 one of the more compelling moose units in Wyoming. Nonresidents should plan for the wilderness guide requirement, since 44% of the unit falls under that restriction.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt moose in Unit 5?

Nonresidents are only required by Wyoming law to hire a licensed outfitter or guide when hunting within designated wilderness areas. Since 44% of Unit 5 is wilderness, nonresidents planning a DIY hunt should concentrate on the remaining 56% of the unit outside wilderness boundaries, or budget for a guide if they want access to the full unit. For current draw odds by point level, check HuntPilot's Wyoming unit pages before applying.