Wyoming Unit 5 Moose Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 5 moose hunting is regularly discussed among serious moose applicants as one of the more storied moose draws in the state, and the numbers back up the reputation. This is high-country moose habitat spanning elevations from 7,397 feet up to 13,676 feet across 421,312 acres, with 94% of the unit sitting on public land and 44% falling within designated wilderness. For hunters willing to invest the time — and, in many cases, the points — Unit 5 offers a legitimate shot at a mature bull in country that has produced quality animals for generations.

Moose tags in Wyoming are already among the hardest big game permits in North America to draw, and Unit 5 is no exception. This isn't a unit hunters stumble into casually; it's a destination hunt that demands planning around the state's application calendar, physical conditioning for the terrain, and realistic expectations about what a wilderness-heavy landscape means for access. Below is a breakdown of what the data shows, what it means for trophy potential and success rates, and how to actually get into the draw.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 5 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available through HuntPilot, Unit 5 stands out as a unit worth serious consideration for hunters who can commit to the application process and the physical demands of the terrain. Several factors support this assessment.

First, harvest success has been consistently high. Across the last four reported seasons, Unit 5 hunters have converted tags into harvested bulls at rates of 100% (2025), 95% (2024), 77% (2023), and 100% (2022). That's a strong, stable trend — when hunters draw this tag and put in the effort, they overwhelmingly come home with a moose. A dip to 77% in 2023 is worth noting, but even that year represents a solid success rate relative to many western big game hunts.

Second, the counties overlapping this unit carry a strong trophy history in the record books. Because trophy records are logged at the county level rather than the exact unit boundary, these entries are shared with neighboring units — but the overlap still signals that the broader landscape has consistently produced trophy-class bulls over time. Combined with the bull:cow ratio data (more on that below), this points to a herd capable of growing mature, well-antlered bulls.

Third, access is about as good as it gets for a wilderness hunt — 94% public land means DIY hunters aren't fighting for scraps of huntable ground, though the 44% wilderness designation changes the calculus significantly for nonresidents (addressed in the Access section below).

The one caveat: this is not an easy tag to draw, and Wyoming's moose application system consumes accumulated points on a successful draw. Hunters should treat a Unit 5 tag as a multi-year (often long-term) investment rather than something to bank on drawing in the next cycle. But for those putting in for moose anywhere in Wyoming, Unit 5's combination of high harvest success, strong trophy pedigree, and excellent public access makes it one of the more attractive options in the state's moose portfolio.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 5's harvest data over the past four years paints a picture of a unit where drawn hunters find and kill mature bulls at a high rate:

• 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

Three of the last four seasons show success rates at or near 100%, with only 2023 dropping to 77%. Averaged across these four years, success sits comfortably above what most western moose units produce. This tells hunters two things: moose density and visibility in Unit 5 are good enough that tag holders are consistently finding legal bulls, and the terrain — while rugged — isn't so limiting that hunters can't close the deal once they locate an animal. Given that moose tags are typically once-in-a-lifetime or near-once-in-a-lifetime draws for most applicants, this level of consistency matters enormously when deciding whether to prioritize Unit 5 in an application strategy.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit 5 supports a strong trophy potential assessment for this area. The broader county-level record shows this landscape has a track record of producing trophy-class bulls across multiple years, though it's worth remembering that these entries are shared across neighboring units whose boundaries fall within the same counties — no single unit can claim exclusive credit for the record-book bulls attributed to the area.

That said, the combination of strong historical trophy production and the herd health indicators discussed below suggests Unit 5 remains capable of growing mature bulls with real mass and points, not just meat-hunting opportunity. Hunters drawing this tag should go in with realistic but optimistic expectations: this is a unit where a patient, well-conditioned hunter has a genuine chance at a trophy-class bull, not just a legal one.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four survey years (2021–2024) shows an average bull:cow ratio of 69:100 in Unit 5. That's a notably strong ratio for moose — well above what's typically seen in many western herds — and it suggests a bull segment that's both numerous relative to cows and likely carrying a meaningful number of mature age classes.

A 69:100 average across four survey years (rather than a single-year spike) is a more reliable signal than a one-off count, and it lines up with the high harvest success rates and strong trophy history noted above. Taken together, these three data points — consistent harvest success, strong trophy pedigree, and a healthy multi-year bull:cow ratio — reinforce each other and support the conclusion that Unit 5's moose population is in solid shape heading into future seasons.

Access & Terrain

Unit 5 spans a dramatic elevation range — from 7,397 feet at its lowest points to 13,676 feet at its highest — meaning hunters can expect everything from lower valley timber and willow bottoms (classic moose habitat) up into alpine basins and rockier high country near the unit's upper elevations. This kind of vertical relief demands real physical preparation; a hunter drawing this tag should be ready for sustained elevation gain and rugged travel, especially if pursuing bulls that have pushed into higher basins.

Public land access is outstanding at 94%, meaning the overwhelming majority of the unit's 421,312 acres is open to hunters without needing to negotiate private land access. This is about as good as it gets for a western big game unit and makes Unit 5 genuinely DIY-friendly from a land-access standpoint.

The wrinkle is wilderness: 44% of Unit 5 falls within designated wilderness. Under Wyoming law, nonresident hunters are required to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide when hunting in designated wilderness areas — this is a state statute, not a suggestion. With nearly half the unit under this designation, nonresident hunters planning to hunt the wilderness portions of Unit 5 need to budget for a guide and plan accordingly; DIY access for nonresidents is realistically limited to the non-wilderness 56% of the unit. Wyoming residents are not subject to this guide requirement and can hunt the wilderness portions of Unit 5 unguided.

For hunters — resident or nonresident with a guide — willing to work the wilderness country, the terrain's ruggedness likely contributes to both the strong trophy history and healthy bull:cow ratio, since limited access naturally reduces pressure and allows bulls to mature.

How to Apply

Wyoming's moose draw is a preference point system, and Unit 5 tags are drawn well in advance of the hunting season. For the 2028 application cycle, the application window opens January 5, 2028, with a deadline of March 1, 2028 for all regular applicants — mark both dates, as they are separate deadlines, not a single window.

For the 2026 application year, Wyoming has published detailed fee structures for moose:

Nonresident (2026):

• Application fee: $15
• Tag fee: $2,752
• License fee: $0.00 (required to apply)
• Point fee: $150
• Application opens: January 2, 2026
• Application deadline: April 30, 2026
• Point-only deadline: November 2, 2026

Resident (2026):

• Application fee: $5
• Tag fee: $152
• License fee: $0.00 (required to apply)
• Point fee: $7
• Application opens: January 2, 2026
• Application deadline: April 30, 2026
• Point-only deadline: November 2, 2026

Note that Wyoming requires hunters to hold the qualifying license before applying — while that license fee is listed at $0.00 for this application, it's still a required credential separate from the application and tag fees themselves. Nonresidents should also budget for the substantial tag fee difference compared to residents; moose tags in Wyoming carry some of the highest nonresident fees of any big game species in the state.

Because moose points are accumulated and consumed on a successful draw, applicants — especially nonresidents — should think of Unit 5 as a long-term point-building strategy rather than a short-term draw target. Residents face a much lower cost structure but still compete in a genuinely limited-entry system.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the state wildlife agency website before applying, and check HuntPilot's Wyoming state page (/states/wy) for the latest application calendar updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 5? Unit 5 covers a huge elevation range, from roughly 7,397 feet up to 13,676 feet, meaning hunters encounter everything from lower-elevation willow bottoms and timbered drainages (prime moose habitat) to steep, rugged alpine terrain near the unit's highest points. With 44% of the unit designated wilderness, expect pack-in conditions and significant physical demands in a large portion of the unit.

What is harvest success like in Unit 5 for moose? Very strong. Recent data shows success rates of 100% in 2025, 95% in 2024, 77% in 2023, and 100% in 2022. Across these four years, hunters who draw a Unit 5 moose tag overwhelmingly succeed in harvesting a bull, making this one of the more consistently productive moose units in terms of converting tags into filled tags.

How big are the moose in Unit 5? Trophy records tied to the counties overlapping Unit 5 show a strong history of trophy-class bulls, and the strong average bull:cow ratio (69:100 across four survey years) suggests a healthy population of mature bulls in the herd. While these trophy entries are shared with neighboring units in the same counties, the overall pattern supports genuine trophy potential for hunters who draw this tag.

Is Wyoming Unit 5 worth applying for as a moose hunter? Yes, based on the available data. High and consistent harvest success, a strong trophy history in the surrounding counties, a healthy bull:cow ratio, and 94% public land access all point to a unit that rewards the investment required to draw it. The main consideration is that moose tags are genuinely difficult to draw and consume accumulated points once successful, so hunters should plan for this as a long-term application strategy rather than an annual attempt.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt moose in Unit 5? Nonresidents hunting within the 44% of Unit 5 designated as wilderness are required by Wyoming law to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide. Nonresidents hunting outside the wilderness boundary are not subject to this requirement, but given how much of the unit falls under wilderness designation, nonresident hunters should plan and budget for guided access if they intend to hunt the wilderness portions. Wyoming residents can hunt the entire unit, including wilderness, without a guide.