Wyoming Unit 56 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 56 elk hunting draws serious interest from both resident and nonresident hunters looking at western Wyoming's rugged, high-elevation elk country. With elevations ranging from 5,390 feet up to 12,177 feet across 302,600 acres, this unit offers the kind of vertical, backcountry terrain that defines quality elk hunting in the Rockies — and with 91% public land and 54% designated wilderness, there's no shortage of huntable ground for those willing to put in the legwork.

Unit 56 is a general season unit, which is an important distinction for hunters comparing it against strict draw-only units elsewhere in the state. General season hunts here include antlered and either-sex opportunities, meaning residents can access general licenses without waiting on a draw outcome for those hunts. Nonresidents, however, must draw for every Wyoming big game license — there is no over-the-counter path for out-of-state hunters here or anywhere in Wyoming. Beyond the general season structure, Unit 56 also offers limited-quota draw hunts, including additional antlered and either-sex opportunities for hunters who want to target the unit through the more controlled draw pool.

With recent harvest success rates ranging from 27% to 36% and a documented history of trophy-class bulls coming out of the surrounding counties, Unit 56 has built a reputation — deserved or not — as one of the more talked-about elk units in western Wyoming. This article breaks down what the data actually shows, so hunters can decide if it's worth the investment of points, planning, and travel.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 56's harvest numbers over the past four years show a unit that produces results, though success rates have fluctuated year to year. In the 2025 season, 715 hunters harvested 212 elk for a 30% success rate. That followed a 2024 season where 640 hunters posted 174 harvests, good for 27% success. Go back further and the numbers get stronger: in 2023, only 480 hunters hunted the unit but 175 harvested elk, pushing success to 36% — the best mark in the four-year window. In 2022, 444 hunters harvested 147 elk for 33% success.

A few trends stand out. First, hunter numbers have grown substantially — from 444 in 2022 to 715 in 2025, a jump of more than 60%. Second, success rates have generally trended downward as hunter pressure has increased, dropping from the mid-30s percentile range in 2022-2023 to the high-20s to low-30s range in 2024-2025. This is a classic pattern in popular elk units: as word spreads and more tags get filled by applicants (particularly nonresidents drawing general or limited-quota licenses), the unit sees more boots on the ground, and per-hunter success dips even as total harvest climbs.

For hunters weighing whether Unit 56 is still a good bet, the takeaway is that success rates in the high-20s to mid-30s percent range are solid for a general season western elk unit, especially one with this much rugged, high-elevation terrain. It's not an easy unit, but it's also not a unit where hunters are grinding for weeks without opportunity.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 56 carry a strong history of trophy-class elk in the record books. This doesn't mean every hunter walks out with a giant bull — trophy-class animals are, by definition, rare outliers — but it does mean the genetics, age structure, and habitat in this part of Wyoming have consistently proven capable of growing exceptional bulls over multiple decades. Hunters targeting a genuine trophy elk should view Unit 56 as a unit with real trophy potential, backed by a track record rather than hype.

It's worth noting that record-book entries are attributed to the county level, not the specific hunt unit, so the trophy history associated with Unit 56 is shared with neighboring units that fall within the same counties. A trophy bull credited to this general area could have been taken anywhere within that broader boundary. Still, for hunters doing due diligence on where to invest points and effort, a documented trophy history in the surrounding counties is a meaningful positive signal that this landscape has the habitat and age class to produce mature bulls.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four years (2021-2024) shows an average bull-to-cow ratio of 26:100 in Unit 56. This is a modest ratio by elk herd standards — well below the ratios seen in units managed specifically for trophy quality with heavy antler restrictions or lower hunter density. A 26:100 ratio suggests a herd where bulls are harvested at a fairly consistent rate relative to the cow population, consistent with a general season unit that sees significant hunting pressure across multiple license types.

This ratio should be read in context with the harvest data above: rising hunter numbers and generally solid harvest success both point to a unit that gets hunted hard, which naturally suppresses bull:cow ratios compared to more restrictive draw units. It doesn't mean the herd is unhealthy — it means bull survival to older age classes is lower than in units with tighter quotas. Hunters chasing volume and opportunity will find this ratio unsurprising for a general unit; hunters chasing a specific trophy-class bull should weigh this against the county-level trophy history noted above and understand that mature bulls, while present, face real hunting pressure before reaching their peak years.

Access & Terrain

Unit 56 sits across a dramatic elevation gradient, from 5,390 feet at its lowest points to 12,177 feet at its highest — nearly 6,800 feet of vertical relief packed into 302,600 acres. That range covers everything from lower-elevation sagebrush and timbered foothills up through subalpine and alpine terrain near the unit's peaks. Hunters should expect a physically demanding hunt if they're targeting the upper elevation bands, particularly later in the season when elk push toward higher, more remote basins.

With 91% of the unit classified as public land, access is a major strength here. The overwhelming majority of this unit is open to hunters without needing to negotiate private landowner permission, which is a significant advantage over many Wyoming elk units where private land dominates prime bottomland and foothill habitat. However, 54% of the unit is designated wilderness, and that changes the access equation substantially for nonresident hunters.

Under Wyoming law, all nonresidents hunting in designated wilderness areas must hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide — this is a state requirement, not a suggestion. With more than half of Unit 56 falling inside wilderness boundaries, nonresident hunters planning a do-it-yourself hunt need to understand that most of the unit's high-country, arguably its best elk habitat during pressured periods, is off-limits to unguided nonresident hunting. Nonresidents without an outfitter should plan their hunt around the non-wilderness portions of the unit, while those willing to book a guide gain access to the full landscape, including the deep wilderness basins where mature bulls often retreat under pressure. Wyoming residents face no such restriction and can hunt the wilderness portion of Unit 56 without a guide.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 56 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data pulled together through HuntPilot, Unit 56 earns a solid recommendation for hunters who fit the right profile. The combination of a documented trophy history in the surrounding counties, respectable harvest success rates in the high-20s to mid-30s percent range, and outstanding public land access at 91% makes this a genuinely appealing general season option in western Wyoming.

That said, this isn't a slam-dunk trophy unit for every applicant. The 26:100 bull:cow ratio and rising hunter numbers over the past several seasons suggest a unit under real and growing pressure, which tempers expectations for hunters specifically chasing an exceptional bull rather than a solid, huntable one. The unit rewards hunters who are willing to get into the wilderness portions where pressure is lower and bulls have more room to mature — but that access comes with the nonresident guide requirement attached to the 54% wilderness footprint.

Residents get the most flexibility here: general season access without a guide requirement, plus the option to pursue limited-quota draw hunts for a more controlled hunting experience. Nonresidents need to plan carefully. DIY nonresident hunters should expect their opportunities concentrated in the 46% of the unit outside wilderness boundaries, while those budgeting for an outfitter can access the entire unit, wilderness included. Given the strength of the public land numbers and the trophy pedigree of the surrounding counties, Unit 56 is worth serious consideration for hunters — resident or nonresident — who go in with realistic expectations and a hunt plan matched to their access situation.

How to Apply

Wyoming's elk licensing works differently depending on residency. Residents can purchase general season elk licenses over the counter for general season areas like the general season component of Unit 56, without needing to go through the draw — though residents wanting the limited-quota draw hunts in this unit for a more controlled experience will need to apply through Wyoming Game and Fish's draw system.

Nonresidents face a different structure entirely: every Wyoming big game license for nonresidents, including general season licenses, requires a successful draw. There is no over-the-counter option for out-of-state hunters in Wyoming, regardless of unit or hunt type. Nonresidents applying for Unit 56 will choose between applying for the general season license or one of the limited-quota draw hunts, both of which go through the same annual application window.

Wyoming does not use a preference point system for resident or nonresident elk draws — elk applications in Wyoming are handled through a random draw process rather than a points-based accumulation system, so hunters should focus on choosing the right hunt and unit rather than tracking point status.

Application dates and fees change every cycle. For the current deadlines, license fees, and draw information, see HuntPilot's Wyoming page at /states/wy, or check the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's published regulations directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 56? Unit 56 spans a huge elevation range, from 5,390 feet up to 12,177 feet, covering everything from lower foothill and timbered country to high alpine basins near the unit's peaks. With 302,600 total acres and 91% public land, there's abundant terrain to hunt, but the 54% wilderness component means much of the highest, most rugged country requires backcountry travel and, for nonresidents, a licensed guide.

What is harvest success like in Unit 56? Harvest success has ranged from 27% to 36% over the past four recorded seasons (2022-2025), with 2023 posting the strongest mark at 36% success on 480 hunters. Hunter numbers have climbed significantly since then, reaching 715 hunters in 2025, with success settling around 30% as pressure has increased.

How big are the elk in Unit 56? The counties overlapping Unit 56 have a strong history of trophy-class elk in the record books, suggesting real potential for a mature bull for hunters willing to put in the effort — particularly in the wilderness portions of the unit where pressure is lower. That said, the average bull:cow ratio of 26:100 across recent surveys indicates a herd under solid hunting pressure, meaning genuinely exceptional bulls are the exception rather than the rule.

Is Unit 56 worth applying for? Yes, for hunters with realistic expectations. The unit combines strong public land access (91%), a credible trophy history in the surrounding counties, and consistent harvest success in the high-20s to mid-30s percent range. Nonresidents need to factor in the mandatory outfitter requirement for the unit's 54% wilderness footprint when planning a DIY versus guided approach.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt Unit 56? Nonresidents do not need a guide for the 46% of the unit outside designated wilderness, but Wyoming law requires all nonresidents to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide to hunt within the unit's 54% wilderness area. Residents are exempt from this requirement and can hunt the entire unit, wilderness included, without a guide.