Wyoming Unit 61 Elk Hunting Guide
Wyoming Unit 61 sits in the mid-elevation terrain of central Wyoming, spanning 246,359 acres with a vertical range from 5,493 feet up to 12,616 feet. That elevation spread means hunters encounter everything from open sagebrush flats at the lower reaches to high alpine basins pushing above timberline near the summit — a diversity of terrain that supports elk year-round and creates multiple hunting opportunities across different habitat types. Unit 61 elk hunting draws consistent interest from both resident and nonresident hunters, and the data behind this unit tells a nuanced story worth examining closely before you commit an application.
With 70% public land, access is meaningfully above average for Wyoming. The majority of the unit is huntable without navigating private land issues, and the 31% wilderness designation adds a layer of rugged, lightly pressured terrain for those willing to work for it. That wilderness component, however, carries significant legal weight for nonresidents — more on that below.
This is not a sleeper unit. Hunter numbers consistently sit above 1,000, and the unit's trophy history and consistent harvest figures have kept it on serious applicants' radar. Understanding what the data actually says — not just the headline success rates — is critical to evaluating whether Unit 61 deserves a spot at the top of your application stack.
HuntPilot Analysis: Is Wyoming Unit 61 Worth Applying For?
The honest answer is: it depends heavily on what you're looking for and whether you're a resident or nonresident.
Harvest success across four recent years tells a volatile story. In 2023, success hit 67% — an exceptional figure that put Unit 61 among Wyoming's stronger elk units. The following year, 2024 dropped sharply to 33%, and 2025 rebounded to 53% with 537 of 1,010 hunters filling tags. The 2022 data comes from a smaller hunter pool of 441 hunters, with 52% success. The multi-year average hovers near the low-to-mid 50s, which is respectable for a unit this size with consistent hunter pressure above 1,000. The 2024 dip warrants attention — single-year anomalies happen, but a 34-point swing from one year to the next signals that conditions (weather, migration timing, hunting pressure) can significantly affect outcomes.
Bull-to-cow ratios offer another calibration point. The four-year average (2021–2024) sits at 26 bulls per 100 cows. That's a moderate ratio — below what biologists typically target for trophy-quality herds, but not alarming for a heavily hunted unit of this size. It suggests the bull age structure is being managed for opportunity rather than maximum trophy potential, which aligns with the high overall hunter numbers the unit supports.
Trophy quality in the counties overlapping Unit 61 shows a strong history of record-class elk production over multiple decades. This is not a unit without trophy credentials. However, hunters should calibrate expectations: trophy-class bulls are the exception, not the rule, in a unit that runs 1,000-plus hunters annually. The herd is producing, but sustained hunting pressure at this scale naturally limits the proportion of mature bulls reaching their full potential.
The wilderness factor is critical for nonresidents. With 31% of the unit designated wilderness, a meaningful portion of the highest-quality, lowest-pressure terrain falls inside that boundary. Under Wyoming law, nonresident hunters in designated wilderness areas must hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter. DIY nonresidents can hunt the non-wilderness 69% of the unit, but the most remote backcountry is effectively off-limits without an outfitter. Resident hunters face no such restriction.
Bottom line: Unit 61 is a legitimate elk unit with real success data, solid public land access, and a defensible trophy history. Residents with the right draw timing can find excellent value here. Nonresidents should weigh the outfitter requirement against the limited-entry costs before applying — this is not an easy draw, and the wilderness constraint limits the DIY ceiling.
Harvest Success Rates
Unit 61's recent harvest record provides four years of data to work with:
| Year | Hunters | Harvested | Success Rate | |------|---------|-----------|--------------| | 2023 | 1,035 | 698 | 67% | | 2025 | 1,010 | 537 | 53% | | 2022 | 441 | 231 | 52% | | 2024 | 1,026 | 341 | 33% |
The peak year was 2023, when nearly 700 hunters filled tags — an unusually high success figure for a unit of this access and hunter density. The 2024 numbers represent the floor, with only one in three hunters connecting. The 2025 rebound to 53% is encouraging and may reflect corrective pressure adjustments or favorable conditions. Hunters planning a trip around "average" success should budget for the reality that outcomes can swing dramatically year to year.
The hunter count consistency is notable: in three of four years, the unit ran over 1,000 hunters. That level of sustained demand reflects both the unit's reputation and the tag structures supporting broad access. Pressure is real in Unit 61, particularly during peak periods.
Trophy Quality
The counties overlapping Wyoming Unit 61 carry a strong trophy history across multiple decades of record keeping. This is an area with legitimate credentials for producing exceptional elk, and that history is not superficial — it spans multiple decades and reflects consistent production of record-class animals.
That said, hunters should ground-truth trophy expectations against the current bull-to-cow ratio and hunter pressure data. A 26:100 bull-to-cow average suggests the herd is not carrying a large proportion of fully mature bulls at any given time. Trophy animals are taken here, but the unit is not managed for a low-pressure, high-trophy structure. Hunters specifically targeting record-class bulls will face long odds in a unit operating at this hunter density, regardless of the underlying genetic potential.
For hunters whose primary goal is a mature bull — not necessarily a record-book contender — the trophy trajectory here is solid. The area has a demonstrated history of producing exceptional elk, and the high-country wilderness terrain provides refugia where mature bulls can reach age.
Herd Health & Population Trends
Wildlife survey data from 2021–2024 shows a four-year average bull-to-cow ratio of 26:100. This figure is a useful benchmark for understanding herd composition, though it should be interpreted carefully.
A 26:100 ratio falls on the lower end of what managers target for trophy-quality herds, reflecting the reality of sustained hunting pressure across a unit that consistently runs 1,000-plus hunters. Units managed for trophy opportunity typically maintain ratios above 30:100, sometimes higher. The current average suggests Unit 61 is managed more for broad participation and harvest opportunity than for maximum trophy ceiling.
Four survey years of data provides reasonable confidence in this average — it's not a one-year snapshot. Hunters should not expect significant year-to-year swings in this ratio; the structural factors (hunter numbers, tag allocations, terrain) that drive it are relatively stable.
Encouragingly, the harvest success data doesn't show a long-term declining trend in overall elk numbers. Despite consistent pressure, success rates remain in the 33–67% range across years, which indicates a functional elk population absorbing annual harvest. A collapsing herd would show declining success across consecutive years — Unit 61's data doesn't show that pattern, even accounting for the 2024 dip.
Access & Terrain
Wyoming Unit 61 covers 246,359 acres across an elevation band from 5,493 to 12,616 feet. That 7,000-foot vertical range produces dramatically different hunting environments within the same unit boundary.
At 70% public land, access is meaningfully better than many Wyoming units, where private land checkerboarding creates significant navigation challenges. The large public land base means DIY hunters — particularly residents — can access quality terrain without extensive private land negotiation.
The 31% wilderness designation defines the upper, most rugged tier of the unit. This country is demanding: pack-in distances are significant, trails are steep, and weather at altitude can deteriorate rapidly. For nonresidents, this terrain is only accessible with a licensed Wyoming outfitter, which changes the cost and logistics equation substantially. For residents, the wilderness offers the unit's highest-quality, lowest-pressure elk habitat — the kind of terrain where mature bulls spend the bulk of the season.
Non-wilderness public land in Unit 61 still offers genuine DIY opportunity. The lower elevation sagebrush and timber zones are road-accessible in many areas and represent the bulk of the unit's hunter activity. Elk move through these areas, particularly as conditions change seasonally, and success rates above 50% in two of four years demonstrate that elk are accessible without penetrating the wilderness core.
The terrain demands physical preparation regardless of which zone hunters target. Even the lower elevation country involves significant climbing given the landscape's general relief.
How to Apply
Wyoming's draw system for nonresidents is a true preference point system — applicants with the most points are drawn first, with remaining tags allocated randomly among lower-point applicants. For residents, the system similarly prioritizes accumulated preference points. Unit 61 is a limited-entry draw unit; nonresidents cannot simply buy an over-the-counter tag.
Important for nonresidents: Wyoming law requires nonresidents hunting in designated wilderness areas to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter. Given that 31% of Unit 61 is wilderness, nonresidents should factor outfitter costs into their planning from the start.
2026 Application Details
Residents:
- Applications open: January 2, 2026
- Deadline: June 1, 2026
- Application fee: $5
- Tag fees: $43 or $57 (depending on hunt type)
- License fee: $0 (required to apply)
Nonresidents:
- Applications open: January 2, 2026
- Deadline: February 2, 2026
- Point-only deadline: November 2, 2026
- Application fee: $15
- Tag fees: $288, $692, or $1,950 (depending on hunt type)
- License fee: $0 (required to apply)
- Point fee: $52
Note the significantly earlier nonresident deadline — February 2 versus June 1 for residents. Nonresidents who miss the February deadline can still purchase a preference point before November 2 to maintain their point accumulation for future draws.
2028 Application Details
For the 2028 draw cycle, applications open January 5 with a deadline of March 1, 2028. Visit HuntPilot's Wyoming draw page for current draw odds and updated quota information as the application cycle approaches.
Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 61?
Unit 61 spans from approximately 5,500 feet to over 12,600 feet, producing a wide range of terrain types. The lower reaches are characterized by sagebrush flats and open foothills, while mid-elevations transition to timbered slopes and drainages. The upper third of the unit — much of which falls in designated wilderness — pushes into high alpine basins and rugged ridge country. Hunters should be prepared for physically demanding terrain across the entire unit, not just the wilderness portions.
What is the harvest success rate in Wyoming Unit 61 elk hunting?
Based on HuntPilot data, Unit 61 success rates over four recent seasons ranged from 33% (2024) to 67% (2023). The 2025 season came in at 53%, and 2022 sat at 52%. The multi-year pattern suggests a functional average around 50%, though annual variation can be significant depending on weather, migration timing, and draw population. Hunters should not plan around peak-year figures.
How big are the elk in Wyoming Unit 61?
The counties overlapping Unit 61 have a strong, multi-decade trophy history. The area has produced record-class bulls consistently over time, which reflects genuine genetic potential in the population. However, with hunter numbers consistently above 1,000 and a bull-to-cow ratio averaging 26:100 across recent surveys, the proportion of fully mature bulls in the herd is limited. Trophy-class animals are taken in this unit, but hunters targeting record-book bulls face competitive odds alongside many other hunters pursuing the same mature animals.
Is Wyoming Unit 61 worth applying for?
For Wyoming residents, Unit 61 is a credible option with solid success rates, meaningful public land access, and a legitimate trophy history. Residents comfortable hunting the wilderness terrain independently have access to the unit's best country without outfitter costs. For nonresidents, the calculus is more complex: the limited-entry draw is competitive, the nonresident deadline is early (February 2 for 2026), and the wilderness requirement means the highest-quality terrain involves outfitter expenses on top of tag costs reaching up to $1,950. Nonresidents with an outfitter relationship and the point investment to draw will find a capable elk unit; DIY nonresidents face more constraints. For current draw odds specific to your point level, visit HuntPilot's Wyoming unit page at /states/wy.
What are the tag quota trends in Wyoming Unit 61?
Tag allocations in Unit 61 vary by hunt type and have shown some movement in recent regulation cycles. The Type 1 allocation saw a reduction from 2025 to 2026, while other hunt types remained stable across that same period. Hunters should check current quota data before each application cycle, as adjustments can affect draw competitiveness. Quota information for the 2028 draw will be published by Wyoming Game and Fish prior to the January application opening.