Wyoming Unit 62 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 62 elk hunting draws serious attention from hunters chasing a high-percentage public-land elk tag backed by a strong trophy pedigree. Spanning 163,768 acres with 83% public land and 11% designated wilderness, this unit combines rugged high-country terrain with elevations ranging from 6,010 feet up to 13,142 feet — a vertical spread that gives elk plenty of room to move between summer range and lower benches as conditions change through the year.

Unit 62 has built a reputation among Wyoming elk hunters as a unit worth the point investment. Harvest success has been consistently strong across recent seasons, and the surrounding counties carry a documented trophy history. For hunters weighing whether to burn points here or keep building toward something else, the data tells a clear story — this is one of the stronger elk units in the state, with the caveat that a nonresident tag here is often a true once-in-a-lifetime draw.

Harvest Success Rates

Recent harvest data out of Unit 62 shows some of the more attractive success numbers a hunter will find in Wyoming's limited-entry elk units. In 2023, 349 hunters harvested 237 elk for a 68% success rate — an exceptional number for any western elk unit. That was followed by a dip to 42% in 2024 (354 hunters, 147 harvested), before rebounding to 55% in 2025 with 187 elk taken among 337 hunters. Back in 2022, hunters posted a 52% success rate (162 harvested out of 314 hunters).

That four-year swing — from 52% to 68% to 42% back up to 55% — shows some real year-to-year variability, likely tied to weather, elk movement, and hunting pressure timing. But even the "down" year of 42% would be considered a strong showing in many other elk units across the West. Averaged across these four seasons, hunters in Unit 62 are drawing tags with a real, demonstrated chance of putting an elk on the ground, which is a major part of why this unit holds such a strong reputation among Wyoming elk hunters.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 62 carry a strong history of producing trophy-class bulls, and that trophy pedigree is a major reason this unit is on so many hunters' radar. While specific scores and entry counts aren't the point here, the qualitative picture is clear: this is not a unit where trophy bulls are a rare accident. Hunters who put in the time to scout, glass, and hold out for a mature bull have a legitimate shot at connecting with a trophy-class animal, and the unit's history backs that up over time.

That said, hunters should keep expectations grounded. Even in the best units, most bulls taken are solid, mature animals rather than record-book giants. The trophy history in this area simply means the ceiling is real — hunters who are patient and willing to pass on younger bulls give themselves a shot at that ceiling.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four survey years (2021–2024) shows an average bull-to-cow ratio of 28:100 in Unit 62. That ratio is on the lower side for a limited-entry unit and suggests a herd structure with meaningful hunting pressure on bulls, or a cow-heavy population dynamic typical of units that also carry antlerless tags. It's not an alarming number, but it's also not the kind of inflated ratio that signals an unusually bull-heavy herd. Hunters should treat this as a realistic baseline — a healthy herd with an average bull component, not a unit stacked with mature bulls waiting behind every ridge.

Given that this is a four-year average rather than a single-year snapshot, it's a more reliable indicator of the unit's actual herd composition than any one survey would be. Hunters using HuntPilot to research Unit 62 should factor this ratio into their expectations alongside the trophy history — the two data points together suggest a unit that produces trophy bulls, but where finding one still requires real effort given the overall bull density relative to cows.

Access & Terrain

With 83% of Unit 62 in public ownership, this is a genuinely DIY-friendly unit for hunters willing to put in the legwork. The 11% wilderness designation is also worth noting for planning purposes — in Wyoming, nonresident hunters entering designated wilderness areas are legally required to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide. Since wilderness makes up a meaningful but minority share of this unit, nonresident DIY hunters have plenty of room to operate outside wilderness boundaries, but should be aware that a slice of the unit's best backcountry may only be accessible with a guide unless they're a resident.

The elevation range here — from 6,010 feet at the low end to 13,142 feet at the high end — is substantial, spanning over 7,000 vertical feet from unit floor to unit ceiling. That kind of vertical relief means hunters can expect everything from lower-elevation sagebrush and timbered benches to high alpine basins near the unit's upper reaches. This terrain diversity is part of what supports elk moving through different elevation bands depending on the time of season, weather, and forage conditions. Hunters should plan their approach around this range, scouting both lower access points and higher basins depending on where elk are holding when they draw their tag.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 62 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data, Unit 62 stands out as one of the more compelling elk units in Wyoming for hunters willing to invest points. The combination of consistently strong harvest success — including a 68% season in 2023 and a 55% season in 2025 — with a documented trophy history in the surrounding counties makes this a unit where the effort of drawing pays off in real opportunity, not just a chance to hunt.

The 83% public land figure is a major plus for DIY-minded hunters, and while the 11% wilderness component adds a guide requirement for nonresidents in those specific areas, the majority of the unit remains accessible without that added cost. The bull:cow ratio of 28:100 is a reminder that this isn't an over-the-top bull-heavy herd, but combined with the trophy record and harvest success data, it paints the picture of a well-managed unit that rewards hunters who scout hard and hunt patiently.

Tag quota trends reinforce the unit's positive trajectory. Type 1 tags have held steady at 125 from 2024 through 2026, and Type 4 tags have remained flat at 75 over the same period — both signs of a stable, well-managed allocation. More notably, Type 5 tags jumped from 175 in 2025 to 200 in 2026, a 14% increase. That's a meaningful bump in opportunity for hunters targeting that tag type, and it's worth watching whether that trend continues in future draw cycles.

For nonresidents, this unit functions largely as a long-term point investment — the kind of tag hunters build toward for years, then use once. For residents applying with fewer or no points, the flat-to-growing quota trends and strong harvest numbers make Unit 62 a reasonable target even without years of point accumulation behind them. Overall, the data supports recommending Unit 62 to hunters serious about a quality Wyoming elk hunt, provided they understand the realistic bull density and come prepared for genuinely rugged, high-elevation terrain.

How to Apply

For 2026, nonresident hunters have three tag options in this unit.

Resident hunters face a considerably lower cost structure.

Nonresident applicants should also be aware that Wyoming requires holding a qualifying license before applying for the draw in many cases — hunters should confirm current licensing prerequisites directly with the state agency before submitting an application. For the most current draw odds and tag availability specific to Unit 62, check the HuntPilot Wyoming state page at /states/wy.

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 62? Unit 62 spans an elevation range from 6,010 feet to 13,142 feet, giving hunters access to everything from lower foothill terrain to high alpine basins near the unit's peaks. With 83% of the unit in public ownership and 11% designated wilderness, hunters have substantial room to roam, though the extreme vertical relief means physical conditioning and route planning are critical for accessing the unit's higher elevation zones.

What is harvest success like in Unit 62? Harvest success in Unit 62 has been strong and somewhat variable over the past four seasons: 52% in 2022, 68% in 2023, 42% in 2024, and 55% in 2025. Averaged out, hunters drawing a tag here have a solid track record of success compared to many other Wyoming elk units, though year-to-year conditions clearly move the numbers.

How big are the elk in Unit 62? The counties overlapping Unit 62 carry a strong trophy history, giving this unit exceptional standing among hunters chasing trophy-class bulls. That said, the average bull:cow ratio of 28:100 across recent surveys suggests the overall bull density isn't unusually high, so hunters should expect that finding a true trophy bull still requires patience, scouting, and a willingness to pass on younger animals.

Is Unit 62 worth applying for? Based on the available data, yes — the combination of strong recent harvest success, a documented trophy history in the surrounding counties, stable-to-increasing tag quotas (notably the Type 5 increase from 175 to 200 tags between 2025 and 2026), and 83% public land access make this one of the more well-rounded elk units in Wyoming. Nonresidents should expect this to function as a long-term point investment rather than an easy annual draw.

Do nonresident hunters need a guide in Unit 62? Wyoming state law requires nonresident hunters to use a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide when hunting within designated wilderness areas. Since Unit 62 is 11% wilderness, nonresidents planning to hunt within that portion of the unit need to arrange a guide; however, the remaining majority of the unit's public land is open to unguided nonresident hunters.