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WYElkUnit 98July 2026

Wyoming Unit 98 Elk Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 98 elk hunting draws serious applicants for good reason. Spanning over 1.2 million acres with 93% public land and an elevation range from 6,267 to 12,429 feet, this is a legitimate big-country elk unit that rewards hunters willing to put in the legwork. The sheer scale of accessible public terrain sets Unit 98 apart from many Wyoming units where private land creates access headaches before the hunt even begins. For hunters who want to chase elk in genuine western wilderness conditions without immediately hitting a fence line, this unit deserves a hard look.

The unit's terrain is a defining factor. The elevation span — from mid-altitude foothills to alpine summits above 12,000 feet — means elk have vertical room to move, and hunters need to be prepared to cover serious ground. With 8% designated wilderness, the majority of the unit is accessible without the guide requirement that applies to Wyoming nonresidents hunting in formal wilderness areas. That said, wilderness boundaries matter here. Nonresident hunters should carefully review maps and confirm which drainages fall inside and outside designated wilderness before committing to a DIY strategy.

HuntPilot's analysis of Unit 98 draws on four years of harvest data, wildlife survey data, and trophy history to give hunters an honest picture of what this unit offers. The data tells a story of a functioning, productive elk unit with meaningful success rates and enough habitat diversity to support a quality hunt — if hunters approach it with realistic expectations and solid preparation.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 98's harvest record over the past four seasons is one of the most compelling arguments for putting in here. The numbers show consistency with year-to-year variation that tracks seasonal conditions rather than systemic herd decline.

  • 2022: 1,002 hunters, 284 harvested — 28% success
  • 2023: 1,029 hunters, 404 harvested — 39% success
  • 2024: 1,120 hunters, 446 harvested — 40% success
  • 2025: 1,182 hunters, 392 harvested — 33% success

The four-year average sits right around 35% success, which is a meaningful figure. For context, 35% unit-wide success across more than 1,000 hunters annually represents a healthy, productive elk population — not a decimated herd where a handful of lucky hunters are dragging out the remaining bulls. The 2022 dip to 28% was the low point, but the following two seasons both came in near 40%, and even the 2025 pullback to 33% still represents a productive hunt.

The hunter numbers themselves tell a story: participation climbed from 1,002 in 2022 to 1,182 in 2025, a 18% increase. The unit is drawing more applicants even as it maintains solid success rates, which suggests that word has gotten out about its productivity. Hunters researching this unit should understand that increased participation will eventually put pressure on draw odds — another reason not to sit on this application.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data across four years (2021–2024) puts the average bull-to-cow ratio at 27 bulls per 100 cows. That figure lands below the 30:100 threshold that many state agencies use as a benchmark for a well-structured bull segment, and it reflects a herd composition that skews toward mature cows with a moderate bull presence.

A 27:100 ratio is not alarming — it's typical of a heavily hunted public land unit in Wyoming where bull harvest pressure is consistent year after year. Hunters should not expect to find a unit loaded with mature 5x5 bulls on every ridge. What the survey data does suggest is a functional herd with enough bulls to support competitive rut behavior, particularly during the peak of the elk rut in the mid-September timeframe when bulls are actively responding to calls and seeking cows.

The four-year survey window (2021–2024) provides a reasonably stable baseline. Rather than reacting to a single good or bad survey year, the multi-year average of 27:100 gives hunters a more reliable picture of what to expect in the field. The herd appears stable — not surging, but not collapsing — and the harvest success rates above confirm that elk are present in numbers sufficient to support consistent hunter opportunity.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Wyoming Unit 98 carry a moderate trophy history based on record-book production over time. This is not a unit with a deep, decades-long tradition of producing exceptional bulls that regularly challenge the upper end of the record books. Hunters targeting a legitimate once-in-a-lifetime trophy bull should temper expectations accordingly.

That said, "moderate" in Wyoming elk country still means that trophy-class animals exist in the unit. The combination of rugged high-country habitat, extensive public land, and a herd large enough to support consistent harvest means that mature bulls do get taken here. The public land access (93%) also means that bulls are not sequestered behind locked gates on private ranches — they're accessible to hunters willing to work into the backcountry.

The bull-to-cow ratio of 27:100 matters for trophy quality as well. A herd with fewer bulls relative to cows tends to produce more selective pressure on the bull segment — meaning the bulls that survive to maturity are harder to find and more experienced. Hunters who are patient, cover ground aggressively in the first days of the season, and focus on remote drainages away from trailheads will put themselves in the best position to encounter a mature bull.

Access & Terrain

The access picture in Unit 98 is exceptional by Wyoming standards. At 93% public land across 1.23 million acres, hunters are working with roughly 1.15 million acres of publicly accessible terrain. The private land footprint is minimal, which means hunters can plan routes and camps without constantly triangulating land ownership.

The elevation range from 6,267 to 12,429 feet defines the hunting strategy. Lower elevations in the 6,000–8,000-foot range hold elk in transition zones — sagebrush parks, aspen pockets, and timbered benches — while mid-elevation terrain in the 8,000–10,500-foot range is often the core summer and early-season holding ground. As the season progresses and temperatures drop, elk push downward. Hunters who identify the travel corridors between high summer range and lower winter range are positioned to intercept bulls during that movement.

The 8% wilderness designation within the unit is an important access consideration, particularly for nonresidents. Wyoming state law requires nonresident hunters to hire a licensed Wyoming outfitter or guide when hunting in designated wilderness areas. With only 8% of Unit 98 falling under that designation, the vast majority of the unit's public land is accessible for nonresident DIY hunters. However, nonresidents should confirm exact wilderness boundaries for any drainage or camp location they plan to use before committing to a DIY approach. Hunting inside a wilderness boundary without a licensed guide as a nonresident is a legal violation in Wyoming — the 8% figure means it's manageable, but it still requires attention.

Wyoming residents face no such restriction and can access wilderness areas independently.

The terrain itself is demanding. An elevation spread of over 6,000 feet means that conditions can shift dramatically from the valley floor to the summit ridges. Hunters targeting high-country elk above 10,000 feet should be prepared for weather that moves fast and cold regardless of the calendar. Physical conditioning and pack-out logistics (whether by foot, horses, or ATV on legal roads) need to be planned in advance given the remote nature of much of this country.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Wyoming Unit 98 Worth Applying For?

For resident hunters: Yes — Unit 98 is a strong candidate for the draw.

The combination of 93% public land, a four-year average success rate near 35%, and over 1.2 million acres of working elk habitat makes this a unit where resident hunters can realistically expect a productive hunt. Wyoming residents applying for elk do not accumulate preference points, so the draw for each season is straightforward — hunters should weigh their application based on the unit's production data and their own access preferences. Unit 98 delivers on both fronts.

For nonresident hunters: Competitive draw with a reasonable payoff.

Nonresident applications for Wyoming elk are always competitive across the board. Unit 98's strong public land access and solid harvest numbers make it an attractive target, which means the draw is not a pushover. Nonresidents should understand that this is a multi-year commitment for most hunters given Wyoming's nonresident draw dynamics. The nonresident point fee for 2026 is $52 — building points during off years while tracking draw trends is the standard strategy.

The harvest data argues in Unit 98's favor: 1,120 hunters at 40% success in 2024, and 1,029 hunters at 39% success in 2023, are numbers that most western states' "trophy units" can't match at this scale. This is a productive, accessible elk unit with room to hunt — not a paperweight tag that yields disappointment in the field.

The moderate trophy history means this is not the unit for hunters whose sole goal is a record-book bull. But for hunters who want a genuine Wyoming elk experience with good odds of putting meat on the ground and a realistic shot at a respectable mature bull, Unit 98 checks the boxes.

How to Apply

Wyoming's elk draw runs on a defined application calendar, and hunters need to track both the application window and the nonresident point deadline carefully.

For 2026:

  • Resident applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of June 1, 2026

    • Application fee: $5
    • Tag fee: $43 or $57 depending on the specific hunt
    • License fee: $0.00 (required to apply)

  • Nonresident applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of February 2, 2026

    • Application fee: $15
    • Tag fees: $288, $692, or $1,950 depending on the specific hunt
    • License fee: $0.00 (required to apply)
    • Point fee: $52 (nonresidents accumulating points without drawing)
    • Point deadline: November 2, 2026

For 2028:

  • All applications open January 5, 2028, with a deadline of March 1, 2028

Note the critical difference in resident vs. nonresident deadlines for 2026: nonresidents must submit by February 2, while residents have until June 1. Nonresident hunters who miss the February deadline lose that draw year entirely.

Hunters should apply through Wyoming Game and Fish Department's online license portal. HuntPilot's Wyoming state page at huntpilot.ai/states/wy aggregates current draw odds, tag allocations, and application information to help hunters time their applications strategically.

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 98?

Unit 98 is high-country elk terrain spanning 6,267 to 12,429 feet in elevation across more than 1.2 million acres. Hunters can expect a mix of sagebrush transition zones at lower elevations, timbered benches and aspen drainages through mid-range elevations, and open alpine basins and ridgelines at the top. The country is physically demanding — hunters should be prepared for significant elevation gain and pack-out logistics in remote terrain. With 93% public land, access is excellent, but the sheer size of the unit means hunters benefit from doing serious pre-season scouting using mapping tools to identify the most productive drainages.

What is the harvest success rate in Wyoming Unit 98 elk hunting?

Over the past four seasons, Unit 98 has averaged approximately 35% harvest success. The season-by-season breakdown shows 28% in 2022, 39% in 2023, 40% in 2024, and 33% in 2025 — all with over 1,000 hunters in the field each year. This consistency at meaningful sample sizes makes the data reliable. At 35% average success across more than 1,100 hunters per season, Unit 98 is one of the more productive public land elk units in Wyoming for hunters willing to cover the country.

How big are the elk in Wyoming Unit 98?

The counties overlapping Unit 98 show a moderate trophy history. This is not a unit with an elite track record of producing giant record-book bulls, but trophy-class animals have been taken from the area. The bulk of mature bulls harvested in the unit will be respectable animals — hunters targeting a legitimate once-in-a-lifetime trophy should set expectations accordingly. That said, the combination of rugged high-country habitat and 93% public land does mean that pressured, mature bulls exist in the unit for hunters who work into less-accessed terrain.

Is Wyoming Unit 98 worth applying for?

For most hunters — yes. The unit's public land access (93% across 1.23 million acres), consistent harvest success (35% four-year average), and manageable terrain for DIY hunters make it a strong all-around elk unit. It is not the right draw for hunters chasing a record-book bull above all else, but for those who want a quality Wyoming elk hunt with realistic odds of filling a tag in big, accessible country, Unit 98 delivers. Nonresidents should anticipate a competitive draw and plan accordingly. For current draw odds specific to each hunt within the unit, visit HuntPilot's Unit 98 page for the most up-to-date draw statistics.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt Wyoming Unit 98?

The short answer is: it depends on where in the unit hunters plan to camp and hunt. Wyoming law requires nonresidents to hire a licensed outfitter or guide when hunting in designated wilderness areas. Unit 98 has 8% wilderness — meaning the vast majority of its 1.23 million acres is legally accessible for nonresident DIY hunters. However, nonresidents must confirm that their planned hunting area falls outside wilderness boundaries before committing to a DIY approach. Wyoming residents are not subject to this restriction and may hunt wilderness areas independently.

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