Hunting Regulations in Wyoming

Resident hunting license required; species-specific tags required in addition. Resident elk license: ~$46; Deer license: ~$37; Antelope: ~$31. Nonresident elk tag: ~$628; Deer tag: ~$330; Antelope: ~$306. PREFERENCE POINT SYSTEM: Points used for moose, bighorn sheep (full price), nonresident elk, nonresident deer, and nonresident antelope draws. Resident deer/elk/antelope: random draw (no preference points). Wilderness areas require licensed guide for nonresidents. Special military/veteran discounts. Application deadlines: Nonresident elk Jan. 31; Deer/antelope May 31; Moose/sheep/goat April 30; Spring turkey Jan. 31.

Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department (wgfd.wyo.gov). Last updated: 2026-03-05. Regulations may have changed — always verify with the official agency.

Wyoming is the crown jewel of western big game hunting. The Cowboy State hosts the world's largest pronghorn antelope population, some of North America's finest elk hunting in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, and trophy mule deer in dramatic canyon and basin country. With over 280 individual hunt areas across seven major regions, Wyoming's Game and Fish Department has built a sophisticated wildlife management system that balances hunter opportunity with long-term population sustainability.

The state's draw system is critical to understand before planning a Wyoming hunt. Preference points accumulate for moose, bighorn sheep, and the most competitive elk and deer units – nonresidents may wait 5–15+ years to draw a moose tag, while antelope and some deer units offer over-the-counter tags with reasonable odds. The Greater Yellowstone elk herd supports early September bugling hunts that rank among the most memorable experiences in North American hunting.

Wyoming's vast public land base – including the Bridger-Teton, Shoshone, and Bighorn National Forests, as well as millions of acres of BLM land – provides accessible terrain for non-guided hunters in general units. Nonresidents hunting wilderness areas are required by law to hire a licensed guide, adding to the experience but also the cost of hunting Wyoming's most remote terrain.

Best Times to Hunt in Wyoming

🎯 Expert Hunting Tips for Wyoming

• Elk hunters drawing archery tags in Hunt Area 1 of the Bridger-Teton National Forest should target the September 1–15 peak rut window when mature bulls bugle aggressively along the headwaters of the Hoback and Greys rivers.
• Pronghorn hunters with limited entry tags in Hunt Area 67 (Sublette County) find exceptional trophy bucks in the high desert flats – spotting scopes and long-range shooting at 300+ yards is standard here.
• Nonresidents building preference points for moose should consider Wyoming's general units in Park and Teton counties, where the Jackson Hole area produces 50+ inch bulls that justify the multi-year investment.
• Turkey hunters applying for spring tags should focus on the Black Hills units in Crook County, where Merriam's turkey populations are excellent and the draw odds are more reasonable than premium elk and deer units.