Wyoming Pronghorn Elk

Unit 027

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Pronghorn, Elk

Wyoming Hunt Area 027 pronghorn is managed by Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) under a preference-point draw. Non-resident hunters apply through the regular draw, while residents enter the resident draw with separate quotas. Seasons, quotas, and license types are set annually by the WGFD Commission.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 027

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 027

Pronghorn in Hunt Area 027 follow typical Wyoming seasonal patterns tied to elevation, forage, and cover. Focus on public-land benches, sage-grass transitions, and timbered drainages early in the season, then shift to wintering range as snow deepens and animals concentrate on lower ground.

Confirm current hunt-area boundaries, access easements, and land ownership using the WGFD Hunt Planner and the agency's access-map layers before scouting trips.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 027

Glassing from high vantage points at dawn and dusk is the most efficient tactic. Use quality optics to locate animals on shaded slopes or feeding openings before planning a stalk, and still-hunt brushy draws during mid-day.

Verify public-land boundaries carefully — Wyoming's checkerboard private/public pattern is common, and corner-crossing remains legally contested. Use onX or the WGFD access map to confirm every parcel before crossing.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Historical success rates and hunter numbers for Area 027 pronghorn are published annually in the WGFD Harvest Reports. Refer to the draw odds chart below for recent tag-allocation trends.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	91	494	18.4%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming uses a preference-point draw with a 75/25 split for non-residents — 75% of tags go to highest-point applicants, and 25% are allocated via a weighted bonus-point random draw. Residents follow a similar preference structure. Build points steadily and monitor the WGFD draw statistics each summer.

Elk Hunting in Unit 027

Area 27 covers the heart of the Bighorn Mountains on Bighorn National Forest. Roughly 196 tags issued over three recent reporting years against 172 applicants puts this in the tight-draw category with excellent trophy potential. The unit runs from mid-elevation aspen-conifer slopes at 7,500 feet up to alpine country above 10,000 feet — including parts of the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Non-resident wilderness-guide rules apply to hunts inside designated Wilderness: non-residents must hunt with a licensed outfitter or a qualified resident within any designated Wilderness Area.

Where to Find Elk in Area 27

Bighorn elk move through distinct elevation bands across the season.

Archery Season — High Country

September bulls hold in the dark timber and aspen pockets between 8,500 and 10,000 feet. Wallows concentrate in the spruce stringers. Cloud Peak Wilderness and the surrounding non-wilderness NF land both hold rutting bulls.

Rifle Season — Mid-Elevation

By mid-October, elk shift down into the 7,500–9,000 foot band. Aspen-conifer transition zones and the upper drainages feeding the Tongue River and Powder River systems hold the most animals.

Late Season — Foothill Pushes

Heavy snow pushes herds off the high plateau toward lower winter range. Late hunts focus on the east and west face transitional zones.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 27

The Bighorns are a varied range — high alpine basins, timbered ridges, aspen-pocket parks, and deep canyon breaks. Tactic matches terrain.

Call From Timber Benches

Archery hunters working the 8,500-foot bench timber find responsive bulls during the rut. We locate with bugles at dawn, close the gap, and cow-call the bull in the final 100 yards.

Glass the Alpine Basins

Above tree line, the alpine basins hold bachelor bull groups through early season. Glass from the rim and plan a long stalk. Weather changes fast at 10,000 feet — pack for sudden snow.

Non-Resident Wilderness Rule

If your planned hunt area falls inside Cloud Peak Wilderness and you are a non-resident, you must hunt with a Wyoming-licensed outfitter or a qualified resident guide. This is Wyoming statute, not a policy — verify your hunt area against the wilderness boundary before applying.

Road-Accessible NF

Plenty of Area 27 lies outside the wilderness. Forest roads off US-16 (Powder River Pass) and US-14 provide access into huntable elk country without the wilderness rule.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 27 elk success runs 25–35% for rifle and 12–18% for archery per WGFD harvest reports — solid for a Wyoming mountain unit. Bull quality is good with mature 6-points showing up consistently, particularly from hunters willing to push into the wilderness interior with a guide.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	63	76	82.9%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming runs a 75% preference / 25% random split. Area 27 non-resident Type 1 (any weapon) tags require 4–6 preference points in recent cycles. Type 6 (archery) tags are more accessible at 1–3 points. Non-residents planning wilderness hunts must also secure an outfitter or qualified resident guide per statute — factor that cost into the decision.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a Wyoming Area 027 pronghorn tag?

Apply through the WGFD online license portal during the non-resident or resident application window. Wyoming uses a preference-point system — applicants with more points have priority in the 75% preference draw, with the remaining 25% allocated by weighted random bonus draw.

What is the best season to hunt Area 027 pronghorn?

Season dates are set annually by the WGFD Commission and vary by license type. Refer to the current year's regulation brochure on the WGFD website for exact opening and closing dates before applying.

Does the Wyoming wilderness guide rule apply in Area 27?

Yes, inside Cloud Peak Wilderness. Non-residents must hunt with a Wyoming-licensed outfitter or a qualified resident guide while inside any designated Wilderness Area. Non-wilderness Bighorn NF hunts are exempt.

How many points for Area 27 non-resident elk?

Type 1 (any weapon) tags require 4–6 preference points in recent cycles. Type 6 (archery) tags draw at 1–3 points. Wyoming's 25% random pool gives point-free applicants occasional hits.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

WGFD Hunt Planner — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Hunt area boundaries, Season dates, License types · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Commission regulations, Season proclamations, License quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Applications & Drawings — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Preference point system, Draw schedule, Application deadlines · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 27 boundary and season structure, Resident and non-resident quotas, Type 1 versus Type 6 structure · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunting Regulations — Non-resident Wilderness Guide Requirement — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Non-resident Wilderness guide/accompanied-hunter rule (W.S. 23-2-401), Applies to all designated Wilderness Areas, Cloud Peak Wilderness included · accessed 2026-04-17
Bighorn National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Bighorn NF management area and access, Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary, Road and trail access · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports & Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 27 elk success rates by weapon, Bull age class data, Historical harvest trends · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 027

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 027

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 027

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 027

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 027

Where to Find Elk in Area 27

Archery Season — High Country

Rifle Season — Mid-Elevation

Late Season — Foothill Pushes

How to Hunt Elk in Area 27

Call From Timber Benches

Glass the Alpine Basins

Non-Resident Wilderness Rule

Road-Accessible NF

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Nearest Town

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Sources & Verification

Unit 027

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 027

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 027

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 027

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 027

Where to Find Elk in Area 27

Archery Season — High Country

Rifle Season — Mid-Elevation

Late Season — Foothill Pushes

How to Hunt Elk in Area 27

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Sources & Verification