Skip to content
ProHunt
Wyoming Elk

Unit 033 (Hoback)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk

Elk Area 33 covers the Hoback drainage south of Jackson and west of the Gros Ventre Range in northwest Wyoming — high-elevation Bridger-Teton NF timber with migration-driven elk. WGFD issues a high tag count relative to applicants here (roughly 953 tags against 652 3-year applicants) because much of the harvest depends on late-season migration weather. Grizzly country rules apply.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 033

Elk Area 33 covers the Hoback drainage south of Jackson and west of the Gros Ventre Range in northwest Wyoming — high-elevation Bridger-Teton NF timber with migration-driven elk. WGFD issues a high tag count relative to applicants here (roughly 953 tags against 652 3-year applicants) because much of the harvest depends on late-season migration weather. Grizzly country rules apply.

Where to Find Elk in Area 33

Area 33 elk summer in high Bridger-Teton NF country and migrate south and east as winter pushes in. Hoback drainage timber and sage-aspen fringes hold the bulk of fall harvest opportunity.

Dark Timber

Archery bulls hold in spruce-fir and lodgepole stringers on the Hoback headwaters. Focus on wallows and meadow edges.

Migration Corridors

Late-October and November snow triggers movement into the lower sagebrush benches. We follow the weather, not the calendar.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 33

Pro Members Only

Unlock Area 33 elk tactics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%
WGFD harvest reports for the Hoback-area elk hunts typically show rifle success between 25% and 40% in seasons with timely migration weather. Without a cold snap, success drops materially.

Elk Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— General1411100.0% 0
Rifle— General163146100.0% 0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine
Area 33's high tag count relative to applicants makes it one of Wyoming's more accessible elk draws. Non-residents typically draw Type 1 with 0-2 points; Special tags can be leftover.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Pro Members Only

Unlock Area 33 logistics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Area 33 grizzly country?
Yes. Carry bear spray, store food properly, and hunt with a partner. Report all encounters to Wyoming Game & Fish.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

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

  1. WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Elk Area 33 boundaries, Season structure, Migration hunt notes · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. 2025 Wyoming Hunting Regulations — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Season dates, Grizzly-country requirements · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. WGFD Drawing Statistics — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 33 historical draw odds · accessed 2026-04-17
  4. Bridger-Teton National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Forest road access, Wilderness boundaries, Dispersed camping · accessed 2026-04-17