Wyoming Elk Pronghorn

Unit 056 (North Absaroka)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Pronghorn

Elk Area 56 covers the North Absaroka country west of Cody — rugged Shoshone National Forest terrain bordering the North Absaroka Wilderness and Yellowstone. Legendary backcountry elk country with migration herds from Yellowstone and Sunlight Basin feeding winter range in the unit. Bulls in the 300-340 class are realistic; truly massive 350+ bulls are taken every year by hunters who commit to the backcountry.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 056

Where to Find Elk in Area 56

Area 56 elk tie directly into the Yellowstone/Sunlight Basin migration.

Archery Season (September)

Bulls hold in high basins and aspen stringers above 9,000 feet in the Absaroka backcountry. Headwaters of Sunlight Creek, Crandall Creek, and the North Fork Shoshone hold rutting bulls.

Rifle Season

Snow drives elk into mid-elevation timber. Migration routes funnel herds through forest-meadow saddles.

Late Season

Yellowstone-origin elk move through the unit heading to winter range in the Bighorn Basin. Late-season migration hunts produce legendary bulls.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 56

Classic backcountry elk hunt. Go deep, glass hard, hunt smart.

Horseback Backcountry

Outfitters based in Cody, Wapiti, and Sunlight Basin offer week-long backcountry drop camps 5-15 miles from the road. Serious hunters with stock experience can self-guide.

Basin and Ridge Glassing

Wide-open basins allow long-range glassing. Mature bulls visible 2-4 miles at dawn. Top optics essential.

Migration Corridors

Late-season migration hunting in the forest-meadow saddles leading toward winter range is the Area 56 signature tactic. Snow-storm days push herds predictably.

Bear Awareness

Core grizzly country. Bear spray, group travel, carcass handling regulations must be followed. More grizzly encounters during pack-outs than anywhere else in Wyoming.

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Elk Success Rates

Archery22%

Rifle44%

Area 56 rifle success averages 14-20% DIY, 40-60% with outfitters. The low DIY number reflects the country's demands — deep wilderness, heavy grizzly presence, serious weather. Outfitted hunters in established camps with horse support consistently perform well.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Archery— General	25	0	0.0%
Rifle— General	42	18	100.0%
Rifle— General	8	260	3.1%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Area 56 Type 1 non-resident tags draw at 7-12 preference points. Wyoming's 75/25 split offers yearly random opportunity. Type 6 archery tags draw easier (3-7 points). Plan for significant multi-year point accumulation.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 056

Pronghorn Area 56 covers the Shirley Basin country of south-central Wyoming — classic pronghorn country with a long reputation for big bucks. We like this unit for its historic trophy pedigree (80-inch-plus bucks every season), mixed BLM and state public land, and open terrain that rewards patient glassing. Tags run tight: 81 tags over three years against 248 applicants, which pushes point requirements up slightly but keeps pressure low.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 56

Shirley Basin pronghorn hold on classic open sage benches, with concentrations shifting with forage and water.

Central Basin

BLM sage country between Hanna and Medicine Bow holds the biggest bucks historically. Windmill-fed tanks on public ground are bedrock-reliable.

Foothills

The transition where basin sage meets the Shirley Mountains foothills on the southwest edge holds bucks that push out of the open country under pressure.

Walk-In and State Sections

State-section grid and walk-in parcels give additional access on otherwise private country. Check the WGFD atlas.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 56

Shirley Basin is classic glass-and-stalk terrain with a legit trophy target.

Sort Bucks Carefully

Area 56 is one of the few Wyoming units where 80-inch bucks are a realistic shooter benchmark. Spend the first 1-2 days glassing before you commit to a stalk — the best buck you see on day one may not be the best buck in the unit.

Hunt the Seams

Edges between BLM and private ag hold the biggest bucks. Walk-in access opens otherwise-closed seams.

Use the Terrain

Shirley Basin has more relief than it looks like from the highway — rolling ridges and shallow draws create stalking routes. A good topo and OnX session before the hunt pays off.

Shoot Clean

Wind is near-constant. Practice 300-yard shots from field positions with a real read on wind before you commit.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Area 56 rifle success runs 85-92%. The trophy reputation pulls a patient, skilled applicant pool — hunters who draw the tag tend to put in the effort and leave with mature bucks. Several 85-plus-inch bucks are reported out of the unit every season.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	20	38	52.6%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Under the 75/25 preference/random split, Area 56 non-resident Type 1 tags typically draw at 3-5 preference points. The random pool occasionally pulls 1-2 point applicants. Residents clear at 0-1 points. A realistic third-to-fifth-year non-resident target.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Cody RV parks. Wapiti valley has some RV-friendly campgrounds.

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Camp Sites

Developed USFS campgrounds along North Fork Shoshone (Wapiti, Elk Fork, etc.). Sunlight Basin has dispersed and developed options.

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Trailer Access

US-14/16/20 to Wapiti is paved. USFS mains handle horse trailers. Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296) to Sunlight is paved and spectacular.

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Water

Abundant — North Fork Shoshone, Sunlight Creek, Crandall, numerous tributaries.

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Road Conditions

Paved primaries. USFS gravel well-maintained. Late-season snow closures on higher routes.

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Terrain Difficulty

Very strenuous. 6,500-12,000+ foot country, wilderness access via trail only. Serious fitness and backcountry skills required.

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Hunting Pressure

Low in the backcountry. Roadside pressure on Wapiti valley campgrounds is higher.

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Weather

October: 30-55°F days, 10-25°F nights. November: cold, heavy snow, frequent storms. Full winter backcountry kit.

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Cell Service

Coverage in Cody and along US-14/16/20. None in backcountry. Satellite communicator mandatory.

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Nearest Town

Cody (base). Full services including many outfitters, meat processors, taxidermists. Wapiti (30 minutes west) for closer trailhead access.

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Permit Notes

North Absaroka Wilderness prohibits motorized use. Grizzly regulations for carcass handling and storage are strictly enforced — understand them before hunting.

Note: Area 56 is a bucket-list elk hunt. Most non-resident hunters go outfitted — the cost is justified by the country, the bulls, and the guided bear protection. Outfitters book 2-3 years ahead.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to hunt Area 56 without a guide?

DIY is legal and possible, but non-resident hunters without backcountry/grizzly experience should strongly consider outfitted hunts. Grizzly encounters during pack-outs are the primary risk.

What's the bull quality really like?

Legitimately excellent. The Yellowstone/Sunlight migration brings mature, genetically diverse bulls. 320+ class animals come out regularly; 350+ is a realistic outfitted-hunt target.

How much does an outfitted hunt cost?

Area 56 outfitted elk hunts typically run $7,500-$12,500 for a week-long backcountry hunt with horse support, camp, and guide. Prices reflect the operating costs and tag scarcity.

Is Area 56 really a trophy unit?

Yes. Shirley Basin has a long-standing reputation as one of Wyoming's best antelope units for 80-plus inch bucks. A committed hunter can reasonably expect a 75-80 inch buck and has real odds at an 82-plus.

What makes the basin so productive?

A combination of fertile sage forage, abundant stock-tank water, relatively mild winters, and good buck-age structure from managed tag allocation.

Can I base in Medicine Bow?

Yes, but services are minimal. Most hunters base in Rawlins (45 minutes) for lodging and groceries while staying inside the basin for meal breaks only.

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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 — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 56 boundary and season dates · accessed 2026-04-17
Shoshone National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: North Absaroka Wilderness boundary, Sunlight Basin access, Motor vehicle use map · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 56 success and bull quality data · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Pronghorn — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 56 boundary in the Shirley Basin, Season structure · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Rawlins Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Public land mosaic in Shirley Basin, Travel management · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Walk-In Areas — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Walk-in parcels in Shirley Basin, Access rules · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 056 (North Absaroka)

Elk Hunting in Unit 056

Where to Find Elk in Area 56

Archery Season (September)

Rifle Season

Late Season

How to Hunt Elk in Area 56

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 056

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 56

Central Basin

Foothills

Walk-In and State Sections

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 56

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Sources & Verification