Wyoming Antelope Elk

Unit 088 (Upper Green River)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Antelope, Elk

Pronghorn Area 088 covers the upper Green River Basin north of Pinedale against the Wind River Range foothills. Historically one of Wyoming's premier pronghorn units for buck quality (15+ inch animals regularly taken), the 2023 winter collapse and ongoing migration disruption have dramatically reduced quotas — 268 tags against 1,166 applicants. Remaining animals are still of high caliber but densities are low. Public land is 50-60% BLM mixed with private ranchland.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Antelope Hunting in Unit 088

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 088

Area 088 antelope historically occupied the Pinedale Anticline and the famous "Path of the Pronghorn" migration corridor connecting the Upper Green to the Red Desert winter range.

Mesa and Anticline

BLM sage on the Pinedale Mesa and along the Anticline holds the best remaining concentrations. Glass from the county roads and BLM two-tracks west and south of Pinedale.

Ranch Fringes

Private alfalfa ground along the Green River corridor draws pronghorn onto edges. Public-private boundaries with BLM sage adjacent are the most productive hunting ground.

Foothills of the Wind Rivers

The east edge of the unit against the Wind River Range holds scattered groups using the sage-aspen transition for cover.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 088

With densities down post-2023, hunting Area 088 requires more patience and ground-covering than historical norms — but buck quality among survivors is excellent.

Scout Water

Reservoirs and stock tanks on the Mesa concentrate bucks during warm early-season weather. Sit water from archery blinds for best odds.

Ranch Boundary Glassing

Spend dawn and dusk glassing BLM sage along private ranch lines. Pronghorn move off private alfalfa at first light and back in before dark.

Trophy Patience

With few bucks around, take time to classify through a spotting scope before committing to a stalk. Prime 15-inch animals are present but outnumbered by smaller bucks.

Migration Timing

The Path of the Pronghorn migration kicks off in late September. Hunters timing the pre-migration window (late September to early October) catch resident bucks before they begin moving south.

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Antelope Success Rates

Area 088 rifle success has dropped to 55-70% from its historical 85-95% range. Archery runs 20-30%. Days-per-harvest has roughly doubled. Expect recovery over several seasons if winters stay moderate.

Antelope Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	24	200	12.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming's 75/25 preference-point split (75% max-point, 25% random weighted by points — not squared). Area 088 historically drew at 2-4 points; post-winterkill quota cuts pushed it to 4-7 for non-resident Type 1. Type 2 tags remain more accessible at 1-3 points. The random draw is a real factor given how few tags are issued.

Elk Hunting in Unit 088

Elk Area 88 covers Commissary Ridge and the south end of the Wyoming Range in western Wyoming — high, rugged timber country on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. We target this area for its combination of migratory elk, big-bull genetics (300-plus is a real possibility), and vast public-land backbone. Tags are limited but not brutal, and the area handles the hunting pressure it gets because the country is genuinely big.

Where to Find Elk in Area 88

Elk in Area 88 use the full vertical range of the Wyoming Range, from aspen foothills at 6,500 feet to the 10,000-foot crest of Commissary Ridge.

Archery Season

Bulls rut in the timbered basins west of Commissary Ridge, particularly the Hams Fork headwaters and Pomeroy Basin. Spruce-fir stringers with open meadow edges hold consistent bugling activity in the second and third weeks of September.

Rifle Season

Early rifle in October finds elk still at elevation. As snow accumulates, herds drop into the Greys River drainage on the east side and the La Barge Creek corridor on the west. Watch the mid-elevation aspen-conifer transition between 7,500 and 8,500 feet.

Late Season

November and December migration pulls big numbers of elk through Area 88 bound for low-elevation winter range. Hunters with late tags position along the migration corridors on the north end of the unit.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 88

Area 88 rewards the hunter who can cover rugged country on foot or with stock.

Glass the High Basins at Dawn

Ridgetop glassing from Commissary Ridge looks into a half-dozen drainages. A pre-dawn hike to an 8,500-foot vantage is the single highest-leverage move in this unit.

Bugle in the Timber Pockets

September bulls answer readily in the Hams Fork and Pomeroy headwaters. Locate with a cold bugle from a ridgeline, then drop in to set up on any response before the bull moves.

Follow the Migration

Late October and November hunters should pay attention to weather maps. A storm pushing snow into the high country sets off measurable elk movement within 24-48 hours. Be positioned on known travel corridors when the front hits.

Stock vs. Backpack

Horses pay for themselves in Area 88. Pack-outs from the upper Greys River or Pomeroy Basin can exceed six miles one-way. Backpack hunters can work the accessible front country off the La Barge and Hams Fork roads and still find bulls.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 88 rifle hunters post 25-35% success on bull tags; archery runs 15-20%. Success correlates tightly with early snow — a warm, dry October sees elk stay high and scattered, while an October storm concentrates animals and boosts harvest numbers sharply.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	67	85	78.8%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Area 88 runs through Wyoming's 75% preference-point / 25% weighted-random draw. Non-resident Type 1 tags typically draw at 6-9 preference points, with the random pool occasionally pulling 3-4 point hunters. Archery Type 6 runs lighter — 3-5 preference points in most years. Residents clear Type 1 at 1-3 points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Pinedale has several RV parks.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed BLM camping on the Mesa and Anticline. Fremont Lake and Half Moon Lake campgrounds north of Pinedale for developed options.

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Trailer Access

County roads and main BLM arteries handle trailers. Avoid two-tracks after rain.

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Water

Limited in the sage. Reservoirs and stock tanks on the Mesa. Haul camp water.

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Road Conditions

Paved county roads, graded gravel BLM mains, two-track spurs. 4WD recommended.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy. Rolling sage at 7,000-7,500 feet.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. Pinedale proximity draws local hunters and the unit is well-known for quality.

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Weather

Early season highs 55-80°F, lows 25-40°F. Quick changes common.

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Cell Service

Decent around Pinedale and the Anticline; spotty in outer ranges.

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Nearest Town

Pinedale is the primary base; full services. Jackson (80 miles north) and Rock Springs (100 miles south) are alternatives.

Note: Area 088 is still a quality-buck destination but current conditions favor patience and lower expectations on shot frequency. If you draw, commit to a 3-4 day hunt to find a mature animal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Area 088 still worth drawing after the 2023 winterkill?

Yes, if buck quality is your priority. Quotas are down but surviving bucks tend to be mature — 14-16 inch animals are realistic. If you want high shot frequency, look at Red Desert units (53, 25) instead.

What is the Path of the Pronghorn?

A documented migration corridor connecting the upper Green River summer range in Area 088 to wintering grounds in the Red Desert. It's among the longest mammal migrations in North America and crosses numerous highways and pipeline corridors.

How many preference points do I need?

Post-winterkill, non-resident Type 1 tags typically require 4-7 points. Pre-2023 numbers (2-4) no longer apply. Type 2 doe/fawn tags draw at 1-3.

Is Area 88 inside a designated wilderness?

No. While the Wyoming Range is rugged and remote, Area 88 does not fall inside a federally designated wilderness area, so Wyoming's non-resident guide rule does not apply here.

What is the average bull size in Area 88?

Most harvested bulls run 280-310 inches. Bulls over 330 come out every year, and a handful of 350-class bulls are reported each season.

Do I need horses to hunt Area 88?

No, but they help. Backpack hunters can succeed on the road-accessible fringes. For genuine backcountry hunts deep in the Wyoming Range, stock support is close to essential.

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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 — Antelope — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Pronghorn Area 088 boundary, Quota adjustments · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports and Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 088 success history and current status · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Pinedale Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Upper Green River Basin public land, Mesa area access · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Preference Points — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Preference-point draw mechanics · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 88 boundary in the Wyoming Range, Season structure, License types · accessed 2026-04-17
Bridger-Teton National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Commissary Ridge access, Wyoming Range designated wilderness-adjacent areas · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 088 (Upper Green River)

Antelope Hunting in Unit 088

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 088

Mesa and Anticline

Ranch Fringes

Foothills of the Wind Rivers

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 088

Antelope Success Rates

Antelope Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 088

Where to Find Elk in Area 88

Archery Season

Rifle Season

Late Season

How to Hunt Elk in Area 88

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification