Wyoming Elk Pronghorn

Unit 097 (South Wind River)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Pronghorn

Hunt Area 97 covers the southern Wind River Range country near Atlantic City and South Pass — high-elevation timber, alpine basins, and sage-aspen transition on Shoshone NF and BLM. With three-year license issuance running above applicant count, this is a realistic accessible-backcountry elk option in a legendary range.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 097

Where to Find Elk in Area 97

Elk in Area 97 use the spruce-fir timber and alpine basins of the southern Wind River Range, then step into sage-aspen transitions at lower elevations.

Archery Season

Bulls bugle in the basins and timbered ridges above 9,000 feet. We focus on the Sweetwater drainages and the public-access timber benches near South Pass.

Rifle Season

Snow pushes elk into the mid-elevation timber (7,500–9,000 feet) along the east face of the Wind Rivers. The transition onto BLM and the sage-timber edge produces rifle opportunity.

How to Hunt Elk in Area 97

We hunt Area 97 as a backcountry-light unit — longer packs than most Wyoming elk units, but short of wilderness-only country.

Non-Resident Wilderness Rule

Wyoming requires non-residents to hire a licensed guide or hunt with a resident relative inside designated wilderness. Sections of Area 97 fall inside Popo Agie Wilderness — we verify unit-and-wilderness overlay before planning.

Trailhead Access

Louis Lake, Worthen Meadows, and Christina Lake trailheads provide access onto Shoshone NF. We camp trailhead-side and hunt 2–4 miles in.

Timber-Basin Pattern

Glass open basins at first and last light; still-hunt timber benches mid-day.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 97 elk success has run 25–40% across recent rifle seasons. Three-year totals of 414 applicants with 582 licenses show generous allocation relative to demand — often issuing leftover licenses.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	210	102	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Under Wyoming's 75/25 draw, Area 97 has cleared most resident any-elk licenses at zero to two preference points, and many non-resident Type 9 (reduced-price cow/calf) and archery licenses have been available as leftover. Non-resident regular licenses have required one to three points.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 097

Area 97 sits in southwestern Wyoming — the Green River Basin sage country spanning parts of Lincoln and Sublette counties. Tag allocation is tight at roughly 52 tags over three reporting years against 168 applicants, reflecting the trophy reputation this part of the state holds. Public land access is strong on BLM, and buck quality runs well above Wyoming average. We treat Area 97 as a point-build area when a trophy-class buck is the goal.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 97

Area 97 pronghorn work the big sage basins of the Green River drainage.

Sage Basins of the Green River Drainage

The public-dominated sage country along the upper Green holds mature bucks. Glass from elevated two-tracks at first and last light — the country is huge and the sage is tall enough to hide class bucks easily.

Ridge Benches

Elevated benches along the Wyoming Range foothills hold older-age-class bucks. These are typical rut-season hunt areas when territorial bucks stake out visible perches.

Water Sources Early

September hunts focus on reservoirs and reliable springs. Mapping water before season is critical — dry stock tanks have pushed us to Plan B more than once.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 97

Area 97 is a trophy-focused hunt — patience and glass time win over acres covered.

Glass First, Walk Second

We spend the first day of a 5-day hunt purely glassing from elevated BLM two-tracks, identifying a shooter rather than settling for the first buck we see. A 14-inch-plus buck is realistic here.

Wind-Right Stalks

Once we have a shooter, we plan a wind-right stalk using the rolling sage. Expect 1–3 miles on foot for a careful approach to a bedded buck.

Decoy the Rut

October rut tactics favor a silhouette decoy — mature territorial bucks in the Green River Basin are predictable and aggressive during the peak rut window.

Public-Only Strategy

The BLM footprint is big enough that a DIY hunter can run an entire hunt on public land. We use onX public-surface layers and confirm state-parcel boundaries before any shot.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Area 97 pronghorn success runs 75–90% per WGFD harvest reports. Buck quality is where this area stands out — horn length averages run notably higher than surrounding opportunity units, and Boone-and-Crockett-class bucks show up every year.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	17	59	28.8%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Wyoming uses a 75% preference / 25% random split. Area 97 non-resident pronghorn tags typically require 3–5 preference points in recent cycles, reflecting the trophy reputation. Residents draw with 1–2 points. Zero-point applicants occasionally hit the 25% random pool.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Developed Shoshone NF campgrounds (Louis Lake, Worthen Meadows, Fiddlers Lake). Dispersed camping widely allowed.

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Road Conditions

Paved to major trailheads; forest roads beyond are maintained gravel. Spur roads need 4WD.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous. High elevation (8,000–11,000 feet). Acclimatize before hunting.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate at trailheads, low 2+ miles in.

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Weather

Archery 30–70°F, rifle 10–40°F with snow events likely at elevation.

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Cell Service

Limited near Lander; none in the unit interior.

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Nearest Town

Lander (full services, 25 miles from Louis Lake trailhead). Atlantic City and South Pass City for local character but no fuel.

Note: Non-resident wilderness guide requirement is a hard rule — do not hunt designated wilderness without a licensed outfitter unless the unit portion is outside the wilderness boundary.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a guide to hunt Area 97 as a non-resident?

Only if hunting inside a designated wilderness. Portions of Area 97 fall in the Popo Agie Wilderness — non-residents must hire a licensed outfitter or hunt with a resident relative there. Non-wilderness portions of the unit have no such requirement.

How accessible is Area 97 for a first-time Wind Rivers hunt?

Quite accessible. Paved access to Louis Lake and Worthen Meadows trailheads and generous license allocation make this one of the more realistic ways to hunt elk in the southern Wind Rivers.

Is Area 97 worth the points for a non-resident?

If trophy quality matters, yes. Horn length averages and Boone-and-Crockett-class buck frequency put Area 97 among the best public-land pronghorn options in Wyoming.

Can I do Area 97 DIY on public land?

Yes. BLM dominates the unit and walk-in access is strong. We recommend heavy pre-trip mapping with onX and a flexible week-long itinerary.

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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 (Area 97) — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 97 boundary in the southern Wind River Range, Season structure and weapon types, License type allocations · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Wyoming Elk Hunting Regulations — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: 2025 season dates for Area 97, Quota and license type structure, Wilderness guide requirements for non-residents · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports and Drawing Statistics — Elk Area 97 — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Historical success rates for Area 97 elk, Three-year applicant and tag totals, Harvest composition · accessed 2026-04-17
Shoshone National Forest — Washakie Ranger District — USDA Forest Service — Shoshone National Forest · supports: Public forest access on the south Winds, Wilderness boundaries and travel rules, Trailheads and developed campgrounds · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Pronghorn Antelope — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 97 boundary and season structure, Tag quota allocations, License and weapon structure · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Kemmerer Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: BLM surface ownership in the Green River Basin, Travel management rules, Dispersed camping regulations · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 097 (South Wind River)

Elk Hunting in Unit 097

Where to Find Elk in Area 97

Archery Season

Rifle Season

How to Hunt Elk in Area 97

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 097

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 97

Sage Basins of the Green River Drainage

Ridge Benches

Water Sources Early

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 97

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification