Wyoming Elk Pronghorn

Unit 111 (Yellowstone Boundary / Thorofare)

Wyoming Hunting Guide — Elk, Pronghorn

Wyoming Elk Area 111 borders Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming and includes some of the most remote backcountry elk habitat in the contiguous United States. The Thorofare region, accessible primarily by horse or on foot, holds a significant segment of the Northern Yellowstone elk herd. Limited quota licenses make this one of Wyoming's most coveted elk draws.

View Draw Odds Wyoming Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 111

Where to Find Elk in Area 111

Area 111 elk are concentrated in the Thorofare drainages, the upper Yellowstone River valley, and the high meadows and timber edges bordering Yellowstone National Park. During September, bulls move through the open parks and meadow corridors between timber patches. The remote character of this unit means elk see minimal pressure compared to more accessible Wyoming areas.

Key Terrain Features

Focus on the transition zones between open high-country parks and dense timber along the upper Yellowstone drainage. Wallows in the spruce-fir draws and creek-bottom willow flats hold bulls during the rut. Post-rut, elk concentrate on the last green feed in valley meadows before snow pushes them toward lower winter range.

Pro Members Only

Unlock where-to-find intel for Area 111

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

How to Hunt Elk in Area 111

Area 111 is horse country. The Thorofare region is over 20 miles from the nearest trailhead, making horse-supported drop camps essentially mandatory for efficient hunting and meat recovery. We recommend booking with a licensed Cody or Dubois outfitter who specializes in this drainage.

Tactics

Spot-and-stalk from high vantage points overlooking the open parks produces consistently in this area. Calling during the September rut is effective given the low pressure — bulls here are less call-shy than in heavily hunted areas. Pack out timelines are critical given the distance; plan for a minimum 2-day pack-out on a harvested bull.

Pro Members Only

Unlock hunting tactics for Area 111

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle44%

Area 111 carries a reputation as a trophy-quality elk unit due to its proximity to Yellowstone and low hunting pressure. WGFD harvest reports include Area 111 data annually. The remote access filters hunting pressure heavily — motivated hunters willing to commit to a backcountry pack trip see above-average success compared to more accessible Wyoming units.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— General	139	11	100.0%
Rifle— General	21	6	100.0%
Rifle— General	56	397	14.1%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Area 111 is among Wyoming's most sought-after elk draws. Limited quota licenses require significant preference points — non-resident applicants should expect to accumulate points over multiple seasons. Wyoming's 75/25 preference point draw means max-point holders receive priority. Check the WGFD Applications & Drawings page for current Area 111 draw statistics and point requirements.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 111

Antelope Area 111 sits in Sweetwater County — Red Desert and sage-steppe country south of I-80. About 361 tags against 642 3-year applicants places it among Wyoming's steady mid-tier antelope draws. Strong BLM access makes it a public-land hunter's area.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Area 111

Area 111 pronghorn use open sage basins and broken rim country south of I-80 on BLM ground.

Open Sage Basins

Main public blocks hold high buck densities. Glass from road-accessible high points.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Area 111

Pro Members Only

Unlock Area 111 pronghorn tactics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Pronghorn Success Rates

Sweetwater County antelope buck-hunt success typically tops 80% per WGFD harvest data.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	115	160	71.9%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Non-residents typically draw Type 1 with 1-2 preference points under the 75/25 draw.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

💧

Water

Abundant — upper Yellowstone River, numerous tributary creeks and high-country lakes

🛣️

Road Conditions

Paved to trailhead; all access beyond is trail. No road access into the Thorofare.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Very difficult — remote wilderness backcountry, 20+ miles to core hunting areas, horse strongly recommended

👥

Hunting Pressure

Low — extreme access barrier limits hunter numbers; one of Wyoming's least-pressured elk units

🏘️

Nearest Town

Cody (approx. 50–60 mi to trailhead). Full services. Dubois is an alternative staging point.

📋

Permit Notes

Limited quota license required; verify current draw requirements and point levels at WGFD

Pro Members Only

Unlock full logistics for Area 111

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How many preference points do I need for Area 111 elk?

Area 111 is one of Wyoming's most competitive limited quota elk draws. Non-resident applicants typically need many preference points accumulated over multiple seasons. Check the WGFD Applications & Drawings page for current draw statistics and historical point requirements for Area 111.

Can I hunt Area 111 without a horse?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. The Thorofare region is over 20 trail miles from the nearest access point. Packing out a harvested bull on foot from that distance is extremely demanding. Most successful hunters use horse-supported drop camps arranged through licensed Wyoming outfitters.

Does Area 111 require a lot of driving?

Yes — Sweetwater County antelope country is large and roads are gravel or two-track. Budget vehicle wear.

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.

WGFD Hunt Planner — Elk — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 111 hunt boundaries, License types and quotas, Season structure · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunting Regulations Hub — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Season dates, Weapon restrictions, Wilderness area rules · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Preference Points — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Preference point system, Application deadline, Draw statistics · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Harvest Reports & Surveys — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 111 harvest data, Hunter success rates, Elk population trends · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Hunt Planner — Antelope — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Pronghorn Area 111 boundaries · accessed 2026-04-17
WGFD Drawing Statistics — Wyoming Game and Fish Department · supports: Area 111 historical draw odds · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Rock Springs Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Sweetwater County public-land access · accessed 2026-04-17