Wyoming's 2019 sheep, moose, goat and bison application overview

Jump to: New for 2019 State Information Draw System Sheep Breakdown Moose Breakdown Mountain Goat Breakdown Bison Breakdown

Wyoming is one of our favorite states to hunt. The scenery is unmatched and, for the lucky hunters who draw a license, the hunting is incredible. The biggest hurdle is getting a license to hunt one of these amazing animals. Whether you are interested in bighorn sheep, Shiras moose, bison, mountain goat or all four species, we cover the application details in this article. For most of us, it’s going to take a lot of luck to draw any of these licenses, but, like the saying goes, you have to play the game if you want to win!

Note: The application period for Wyoming bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goat and bison is open until Feb. 28, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Apply online here.

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Why Wyoming for sheep, moose, goat, and bison in 2019

• Long season dates include an archery and rifle season on the same license.
• There is no point system for bison licenses. Draws are completely random and the odds of drawing a permit are better in comparison to Utah or Arizona.
• There is no point system for Rocky Mountain goat. Populations are healthy and the harvest success for every area is typically 100%.
• Wyoming offers more Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep licenses than any other state—some of which are randomly allocated.
• Wyoming still offers a good number of moose licenses, trophy potential is relatively good and a portion of the licenses are randomly allocated.

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New for 2019

• A 2.5% processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions. To put it into perspective: an any bison application of $4,417 will cost an additional $110.43 for a nonresident.
• Wyoming is opening two new Rocky Mountain goat areas to try to remove goats from Areas 4 and 5. The Type A license will not count as a once-in-a-lifetime harvest. Hunters who have harvested a goat before in Wyoming can apply for this hunt. If you draw this hunt, you can still apply for other goat hunting opportunities in the future.
• Bighorn sheep Unit 18/21 will be closed for 2019.
• There will be a nonresident license for bighorn sheep in Area 6 for 2019.
• There will be a nonresident license for bighorn sheep in Area 24 for 2019.
• Applicants can only apply for bison in Area 2 for 2019. Area 3 is closed for bison hunting this year.

Amount to remit

Wyoming resident fees for 2019
Item	Resident fees		Resident increase 2018 to 2019
Rocky Mtn. bighorn sheep	$168.10	$5 - App. fee $152 - License fee $7 - Pref. point fee $4.10 Credit card proc. fee	+$11.10
Shiras moose	$168.10	$5 - App. fee $152 - License fee $7 - Pref. point fee $4.10 credit card proc. fee	+11.80
Rocky Mtn. goat	$160.93	$5 - App. fee $152 - License fee No pref. point $3.93 Credit card proc. fee	+$3.93
Bison (any)	$429.48	$5 - App. fee $414 - License fee No pref. point $10.48 Credit card proc. fee	+$10.48
Bison (cow/calf)	$271.63	$5 - App. fee $260 - License fee No pref. point $6.63 Credit card proc. fee	+$6.63

 

Wyoming nonresident fees for 2019
Item	Nonresident fees		Nonresident increase 2018 to 2019
Rocky Mtn. bighorn sheep	$2,434.38	$15 - App. fee $2,210 - License fee $150 - Pref. point fee $59.38 Credit card proc. fee	+$99.38
Shiras moose	$2,200.68	$15 - App. fee $1,982 - License fee $150 - Pref. point fee $53.68 Credit card proc. fee	+$203.68
Rocky Mtn. goat	$2,231.43	$15 - App. fee $2,162 - License fee No pref. point $54.43 Credit card proc. fee	+$54.42
Bison (any)	$4,527.43	$15 - App. fee $4,402 - License fee No pref. point $110.43 Credit card proc. fee	+$110.43
Bison (cow/calf)	$2,836.18	$15 - App. fee $2,752 - License fee No pref. point $69.18 Credit card proc. fee	+$69.18

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State information

View important information and an overview of Wyoming’s rules/regulations, the draw system, tag and license fees and an interactive boundary line map on our State Profile. You can also view the Wyoming species profiles to access historical and statistical data to help you locate trophy areas.

Wyoming State Profile Rocky Bighorn Profile Moose Profile Mountain Goat Profile Bison Profile Draw Odds

Important dates and information

• The moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat application period is Jan. 2 to Feb. 28, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. MST.
• The bison application period is Feb. 1 to 28, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. MST.
• Results will be available on May 9, 2019.
• The application modification/withdraw deadline is April 15, 2019.
• Wyoming accepts online applications only. Apply online here.
• Any person born after Jan. 1, 1966 must possess a hunter safety course certificate.
• The minimum age to apply for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat is 12 years old. You can apply at age 11, but must be 12 to hunt. Applicants must be 14 to hunt bison.
• You have to front the entire cost of the licenses that you apply for plus the application and processing fees.
• If you are unsuccessful in the draw, the cost of the license will be credited back to the card used to apply.
• There is no nonresident “special” draw for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat or bison.
• There is no preference point system for bison or mountain goat.
• There is a preference point system for moose and bighorn sheep. Applicants for these species must participate in the preference point system.
• Preference points only can be purchased from July 1 to Oct. 31, 2019.
• All accumulated preference points will be purged if an applicant fails to apply or purchase points only for two consecutive years.
• Party applications are not allowed for moose, bison, bighorn sheep or mountain goats.
• You cannot return a drawn license for a refund or transfer a license in Wyoming.
• Any successful full price bighorn sheep or moose applicant must wait five years to apply for or receive another license.
• Any successful any bison applicant that harvests a bull is ineligible to apply for or receive an any bison license in any future year. They may still apply for a cow/calf bison license starting the following year.
• An any bison applicant that harvests a cow or calf is ineligible to apply for a cow/calf license for the next five years, but can apply and draw an any bison license starting the following year.
• A cow/calf bison license holder who harvests cannot apply for either the any bull or cow/calf license for five years.
• The mountain goat Type 1 license is a once-in-a-lifetime license.

Designated wilderness areas (DWA)

Wyoming has 15 large Designated Wilderness Areas which a nonresident cannot hunt without a registered guide/outfitter or a Wyoming resident accompanying you. The bulk of Wyoming’s bighorn sheep occur in the northwest part of the state and many inhabit the high country within DWAs. Areas 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, which have typically been the only areas that have had random licenses for nonresidents, all have large portions of wilderness. If you are planning on applying for one of these or another of the units in the western portion of the state, it’s worth doing some research to plan accordingly.

The bulk of mountain goat Area 3 is within a wilderness area. Area 1 has some wilderness as well, but goats inhabit terrain both inside and outside of the wilderness area. Area 2 is a good choice also for do-it-yourself (DIY) hunters; it contains limited wilderness with mountain goats inhabiting both wilderness and non-wilderness.

Generally, wilderness is less of a concern for many of the moose areas, but there are still some that have a good portion of wilderness. Moose also inhabit a wide variety of habitat that ranges from the backcountry river drainages and high country to the rolling sage and high desert terrain through the southwest and south-central portions of the state. Wilderness may or may not be an issue. Some research may be required before picking a hunt area. Areas 5, 24, 25, 26 and 38/41 are often the only areas that offer random licenses that are available to nonresidents and, of those areas, 5 and 38/41 have some wilderness but very little overall.

Wilderness is not a major concern for hunters who draw bison licenses. Most of the hunting occurs on the National Elk Refuge and the surrounding forest service lands.

A complete list of outfitters in Wyoming can be found in our Outfitter Directory. Wyoming residents may hunt wilderness areas without any restrictions.

The impact of wolves on Wyoming's herds

We will touch more on the individual herd health of moose further in this article, but, in reviewing the past few decades of license allocation, it’s easy to see moose populations have been on the decline. Most certainly wolves and an expanding grizzly population have taken their tolls on moose populations, primarily by stifling calf recruitment. Disease has also been a major issue, but predation coupled with disease seems to compound the issue and recruitment throughout a lot of the state has been low.

Wolves and grizzlies likely do not negatively impact mountain goat and bighorn sheep populations. The terrain they inhabit largely provides the refuge they need to escape predation. Certainly, predation can and does happen, but it doesn’t happen enough to regularly impact populations.

Wolves were removed from the endangered species list in 2017. Wolf management is now being led by the State of Wyoming and hunting is actively being used as a tool to manage populations, which is a great thing for moose populations.

Grizzly country

Grizzly bears are well established throughout portions of northwestern Wyoming. The initial recovery plan called for the minimum population of 500 grizzly bears. Since 2000, the population has continued to steadily grow and expand well beyond the Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone. The most recent estimate of the population is approximately 700 grizzly bears, but it’s most likely greater than that. Wyoming gained state control of grizzly bear management for the first two-thirds of 2018 and held a drawing for the first hunt. Last September, a federal judge in Montana overturned the ruling and returned management to the federal government, effectively stopping the planned hunting season. Wyoming is currently appealing the decision and time will tell if the state will regain management and hold grizzly bear hunts in the future.

Many of the bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goat and, even, bison areas overlap occupied grizzly bear habitat. Be bear aware and prepare if you plan to hunt in grizzly bear country.

Current snowpack in Wyoming

2019

2018

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The Wyoming draw system

Understanding the draw

The draw systems for moose and bighorn sheep are different than bison and mountain goat. Let's get the easy ones out of the way first. Mountain goat and bison licenses are randomly allocated, which means that there is no point system and every applicant has an equal chance of drawing. The bison license split offers 80% to residents and 20% to nonresidents. The mountain goat license split offers 75% to residents and 25% to nonresidents. Applying for bison and mountain goat is relatively straightforward and easy: pick a unit, apply and hope you are lucky.

The license split for moose is 80% for residents and 20% for nonresidents. The license split for bighorn sheep is 75% for residents and 25% for nonresidents. In some bighorn sheep areas, you may notice there are less than four permits total, but one is still available to a nonresident. Wyoming does this occasionally to ensure that the statewide percentage splits are maintained for nonresidents.

The moose and bighorn sheep draw is a modified preference point system for residents and nonresidents. Under this system, 75% of the licenses are offered to the applicants with the most preference points for each hunt and 25% are randomly allocated. Most moose and bighorn sheep areas do not offer enough nonresident licenses that there are both preference point licenses and random licenses available.

If you are just starting to apply for moose and/or bighorn sheep or have reviewed the odds and have less than the number of points to be in contention for any of the preference point licenses, do not apply for a hunt that does not have a random license available. Doing so is essentially wasting your application.

The points system

As previously noted, for residents and nonresidents, 75% of the licenses for each moose and bighorn sheep unit are offered to the highest point applicant(s). The maximum number of moose and bighorn sheep preference points going into the 2019 draw is 24. Applicants gain a preference point each year that they are unsuccessful in the draw or they can buy a point only during the July 1 to Oct. 31 point only time-frame. You cannot gain two points in the same year. If you choose to apply in the draw, it’s mandatory that you participate and the cost of the preference point will not be refunded. There is no point system for bison or mountain goats!

There is no point system for mountain goats or bison.

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Wyoming's 2019 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep breakdown

Wyoming offered a total of 204 bighorn sheep licenses in 2018. Of those, 141 (69%) were allocated for the units (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) surrounding Yellowstone National Park. Statewide populations are healthy, but there are pockets of concern. We will dive into the details below.

Current Wyoming bighorn herd condition

Absaroka Herd

Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 22

The Absaroka herd roams Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 22. This is the largest herd of bighorn sheep and is estimated at approximately 3,700 animals. The herd as a whole is below the 4,500 population objective and has been on the decline for several years. It’s estimated that, in 2012, the herd was almost 5,000 strong. The largest number of bighorn sheep occur in Area 4, followed by 3, 5/22, 2 and 1. All areas have populations at or in excess of 600. Areas 1 and 2 seem to be the most stable with little change in terms of production and ram ratio. The ratios have fluctuated from low to high, but it’s more likely a factor of difficult sampling conditions than it is a trend in the herd dynamics. Area 3 has shown the most decline in recent years with lower lamb ratios over the past 10 years compared to the long-term data. Ram ratios have also trended downward considerably over the past five years in Area 3. Area 4 has been interesting in recent years—unfortunately having the lowest lamb ratio, but boasting a high ram to ewe ratio average. Area 5 appears to have an increasing population and ram:ewe ratios that are quite good—40:100 in the past few years. Unit 22 is a smaller population, but usually increases as bighorn sheep migrate into the area in the late season.

Absaroka herd Areas 1 through 5 harvest statistics
Area	2018 harvest success	Effort (days/rams avg.)	Average age	Male:female ratio	% Public land	Wilderness %*
Area 1	40%	11	6	38:100	92%	35%
Area 2	79%	5	7	38:100	85%	42%
Area 3	87%	7	7	38:100	91%	67%
Area 4	76%	7	8	38:100	57%	83%
Areas 5	88%	5	8	38:100	93%	17%
Area 22	25%	16	--	38:100	99%	0%

Targhee

Area 6

Area 6 is typically comprised of two small herds of approximately 30 to 40 bighorn sheep. The objective for the herd is a five-year average harvest of greater than 50% on rams averaging six to eight years of age. More bighorn sheep were observed during the 2018 winter survey than during the three previous years, but there is still a concern for this herd due to low numbers. Over the past 18 years, 15 rams have been harvested from the southern herd. Surveys over the past four years have found very few three-fourths curl rams within that herd; nearly all the three-fourths curl rams have been observed in the northern herd.

Targhee herd Area 6 harvest statistics
Area	2018 harvest success	Effort (days/rams avg.)	Average age	Male:female ratio	% Public land	Wilderness %
Area 6	0%	NA	NA	64:100	96%	30%

Jackson

Area 7

The herd objective is approximately 320 to 480 bighorn sheep and it is currently meeting objective with an estimated population of 400. The secondary objective for the herd is to maintain a three-year running average age of harvested rams between six to eight years old. Currently, this objective is being met.

Jackson herd Area 7 harvest statistics
Area	2018 harvest success	Effort (days/rams avg.)	Average age	Male:female ratio	% Public land	Wilderness %
Area 7	58%	6	6	37:100	71%	27%

Whiskey Mountain

Areas 8, 9, 10

The herd objective is 1,350 bighorn sheep across the three units. The current estimated population is approximately 800. The population has struggled to meet objective due to low recruitment caused by pneumonia die-off in the early 90s. Much of the sheep habitat is located in wilderness areas.

Whiskey Mountain herd Areas 8 to 10 harvest statistics
Area	2018 harvest success	Effort (days/rams avg.)	Average age	Male:female ratio	% Public land	Wilderness %
Areas 8	60%	5	9	58:100	95%	53%
Area 9	100%	8	9	58:100	NA	90%
Area 10	50%	9	6	58:100	92%	23%

Devil’s Canyon

Area 12

The herd objective for Area 12 is approximately 175 bighorn sheep with an estimated population of approximately 200.

Devil's Canyon herd Area 12 harvest statistics
Area	2018 harvest success	Effort (days/rams avg.)	Average age	Male:female ratio	% Public land	Wilderness %
Area 12	83%	3	8	NA	92%	0%

Ferris/Seminoe

Areas 17/26

The management objective for the Ferris-Seminoe bighorn sheep herd unit is a population objective of 300 sheep. Current estimates are approximately 180 animals. Transplants and recent burns in the area seem to be helping herd health and recruitment was good in 2017.

Ferris/Seminoe herd Area 17/26 harvest statistics
Area	2018 harvest success	Effort (days/rams avg.)	Average age	Male:female ratio	% Public land	Wilderness %
Area 17/26	100%	10	6	47:100	71%	0%

Laramie Peak

Area 19

Objective for this herd is a five-year average of greater than 75% harvest success and the average age of harvested rams between six to eight years of age. Both objectives are being met. Area 19 is comprised of 70% private land and the southern portion is over 90% private land. Plan on hiring an outfitter if you draw this area.

Laramie Peak herd Area 19 harvest statistics
Area	2018 harvest success	Effort (days/rams avg.)	Average age	Male:female ratio	% Public land	Wilderness %*
Area 19	100%	9	8	59:100	30%	0%

Kouba Canyon

Area 20

This small herd wanders between Wyoming and South Dakota. Bighorn sheep are often located on private land. There will be a nonresident license for this hunt area in 2019.

Kouba Canyon herd Area 20 harvest statistics
Area	2018 harvest success	Effort (days/rams avg.)	Average age	Male:female ratio	% Public land	Wilderness %*
Area 20	100%	3	8	NA	27%	0%

Darby Mountain

Area 24

This is a small herd with an objective of about 65 sheep. Surveyed in 2017, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) found 39 sheep. A nonresident tag will be available in 2019.

Darby Mountain herd Area 24 harvest statistics
Area	2018 harvest success	Effort (days/rams avg.)	Average age	Male:female ratio	% Public land	Wilderness %*
Area 24	100%	4	NA	NA	NA	0%

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Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep areas

Formerly, this section would have been titled “how to uncover hidden gem areas,” but, in reality, there are no hidden gems for bighorn sheep. The fact is that bighorn sheep tags are very highly coveted and if you did not start applying 18 years or more years ago, you really only have one choice and that is to apply for a unit that has random licenses available. There are five units that will have random tags available; some will possibly have two. We will break down the quotas in the table below. Everyone in the random draw has an equal chance of drawing. There is no weight given the number of points you have in the random draw. So, review the odds or the trophy potential or select the one that has the best DIY public access and apply accordingly.  

Resident area quotas broken into license allocation for each draw 2018
Area	Total licenses	Resident total licenses	Resident pref. point licenses	Resident random licenses
Area 1	20	15	12	3
Area 2	24	18	14	4
Area 3	31	23	18	5
Area 4	25	18	14	4
Area 5	41	30	23	7
Area 6	1	1	1	0
Area 7	11	9	7	2
Area 8	10	7	6	1
Area 9	4	3	3	0
Area 10	4	3	3	0
Area 12	6	5	4	1
Area 17, 26	4	3	3	0
Area 18, 21	2	2	2	0
Area 19	8	6	5	1
Area 20	3	3 in 2018	2 for 2019	0
Area 22	4	3	3	0
Area 24	1	1	1	0

Nonresident area quotas broken into tag allocation for each draw 2018
Area	Total licenses	Nonresident total licenses	Nonresident pref. point licenses	Nonresident random licenses
Area 1	20	5	4	1
Area 2	24	6	5	1
Area 3	31	8	6	2
Area 4	25	7	6	1
Area 5	41	11	9	2
Area 6	1	0 in 2018	1 for 2019	0
Area 7	11	3	3	0
Area 8	10	3	3	0
Area 9	4	1	1	0
Area 10	4	1	1	0
Area 12	6	1	1	0
Area 17, 26	4	1	1	0
Area 18, 21	2	Closed 2019	Closed 2019	Closed 2019
Area 19	8	2	2	0
Area 20	3	0 in 2018	1 for 2019	0
Area 22	4	1	1	0
Area 24	1	0 in 2019	1 for 2019	0

Wyoming statute states that any successful bighorn sheep applicant must wait five years before applying for or receiving another bighorn sheep license. During this waiting period, the applicant is also not eligible to purchase preference points.

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Boone & Crockett entry trends for Wyoming Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep

Areas listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Areas in this table are included if any part of the area is found within the county. Data provided below courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Wyoming's top Boone & Crockett producing counties since 2010 for bighorn sheep
County	No. of entries	Areas found within county
Park	6	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Big Horn	5	12
Albany	5	18, 29
Hot Springs	1	5
Sheridan	1	12

Discovering the best ram:ewe ratio areas

You have probably noticed that we provide data on ram to ewe ratios for each hunt area in Wyoming. Male to female ratios are a critical measuring data tool for wildlife managers and indicate the current status of the herd. A higher ram to ewe ratio may indicate that an area could have a higher availability of mature rams compared to an area with a lower ram to ewe ratio. This doesn’t always indicate that the rams will be the highest scoring rams, but more rams equates to more rams to find and harvest. When selecting an area, or comparing several areas, take this into consideration to help your decision. For a complete understanding of male to female ratios, please refer to a recent article covering this in-depth. The best way to find the areas with the best ram:ewe ratios is to use Filtering 2.0 under Wyoming bighorn sheep. And then sort the results by male:female ratio. You can jump to those results here.

Top areas for ram: ewe ratios
Area	Ram:ewe ratio
Area 20	110:100
Area 6	64:100
Area 19	59:100
Area 8	58:100
Area 9	58:100
Area 10	58:100
Area 21	50:100
Area 17	47:100
Area 1	38:100
Area 2	38:100

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Hit list areas for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep

goHUNT's 2019 top hit list hunt areas to consider for 165" or better rams
Area	Trophy potential	Harvest %
Area 1	165"+	95%
Area 2	175"+	92%
Area 3	175"+	80%
Area 4	170"+	73%
Area 5	175"+	91%
Area 7	170"+	67%
Area 12	175"+	100%
Area 17/26	175"+	100%
Area 19	175"+	100%
Area 20	175"+	100%

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Managing points and expectations

The points system for Wyoming Rocky mountain bighorn sheep

2019 maximum bonus points for rocky bighorn sheep: 24

Find your draw oddS here

I have 0 to 15 sheep preference points. What can I expect?

Residents

For residents, Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12 and 19 all had random permits in 2018. Areas 3 and 5 had five and seven random permits each. Area 9 did have 50% odds at the 15 point level in 2018 and there was only one applicant at the 14 point level. If you have 15 points going into 2019, it’s worth some research. Review the random odds and Unit Profiles and apply accordingly.

Find your resident draw odds with 0 points here

Nonresidents

If you are a nonresident applying for bighorn sheep within this point range, then the only areas that you should consider are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Those hunt areas have historically all had at least one random permit and Areas 3 and 5 have had two random permits. Review the odds and Unit Profiles and apply accordingly.

Find your nonresident draw odds with 0 points here

What can I expect with 16 or 24 sheep preference points?

If you have this many points, you should explore the preference point options. By using the Draw Odds detailed view, you will be able to find what areas you have the best chance to draw. Here is a breakdown:

Resident areas with 100% draw odds by number of points
Points	Areas
16	9
17	1, 6, 9
18	1, 4, 6, 8, 9
19	1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9
20	1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9
21	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22
22	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22
23	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 19, 20, 22

• Units 12 and 24 could have less than 100% odds at the 24 point level going into 2019, but those are worth considering if you are at that level.
• Be sure to check the “detailed Draw Odds pages” for the units you are considering to see the number of applicants at each point level. This can help you further determine your chances by evaluating how many applicants are at your same point level.

Find your resident draw odds with 16 points here

Nonresident areas with 100% draw odds by number of points
Points	Areas
18	8
19	1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 22
20	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 22
21	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22
22	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 22
23	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 17, 19, 22

• Be sure to check the “detailed Draw Odds pages” for the hunt areas you are considering to see the number of applicants at each point level. This can help you further determine your chances by evaluating how many applicants are at your same point level.
• Units 6, 20 and 24 will have a nonresident preference point license in 2019. Odds in 2016 for Area 6 were 100% with 15 points. Odds in Area 20 in 2017 were 25% with 21 points. Area 24 has not had a nonresident license. It had 50% odds with 23 points for the resident license in 2018.

Find your nonresident draw odds with 16 points here

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Wyoming's 2019 Shiras moose breakdown

The silver lining of Wyoming’s moose population is that there are still pockets of moose with good trophy potential. Those areas haven’t changed much over the years and are found in Areas 1, 34 and 42 in the Bighorn Mountains, Areas 41 and 38 in the Snowy Mountain Range and Areas 41 and 38 in the Sierra Madre Range. To a lesser extent, there are still some great bulls in 16/37, but the country is big and can be difficult to navigate. Almost any area can hold a mature bull, but finding and harvesting one is challenging.

The overall populations within the state are a quarter of what they once were and the decline has been well documented. Wolves, grizzly bears and disease have taken a significant toll. Just in the last 14 years, licenses have been reduced from 786 total to only 275. From 2017 to 2018, the licenses decreased from 322 to 275. The reduction doesn’t bode well for applicants in the system with a good number of points. With the cost of the preference point fee and the added processing fee, it may be time for applicants to take a hard look and see if it’s worth applying.

Moose inhabit a wide variety of terrain throughout Wyoming. They can be found anywhere from rolling sage and aspen to remote wilderness river drainages, pine-covered ridges and alpine meadows. Review the Unit Profiles to determine what areas meet your objectives for trophy potential, Draw Odds, terrain and access. If you are beginning to apply for moose, make sure to apply for a hunt where there is likely to be a random license in the draw: Areas 5, 24, 25, 26 and 38/41.

2019 Shiras moose herd conditions

The largest populations in the state are in Areas 5, 24, 25, 26, 38 and 41.

Absaroka herd

Areas 9, 11

Managing the Absaroka moose herd is challenging due to the lack of population data and the low densities of individuals. A total of about 80 moose were observed in Area 9 in 2017. Of these 80 moose, 21 were identified as mature bulls about three years old. Since 2003, five permits have been issued in Area 9 and five permits issued in Area 11. An average of nine bulls has been harvested annually since 2005 with a range of five to 11 total.

Uinta herd

Areas 27, 35

This is an interstate herd shared with Utah. Many moose that summer in the Uinta Mountains in Utah come to Wyoming to winter. The estimated population is about 300 moose. Currently, the five-year average for the herd is slightly below objective for the age of harvest (about four years old), above objective on days per harvest (10 days) and below objective on percent (40%) of male harvest greater than five years of age.

Lincoln herd

Areas 26, 36, 40

This herd has an estimated population of approximately 556 moose. The bulk of the population of this herd occurs in Area 26. Hunt Area 36 is a small moose herd that is scattered over a large expanse of non-typical open moose habitat. Hunt Area 40 has a small moose population that is almost entirely on private land. Hunt Area 26 is considered a good moose hunt with potential for a trophy animal. Area 26 has ample public access and a variety of places to hunt moose. Hunts in Areas 36 and 40 are considered good hunts with good success rates, but require more time to find moose spread out over large areas. Access can be an issue.

Targhee herd

Areas 16, 37

The average age of harvested moose of the past five years is 4.5 years with 47% of those being greater than five years of age. Hunter effort has averaged about eight days over the past five years. In recent years, the average age has been higher (6.5 years) and the number of days to harvest has increased to almost 13. This population is likely in the 180 to 200 range and, like many of the herds, has been on the decline since the late 90s.

Jackson herd

Areas 17, 18, 28

The three-year average population has been 278 moose with an objective of 800. The average age of bulls harvested (4.5 yrs) and percentage (40.5%) of bulls greater than five years is meeting objectives, but managers would like to see the average age increase. Harvest success is typically 100%.

Lander herd

Areas 2, 30

This population has experienced a general decline beginning in 1995. The herd objective is 225 moose and the most current count yielded 110 moose. In 2017, five hunters harvested five moose—all in Hunt Area 2 with a hunter success of 100%. The number of days per moose harvested increased to 13.8 days. The average age was 4.2 years old of the bulls harvested.

Dubois herd

Area 6

Evidence suggests this population declined significantly compared to two decades ago, but has been stable over the past several years. Harvest success is typically 100%. In 2017, the average age was five and the average number of days to harvest was almost 12. About 65% of the bulls harvested in the past five years have been five years old or older.

Snowy Range

Areas 38, 41

The overall population is relatively small—only 75 moose. Recent counts suggest there are likely close to 160+. The Snowy Range herd unit stretches across southern Wyoming, along the Colorado border and moose are found year-round in areas on Pole Mountain, the Sierra Madre Mountains and, most notably, the Snowy Range Mountains. These moose descended from moose transplanted in Colorado and historically were not native to this area. The harvest was 100% in 2017 with the Wyoming SuperTag Trifecta winner and the governor’s license harvesting bulls from the herd.

Sublette herd

Areas 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

The herd objective is 1,500 moose and a recent estimate of 1,114. Trend counts indicate this moose herd has remained stable or slightly declined over the past decade. Post-season classification surveys for 2017 produced a bull:100 cow ratio of 78:100, which is higher than the previous five-year average of 66:100. During 2017, the average age of harvested bull moose was 3.9.

Bighorn herd

Areas 1, 34, 42

This herd has a management objective of 110 moose with an estimate of 150 currently. The desired distribution is approximately 50 moose in Area 1, 30 moose in Area 34 and 30 moose in Area 42. The average age and percentage of bulls over five years of age was lower than the previous three years. The average age and percentage of bulls over five seems to cycle every three years, indicating that it may remain lower for the next year or two.

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How to uncover hidden gem Shiras moose areas

Nonresidents with very few accumulated preference points should look for hunt choices with a random tag available. Random draw tags will only be drawn when there are four or more tags available. Check the Unit Profiles and Draw Odds to see the allocation. You can also use the tables below to locate hunt areas that offer tags in the random drawing.

Resident area quotas, preference, and random licenses
Area	Total licenses	Resident total licenses	Resident pref. point licenses	Resident random licenses
Area 1	5	4	3	1
Area 2/30	5	4	3	1
Area 3	5	4	3	1
Area 4	10	8	6	2
Area 5	25	20	15	5
Area 6	5	5	3	1
Area 9	5	4	3	1
Area 10	8	7	6	1
Area 11	5	4	3	1
Area 16, 37	5	4	3	1
Area 17, 28	5	4	3	1
Area 18	5	4	3	1
Area 20	15	12	9	3
Area 21	2	1	1	0
Area 22	5	4	3	1
Area 23	15	12	9	3
Area 24	20	16	12	4
Area 25	45	36	27	9
Area 26	32	26	20	6
Area 27	12	10	8	2
Area 34	10	8	6	2
Area 35	3	2	2	0
Area 36	5	4	3	1
Area 38, 41	20	16	12	4
Area 40	3	2	2	0
Area 42	5	4	3	1

 

Nonresident area quotas, preference and random licenses
Area	Total licenses	Nonresident total licenses	Nonresident pref. point licenses	Nonresident random licenses
Area 1	5	1	1	0
Area 2/30	5	1	1	0
Area 3	5	1	1	0
Area 4	10	2	2	0
Area 5	25	5	4	1
Area 6	5	1	1	0
Area 9	5	1	1	0
Area 10	8	1	1	0
Area 11	5	1	1	0
Area 16, 37	5	1	1	0
Area 17, 28	5	1	1	0
Area 18	5	1	1	0
Area 20	15	3	3	0
Area 21	2	1	1	0
Area 22	5	1	1	0
Area 23	15	3	3	0
Area 24	20	4	3	1
Area 25	45	9	7	2
Area 26	32	6	5	1
Area 27	12	2	2	0
Area 34	10	2	2	0
Area 35	3	1	1	0
Area 36	5	1	1	0
Area 38, 41	20	4	3	1
Area 40	3	1	1	0
Area 42	5	1	1	0

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Boone & Crockett (B&C) entry trends for Wyoming Shiras moose

Areas listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Areas in this table are included if any part of the area is found within the county. Data provided below courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Wyoming's top Boone & Crockett producing counties since 2010 for Shiras moose
County	No. of entries	Areas found within county
Sublette	12	4, 5, 10, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25, 30
Albany	8	38
Carbon	7	38, 41
Johnson	6	1, 34
Teton	6	7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 32, 37
Fremont	5	2, 39
Sheridan	4	1, 42

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Top hit list areas for Shiras moose

goHUNT's 2019 top hit list for Shiras moose hunts in Wyoming

Historically, the Bighorn Mountains that encompass Areas 1, 34 and 42 as well as the Snowy and Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges, which encompass Areas 38 and 41, produce the largest scoring B&C moose in Wyoming. Areas 16 and 37 can also produce a handful of bigger bulls.

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The point system for Shiras moose

Managing points and expectations

2019 maximum bonus points for Shiras moose: 24

Find your draw odds

I have 0 to 10 Shiras moose preference points. What can I expect?

If you are within this point range, you should apply for hunts that have random permits available.

Residents

Residents could apply for any hunt area except Areas 21, 35 and 40. The rest of the options all have at least one random permit. Area 22 had the best random odds at 2.5%.

Find your resident draw odds with 0 points here

Nonresidents

Nonresidents should consider Areas 5, 24, 25, 26 and 38/41 as they all have had a random license in recent years. All five hunt options with a random tag(s) had odds of less than 1%.

Find your nonresident draw odds with 0 points here

What can I do with 11 to 15 Shiras moose preference points?

Clearly, if you can draw an area at any given point level, you could also draw any below that level.

Resident areas with 100% draw odds at each point level
Points	Areas
11	NA
12	10, 20, 35
13	10, 20, 21, 22, 27, 35
14	3, 10, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 35, 36, 40
15	3, 4, 5, 10, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 35, 36, 40

Be sure to check the “detailed Draw Odds pages” for the units you are considering to see the number of applicants at each point level. This can help you further determine your chances by evaluating how many applicants are at your same point level.

Find your resident draw odds with 15 points here

Nonresident areas with 100% draw odds at each point level
Points	Areas
15	22, 40

Nonresidents with less than 15 points should only apply for one of the five areas that have random licenses available. At the 15 point level in 2018, Areas 22 and 40 had 100% odds and are worth some research.

Find your nonresident draw odds with 15 points here

I have 16 to 24 Shiras moose preference points. What can I expect?

If you are within this point range you have some options and it’s worth doing some real research. There are many options at a variety of point levels. If you can draw an area at any given point level, you could also draw any below that level from the table above.

Resident areas with 100% draw odds by number of points
Points	Areas
16	17, 26
17	17, 26
18	17, 26
19	17, 26
20	2/30, 17, 26
21	2/30, 9, 16/37, 17, 26
22	2/30, 6, 9, 11, 16/37, 17, 26
23	2/30, 6, 9, 11, 16/37, 17, 26, 34, 38/41

Find your resident draw odds with 20 points here

Nonresident areas with 100% draw odds by number of points
Points	Areas
16	22, 40
17	2/30, 5, 10, 18, 20, 21, 22, 35, 40
18	2/30, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 35, 36, 40
19	1, 2/30, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 16/37, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36, 40,
20	1, 2/30, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 16/37, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36, 40, 42
21	1, 2/30, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 16/37, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36, 38/41, 40, 42
22	All
23	All

Find your nonresident draw odds with 20 points here

Wyoming cow Shiras moose draw odds

Remember that we now have cow moose draw odds. You can check your draw odds for cow moose below.

Find your resident cow Moose draw odds here

Find your nonresident cow Moose draw odds here

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Wyoming's 2019 Rocky Mountain goat breakdown

For 2019, there are five areas that offer mountain goat hunts in Wyoming. Areas 4 and 5 were added and are part of what the state is calling a Type A license. The intent is to rid those areas of all mountain goats. For the Type A hunt, harvest success is expected to be low and hunting pressure is likely to be high. We will touch more on it in the area descriptions below. In Areas 1, 2 and 3, trophy book billies are rare, but the populations in all three areas are stable to increasing. One intriguing aspect of the Wyoming mountain goat draw system is that there are no preference points. The mountain goat draw is completely random and every applicant has a chance to draw a license.

2019 herd conditions

Area 1

Area 1 is located along the Montana border in the northwest part of the state. A portion of the herd occurs within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area, but there are also mountain goats outside of the wilderness area. This area could be successfully hunted DIY-style without a guide, but will require some research and effort to do so. The terrain is rugged. Be prepared physically if you plan to hunt this area. Area 1 is one of the better areas if hunters are looking for a trophy book billy. This is the second largest herd in the state.

Area 2

Area 2 encompasses the Palisades herd, which is an extension of the Idaho Palisades mountain goat population. Mountain goats continue to expand and populations appear to be stable. This area is a good option for a DIY hunter. Trophy potential has historically been good and is the best option for a record book billy. The terrain is typical of mountain goat country: steep, rocky and physically demanding.

Area 3

Area 3 has the largest herd in Wyoming. Wyoming uses a two hunt structure in Area 3 in order to reduce single season hunting pressure. The first hunt occurs Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 while the second hunt occurs Oct. 1 to 31. The bulk of the herd inhabits the high country of the North Absaroka Wilderness Area. Without an outfitter or resident guide, this area will be a tough undertaking for a nonresident DIY hunter. The trophy potential is average, but the remote and rugged nature of the terrain will always allow a number of billies to mature and grow. The terrain is remote, rough and will require pack stock or hunters to be in good physical shape.

Area 4

This area sits between the Idaho border and Grand Teton National Park. Most of the herd inhabits the rocky high mountain terrain on the border of the park. The park estimates that there could be close to 100 goats near the park boundary. The bulk of this area is within designated wilderness area and would require a guide/outfitter or a resident to accompany them. We currently do not know how many licenses will be allocated.

Area 5

This area covers a tremendous amount of country and the number of mountain goats is relatively low. This hunt is going to be difficult and would require preseason scouting to be successful. The terrain is extremely rugged and the goats are almost assuredly going to be found in pockets in remote wilderness areas. A guide would likely be required to have a chance to be successful for a nonresident.  

Harvest for mountain goats in Wyoming during 2018
Area	Harvest %	Effort (days/harvest)	% Nannies
Area 1	100%	6.6	50%
Area 2	67%	9.0	33%
Area 3 Type 1	94%	6.0	26%
Area 3 Type 2	100%	6.0	13%
Area 4	NA	NA	NA
Area 5	NA	NA	NA

How to uncover hidden gem mountain goat areas

With only a few hunts in Wyoming, there are no real “hidden gems.” The new Type A licenses could be considered hidden gems, based on the fact that they will not count as your once in a lifetime harvest, but the hunting pressure and difficulty of the hunt are likely going to be significant.

Resident and nonresident area quotas and draw odds 2018
Area	Total licenses	Resident total licenses	Resident draw odds	Nonresident total licenses	Nonresident draw odds
Area 1	8	6	0.49%	2	0.51%
Area 2	8	6	0.4%	2	0.36%
Area 3-1	16	12	1.5%	4	2%
Area 3-2	8	6	2.1%	2	2.8%
Area 4	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Area 5	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA

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Boone & Crockett (B&C) entry trends for Wyoming mountain goats

Areas listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Areas in this table are included if any part of the area is found within the county. Data provided below courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Wyoming's top Boone & Crockett producing counties since 2010 for mountain goats
County	No. of entries	Areas found within county
Park	3	1, 3
Teton	3	2
Lincoln	1	2

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Managing expectations for mountain goat

As previously noted, there is not a point system for mountain goats. The draw system is random and every applicant has an equal chance of drawing. Research the draw odds, accessibility and apply. Keep in mind you are required to float the entire cost of the license until the draw is completed. After the results are published, unsuccessful applicants will be refunded the cost of the permit minus the application fee.

Find your resident Mtn Goat draw odds here

Find your nonresident mtn goat draw odds here

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Wyoming's 2019 bison breakdown

For 2019, there is only one area that applicants can apply for: Area 2. The Area 3 hunt that occurred in 2018 will not be held in 2019. Applicants can apply for either the any bison hunt or the cow/calf bison hunt. Area 2 comprises the Jackson Bison herd. The herd spends their spring and summer months within Grand Teton and, later, moves out onto the National Elk Refuge and surrounding forest service. The population objective is 400 to 600 bison and the recent counts suggest that the herd is close to 600. Almost all of the cow/calf harvest takes place on the elk refuge. Over the past several years, bison have become more sensitive to hunting pressure on the refuge and will vacate the open hunt area. Some years, bison do not migrate to the refuge until late January due to mild winter conditions, which can make harvest difficult.

There is no point system for bison licenses, the draw is random and the odds of drawing a permit are actually fairly good compared to states like Utah or Arizona. Applicants may apply for a Type 1 (any bison) or Type 4 (cow/calf). The entire cost of the license must be submitted when you apply. Applying has become a significant expenditure. You must pay the $15 application fee as a nonresident and the 2.5% credit card processing fee. The cost of a nonresident any bison permit it $4,417 and $2,767 for the cow/calf. If you can afford the license, Wyoming provides a great opportunity to hunt bison.

Resident wild bison seasons and tags
Area	Tag type	Season*	Total quota	Resident quota	Resident odds
Area 2-1	Any wild bison	Aug. 15 to Jan. 31	117	94	5.6%
Area 2-4	Any cow or calf bison	Aug. 15 to Jan. 31	75	60	8.1%

Nonresident wild bison seasons and tags
Area	Tag type	Season*	Total quota	Nonresident quota	Nonresident odds
Area 2-1	Any wild bison	Aug. 15 to Jan. 31	117	23	5.7%
Area 2-4	Any female or calf bison	Aug. 15 to Jan. 31	75	15	15%

Managing expectations for bison

Hunters that can afford the permit should apply and hope that they have some luck in the draw. Since there is no point system, applicants all have an equal chance of drawing.

Historic Wyoming bison tag quotas
Year	Total tags	Residents	Nonresidents	Harvest %
2007	277	257	20	97.4%
2008	307	279	28	84%
2009	288	266	22	49.5%
2010	195	180	15	92.7%
2011	227	208	19	86.2%
2012	265	246	19	76.3%
2013	328	293	62	71.6%
2014	321	259	62	93.1%
2015	311	248	63	71.5%
2016	299	234	65	97.5%
2017	125	96	29	63.1%

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Boone & Crockett (B&C) entry trends for Wyoming bison

Areas listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Areas in this table are included if any part of the area is found within the county. Data provided below courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Wyoming's top Boone & Crockett producing counties since 2010 for bison
County	No. of entries	Areas found within county
Teton	25	2
Park	1	1

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Managing expectations for bison

Since there are no points for bison, hunters will have to cross their fingers as they hit the submit button on their online application.

Find your resident draw odds here

Find your nonresident bison draw odds here

Wyoming cow bison draw odds

Remember that we now have female draw odds. You can check your draw odds for cow bison below.

Find your resident cow bison draw odds here

Find your nonresident cow bison draw odds here