There are only a few opportunities to hunt free roaming fair chase Bison and Wyoming has one of these hunts. This is the only area open to hunting in the state and it is located south of Yellowstone National Park and east of Grand Teton National Park.

Trophy potential for bulls is excellent and the season is open for months. Most hunters wait until later in the season when bison move out of the national parks. Do not trail a wounded bison onto National Park lands, contact Park immediately

Most Bison are hunted on the National Elk Refuge or adjacent Shadow Mountain and Spread Creek as bison move out of the National Parks with winter snows and cold temperatures. Terrain is primarily open rolling sage and grasslands. The National Forest varies from rolling grassy and sagebrush flats to heavily timbered peaks and mountain terrain.

Wilderness

Under Wyoming law nonresidents are not permitted to hunt big game or trophy game in any federally designated wilderness areas without the presence of a licensed guide or resident companion. The resident companion must first get a free non-commercial guide license from a Game and Fish office. The law does not prohibit nonresidents from hiking, fishing or hunting game birds, small game, or coyotes in wilderness areas.

Typical trees species in the higher elevations include lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, subalpine fir and aspen. Those same trees along with a variety of grasses, forbs and some sagebrush exist throughout the middle elevations. Lower elevations are typically rolling grass and sagebrush hills.

The majority of the bison herd is distributed in Grand Teton National Park during the spring and summer months. Small groups of bull bison utilize Bridger Teton National Forest lands east of the park during the late summer and early fall. Cows and calves begin seasonal movements to the National Elk Refuge, Shadow Mountain and Spread Creek areas during early fall. Bison are often moving from open hunting areas to closed areas, it is important that you become familiar with the boundaries. Interstate 89 running northeast from Jackson will be the main access road.

Jackson has several options for lodging, food and gas, located just south of the National Elk Refuge. Day hunting can be done from Jackson. Several campgrounds exist but hunting is best near the end of the season when temperatures get very cold and snow gets deep.