How to Hunt Wyoming: A Practical Guide for First-Time Big Game Hunters
If hunting big game out West is on your bucket list, Wyoming needs to be on your radar. It’s wide open, rich in wildlife, and still steeped in the kind of hunting heritage we all want to preserve. Whether you're dreaming of velvet muleys, prairie speed goats, screaming bulls, or a black bear slipping through the timber, Wyoming's got it.
Here’s your no-nonsense, first-timer’s guide to hunting Wyoming—covering licenses, seasons, species, gear, and where to go.
Getting Started: Wyoming Hunting Licenses & Regulations
Before you put boots on the ground or start dropping pins in OnX, you’ve got to get legal. Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) runs a tight ship, and non-residents have a few extra hoops to jump through.
🎫 License Basics
All hunters need a valid license for the species they’re after. You’ll also need a conservation stamp and possibly an archery license if you're going bow-only during the special archery season. Elk hunters in feedground-fed elk herds need an additional permit, as well.
Buy licenses/apply online at wgfd.wyo.gov
Call (307) 777-4600 for help
Non-residents need to apply for tags by January 31st (elk) and May 31st (deer/antelope)
🧠 Hunter Education
If you were born after Jan. 1, 1966, you need to complete a certified hunter safety course before you can hunt in Wyoming.
Species Breakdown: What You’re Hunting in Wyoming
🦌 Mule Deer
The crown jewel of Wyoming deer hunting. The best hunting for giant bucks is out west and in the high country. You’ll need to apply in the draw for a region tag. Expect steep terrain, long glassing sessions, and some of the best public-land muley hunts left in the Lower 48.
🦝 Whitetail Deer
You’ll find them hanging out along rivers and ag country, especially in the northeast and eastern parts of the state. Some tags are over-the-counter for does, but access can be tricky without private land.
🐐 Antelope (Pronghorn)
Nowhere does pronghorn like Wyoming. Flat, open country and tons of public land make for a fun and accessible hunt. Tags are draw-only, but odds are generally good. Expect long shots and windy stalks.
🐂 Elk
Elk hunts range from thick timber in the northwest to open sage flats down south. General tags offer solid hunts for non-residents but plan ahead—draw odds are getting tougher with Regular-Priced drawings taking at least 3 preference points to guarantee the tag. Invest in quality glass and train for elevation.
🐻 Black Bear
A solid add-on hunt in spring or fall. OTC tags in some areas, with quotas that close fast once the harvest limit is hit. Take the bear ID course seriously—grizzlies share habitat in many black bear units.
Where to Hunt: Public Land Access in Wyoming
Wyoming's public land game is strong, but access can be patchy depending on the unit.
🌲 Public Land
National Forests & BLM Land – Huntable with a valid tag and often high-quality habitat
State Lands – Mostly open to hunting, but check access rules
Walk-In Access (WIHA) – Private land enrolled for public hunting—gold mine for antelope and deer
Hunter Management Areas (HMA) – Private lands enrolled for public hunting where you MUST have a permission slip either issued unlimited in number, or through a draw system
Check out the Wyoming Hunt Planner for GMU maps, land status, and access notes.
🔒 Private Land
Most land east of I-25 is private. You'll need permission to hunt it or a voucher through landowner programs. Some units have great public options; others don’t—plan accordingly.
Ethics, Safety & Wyoming Hunting Rules
Wyoming hunters play by a strict code of conduct—and for good reason. Here's what to know:
Blaze Orange – Required during rifle seasons for most big game hunts.
Legal Hours – ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
No Hunting from Roads – Stay at least 30 feet off centerline of any public road, or the other side of right-of-way fences
Respect Private Property – Trespass = tag loss, fines, and a bad reputation.
Use the Meat – Wasting game is a felony. If you shoot it, you pack it out.
Helpful Links & Contacts
Call WGFD at (307) 777-4600 for questions
Final Thoughts
Hunting Wyoming for the first time is one of those “remember forever” kinds of experiences. It’s wild, wide-open, and full of potential. But it’s not a trip you wing—especially as a non-resident. Do your research, apply early, prep your body, and take the rules seriously.
If you're overwhelmed or just want to shortcut the learning curve, that’s where I come in. I help first-time and seasoned hunters alike build custom hunt plans for the Cowboy State.
Got a tag? Let’s build a plan. Need help applying? I’ve got you covered.
Hit me up when you’re ready to start painting your Western hunting canvas.
COMMENTARY ON WYOMING
In the past half-decade, Wyoming has altered how preference points are rewarded, decreased nonresident deer opportunities by 50%, and cut the Big 5 species’ opportunities in half. If you’re having a hard time keeping up with the changes, but still want to hunt the Cowboy State, get hunt advice to make the most of your hunting opportunities.
That said, no other state has more pronghorn hunting opportunities than Wyoming. Largely, the hunt opportunities for speed goats in the Cowboy State are controlled by the amount of public land access first, then by the historic trophy potential as can be found in the tough-to-draw Red Desert hunts.
Elk opportunities abound with the General license, limited quota bull opportunities, and a plethora of antlerless elk tags anyone can pick up on a yearly basis. Bears, wilderness, and season dates are all the factors folks will work into their game plan when they score a tag.
Deer in Wyoming go through major swings in productivity and trophy potential. Western Wyoming is in a major slump after the die-off that occurred from the harsh 2023 winter, while eastern Wyoming is feeling the impacts of chronic wasting disease, drought, and other factors. That said, there are plentiful opportunities within the limited quota and general deer hunting system for any preference point level.
The folks below have all enjoyed quality hunt experiences in Wyoming since 2019 and showcase the variety of opportunities available for today’s hunter in the Cowboy State.
