Bighorn Sheep Hunt Area 6, Targhee: harvest, seasons and public land
Bighorn Sheep Hunt Area 6 (Targhee) covers 406 square miles in WGFD's Jackson Region and is 96.5% public land, most of it national forest (248,955 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 1 active hunters took 0 bighorn sheep here, 0% success. The 2026 season table lists 2 license rows here.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WGFD reports for 2021 to 2025. Seasons: WGFD Commission Chapter 9, final April 2026. Land: PAD-US 4.1 and the Office of State Lands, read 2026-10-18.
National forestBLMBureau of ReclamationNational park (no general hunting)Area 6Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Jackson Region |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Targhee (106) |
| Size | 406 square miles (259,570 acres) |
| Public land | 96.5% (250,456 acres) |
| Designated wilderness | 134,431 acres |
| Harvest, 2025 | 0 (0% of 1 active hunters) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 1 |
| Towns in and near it | Alta, Teton Village and Jackson |
How much public land is in Bighorn Sheep Area 6?
96.5% of bighorn sheep Area 6 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 250,456 of 259,570 acres. The largest share is national forest, 248,955 acres or 95.9% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 6 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 248,955 | 95.9% |
| BLM | 1,482 | 0.6% |
| National park (no general hunting) | 222 | 0.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 19 | under 0.1% |
Designated wilderness: Jedediah Smith Wilderness (123,773 acres) and Winegar Hole Wilderness (10,658 acres). A nonresident hunting big game in a designated wilderness area must be accompanied by a licensed professional guide or a resident guide (W.S. 23-2-401).
222 acres are National Park Service land, where general hunting licenses are not valid.
WGFD access areas in Bighorn Sheep Area 6
Public Access Area: Coco Belle Van Meerendonk (43 acres here).
Measured by FilledTag inside WGFD's hunt area boundary (WGFD bighorn sheep hunt areas) from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (federal land) and the Office of State Lands and Investments (state trust land). Access areas: WGFD's WHMA, PAA, HMA and Walk-In boundaries. Wilderness: USFS wilderness boundaries as WGFD publishes them.
How many bighorn sheep are harvested in Bighorn sheep Area 6?
WGFD estimates 0 bighorn sheep were taken in bighorn sheep Area 6 in 2025: 0 rams, 0 ewes and 0 lambs. 1 hunters hunted, and 0% of them took an animal.
| Year | Licenses | Active hunters | Harvest | Rams | Ewes | Lambs | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 7 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 61 | 30.5 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50% | 13 | 13.0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 9 | |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 24 |
Source: WGFD 2025 bighorn sheep harvest report, page 7 of the PDF; earlier years from 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021. WGFD counts a hunter as active if he hunted. Days per animal is worked out from WGFD's own two figures.
When is bighorn sheep season in Bighorn Sheep Area 6 in 2026?
No general license season; every license here is limited quota. Every row WGFD prints for Area 6:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Aug 1 to Aug 31 | 1 | Any ram valid north of South Badger Creek | |
| Type 1 | Sep 1 to Oct 31 | Any ram valid in the entire area |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 9 (final, April 2026), page 1. WGFD can change a season by emergency rule: check WGFD's regulations page before you go.
How do you get to Bighorn Sheep Area 6?
Highways through the area: WY 22 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: Alta and Teton Village. Nearby: Jackson (6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Bighorn Sheep Area 6?
96.5% of bighorn sheep Area 6 is public land: 250,456 of its 259,570 acres, the largest share national forest (248,955 acres). Measured by FilledTag inside WGFD's boundary from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data.
What is the hunter success in Bighorn Sheep Area 6?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 0%: 1 active hunters took 0 bighorn sheep. In 2024 it was 100% (2 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does bighorn sheep season open in Bighorn Sheep Area 6 in 2026?
The earliest regular season row opens August 1 and the latest closes October 31, by WGFD Commission Chapter 9. Each license type has its own dates and limitations, listed on this page.
What is the closest town to Bighorn Sheep Area 6?
Alta and Teton Village are inside the hunt area. Just outside: Jackson (6 miles).
Is there wilderness in Bighorn Sheep Area 6?
Yes. Jedediah Smith Wilderness (123,773 acres) and Winegar Hole Wilderness (10,658 acres) lie inside it. Wyoming law requires a nonresident hunting big game in a designated wilderness area to be accompanied by a licensed professional guide or a resident guide (W.S. 23-2-401).
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, hunters and days: WGFD bighorn sheep harvest reports, 2021 to 2025, listed here.
- Seasons, quotas and limitations: WGFD Commission Chapter 9 (final, April 2026), page 1.
- Licenses: WGFD issues bighorn sheep licenses by drawing; its demand reports are on WGFD's draw results page.
- Hunt area boundary: WGFD bighorn sheep hunt areas. Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (federal land) and the Office of State Lands and Investments (state trust land). Highways and towns: Census TIGER/Line 2024 and the 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Numbers are copied from WGFD and the other agencies named, or measured by FilledTag from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag. WGFD's regulations are the final word on every rule.