Elk Hunt Area 129, Non-Herd Unit: harvest, draw results and public land
Elk Hunt Area 129 (Non-Herd Unit) covers 7,750 square miles in WGFD's Sheridan Region and is 18.3% public land, most of it BLM (504,325 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 2,346 active hunters took 1,087 elk here, 46.3% success. The 2026 season table lists 6 license rows here, including general license seasons.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WGFD reports for 2021 to 2025. Seasons: WGFD Commission Chapter 7, final April 2026. Draw: WGFD 2026 demand reports. Land: PAD-US 4.1 and the Office of State Lands, read 2026-10-18.
National forestBLMState trust landArea 129Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Sheridan Region |
|---|---|
| Size | 7,750 square miles (4,960,274 acres) |
| Public land | 18.3% (910,041 acres) |
| Harvest, 2025 | 1,087 (46.3% of 2,346 active hunters) |
| General license seasons, 2026 | archery only Sep 1 to Sep 14 (Any elk valid off private land); Sep 1 to Sep 14 (Any elk valid on private land); Sep 15 to Oct 31 (Any elk valid in the entire area); Nov 1 to Nov 30 (Antlerless elk) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 6, Type 8 |
| Special archery opens | September 1 |
| Towns in and near it | Gillette, Wright, Kaycee, Moorcroft, Edgerton and Midwest |
How much public land is in Elk Area 129?
18.3% of elk Area 129 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 910,041 of 4,960,274 acres. The largest share is BLM, 504,325 acres or 10.2% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 129 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 504,325 | 10.2% |
| State trust land | 351,514 | 7.1% |
| National forest | 54,202 | 1.1% |
State trust land by access: the Office of State Lands and Investments' own parcel layer has 351,673 acres here (a few parcels overlap federal land in the source maps, so this can differ a little from the table). 185,300 acres no known public access, 115,928 acres road access or reached from other state land, 49,846 acres next to other public land, 361 acres access not yet researched and 238 acres possible access by water. State trust land is open to hunting where it can be reached legally, but not to camping or open fires.
WGFD access areas in Elk Area 129
Public Access Area: Healy Reservoir (382 acres here). Hunter Management Area: Junction (297 acres here). Walk-In Hunting: 11 areas covering 24,458 acres of private land enrolled in WGFD's Access Yes program.
Measured by FilledTag inside WGFD's hunt area boundary (WGFD elk 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 elk are harvested in Elk Area 129?
WGFD estimates 1,087 elk were taken in elk Area 129 in 2025: 526 bulls, 52 spikes, 472 cows and 37 calves. 2,346 hunters hunted, and 46.3% of them took an animal. Residents: 1,630 hunters, 34.8% success; nonresidents: 716 hunters, 72.6% success.
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bulls | Spikes | Cows | Calves | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,346 | 1,087 | 526 | 52 | 472 | 37 | 46.3% | 17,006 | 15.6 |
| 2024 | 2,282 | 1,221 | 444 | 48 | 646 | 83 | 53.5% | 15,720 | 12.9 |
| 2023 | 1,427 | 655 | 344 | 4 | 264 | 43 | 45.9% | 8,037 | 12.3 |
| 2022 | 1,395 | 572 | 276 | 23 | 251 | 22 | 41% | 7,806 | 13.6 |
| 2021 | 1,394 | 529 | 226 | 8 | 272 | 23 | 37.9% | 8,015 | 15.2 |
| License type | Licenses sold | Active licenses | Harvest | Success | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 6 | 658 | 549 | 271 | 49.4% | 3,283 |
| Type 8 | 446 | 335 | 180 | 53.7% | 2,188 |
| General | not limited | 1,577 | 636 | 40.3% | 11,535 |
Source: WGFD 2025 elk harvest report, page 21 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. A bull, in WGFD's tables, is a branch-antlered bull; spikes are counted apart.
When is elk season in Elk Area 129 in 2026?
General license seasons: archery only, September 1 to 14 (any elk valid off private land); September 1 to 14 (any elk valid on private land); September 15 to October 31 (any elk valid in the entire area); November 1 to 30 (antlerless elk). Special archery seasons open September 1. Every row WGFD prints for Area 129:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Sep 1 to Sep 14 | Any elk valid off private land | ||
| General | Sep 1 to Sep 14 | Any elk valid on private land | ||
| General | Sep 15 to Oct 31 | Any elk valid in the entire area | ||
| General | Nov 1 to Nov 30 | Antlerless elk | ||
| Type 6 | Sep 1 to Dec 15 | 850 | Cow or calf; also valid in that portion of Area 2 within Johnson County | |
| Type 8 | Sep 1 to Jan 31 | Unlimited | Cow or calf valid on private land |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 7 (final, April 2026), page 23. WGFD can change a season by emergency rule: check WGFD's regulations page before you go.
What did the 2026 draw look like in Elk Area 129?
From WGFD's 2026 initial drawing demand reports: each limited quota hunt's licenses, its first-choice applicants in each drawing, how many were drawn in the preference point drawings, and the fewest points that drew. WGFD does not publish how many drew in the random drawings. The rules for points and the deadlines are on the Wyoming draw page.
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 135 | 76 | not published | |
| Residents | 768 | 65 | not published |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | no limit | 13 | not published | |
| Residents | no limit | 24 | not published |
Nonresidents hunt the general license here on WGFD's Region E general license. In the 2026 draw it had 1,025 licenses; 1,017 nonresidents put it first in the regular preference point drawing and 489 were drawn.
Source: WGFD 2026 elk demand report, nonresident reduced price drawing and the other 2026 demand reports on WGFD's draw results page. Applicants who miss in a nonresident preference point drawing go on to the random drawing, so one person can be counted in both.
How do you get to Elk Area 129?
Highways through the area: I-90 (about 244 miles inside it), US 14 (about 174 miles inside it), US 16 (about 155 miles inside it), US 87 (about 123 miles inside it) and WY 59 (about 112 miles inside it). Towns inside: Gillette, Wright, Kaycee, Clearmont, Arvada and Sleepy Hollow. Nearby: Moorcroft (on the line), Edgerton (on the line), Midwest (on the line) and Ranchester (on the line).
Which elk hunt areas border Area 129?
Elk Area 129 touches 13 other elk hunt areas. Their size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 2 | Fortification | 392 | 32.7% | 224 (2025) |
| Area 33 | Middle Fork | 625 | 51.9% | 120 (2025) |
| Area 34 | Upper Powder River | 826 | 40.2% | 470 (2025) |
| Area 35 | Hunter Mesa | 251 | 75.5% | 143 (2025) |
| Area 36 | Rock Creek | 209 | 67.9% | 145 (2025) |
| Area 37 | Goose | 684 | 52.9% | 282 (2025) |
| Area 38 | Tongue | 564 | 76.5% | 407 (2025) |
| Area 113 | Rochelle Hills | 860 | 54.2% | 349 (2025) |
| Area 116 | North Black Hills | 2,296 | 19.4% | 451 (2025) |
| Area 120 | Buffalo Creek | 1,451 | 65.9% | 192 (2025) |
| Area 122 | Pine Ridge | 1,275 | 26.5% | 288 (2025) |
| Area 123 | Black Thunder | 626 | 32.5% | 266 (2025) |
| Area 126 | Lost Springs | 5,489 | 18% | 367 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Elk Area 129?
18.3% of elk Area 129 is public land: 910,041 of its 4,960,274 acres, the largest share BLM (504,325 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 Elk Area 129?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 46.3%: 2,346 active hunters took 1,087 elk. In 2024 it was 53.5% (1,221 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does elk season open in Elk Area 129 in 2026?
The special archery season opens September 1. The earliest regular season row opens September 1 and the latest closes January 31, by WGFD Commission Chapter 7. Each license type has its own dates and limitations, listed on this page.
How many licenses were in the 2026 draw for Elk Area 129?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 2 limited quota hunts for elk Area 129. The largest, Type 6, had 903 licenses and 141 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Elk Area 129?
Gillette, Wright and Kaycee are inside the hunt area. Just outside: Moorcroft (on the line), Edgerton (on the line) and Midwest (on the line).
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, hunters and days: WGFD elk harvest reports, 2021 to 2025, listed here.
- Seasons, quotas and limitations: WGFD Commission Chapter 7 (final, April 2026), page 23.
- Draw: WGFD 2026 demand reports; deadlines and fees on the Wyoming draw page.
- Hunt area boundary: WGFD elk 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.
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