Elk Hunt Area 38, Tongue: harvest, draw results and public land
Elk Hunt Area 38 (Tongue) covers 564 square miles in WGFD's Sheridan Region and is 76.5% public land, most of it national forest (267,131 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 1,125 active hunters took 407 elk here, 36.2% success. The 2026 season table lists 5 license rows here.
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 38Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Sheridan Region (also Cody) |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | North Bighorn (321) |
| Size | 564 square miles (360,971 acres) |
| Public land | 76.5% (276,148 acres) |
| Harvest, 2025 | 407 (36.2% of 1,125 active hunters) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 1, Type 4, Type 6, Type 9 |
| Towns in and near it | Dayton, Parkman, Ranchester and Sheridan |
How much public land is in Elk Area 38?
76.5% of elk Area 38 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 276,148 of 360,971 acres. The largest share is national forest, 267,131 acres or 74% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 38 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 267,131 | 74% |
| State trust land | 8,107 | 2.2% |
| BLM | 910 | 0.3% |
State trust land by access: the Office of State Lands and Investments' own parcel layer has 8,112 acres here (a few parcels overlap federal land in the source maps, so this can differ a little from the table). 5,775 acres road access or reached from other state land, 2,102 acres no known public access, 155 acres next to other public land and 80 acres access not yet researched. 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 38
Wildlife Habitat Management Areas: Kerns (4,943 acres here) and Amsden Creek (3,773 acres here). Public Access Area: Tongue River Canyon (135 acres here).
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 38?
WGFD estimates 407 elk were taken in elk Area 38 in 2025: 174 bulls, 16 spikes, 192 cows and 25 calves. 1,125 hunters hunted, and 36.2% of them took an animal. Residents: 937 hunters, 30.4% success; nonresidents: 188 hunters, 64.9% success.
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bulls | Spikes | Cows | Calves | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,125 | 407 | 174 | 16 | 192 | 25 | 36.2% | 9,156 | 22.5 |
| 2024 | 606 | 324 | 127 | 7 | 175 | 15 | 53.5% | 3,803 | 11.7 |
| 2023 | 1,089 | 504 | 215 | 7 | 250 | 32 | 46.3% | 8,270 | 16.4 |
| 2022 | 1,103 | 522 | 242 | 24 | 248 | 8 | 47.3% | 7,383 | 14.1 |
| 2021 | 1,052 | 365 | 120 | 12 | 193 | 40 | 34.7% | 8,009 | 21.9 |
| License type | Licenses sold | Active licenses | Harvest | Success | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | 370 | 354 | 115 | 32.5% | 2,647 |
| Type 4 | 553 | 490 | 179 | 36.5% | 3,560 |
| Type 6 | 75 | 37 | 18 | 48.6% | 224 |
| Type 9 | 251 | 244 | 95 | 38.9% | 2,725 |
Source: WGFD 2025 elk harvest report, page 11 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 38 in 2026?
No general license season; every license here is limited quota. Every row WGFD prints for Area 38:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Oct 10 to Oct 31 | 400 | Any elk | |
| Type 1 | Nov 1 to Nov 15 | Antlerless elk | ||
| Type 4 | Oct 1 to Nov 15 | 550 | Antlerless elk | |
| Type 6 | Sep 15 to Dec 31 | 100 | Cow or calf valid off national forest and off the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission’s Amsden Creek and Kerns Wildlife Habitat Management Areas | |
| Type 9 | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | 250 | Any elk, archery only |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 7 (final, April 2026), page 6. 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 38?
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, regular, random | 9 | 360 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 6 | 97 | not published | |
| Residents | 334 | 1,049 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 29 | 389 | 29 | 12 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 20 | 117 | 20 | 11 |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, regular, random | 19 | 53 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 9 | 0 | not published | |
| Residents | 459 | 489 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 59 | 114 | 61 | 1 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 16 | 37 | not published | |
| Residents | 84 | 211 | not published |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, regular, random | 6 | 413 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 4 | 144 | not published | |
| Residents | 210 | 1,047 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 18 | 432 | 19 | 15 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 12 | 156 | 12 | 14 |
Source: WGFD 2026 elk demand report, nonresident preference point 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. On some rows WGFD prints more licenses drawn than the quota; they are shown as printed.
How do you get to Elk Area 38?
Highways through the area: US 14 (about 32 miles inside it), WY 345 (about 13 miles inside it), I-90 (about 10 miles inside it), US 87 (about 10 miles inside it) and WY 343 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: Dayton and Parkman. Nearby: Ranchester (on the line) and Sheridan (12 miles).
Which elk hunt areas border Area 38?
Elk Area 38 touches 5 other elk hunt areas. Their size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 37 | Goose | 684 | 52.9% | 282 (2025) |
| Area 39 | Deer Creek | 230 | 87.5% | 231 (2025) |
| Area 40 | Horse Creek | 462 | 82.2% | 131 (2025) |
| Area 41 | Medicine Lodge | 666 | 84.9% | 356 (2025) |
| Area 129 | Non-Herd Unit | 7,750 | 18.3% | 1,087 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Elk Area 38?
76.5% of elk Area 38 is public land: 276,148 of its 360,971 acres, the largest share national forest (267,131 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 38?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 36.2%: 1,125 active hunters took 407 elk. In 2024 it was 53.5% (324 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does elk season open in Elk Area 38 in 2026?
The earliest regular season row opens September 1 and the latest closes December 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 38?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 4 limited quota hunts for elk Area 38. The largest, Type 4, had 573 licenses and 657 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Elk Area 38?
Dayton and Parkman are inside the hunt area. Just outside: Ranchester (on the line) and Sheridan (12 miles).
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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 6.
- 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.
Wyoming hunting Elk hunt areas Sheridan Region Area 37 Area 39 Area 40 Area 41 Area 129