Elk Hunt Area 64, Owl Creek: harvest, draw results and public land
Elk Hunt Area 64 (Owl Creek) covers 1,022 square miles in WGFD's Cody Region and is 34.8% public land, most of it BLM (174,371 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 473 active hunters took 197 elk here, 41.6% success. The 2026 season table lists 6 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 landWind River Reservation (as PAD-US maps it)Area 64Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Cody Region |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Gooseberry (214) |
| Size | 1,022 square miles (653,812 acres) |
| Public land | 34.8% (227,438 acres) |
| Designated wilderness | 7,782 acres |
| Harvest, 2025 | 197 (41.6% of 473 active hunters) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 6, Type 7 |
| Special archery opens | September 1 |
| Towns in and near it | Owl Creek, Thermopolis, East Thermopolis and Kirby |
How much public land is in Elk Area 64?
34.8% of elk Area 64 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 227,438 of 653,812 acres. The largest share is BLM, 174,371 acres or 26.7% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 64 |
|---|---|---|
| Wind River Reservation (as PAD-US maps it) | 269,419 | 41.2% |
| BLM | 174,371 | 26.7% |
| State trust land | 27,968 | 4.3% |
| National forest | 25,099 | 3.8% |
State trust land by access: the Office of State Lands and Investments' own parcel layer has 28,278 acres here (a few parcels overlap federal land in the source maps, so this can differ a little from the table). 13,717 acres road access or reached from other state land, 12,412 acres next to other public land and 2,149 acres no known public access. State trust land is open to hunting where it can be reached legally, but not to camping or open fires.
Designated wilderness: Washakie Wilderness (7,782 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).
PAD-US maps 269,419 acres here inside the Wind River Reservation. Tribal land there is not open to hunting on Wyoming licenses; some ground inside the reservation line is private or managed by WGFD and follows its own rules.
WGFD access areas in Elk Area 64
Hunter Management Area: Absaroka Front (11,737 acres here). Walk-In Hunting: 1 area covering 629 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 64?
WGFD estimates 197 elk were taken in elk Area 64 in 2025: 11 bulls, 0 spikes, 177 cows and 9 calves. 473 hunters hunted, and 41.6% of them took an animal. Residents: 329 hunters, 40.1% success; nonresidents: 144 hunters, 45.1% success.
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bulls | Spikes | Cows | Calves | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 473 | 197 | 11 | 0 | 177 | 9 | 41.6% | 2,937 | 14.9 |
| 2024 | 535 | 255 | 14 | 0 | 206 | 35 | 47.7% | 3,086 | 12.1 |
| 2023 | 423 | 280 | 22 | 3 | 225 | 30 | 66.2% | 2,173 | 7.8 |
| 2022 | 416 | 248 | 54 | 0 | 179 | 15 | 59.6% | 1,827 | 7.4 |
| 2021 | 513 | 270 | 52 | 7 | 201 | 10 | 52.6% | 2,762 | 10.2 |
| License type | Licenses sold | Active licenses | Harvest | Success | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | 204 | 45 | 11 | 24.4% | 269 |
| Type 2 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 |
| Type 3 | 77 | 20 | 2 | 10% | 122 |
| Type 6 | 253 | 183 | 66 | 36.1% | 1,116 |
| Type 7 | 300 | 257 | 118 | 45.9% | 1,430 |
Source: WGFD 2025 elk harvest report, page 14 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 64 in 2026?
No general license season; every license here is limited quota. Special archery seasons open September 1. Every row WGFD prints for Area 64:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 also Area 63 | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | Oct 1 to Oct 21 | 200 | Any elk |
| Type 2 also Area 63 | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | Oct 1 to Oct 21 | 35 | Any elk valid within the Washakie Wilderness |
| Type 3 also Area 63 | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | Nov 1 to Nov 15 | 75 | Any elk |
| Type 6 | Sep 1 to Nov 14 | 250 | Cow or calf valid in that portion of the Cottonwood Creek drainage downstream of and including the 21-Creek drainage; also valid within the Grass Creek drainage downstream of the Grass Creek/Little Grass Creek confluence | |
| Type 6 | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | Nov 15 to Dec 21 | Cow or calf valid in the entire area | |
| Type 7 | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | Oct 15 to Dec 21 | 300 | Cow or calf valid south of and including the Cottonwood Creek drainage |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 7 (final, April 2026), pages 10 to 11. 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 64?
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 | 40 | 80 | not published | |
| Residents | 210 | 270 | not published |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 48 | 72 | not published | |
| Residents | 251 | 107 | not published |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, regular, random | 2 | 215 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 1 | 90 | not published | |
| Residents | 134 | 632 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 7 | 222 | 7 | 17 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 6 | 96 | 6 | 16 |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, regular, random | 0 | 10 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 0 | 13 | not published | |
| Residents | 27 | 90 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 3 | 13 | 3 | 17 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 3 | 16 | 3 | 10 |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, regular, random | 1 | 102 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 1 | 35 | not published | |
| Residents | 55 | 226 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 5 | 108 | 6 | 15 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 4 | 41 | 6 | 15 |
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. On some rows WGFD prints more licenses drawn than the quota; they are shown as printed. A license valid in more than one area is listed under the first area WGFD prints for it.
How do you get to Elk Area 64?
Highways through the area: WY 120 (about 18 miles inside it), WY 789 (about 14 miles inside it), US 20 (about 14 miles inside it), WY 170 (about 12 miles inside it) and WY 171 (about 9 miles inside it). Towns inside: Owl Creek. Nearby: Thermopolis (on the line), East Thermopolis (on the line), Kirby (10 miles) and Meeteetse (14 miles).
Which elk hunt areas border Area 64?
Elk Area 64 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 47 | Copper Mountain | 697 | 62.9% | 46 (2025) |
| Area 63 | Wood River-Gooseberry Creek | 366 | 70.1% | 278 (2025) |
| Area 66 | Basin | 1,915 | 78.2% | 76 (2025) |
| Area 67 | Wigins Fork | 700 | 80.4% | 953 (2025) |
| Area 127 | Crowheart Butte | 3,080 | 0% | 54 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Elk Area 64?
34.8% of elk Area 64 is public land: 227,438 of its 653,812 acres, the largest share BLM (174,371 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 64?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 41.6%: 473 active hunters took 197 elk. In 2024 it was 47.7% (255 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does elk season open in Elk Area 64 in 2026?
The special archery season opens September 1. The earliest regular season row opens September 1 and the latest closes December 21, 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 64?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 5 limited quota hunts for elk Area 64. The largest, Type 7, had 299 licenses and 179 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Elk Area 64?
Owl Creek is inside the hunt area. Just outside: Thermopolis (on the line), East Thermopolis (on the line) and Kirby (10 miles).
Is there wilderness in Elk Area 64?
Yes. Washakie Wilderness (7,782 acres) lies 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 elk harvest reports, 2021 to 2025, listed here.
- Seasons, quotas and limitations: WGFD Commission Chapter 7 (final, April 2026), pages 10 to 11.
- 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 Cody Region Area 47 Area 63 Area 66 Area 67 Area 127