Elk Hunt Area 7, Laramie Peak: harvest, draw results and public land
Elk Hunt Area 7 (Laramie Peak) covers 4,042 square miles in WGFD's Laramie Region and is 28.5% public land, the largest part BLM (299,744 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 5,140 active hunters took 2,386 elk here, 46.4% 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 landOther public (state parks, military)Area 7Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Laramie Region (also Casper) |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Laramie Peak/Muddy Mountain (741) |
| Size | 4,042 square miles (2,586,807 acres) |
| Public land | 28.5% (738,120 acres) |
| Harvest, 2025 | 2,386 (46.4% of 5,140 active hunters) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 1, Type 2, Type 6, Type 8 |
| Special archery opens | September 1 |
| Towns in and near it | Douglas, Medicine Bow, Glenrock, Rock River, Wheatland and Guernsey |
How much public land is in Elk Area 7?
28.5% of elk Area 7 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 738,120 of 2,586,807 acres. The largest share is BLM, 299,744 acres or 11.6% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 7 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 299,744 | 11.6% |
| State trust land | 267,692 | 10.3% |
| National forest | 170,684 | 6.6% |
| Other public (state parks, military) | 18,368 | 0.7% |
State trust land by access: the Office of State Lands and Investments' own parcel layer has 268,656 acres here (a few parcels overlap federal land in the source maps, so this can differ a little from the table). 139,350 acres road access or reached from other state land, 93,032 acres no known public access, 33,132 acres next to other public land and 3,142 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 7
Wildlife Habitat Management Areas: Laramie Peak (37,269 acres here), Mule Creek Ranch (10,304 acres here), Tom Thorne/Beth Williams (2,958 acres here) and North Glendo (1,869 acres here). Public Access Areas: North Platte River Glendo - Airport Bay (1,460 acres here) and Sybille Lower (118 acres here). Hunter Management Areas: Como Bluffs (62,002 acres here), Shirley Basin (31,253 acres here), Deer Creek (30,439 acres here), McFarlane (16,648 acres here), Hermit Rock (11,346 acres here) and Bell Otte (9,799 acres here) and 10 more. Walk-In Hunting: 21 areas covering 77,132 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 7?
WGFD estimates 2,386 elk were taken in elk Area 7 in 2025: 783 bulls, 31 spikes, 1,348 cows and 224 calves. 5,140 hunters hunted, and 46.4% of them took an animal. Residents: 3,639 hunters, 47.1% success; nonresidents: 1,501 hunters, 44.8% success.
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bulls | Spikes | Cows | Calves | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,140 | 2,386 | 783 | 31 | 1,348 | 224 | 46.4% | 48,084 | 20.2 |
| 2024 | 4,851 | 2,578 | 912 | 77 | 1,402 | 187 | 53.1% | 54,703 | 21.2 |
| 2023 | 3,644 | 1,993 | 860 | 27 | 1,078 | 28 | 54.7% | 28,946 | 14.5 |
| 2022 | 4,235 | 1,779 | 693 | 19 | 866 | 201 | 42% | 35,691 | 20.1 |
| 2021 | 4,381 | 1,638 | 568 | 73 | 886 | 111 | 37.4% | 34,973 | 21.4 |
| License type | Licenses sold | Active licenses | Harvest | Success | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | 1,518 | 1,439 | 756 | 52.5% | 12,916 |
| Type 2 | 352 | 292 | 121 | 41.4% | 1,677 |
| Type 6 | 1,998 | 1,587 | 430 | 27.1% | 11,869 |
| Type 8 | 2,384 | 2,148 | 1,079 | 50.2% | 21,622 |
Source: WGFD 2025 elk harvest report, page 8 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 7 in 2026?
No general license season; every license here is limited quota. Special archery seasons open September 1. Every row WGFD prints for Area 7:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | Oct 15 to Nov 20 | 1500 | Any elk |
| Type 1 | Nov 21 to Dec 31 | Antlerless elk | ||
| Type 2 | Nov 21 to Dec 31 | 500 | Any elk | |
| Type 6 | Sep 1 to Sep 30 | Oct 15 to Dec 31 | 2000 | Cow or calf |
| Type 8 | Aug 15 to Oct 14 | Unlimited | Cow or calf valid on private land in Albany and Carbon counties; also valid in all of Platte County; not valid in Converse or Natrona counties or on Commission owned lands | |
| Type 8 | Oct 15 to Jan 31 | Cow or calf valid on private land in Converse County; also valid off national forest in the remainder of the area |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 7 (final, April 2026), pages 1 to 2. 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 7?
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 | 23 | 1,006 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 15 | 338 | not published | |
| Residents | 1,024 | 3,149 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 69 | 1,075 | 69 | 14 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 47 | 385 | 47 | 13 |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, regular, random | 11 | 73 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, special, random | 8 | 28 | not published | |
| Residents | 413 | 455 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 36 | 113 | 40 | 4 |
| Nonresidents, special, preference points | 24 | 52 | 24 | 2 |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 319 | 509 | not published | |
| Residents | 1,669 | 930 | not published |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | no limit | 90 | not published | |
| Residents | no limit | 92 | not published |
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 7?
Highways through the area: I-25 (about 129 miles inside it), US 87 (about 126 miles inside it), US 26 (about 122 miles inside it), US 20 (about 49 miles inside it) and WY 34 (about 28 miles inside it). Towns inside: Douglas, Medicine Bow, Glenrock, Glendo, Esterbrook and Westview Circle. Nearby: Rock River (on the line), Wheatland (on the line), Guernsey (on the line) and Rolling Hills (2 miles).
Which elk hunt areas border Area 7?
Elk Area 7 touches 7 other elk hunt areas. Their size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 3 | Rawhide | 5,295 | 8.8% | 253 (2025) |
| Area 6 | Iron Mountain | 2,175 | 15.7% | 614 (2025) |
| Area 10 | Rock Creek | 662 | 29.1% | 306 (2025) |
| Area 11 | Medicine Bow River | 692 | 33.8% | 393 (2025) |
| Area 16 | Shirley Mountain | 1,756 | 52.4% | 562 (2025) |
| Area 19 | Muddy Mountain | 743 | 45% | 287 (2025) |
| Area 126 | Lost Springs | 5,489 | 18% | 367 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Elk Area 7?
28.5% of elk Area 7 is public land: 738,120 of its 2,586,807 acres, the largest share BLM (299,744 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 7?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 46.4%: 5,140 active hunters took 2,386 elk. In 2024 it was 53.1% (2,578 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does elk season open in Elk Area 7 in 2026?
The special archery season opens September 1. The earliest regular season row opens August 15 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 7?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 4 limited quota hunts for elk Area 7. The largest, Type 6, had 1,988 licenses and 1,439 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Elk Area 7?
Douglas, Medicine Bow and Glenrock are inside the hunt area. Just outside: Rock River (on the line), Wheatland (on the line) and Guernsey (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), pages 1 to 2.
- 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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