Elk Hunt Area 77, National Elk Refuge: harvest, draw results and public land
Elk Hunt Area 77 (National Elk Refuge) covers 39 square miles in WGFD's Jackson Region and is 0% public land, measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 186 active hunters took 36 elk here, 19.4% 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 wildlife refugeNational park (no general hunting)Area 77Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Jackson Region |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Jackson (102) |
| Size | 39 square miles (24,959 acres) |
| Public land | 0% (0 acres) |
| Harvest, 2025 | 36 (19.4% of 186 active hunters) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 6, Type Youth only |
| Towns in and near it | Jackson |
How much public land is in Elk Area 77?
0% of elk Area 77 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 0 of 24,959 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 77 |
|---|---|---|
| National wildlife refuge | 24,450 | 98% |
| National park (no general hunting) | 101 | 0.4% |
101 acres are National Park Service land, where general hunting licenses are not valid.
WGFD access areas in Elk Area 77
Hunter Management Area: National Elk Refuge (24,275 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 77?
WGFD estimates 36 elk were taken in elk Area 77 in 2025: 2 bulls, 0 spikes, 28 cows and 6 calves. 186 hunters hunted, and 19.4% of them took an animal. Residents: 139 hunters, 12.9% success; nonresidents: 47 hunters, 38.3% success.
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bulls | Spikes | Cows | Calves | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 186 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 6 | 19.4% | 733 | 20.4 |
| 2024 | 341 | 64 | 28 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 18.8% | 1,128 | 17.6 |
| 2023 | 316 | 116 | 17 | 0 | 76 | 23 | 36.7% | 1,418 | 12.2 |
| 2022 | 567 | 415 | 29 | 0 | 313 | 73 | 73.2% | 1,777 | 4.3 |
| 2021 | 277 | 52 | 10 | 0 | 35 | 7 | 18.8% | 1,035 | 19.9 |
| License type | Licenses sold | Active licenses | Harvest | Success | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | |
| Type 2 | 3 | 0 | 0% | 11 | |
| Type 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | |
| Type 4 | 11 | 0 | 0% | 27 | |
| Type 5 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | |
| Type 6 | 101 | 89 | 31 | 34.8% | 405 |
| Type 6 | 11 | 3 | 27.3% | 43 | |
| Type 7 | 6 | 0 | 0% | 15 | |
| Type 9 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | |
| General | not limited | 70 | 2 | 2.9% | 232 |
Source: WGFD 2025 elk harvest report, page 15 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 77 in 2026?
No general license season; every license here is limited quota. Every row WGFD prints for Area 77:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 6 also Area 75 | Nov 14 to Dec 6 | 20 | Cow or calf; except the Snake River Bottom and Antelope Flats portions shall be closed General license and unused limited quota licenses; antlerless elk | |
| Type Youth only | Nov 26 to Nov 29 | National Elk Refuge permits shall be issued only for those in possession of a full price youth elk license, any elk; youth only General license and unused limited quota licenses, antlerless elk | ||
| Type Youth only | Nov 26 to Nov 29 | National Elk Refuge permits shall be issued only for those in possession of a full price youth elk license, any elk; youth only General license and unused limited quota licenses, antlerless elk | ||
| Type 6 | Dec 7 to Dec 18 | 100 | Cow or calf; permission slip required | |
| Type 6 | Jan 5 to Jan 14 | Cow or calf; permission slips for the National Elk Refuge may be available through the Department's Jackson Regional Office until the season closes or conditions dictate that supplemental feeding is necessary |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 7 (final, April 2026), pages 12 to 13. 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 77?
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 | 16 | 116 | not published | |
| Residents | 84 | 120 | not published |
| Drawing | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn | Fewest points that drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidents, reduced price, random | 3 | 58 | not published | |
| Residents | 17 | 51 | not published |
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. 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 77?
No numbered highway crosses the area. Nearby: Jackson (on the line).
Which elk hunt areas border Area 77?
Elk Area 77 touches 6 other elk hunt areas. Their size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 75 | Snake River | 47 | 1.9% | 13 (2025) |
| Area 78 | Wilson | 71 | 36% | 106 (2025) |
| Area 80 | Sheep Creek | 89 | 98.6% | 7 (2025) |
| Area 81 | Spread Creek | 351 | 98.8% | 147 (2025) |
| Area 82 | Crystal Peak | 234 | 99% | 147 (2025) |
| Area 84 | Lower Hoback | 395 | 91.4% | 499 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Elk Area 77?
0% of elk Area 77 is public land: 0 of its 24,959 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 77?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 19.4%: 186 active hunters took 36 elk. In 2024 it was 18.8% (64 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does elk season open in Elk Area 77 in 2026?
The earliest regular season row opens November 14 and the latest closes January 14, 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 77?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 2 limited quota hunts for elk Area 77. The largest, Type 6, had 100 licenses and 236 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Elk Area 77?
No town is inside it. The nearest is Jackson (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 12 to 13.
- 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 Jackson Region Area 75 Area 78 Area 80 Area 81 Area 82 Area 84