Elk Hunt Area 86, Monument Ridge: harvest, draw results and public land
Elk Hunt Area 86 (Monument Ridge) covers 116 square miles in WGFD's Pinedale Region and is 97.1% public land, most of it national forest (71,838 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 723 active hunters took 227 elk here, 31.4% success. The 2026 season table lists 3 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 forestArea 86Neighboring areasLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Pinedale Region |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Piney (106) |
| Size | 116 square miles (74,017 acres) |
| Public land | 97.1% (71,838 acres) |
| Harvest, 2025 | 227 (31.4% of 723 active hunters) |
| General license seasons, 2026 | Sep 26 to Oct 31 (Any elk); Nov 1 to Nov 20 (Antlerless elk) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 6 |
| Special archery opens | September 1 |
| Towns in and near it | Bondurant, Star Valley Ranch and Thayne |
How much public land is in Elk Area 86?
97.1% of elk Area 86 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 71,838 of 74,017 acres. The largest share is national forest, 71,838 acres or 97.1% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 86 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 71,838 | 97.1% |
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 86?
WGFD estimates 227 elk were taken in elk Area 86 in 2025: 95 bulls, 18 spikes, 101 cows and 13 calves. 723 hunters hunted, and 31.4% of them took an animal. Residents: 425 hunters, 21.9% success; nonresidents: 298 hunters, 45% success.
| Year | Active hunters | Harvest | Bulls | Spikes | Cows | Calves | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 723 | 227 | 95 | 18 | 101 | 13 | 31.4% | 4,292 | 18.9 |
| 2024 | 718 | 242 | 123 | 17 | 97 | 5 | 33.7% | 4,938 | 20.4 |
| 2023 | 587 | 191 | 99 | 19 | 71 | 2 | 32.5% | 2,960 | 15.5 |
| 2022 | 433 | 133 | 77 | 20 | 32 | 4 | 30.7% | 2,494 | 18.8 |
| 2021 | 439 | 109 | 50 | 14 | 40 | 5 | 24.8% | 2,466 | 22.6 |
| License type | Licenses sold | Active licenses | Harvest | Success | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 6 | 150 | 129 | 52 | 40.3% | 715 |
| General | not limited | 623 | 175 | 28.1% | 3,577 |
Source: WGFD 2025 elk harvest report, page 16 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 86 in 2026?
General license seasons: September 26 to October 31 (any elk); November 1 to 20 (antlerless elk). Special archery seasons open September 1. Every row WGFD prints for Area 86:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Sep 1 to Sep 25 | Sep 26 to Oct 31 | Any elk | |
| General | Nov 1 to Nov 20 | Antlerless elk | ||
| Type 6 | Sep 1 to Sep 25 | Sep 26 to Nov 30 | 150 | Cow or calf |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 7 (final, April 2026), page 14. 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 86?
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 | 24 | 77 | not published | |
| Residents | 126 | 35 | not published |
Nonresidents hunt the general license here on WGFD's Region W general license. In the 2026 draw it had 2,683 licenses; 5,652 nonresidents put it first in the regular preference point drawing and 1,208 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 86?
Highways through the area: US 191 (about 5 miles inside it) and US 189 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: Bondurant. Nearby: Star Valley Ranch (15 miles) and Thayne (18 miles).
Which elk hunt areas border Area 86?
Elk Area 86 touches 4 other elk hunt areas. Their size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 84 | Lower Hoback | 395 | 91.4% | 499 (2025) |
| Area 87 | Raspberry Ridge | 115 | 91.3% | 132 (2025) |
| Area 89 | Lower Greys River | 263 | 99.8% | 253 (2025) |
| Area 92 | Piney-Horse Creek | 658 | 54.7% | 497 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Elk Area 86?
97.1% of elk Area 86 is public land: 71,838 of its 74,017 acres, the largest share national forest (71,838 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 86?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 31.4%: 723 active hunters took 227 elk. In 2024 it was 33.7% (242 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does elk season open in Elk Area 86 in 2026?
The special archery season opens September 1. The earliest regular season row opens September 26 and the latest closes November 30, 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 86?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 1 limited quota hunt for elk Area 86. Type 6 had 150 licenses and 112 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Elk Area 86?
Bondurant is inside the hunt area. Just outside: Star Valley Ranch (15 miles) and Thayne (18 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 14.
- 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 Pinedale Region Area 84 Area 87 Area 89 Area 92