Moose Hunt Area 9, Greybull - Owl Creek: harvest, draw results and public land
Moose Hunt Area 9 (Greybull - Owl Creek) covers 2,029 square miles in WGFD's Cody Region and is 53.4% public land, the largest part national forest (307,486 acres), measured from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Office of State Lands data. WGFD's 2025 harvest report estimates 3 active hunters took 3 moose here, 100% success. The 2026 season table lists 1 license row here.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WGFD reports for 2021 to 2025. Seasons: WGFD Commission Chapter 8, 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 9Neighboring areasWGFD access areaLakeHighway
| WGFD region | Cody Region |
|---|---|
| Herd unit | Absaroka (201) |
| Size | 2,029 square miles (1,298,407 acres) |
| Public land | 53.4% (693,593 acres) |
| Designated wilderness | 141,006 acres |
| Harvest, 2025 | 3 (100% of 3 active hunters) |
| Limited quota license types, 2026 | Type 1 |
| Special archery opens | September 1 |
| Towns in and near it | Meeteetse, Owl Creek, Thermopolis, East Thermopolis and Kirby |
How much public land is in Moose Area 9?
53.4% of moose Area 9 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 693,593 of 1,298,407 acres. The largest share is national forest, 307,486 acres or 23.7% of the area.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Area 9 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 307,486 | 23.7% |
| BLM | 279,889 | 21.6% |
| Wind River Reservation (as PAD-US maps it) | 269,406 | 20.7% |
| State trust land | 106,218 | 8.2% |
State trust land by access: the Office of State Lands and Investments' own parcel layer has 106,757 acres here (a few parcels overlap federal land in the source maps, so this can differ a little from the table). 63,374 acres road access or reached from other state land, 32,629 acres next to other public land and 10,754 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 (141,006 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 269,406 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 Moose Area 9
Wildlife Habitat Management Area: Sunshine (4,615 acres here). Hunter Management Areas: Pitchfork (54,284 acres here), Absaroka Front (28,079 acres here), Newell Springs (3,347 acres here), Rawhide (967 acres here) and Carter Mountain (69 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 moose hunt areas (2026)) 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 moose are harvested in Moose Area 9?
WGFD estimates 3 moose were taken in moose Area 9 in 2025: 3 bulls, 0 cows and 0 calves. 3 hunters hunted, and 100% of them took an animal.
| Year | Licenses | Active hunters | Harvest | Bulls | Cows | Calves | Hunter success | Hunter days | Days per animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 28 | 9.3 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 24 | 8.0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 33 | 11.0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 15 | 5.0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 38 | 12.7 |
Source: WGFD 2025 moose harvest report, page 7 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.
When is moose season in Moose Area 9 in 2026?
No general license season; every license here is limited quota. Special archery seasons open September 1. Every row WGFD prints for Area 9:
| License type | Special archery season | Regular season | Quota | WGFD's limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Sep 1 to Sep 9 | Sep 10 to Nov 10 | 3 | Antlered moose |
Source: WGFD Commission Chapter 8 (final, April 2026), page 1. WGFD can change a season by emergency rule: check WGFD's regulations page before you go.
What did the 2026 draw look like in Moose Area 9?
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 | 0 | 6 | not published | |
| Residents, random | 0 | 72 | not published | |
| Nonresidents, regular, preference points | 1 | 7 | 1 | 25 |
| Residents, preference points | 2 | 74 | 2 | 22 |
Source: WGFD 2026 moose 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.
How do you get to Moose Area 9?
Highways through the area: WY 120 (about 40 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 290 (about 11 miles inside it). Towns inside: Meeteetse and Owl Creek. Nearby: Thermopolis (on the line), East Thermopolis (on the line), Kirby (10 miles) and Shoshoni (15 miles).
Which moose hunt areas border Area 9?
Moose Area 9 touches 2 other moose hunt areas. Their size, public land and latest WGFD harvest, for comparison:
| Hunt area | Name | Square miles | Public land | Harvest (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 6 | Wind River | 1,246 | 84.8% | 5 (2025) |
| Area 11 | North Fork | 2,682 | 83.4% | 5 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Moose Area 9?
53.4% of moose Area 9 is public land: 693,593 of its 1,298,407 acres, the largest share national forest (307,486 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 Moose Area 9?
WGFD's 2025 harvest report puts hunter success at 100%: 3 active hunters took 3 moose. In 2024 it was 100% (3 taken). WGFD estimates these numbers from its hunter survey.
When does moose season open in Moose Area 9 in 2026?
The special archery season opens September 1. The earliest regular season row opens September 10 and the latest closes November 10, by WGFD Commission Chapter 8. Each license type has its own dates and limitations, listed on this page.
How many licenses were in the 2026 draw for Moose Area 9?
WGFD's 2026 demand reports list 1 limited quota hunt for moose Area 9. Type 1 had 3 licenses and 159 first-choice applicants across its drawings.
What is the closest town to Moose Area 9?
Meeteetse and Owl Creek are inside the hunt area. Just outside: Thermopolis (on the line), East Thermopolis (on the line) and Kirby (10 miles).
Is there wilderness in Moose Area 9?
Yes. Washakie Wilderness (141,006 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 moose harvest reports, 2021 to 2025, listed here.
- Seasons, quotas and limitations: WGFD Commission Chapter 8 (final, April 2026), page 1.
- Draw: WGFD 2026 demand reports; deadlines and fees on the Wyoming draw page.
- Hunt area boundary: WGFD moose hunt areas (2026). 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.