Unlike states with one statewide rifle opener, Wyoming sets elk seasons hunt area by hunt area. Two areas a few miles apart can open two weeks apart. The patterns below will help you plan, but always look up your exact hunt area and license type in the current regulations.

2026 Wyoming elk season patterns

Season	Typical 2026 dates	Notes
Archery	September 1–30 in most areas	Some areas close earlier (September 14, 19, or 25) or open later (September 15 or 20). Requires an archery license unless you hold a Type 9 license
General rifle	Opens October 1 or October 15 in most areas; some northwestern areas open September 20 or 26, and a few on other dates	Most general seasons close between mid-October and October 31; a few run into November
Limited quota rifle	Varies widely, often October	Some run into November
Antlerless and cow/calf	October through December in many areas	Some late seasons run into January

Examples from the 2026 regulation

Hunt area	Archery	Rifle
Areas 56 and 66 (general)	September 1–30	Any elk, October 1–21
Area 7 (limited quota)	September 1–30	Any elk, October 15 – November 20; antlerless November 21 – December 31
Area 16 (limited quota)	September 1–30	Any elk, October 1–31
Area 19 (limited quota)	September 1–30	Any elk, October 1–14

These examples match WGFD’s final 2026 elk hunting regulations. Dates change every year, so check the current regulations for your area and license type.

What each season is like

Archery (September)

This is the rut. Bulls bugle, gather cows, and come to calls, especially from mid-September on. It is the most exciting time to hunt elk and the most physical. September days can be warm, so plan to get meat cooled and off the mountain fast. You need an archery license ($72 for nonresidents in 2026) on top of your elk license unless you drew a Type 9 archery-only license.

Early rifle (early October)

Many areas open October 1. Bulls are winding down from the rut and some are still with cows. The first days of rifle season are usually the best before pressure pushes elk into timber and steep country. In high country, early snow can come any time.

Mid to late October rifle

Areas that open October 15 often see colder weather and some snow. Snow makes tracking easier and can push elk toward lower ground. Hunters who are willing to hike or ride away from roads usually do best.

Late antlerless seasons (November and December)

Many areas have cow and antlerless seasons late in the year, sometimes on private land or off national forest. Elk are often on winter range by then. These hunts are a good, lower-cost way to fill a freezer, and cow/calf licenses use no points.

Wilderness timing

Much of the best backcountry elk country in northwest Wyoming is designated wilderness. Nonresidents need an outfitter or resident guide there, so your season is often set by the outfitter’s camp schedule as much as by the regulation. Outfitters book these pack trips well ahead, often by the time the draw closes in late January or early February.

How to pick your season

• Want to hear bugles and call in a bull? Archery in September.
• First elk hunt with a rifle? An area that opens October 1, hunted on opening week.
• Want snow and easier tracking? An area that opens mid-October.
• Want to fill the freezer? A cow/calf license in a late season.
• Going with an outfitter? Ask which hunt areas and seasons they guide and their success in each.

Key license dates for 2026

• Nonresident elk applications: January 2 – February 2
• Nonresident results: May 21
• Leftover draw: June 22–26, results July 8
• Leftover licenses on sale: July 16
• Preference point only: July 1 – November 2

Read our step-by-step guide to the Wyoming elk draw

Related: How Wyoming draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Wyoming Elk Hunting Guide · General vs. limited quota licenses · Cost of a Wyoming elk hunt

Season dates and patterns are from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for 2026. Dates vary by hunt area and license type, so confirm yours in the current WGFD elk hunting regulations.