Wyoming Guided Elk Hunt

The Wyoming Guided Elk Hunt Package

Beaver Trap Outfitters offers archery and rifle hunts for trophy Rocky Mountain bull elk in Wyoming. These hunts take place in specific units where hunters must apply and be drawn for via preference point system (more information below). Bulls in these units typically range from 280”-320” with much larger bulls in the area.

Archery elk hunts take place September 1st thru the 30th from a wall tent camp on the Bighorn National Forest that you can drive to. Camp is located on the scenic Tongue River drainage at 7,000 ft. Meals are served in a 16x20 cook tent. You will stay in a 12x14 wall tent with a floor, custom wood stoves, lanterns, and XL padded cots which make for a comfortable stay. The guides are expert in locating a bugling bull and then getting in close and calling him in, making for one of the most exciting hunts in North America. Spot and stalk, blinds and tree stands are also used to arrow bulls. Pick-ups and ATV'S are used to get to hunting areas and then you will be on foot. Being in good shape on this hunt is important and will make your hunt more enjoyable. Bulls average 280 to 320 on these hunts with the opportunity for bigger bulls. These are 1x1 guided hunts. Shot opportunities are 90% to 100% most years. If required, have horses available for packing your elk out. Archery hunts are guided in units 37, 38 and 39, which take 5-13 preference points to draw most years.

Rifle elk hunts in Wyoming take place Oct. 10-Nov. 5 from the same wall tent camp as the archery hunts. Some bugling action can be expected the first week of hunting with bulls breaking off into bachelor groups throughout the season. You will spend most of your time glassing from vantage points trying to locate a big bull. Sometimes you are lucky enough to catch some bugling this time of year which makes for an exciting hunt.  Weather will be a factor during the hunt. Cold and snow always help. All elk are resident elk and are always in the area, snow and cold just make them more visible. Bulls will range in size from 280"-320" with 350" plus bulls in the area. Hunter success rates have averaged 75% with 100% shot opportunity most years. These are 2x1 hunts. Hunts are primarily guided in unit 38 during rifle season which takes 9+preference points to draw. Below are more details about the archery and rifle hunt accommodations:

Archery Elk Hunting Packages

• 6 days of 1 x 1 Guided elk hunting
• Food
• Lodging in outfitted tent camp
• Transportation of meats and mounts to processing plant or taxidermist
• No hidden costs
• Arrangements can be made to pick you up at the Sheridan, Wyoming airport if you plan to fly
• Hunting Dates: Sept. 1st - 30th
• Application Dates: Jan. 1st - 31st
• Preference points required:

• Unit 37 - 6 points
• Unit 38 - 13 points
• Unit 39 - 12 points

Rifle Elk Hunting Packages

• 5 days of 2 x 1 Guided elk hunting
• 1x1 hunts available for $1000 extra
• Food
• Lodging in outfitted tent camp
• Transportation of meats and mounts to processing plant or taxidermist
• No hidden costs
• Arrangements can be made to pick you up at the Sheridan, Wyoming airport if you plan to fly
• Hunting Dates: Oct. 10th - October 31st
• Application Dates: Jan. 1st - 31st
• Preference points required:

• Unit 38 - 11 points
• Unit 39 - 8 points
• Unit 41 - 9 points

About the Preference Points

Seeking an elk tag in Wyoming is a simple procedure for hunters seeking a genuine big game adventure. Acquiring an Elk tag grants you access to explore the diverse landscapes of Wyoming, offering a thrilling and challenging hunting experience. Beaver Trap Outfitters hunting grounds for elk hunts primarily take place in Units 37, 38, and 39 and in which you will need to have 5-13 preference points to draw. 

In any type of big game draw, 75 % of available licenses in each hunt area and license type will be allotted to the preference point drawing. The remaining 25% of available licenses will be reserved for a random drawing. The random drawing is intended to provide everyone who applies a chance of drawing a license without preference points.

Like many other states, Wyoming gives non-resident hunters the option to purchase preference points to get a better shot at a preferred hunt. You can purchase a preference point only from July 1 - November 2. Preference points are a way for hunters to improve their odds of eventually drawing a license in a hard-to-draw hunt area. To get the best use of your preference points, check out the application strategies. Click here to find out more information or apply for preference points.  

The preference point system is designed to improve an applicant’s odds of eventually drawing a high demand license in Wyoming. Seventy-five percent (75%) of available licenses in each hunt area and license type are allocated to the preference point drawing. Applicants with the highest preference point ranking will receive priority in the preference point drawing. The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of available licenses will be allocated in a random drawing regardless of preference points.  The random drawing is intended to provide everyone who applies a chance of drawing a license, regardless of their preference point total. Preference points will be required to draw elk and moose tags in the units we hunt unless you get lucky in the random draw.  Deer and antelope tags can be drawn with one point.

• Preference points are assigned to the person’s sportsperson identification number and are tied to a species, but not to a specific hunt area.  *You are allowed to apply for different hunt areas from one year to the next. 
• No person may apply for, or be awarded, more than one (1) preference point per species in the same calendar year.
• The number of preference points you have going into the draw is the number used.  A common misconception is that you are given next years point and that's how many are used in the draw, not the way it works.
• Preference points are only considered for an applicant’s first choice for full price license applications, you will not use your points if you draw your second choice.  
• Preference points can be purchased July 1- November 2.  There is no application fee to purchase a preference point only.
• If a person fails to either apply for a drawing with the preference point option or purchase a preference point during the preference point only application period for two (2) consecutive years, all accumulated points for that species will be lost.
• A youth applicant wanting to purchase preference points only must be at least eleven (11) years old at the time of submitting an application and must be at least twelve (12) years old by December 31 of that year.

Preference point costs: 

• Resident:

• Moose -- $7
• Sheep -- $7

• Nonresident:

• Elk -- $52
• Deer -- $41
• Antelope -- $31
• Moose -- $150
• Bighorn Sheep -- $150