Wyoming Hunt Area 81 (Spread Creek) elk hunting

Licence
General licence area
Open public land
99%
Elevation
6,700–10,700 ft
Terrain
Steep
Elk region
W

Hunt area 81 spans 351 square miles of the Jackson herd unit, climbing from 6,700 to 10,700 feet with typical ground around 8,400 feet. Terrain runs moderate on average—49% of the ground is moderate slope, 36% gentle, and 15% steep—and divides into distinct country by elevation. The lower third is split roughly even between conifer and sagebrush, with riparian zones threading through. Mid elevations are dominated by conifer, with sagebrush still present; higher country thickens to conifer-heavy forest intercut with sagebrush and subalpine meadow. Throughout, drainage systems carve open valleys and meadows into the timbered ridges.

Public land covers nearly 99% of the hunt area—about 347 square miles of National Forest—but that ownership alone does not guarantee straightforward access. Roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures all govern entry, and private inholdings complicate movement. The northern portion has motorized access via Forest Service roads; the southern half is far more limited, typically entered on foot or horseback from the Gros Ventre Road and roadless trails. Hunters planning this area need to check current road conditions and trail openings before the season starts.

September and October are separated not just by calendar but by the country's behavior. Early in September, elk scatter across higher elevations; as October advances and snow accumulates, they shift to lower ground where access improves and encounters become more likely. Late-season snow can push migrating elk from higher ranges through the western portion of the area. Grizzly bears are a regular presence throughout this terrain, and hunters should plan and hunt accordingly.

Licence and how this hunt area is drawn

Hunt Area 81 (Spread Creek) is a general-licence hunt area, and how a hunter gets a licence for it depends on where they live.

  • A Wyoming resident buys a general elk licence over the counter — unlimited statewide, on sale from mid-July. No draw, no application, no preference points.
  • A nonresident cannot buy one. They must draw a Region general licence — for this hunt area, elk region W, which is valid across the general-licence hunt areas of that region and nowhere else.

Wyoming residents have no preference points for elk — the resident elk draw is random, and no resident point cutoff exists for any hunt area in the state. For nonresidents points matter a great deal: Wyoming awards 75% of each nonresident pool through the preference-point draw, top-down by points, and the remaining 25% at random. Nonresidents also choose between the Regular and Special pools — the same hunts at two price points, competing separately.

Seasons (2026)

  • Type Gen — general licence · Any elk
    Archery September 1 – September 25
  • Type Gen — general licence · Antlered elk, spikes excluded
    Regular September 26 – October 25

The wording of each hunt is the Wyoming Game & Fish Department’s and is legally exact — a “cow or calf” hunt is not a elk hunt in general, and a hunt limited to part of the area is not valid across it. Confirm every hunt in the current regulations before applying.

Hunting each season

Type Gen — Any elk (September)

Archery hunting from September 1–25 overlaps the rut onset and primary rut phases, when bulls are becoming vocal and responsive. Early-season weather is mild—highs near 62°F and lows around 34°F—and minimal snow keeps all elevations open. Elk remain scattered across higher country, so hunting is typically a foot or horseback ascent into the timbered ridges and meadows; motorized access in the north shortens some approaches. The season allows any elk, giving a hunter options for both bulls and cows.

Type Gen — Antlered elk, spikes excluded (September–October)

Regular rifle hunting from September 26–October 25 spans the tail of the primary rut, the late rut, and early recovery—a long window that shifts elk behavior and location as the weeks turn cold. September stays mild, but October cooling brings rising snowfall; by late October monthly totals reach 5.2 inches, forcing elk from high elevations toward accessible lower ground. Access remains split between motorized routes in the north and foot or horseback entry in the south, though snow may alter trail practicality as the season progresses. Legal animals are antlered elk only, excluding spikes.

Land and access

  • National Forest99%
    Generally open to public hunting
  • private land1%
    Private

    • About 99% of this hunt area is ground a hunter can generally count on — National Forest, roughly 347 square miles. Public ownership is not the same as easy entry: roads, trailheads, seasonal closures and private inholdings all still apply.

    Where elk are mapped

  • Summer Range75%
    used in summer
  • Parturition Areas38%
    spring birthing ground, months before any hunting season
  • Winter Range26%
    used in winter
  • Crucial Winter Range23%
    the part of Winter Range considered essential to the herd — inside Winter Range, not added to it

    • Each figure is the share of the hunt area that layer covers. It says where elk are mapped, not where inside the area they are, and not when they move.

    Habitat and cover

    Lower elevations

  • Conifer53%
  • Sagebrush38%
  • Riparian5%
  • Grass and meadow2%
  • Other cover2%

    • Mid elevations

  • Conifer70%
  • Sagebrush22%
  • Grass and meadow4%
  • Riparian3%

    • Higher elevations

  • Conifer68%
  • Sagebrush24%
  • Grass and meadow7%
  • Other cover1%

    • Shares are of each elevation band, not of the whole hunt area — they describe what grows up there, not how much of the area sits at that elevation.

    Weather through the season

    MonthAvg highAvg lowSnowfall
    January27°F6°F31.1 in
    February30°F7°F25.1 in
    March39°F14°F22.2 in
    April45°F21°F12.2 in
    May55°F29°F1.8 in
    June63°F36°F0 in
    July73°F42°F0 in
    August72°F40°F0 in
    September62°F34°F0.2 in
    October48°F25°F5.2 in
    November34°F14°F23.3 in
    December26°F7°F31.1 in

    Snowfall is the monthly total, not depth lying on the ground.

    Common questions

    Can a hunter on a general elk licence hunt area 81 during the archery season?
    Yes. Hunt area 81 offers a general-licence archery season September 1–25 for any elk. Residents can buy a general licence over the counter; nonresidents must draw a Region W general licence, which is valid in this area and other general-licence hunt areas in the region.
    How much of hunt area 81 is accessible to a hunter on public land?
    About 99% of the area is National Forest (roughly 347 square miles). However, public ownership does not guarantee easy access—roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures govern where a hunter can reach. The northern portion offers motorized routes, while the southern half relies mostly on foot and horseback travel.
    Do nonresidents need preference points to draw a general licence for region W?
    Nonresidents applying for a Region W general licence enter a draw pool where three quarters of licences go to preference-point holders (highest points first) and a quarter to random draw. Wyoming residents have no preference points for elk; the resident draw is random, not points-based.
    When does the regular season for antlered elk run in hunt area 81?
    The regular season runs September 26–October 25. Legal animals are antlered elk, excluding spikes.
    What wildlife hazards should a hunter be aware of in hunt area 81?
    Grizzly bears occur regularly throughout the area and hunters should be prepared to encounter them. Wolves, mountain lions, and black bears also inhabit the territory. Hunters unfamiliar with bear country should research and practice bear safety before the hunt.

    Sources

    Seasons, licence types and boundaries change. Confirm every detail with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department before applying or hunting.

    All Wyoming elk hunt areas