Can a hunter use a general elk licence to hunt area 87?

Yes. Hunt area 87 is open to general elk licence hunting. A Wyoming resident buys a general licence over the counter with no draw involved, while a nonresident must draw a Region W general licence, which is valid across all general-licence hunt areas in that region.

Do nonresidents need preference points to hunt area 87?

Nonresidents applying for a Region W general licence compete in a draw where three quarters of the licences go to those with the most preference points, and the remaining quarter go to a random draw regardless of points. Building points significantly improves a nonresident's odds. Wyoming residents, however, have no preference points for elk at all—the resident draw is purely random.

Can a nonresident hunt alone in the Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Area here?

No. Wyoming law requires a nonresident to be accompanied by a licensed guide or a resident guide when hunting in designated wilderness, including the Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Area portion of this hunt area.

What fraction of hunt area 87 is public land a hunter can dependably access?

About 91 percent of the area is National Forest ground—roughly 105 square miles out of 115. However, roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings all still limit where a hunter can actually get. Public access is rated good overall, but detailed planning before the hunt is necessary.

Which seasons allow any-elk hunting in area 87?

Two general-licence seasons allow any elk: an archery season from September 1 to September 30, and a regular-season hunt from October 15 to October 31. After that, November and December–January seasons are antlerless-only or bull-only, with geographic restrictions on some hunts.

Wyoming Hunt Area 87 (Raspberry Ridge) elk hunting

Licence

General licence area

Open public land

91%

Elevation

6,500–11,700 ft

Terrain

Steep

Elk region

Hunt area 87 spans the mixed conifer and aspen foothills of the upper Hoback River drainage, with sagebrush lowlands rising to rocky alpine country. The area runs from 6,500 to 11,700 feet in elevation with typical ground around 7,600 feet, and the terrain is steep on average—about 40 percent gentle, 47 percent moderate, 13 percent steep. Lower elevations hold sagebrush interspersed with conifers and riparian corridors; mid elevations transition to denser conifer with sagebrush openings; higher elevations remain mostly forested with sagebrush patches and alpine tundra above treeline. Elk inhabit all of these elevations and habitats, though they tend to concentrate in areas with less road proximity and lower human activity. Much of the lower country along the Hoback River, Dell Creek, and Jack Creek drainages is private land with agricultural grasslands and riparian areas, while the bulk of public hunting ground sits on National Forest.

Access comes via the Dell Creek loop road, North Fisherman Creek road, Highway 189/191, and the Upper Hoback River road, with additional ATV and two-track routes available on public lands. About 91 percent of the area—roughly 105 square miles—is National Forest ground that a hunter can generally count on, though roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings still apply. The northernmost portion lies within the Gros Ventre Wilderness and the Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Area. A nonresident hunting in the designated Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Area must be accompanied by a licensed guide or a resident guide. Public access here is rated good overall, but the lay of the ground means planning in detail before the hunt.

Licence and how this hunt area is drawn

Hunt Area 87 (Raspberry Ridge) 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 30Regular October 15 – October 31
Type Gen — general licence · Antlerless elk
Regular November 1 – November 20
Type 1 · Antlered elk valid within the interior of the Dell Creek Loop Road (Forest Road 30580 and Sublette County Road 23-114)
Regular December 1 – January 31
Type 6 · Cow or calf valid south and east of Dell Creek, and west of North Fork Fisherman Creek
Regular December 1 – January 31
Type 7 · Cow or calf; also valid in that portion of Area 84 south and east of Shoal Creek
Archery September 1 – September 30Regular October 15 – November 20

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 7 — Cow or calf (September–November)

The September cow-or-calf archery hunt runs from September 1 through September 30, when bulls are in the rut's early phase and still actively bugling. September weather brings highs near 65 degrees and minimal snowfall, making for pleasant early-season conditions, though the heat can keep elk in shaded timber and at higher elevations until evening. Elk occur across all elevations and habitats here, though they concentrate away from roads. This licence also allows hunting in a portion of hunt area 84 south and east of Shoal Creek, expanding access options. The restriction is cows or calves only—no bulls.

Type Gen — Any elk (September–October)

The general archery season spans the same dates as the cow hunt (September 1–September 30), while the general regular-season hunt runs October 15 through October 31. During the early September archery window, bulls remain in the rut's primary phase and respond well to calling, with cool mornings and warm afternoons allowing a full hunting day. By mid-October, the rut is winding down into post-rut recovery, with bulls less predictable and weather cooling—highs drop to the low 50s and snowfall averages about 1.8 inches. Both seasons allow any elk on a general licence, making them the most flexible option on this area before the antlerless-only hunts begin.

Type Gen — Antlerless elk (November)

November antlerless hunting runs from November 1 through November 20, coinciding with the migration transition as elk begin shifting toward winter range. Temperatures continue falling, with highs near 37 degrees and substantial snowfall building at 12.2 inches for the month, which can push lower-elevation elk upslope and change how the country hunts. Elk occur throughout the area, though weather increasingly shapes where they concentrate. This hunt is antlerless only and requires a general licence.

Type 1 — Antlered elk valid within the… (December–January)

The December–January antlered-bull hunt (Type 1) runs December 1 through January 31 and is restricted to the interior of the Dell Creek Loop Road, defined by Forest Road 30580 and Sublette County Road 23-114—meaning not all of the hunt area is legal for this bull hunt. By December, elk are on winter range and heavy snow dominates, with monthly snowfall totaling 20.7 inches in December and 19 inches in January, and highs dropping to the upper 20s. Access along the Dell Creek loop and associated Forest Service roads is critical for this hunt; travel and scouting become weather-dependent. Only antlered bulls are legal.

Type 6 — Cow or calf valid south and east of… (December–January)

The December–January cow-or-calf hunt (Type 6) runs December 1 through January 31 in a defined portion south and east of Dell Creek and west of North Fork Fisherman Creek. Like the concurrent bull hunt, this late-season window coincides with heavy snow cover and elk settled on winter range, with highs in the upper 20s and monthly snowfall around 20 inches. The geographic boundary limits where hunters can pursue this season, making familiarity with the Dell Creek and North Fisherman Creek roads and the area's drainage patterns essential beforehand. Cows and calves only are legal.

Land and access

National Forest91%

Generally open to public hunting

private land9%

Private

About 91% of this hunt area is ground a hunter can generally count on — National Forest, roughly 105 square miles. Public ownership is not the same as easy entry: roads, trailheads, seasonal closures and private inholdings all still apply.

the Wyoming Game & Fish Department publishes 75% public land for this hunt area. That counts public ownership; the figure above counts ground a hunter can depend on getting onto. They answer different questions, so both are shown rather than blended.

This hunt area includes designated wilderness. Wyoming law requires a nonresident to be accompanied by a licensed guide or a resident guide in designated wilderness.

Where elk are mapped

Summer Range65%

used in summer

Parturition Areas40%

spring birthing ground, months before any hunting season

Winter Range35%

used in winter

Yearlong Range22%

the only layer that means year-round use

Crucial Winter Range14%

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

Sagebrush50%

Conifer25%

Riparian17%

Grass and meadow5%

Other cover3%

Mid elevations

Conifer58%

Sagebrush27%

Grass and meadow12%

Riparian3%

Higher elevations

Conifer51%

Sagebrush30%

Grass and meadow16%

Other cover3%

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

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Snowfall
January	28°F	5°F	19 in
February	31°F	6°F	16.4 in
March	40°F	13°F	11.5 in
April	47°F	22°F	4.9 in
May	57°F	30°F	0.4 in
June	67°F	36°F	0 in
July	76°F	41°F	0 in
August	75°F	40°F	0 in
September	65°F	33°F	0 in
October	51°F	25°F	1.8 in
November	37°F	14°F	12.2 in
December	27°F	5°F	20.7 in

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

Common questions

Can a hunter use a general elk licence to hunt area 87?: Yes. Hunt area 87 is open to general elk licence hunting. A Wyoming resident buys a general licence over the counter with no draw involved, while a nonresident must draw a Region W general licence, which is valid across all general-licence hunt areas in that region.
Do nonresidents need preference points to hunt area 87?: Nonresidents applying for a Region W general licence compete in a draw where three quarters of the licences go to those with the most preference points, and the remaining quarter go to a random draw regardless of points. Building points significantly improves a nonresident's odds. Wyoming residents, however, have no preference points for elk at all—the resident draw is purely random.
Can a nonresident hunt alone in the Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Area here?: No. Wyoming law requires a nonresident to be accompanied by a licensed guide or a resident guide when hunting in designated wilderness, including the Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Area portion of this hunt area.
What fraction of hunt area 87 is public land a hunter can dependably access?: About 91 percent of the area is National Forest ground—roughly 105 square miles out of 115. However, roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings all still limit where a hunter can actually get. Public access is rated good overall, but detailed planning before the hunt is necessary.
Which seasons allow any-elk hunting in area 87?: Two general-licence seasons allow any elk: an archery season from September 1 to September 30, and a regular-season hunt from October 15 to October 31. After that, November and December–January seasons are antlerless-only or bull-only, with geographic restrictions on some hunts.

Sources

Wyoming Game & Fish — Hunting & Trapping — licence types, general and limited-quota hunts, and season structure
WGFD Hunt Planner — hunt-area boundaries, season dates and the unit descriptions
WGFD — Draw results and odds — how the resident random draw and the nonresident preference-point draw work
WGFD — Regulations — the legal limitations on each hunt, and the statewide licence rules
USGS National Land Cover Database (NLCD 2021) and 3DEP elevation — land cover and terrain by elevation band

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

All Wyoming elk hunt areas