Can a hunter use a general or region licence in hunt area 95?

No. Hunt area 95 is limited-quota and must be drawn individually; neither a general licence nor a region licence is valid here. Any hunter, resident or nonresident, must draw a specific licence type for this area to hunt it legally.

Do Wyoming residents need preference points for elk in this hunt area?

No. Wyoming residents have no preference-point system for elk; the resident elk draw for hunt area 95 is random. Nonresidents, however, compete in a separate draw where three quarters of the licences go to those with the highest preference points and a quarter go to a random draw.

What is the main access to hunt area 95?

The hunt area is primarily U.S. Forest Service land, accessed via the Upper Green River, Union Pass, and Gypsum/Moose Creek roads and their spur roads. Nonresidents should use an interactive hunt map to locate public trailheads and road access, as roads and seasonal closures still constrain where a hunter can actually get onto the ground.

When does hunt area 95 require a nonresident to hire a guide?

Designated wilderness within hunt area 95 requires any nonresident to be accompanied by a licensed guide or a resident guide. Nonresidents should identify where wilderness boundaries fall on a map before planning their hunt, as hunting there alone is illegal.

Wyoming Hunt Area 95 (Green River) elk hunting

Licence

Limited quota — drawn

Open public land

100%

Elevation

7,600–13,700 ft

Terrain

Steep

Hunt area 95 spans 323 square miles of high country in the Upper Green River drainage, from 7,600 feet along the river bottoms to 13,700 feet in the rugged alpine terrain of the Wind River Range. The southeastern portions rise into exposed rock and alpine meadows, while downslope the landscape transitions through dense coniferous forests to aspen stands and open parklands of high-elevation sagebrush along the Green River flats. Terrain slopes at an average of 16.5 degrees, graded steep overall, with 45 percent gentle ground, 31 percent moderate, 17 percent steep, and 8 percent rugged. Elk are common throughout the area and typically congregate in thick conifer stands. Snow accumulates heavily at high elevations and typically forces elk down to lower, more accessible terrain on southern aspects as autumn progresses.

The hunt area is comprised almost entirely of U.S. Forest Service land, with designated wilderness within its boundaries. Wyoming law requires nonresidents to be accompanied by a licensed guide or a resident guide in designated wilderness. Major road access enters by way of the Upper Green River, Union Pass, and Gypsum/Moose Creek roads, with additional spur roads reaching into limited areas. Nonresidents should consult an interactive hunt map to locate public-land trailheads and road access before planning their strategy, as ownership alone does not guarantee straightforward entry; seasonal closures, private inholdings, and limited road development still constrain access on the ground.

Seasons on hunt area 95 differ considerably in rut phase, weather severity, and area restriction. Archery seasons run September 1–30 across all licence types, while regular seasons open on October 1 or October 15 depending on the hunt and extend through November 5. Two of the five seasons restrict hunting to the Green River drainage upstream from Lower Green River Lake, including terrain east and south of Mill Creek; those restricted seasons should be read carefully, as they do not cover the full hunt area. October brings a sharp temperature drop and substantial snowfall, and November conditions deteriorate further as high-elevation snow accumulates and pushes remaining elk toward lower ground.

Licence and how this hunt area is drawn

Hunt Area 95 (Green River) is limited quota. A licence for it must be drawn for this hunt area specifically, by resident and nonresident alike. A region licence does not reach it — a region licence is valid only in the general-licence areas of its region, so there is no fallback for this hunt.

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 1 · Any elk
Archery September 1 – September 30Regular October 15 – November 5
Type 2 · Any elk valid within the Green River drainage upstream from the outlet of Lower Green River Lake, including that portion east and south of Mill Creek
Archery September 1 – September 30Regular October 1 – November 5
Type 4 · Antlerless elk
Archery September 1 – September 30Regular October 15 – November 5
Type 5 · Antlerless elk valid within the Green River drainage upstream from the outlet of Lower Green River Lake, including that portion east and south of Mill Creek
Archery September 1 – September 30Regular October 1 – November 5
Type 6 · Cow or calf
Archery September 1 – September 30Regular October 15 – November 5

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 6 — Cow or calf (September–November)

Hunting a cow or calf here opens with September archery during rut onset and the primary rut, when bulls are actively vocalizing and herding but elk remain dispersed across high country; average highs of 58 degrees and minimal snowfall keep access reasonable, though routes to higher elevations remain physically demanding. The regular season from October 15 through November 5 falls into the late rut and early post-rut recovery phase, when bulls have peaked and cows begin moving to lower ground; October brings average highs around 45 degrees with substantial snowfall accumulation, and November deteriorates to average highs near 33 degrees with heavy snowfall pushing remaining elk toward accessible lower elevations. This licence allows only cows and calves, not bulls, throughout both windows.

Type 1 — Any elk (September–November)

Any-elk hunting via archery begins September 1 during rut onset and primary rut, when bulls vocalize and gather cows across dispersed high country; average September highs near 58 degrees and light snowfall allow hunters to move at elevation, though terrain remains steep and snow patches increase upslope. The regular season from October 15 through November 5 spans late rut and post-rut recovery into the migration transition, when rut activity declines and cows shift toward lower ground ahead of winter snow; October conditions cool to average highs around 45 degrees with substantial snowfall, and November drops to average highs near 33 degrees with heavy accumulation that concentrates remaining elk on lower southern aspects. This licence allows bulls, cows, and calves without restriction.

Type 2 — Any elk valid within the Green… (September–November)

This any-elk hunt operates within a restricted area—the Green River drainage upstream from the outlet of Lower Green River Lake, including terrain east and south of Mill Creek—rather than across the full hunt area. Archery hunting September 1–30 coincides with rut onset and the primary rut, when bulls actively vocalize and gather cows within the drainage; average September highs around 58 degrees and minimal snowfall favor high-elevation hunting. The regular season from October 1 through November 5 is earlier than other area-wide hunts and encompasses late rut, post-rut recovery, and migration transition as cows begin shifting downslope; October brings average highs near 45 degrees with substantial snowfall, and November cold and heavy snow concentrate elk on lower ground. Only animals within the restricted drainage are legal.

Type 4 — Antlerless elk (September–November)

Antlerless hunting opens via archery September 1–30 during rut onset and primary rut, when bulls vocalize and herd cows across dispersed high country; average September highs near 58 degrees and light snowfall keep terrain navigable at elevation. The regular season from October 15 through November 5 falls into late rut, post-rut recovery, and migration transition as cows move toward lower ground; October averages 45 degrees with substantial snowfall, and November conditions worsen to average highs around 33 degrees with heavy accumulation that concentrates remaining elk lower on the landscape. This licence is limited to cows and calves, not bulls, in both archery and regular windows.

Type 5 — Antlerless elk valid within the… (September–November)

Antlerless elk hunting within a restricted area—the Green River drainage upstream from Lower Green River Lake, including terrain east and south of Mill Creek—opens via archery September 1–30 during rut onset and primary rut, when bulls vocalize and cows remain dispersed; average September highs near 58 degrees and minimal snowfall allow high-elevation access. The regular season from October 1 through November 5 is earlier than most area-wide seasons and spans late rut through migration transition as cows shift downslope ahead of winter snow; October averages 45 degrees with substantial snowfall, and November brings average highs near 33 degrees with heavy accumulation concentrating elk lower. Only cows and calves within the restricted drainage are legal.

Land and access

National Forest100%

Generally open to public hunting

About 100% of this hunt area is ground a hunter can generally count on — National Forest, roughly 321 square miles. Public ownership is not the same as easy entry: roads, trailheads, seasonal closures and private inholdings all still apply.

State trust land counts toward the open figure above. Wyoming extends hunting on legally accessiblestate trust land to the public unless a parcel is specifically closed — the catch is the access itself, since crossing private ground to reach it still needs the landowner’s permission. Camping, fires and off-road vehicles are not allowed on it.

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 Range85%

used in summer

Parturition Areas25%

spring birthing ground, months before any hunting season

Winter Range15%

used in winter

Crucial Winter Range11%

the part of Winter Range considered essential to the herd — inside Winter Range, not added to it

Yearlong Range3%

the only layer that means year-round use

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

Conifer44%

Sagebrush40%

Riparian6%

Grass and meadow5%

Aspen5%

Other cover1%

Mid elevations

Conifer60%

Sagebrush28%

Grass and meadow8%

Other cover2%

Aspen1%

Riparian1%

Higher elevations

Grass and meadow61%

Sagebrush22%

Other cover14%

Conifer3%

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	27°F	6°F	16.4 in
February	29°F	6°F	17 in
March	37°F	12°F	16.6 in
April	43°F	19°F	13.2 in
May	51°F	28°F	3.3 in
June	60°F	34°F	0.1 in
July	69°F	41°F	0 in
August	68°F	39°F	0 in
September	58°F	33°F	0.5 in
October	45°F	24°F	6.6 in
November	33°F	13°F	15.5 in
December	25°F	6°F	19.1 in

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

Common questions

Can a hunter use a general or region licence in hunt area 95?: No. Hunt area 95 is limited-quota and must be drawn individually; neither a general licence nor a region licence is valid here. Any hunter, resident or nonresident, must draw a specific licence type for this area to hunt it legally.
Do Wyoming residents need preference points for elk in this hunt area?: No. Wyoming residents have no preference-point system for elk; the resident elk draw for hunt area 95 is random. Nonresidents, however, compete in a separate draw where three quarters of the licences go to those with the highest preference points and a quarter go to a random draw.
What is the main access to hunt area 95?: The hunt area is primarily U.S. Forest Service land, accessed via the Upper Green River, Union Pass, and Gypsum/Moose Creek roads and their spur roads. Nonresidents should use an interactive hunt map to locate public trailheads and road access, as roads and seasonal closures still constrain where a hunter can actually get onto the ground.
Are there area restrictions on any of the elk licences for hunt area 95?: Two of the five licence types—Type 2 and Type 5—are valid only within the Green River drainage upstream from the outlet of Lower Green River Lake, including terrain east and south of Mill Creek. Type 1, Type 4, and Type 6 are valid throughout the hunt area.
When does hunt area 95 require a nonresident to hire a guide?: Designated wilderness within hunt area 95 requires any nonresident to be accompanied by a licensed guide or a resident guide. Nonresidents should identify where wilderness boundaries fall on a map before planning their hunt, as hunting there alone is illegal.

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