Wyoming Nonresident Elk 2027: Jan 2 to Feb 2

Q: When is the Wyoming nonresident elk deadline?

WGFD's dates table lists Jan 2 to Feb 2 for nonresident elk, with results in May. The table shows no year, so confirm the 2027 dates on WGFD in January.

Q: How do nonresident points work in Wyoming?

Most nonresident licenses go to a preference point draw, highest points first; the rest go to a random draw that also includes everyone who missed in the point draw. Points count only for your first choice.

Q: Do Wyoming residents use preference points for elk?

No. Resident elk licenses are drawn at random, and residents apply by Jun 1 on WGFD's table.

Q: Where do the odds on this page come from?

WGFD's 2026 nonresident demand reports, parsed as published. The preference cut is the lowest point level that drew; random odds are the random quota over first-choice random applicants.

Bull elk bugling beside golden autumn aspens at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone — Photo: National Park Service (Neal Herbert) via Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Credits

Opens Jan 2
Closes Feb 2
Results in May

Confirm the year

WGFD’s dates table lists days without a year. Check WGFD in January before you plan around Feb 2.

How the nonresident elk draw works

Per WGFD, 75 percent of licenses in each hunt area and type go to the preference point drawing, highest points first, and 25 percent go to a random drawing. The random drawing also includes everyone who missed in the point draw, so a zero-point applicant still has a chance. Your points count only for your first choice; party applications average everyone’s points.

Drawing your first choice uses all your elk points, including type 4 and 5 full-price antlerless licenses. Per WGFD, apply in the reduced-price cow/calf draw if you want antlerless elk without spending points. Points can only be bought in the summer and fall point window, not in this January draw. The 2026 point window closes Nov 2.

What WGFD’s 2026 results show

145 elk hunt area and type combinations had a nonresident regular preference quota in WGFD’s 2026 demand reports: 1,780 preference licenses and 518 random licenses. In 24 of them every first-choice point applicant drew. The ten largest preference quotas:

Largest nonresident regular elk preference quotas, WGFD 2026 demand reports.
Hunt	Type	Preference quota	Preference cut	Random odds (simple)
Area 7 Type 1	any elk	69	14 pts (33% drew at that level)	2.3%
Area 38 Type 4	antlerless elk	59	< 1 pts (67% drew at that level)	35.8%
Area 67 Type 4	antlerless elk	54	0 pts (98% drew at that level)	n/a
Area 34 Type 1	any elk	53	7 pts (69% drew at that level)	10.2%
Area 41 Type 4	antlerless elk	42	every applicant drew	n/a
Area 117 Type 3	limited quota …	39	every applicant drew	n/a
Area 7 Type 2	antlered elk five …	36	< 4 pts (43% drew at that level)	15.1%
Area 36 Type 4	antlerless elk	35	every applicant drew	n/a
Area 16 Type 4	antlerless elk	30	0 pts (35% drew at that level)	38.5%
Area 38 Type 1	any elk	29	12 pts (46% drew at that level)	2.5%

Every area, with history and our 2027 point creep estimate: Wyoming elk draw odds by hunt.

Apply checklist (Jan 2 to Feb 2)

Over the holidays, shortlist first, second and third choices on Wyoming elk odds and the points tool.
Put your hard-to-draw area first if you want to keep building points. A likely second choice protects your hunt year.
Decide regular or special license. Special licenses cost more and have their own quota.
Apply online through WGFD by Feb 2 (confirm the date).
Watch for results in May on WGFD’s draw results page.

Deadline reminder: Wyoming nonresident elk draw

Deadline Feb 2, 2027. Per WGFD's current dates table (Jan 2 to Feb 2).

Add to calendar (.ics) Includes an alert 7 days before.

Next: Wyoming draw odds, how to apply in Wyoming, 2027 deadline calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Wyoming nonresident elk deadline?