2025 Wyoming hunt forecast
by Wyoming Game & Fish
August 27, 2025
With the 2025 hunt season rapidly approaching, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has released the hunting forecast for its eight regions throughout Wyoming. This report includes general outlooks for big and small game in the Pinedale and Jackson areas, and is based on data and observations from the field by Game and Fish biologists and game wardens.
A few reminders
Before heading out be sure to review the 2025 hunting regulations for any season changes.
• Hunters who harvest a deer or elk in any of the state’s chronic wasting disease focus areas are encouraged to get it tested. The information is incredibly valuable and will help Game and Fish’s long-term monitoring and management efforts.
• Hunters and recreationists are reminded to be mindful of the spread of invasive species and to report locations of cheatgrass to county Weed and Pest Districts.
• Big game hunters are reminded that hunt areas denoted with an asterisk (*) have limited public hunting access and are largely private lands. In these areas, hunters should get permission to hunt private land before applying for a license, or at least recognize that hunting small, isolated parcels of public land can be difficult and frustrating at times.
• All licensed daily, annual, Pioneer and lifetime sage-grouse hunters will be required to carry an annual, free sage-grouse hunting permit to help us further expand efforts to survey sage-grouse hunters on their hunt experience.
PINEDALE REGION
Pronghorn
The 2022-23 winter was exceptionally harsh, which combined with an outbreak of the novel, pneumonia-causing bacteria Mycoplasma bovis, resulted in substantially elevated winter mortality for pronghorn. Nearly 2,000 licenses were cut in 2023, including all doe/fawn tags and about 80% of buck tags, to maximize the opportunity for the herd to rebound in future years. License allocation continued to be restrictive in 2024, and will again be conservative this year. The good news is August trend counts in 2024 resulted in a relatively high 67 fawns per 100 does, and the total counts increased markedly from 2023, so the herd is bouncing back.
Mule deer
Portions of the Sublette and Wyoming Range herds are managed in the region, including hunt areas 130, 138-143, 146, 153 and 154. Both herds include relatively large mule deer populations with special management strategies designed to provide high-quality hunting opportunities with at least 30 bucks per 100 does, and large-antlered, older-aged deer are harvested annually from these herds. Above-average snow depths and colder than normal temperatures during the 2022-23 winter resulted in above-average winter mortality in the Wyoming Range, and near average mortality in the Sublette herd. While the winters of 2023-24 and 2024-25 were relatively mild with good survival, hunters in the Wyoming Range herd should again expect to see fewer deer than normal this fall, and those hunting the Sublette herd will likely see fewer bucks than in recent years. Still, all data indicate that the Sublette and Wyoming Range herds appear to be on the path to recovery.
White-tailed deer
Small populations may be found near riparian habitats, and all deer hunt areas in the region offer the opportunity for harvest during the general seasons. Additionally, 50 limited quota type 3 licenses provide the opportunity to harvest any white-tailed deer from Oct. 1-Nov. 30 in hunt areas 138-140 and 142-143.
Elk
Nearly 10,000 elk in three large herd units are managed in the region. Liberal seasons provide hunters with ample opportunities, especially for antlerless elk, with all general seasons providing opportunity to harvest a cow or calf elk until Nov. 20. Bull numbers remain strong, with ratios ranging from 27 bulls per 100 cows in the Piney herd, 30/100 in the Upper Green River herd and 31 bulls per 100 cows in the Pinedale herd. The herds also remain productive, with an average of 25 calves per 100 cows region-wide, indicating stable to growing populations. Bull harvest in 2024 was near average with many nice bulls taken, but cow elk harvest was less than average as temperatures remained mild into November and snow did not push herds into more accessible lower elevation areas. Managers expect that 2025 should offer excellent elk hunting opportunities.
Moose
The Sublette herd is one of the largest Shiras moose populations in North America, and is managed under a special management strategy to provide recreational opportunities while maintaining an average harvest age of 4 years or older for bulls to maintain trophy quality. This herd has a winter trend count objective of 1,500 animals, and the population has been stable to slightly increasing over the last decade. A total of 140 bull and five antlerless licenses were offered in the Sublette herd for the 2025 hunting season. Hunters are advised to not be discouraged when scouting or hunting for moose during the early season when warm temperatures can drive moose into forested habitats where they are generally less visible. Moose hunters who hunt during the later portion of the season typically encounter more moose. Hunter success for the moose hunt areas in the region averaged 92% over the past five years and should again be high during the 2025 season.
Bighorn sheep
The Darby Mountain herd and a portion of the Whiskey Mountain herd are managed by the region. The bighorn sheep population in the Darby Mountain herd continues to be stable, with 79 animals observed during a March 2025 helicopter survey. A total of 16 adult rams were observed during this flight, and one license for any ram was issued to a resident for Hunt Area 24 in 2025. The overall population is struggling in the Whiskey Mountain herd due at least partially to chronic pneumonia and poor lamb recruitment. However, non-migratory bighorn sheep numbers observed during winter flights at high elevations in Hunt Area 8 appear to be mostly stable, with 102 animals counted during a March, 2025 helicopter survey. A total of two licenses for any ram were issued to residents for Hunt Area 8 in 2025.
Small game
Observations of male sage-grouse on leks during the spring indicate populations continue to be in the upswing of their trend after having been at a low point several years ago. Hunters should expect to see more sage-grouse this fall while afield. Decent populations of dusky and ruffed grouse can be found in forested habitats and provide hunting opportunities from September-December. Rabbit hunters can chase cottontails and snowshoe hares until the end of March, and populations appear to be increasing. Late-season hunters need to be mindful of winter range closures in some areas that begin in November and December.
JACKSON REGION
Pronghorn
The Jackson Region has a small migratory segment of the Sublette pronghorn herd in Hunt Area 85. During the 2022-23 winter, pronghorn wintering in the Pinedale Region experienced extreme winter mortality as a result of unprecedented winter severity as well as an outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis. This prompted an emergency rule to close Hunt Area 85 for the 2023 hunting season. The closure was continued for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Regional managers will continue to assess recovery of the Jackson segment of the Sublette herd and may recommend to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to re-authorize hunting seasons in future years as appropriate.
Mule deer
Portions of the Sublette and Wyoming Range herds are managed in the region, including hunt areas 150-152, 155-156 and 144-146. Both herds include relatively large mule deer populations with special management strategies designed to provide high-quality hunting opportunities with at least 30 bucks per 100 does. Large-antlered, older-aged deer are harvested annually from both herds. Winter severity during the 2022-23 winter resulted in above average winter mortality in the Wyoming Range and near average mortality in the Sublette Herd. While the winters of 2023-24 and 2024-25 were relatively mild with very good survival, hunters in the Wyoming Range herd should again expect to see fewer deer than normal this fall. Those hunting the Sublette herd will likely see fewer bucks than in recent years. Mule deer enthusiasts should remember that periodic elevated winter mortality is common in western Wyoming mule deer herds, resulting in wide oscillations in population abundance trends over time. Hunting seasons are designed to promote population growth and these herds have demonstrated the ability to rebound relatively rapidly given several consecutive winters of below-to-average severity. All data indicate that the Sublette and Wyoming Range herds appear to be on the path to recovery.
The Jackson Region also includes the Targhee mule deer herd — Hunt Area 149 — which generally has low deer densities with limited hunter numbers and harvest.
White-tailed deer
Small populations may be found near riparian habitats throughout the region, and all hunt areas in the region offer the opportunity for hunters to harvest white-tailed deer during the general season. There are limited quota Type 3 (any white-tailed deer) and Type 8 (doe/fawn white-tailed) deer licenses available to provide additional opportunity. Any hunter holding a Type 3 or Type 8 white-tailed deer license for the combined hunt areas of 148, 150, 151, 152, 155 and 156 may obtain permission slips to hunt on the National Elk Refuge. Permission slips must be obtained through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Public Access web page, under National Elk Refuge Hunting. Hunters are encouraged to have their deer tested for CWD by bringing the head to a Game and Fish regional office or hunter check station. Mandatory sampling is required for white-tailed deer harvested on the National Elk Refuge.
Elk
The region manages four herds —(Jackson, Fall Creek, Afton and Targhee — with more than 16,000 elk. Season structures continue to provide ample opportunities to harvest bull and cow elk while continuing to manage each herd at objective. Bull ratios are 30 per 100 cows in the Jackson herd, 18/100 for Fall Creek and 22/100 in the Afton herd. Harvest rates can be weather dependent, as the timing of snow depths and cold temperatures push elk down in elevation can vary from year to year. Hunters should expect to see typical elk numbers in most hunt areas. Permission slips for access to hunt on the National Elk Refuge must be obtained through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Public Access web page, under National Elk Refuge Hunting.
Hunters are encouraged to have their elk tested for CWD by bringing the head to a Game and Fish regional office or hunter check station. Mandatory sampling is required for all elk harvested in Hunt Areas 75 (Grand Teton National Park) and 77 (National Elk Refuge).
Moose
All or parts of the Jackson, Sublette and Targhee herds are found in the region, and all are managed under a special management strategy to provide recreational opportunities while maintaining a harvest of older age-class bulls. While moose numbers continue to remain below desired levels, hunters lucky enough to draw a license should experience high success and have a good chance of harvesting a bull. The Fish Creek fire displaced moose hunters in 2024. However, it does not appear that the fire displaced moose. While the fire was substantial in size, some areas are already showing positive signs of regeneration. With limited license availability, data from harvested moose is particularly useful to managers for herd and harvest assessment and management. Moose hunters are therefore encouraged to submit the two front incisors (lower teeth) from their harvested moose for aging. Successful hunters are also encouraged to bring their moose head to the Jackson Game and Fish regional office for sampling to help with ongoing disease surveillance such as CWD, carotid artery worms, etc.
Bighorn sheep
The Jackson (Hunt Area 7) and Targhee (Hunt Area 6) bighorn sheep herds are found in the region. All sheep hunters — including ewe hunters — are reminded that they are required to register their sheep at a Game and Fish office within 15 days of harvest.
Survey data in Area 7 indicates good availability of rams with ¾-curl or longer horns, with an average success rate in recent years of almost 65%. Sheep numbers in Hunt Area 7 are within management objectives, and need to be maintained at those levels. In previous years, when sheep numbers have increased above the population objective, the population has experienced significant all-age die-offs due to pneumonia outbreaks. The Type 6 ewe season structure is an important management tool, designed to maintain population numbers in an effort to prevent a pneumonia outbreak. Ewe sheep hunters willing to spend the time and effort should have a high opportunity for success. Type 6 ewe hunters should expect most ewes will be found at high elevations of typically 9,000 feet or more during the early rifle seasons. Type 6 ewe hunters will not have a special archery opportunity, and may hunt within the Gros Ventre River and Flat Creek drainages east of U.S. Highway 89/191/26.
In Area 6, success rates vary substantially between years because of the low license quota. The average age of harvested sheep since 2019 has been 8-9 years old. The regular season opens earlier in the northern portion of the herd in an effort to encourage a more even distribution of harvest throughout the herd. For the one lucky hunter in 2025, this will be a challenging hunt due to the terrain and the fact that most sheep can be inaccessible to hunting when inside the Grand Teton National Park boundary. However, it also provides a unique and exceptional opportunity to hunt sheep in a spectacular setting.
Mountain goat
In response to a decline in the number of goats counted during the 2022 and 2024 mid-summer trend counts, the quota for Hunt Area 2 mountain goat licenses were reduced for the third consecutive season. The Palisades herd still offers hunters the opportunity to harvest trophy-class billies that typically are at least 5 years old.
Bison
The Jackson bison herd is within the population objective, with an increasing population trend. Weather is a substantial factor in harvest success for this herd. For example, harvest success in 2023 was 39% and it increased to 95% in 2024. In general, recent trends by which mild weather and aversion to hunting pressure on the National Elk Refuge have resulted in delay or lack of movement from Grand Teton National Park into the open hunt area on the refuge. These conditions make it difficult to achieve harvest, often with an extremely limited number of days where bison are available for harvest on the refuge, if at all. Some bull hunting occurs on national forest lands, but bison availability there is intermittent and low, and access can be challenging. For this reason, license holders are encouraged to capitalize on any harvest opportunity that is available as opposed to selecting for bulls only. License holders who wish to hunt on the National Elk Refuge must obtain a permission slip through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Public Access web page, under National Elk Refuge Hunting.
Bison hunters are reminded that they must obtain a harvest reporting card, tooth envelope and blood collection tube at the Jackson Game and Fish office prior to their hunt.
Upland/small game
Due to the small and isolated population of sage-grouse in the region, no hunting seasons are offered. Hunters interested in upland game birds can find some of the best dusky and ruffed grouse habitats in the state. Seasons run from September-December. Late-season hunters need to be mindful of winter range closures in some areas that begin in December.
Weather/drought influences
The Jackson region represents a small portion of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is a weather-driven system. Snow pack attributes, timing and duration of run-off, and spring/summer precipitation are all major drivers in the habitat conditions that support wildlife populations throughout the year. For an oversimplified example, when winter conditions are severe, overwinter mortality increases. However, while overwinter mortality decreases when winter conditions are mild, lower soil moisture can reduce forage productivity during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. These conditions also impact fire behavior. The Fish Creek fire burned more than 26,000 acres in the fall of 2024. Because of the large acreage, expect habitat benefits to wildlife over the coming years, particularly through the regeneration of aspen and riparian habitats which has already been observed in some areas. Last fall, winter arrived late, with January 2025 having 70-89% long-term median snow water equivalent in the Yellowstone and Snake river watersheds in Wyoming. Those watersheds had 90-109% for the remainder of winter. This spring however, has been drier, at 50-69% of the long-term median SWE for June.
MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS - Statewide
Lower-elevation precipitation was below normal this spring in most portions of the state and has been variable this summer, resulting in less robust wetland conditions and likely lower waterfowl production. Conditions in the Prairie Potholes of the U.S. and Canada are variable but below average in Alberta, Saskatchewan, northern Montana and the Dakotas where many of Wyoming’s harvested ducks are produced. Migration chronology and weather, as well as hunter efforts of scouting for birds and obtaining permission to hunt private land when necessary, will influence the success of migratory bird hunters throughout the state.
Before heading out be sure to review the 2025 hunting regulations for any season changes.
Ducks
Most of Wyoming’s migrating ducks come from the U.S. and Canadian prairies. Initial reports indicate dry early spring conditions in most portions of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, northern Montana and the majority of the Dakotas. Many of these areas experienced late spring precipitation, which benefits late nesters and locations where soil moisture was not already abnormally dry. Overall habitat conditions appear mixed for duck production, and local conditions in much of Wyoming appear fair to below average.
Dark geese
Two distinct Canada geese populations are harvested in Wyoming. The Rocky Mountain population is found west of the Continental Divide, in the Wind River and Bighorn river basins and western Carbon and Natrona counties. Large geese found in eastern Wyoming belong to the Hi-Line population. Goose numbers in recent years are above objectives for both populations. Canada goose numbers during hunting season are usually driven by winter conditions and there should be plenty of geese present should the weather cooperate.
Mourning doves
Production within most of Wyoming this year is likely below average due to below normal precipitation during spring months, followed by an abnormally dry early summer. The majority of doves migrate south with the first cold snap, which usually occurs late August to mid-September. Doves from areas north of Wyoming migrate through during mid-September and good hunting can still be found during early fall.
Sandhill crane
Cranes that migrate through eastern Wyoming — Hunt Area 7 — are primarily from the Mid-Continent population, which has been relatively stable since the early 1980s and exceeds the established objective range of 350,000–475,000. Cranes that breed and stage in central and western Wyoming —hunt areas 1-6, and 8 — are from the smaller Rocky Mountain population. The 2024 fall pre-migration survey population count was again above the objective range of 17,000-21,000, and resulted in an increase in available limited quota tags. Cranes in hunt areas 4 and 6 tend to roost and feed in the same locations every year. Roost locations in Hunt Area 4 are Hidden Valley, Riverview Valley and the south side of Ocean Lake. Roost locations in Hunt Area 6 are north of Worland, the Otto area, from Powell to Ralston and Ralston Reservoir. For best success, scout for cranes prior to the season and obtain permission to access the fields they use.
SAGE-GROUSE
A reminder that all licensed (daily, annual, Pioneer, and lifetime) sage-grouse hunters are required to carry a free, annual sage grouse hunting permit to help us further expand efforts to survey sage grouse hunters on their hunt experience. We appreciate hunters for the successful implementation of this permit in 2024. The permit will be available at Wyoming Game and Fish offices and online through the Department website.
In Hunt Area 1, which covers the western half of Wyoming, the 2025 sage grouse hunting season is similar to last year with the exception of a date shift to keep opening day anchored to the third Saturday in September. Hunt Area 1 opens September 20 and closes September 30. Hunt Area 4, which covers northeast Wyoming, is closed. Sage grouse populations appear to be trending upward in most areas as their population cycle continues. As a result, hunters should expect moderate rates of success. The number of birds harvested each year is strongly related to hatching success and over-summer chick survival. However, past trends indicate that populations are expected to enter the downward phase of their cycle starting next year.
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