Cody Region Hunting Forecast

CHEYENNE — With the 2025 hunt season rapidly approaching, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has released the hunting forecast for its eight regions throughout Wyoming, including the Cody Region. 

This report includes general outlooks for big and small game, and is based on data and observations from the field by Game and Fish biologists and game wardens.

CODY REGION  

Spring and summer conditions throughout the region have produced average to above-average precipitation and lower temperatures through July. The 2024-25 winter was relatively mild across the region, with the exception of a cold snap that produced significant snow and cold weather for two weeks. Fortunately, the cold winter weather was short lived and most snow melted within a week on winter ranges after the cold weather subsided. These conditions should bode well for wildlife within the region. If conditions continue and there is good late-summer/fall precipitation, wildlife populations should benefit.

Pronghorn

Populations are stable to increasing within the Big Horn Basin.  Herds within the Big Horn Basin have demonstrated increased fawn production and hunter success during the 2024 season compared to 2023.  Early field observations suggest good fawn production throughout much of the region. For those fortunate enough to draw pronghorn licenses within the region, overall hunting should be better than last year. 

Deer

Winter survival appears to be close to average throughout much of the region. Focal herd data suggests overwinter survival was higher in the North Bighorn mule deer herd than the Upper Shoshone herd. Fawn production appears to be slightly better than last year based on early season field observations. The region observed improved fawn production in most of the deer herds during the 2024 deer classifications. A majority of mule deer herds within the region are currently below population management objectives. Hunters should expect conditions and success to be similar or slightly improved compared to the 2024 season. Prolonged drought and increasing chronic wasting disease prevalence have had a negative impact on Big Horn Basin deer herds over the past several years. Managers are hopeful the recent positive trends in fawn production and precipitation will provide a needed boost to mule deer populations in the region.

Some notable changes to the hunting season structure in the Cody region include the addition of a 3-point or better APR in Hunt Areas 50 and 53, extending the Upper Shoshone herd (Hunt Areas 110-114) general season until November 10, and extending the Clarks Fork (Hunt Areas 105-106) general deer seasons toOct. 31. Additionally, the hunt area boundaries have been slightly changed within Hunt Areas 106 and 109. Hunters are encouraged to read the descriptions found within the regulations or visit the WGFD Hunt Planner to see the changes displayed on a map.  

Elk

Most herds continue to perform well within the region, with a majority of the herds at objective. Based on improved precipitation and early field observations, calf production seems to be similar to last year. Elk hunters should expect good elk hunting within the Cody Region again this year. The Cody elk herd (Hunt Areas 55-56, 58-61 and 66) is currently above its established management objective and managers have increased cow licenses in most Hunt Areas, and liberalized cow elk season dates in Hunt Areas 56 and 58 by opening seasons earlier and running them later in hopes of increasing cow elk harvest. Additionally, to better assess the age structure in bull elk within Hunt Area 61, managers are asking all bull hunters to submit teeth (lower-center two incisors) from their harvested animals, and fill out a data card and submit it back to the department. The Paintrock elk herd (Hunt Areas 41, 45) is now meeting objectives and managers have decreased both cow and bull licenses to stabilize the herd at its management objective.   

Moose

Herds within the region have been performing better over the past several years. Bighorn Mountains moose in Hunt Area 42 are performing well. During the fall of 2024 managers observed numbers exceeding the trend objective. Data collected for Hunt Area 9 in the Absaroka herd suggests good calf production in 2024. Managers are observing a slight increase in moose numbers in Hunt Area 11, particularly within the Sunlight Basin area. Moose hunters fortunate to have drawn a license should expect good moose hunting conditions and success. Moose hunters are encouraged to provide teeth from their harvested animals (lower-center two incisors) to assist the Game and Fish in its moose management program. Additionally, hunters are encouraged to bring in their harvested moose head to allow the department to collect CWD samples and carotid artery worm samples to better monitor disease in moose populations. 

Bighorn sheep

The Absaroka (Hunt Areas 1-5) and Devil’s Canyon (Hunt Area 12) herds are located within the region. Sheep numbers are within management objectives for the Absaroka herd, and have recently fallen below objective in the Devils Canyon herd due to a recent disease die-off. It is estimated the die-off reduced the Devil’s Canyon herd by 40%, but field personnel have observed promising lamb recruitment thus far and anticipate the herd will recover. Ram licenses within the Devil’s Canyon herd were slightly increased from three to four Type 1 licenses, and the newer Type 2 license was reduced from five licenses to four for any ram less than three quarter curl. These new Type 2 licenses are designed to focus harvest on younger rams to prevent them from foraying out of the Devil’s Canyon herd and potentially returning with new diseases. Licenses within the Absaroka herd remained similar with minor adjustments made to balance the required 90/10 split for resident/nonresident licenses. Those fortunate to have drawn bighorn sheep licenses within the region should enjoy good hunting this fall. 

Mountain goat

The Beartooth herd (Hunt Areas 1, 3 and 5A) is within its population management objective. The 2025 season structure has been designed to stabilize or slightly increase goats in Hunt Area 3 while maintaining harvest levels within Hunt Area 1. Licenses in Hunt Area 3 were slightly reduced for the 2025 season as goat populations are nearing their management objective, and to balance the required 90/10 resident/nonresident split. Hunt Area 1 licenses remained the same for 2025. Those fortunate enough to have drawn a goat license should have a good goat hunt. 

Upland game/small game

The region has received similar precipitation to last year, thus continuing the recent trend of good upland/small game habitats. Upland bird hunters should expect similar or slightly improved hunting conditions compared to last year. Chukar and Hungarian partridge populations are rebounding but still aren’t at the peak of their cycles, and field managers aren’t seeing as many broods as they normally do when populations are high. Early observations from field managers suggest sage grouse production may have improved from last year. The department is placing sage grouse wing barrels out in the southern portion of the Big Horn Basin to primarily collect sage grouse wings. Hunters are encouraged to place any upland game bird wings in barrels when they encounter them to improve the department’s knowledge of game bird populations within the Cody Region. Rabbit hunting should be similar or slightly improved from last season. Tree squirrel hunting in 2025 is expected to be exceptional.

Wildlife disease management

Hunters are encouraged to assist wildlife managers in the collection of wildlife disease samples. If you receive a brucellosis sample kit in the mail, please carry the sample kit in the field and collect a blood sample. Targeted brucellosis sampling areas for the 2025 hunting season are: 39, 40, 41, 45, 49, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61,64, 65 and 66. Additionally, there are several priority chronic wasting disease sample collection Hunt Areas within the region. Hunters who harvest a deer are encouraged to provide Game and Fish with a CWD sample or bring the head and a few inches of the neck to a check station or the regional office in Cody. Priority deer areas include the Southwest Bighorn Herd (Hunt Areas 35-37, 39,40, 164), the Shoshone River herd (Hunt Areas 121, 122, 123) and the Clarks Fork herd (105, 106, 109). Additionally, the Cody Region has mandatory CWD sampling in effect for Hunt Area 164 Types 1 and 7 hunts. Please submit samples at a Game and Fish check station, brucellosis coolers, at the Cody regional office or call the regional office at 307-527-7125 to make arrangements.