JACKSON, Wyo. — According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s (WGFD) 2022 annual report, hunting on the National Elk Refuge (NER) increased in 2022 for elk, bison, deer and antelope.
The Access Yes program has been administering permission slips for elk hunting on the NER since 2008. Hunters from across the country are able to apply. Wild bison hunting access opportunity was added in 2014, and 2022 was the first year the Refuge offered opportunities to harvest antelope and deer.
In 2022, wild bison permission slips were issued on a first-come, first-serve basis in January from the Jackson Regional Office and the NER office due to the uncertainty of when the bison hunting would close. The NER allows hunting for wild bison through January or until the feeding of elk on the Refuge begins, whichever comes first.
During the 2022 NER hunt, there were 126 permission slips issued for wild bison, 1,842 permission slips issued for elk, 35 permission slips issued for deer and six permission slips issued for antelope. This is an increase of 21 percent from 2021 for wild bison and an increase of 27 percent for elk.
Harvest survey numbers reported that three deer, one antelope, 527 elk and 69 wild bison were harvested. This was an increase in harvest success for elk and bison on the NER from 2021, when approximately 42 elk and 54 wild bison were harvested by the time the annual survey was published.
WGFD is currently adjusting proposals for the upcoming hunting season as a result of extreme winter impacts on wildlife across Wyoming, and will make final decisions at the season-setting meeting on April 18.
