Wild Bison Hunting Information

Check out the Game and Fish Hunt Planner to view the bison hunt area map, drawing odds, and land status.

The Bison Harvest Comparison Chart  allows you to compare harvest statistics from 2008 to 2025. The data is organized by harvest month, location (National Elk Refuge or other), and total harvests broken down by license type. Please note that Type 4 licenses were not available from 2023 to 2025.

Type 1 (any bison) licenses: Type 1 licenses are valid for any bison. Drawing a Type 1 license is considered a once-in-a-lifetime draw, regardless of harvest success. 

Type 4 (cow/calf) licenses: This license, which was last offered in 2022, is being reintroduced and is valid for cows and calves only. If an applicant receives a Type 4 license, regardless of harvest success, they must wait five years before applying for another Type 4 license. 

For both license types, limited alternate permits for the National Elk Refuge may be available from Jan. 2- 31 through the department's Jackson Regional Office. These permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis until the season ends, or until conditions require the start of supplemental elk feeding on the NER. For more information about hunting bison on the National Elk Refuge visit the NER Bison Hunter Management Area webpage.  

Video #1: Hunt Overview, Maps, Access

Video #2: FAQs

Bison hunting in this area has been unpredictable for the last several years. Over the 2017-2023 hunting seasons, bison stayed within Grand Teton National Park for the majority of the hunting season. Hunting is not allowed in the national park. 

Bull bison occasionally move into the open hunt area to the east of the national park throughout the season. Areas to the east of the park are remote and have limited vehicle and trail access. As a result, most hunters utilize horses in this area and retrieval of harvested bison can be extremely strenuous. Hunters should also be aware that there is a high density of grizzly bears in this area.  

Larger groups of cows, calves and bulls typically do not migrate south of the park into the open hunt area on the National Elk Refuge until mid to late January and may only stay for a few days, which gives hunters a minimal amount of time to harvest. In 2023, bison never moved onto the National Elk Refuge during the hunting season. In 2024 and 2025, bison moved earlier and were available for longer on the National Elk Refuge, which increased harvest success. The timing of these movements is dictated by snow conditions.

As a result of the unpredictable movements of bison, hunter success is variable from year to year and has been as low as 28% in Hunt Area 2. Hunter success was 35% in 2023, 95% in 2024, and 81% in 2025.

Hunters should also be aware that the number of mature bull bison in Hunt Area 2 has declined significantly in recent years. Although some large bulls remain, Type 1 license holders should expect limited opportunity and availability of large bulls. Type 1 licenses are valid for any bison and it is a once-in-a-lifetime license. In recent years, many Type 1 license holders (up to 41%) have opted to harvest a cow or calf bison. 

• Bison Hunt Map
• National Elk Refuge Bison Hunt Map 
• National Elk Refuge Bison Hunt Information

If your license is valid for a specific sex of animal (i.e. Type 4 female/calf wild bison) it is important that you be able to differentiate between bulls and cows.  A one to two year-old bull and a mature cow are difficult to distinguish. If you have a cow license, pay particular attention to the animal’s head.  Generally, bulls are a considerably larger animal, with more massive horns and a ‘blocky’ head.  Yearling bulls have horns that with a larger diameter base and grow outward more than female bison.  Cows have similar shaped horns but are typically much thinner and curve inward at the tips.  A penile sheath is typically evident on older bulls, but not on younger bulls. A profile view is not always the best identifying the sex of the bison. 

Additional information and an interactive bison ID exam are available below:

• Know the difference (bulls vs. cows) and shot placement. 
• Wild Bison Horn Growth
• Bison Identification Exam - Test your knowledge!

Bison hunters in Area 2 should be aware that both black bears and grizzly bears inhabit the area. For guidance on hunting and camping in bear country, please visit the Game and Fish bear wise webpage and review this document. 

More information to come. 

More information to come.