In this episode, Jaden Bales dives into Wyoming’s elk program with one of the most knowledgeable (and hardest-hunting) biologists in the state: Lee Knox of Wyoming Game & Fish.

With Wyoming’s elk application deadline coming up fast, we wanted to give listeners a deeper look at how the Cowboy State actually manages its elk herds — from general tags to limited quota seasons to the bull ratios that drive opportunity across the board. If you’ve ever wondered why Wyoming’s elk hunting is so consistently good, this conversation breaks it down.

Lee and Jaden talk through Wyoming’s entire elk framework:

• What “general” vs. “limited quota” really means in practice

• How bull:cow ratios influence special-management units

• Why Wyoming posts some of the highest elk success rates in the West

• How burns, drought, weather, and access shape elk behavior year-to-year

• Why mature bulls can actually be easier to kill in November

• What hunters get wrong about elk distribution, pressure, and “trophy” expectations

• How to think about realistic goals when burning points or drawing a once-in-a-decade tag

• Plus plenty of nerdy habitat, calf-ratio, and season-setting discussion you won’t hear anywhere else

They also dig into one of the biggest issues facing elk management moving forward: access — and why social dynamics, not biology, often drive changes to season structure. Lee closes by explaining how hunters can meaningfully influence season setting (hint: social media posts don’t count).

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If you want to understand Wyoming elk, set smart expectations for your hunt, or simply learn how biologists think about creating opportunity across wildly different landscapes, this episode is packed with insight.

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