Unit 79 Teton Park (Area 79)
The Jackson Hole sage flats inside Grand Teton Park's elk reduction program
Grand Teton National Park / Jackson Hole floor · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
65
sq mi
Public land
100%
approx.
Elevation
6,400–7,200
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Hunt Area 79 lies on the floor of Jackson Hole inside Grand Teton National Park, part of the cooperative elk reduction program the park and WGFD run under the park's 1950 enabling legislation to manage the migratory Jackson elk herd. It is open sagebrush flats, glacial benches and the braided Snake River bottom rather than mountain timber, and hunting is tightly controlled and species-limited to elk; note that Area 79 is frequently closed in a given year to protect northern migratory and resident elk, with applicants directed to Elk Hunt Area 75. This is a rare, regulated in-park hunt, not general forest country.
Terrain
Broad, nearly flat glacial-outwash sagebrush flats and benches on the floor of Jackson Hole, cut by the braided Snake River and its cottonwood bottoms, with the Teton and Gros Ventre ranges rising on either side.
Cover: Big sagebrush and grassland on the outwash flats; cottonwood, willow and spruce along the Snake River; aspen and conifer on the surrounding buttes and bench edges.
Landmarks: Snake River · Blacktail Butte · Antelope Flats · Kelly / Gros Ventre confluence · Grand Teton Range backdrop
Access
This is National Park land hunted only through the cooperative elk reduction program, which is heavily restricted: participants must carry a hunter-safety card regardless of age, wear fluorescent orange or pink, and carry accessible bear spray. Only elk may be taken, hunting is confined to designated park lands, and Area 79 is often closed for the season — read the current year's WGFD and NPS elk reduction rules before planning.
Managers: National Park Service (Grand Teton NP)
Access points: Park roads and designated parking within Grand Teton NP · Snake River corridor access points · Antelope Flats / Kelly area · US 191 / US 26-89-191 park corridor
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe reason the area exists: migratory Jackson-herd elk cross the park flats and river bottoms heading toward the National Elk Refuge, and the reduction program cropping them when open. Success hinges on timing the migration and the park's rules.
- →Time your hunt to the fall migration pushing elk toward the refuge
- →Set up along the sage flats and Snake River bottom travel corridors
- →Glass the open outwash benches at first and last light
- →Confirm Area 79 is open this season before applying — hunt 75 if not
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose live in the willow and cottonwood bottoms of the Snake River and Gros Ventre, though the in-park reduction hunt targets elk rather than moose.
- →Note moose in the willow bottoms while scouting elk corridors
- →Give cow-calf moose a wide berth on foot
Pro tips
- →Check whether Area 79 is open this year — it is frequently closed in favor of Area 75
- →Time it to the migration, not a calendar date
- →Meet every program requirement: hunter-safety card, orange/pink, accessible bear spray
- →Hunt the sage-flat and river-bottom travel lanes
- →Treat bear encounters as a real hazard on the open flats and in the willows
Watch out for
- !Area 79 is often closed for the season
- !Strict National Park elk-reduction rules and safety requirements
- !Grizzly and black bear activity on the flats and river bottoms
- !Elk-only harvest; other big game not open here
- !Severe late-season cold and snow
Logistics
Base out of Jackson or the Moose/Kelly area; full services in Jackson. This is a specialized, permit-and-program-driven in-park hunt with strict safety requirements, not a walk-in general season — read the NPS elk reduction bulletin and WGFD regulations carefully each year. Grizzly and black bear are present throughout the park.
Nearest towns: Jackson, Moose, Kelly, Moran
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: Grand Teton National Park - Elk Management / Reduction · WGFD Elk Hunt Planner · Elk reduction program announcements (NPS)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 79 in Wyoming?
- Unit 79 (Teton Park (Area 79)) covers about 65 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,400 to 7,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 79?
- Approximately 100% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: National Park Service (Grand Teton NP). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 79?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 79 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.