Benny Tillerson is a great example of the experienced guides that SNS is so fortunate to have on staff. Benny has been a Wyoming antelope hunting guide and mule deer hunting guide for nearly 25 years. He has been hunting big game in Wyoming for well over 40 years. Benny is now a camp manager for SNS and specializes in antelope and mule deer hunts.

We recently sat down with Benny to discuss his favorite things about guiding, his tips on hunting, and recommendations for a Wyoming hunt. Here is what Benny had to say:

Q: Benny, how did you begin as a professional hunting guide in Wyoming?

Benny: I live in Alabama and grew up hunting there. Then in the early 1980s, I had the opportunity to hunt in Wyoming as a client of SNS Outfitter & Guides. By the late 80s, I had developed a friendship with Sy and the folks at SNS, and that eventually evolved into me going to work for them.

I have been hunting mule deer and antelope in Wyoming for probably 45 years, and now I have worked for SNS for almost 25.

Q: What do you enjoy most about guiding hunts, and what keeps you coming back?

Benny: I like people and I love to hunt more than anything. This was a way that I could spend two months of the year doing what I love to do – hunting and spending time with great people.

You meet such interesting people – people from all over the country and even all over the world. It’s great to be outdoors and seeing that beautiful country.

My favorite part of the job would have to be meeting new people. But I also love showing people how to hunt these animals. I love the stalks and the sneaking, showing my clients how to get close enough for a shot.

Q: What is it about hunting in Wyoming that caught your interest?

Benny: I grew up in Alabama and hunting in the south, so the areas that we hunt in Wyoming and Montana are very different. It is so beautiful and so exciting because you can see the animals, often from long distances. You have to decide which animal you want to stalk, and then plan your approach.

Q: What are the top pieces of advice that you’d give to those coming to hunt antelope or mule deer in Wyoming?

Benny: The first piece of advice that I’d give to anyone planning a mule deer hunt or an antelope hunt in Wyoming, is that they have to be able to shoot their rifle. You need to know what your rifle will do under all conditions. In antelope hunting, the shot can be anywhere from point blank to 400 yards. You really need to spend a lot of time at the range. It always makes me sad when we crawl out there through the cactus and then miss one.

The next thing is physical fitness. If you’re there and you can’t do what the guide needs you to do, it takes a lot of the fun out of it. If you’re in good physical condition, that long stalk on an animal should be fun, not painful.

Then having an open mind is important, especially if you’ve never hunted antelope or mule deer. Listen to your guide and be willing to learn a new style of hunting.

Q: When it comes to gear or equipment, what are the most important things for a hunter to bring on this type of western hunt?

Benny: One of the most important things is good boots. They have to be broken in. You also need a good pair of binoculars because in this style of hunting, you’ll be spending a lot of time behind them. You also need a quality scope on your rifle, because you can’t shoot what you can’t see.

For antelope hunting, I also recommend that hunters bring knee pads and gloves, because you’re likely do be doing some crawling through very rough country.

Q: When you’re not guiding Wyoming antelope hunts or mule deer hunts, what do you do at home?

Benny: When I’m not guiding hunts in Wyoming, I spend at least three or four days a week preparing land and tree stands for my hunting lease in Alabama. Our season is very long here and I spend a lot of time planting fields, mowing, plowing, and building tree stands and that sort of thing.

I have three grandsons that I really enjoy spending time with. I have a great wife and we enjoy spending time together. I’m glad that the Good Lord has fixed things to where I can do what I love, and still spend time with my family.

Thanks to Benny Tillerson for taking the time to share some of his insight from 45 years of hunting antelope and mule deer here in Wyoming. Keep an eye on our news page and email newsletter for more articles with our guides’ hunting tips.

For more information on hunting with SNS Outfitter & Guides, please visit our website at huntwyo.com. You may also request a free brochure.