You have successfully filled your Wyoming hunting license with SNS Outfitter & Guides. Congratulations! Now that the climax of your hunt has been reached, the next thought on your mind may very well be: How will my wild game meat be handled? Additionally: Will my guide field dress my animal? How does it get transported to the meat cutter? Will it be processed in time for me to take it all home? Packing?... Pounds?... Cuts & Coolers? ... Rest assured! After 45+ years of s...
For years, the most popular hunt in Wyoming was a mule deer and antelope combo hunt. This combination hunt was a staple for most Wyoming Outfitters. Wyoming mule deer populations continue to decline every year which is really making this combination hunt hard to find and even more difficult to get booked. Although SNS Outfitter still has some quality mule deer on the ranches we hunt, their numbers are low. Therefore we have decreased the number of clients we take each year in order to maintain a...
Would you like to satisfy your elk hunting needs & know right where the meat you put on the table comes from? Consider doing a cow elk hunt with SNS Outfitters. For several years now we have been sending hunters home with coolers full of organic cow elk meat and it is obvious, the popularity of these hunts is on the rise. Elk meat is delicious, free of antibiotics and very low in cholesterol. In other word's, a cow elk hunt provides outstanding table fare and a great hunting trip. The demand...
If you haven't ever come out west during the summer season, it may be time to consider a Wyoming prairie dog hunt. Shooting several rounds of ammunition a day at prairie dogs towns filled with these rodents is incredibly fun. SNS Outfitter & Guides currently has opportunity for just a few, quality prairie dog hunts this coming summer. We limit these to small groups of 4 shooters or less for 2-3 days. Taking limited numbers each year ensures a quality hunt. The best time of year t...
Strike up a conversation about politics around a campfire and you're pretty much guaranteed not to be invited on the next hunting trip. In fact, it seems to be an actual human characteristic that any person who loves the pursuit of wild game also hates all things politics. Hunters just want to be in the woods. They want to be surrounded by the sounds of nature. They want to stand around a campfire with their family/friends and share stories about previous hunting experiences. They want to ...
Step into the shoes of Jess Johnson, an avid hunter whose September 2023 rifle hunt with guide Ryan Kertanis resulted in harvesting a magnificent trophy antelope buck with SNS Outfitter & Guides. Jess and Ryan embarked on their hunt from our Red Butte camp lodge, venturing into the sprawling landscapes of private lands meticulously managed by SNS Outfitter & Guides. Unlike Jess' previous experiences as a DIY hunter on public lands, the exclusive hunting grounds provided a serene sanctuar...
It is a welcome relief after the harsh winter we experienced in 2023 when we saw severe pronghorn antelope deaths in most of the entire southwestern corner of Wyoming. Although we had a hard winter in the rest of the state, the death loss for antelope in central Wyoming was significantly less. The result of all of that snow and summer moisture in 2023 translates into plentiful range conditions in central Wyoming. Going into the 2024 winter was off the charts.
Pronghorn Antelope need plentiful forage and healthy sagebrush in order to survive, but quality winter feed is also essential for antelope horn growth. The horn on an antelope is made up of hair. In early December our Wyoming antelope loose their horns as the new ones starts to grow underneath the old sheath forcing it off. If you go into the field this time of year, all the antelope bucks look like they are the same size and their horns resemble a 6-inch knife blade. The new horn will continue to grow all winter and spring. If the bucks are in good condition, this will translate into a very good year for trophy antelope bucks.
Our lodge is situated in Wyoming’s serene Greys River area, renowned for its abundant black bear population, including predominantly color phase bears. It’s no wonder this has become one of our most-sought after hunts.
Bears exceeding six feet with large heads are not uncommon. The majority of the bears we take have colored brown hides followed by blonde, cinnamon, or a mixture of those multiple colors. It’s actually rare to take a bear with a solid black hide. Over the years we have taken an impressive 12 Wyoming Outfitter & Guide Association award winning bears.
Over the past 30 plus years many of our SNS clients hunted antelope on the Marton ranch. Phil guided many of our hunters for antelope, mule deer and elk. The last years of his guiding career he focused on hunting Montana mule deer.
Phil was an accomplished predator hunter who honed his coyote hunting skills protecting the ranches sheep herd. This skill came in handy when Phil and several SNS guides went hunting in the Northwest Territories. The caribou hunting was difficult as their numbers were so low. Phil turned his attention to the ultimate predator hunt, wolves. After a very long day of pursuing a wolf pack for miles on foot, using his calling skills Phil killed the ultimate trophy, a beautiful white wolf.
Our Montana Deer Hunt features one of your best options to draw a license and go hunting in 2024. This is a great mule deer hunt, but the property has some fine whitetail hunting as well. We have hunted here for over 25 years and this ranch has a proven track record for producing quality animals.
Opening Day; marks the commencement of Rifle Elk Hunting on our private ranch lease—a tradition we eagerly look forward to every year at SNS Outfitter! For over 35 years, SNS has proudly held the hunting lease on this expansive cattle ranch. During our tenure, we have witnessed the resident elk herds stabilize and thrive, making this hunt a Wyoming icon. As we gear up for another epic Opening Day, the excitement is palpable.
This hunt is conducted via horseback, over miles of evergreen peaks & sagebrush covered ground. As our clients arrive at camp on the eve of the hunt, they are warmly welcomed by the camp manager, wrangler, cook, and our team of experienced hunting guides. The corrals are filled with trail-worthy horses. The evening is a blend of settling in, zeroing rifles, a hearty supper, safety talks, and an early bedtime, setting the stage for the adventures that await.
At SNS Outfitter & Guides, we craft unforgettable hunting adventures across the stunning landscapes of Wyoming and Montana. Whether you're a long-time follower or new to our journey, we're thrilled to have you here. Subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube channel to stay updated on our latest hunts, tips, and tales. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for daily updates and highlights!
As we conclude our 46th hunting season, we're celebrating the triumphs of 2023. This milestone reflects the dedication of our expert guides, hardworking team, and, most importantly, the incredible clients who trust us to deliver unparalleled hunting experiences.
November marks an exciting time in mule deer country—the rut is on! Mule deer and whitetail deer are the last of Wyoming and Montana's big game species to begin their annual breeding rituals. The action kicks off in late October, as bucks begin checking does for signs of estrus. By early November, the rut is in full swing and continues well into early December.
Imagine standing on SNS Outfitter’s private Montana ranch lease, admiring the impressive antlers of a trophy mule deer buck. Guided hunts like these offer the perfect opportunity to witness the magic of mule deer behavior during the rut and take home a remarkable memory.
Last year, we shared our upcoming hunting availability with our loyal newsletter subscribers before releasing it to the public. This insider access gives our subscribers first dibs on booking their dream hunts. Keep in mind that our availability is highly fluid during this busy season, and spots fill up quickly. If you’ve been dreaming of a true western hunt in Wyoming or Montana or have been collecting preference points, SNS Outfitter & Guides has you covered. Without further ado, here are your options for the 2024 hunting season:
Wyoming’s elk hunting is thriving! The elk population continues to grow yearly, but increased demand has made licenses harder to draw, requiring more preference points.
Our third episode of the Tailgate Tales series features longtime client and friend, Sam Faggetti. Sam has been hunting with SNS Outfitters for an incredible 23 years, sharing his experiences with friends, family, and business associates who have joined him for some of the best hunting adventures the West has to offer.
Sam’s first hunt with SNS Outfitters was booked over two decades ago through Cabela’s Outdoor Adventures. After speaking with our outfitter, Sy, Sam knew SNS was the right choice for his inaugural Western hunting experience. What has kept him coming back year after year? According to Sam, it’s our attention to detail, high success rates, and unwavering commitment to providing safe and memorable hunts.
A little history about Wyomings system for issuing coveted non-resident elk licenses. Wyoming has limited the number of non-resident full price bull licenses for over 40 years to a cap of 7,250 tags. This cap was put in place when our state had half as many elk as it currently does. Wyoming’s Elk hunt areas are managed either as limited quota or general licenses. Limited quota areas carve out 16% of the total quota to non-residents. Once all LQ licenses are drawn statewide the remaining quota is issued as general licenses good for any general elk area statewide. The number of general licenses issued went down every year as elk populations increased, causing more LQ licenses to be issued and fewer general licenses.
In 1989 the outfitting industry lobbied the state legislature to create a two-tiered license fee system. This resulted in what is called the regular license and the special license. The logic behind creating the two-tiered license was those applicants willing to pay more for a license would have better draw odds. In addition to the two-tiered license fees Wyoming allows the sale and accumulation of preference points. Preference points give an applicant a chance to draw from the PP pool of licenses which is 75% of the total license quota.
Every avid deer hunter dreams of one day going out west and hunting mule deer. Unfortunately, a good mule deer hunt is getting harder and harder to find. Wyoming’s pronghorn antelope herds have been stable with some population swings due to winter weather. Our Wyoming elk numbers have seen huge increases, but mule deer numbers continue to decline. With that said however, you can still hunt the west’s majestic mule deer with SNS Outfitter and your best bet is our Montana Mule Deer Hunt.
Our Montana hunts are an optimal opportunity for going mule deer hunting in 2024. Wyoming still offers some quality mule deer hunting, but licenses have become harder to draw and many areas require accumulating preference points. Montana licenses can be readily drawn thanks to the state capping hunters at a maximum of two points. One exception to this is if you are booked with a Montana outfitter which enables you to buy a third point, insuring a successful draw.
Hunting season is just around the corner. Often clients struggle finding the time to make it to the shooting range. Most hunters are very experienced rifle hunters and today’s firearms and scopes are incredibly reliable, however there is always room for improvement. Here are a few tips to make sure you and your rifle are ready.
First up is to decide which rifle is the best choice for the hunt. Most hunters have an array of rifles to choose from so pick the rifle and caliber best suited for an ethical kill shot. The caliber and bullet choice will vary according to the animal you’re hunting. Do your research! If you’re not familiar with which caliber is best for the animal you will be hunting, please reach out to us for assistance.
You booked your hunt. You successfully drew your license. Your travel plans are made. And the long wait is over. The time has come, to pack up your gear! Each SNS hunt has its own specific packing list. This is a tried and true recipe for success. During SNS’ forty plus years, we have had plenty of experience fine tuning these gear lists. There is nothing frivolous on it or that should be omitted. If you pack all the items on the list, you will be ready for any hunting conditions, or weather, that Wyoming may throw at you. While it is possible that some of the items may not get unpacked or even used, they are all still critical. So please, read the information mailed to you, gather up each item and remember, SNS Outfitter & Guides knows the ins and outs of hunting in Wyoming and Montana. Do yourself a favor; Follow the list!
Each gear list is complied of clothing items, tips for boot selection, personal care items and hunting equipment. In this month’s video we walk viewers through one of our detailed gears list and give a few tips and tricks to keep in mind as you prepare for your hunt here in Wyoming and Montana. We would like to encourage you to view the video on our YouTube channel to see all the examples of these critical items we have asked you to bring in your gear bag. We do want to recognize that purchasing all this equipment can really add up, but remind you to look at how much is invested in trophy hunting. Cutting corners to save a couple hundred dollars just doesn’t make good sense. If you don’t have everything on these gear lists, it could result in catastrophe and we by all means want you to feel prepared, properly equipped and to have a memorable and successful hunt out west with SNS Outfitter & Guides!
Welcome to SNS Outfitter & Guides classroom. Today, our topic at hand is Wyoming Preference Points. This subject ranks high on our list of Frequently Asked Questions so we wanted to provide you with some “cliff notes” and help answer your most burning questions.
The world of hunting has changed a lot over the years. Back in the day, a person could go out and purchase a license over the counter in just about any area they would like to hunt. In today's world however, with the increased demand to hunt out west, the number of applicants has sky rocketed, making drawing a license far more difficult. The Wyoming Game and Fish offers problem solving solution, giving non-resident hunters the opportunity to purchase “Preference Points” for big game animals such as Antelope, Elk, Deer, Moose & Big Horn Sheep.
See past blog posts on the SNS Blog.
