As they say, if you know, you know! That adrenaline rush mixed with joy, relief, and pride as you pull the trigger and watch everything unfold in front of you. The exhaustion and exhilaration—it’s a feeling SNS Outfitter & Guides knows well.
For 46 seasons, we've had the privilege of hosting top-tier hunting adventures in Wyoming & Montana. Time and time again, our clients leave with unforgettable memories of a hunt well conducted.
Wyoming, like much of the West, is experiencing a tough winter with heavy snowfall. As one of the largest states in the country, our snowpack varies significantly from region to region. However, one thing is certain—this moisture is critical.
For years, Wyoming has battled a prolonged drought. Cattle ranchers have an old saying: “It takes a hard winter to break a drought.” Unlike other regions that receive steady summer rains, Wyoming relies on winter snowfall to replenish deep soil moisture, recharge creeks, and sustain wildlife.
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.
It’s almost July and its time to start fine tuning your gear for your upcoming hunt. Getting your rifle ready for your Wyoming Antelope hunt needs to be at the very top of your list. Most hunters own multiple rifles so choosing the best firearm to hunt the flat, wide open spaces of Wyoming is important.
The terrain in antelope country is generally rolling prairie grasslands and sagebrush. Antelope stand about 3 feet tall at their shoulder and a mature buck will weigh 110-120 lbs. The rifle you bring should be flat shooting, topped with a very good scope. Our outfit has successfully guided almost 5,000 buck antelope hunts so you can say we have a great deal of experience.
First up is the .270 this is without a doubt the best firearm for a pronghorn antelope hunt followed by the .25-06 and the .243. We have started seeing plenty of the 6.5 family showing up and these calibers have proven to be very good on antelope. The heavier 30 caliber rifles can be used as well and work great, but they are designed for heavier animals.
Bullet design has come a long ways the last 30 years. Today’s sportsmen have a wide array of quality bullets to choose from and factory out of the box ammunition is very accurate. A quality bonded bullet is your best choose for hunting antelope. Bonded bullets will hold together, driving completely through the animal resulting in a clean, ethical kill.
Sight your rifle in so its dead on at 200 yards. Most of the shots that will be taken will run from 150-300 yards. Farther shots may be required, but generally with a little effort you and your guide can close the gap for a closer shot. Practice, practice and practice some more! The amount of time you spend at the rifle range shooting will pay big dividends on your hunt. The vast majority of the shots will be from the sitting position using shooting sticks, prone shots using an available rock or backpack are also common shots.
It’s exciting getting ready for a long anticipated hunt. In addition to making sure your ready to execute the shot for a clean ethical kill, check out the suggested gear list we have prepared and sent to our currently booked clients. Make sure you’re getting plenty of exercise so your legs and lungs are ready. Finalize your travel plans and return the travel sheet to our office along with the client expectation form. If you have any questions that aren’t answered in the information we have sent, then by all means, email or call with those questions. Thank you for choosing SNS Outfitters for your Wyoming antelope hunt and we shall see you this fall.
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.
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.
With hunting clients coming back for more year after year, SNS Outfitter and the team of professional hunting guides, wranglers, camp jacks & cooks, must be doing something right! SNS Client, Kevin Pollock, tell us why. He has been hunting from Camp Envy for eleven consecutive years. Each season filling out his combination hunt for both antelope and deer. There is only one tag that Kevin was unable to fill on his very first visit in 2013. A blizzard moved into the area and made for very challenging hunting conditions and limited travel. He still managed to fill his antelope tag that year, however, with the help of hunting guide, Jim Barton. Kevin said, “These guys did everything they could to get me on game, even in the worst conditions possible. If that is what they are willing to do for me when it’s this snowed in and wet, I can’t wait to see what it’s like in bluebird conditions. I am coming back!”
Kevin says he keeps returning to SNS for his yearly antelope and mule deer hunts for multiple reasons; the experienced staff, great animals, “It’s an honest, hard working group. SNS handles all the paperwork. I know when arrive to camp, my tag will be there. It’s a quality outfit from top to bottom with great leadership from Sy,” SNS Outfitter. Over time Kevin has noticed the camp evolve while maintaining its quality. “I like this camp so well because it is remote enough for great hunting, but comfortable with warm rooms, nice beds, great food and hot, hot water showers and now, I can call home right from the cook house.” In addition to enjoying this SNS camp all these years, Kevin has been able to get to know all of the crew and become quite close with them. “It’s like old going home week; a family reunion at hunting camp each year.” And if there is one member of the team that Kevin has really hit it off with, that would have to be, Troy Gilmore, SNS camp manager and hunting guide. Matter of fact, they are more like family at this point. With their families enjoy spending time together, Kevin and his wife have become like a bonus set of grandparents for Troy and his wife’s two daughters. When asked about Kevin, Troy will tell you, “Kevin and I just clicked right from the start. He’s a joy to take hunting. He’s one that it doesn’t matter if it’s rain, snow or shine. He just loves the whole experience; the whole hunt from start to finish. He buddies up with everyone at camp, never gets worked up and is easy going. He’s like a dream client!”
See past blog posts on the SNS Blog.