Having the right gear can make or break your Wyoming hunt, and this is especially true of your boots. Boots could possibly be your most important investment after your firearm or bow. You will wear them every day in the field, and they must perform well. If you are cold, wet, or get blisters on your feet, it’s not going to be a fun experience. You may not be able to spend the necessary time in the field, and you may not be able to hike to the locations necessary to get a shot opportunity. This would obviously be a huge disappointment.

General Considerations for Boots
When considering boots for a big game hunt, there are a few common features that hunters should always look for. First, a quality boot should have a waterproof membrane like Gore-Tex. It should also have an aggressive outsole like Vibram. And a quality boot should be relatively lightweight. Ideally, a pair of boots should weigh no more than 5 lbs. In many cases, particularly for the early seasons, there are many boots that weigh much less.

The height of the boot is also a key consideration. In general, we recommend a boot that’s no less that seven or eight inches. This will give you the necessary ankle support for walking in rough country. Height also provides protection when traveling through snow or crossing streams. But we also recommend that hunters also pack a pair of gaiters for those situations. Gaiters keep water or snow from getting into your boots and will keep the bottom of your pants dry.

Perhaps the most important consideration for boots is the fit. Each brand fits slightly differently and some may be wider or narrower than others. Therefore, it is important to try on a few different brands of boots before purchasing. After you make a purchase, it is equally important that you put some miles on them before your hunt. You must be confident that your boots fit well and will keep you blister free.

If you purchase a quality pair of boots that fit your feet correctly, they should perform well right out of the box with no break-in period and no blisters. The reason that we recommend putting some miles in your boots before your hunt is to be sure that they fit you well and won’t cause problems in the field.

Boots For Archery and Early Seasons
Let’s now take a closer look at selecting boots for the early season. September in Wyoming brings big temperature swings. Mornings may be in the 20s or low 30s and midday temperatures may approach the 60s or warmer.

Therefore, insulated boots are not a requirement. We like to steer clients to a lightweight boot that’s 2.5 to 3.5 lbs.

A minimum height of seven to eight inches is recommended. Remember, with today’s technology in materials, lightweight doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice support. There are many good choices that provide excellent support in a lightweight package and they don’t have to be hunting specific. General hiking boots can make a great choice for an archery hunt.

Boots For the Late Seasons
During the October hunts, big temperature swings may occur with chilly mornings as low as the high teens. By midday it can be as warm as the low 50s. As we get into late October, the weather can turn to winter conditions quickly with lows in the single digits and sometimes below zero.

Snow can be a real possibility throughout the entire season, but especially late in October. Needless to say, insulation is a core requirement. We recommend a boot with about 400 grams of insulation. When snow is on the ground, an insulated rubber bottom pac boot like those made by Schnee’s or Kenetrek are hard to beat.

Ideally, we recommend that hunters bring two pairs of boots to camp. First, a good pair of insulated Gore-Tex, hiking style hunting boots that are a minimum of nine inches, and a second pair of boots like pac boots as a backup or for very cold and wet weather.

It’s easy to make the case that after your weapon, a couple pair of good boots is the highest priority for your Wyoming hunting trip in terms of gear. If your feet aren’t warm, dry and comfortable, it will be difficult to enjoy yourself in the field. Trade-offs can be made with lower quality gear in many areas of clothing. But boots and good quality rain gear is where you want to buy the best you can afford.

 

Whether it’s open country antelope hunting, a high country mule deer hunt or archery elk, we spend a great deal of time each season looking through the glass. When hunting in Wyoming’s vast landscapes, having quality binoculars provides a clear advantage. Here are three of our tips on selecting binoculars for a western hunt.

1. Consider Quality
Binoculars can be a confusing item to shop for. Everyone has a different opinion and you’ll find options that range from a couple hundred dollars to thousands. However, don’t let it make your head spin. It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Higher quality glass allows more light, which is particularly noticeable at dawn and dusk and can extend your glassing time at both ends of the day. High quality glass will also improve upon sharpness, distortion and color, reducing eye fatigue on hunts that require a great deal of glassing.

You don’t have to purchase an ultra high-end bino to find good quality. But there is a difference in quality at different price ranges. Like anything, you get what you pay for. When looking at binoculars, decide on the best budget you can afford and use that as your starting point.

2. Consider Size and Power
When selecting optics for western hunting, you want binos that are going to be versatile enough for any type of adventure. You also need a balance between lightweight portability and sufficient power. We typically recommend something in the 8x30 to 10x40 range.

If you were to ask 10 different guides, you’d get a variety of different answers on the pros and cons between 8x and 10x binos. But most will probably agree that either will work just fine. Both will give you enough power and field of view in a lightweight and compact package that’s easy to carry around on a mountain hunt.

3. Consider Durability and Warranty
Finally, your binos are going to get jostled, rained on, shoved in backpacks and generally abused. So durability is also critical. Be sure and select quality binoculars that are waterproof and tough. Alongside durability, make sure you ask about the warranty. When all other things seem equal, sometimes it’s the warranty that will tip your decision one way or another.

For more information on hunting in Wyoming with SNS Outfitter & Guides, please call us anytime at 307-266-4229 or send us a message.

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!