After spending quite a bit of time researching different outfitters throughout Wyoming, I landed on SNS Outfitter & Guides. While I was researching Wyoming Outfitters, I had a few things in mind – these made for fairly specific wants and needs. Most importantly, I wanted an outfitter that offered hunts for big game animals. This is simply because I want to continue building preference points for trophy animals; however in the meantime, I will be hunting animals, like antelope, that do not require points to draw. These animals will fill our freezer full of wild, organic meat.

My first priority for 2019 is an antelope hunt. I've never gone on an antelope hunt personally – I have only tagged along with my husband. I have always been intrigued with antelope and their overall demeanor, which makes for a more challenging hunt. Antelope are a unique animal in the sense that they spend much of their time at a far distance from anyone. They are North America’s fastest land animal and have exceptionally keen vision, all of which play into the difficulty of the hunt.

The countdown has begun to our 2019 fall hunts. We are sure you have spent the last few months preparing physically, mentally, and gathering all the necessary equipment for your western hunt. This is an exciting time and here at SNS want to make sure that packing the wrong equipment won’t stand in the way of that once in a lifetime hunt.

All of those in our outfit would agree that proper footwear is the number one necessity in clothing. This isn’t a one size fits all option though. When you are coming to Wyoming or Montana it is necessary that you plan for all different types of weather. If you are enjoying one of our September hunts there is a high likelihood that you could be hunting in 80 temperatures one day and the next morning have frost on the ground. This makes finding the right boot important. You must have a boot that keeps your feet warm in the morning and is breathable enough to wear throughout the day. That is why we recommend Cabela’s Men’s Iron Ridge Uninsulated hunting boots with GORE-TEX.  These boots are waterproof, but breathable when the day begins to heat up. This boot is a great choice for both our men and women hunters.  I personally have owned a pair of Cabela’s GORE-TEX boots for 15 years and they have always been the perfect fit for our Wyoming terrain and weather. 

Over the last few years, as the concern surrounding the impact of Chronic Wasting Disease has increased, we as outfitters and hunters are left searching for answers on how to deal with the impacts of CWD. There is no known cure for the disease which makes it a grave threat to infected herds of deer and elk.

So, what can be done, and what is being done? In 2019 I was asked to be a part of a CWD working group made up of public members. This group held a series of five public meetings in hopes of using input from the working group and the public to generate ideas and recommendations. Those recommendations would, in turn, be submitted to the Wyoming Game & Fish Department in an effort to aid with a CWD Management Plan moving forward. I gained a wealth of knowledge from these meetings and feel like the ideas that were generated will be beneficial for the Wyoming Game & Fish as they attempt to tackle one of the biggest challenges they face.

Today we are taking a look at SNS’ most popular species to hunt, pronghorn antelope. You may keep close tabs on them during the hunting season, but how much do you really know about them the rest of the year?

We may as well begin by addressing their name. Are they antelope? Are they pronghorn? Are they pronghorn antelope? Technically speaking, the Latin name for the species found here in North America is Antilocapra Americana, or American Goat Antelope. They are neither a member of the goat family or related to antelope found in Africa, however. The herds found in western and central North America are indeed Pronghorn. At least now we know where their nick name “speed goat” came from!

Winter feeding of wildlife is a hot button issue and often pits wildlife lovers, hunters and conservationists against one other. Elk are fed each winter by the Wyoming Game & Fish Department and the National Elk Refuge. As townships and ranchers established themselves out west, elk were left with very little intact natural winter range.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has tasked the department to hold a series of public meetings to educate the public as to why elk are being fed in Western Wyoming. These public meetings will be held in a virtual format starting December 1^st. Click here to view the schedule of this week’s meetings https://wgfd.wyo.gov/events

The most plentiful big game animal in North America is without a doubt the WHITETAIL DEER. When hunting circles talk about WYOMING HUNTING, hunters automatically think of our fabulous ELK HUNTING or WYOMING MULE DEER HUNTS and without a doubt ANTELOPE HUNTING. If you haven’t thought about hunting WYOMING WHITETAIL DEER you’re missing out. 

Wyoming’s populations of WHITETAIL DEER have exploded in the last 10 years and they are now found across the entire ‘Cowboy State’. The most well known area and home to our largest populations of whitetail exists in northeastern Wyoming in the Black Hills. The Black Hills is a beautiful section of Wyoming containing hardwood creek bottoms, cultivated fields and hills covered in juniper and ponderosa pine trees. Best of all lots and lots of WHITETAIL DEER. 

The Wyoming Wildlife Task Force [WWTF] has been busy working on wildlife and licensing issues for the last year. SNS outfitter Sy is the outfitter representative on the task force. Several subjects have been discussed and either rejected or approved and moved on to the legislature or commission or continue to take public comment. 

One topic that has drawn a lot of attention is an outfitter draw. The task force is currently working on gathering comment on this subject. The outfitter draw is expected to be voted on at the August 8th & 9th meeting.

It’s been over a year now that the Wyoming Wildlife Task Force has been meeting to discuss wildlife and licensing issues that affect all Wyoming hunters. It’s coming down to a couple very important issues that will affect your ability to hunt as a non resident in Wyoming. 

A major reason for the formation of the task force was to study and come up with solutions in how Wyoming issues licenses to non residents. This issue has been boiled down to two paths that are being considered.

The outfitting community in Wyoming is reeling at the loss of one of our own. On September 14, Mark Uptain was guiding a client in the Teton Wilderness when they were attacked by two grizzly bears. The client sustained minor injuries, however Mark’s injuries were fatal. The two grizzly bears involved in the attack have since been trapped and killed. A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help his wife Sarah and their five children. Please take the time to share and donate if at all possible. We at SNS Outfitter & Guides offer our heartfelt condolences to Mark’s family and friends.

To Donate: 

• GoFundMe

• Bear Spray Article
• JH News

Fall hunting — in both Wyoming and Montana — can mean variable weather and hunting conditions. With dynamic weather in mind, here are a few packing recommendations for those October and November hunts. First and foremost, you should pack layers. Layers are a critical element to hunting in the West. We typically experience cold mornings and warm afternoons, so having the ability to add (or shed) layers is key. In times of movement —  either when you’re hiking or on horseback — you'll want to shed a layer because your body will generate heat. While sitting and stalking though, you'll want to layer your gear to mitigate cooling down.

Secondly, pack to be prepared. Whether you’re hunting during one of our beautiful summer like days, or the weather dramatically shifts and begins to snow, having the proper gear is crucial. Suggested gear to pack: long johns, down jackets, rain gear, gloves, beanies, hats, extra ear warmers, second layer gloves, and be sure to have waterproof boots that are warm and practical. For that matter, having the correct footwear can be a game-changer. You want to be able to trek all day, without issue. Prior to heading to camp, make sure you’ve broken in your shoes and they’re ready for use.



Upon arrival, have your binoculars ready as well as your gun sighted in. Your guide will do a quick overview to make sure he or she feels confident with your shooting abilities. Your guide will also ensure that your gun is adequately set up for your hunt. If you have any specific "game day fuel," we recommend that you pack that along as well.

That said, our camps will feed you two delicious and satisfying meals. We also have an assortment of lunch offerings to pack for your day of hunting. So long as you follow the above recommendations, you'll be prepared for a great day in Wyoming! As a reminder, the weather here can be fairly unpredictable this time of year, so come prepared with your layers. Cheers, friends! Happy hunting.



If you have any questions about western hunting with SNS Outfitter and Guides you can contact us by clicking here or calling us at: 307.266.4229. You can also request a free brochure by clicking here.

Written by Bill Brown
In a world where people are sensitive, protective, and judgmental, hunters are often questioned as to why they hunt. Does it not bother them to take the life of a wild animal? The truth is, it’s not that simple.

One of the most important aspects of hunting is the food value of what we hunt. Knowing exactly where our food comes from — and for those hunters who process their own meat, exactly how it’s aged and taken care of — is the most satisfying and rewarding part of the hunting experience. Wild game is known as some of the healthiest meat on the planet. It is also some of the most delicious! Many on the anti-hunting spectrum would counter with, “You can buy meat at the grocery store — why don’t you leave the wildlife alone?” Well, a hunter’s counter argument is that just because you choose to purchase processed meat (from a domesticated animal) in a grocery store, does not make you morally superior to those who fill their freezers in a different manner. Whether it’s cattle or mule deer, they all walk on four legs. However, wild game is able to roam freely and eat what they choose.

Hunting also allows families and friends to spend valuable time together in the wilderness. These memories transcend generations. For that matter, some of my earliest memories involve bouncing around in a single cab pickup with my dad, mom, and brother hunting antelope, elk, and deer. I can also vividly remember the first time I heard a cow elk calling her calf while hunting with my grandpa in a patch of downfall timber. From an early age, hunting instilled in me the importance of family and friends as well as the importance of spending time outside enjoying everything that nature has to offer. There is nothing more exciting than being in close quarters with a bugling bull elk or quietly sneaking within a stone’s throw of a bedded muley buck!



As human encroachment on natural wildlife increases, we come to another very important part of why we hunt and why hunting is necessary: wildlife management. Every wildlife ecosystem has a carrying capacity and without proper management, the wildlife populations are at risk of uncontrolled population growth and massive die-offs. That is where we — as hunters — come into play. We are the world’s first and most diligent conservationists. And while it may be difficult to comprehend, hunters get just as much thrill viewing wildlife as non-hunter do. For us hunters, it isn’t just about wanting healthy wildlife populations so that we have more animals to aim at. We live where we live 


because of the abundance of wildlife and the endless opportunities to watch them in their natural element. Whether it’s witnessing a doe antelope nursing triplet fawns or a bachelor group of mule deer bucks on a summer afternoon, the joy is in the entire experience.

The simple truth is that we hunt because it’s deeply rooted in our blood and our family traditions. We have the utmost respect for any animal we harvest, as that animal provides food for our families. It’s not about the thrill of taking a life, it’s about all the experiences leading up to that point. It’s about learning the skills that are handed down from previous generations that allow us to make the hunting both clean and ethical. That is — at the very least — what we owe the elk, deer, or other wild game that graces our dinner tables.

Admittedly, selecting
the right hunting outfitter is not an easy process. With hundreds of thousands
of outfitters around the world, there are numerous aspects to take into
consideration. First, what species are you interested in hunting? Once you have
that figured out, which state do you want to hunt in? Are you looking for an
area where tags are easy to draw? Furthermore, are you looking for a trophy or
simply want to fill your freezer? You’ll also want to consider the length of
the hunt and whether or not you prefer a horseback hunt. As you can see, there
are a plethora of factors to take into consideration.

Once you
narrow down your preferences — or at least have a fairly solid idea of your
likings — you take to the Internet. Between interactive websites, great trophy
photos, and testimonials that make you feel like you were on the hunt yourself,
it’s difficult to choose. So, here is what we suggest:

The SNS office has been receiving calls and emails from concerned hunters who have heard rumors about changes to how the Wyoming Game & Fish Department (WGFD) manages non-resident hunting licenses.

To set the record straight, we sat down with SNS Outfitter Sy Gilliland, a member of the Wyoming Wildlife Task Force (WWTF) and a key voice in shaping Wyoming hunting legislation. Below, you’ll find insights directly from Sy about Wyoming’s preference points, license fees, and upcoming changes.

Elk feed grounds play a critical role in the health and sustainability of Wyoming’s wildlife. This became even more apparent after the brutal 2022-2023 winter, which saw record snowfall and harsh conditions. Without these feed grounds, the impact on elk, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope would have been devastating.

At SNS Outfitter & Guides, we firmly believe that Wyoming’s elk feed grounds must be protected and maintained for the future of both wildlife and hunting.

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.