SNS Outfitter & Guides is made up of some delightful and colorful characters. We hope to bring you a fun portrait of their personalities, experience, values and maybe even a few details about how they spend their time during the off season. We couldn’t think of any better character to begin these chronicles with than Ralph Hlebak.

Ralph is an expert in the industry! He has lived in the Jackson area since 1979, soaking up Teton County history and a bit of memorabilia throughout the years. He has over 40 years experience hunting and guiding in the Grey’s River area. As he would tell you, “I fell in love with that country and the big bucks down there.” Although he would dismiss any reference to it,  Ralph is our resident expert for the territory. His knowledge, experience and tenure has earned him the rank and title of Camp Manager at the BoxY Ranch during Wyoming’s black bear, mule deer and elk hunting seasons. 

We’ve had a fun fall bear season here in western Wyoming! If you’ve ever visited the Wyoming high country in September, you know exactly why this is one of our favorite hunts of the year. Rocky Mountain weather in September is typically sunny, with warm days and crisp nights, and the leaves are starting to change. Most importantly, the bears are getting very active! 
During early September, black bears enter a period of hyperphagia, which is their fall feeding frenzy. They begin a constant foraging, looking to put on calories before the winter hibernation. 
Unlike the summertime when bears are mostly nocturnal, black bears begin feeding all throughout the day during this hyperphagia period. It is a great time to target trophy black bears in Wyoming. Boars are big and fat, and their coats are typically in great condition. 
Our fall black bear hunters have had a wonderful time this season, staying in the comfortable Box Y Lodge along the Greys River. The Greys River valley runs south of Jackson, Wyoming and is home to the largest concentration of black bears in Wyoming. This area produces mostly color phase bears with outstanding hides. 
Here are a few photos from the fall black bear hunts this year: 




From the SNS staff and the staff at the Box Y Lodge, we’d like to thank our hunters who joined us on a Wyoming black bear hunt this fall! It was a pleasure hunting with each of you. 
If you’d like more information about Wyoming black bear hunts with SNS Outfitter and Guides, please visit our Black Bear Hunting Page or refer to Hunt number 9 in our Brochure. You can also call us for specifics and availability at 307-266-4229.

When chatting with first-time clients and hunters from across the country, we’re often asked what can be expected on a hunt with SNS. What is a typical day like on a Wyoming hunt with us?

Here’s a short photo tour, showing a day in the life at a typical SNS hunting camp.

1. Up Before Dawn
At all of our camps across Wyoming, whether you’re hunting elk in the mountains or antelope further east, we’re always up well before daylight. Hunters can expect a home-cooked, hot breakfast before departing on horseback, on foot or by vehicle.

On our horseback hunts, guides will have your animals saddled and ready to go by the time you finish breakfast.


2. The Hunt Begins
The distance from camp to the hunting area varies greatly, depending on the area and your Guide’s plans for the day. Horseback or vehicle rides of an hour or more are not uncommon. In other cases, hunting may begin right outside your door.

On many hunts, the day often begins behind the binoculars or spotting scope. As soon as it’s light enough to see, we begin glassing. Spotting those first animals of the day is always an exciting moment.


 

3. Long Days in the Field
We typically pack lunches to bring into the field to maximize hunting time. Without having to return to camp during midday, we will continue hunting through the afternoon. How we hunt the day will largely depend on the game and the weather.


 

 

4. When Game is Down
If you have an opportunity to harvest an animal, your guide will take photos and field dress the animal. If we’re hunting by vehicle, your animal will be loaded up for the trip back to camp. When hunting by horseback, your guide will quarter the animal and load it on to a packhorse for the return to camp.


 

 

 

5. A Hot Meal and Warm Bed Awaits
Upon your return to camp each day, a home-cooked dinner will be waiting. Your guide will unsaddle horses or get gear organized while you have a chance to get cleaned up. Then hunters and guides gather around tables to share their stories from the day.

After dinner, hunters are welcome to stick around and swap stories, but most will filter off to bed and prepare for another day of the hunt.

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.

 

Welcome to SNS Outfitter & Guides

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!

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