According to a recent press release from the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission (WGFC), new regulations have been enacted for hunting in Wyoming. The new regulations add additional calibers that can be used for big game, trophy game, and wild turkey hunting. The new regulation adds some calibers and ammunition that previously were not legal to hunt these species and simplifies language for other regulations.

For big game hunters the following firearms and ammunition may be used:

• For the taking of moose, bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goat, and black bear, hunters shall use any centerfire firearm of at least .24 caliber and with a cartridge at least two inches long.

• For deer, antelope, mountain lion, and gray wolf, the major change is the addition of .22 centerfire cartridges as legal ammunition. For the taking of deer, antelope, mountain lions, and gray wolves in areas where they are designated as trophy game, hunters can use any centerfire firearm of at least .22 caliber, using a cartridge at least two inches long and firing a bullet of at least 60 grains.

• For all big and trophy game species, legal firearms also include any cartridge of at least .35 caliber and at least 1.5 inches in overall length, or a cartridge that generally delivers 500 foot-pounds of impact at 100 yards. Shotguns firing “00” or larger buckshot are now legal for all big and trophy game. In addition, muzzleloading rifles or handguns of at least .40 caliber that fire a lead or expanding-point bullet using at least 50 grains of black powder or its equivalent can be used. All cartridges for big and trophy game must use a lead or expanding-point bullet with the exception of any shotgun firing “00” buckshot or a slug.

• The .17 HMR rimfire cartridge has been legalized for turkey hunting. This is in addition to the legal weapons in the previous regulation that included shotguns, centerfire firearms, muzzleloaders, and .22 WMR rimfire cartridges.

• Archery equipment regulations are similar to previous regulations, but language has been removed requiring bows to be able to cast different grain weights of arrows a minimum of 160 yards. For the taking of deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, mountain lion, mountain goat, or gray wolves in areas where they are designated as trophy game, a bow must have a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds. For moose and elk, a bow must have a minimum draw weight of 50 pounds.

bull; Crossbow hunters are required to use a crossbow with a peak draw weight of at least 90 pounds and a bolt at least 16 inches long. Broadheads and expanding points for all archery and crossbow equipment must have a minimum cutting-width of one inch after impact.

The new regulations are effective immediately and will be in place for upcoming spring bear and turkey seasons and for fall big game and trophy game seasons. Read regulations in their entirety at the Game and Fish website: wgfd.wyo.gov.

When it comes to big game in North America, trophy mule deer are among the most sought-after species. Weighing in at close to 300 pounds and reaching antler measurements of over 200 inches, mule deer are icons of the American west.

Mule deer are highly adaptable, ranging from river bottoms and high plains to alpine environments above timberline. From southwest deserts to coastal forests, mule deer hunting presents a variety of challenges.

Here in Wyoming and Montana, mule deer hunting is also diverse. Our hunts take place from open country on the high plains east of the Rockies, to the steep, rugged mountains of the Greys River. In any situation, hunting mature mule deer requires patience and determination. We recently spoke to some of our Montana and Wyoming hunting guides about their best tips for successfully hunting trophy mule deer. Here is what they had to say:

1. Glass Until It Hurts
Among our guides, there was one common theme when it comes to mule deer hunting: glass, glass and keep glassing. Most of our guides like to get to a high position early in the morning when it’s still dark, and set up behind their spotting scope or binoculars.

In many areas, mule deer like to feed and water throughout the night. This means that at first light, they can often be seen moving back to their bedding areas. Getting to a vantage point under the cover of darkness allows hunters to spot deer while they are still moving and plan a stalk.

Once mule deer lie down, they can be very difficult to spot, even in country that seems open and exposed. Many first time (and even veteran) mule deer hunters are surprised when a mule deer suddenly materializes on a hill covered in nothing but sagebrush. Catching them while they are moving is a major advantage, particularly when it comes to smart old bucks.

When getting into a vantage point in the morning, take special care not to skyline yourself. Even against a dark sky, your silhouette can be a dead giveaway.

2. Practice Patience
Mule deer tend to spend the middle of the day enjoying the shade. During these hours, patience and a quality spotting scope are your best tools. Even when you feel that you’ve covered the same hillsides a hundred times, stay patient and keep your eyes open.

When hunting mule deer, it’s important to stay alert and ready at all times. If you don’t see any action the first couple days of your hunt, it’s easy to let your guard down. Keeping your senses on full alert is critical, especially during a slow period when a quick opportunity might be your only opportunity. Wherever you find yourself, always be thinking about your shooting lanes, or where you’ll rest if an opportunity arises. Act like every situation will be the big one.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="241"] 2013 Wyoming Mule Deer Hunt


When you do spot that shooter buck, make sure you remain patient. If the buck isn’t already in shooting range, you will need to take your time and plan a stalk. If the deer is still moving toward his bedding area, it may require you to stay put. If you can watch where a deer beds down, it will often give you a great opportunity to plan a careful stalk.

The test of your patience may not end there either. Even after you are in range, you may have to wait on

the deer to give you a shot. If he’s lying behind an obstruction, you may be forced to wait until he stands up.

3. Be Physically Prepared
Mule deer hunting can be very physical. Once a buck is spotted, getting into position for a shot may not always be an easy task. This is particularly for hunters in the Greys River area or other steep country.  On these hunts, hunters should be ready to cover several miles a day through rugged country. All of our guides agree that the better shape you can be in, the better your chances of taking a mature mule deer buck.

Like antelope hunting, stalking mule deer may require a great deal of crawling on your hands and knees or belly. If you’re in the best shape possible, that final stalk should be fun and exhilarating, not a painful experience.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="222"] 2013 Montana Mule Deer Hunt


For more information on mule deer hunting with SNS Outfitter & Guides, please check out our mule deer hunting page. For other hunts, please visit our home page. You may also call us anytime at 307-266-4229 or request a free brochure.
SNS is Wyoming’s top outfitter and the number one antelope outfitter in North America. With more than 700,000 acres of private land, we offer more opportunity than any other outfitter in the state. We offer hunts for deer, antelope, elk, black bear and moose.

Thanks to the Wyoming Hunter Defense Fund and those who have donated to this important cause, a victory was won last month that saved Wyoming nonresident hunting license allocations.

Senate Bill SF0069 would have cut nonresident license allocations for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and grizzly to just 10%. This would have cut the number of nonresident moose tags in half and reduced nonresident bighorn sheep and mounting goat hunting opportunities by 60%.

Fortunately the Wyoming Hunter Defense Fund was able to lobby during the 2015 general legislative session. With help from the Wyoming Office of Tourism and other concerned businesses and individuals around the state, the bill was soundly defeated.

Despite the fact that hunting tourism represents hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact and provides the majority of funding for our wildlife and hunting opportunities, bills like this have become all too common recently. If you are a Wyoming business owner, resident hunter, nonresident hunter or anyone who values the benefits of hunting tourism in Wyoming, we encourage you to donate to the Wyoming Hunter Defense fund.

We are already battling similar bills and the fight certainly is not over. A recent House Bill (HB112) sought to implement a 90/10 license allocation on all big game hunting licenses in Wyoming. This would have cut the number of nonresident hunters in Wyoming by half. That would equate to a loss of $100 million in tourism revenue, $7 million in lost license revenue for the Game and Fish Department, 250,000 acres in land access, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in Conservation Stamp funding.

The Wyoming Hunter Defense fund has been working hard to communicate this message to business owners, residents and nonresident hunters. Wyoming nonresident hunting license sales are a critical part of our state's economy and are in large part responsible for the great hunting opportunities that we enjoy today.

For more information, please visit wyominghunterdefensefund.com.