The Red Desert area of south-central Wyoming is famous for its superior antelope, slammer mule deer and thick-beamed elk. It is also known for its wild mustangs, its unique environment and spectacular scenery. This long-time outfitter has a well-deserved reputation for producing massive, exceptional muleys and tall antelope.
The outfitter has guided clients to incredible muleys in the 220-inch class and muleys in the 170- to 190-inch class are regular seen and harvested. Not too many places can make that claim. Heavy-antlered bulls average in the 300- to 340-inch range and a tad higher. Antelope over 80 inches are not uncommon assuming decent moisture. It is not a high percentage draw area for non-resident licenses, historically in the range of 50-60%, although Wyoming’s preference point system alters that a bunch.
South-central Wyoming is a premier trophy hunting destination. The outfitter offers fully guided hunts and fishing trips on private ranches. The outfitter fishes fish private stock ponds, the North Platte River, Seminoe Reservoir, Savery Dam, the Little Snake River and Savery and Battle creeks. The outfitter owns and leases numerous ranches for trophy deer, antelope and elk totalling 160,000 acres (250 square miles)-PLUS has access to another 300 square miles (200,000 acres) of difficult to access public land. Incredible amounts of prime habitat and low hunting pressure produce great animals.
MULE DEER:
The wide open spaces of Wyoming are one of the few places you can still consistently tag trophy Rocky Mountain mule deer. Mule deer hunting in Wyoming is a game of miles. Wyoming is a land of expansive, varied terrain and you must hunt a big area to find big deer. The number of bucks here is sometimes amazing, and if weather cooperates you may see a dozen trophy bucks in a single day.
A 30-inch mule deer is like a 10-pound bass or walleye. It’s one of the most widely accepted benchmarks in Western big game hunting and one of the hardest hunting trophies to check off your bucket list. Each year this outfitter has a few lucky clients who get the opportunity to harvest one of these once-in-a-lifetime trophies. Over the last decade, the outfitter’s carefully managed properties have yielded three mule deer bruisers over 30 inches. They’re rare, hard-earned, but available for the persistent and dedicated hunter. The outfitter takes archers as well as gun hunters. Archery season opens in September and offers a unique opportunity to spot and stalk a giant buck asleep in his bed. It’s the supreme archery challenge! The bucks are relaxed then having not been hunted for several months and are in bachelor groups that might have several shooter bucks in a herd. This all takes place on private ground where you will not see another soul.
ANTELOPE:
The outfitter hunts areas 53, 55 and 108 on these fully guided hunts. The terrain features sagebrush, buck bush, washes and rolling hills; in other words, ideal antelope habitat. Terrain dictates the techniques to be used. Trophy pronghorn hunting involves a lot of glassing to find just the right buck. Then it’s a matter of planning a stealthy stalk in the classic, time-proven Western way to hunt trophy pronghorn bucks. They don’t get big by being dumb and will use their incredible eyesight to spot you if you don’t stay low and use the terrain to your advantage. The vast expanses of Wyoming enable you and the antelope to see for miles. Spotting and stalking is the most practical and efficient way to locate the maximum number of antelope in the minimum amount of time.
ELK:
The outfitter offers fully guided bull and cow hunts in Area 108. Ranch size and limited quota elk areas means tougher draw odds, peak elk numbers and mature trophy animals. On an average day, it’s not uncommon to see herds of elk that are composed of more than 50% bulls. That makes the odds of tagging a branch-antlered bull pretty good! The average bull harvested is around 320-inches Boone & Crockett with an almost 100% success rate. The hunts take place on property straddling the Continental Divide where the high desert meets the foothills of the Sierra Madres.
The country consists of small pockets of aspen and wind-weathered pine draws. The area is home to a resident herd and later weather forces elk to migrate down into the region for the winter. Action is around every corner. With fresh bulls moving in and the quest for dominance, the fighting never stops. The amazing sound of the bull elk’s bugle echoing through the canyons makes the hair stand up on a hunter’s neck. The scene is set during the rut beginning in September into early November. One ranch the outfitter hunts is as classic an elk hunting venue as you’d ever want to see. It features high mountain peaks with pine and aspen as far as the eye can see. It’s elk Nirvana.
The ranch is bordered by the Medicine Bow National Forest on two sides. Hunting pressure on the public lands forces elk on to the private land. Hunters stay at the ranch cabin complete with all the amenities and great food. It’s not uncommon for the outfitter’s clients to go 100% on 320- to 365-inch bulls.
COW ELK:
Late-season cow elk hunts take place in November. These are three-day, fully guided hunts. In the past, cow licenses have been available into July or later. Buy them over-the-counter. (ask us about availability). Cow elk hunts run 100% success. The hunt is a great opportunity for kids or first-time hunters and to fill the freezer with great-tasting venison. You’ll also see giant bull elk and monster mule deer bucks actively rutting.
ARCHERY ELK:
Archery season runs September 1 until September 31. Take advantage of the rut by bugling and cow calling. When not glassing and calling, they have permanent water hole blinds for those hot afternoons. Tree stands set up during pre-season scouting and a ground blinds located along heavily used trails can be productive.
2018 PRICING:
MULE DEER – Rifle or Bow 4 days $7,000
ANTELOPE – Rifle 3 days $2,950 Archery 5 days $3,550
ELK – Rifle 4 days $5,000 Trophy Ranch $7,500 Cow 3 days $1,950
BLACK BEAR – 5 days $3,500
MULE DEER/ANTELOPE COMBO – Rifle 5 days $9,000
ELK/ANTELOPE COMBO – Rifle 5 days $9,000
ELK/MULE DEER COMBO – Rifle 5 Days $13,000
ELK/DEER/ANTELOPE COMBO – Rifle 7 days $15,000
