Wyoming Backcountry Elk Camp Experience
"Somewhere in the vast Western Wyoming backcountry, time slows. Brisk morning air, steep trails, dusty horse hooves, the bugle of a distant bull elk, snow capped peaks, and rivers divide. The kind of hunt your grandpa remembers isn't just a memory, it's alive, waiting for you to experience it for yourself."
SNS Outfitter & Guides is proud to offer traditional wilderness elk hunting adventures. We invite you to experience the rhythm of the wilderness, the camaraderie of hunting camp and the rugged beauty of lands untouched by the hand of man.
Whether you are chasing bugling bull elk with your bow or your favorite hunting rifle, that classic "hunting like grandpa used to" experience is calling! You are invited to come see Wyoming's wild backcountry for yourself.
Defining the Wilderness
"Wilderness' is defined as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." As defined by the Wilderness Act of 1964
What do we mean by 'wilderness'?It means the places we hunt have no roads, no motorized equipment, just wild country in its purest form. We pack everything we need in well before the season and pack it all back out at its conclusion. I guarantee you experiencing one of our wilderness elk camps, will forever remain with you as one of your most memorable hunting experiences.
- You ride in feeling enthused.
- You push yourself tirelessly in pursuit of that dream bull elk.
- And you embrace the raw, challenge of Wyoming's legendary mountains.
After all, that is exactly what a wilderness camp and elk hunt is all about!
The Pack-In
Your journey begins at the meeting point. We recommend arriving in a 4×4 vehicle, as you are responsible for your transportation to the trailhead. When you book with SNS Outfitter & Guides, we send you a detailed map and a gear list tailored to this experience.
SNS staff will load your gear bag and transport you and your equipment into camp. We provide custom-built leather rifle scabbards large enough to accommodate long barrels and big scopes. For archery hunters, we offer saddle bow scabbards or you are welcome to carry your bow or crossbow in a sling if you prefer.
Before heading into the backcountry, we conduct an orientation on hunting in the wilderness to include safety practices, using bear spray and of course horseback riding skills. Our guides will adjust your saddle to fit you. Once the essentials are covered, we head into country most people only dream of seeing. Some of our camps require a two hour horseback ride into camp while others are accessed via UTV which takes about an hour.
Camp Accommodations
Once you arrive into camp, SNS staff will be there to greet you with hot coffee, snacks, and a quick tour. Our wilderness camps include a corral of strong, gentle horses and a series of wall tents heated with wood-burning stoves or propane heaters.Sleeping tents contain lanterns, over sized cots with a thick pad and covered floors. You will need a warm-sleeping bag rated to -10° below zero and a personal pillow.
The number of hunters in camo varies depending on the camp itself and the week you are hunting. Generally, 4-8 guests at a time with fewer numbers during archery versus rifle season. Archery hunts are conducted as a one guide to one hunter and rifle as 2 hunters to 1 guide.
Each camp has a shower tent, simple but refreshing, and the facilities are wilderness-style, pit toilets.
Archer vs Rifle Hunters
Archery hunters will find a target setup at camp to tune your sight pins before you hit the field. FI you have any question about Legal Archery Equipment here in Wyoming If using a rifle, you are expected to show up with your rifle properly sighted in for 200 yards. Archers must be proficient and expect to take shots from 10-45 yards. Rifle shots will average 150-350 yards, but longer shots may be necessary.
Our dining tents are where the camp camaraderie comes alive with hearty, home-cooked meals served by our camp cooks. Breakfast and dinner are enjoyed here, while lunches and plenty of snacks will be packed out with you for your days in the field.
And because we know you'll want to stay in touch and send a quick text or two, we fire up our Starlink satellite WiFi for about an hour each evening for messages and emails. You will not have cell service during the day in these remote hunting locations.
Meat & Trophy Care
Once your bull is down, our professional hunting guides shift gears. A mature bull elk can weigh up to 700 pounds, so you will help with the skinning, field-dressing, and loading the quarters onto the horses. Because we're deep in grizzly country, your quarters and antlers are hung on meat poles positioned well away from camp. Our team makes sure your cape, head, and antlers are cared for properly and transported safely back to the trailhead.
You'll need to bring two 120–165 quart coolers to the trailhead for hauling your meat home or to a local processor. We also work with an excellent taxidermist who can mount your bull or you're welcome to take the cape and antlers home to your taxidermist of choice.
Licensing & Logistics
A few housekeeping items to comment on;
- As far as season dates go, refer to the SNS Outfitter website for the most current information and pricing
- Our office will apply for your licenses for you. This is also a great time to get lined up with our Preference Point Program if you are not already buying Wyoming elk preference points.
- Your tag along, with any required stamps will be waiting for you at camp.
- When you book a hunt with our team, a camp specific gear list will be included in your welcome packet. We are limited to a solar generator as a power source, but this does allow for phones to be charged in the evening.
- Our wound policy is very simple. If you draw blood, whether you and your guide find the animal or not, that is your animal. We will do everything in our power to find and retrieve the animal, but another animal will not be taken.
The wilderness is calling. If you've longed for a hunt that transcends the ordinary, riding through pristine mountains, white wall tents under a star-filled sky, bugling elk screaming at dawn, the crackle of a wood burning stove and the taste of home-cooked meals at camp; this is YOUR opportunity. It's time you join SNS Outfitter & Guides for a true wilderness elk hunting experience.
Contact us today! Spaces are limited.
Phone: 1-307-266-4229 Email:
Book your Wilderness Elk Hunt today!