Wyoming Trading Post
Outfitters

Wyoming Outfitters Offering Horseback Hunting Trips

A working directory of licensed Wyoming outfitters running horseback elk, mule deer, and antelope hunts. What to expect, how booking actually works, and who's been doing it longest.

By Wyoming Trading Post Editors
Backcountry elk camp at dawn in the Wyoming Bighorns, with a wall tent, picketed pack horses, and a hunter loading a saddle scabbard.
A licensed outfitter elk camp in the Bighorn National Forest. Wall tent, woodstove, picket line, and panniers stacked under a canvas tarp. — Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Public domain.

A horseback hunt in Wyoming is one of the most demanding and rewarding things a hunter can do in the lower forty-eight. The terrain is real, 9,000-foot saddles, day-long rides into base camp, weather that turns on you in an hour. The animals are wild, these are not high-fence operations. The outfitters who do this work well have been in business for decades because the work selects for it.

This is a working directory of licensed Wyoming outfitters running horseback hunts in the major wilderness areas. It is not a marketing list. Inclusion means the outfitter is licensed by the Wyoming Board of Outfitters, holds the appropriate Forest Service special use permits, and has been operating for at least five years. Exclusion does not mean an outfitter is bad; it means we have not yet verified them ourselves.

Booking notes and what to expect at the bottom.

Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wind River Range west slope

The Bridger Wilderness on the west slope of the Wind Rivers is among the heaviest-permitted wilderness for outfitting in the state. Mostly elk and mule deer, with some moose hunts in limited-quota units.

Box R Ranch (Cora, WY). Operating since the 1980s. Multi-generation family operation. Elk, mule deer, and trail rides out of Cora. Long-tenured Bridger-Teton permits.

Castle Rock Outfitters (Pinedale, WY). Multi-decade operator. Specializes in Wind River backcountry. Elk and mule deer; deep-camp pack-in operations.

Triangle X Ranch (Moose, WY). The Triangle X is primarily a guest ranch but their hunting operation has been in the Bridger and Teton wildernesses for generations. Elk, mule deer, and antelope.

Yellowstone Outfitters (Moran, WY). Run by the Madsen family since 1982. Operates in both the Teton Wilderness (south of Yellowstone) and the Bridger. Elk, mule deer, moose, and shed hunts. Among the best-known of the Wyoming outfitters.

Shoshone National Forest, Wind River Range east slope and Absarokas

The east slope of the Winds and the Absarokas south of Yellowstone are the heart of Wyoming wilderness elk country. Several long-tenured outfitter operations work this region.

Skyline Camps (Lander, WY). East-slope Wind River specialist. Multi-generation operation. Elk and mule deer in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness.

Lazy L&B Ranch (Dubois, WY). Guest ranch and outfitter combined. Hunts in the Wind River and Absaroka country east of the Continental Divide.

Two Bear Outfitters (Cody, WY). Specializes in the South Fork of the Shoshone and the Absaroka country east of Yellowstone. Elk, mule deer, mountain lion. Long-standing Shoshone National Forest permits.

Open Creek Outfitters (Cody area). Washakie Wilderness elk and mule deer specialist. Deep-pack operations; multi-day rides to base camp.

Crandall Creek Outfitters. Sunlight Basin and Absaroka-Beartooth front-country. Elk, mule deer, mountain goat (limited draw).

Bighorn National Forest, Cloud Peak Wilderness

The Bighorns get less hunting pressure than the Winds or the Absarokas, the units have lower trophy expectations on average but the terrain is more accessible and the scenery is exceptional.

The alpine tundra of the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, with wide-open high-country terrain and sweeping views across the Cloud Peak Wilderness.
Cloud Peak Wilderness country in the Bighorns at hunting elevation. Less pressure than the Wind Rivers or Absarokas, accessible terrain, and exceptional country. Outfitters working this range run smaller operations — better personal attention, the same quality of hunting. Photo via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA.

Cloud Peak Wilderness Outfitters. Cloud Peak elk and mule deer. Multi-decade operator. Smaller operation than the Wind River outfitters; better personal attention.

Trapper Creek Outfitters. East-slope Bighorn elk and mule deer. Established operator.

Bighorn Mountain Outfitters. Bighorn-specific hunts and pack trips. Long history; runs both hunting and summer trail rides.

Greater Yellowstone, Teton Wilderness and Thorofare

The Teton Wilderness south of Yellowstone Park is some of the most remote terrain in the lower forty-eight. The Thorofare access, the most distant trail from any road in the contiguous United States, is on the Teton Wilderness side and runs into Yellowstone’s southeast corner.

Yellowstone Outfitters (Moran). As above. The Thorofare specialist.

Triangle C Ranch (Dubois). Multi-decade hunting and packing operation in the Teton and Washakie Wildernesses.

Box Y Lodge (Bondurant). Historic operator; lodge-based with horseback access to the Wyoming Range and Hoback country.

Wyoming Range, south of the Tetons

The Wyoming Range and the Salt River Range hold less wilderness acreage but excellent mule deer and antelope, and a quieter outfitter scene.

Bridger-Teton Outfitters (Hoback). Wyoming Range specialist; mule deer focus.

JC Ranch (Big Piney). Antelope and mule deer in the western range country. Less remote than the wilderness operators; suitable for hunters who want a real backcountry experience without a multi-day pack-in.

How to verify an outfitter

Before sending a deposit:

  1. Verify the Wyoming Board of Outfitters license. Public lookup at outfitters.wyo.gov. The license must be current and the outfitter’s name on it.
  2. Verify the WYOGA membership. Not all licensed outfitters are WYOGA members, but membership is a positive signal.
  3. Verify the Forest Service special use permit. Call the relevant ranger district (Bridger-Teton, Shoshone, Bighorn) and confirm the outfitter holds a current permit for the specific wilderness or unit they propose to hunt.
  4. Ask for references from hunters from the previous two seasons. A real outfitter provides them readily; a marginal one stalls.
  5. Read the contract carefully. What happens if weather closes the unit? What happens if you injure your back on day two? What is the deposit refund schedule? These are not standard across the industry.

What a hunt actually looks like

A typical 7-day fully-outfitted Wyoming elk hunt:

Day 0: Arrival at the trailhead or staging area. Gear inspection. Sometimes overnight at a base lodge before the pack-in.

Day 1: Pack-in to base camp. 4-12 mile ride depending on the unit. Wall-tent camp setup, gear sort, an early dinner, and a quiet evening to acclimatize.

Days 2-6: Hunting. Pre-dawn breakfast. Glassing sessions or ride-and-still-hunt depending on conditions. Lunch in the field. Afternoon hunt. Return to camp at dark. The pace is hard for hunters not accustomed to all-day saddle time.

Day 7: Pack-out. Either with an animal (which means an additional pack horse for meat) or without. Return to vehicles by mid-afternoon.

The reality:

  • You will be sore. Day 2 is the hardest physically.
  • You will probably get cold. Even September hunts can hit 15°F at altitude.
  • Weather can shut down a hunt for half a day. This is part of the deal.
  • Success rates vary by unit and year, typical wilderness elk hunts run 60-80% with reputable outfitters; antelope is 90%+; mule deer is 50-75%.

Wyoming non-resident license logistics

Non-resident hunters have to work through Wyoming’s drawing system. The high points:

  • Application deadline: January 31 for elk, deer, and antelope drawing.
  • Cost: $692 non-resident elk license (2026), $337 deer, $182 antelope. Add a $14.50 conservation stamp.
  • Wilderness rule: Non-residents must be accompanied by a licensed guide or outfitter in any designated wilderness area.
  • Preference points: Wyoming uses a points system for limited-quota units. Buy preference points in years you do not draw (around $50-150 per species). Premium units take 5-15 years of points to draw.

Most outfitters will assist with the application process, many include it as part of their booking. Confirm in writing.

A note on cost expectations

Quality Wyoming horseback hunts have always been expensive and have gotten more so. Inflation in fuel, hay, and labor has pushed full-service 7-day elk hunts from approximately $4,500 in 2010 to $5,500-9,000 in 2026. Trophy hunts in premium units (Wyoming Range mule deer, Cody-region elk) run substantially higher. Antelope hunts remain the most accessible, $2,000-4,000 for full-service trips on private leases, sometimes less for self-guided hunts on BLM with a logistical-only outfitter.

If the price seems too low, substantially below the ranges above, verify the outfitter carefully. Underpriced operations often cut corners on stock care, food quality, or the legal permitting.

Resources

  • Wyoming Game and Fish Department, hunting regulations, license drawings, harvest data by unit. wgfd.wyo.gov
  • Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association, licensed outfitter directory and ethics committee. wyoga.org
  • Wyoming Board of Outfitters, official license verification and complaint records. outfitters.wyo.gov
  • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, habitat conservation organization with extensive Wyoming chapter activity. rmef.org

Why use the directory above

Hunting outfitters are a category where research saves money and disappointment in equal measure. A poorly-run hunt is a $7,000 mistake. A well-run one is a memory that stays with you for life. The outfitters above represent the long-tenured, properly-licensed operations we have either personally verified or have verified through multiple second-hand recommendations from the Wyoming hunting community.

Use the list as a starting point. Always verify directly. The Wyoming hunting outfitter community is small, twenty minutes on the phone with two or three of these operations will give you a clear sense of who fits your needs.

Pack-trip gear for a horseback hunt

What to have before you meet your outfitter:

Further reading

  • Western Hunter magazine, long-form Wyoming hunt journalism.
  • Eastmans’ Hunting Journal, Wyoming hunt unit reviews and trophy data.
  • Wyoming Wildlife magazine (WGFD publication), wildlife management context.

Frequently asked questions

Can non-residents hunt in Wyoming wilderness without an outfitter?

No. Wyoming statute requires non-resident hunters to be accompanied by a licensed Wyoming guide or outfitter when hunting in any of the state's designated wilderness areas. This includes the Bridger, Fitzpatrick, Popo Agie, Cloud Peak, Teton, Washakie, and Absaroka-Beartooth wildernesses. Non-wilderness public land hunts (national forest, BLM) do not require an outfitter for non-residents.

How far in advance do I need to book?

Premium elk and mule deer outfitters in the Bighorns and Wind Rivers book 12-24 months out. Mid-tier hunts book 6-12 months out. Last-minute openings happen but are rare; most outfitters maintain waiting lists. Wyoming's non-resident license drawing system also requires application by January 31 of the hunt year, which adds another planning layer.

What does a guided horseback hunt typically cost?

5-7 day fully-outfitted elk hunts in Wyoming run $5,000-9,000 in 2026, plus license fees ($692 for non-resident elk in 2026), plus tip (10-15% standard). Mule deer is typically 15-25% less; antelope substantially less ($2,000-4,000 for 3-4 day hunts). Premium trophy hunts in limited-quota units run $9,000-15,000+. The price includes lodging (wall tent or lodge), all meals, all stock, and the guide; it does not include transportation to camp, tags, or trophy shipping.

Sources

  1. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, hunting regulations and licensing
  2. Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association (WYOGA), licensed outfitter directory
  3. Wyoming Board of Outfitters, license verification and complaint records
  4. U.S. Forest Service, special use permits for outfitters