Wyoming Elk & Mule Deer Combo Hunt
Private Trip
Big game hunting
9day guided elk and mule deer combo hunt in WyomingPackin style hunting with horseback travel and spike campsProfessional outfitter provides lodging, gear prep, and safety orientation
Looking for a world-class big game hunt that delivers on both trophy potential and authentic Western adventure? This 9-day guided elk and mule deer combo with Saddle Horn Outfitters puts you in the heart of Wyoming's premier hunting country. Whether you're chasing a mature bull elk through alpine basins or glassing for heavy-antlered mule deer across sagebrush flats, this hunt combines the best of what Wyoming has to offer. You'll be hunting solo with experienced guides who know these mountains and valleys like the back of their hand, giving you that personalized attention every serious hunter craves.
This isn't your typical drop-camp experience – Saddle Horn Outfitters runs a top-rated operation that adapts to where the game is. Some nights you'll be comfortable in hotels or motels, other times you might find yourself in a remote spike camp getting closer to untouched country. The Teton Basin portions of this hunt are pure backcountry – pack-in style with horses carrying your gear and lightweight trail meals keeping you mobile. Expect to be up before dawn and hunting hard until last light. Your guides use whatever it takes to get you on game: 4x4 trucks for covering ground, UTVs for getting into tight spots, and horses for accessing the high country where the big bulls like to hide. Meet-up is flexible too – fly into Jackson Hole Airport or connect with the crew in Pinedale, Alpine, or Daniel depending on where your hunt area is located. Before you hit the field, you'll go through safety protocols, double-check your gear, and sight-in your rifle to make sure everything's dialed.
Wyoming's diverse landscape means you need to be ready for anything. One day you might be still-hunting through dark timber where elk like to bed, the next you could be spot-and-stalk across open ridges where mule deer feed at first light. The elevation changes here are serious – you might start your morning at 7,000 feet and end up glassing from 10,000 feet by afternoon. Your guides know how to read sign, from fresh rubs on aspen trees to the subtle deer trails that lead to hidden water sources. Weather can shift fast in these mountains, so layering is key. Early season hunts mean warm days and cold mornings, while later hunts can bring snow that makes tracking easier but hiking tougher. The guides carry spotting scopes and range finders, but having your own binoculars that you're comfortable with makes a huge difference. Wyoming's big country rewards patience – sometimes the best strategy is finding a good vantage point and letting your glass do the walking.
Rocky Mountain Elk are the crown jewel of Western hunting, and Wyoming's herds are among the healthiest in the country. These animals can weigh up to 700 pounds and sport antlers that'll make your heart skip a beat. September through October is prime time when bulls are bugling and responding to calls, making them more aggressive and vocal. The rut makes them more active during daylight hours, but also more unpredictable. What hunters love about elk is the complete package – they're smart, they live in beautiful country, and a mature bull represents one of North America's most challenging trophies. The meat is phenomenal too, easily filling a freezer with some of the best wild game you'll ever taste. These animals have incredible senses and can disappear into timber like ghosts despite their size.
Mule Deer in Wyoming grow big bodies and heavy antlers thanks to quality habitat and good genetics. A mature buck can field dress at 200 pounds or more, with distinctive forked antlers that separate them from their whitetail cousins. Unlike whitetails, mule deer prefer open country where they can see danger coming, making them perfect for spot-and-stalk hunting. Early morning and late evening are prime times when they move between bedding and feeding areas. What makes Wyoming mule deer special is their wariness – they've been hunted for generations and the survivors are incredibly smart. A big muley buck that makes it to 4-5 years old has learned every trick in the book. Hunters love the challenge of closing distance on these keen-eyed animals across open terrain, plus the bonus opportunity to hunt wolves if tags and conditions align. The combination hunt lets you pursue both species as opportunities present themselves, maximizing your chances at filling tags.
This customer-favorite combo hunt with Saddle Horn Outfitters delivers the complete Wyoming experience – quality game, experienced guides, and country that'll stick with you long after you're back home. With all meals included and lodging handled, you can focus on what matters most: making clean shots and creating memories that last a lifetime. The 1-on-1 guide ratio means you get personalized attention and the flexibility to hunt your style. Remember that license and tag fees are separate, so factor those into your planning along with Wyoming sales tax. This hunt books up with returning clients, so if you're serious about chasing elk and mule deer in some of the West's finest country, don't wait to secure your dates. Whether you're looking to fill the freezer, chase your personal best, or just experience authentic Western hunting culture, this trip checks all the boxes.
Mule deer are Wyoming natives built for this country - big ears, white rumps, and that distinctive bouncing gait when spooked. Bucks average 150-200 pounds and love broken terrain like sagebrush flats mixed with draws and ridgelines. They're browsers, so look for them around oak brush, mountain mahogany, and bitter brush. November rut gets bucks moving during daylight, but late October can be golden before hunting pressure kicks in. What draws hunters is their wariness - they're chess masters compared to whitetails. Plus, a mature muley buck in velvet is a beautiful animal. The meat's lean and mild when properly cared for. Pro tip: focus on transition zones where feed meets cover, especially saddles between drainages.
Wyoming's elk are massive animals - bulls can hit 700+ pounds and stand five feet at the shoulder. They love high country timber and meadow edges, moving between feeding areas at dawn and dusk. Early September during the rut is prime time when bulls are bugling and less cautious. Late season hunts after snow pushes them to lower elevations can be productive too. These animals provide some of the best table fare you'll find, plus there's nothing quite like hearing a bull bugle echo through the mountains. The challenge keeps hunters coming back - they're smart, have great noses, and cover ground fast. My tip: glass the north-facing slopes early morning where they bed down after feeding. Wind direction is everything with elk.
Preston, ID