Wyoming Mountain Lion Hunt with Saddle Horn
Private Trip
Big game hunting
Sevenday fully guided mountain lion hunts using trained houndsTrack lions through remote Wyoming terrain via vehicles and UTVsAll meals, lodging, and transportation included in package
There's something raw and authentic about tracking a mountain lion through Wyoming's backcountry that gets your blood pumping like nothing else. At Saddle Horn Outfitters, we've been guiding these world-class hunts for years, and every single trip delivers that edge-of-your-seat intensity you're looking for. This isn't some cookie-cutter experience – it's seven days of serious hunting in some of the most remote and challenging terrain Wyoming has to offer. You'll be working with our top-rated hound team and experienced guides who know these mountains like the back of their hand. From the moment we pick you up at dawn to the time you're back at camp sharing stories over dinner, this hunt will push your limits and reward you with memories that last a lifetime.
Your day starts before sunrise when we roll up to your hotel or RV spot with coffee and breakfast ready to go. No sitting around waiting – we're burning daylight and these cats don't wait for anyone. The first part of every hunt is all about reading the country and finding fresh sign. We'll cruise logging roads, game trails, and canyon rims in our 4x4s and UTVs, scanning for tracks that tell the story of where lions moved through the night before. Our guides have decades of experience reading snow conditions, weather patterns, and lion behavior, so when we find that perfect track crossing a ridge or heading down into a drainage, we know we're onto something good. Once we cut a hot trail, that's when the real action begins. Our trained hounds hit the ground running, noses locked onto the scent trail while we follow behind on foot, horseback, or whatever it takes to keep up. The terrain can get gnarly fast – steep canyon walls, thick timber, rocky outcrops – but that's all part of what makes mountain lion hunting the ultimate test of your skills and endurance.
Wyoming's mountain lion country is as diverse as it gets, and knowing how to hunt it effectively takes years of experience. We're talking everything from high alpine basins above treeline to deep, brushy draws where visibility drops to just a few yards. The key to success is understanding how lions use this terrain to their advantage. They love traveling ridgelines at night, using game trails that deer and elk have been following for generations. During the day, they'll bed down in thick cover – maybe a jumbled pile of boulders, a dense stand of timber, or a protected ledge where they can watch their backtrail. Our hound team is trained specifically for this country, with the stamina and drive to work these big, rugged territories where lions might travel for miles before finding the right spot to tree up. We use GPS collars on our dogs so we can track their progress even when they're out of sight, and our guides carry everything from climbing gear to first aid supplies because you never know what the mountain is going to throw at you. The snow conditions change everything about how we approach each hunt – fresh powder means easier tracking but tougher travel, while crusty snow can make for quiet stalking but harder trail-following for the hounds.
Mountain lions in Wyoming are the apex predator that every serious big game hunter needs to experience at least once. These cats are absolute masters of their environment, with adult toms weighing anywhere from 140 to 200 pounds and measuring up to eight feet from nose to tail tip. What makes them so special to hunt is their intelligence and adaptability – they're constantly learning, constantly adjusting their patterns based on hunting pressure, weather conditions, and prey availability. The best hunting typically runs from December through March when snow conditions allow for easier tracking and the cats are more active during daylight hours. Lions are primarily nocturnal, but during winter they'll often continue hunting and traveling well into the morning hours, especially when following deer and elk herds that are concentrated in winter ranges. What hunters love most about these cats is the sheer challenge they represent. Unlike other big game that might follow predictable patterns, a mountain lion can cover 20 miles in a single night, cross terrain that would challenge a mountain goat, and disappear into country so remote you'll feel like you're the first human to set foot there. When your hounds finally tree a mature tom after hours of pursuit through some of the most beautiful and demanding country in the West, that moment represents the culmination of everything that makes hunting special – skill, persistence, respect for the animal, and a deep connection to wild places that fewer and fewer people ever get to experience.
This hunt isn't for everyone, and that's exactly what makes it special. If you're looking for an easy button or a guaranteed trophy, you might want to consider something else. But if you're ready for seven days of serious hunting in country that will test everything you've got, then this is the adventure you've been waiting for. Our success rate speaks for itself, but more importantly, every hunter who comes out with us walks away with stories and experiences that go way beyond just filling a tag. The combination of working with world-class hounds, hunting truly wild country, and pursuing one of North America's most elusive predators creates something that's hard to find anywhere else in the hunting world. Tags are limited and our calendar fills up fast, especially for the prime winter months when conditions are perfect for tracking. Don't wait until the last minute to secure your spot – these hunts book up a year or more in advance, and once you experience what Wyoming mountain lion hunting is all about, you'll understand why our hunters keep coming back season after season.
Wyoming's mountain lions are impressive cats, averaging 140-180 pounds for males and 90-120 pounds for females. These solitary hunters prefer rocky canyons, dense timber, and steep terrain where they can ambush deer and elk. Winter through early spring offers the best hunting when fresh snow holds tracks and lions are more active. What draws hunters here is the pure challenge - following hounds through rugged country, the intensity when dogs tree a cat, and earning one of North America's most elusive trophies. These cats can cover 15-20 miles in a night, so patience pays off. The key is getting on fresh sign early - day-old tracks in this country might as well be ancient history. Once treed, you'll understand why locals call them "ghost walkers."
Preston, ID