Big Game

Elk hunting, for many of us, is a captivating pursuit. The opportunity to track one of North America's most majestic, athletic, and fascinating game animals in some of the wildest and most challenging terrain is an irresistible prospect. 

Late-season hunts can be productive and rewarding, depending on how you approach them. Yes, cold feet can be uncomfortable, but if you can push past some of these mental barriers, you will be rewarded with some exciting hunting. 

If you have ever spent time out in the deer woods, you have almost undoubtedly heard a doe, fawn, or both make noises and communicate. Deer communicate constantly and use a variety of different sounds and signals to do so.

Bear hunting is not only a call back to the tradition of hunting. It's a gateway to exploring some of the most stunning natural locations, producing organic game meat, testing your nerves, tracking skills, and wilderness abilities as a hunter. 

If you could carry five expert tips with you into the fall hunting season — whether you're hunting deer, turkey, dove, or other big game — what would be most valuable to you?

You did everything yourself this season. You scouted, you checked to see when the best wind directions and hunt times were using HuntWise. You followed through with your shot, and now you've got your deer on the ground — field dressed and ready to take home.

When trying to fill the freezer, it can be a bit more nuanced than just "if it's brown, it's down." Positively identifying your game is critical for responsible hunting.

Wyoming is blessed with many big-ticket species that hunters dream of taking, including pronghorn, moose, and mule deer.  

Nothing compares to the sound of a giant elk coming out through the thick vegetation. The heavy thuds and loud calls build the kind of rush and anticipation that's almost indescribable to non-hunters.

Do you know your deer calls? A solid understanding of deer communication patterns, knowing how to use calls, and applying a repertoire of essential vocalizations can help you lure in a big buck that would otherwise walk right by and out of your fire zone. 

Identifying a button buck (i.e., a 6-month-old male) from a doe in the field requires looking for a flat forehead, "blocky" head shape, and a square-shaped body compared to the rounded head and rectangular body of a doe. Additionally, button bucks, named for the small hair-covered pedicles on their heads, are often solitary and "first to enter a field."

Each year, hundreds, if not thousands, of hunters traverse across state lines to hunt the quarry that another state might have to offer. For some, this might mean leaving Ohio to cash in your Colorado moose points. For others, it might mean leaving the elk woods of Wyoming to head to Iowa for whitetail.