The Wind River Mountain Range

[Bean Counter]

Anyone ever hunted this 100 mile range in Wyoming? Curious about deer and elk there--good populations and trophy potential? I'm also curious to know about the effect of wolves on the hunting. Thanks.

[ELKBURGER]

Never hunted it....Spent hours admiring its beauty from my buds cabin.

[Bridger]

Worked for an outfitter there. You will need a guide as most is wilderness. Check out Bald Mountain Outfitters.

[Bean Counter]

Is it a state law to use an outfitter in the wilderness?

[Crowns]

Yeah.

[Bean Counter]

  damn. No way am I going to pay $5,000-7,000 to hunt 300-330 bulls when I can hunt 350-370 much closer to home home in the Gila for that money.

[bobcat]

Is it a state law to use an outfitter in the wilderness?

Or, I believe you can hunt wilderness if you are with a Wyoming resident.

[Bean Counter]

That works! I'll find one of the 27 people who actually live in Wyoming anf figure out the guy who actually hunts up there. 

[Labs07]

I believe you can hunt the wilderness areas if you have a guide.  That being said I believe a resident of Wyoming can get a guide tag or something along those lines and take you into the wilderness.  The resident does not have to be a licensed guide to do that.

[washelkhunter]

I despise these "guide req'd" laws. They are only in place to guarantee someone elses livelyhood at your expense. You can backpack anywhere you want freely but if youre going to hunt and backpack well, mr. You need a guide. What a load!

[Bean Counter]

I tend to agree. I'm not sure if this is a result of lobbying effort to make the guides money, or if government-knows-best and doesn't want stupid little you getting lost in the wilderness... If its the former then a boycott is in order. If its the latter then I may eventually pony up the cash to hunt them. I'd like to take a mule deer out of that range someday but I think there are better places to get a bull elk.

[6x6in6]

Is it a state law to use an outfitter in the wilderness?

Or, I believe you can hunt wilderness if you are with a Wyoming resident.

As long as the Resident possesses a State issued guide license.  It's pretty easy to obtain one.  I'd hate to see Bean Counter go to the effort and plan a hunt only to have the rug yanked by a minor detail.

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/statutes/titles/Title23/T23CH2AR4.htm

[washelkhunter]

I tend to agree. I'm not sure if this is a result of lobbying effort to make the guides money, or if government-knows-best and doesn't want stupid little you getting lost in the wilderness... If its the former then a boycott is in order. If its the latter then I may eventually pony up the cash to hunt them. I'd like to take a mule deer out of that range someday but I think there are better places to get a bull elk.

It was lobbying, at its worst; pure and simple.

[Guy]

About 12 years ago I got a good 6x6 bull up in the Wind Rivers on a horseback hunt. It was an awesome experience.

[Bean Counter]

Thanks Guy for sharing! I might have to PM you 

[scree]

In 2007 I drew a sheep tag in there. Great country but having to hire a guide sucked (not the guide just he fact that I had to pay for some thing that my friends and I could have acomplished).  I spent a couple of weeks up there and was shocked how few deer/elk we saw up high.   

[KenPCPilot]

I went to college in Wyoming and my roomates father was head of fisheries.  They lived in Dubois and we went up and fed sheep.  Some pretty impressive rams. The Duboi mascot is a ram.  You might try Craigslist Wyo or a Wyoming hunting forum to see if you could get hooked up with somebody.  Some locals cuss the out of state hunters but most earn a living off tourism mostly from hunting.  The area we went was south of town.  Plenty of elk and moose as well.  I would like to save up for an out of state trip.  I have not heard if the wolves have migrated that far south and east.

[longrange7mm]

It is a good area if you have horses and can get a resident to go down to the game and fish and get a temporary  guide permit. It is not a big deal they just need to have a valid hunting license and he can accompany two non residents in wilderness

[JLS]

I went to college in Wyoming and my roomates father was head of fisheries.  They lived in Dubois and we went up and fed sheep.  Some pretty impressive rams. The Duboi mascot is a ram.  You might try Craigslist Wyo or a Wyoming hunting forum to see if you could get hooked up with somebody.  Some locals cuss the out of state hunters but most earn a living off tourism mostly from hunting.  The area we went was south of town.  Plenty of elk and moose as well.  I would like to save up for an out of state trip.  I have not heard if the wolves have migrated that far south and east.

If you go this route I'd be darned sure you don't pay them in any way, and that there is no illusion of impropriety that may appear to be illegal outfitting.

[Bean Counter]

Thanks guys! 

I've been studying the maps and it looks like there are a few places in the range that can be hunted outside the wilderness so I can dis the guide racket.