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