Wyoming Hunting Season Preparation — The 60-Day Checklist

The Hunt Starts Before the Hunt

The hunters who fill tags in the Bighorn Mountains aren't the ones who show up on opening day and hope for the best. They're the ones who spent 60 days before the season studying maps, conditioning their legs, sighting their rifle, and planning logistics down to the game processor they'll use. This guide is the pre-season checklist that separates a hunt from a camping trip with a rifle.

The Bighorn Mountains near Sheridan, Wyoming offer some of the best elk and mule deer hunting in the state. Over 1.1 million acres of the Bighorn National Forest is public land, with hunt areas that range from alpine meadows above 9,000 feet to timbered draws and river bottoms. The terrain is serious — 8–12 miles of daily hiking with 2,000+ feet of elevation change is normal. Preparation isn't optional.

Days Out	Priority	Action Items
60 days	Licensing	Confirm tags, stamps, and hunt area dates. Print backup copies.
50 days	Fitness	Begin stair climbing with weighted pack. Target 8–10 miles/day capacity.
40 days	Gear	Clean and inspect all equipment. Order replacements for worn items.
30 days	Sighting	Zero rifle at hunting distances. Practice from field positions.
21 days	Scouting	Study topo maps. Identify water, saddles, transition zones. Check land access.
14 days	Logistics	Book lodging, reserve game processor, plan food and fuel.
7 days	Final prep	Pack gear, test all electronics, confirm reservations, check weather.
Day before	Arrival	Arrive in Sheridan. Drive hunt area roads. Verify access points.

Licensing & Tags

Wyoming's hunting license system runs through the Game and Fish Department at wgfd.wyo.gov. Nonresidents apply during the annual draw period (typically January–May) with results announced in June. Leftover licenses go on sale in July — some Bighorn elk areas have leftover tags, others do not. Check early.

Required for all big game: valid hunting license + species tag + conservation stamp. Archery-only hunters need an archery stamp. If hunting on national forest land, no additional permit is required beyond your state license.

Physical Conditioning

The Bighorn Mountains are not gentle terrain. Elk hunts regularly involve 8–12 miles per day at elevations between 7,000 and 10,000 feet, with pack-outs that add 60–100 pounds to your body weight on the return trip. If you can't comfortably hike 10 miles with a 40-pound pack and 2,000 feet of gain, start training now.

The minimum program: Stair climbing with a weighted pack, 3–4 times per week, for 6 weeks before your hunt. Start at 20 pounds and add 5 pounds per week. Supplement with hiking on trails if available. If training at sea level, add 20% to your target fitness level — altitude will take that back.

The Bighorns don't care about your gym numbers. They care whether you can climb 2,000 feet with a pack on your back, glass a basin for an hour without getting restless, and hike 10 miles back to camp after the shot. Train accordingly.

Gear Preparation

Rifle: Clean, inspect, and sight in at the distances you'll be shooting — 200–400 yards is typical for Bighorn elk. Practice from field positions: kneeling, prone, off a pack. Range shooting from a bench doesn't translate to field accuracy.

Optics: Quality binoculars (10x42 minimum) and a spotting scope if you're glassing open basins. Clean all optics and check for fog or damage. Bring lens wipes and a backup pair of compact binoculars.

Clothing: Layer system for temperatures ranging from 20°F at dawn to 60°F at midday. Wool or synthetic base layers (never cotton). Waterproof outer shell. Quality boots broken in over at least 50 miles before the hunt.

Category	Items	Notes
Weapon	Rifle, ammunition (40+ rounds), cleaning kit	Sight in at altitude if possible
Optics	Binoculars, spotting scope, rangefinder	10x42 binos minimum
Navigation	Topo maps, compass, GPS (with backup batteries)	Don't rely on phone GPS alone
Clothing	Layering system, rain gear, extra socks, gloves	Wool/synthetic only — no cotton
Camp	Pack, sleeping bag (0°F rated), pad, shelter	For backcountry hunters
Safety	First aid kit, bear spray, emergency beacon	SAT communicator recommended
Processing	Game bags, knives, rope, headlamp	Game bags are required in Wyoming

Scouting Your Hunt Area

Download USGS topo maps of your hunt area and study the terrain digitally before you arrive. Look for: water sources (elk need water daily), saddles and ridgelines (travel corridors), north-facing timber (bedding areas), and transition zones between timber and meadow (feeding areas at dawn/dusk).

Check the PLPW (Public Land/Private Water) maps at the Wyoming Game and Fish website — many Bighorn areas mix public national forest land with private ranch land. Know the boundaries before you hunt. Some ranches participate in the Wyoming Access Yes program, which provides walk-in access for hunting. Check the current list.

Where to Stay

Wyo Stays manages hunting-friendly properties across Sheridan County — from mountain cabins near Bighorn trailheads to downtown properties with gear storage. Many of our properties have boot rooms, game-hanging access, and the kind of kitchen where you can prep meals for the week. Book direct at book.wyostays.com for hunting season rates.

Hunting in the Bighorns is earned, not given. The mountains are big, the elk are smart, and the weather doesn't care about your schedule. That's what makes it worth doing — and why preparation is everything.