Wyoming Weather - Bighorns in Oct.

[nickpaolini81]

Heading to Wyoming this October to hunt mulies in the Bighorn National Forest and wanted to get some input on what to expect weather wise from Oct 15 - 20. We will be hunting and most likely camping between 8000 and 9500 feet.

What have you experienced or can you tell me about what I should pack that you feel is a necessity?

• Temperatures?
• Precipitation?
• Storms?

 

[buckbull]

You need to pack everything. Weather is very unpredictable, especially in the mountains. I hunted Elk in the bighorns in 2010 and some days we were in T-shirts at lunch, other days it was sleeting and snowing. The weather is very unpredictable and you need to be prepared.

 

[Kevin Root]

You need to pack everything. Weather is very unpredictable, especially in the mountains. I hunted Elk in the bighorns in 2010 and some days we were in T-shirts at lunch, other days it was sleeting and snowing. The weather is very unpredictable and you need to be prepared.

Agreed, buckbull. Folks all the time are caught off guard, not being prepared enough for a shift in the weather. All it takes is some unpredictable weather change to catch someone off guard. Being caught off guard can be uncomfortable but it also can be deadly. Having clothing layers and gear that will keep you safe and comfortable in all the possible conditions would be wise to bring.

 

[lp2506]

Thanks nickpaolini81 for posting this. I am planning the same hunt. This will be my first time hunting muleys and I need all the help I can get. We are trying to decide whether to bring a small camper or just tent.

 

[Springer]

Tire chains can help get you out of a bad spot. Had to use them in Region F last year to get off the hill.

 

[nickpaolini81]

Currently reading Mike Eastman's book on Mulie Hunting in the High Country (his edition from the 90's, not the new one just yet) He swears by wool. With all the advancement of fabric, does anyone still wear wool as an exterior layer?

Like buckbull said, Eastman writes that weather can switch in the matter of minutes. However he's "coyoting out" and camping on the top. We will be setting up an outfitters tent and 4-wheeling to the top.

 

[buckbull]

Wool is great because it has great insulation properties even when wet. The drawback is the cost and the weight. For a one time hunt I personally wouldn't spend the money on wool. If you plan to hunt mulitple times and use the wool in a deer stand in PA then it might be worth the money. Columbia, Cabelas outfitter series, sleeping indian all have wool garments are varing prices. Autumnwood in bangor PA may be close to where you live but I don't know much about them.

 

[WYrider]

Most of the time it seems that the Bighorns get a good snow (2-3 feet) beginning - mid October. Then it warms up for a few weeks late October early November. Also depends on what unit you are hunting. Some units wont get as much snow. I agree with Buckbull, Bring everything. I bring Snowmobiles and UTV's never know what you might need. ATV, or UTV with tracks would be the way to go. Last year We where able to get to most trails by truck untill Oct 23 when they got about a foot of snow with wind. Made trucks worthless when you have 4 feet of drift to cross. Could get in by ATV though. 3 years ago we had 3-4 feet of fresh snow on the opener. We had sleds. Helped get unstuck lots of atv's and Utv's that year. We where able to hunt the good spots for the first 3 days before the atv's where able to get to the same spots we where on sleds.
A tent would work fine with a stove. Mid Oct. is going to be in the single digits at night no matter what.