Casper Area Convention & Visitors Bureau - (800) 852-1889
HUNTING ADVENTURE GROUP
Before you head out to commune with mother nature, be sure to hit EGGINGTON'S RESTAURANT for breakfast! Whether you're craving an omelette with extra mushrooms and onions, or just need a strong cup of joe to get you going, you'll leave satisfied. Not sure you have everything you need for the hunt? Check out ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISCOUNT SPORTS to see if there are any "doo-dads" or gadgets that you just can't live without.
If your hunting adventure hasn't yet begun, make sure to visit the WYOMING GAME AND FISH regional office in Casper to ask any last minute questions about rules, safety or any other queries you might have. You can also investigate several local outfitters for future guided trips, such as AJ OUTFITTERS or BJ OUTFITTERS.
If you're feeling the pangs of hunger, head downtown to design your own lunch at the SANDWICH BAR. After a custom-made turkey on Rye, wander around downtown with gift shopping in mind! The folks at SONIC RAINBOW will help you find the kind of music your kids will actually thank you for, and AYRES JEWELRY CO. just might hold the perfect treasure for your wife. Then, head to ZIKER TAXIDERMY to see just how you'll be mounting proof of your upcoming successful hunt!
To rev up for the evening, begin at DORN'S FIRESIDE. Whether you cozy up to the bar, or enjoy a table in the dining area, a steak and a beer will send you happily on your way. See if there are any local sports tournaments in town and root for the hometown team! Or, if a good flick is more your style, go to www.wyomovies.com to see what's playing at the CASPER MOVIE PALACES. Wind down with a nightcap at the historic WONDER BAR, then nod off with visions of antelope dancing in your head!
Just because the lakes are iced over, don't expect the fishing opportunities around Casper to freeze! Both Alcova Lake and Pathfinder Reservoir are great places to exercise your passion when the weather's cold. Black Beach, on the back side of Alcova, holds an abundance of both walleye and trout. Bishop's Point and the dam area around Pathfinder are also sweet spots to explore.
Before you head out, you can check out Sportsman's Warehouse and Sloane's General Store for everything you'll need-from your fishing license to a daily fishing report.
For fishermen, winter's main event is the Pathfinder Boat and Fishing Club's 18th Annual Hawg Ice Fishing Derby. Held in late January/early February, fishermen and their families gather on the shores of Pathfinder or Alcova to compete for large cash purses, door prizes and prizes for the largest and second-largest fish caught each hour! Bundle up and try your hand at coaxing a hefty rainbow trout out from the ice, or witness the action from your warm and cozy vehicle. There is an entry fee, and tickets can typically be purchased at several of the sporting goods stores in Casper.
PRONGHORNS - THE FASTEST MAMMAL IN NORTH AMERICA actually exceed the human population in the State of Wyoming.
According to Adventure Guide Sy Gilliland, this is part of what makes the Casper area tops for world-class pronghorn antelope, mule deer and elk hunting. Gilliland, owner of S-N-S Outfitter and Guide Service knows that you don't have to travel far from Casper for an epic hunting adventure.
"For the pronghorn situation, you can't go wrong anywhere in Natrona County," he says. "There's also a lot of opportunity west of Casper because there's more public land. Mule deer, of course, are anywhere around rough country - the Bates Hole area and the second range of the Hat Six area. And there's some real good prairie mule deer hunting, too, just northeast of Casper in the sand-hills."
Of course, a successful hunt should also be a relaxing hunt, which is why an outfitting service makes sense. "When a client arranges a hunt through an outfitter, it's a worry-free event," says Gilliland. "The license application is taken care of, as well as all of the scheduling. If a client is flying in, we'll pick them up at the airport and take them to the motel they've reserved or the camp they've arranged. We'll even suggest places for their clients to eat and shop."
Perhaps most importantly, a professional outfitter will also take care of the gear a client will need. "Generally, we'll send them out a complete equipment list, right down to the types of socks to bring, how many pairs of pants and coats. Once they get here, they'll want to hit Rocky Mountain Discount Sports and Sportsmans Warehouse."
The advantages of having a guide are even more apparent during the hunt. "The guide is going to provide a vehicle; he's going to provide all the meals and a place to hunt," Gilliland says. "And of course, we're knowledgeable on the local game laws because they do vary from state to state." Gilliland also points out that Casper offers a full range of post-hunt services. "After the animals are harvested, they can be taken to any local meat processor or taxidermist. They can even accommodate shipping of the final product for hunters, so that everything is handled from start to finish."
Planning your next hunt in Casper can be a life-changing experience. As Gilliland puts it: "When you go home, you'll remember all the things that happened on the hunt-the sunrises and the sunsets, and herds of antelope going across the prairie-the memories are just phenomenal." And with Casper's variety of game animals, beautiful terrain, and the complete dedication to service and satisfaction, everyone from the weekend gamer to United States Senators find Casper to be an ideal hunting destination. But according to Gilliland, no matter who you are, one thing is certain: "In hunting camp, we're all equals."
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