Need Guided Elk Hunt

[bigtusker]

I'm looking for a reputable guide, somewhere in Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Wyoming or the Dakotas.

This will be for a mixed group of hunters, a couple younger in good shape and 1 or 2 older guys that get around O.K. but can't be hiking the hills all day. A 5 to 7 day fully guided hunt with meals and lodging is preferred. I have checked the outfitter and guide reviews and dont see anyone with more than 1 review.
This would be for a rifle hunt. I'm sure there's someone out there with a good recommendation for me. Someone with firsthand knowledge of the outfit. This hunt is not for me but a friend who trusts what I will tell her so give me some honest info. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey Chop... is she looking for bulls or will a cow hunt do.

The guide I used in CO has a pretty good operation, but his bull hunts can be pretty demanding, and he won't lie to you about it. However, one of the things he does love to do is take kids and older folks out for cow elk which can be an easier hunt. Tags are over the counter in the second, third, and fourth season (they don't always hunt season four, depending on weather).

I can put you in touch with him if you want.

 

[bigtusker]

She's definitely looking for a bull hunt.

 

[Speckmisser]

Kewl... he's the only one I know first hand. Wish I could offer better.

I'm sure some of these other guys must know of an operation that meets her needs.

 

[SDHNTR]

http://www.backcountryoutfitter.net/ Not cheap, but good food, comfortable camp and on a beautiful ranch with more elk than you could ever possibly imagine. If you truly want a hunt with a lot of animals to keep everyone entertained, this is the place. Not really known for monsters as this part of CO is more about quantity rather than quality, but there are lots of decent 5 pts and a smaller 6 is very possible if you are selective. You can hunt as hard as you want or they also have some blind setups for those who don't get around as well. Tags are OTC.

 

[bigtusker]

SD, have you been there yourself?

 

[SDHNTR]

Yes. See email.

 

[SDHNTR]

Story copied from original post back in 2001.




We were in Colorado, just east of Hayden, on my first elk hunt. We got into camp Friday morning after driving all night and took a much needed nap.

We scouted Friday night and saw tons of elk. This really got the blood pumping. Bugles were heard all through the night making it hard to sleep.

Up at 4 a.m., ate, then headed out. My buddy and I split up with our guides. A short while later my buddy had a small 5x4 down. He shot it at 25 yards in the midst of a fight with another bull. He shot the bigger bull right out from under the other bull. The other bull stood over his dead opponent and then pranced around like he was one bad SOB.

I saw a few good bulls that morning but either too far away or in timber and had no shot. Later that morning we packed my buddy's bull back to camp.

I went out that evening to the same spot where we had seen some good bulls go into the timber. We snuck up and started to glass. We immediately saw a few cows coming out of a draw across a canyon. There was a big-bodied elk hanging up in the timber that we thought had to be a bull. Sure enough, he finally stepped out. He looked to be a good heavy 5x5, a definite shooter in this area. He took a few steps and stopped, this was just enough for us to see his antlers but a big aspen covered his vitals. I thought the bull was way over 400 yards but my guide ranged him at 328 with the rangefinder. I watched him through my scope for 15 minutes until he stepped from behind the tree.

In a prone position with my rifle resting over a backpack I felt rock-solid and confident. He stepped out from behind the aspens, I put the cross hairs on the top of his shoulder and BOOM! The bull made no visible reaction to the shot but I immediately told my guide, "That felt good."

Elk were running everywhere and we watched the bull run down a draw with his cows. When the cows ran back up the draw on the other side, Mr. Bull was not with them. A few seconds later we heard two groans and knew he had to be down somewhere. We waited 20 minutes and headed into the canyon. We found him dead only 20 yards from where he had been hit. It turned out he was only a 5x4, but with pretty heavy mass. No trophy for sure, but for my first bull I couldn't be happier.

The shot was right off a ballistic chart — about 7-8 inches low from the point of aim. The bull was quartering to me a bit and the bullet went though the shoulder, tore up a lung, the aorta, and the liver, and lodged under the hide just behind the ribs on the off side. That slug went through 3 feet of elk.

My rifle is a Winchester Model 70 .30-06. The Hornady Light Mag 180-grain BTSP did an absolutely perfect job. Nice mushroom and without weighing it, I'd say it retained at least 85% of its weight.

A drag downhill, lots of heaving and ho'ing, and he was in the truck. We let it hang for a couple days then picked up the meat on Tuesday morning. Then we headed down to Durango to stay with a friend. Hunted ducks that night and shot a limit in 15 minutes. Ducks were in the air like gnats, we couldn't load fast enough. Absolutely unbelievable.

 

[rwchunter]

I don’t have any first hand experience with any elk outfitters, but you may want to look at this site to check out any outfitters you may be looking at. There are lots of reviews on outfitters from many different areas. Good luck

Outfitter Reviews

 

[david.bonini]

In 2003 I went to Horse Creek Outfitters in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

http://www.horsecreekranch.com/

It was my first out of state guided hunt. I paid about $4500 but it was worth every penny. The outfit is run by a man named Jerry McCallister. He has a first class operation.

You meet at his ranch and then travel by horseback for a couple of hours into the wilderness to the base camp.

They have first class wall tents with wood burning stoves, a mess tent with a top notch chef and the best guides in the state.

You will hunt every day by horse back. Two hunters to one guide is the rule but sometimes you will pair up with 2 or 3 guides and multiple hunters to work a drive.

The guides really worked their rears off for us and everyone in our group (6 people) all scored. We got 5 nice bulls and one large cow Elk.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

If you would like to know more, email me.

My daughter started hunting last year and we are saving until she turns 18 (5 more years) and we are going to go back.

Another plus was we saw some of the biggest mule deer and moose I have ever seen. It was AWESOME.

Again, I highly reccomend this outfit.

PS - They always have a booth at the International Sportsmen's Show in Sacramento. You should stop by and check them out.

 

[wyemjohnson]

I can vouch for the Horse Creek area as well, since I live in JH last 6 years. The Little Horse Creek area burned this past summer, so the new growth could help the area a lot. The game and fish biologists hunt in this area every year, so that might say something too. The area does hold large mule deer, but the mule deer are declining after last years hard winter. Very few big bucks were shot or seen this fall. Another outfitter that I have used here 3 times, is Darwin Ranch www.darwinranch.com. They are located on the edge of the Gros Ventre Wilderness (22 miles in on a FS road). They have an inholding and you stay in a rustic lodge and horseback hunt out of it. Still get get good meals and comfy beds and hot shower each day. The area is beautiful and you will see elk, but teh area is not known for big bulls. I shot 3 elk, 4x4, 6x6, and a cow.
the 6x6 scored around 270, and I have not seen any elk bigger while up there. This hunt is good for beginners and older hunters. The cost is in the low 3K's for a 7 day hunt, you will need to apply for the WY special non-res elk tag if you want good odds to draw (80%), it is pricy too ~$900. THis is also good mule deer area.
I will call you in a day or so about the hog hunts.
Eric

 

[bigtusker]

I'll need to add New Mexico to the list now. They tell me they want to hunt there. HELP

 

[forkehornreggie]

I can give a great first hand review of a Montana ranch where I killed a 6x6 archery but they do mostly rifle hunts. Costs approx 5k.

 

[wyemjohnson]

For New Mexico, try San Francisco River Outfitters in the Gila. Archery hunts have the best chance to draw a tag with around 60-80% odds, while rifle hunts are around 15% odds. They will pack you in and away from other hunters. They take some big bulls every year. I have not heard how they did in 2006.
Eric