Dr. Vette
Well-Known Member
Dad wants to try a guided elk hunt using rifles again in 2017.
In 5 guided hunts so far he's gotten a spike, and that's all. In these hunts my score is 1 cow and two 5x5s. So far we had 2 hunts in MT with the same outfitter, which was a great place with a great guide, but the wolves have decimated the elk herd, and what was there sits on a huge inaccessible private ranch. Next was a popular NM outfitter near Chama where we and most other hunters never saw an elk, and our guide preferred beer to guiding. 4th hunt was back to MT but more central, where Dad sprained his ankle and didn't have much of a chance; owner/guide had Zero people skills. 5th was a muzzleloader hunt in NM in a high quality unit with a highly regarded outfitter; our guides didn't know how to find elk if they didn't trot out in front of them, and I've never seen Dad as depressed as when we left there last year. Would you believe that all 4 outfitters were checked out/referenced/evaluated before we went?
We're looking for a guided hunt (I'll do self-guided with my son when Dad quits hunting) where there is a reasonable chance of a decent bull elk. Guides who work for you, don't drink and drive or drink and guide, and know how to think outside the box are a definite plus. No horses please, only 4WD or 4x4 transportation. We have 5-6 WY points each that we could use but don't have to, as we would consider MT, WY, CO, NM or even ID. No wolves allowed, so to speak, as we've had those already. Dad needs electricity for his CPAP machine so bunkhouse or similar is preferred over a tent camp, though many tent camps have all-night generators nowadays.
Add-on deer such as CO or MT is nice, but Dad really, really just wants to get a nice elk.
I have a list with some names I have collected from reading reviews on this site and a couple of others but thought I'd check and see if any newer references are available from LRH members.
Thanks for any input you can provide. Let me know if there is any additional info needed to help in our search.
In 5 guided hunts so far he's gotten a spike, and that's all. In these hunts my score is 1 cow and two 5x5s. So far we had 2 hunts in MT with the same outfitter, which was a great place with a great guide, but the wolves have decimated the elk herd, and what was there sits on a huge inaccessible private ranch. Next was a popular NM outfitter near Chama where we and most other hunters never saw an elk, and our guide preferred beer to guiding. 4th hunt was back to MT but more central, where Dad sprained his ankle and didn't have much of a chance; owner/guide had Zero people skills. 5th was a muzzleloader hunt in NM in a high quality unit with a highly regarded outfitter; our guides didn't know how to find elk if they didn't trot out in front of them, and I've never seen Dad as depressed as when we left there last year. Would you believe that all 4 outfitters were checked out/referenced/evaluated before we went?
We're looking for a guided hunt (I'll do self-guided with my son when Dad quits hunting) where there is a reasonable chance of a decent bull elk. Guides who work for you, don't drink and drive or drink and guide, and know how to think outside the box are a definite plus. No horses please, only 4WD or 4x4 transportation. We have 5-6 WY points each that we could use but don't have to, as we would consider MT, WY, CO, NM or even ID. No wolves allowed, so to speak, as we've had those already. Dad needs electricity for his CPAP machine so bunkhouse or similar is preferred over a tent camp, though many tent camps have all-night generators nowadays.
Add-on deer such as CO or MT is nice, but Dad really, really just wants to get a nice elk.
I have a list with some names I have collected from reading reviews on this site and a couple of others but thought I'd check and see if any newer references are available from LRH members.
Thanks for any input you can provide. Let me know if there is any additional info needed to help in our search.
