Am looking for advice on a outfitter for Trophy Elk . Not a fence hunt! Looking for a 300 plus bull. We really like doing horseback tent camp hunts. But we are both getting up there in age and for my wife it is getting very difficult to do. Would not be totally against hunting out of a lodge or cabin if that's our only option. Have hunted Idaho Colorado and Wyoming already. Really enjoyed the open country of Wyoming doing spot and stalk. Didn't really care for the dark timber of Colorado. Was more like whitetail hunting back home. Thought about doing archery or Muzzleloader. Would like to experience the rut. But not a deal breaker. If you have any first hand knowledge would appreciate your input. Thinking of doing in 23 or 24.
Trophy Elk in lower 48
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340Wby-4-everything
Well-Known Member
If money is no object, NM, AZ, UT in that order. You didn't say what price range?
Bucklowery
Well-Known Member
Montana offers a early season rifle hunt for rut not sure about trophy opportunities
Thanks
Buck
Thanks
Buck
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
As a non-resident, the chances of drawing an AZ elk tag in 1-2 years is about .01%. If you want a rut tag....make that .001%.
Unless you buy a commissioner's tag. Deep pockets are all that takes. Like $350-400k+.
White Mtn Apache, San Carlos Apache, or Walapai tribe hunts are a viable choice. Some absolute monsters come off those every year.
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The Oregonian
Well-Known Member
I think you can get an idea of what is available by looking at worldwide trophy adventures' website. You can do cow hunt for maybe $1500-ish, up to $30k or so. Size of animals, whether or not a landowner tag is included, how fancy the lodge is or tent isn't, etc.
I don't like WTA but they have the largest inventory online if you want to do research.
I don't like WTA but they have the largest inventory online if you want to do research.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
If you can afford it look at the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Ruidoso NM.
It's not high fenced but they have some absolute monster bulls. The tribe has done an outstanding job of managing their deer and elk for fifty plus years.
Thanks for the help guys. No we are not rich so yes price is a factor. But being both 58 years old am willing to spend the money. We are going to the Arctic Circle in 24. I am hunting Dall Sheep and the wife is going for Grizzly. That set us back 34g
. It is what we love to do and life is getting short for the hunting we love to do! And my wife shot a 300+ bull on our last hunt and I am tired of hearing about it 
. Honestly I couldn't be happier for her. But still I want a bigger one 
. It is what we love to do and life is getting short for the hunting we love to do! And my wife shot a 300+ bull on our last hunt and I am tired of hearing about it . Honestly I couldn't be happier for her. But still I want a bigger one 
I'm not sure on your budget but it's not hard to get into a private hunt in NM that will get you into the 300 class with chances of larger.
I had a hunt set up with Keith Williams in western nm just north of the gila for $8500 lodging and meals included. They range from that to an average high of $12k for decent bulls. Premium units or property can double that.
Compass west has a huge ranch in unit 34 which is just south of the mescalero. They kill some good bulls and can accommodate any range of hunter and weapon.
compasswestoutfitters.com
I hunted public last year with Top Notch outfitters and have nothing but good to say about them. They have a lot of private ground in unit 37 north of capitan and kill some great bulls.
www.topnotchoutfitters.com
The good part of nm is private land rifle can start as early as 10-1 which means you're still in the rut.
My public hunt was 11-1 and we passed on a few badly broken bulls.
I had a hunt set up with Keith Williams in western nm just north of the gila for $8500 lodging and meals included. They range from that to an average high of $12k for decent bulls. Premium units or property can double that.
Compass west has a huge ranch in unit 34 which is just south of the mescalero. They kill some good bulls and can accommodate any range of hunter and weapon.
Private Ranch Elk Hunting Unit 34 New Mexico - Compass West Outfitters
Private Ranch Elk Hunting Unit 34 New Mexico
compasswestoutfitters.com
I hunted public last year with Top Notch outfitters and have nothing but good to say about them. They have a lot of private ground in unit 37 north of capitan and kill some great bulls.
Home - Top Notch Outfitters
TOP NOTCH OUTFITTERS The Premier New Mexico Hunting Outfitter. About Us Book A Hunt Contact Us About a Hunt Today! HUNTING OUTFITTER IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO Learn About Us Learn About Us Learn more about our team! LEARN MORE Private Land Elk Hunts Private Land Elk hunts Exclusive access to 70,000...
www.topnotchoutfitters.com
The good part of nm is private land rifle can start as early as 10-1 which means you're still in the rut.
My public hunt was 11-1 and we passed on a few badly broken bulls.
Call and talk with Cody at Freedom Outfitters in New Mexico you will not be disappointed I dont know if he is doing any tent camps but it will be a great hunt
Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
2nd for Keith Williams. I have hunted with him at least a half dozen times.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
That gives me the impression that The Mescalero Apache Reservation might be an ideal place for you to look. Give them a call and see what they can offer you.Thanks for the help guys. No we are not rich so yes price is a factor. But being both 58 years old am willing to spend the money. We are going to the Arctic Circle in 24. I am hunting Dall Sheep and the wife is going for Grizzly. That set us back 34g
Wild rose, have you hunted the mescalero? If so, curious as to your thoughts about the hunt quality hunt. I know the bulls are there but a trophy hunt is going to run $15k. I've read good and bad about how you're treated on the hunt except for those spending $15 on a trophy.
You can hunt a freak for $2500 and a management for $5.
A benifit to them is rifle hunting in September.
I stayed at the hotel-casino in mid September last year while visiting Ruidoso with my bride.
These in the center of the pic were on day 1 of the second hunt, they're management bulls.
Those to the left of center is about half of what they had on site from week one.
Nothing in the trophy side looked to be over 320-30 which is a good bull for the area. I know theres bigger out there but i hear its hard to find a guide willing to work hard enough to find it. From what I hear.
I also hear it's a gentleman's hunt. Lots of glassing from the truck then back to the inn of the mountain gods for food, drink and gambling if you like. They also have a small area for hunters with campers.
You can hunt a freak for $2500 and a management for $5.
A benifit to them is rifle hunting in September.
I stayed at the hotel-casino in mid September last year while visiting Ruidoso with my bride.
These in the center of the pic were on day 1 of the second hunt, they're management bulls.
Those to the left of center is about half of what they had on site from week one.
Nothing in the trophy side looked to be over 320-30 which is a good bull for the area. I know theres bigger out there but i hear its hard to find a guide willing to work hard enough to find it. From what I hear.
I also hear it's a gentleman's hunt. Lots of glassing from the truck then back to the inn of the mountain gods for food, drink and gambling if you like. They also have a small area for hunters with campers.
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WildRose
Well-Known Member
Many moons ago my dad and I did and for a long time we had family on the reservation so I spent a fair bit of time crawling all over it in my younger days.
I also frquently drove between Ruidoso and El Paso when they were redoing the highway and there was a 20 plus mile detour that ran through the reservation on a tinly little two lane that was barely wide enough to be called such.
On more than one occasion I had to lock it up to keep from plowing into elk and at night we never exceeded 35mph because the deer and elk were so thick and had pretty much absolutely no fear of man or our vehicles.
We also used to do quite a bit of fishing and backpacking on the areas surrounding the reservation and the abundance of Elk in there always had me in awe.
15k may seem like a lot of money but think of what it costs to do a DIY hunt and consider most folks won't be successful on a trophy bull even one out of five trips.
Of course the best of the USF&W and state managed lands with the richest game become more expensive and harder to draw for every year so that's a consideration as well.
As for the guides, unless something has changed the only people allowed to guide on the reservation are tribal member residents and my experiences with them were all extremely positive. Dad never came home without filling his tags when he hunted there.
That's good to hear. I'm thinking of a management hunt with them in the future. I feel compared to most private places a high 260-300 at 5k is a pretty good deal.
And I agree, that place is covered up in elk. I wouldn't want to drive much of it at night.
If you look closely at the at the group of 4 heads in the center of the pic plus the one being hosed off, those are some darn nice bulls for management hunts...imo.
And I agree, that place is covered up in elk. I wouldn't want to drive much of it at night.
If you look closely at the at the group of 4 heads in the center of the pic plus the one being hosed off, those are some darn nice bulls for management hunts...imo.
