Hey everyone, I'm hoping to get some recommendations from folks who have recent, hands-on experience. I've searched this forum going back a few years and have found similar threads from 2015 or so, but a lot can change in a few years especially with the impacts wolves have had in a few areas.
My dad has been hunting elk for 40+ years between the time we've lived in Idaho and Arizona, but has never been able to connect on a bull. And despite being an extremely healthy and active 72, he's starting to feel the fear of time not being on his side. We tried a guided horseback hunt last year in the Frank Church wilderness area of Idaho, we really liked our guide and we both filled our mule deer tags towards the end of the hunt (on the only two bucks seen), but we never even sniffed an elk the entire time. We want to give it another go next year to try and get a respectable bull for him to hang on the wall, and while we may choose the same guide from last year again, I want to do my due diligence for other ideas as well. A few requirements for the hunt:
- Open to hunts in any of the Rocky Mountain states or even Canada (wouldn't rule out Alaska either, although that seems better served for a moose/caribou type trip after he's got his bull).
- Fair hunts only, not interested in a fenced hunt where someone points at a bull after a 10 minute drive down a dirt road. We recognize those are less than guaranteed success, but to us that's the whole point of hunting anyways - otherwise it's just shooting.
- ATV's could be used for transportation purposes, but not "too much" to where it feels like we're road hunting. He can hike for days or do horseback just fine, and have more fun while doing it. No need to sleep in a resort lodge either, outfitter tents suit us just fine - it's about the experience still.
- He's got a lot of bonus points in AZ but is saving them for a draw that will likely come in another 2-3 years. We don't have points in any other state, so looking for states/hunts that leverage outfitter tags such as Idaho does, guaranteed draw tags (could buy a preference point this year in advance of next years draw if needed), landowner tags, etc.
- Everyone wants a monster, but it doesn't have to be a 390" bull or anything crazy that also tends to run $10k+. We paid $5k each for our hunt last year and had a great time. If there's something around $5k-7.5k give or take, that would meet the above interests and give us a good chance at a respectable bull or two to hang on the wall, that would be great!
So what are your suggestions and why? Thanks everyone in advance!
-Aaron
My dad has been hunting elk for 40+ years between the time we've lived in Idaho and Arizona, but has never been able to connect on a bull. And despite being an extremely healthy and active 72, he's starting to feel the fear of time not being on his side. We tried a guided horseback hunt last year in the Frank Church wilderness area of Idaho, we really liked our guide and we both filled our mule deer tags towards the end of the hunt (on the only two bucks seen), but we never even sniffed an elk the entire time. We want to give it another go next year to try and get a respectable bull for him to hang on the wall, and while we may choose the same guide from last year again, I want to do my due diligence for other ideas as well. A few requirements for the hunt:
- Open to hunts in any of the Rocky Mountain states or even Canada (wouldn't rule out Alaska either, although that seems better served for a moose/caribou type trip after he's got his bull).
- Fair hunts only, not interested in a fenced hunt where someone points at a bull after a 10 minute drive down a dirt road. We recognize those are less than guaranteed success, but to us that's the whole point of hunting anyways - otherwise it's just shooting.
- ATV's could be used for transportation purposes, but not "too much" to where it feels like we're road hunting. He can hike for days or do horseback just fine, and have more fun while doing it. No need to sleep in a resort lodge either, outfitter tents suit us just fine - it's about the experience still.
- He's got a lot of bonus points in AZ but is saving them for a draw that will likely come in another 2-3 years. We don't have points in any other state, so looking for states/hunts that leverage outfitter tags such as Idaho does, guaranteed draw tags (could buy a preference point this year in advance of next years draw if needed), landowner tags, etc.
- Everyone wants a monster, but it doesn't have to be a 390" bull or anything crazy that also tends to run $10k+. We paid $5k each for our hunt last year and had a great time. If there's something around $5k-7.5k give or take, that would meet the above interests and give us a good chance at a respectable bull or two to hang on the wall, that would be great!
So what are your suggestions and why? Thanks everyone in advance!
-Aaron
