Colorado Elk Outfitter recommendation

[Bjfoil]

Trying to research and find a good outfitter for a nonresident wilderness pack in or the (best outfit to get away from crowds of hunters and find elk) bow or rifle hunt in Colorado. Will be my first elk hunt . Very experienced whitetail bow hunter . I just started applying last year so I’m lowest on points . Private or public land, I can afford a really good outfitter and hunt. Researching to try and make it the best experience as possible , would like to elk hunt every year. Can anyone make any good recommendations for an elk outfitter in Colorado?

 

[11boo]

I think it’s called bowsite.com, they have reviews. Lots of them.

 

[greenomics]

I hunted with J Bar H last October. I recommend them. Went 2 for 6 on bull tags in camp in what was a below average year for them. You might temper your expectations on horses and an outfitter getting away from crowds.

 

[11boo]

I hunted with J Bar H last October. I recommend them. Went 2 for 6 on bull tags in camp in what was a below average year for them. You might temper your expectations on horses and an outfitter getting away from crowds.

I have not gone guided, but his post is on point in my experience.
There is a place I like that we access via a bad Jeep road and set up camp.
An outfitter packs people in on horse via the other side of the mountain.
Last time I was there I ran into them , they were not Far from our camp.
The hunters were chatty and wanted to know how we got into the “wilderness” without horses. I explained that it was not wilderness, just nat forest and there is a Jeep road right back there. They did seem disappointed and the guide was pissy.
They were just taken to ground blind spots, dropped off with a sack lunch and told to sit there till he came back.
Hopefully you continue get some good suggestions here. There is wilderness out here obviously, and everyone I know who hunts it does well, and they always run into guided hunters.

 

[elkliver]

I archery hunted a Colorado OTC unit a few years ago. We stayed mobile and hunted both outside and inside wilderness.... hiking in each day. Ran into some guys from back east who had hired an outfitter to supply a drop camp and pack them into the wilderness. They said it was a miniature City of Tents with hundreds of hunters and they hunted there a couple of days, then pulled out of the wilderness to get away from the crowds and finish their trip.

PS I got into elk about a 1/2 hour after talking to these guys.... You not have to be 6 miles deep to have good hunting and wilderness is not always better

 

[Embrkwld]

I archery hunted a Colorado OTC unit a few years ago. We stayed mobile and hunted both outside and inside wilderness.... hiking in each day. Ran into some guys from back east who had hired an outfitter to supply a drop camp and pack them into the wilderness. They said it was a miniature City of Tents with hundreds of hunters and they hunted there a couple of days, then pulled out of the wilderness to get away from the crowds and finish their trip.

PS I got into elk about a 1/2 hour after talking to these guys.... You not have to be 6 miles deep to have good hunting and wilderness is not always better

100% agree. We’ve paid some money to hunt outfitters/private land with not much better experience than doing it on our own in OTC. It’s a crapshoot. Unless it’s a top notch operation (which is usually unaffordable for most) I’d save your money and go hunt DIY.

 

[HornPorn]

Trying to research and find a good outfitter for a nonresident wilderness pack in or the (best outfit to get away from crowds of hunters and find elk) bow or rifle hunt in Colorado. Will be my first elk hunt . Very experienced whitetail bow hunter . I just started applying last year so I’m lowest on points . Private or public land, I can afford a really good outfitter and hunt. Researching to try and make it the best experience as possible , would like to elk hunt every year. Can anyone make any good recommendations for an elk outfitter in Colorado?

 

[Hnthrdr]

You got coin hit up the hill ranch… might have to wait a few years

 

[Andrewlonghi]

Save your money and go OTC, you'll enjoy the experience better.

 

[Houseminer]

I will throw Samuelson Outfitters in the mix as well as Dave Parry Outfitters. I haven't been able to get on website for Dave. I used to ski patrol and play ball against many of the guides from both camps. That was years ago when I worked for Samuelson. Probably all younger crew now and the Troublesome basin was decimated in the "fire" a few years back. Probably chest high grass and new growth everywhere, not to mention deadfall. These guys hunt Unit 18, maybe even farther west now, as my information is dated!