New Mexico-Wilderness Outfitter

larrbo · Dec 11, 2006

Who has experience hunting with a outfitter for elk in New Mexico? I really want to hunt wilderness areas with horses. There are alot of outfitters online and they all want to tell you what you want to hear. Anyone had a good hunt with someone in New Mexico?

lchcguide · Dec 11, 2006

Stay away from Ross Johnson. Not sure what the name of the outfitting business is that he runs. I had a friend book a hunt with him two years ago for around $7000, and when my friend arrived, Ross had no guides to take him but offered him the area to hunt for the same money. My buddy got his money back after a heated battle. I have heard that this is not the first time that it has happened.

Matt Gilstrap has Extreme Hunting Adventures. I think he advertises some hunts on Ebay. I know that he hunts unit 16B which is the Gila Wilderness. As far as I know he has pretty good success rates. I know him very well and could put you in contact if you would like.

CAelknuts · Dec 11, 2006

If you're looking for a horse hunt, and want to hunt a wilderness, you should talk to Tom Klumker of San Francisco River Outfitters. He is located in Glenwood, New Mexico, just south of the Gila Wilderness. Tom does pack-in horse hunts in unit 16B, and is very good. I hunted with him once, had a very good hunt (shot a 385+ bull!) and look forward to someday hunting with him again.

Here is his website, tell him Dan Sozzi recommended him to you.
www.huntinginnewmexico.com

Jdan9 · Dec 11, 2006

Be careful with Tom Klumker, four of us hunted with him about 5 years ago, it was one of the worst hunts I had ever been on, we got it handed to us pretty good.
jd

larrbo · Dec 11, 2006

That's why I am posting about finding a good honest outfitter. They seem to be few and far between. I went with an outfit in New Mexico this year that way overbooked what they could handle. I lucked out and killed a nice bull, but felt like the hunt was misrepresented to me. I also think one year an outfitter can do a good job, then things can go down the next over several different issues.

nmbullfighter · Dec 11, 2006

my friend and his dad do some good hunts on horseback. check them out at http://www.ralstonsoutfitters.com/

chasendeer · Dec 11, 2006

My friends have hunted with them 2 times. They come highly reccomened. There photo is the 3 bulls second row on the left an there web page.
Jay

couesmaster · Dec 11, 2006

i know a guide for sanfrancisco river outfitters and they do a real good pack in on horses.

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Dec 12, 2006

GT NUNN , Frontier Outfitters. He hunts unit 16B and knows it like the back of his hand. He is all cowboy and works his butt off for his clients , and he does know this unit well. He has good mules and runs an old fashioned hunting camp and won't blow smoke up your booty. Elk are were you find em , and he finds em , the rest is up to the shooter....

krinkansas · Dec 13, 2006

I hunted with Roger Gabaldon (Tierra Encantada Outfitters) this year and they were great. They have good stock (they don't buck you off). The guides have been elk guides for 20 years. They know elk and they know the terrain they hunt. They do hunts in the Valle Vidal, but mostly they hunt in the southern part of the state. Food and tents were great.

Texas_Hunter · Dec 13, 2006

Kennedy Hunting Services - best outfitter I know. Doesn't advertise, high number of repeat clientele, and quality animals. He takes 40 elk hunters a year and has something like 100 permits. Great hunt for quality elk.

www.huntinfo.com/kennedy.htm

284win · Dec 19, 2006

Bash one outfitter and promote another?

I worked for Ross for a number of years and never witnessed any situations like you describe. There are stories all over this state (mostly second hand, a friend of a friend) about Ross....

I guess people talk when you are sucessful. Who did the govenors tag bid winner choose to hunt with??

Ross knows how to harvets big bulls, hands down.

lchcguide · Dec 20, 2006

I know that Ross takes big bulls every year. But the service that my buddy got was un-called for. Being a guide myself for deer and antelope, and being around the outfitting business for a number of years now, I know that when we book a guided hunt, we make sure that we have enough guides to accomodate the hunter. We have back-ups that are available and on-call in case of an emergency or something comes up.

I am sure that Ross does not do this to hardly any people, but I do know that it happened once to my buddy, and I will guarantee that it will not happen to me.

Ross gets tags on one of the ranches that I guide deer hunters on, and I have had the opportunity to meet the man. He is a very nice man, and he knows his business when it comes to elk hunting. But one incident like my buddy had ruins it forever for me.

284win · Dec 20, 2006

What ranch to you guide on?

Hell, we may know each other.......

CJW

larrbo · Dec 21, 2006

First of all thanks for all of the input on guides in New Mexico. But from what I read here it can still be a "crap shoot" on your hunt. Realize some of us NR hunters can wait years to draw that Gila elk tag, and do I want to take the chance that this is the year your guide "overbooked" what they can handle? That is why I continue to search for someone I can trust and I know what I am getting in advance. Thanks again.