Manti LE Elk. Guide needed?

2pointer · Mar 14, 2018

I have a good shot at drawing the late Manti LE elk tag this year. I am 2-3 hours away from the unit. Seeing as it takes sooo, long to draw a decent tag, I am considering hiring a guide to make the most out of my chances to tag a big bull.

Those of you who have experience on this unit, what do you think? Is it necessary that time of year to hire a guide?

I know that a lot of you are going to say things like "the experience is not just about the kill, it's about the time spent scouting,,, etc". I get that, and am taking that into consideration too.

This post is asking specifically about this unit, this time of year.

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,

2Pointer
www.jglowblinds.com

Deerlove · Mar 14, 2018

Don't have advice for you on the guide or not, but look for low country you can hunt effectively. I hunted just north of I70 a few years back and struggled in the P@j terrain.

BUGLEnmIN · Mar 14, 2018

Idk how much experience you have hunting elk, that would be a key factor in hiring a guide or not. 2-3 hours away isn't far at all . We are 5 hours away from our 1st choice elk unit and spent many miles on the road and on the trail. Those tags are hard to come by so my suggestion is do everything you can to make it count. Good luck.

goofyelk · Mar 14, 2018

2pointer,
Sent you a PM

http://www.monstermuleys.i
nfo/dcforum/User_files/4aec49a65c565954.jpg

2pointer · Mar 14, 2018

Goofyelk, I do not see it. Did you send it?

Thanks,

2Pointer
www.jglowblinds.com

littlebighorn · Mar 14, 2018

I archery hunt spike/cow elk on the Manti almost every year and we do it on our own. It's big country and there are plenty of elk in it. But there is also plenty of competition and the big bulls can get tough to find if you don't know where to look.
If you are after a bull of a lifetime, then by all means you want to hire a good guide. I don't know any personally but according to this site there are several with good reputations.

One other consideration. Big bulls are often found down in deep nasty canyons and if you get one down you'd best have some help to get it out...guide or otherwise. Best of luck

2pointer · Mar 14, 2018

Littlebighorn, good point about not trying to go solo. Thanks for the info.

2Pointer
www.jglowblinds.com

johnnycake · Mar 15, 2018

That late hunt can be incredibly tough. The weather will have a massive effect as to whether you are hunting up in the aspens on the ridgetops or down in the junipers. If you are looking into guides, I've hunted with High Top Outfitters in other units for bison, cougar, and elk. My experiences with them have been very positive. I know they have a couple guides, like Brett Guymon, who really know the Manti well. If it were me and I was looking for a guide on that tag, then I would have zero hesitation in calling HTO and booking with them.

One other thing to consider is what type of bull are you looking for? Would you be happy with any 6point, or are you really set on a +340" type bull? If the latter is your goal then I would strongly encourage you to get a guide.

littlebighorn · Mar 15, 2018

I have to agree with jc on this one. I hunted it one year with a very good friend who's an outstanding hunter. He spent the entire hunt trying to dig up a decent bull and ended up killing a rag horn 6 on the last night, just so he didn't eat the tag.
The big bulls are very hard to find that time of year if you don't know where to look. If you do find a group, they are usually in a nasty spot or on private ground. That's my experience.

carbonnation · Mar 18, 2018

You can hire a guide and still spend as much time as you want doing your own scouting. You can truly make the hunt whatever you want. Just because you pay someone for there expertise doesn't make you less of a hunter or take away from what you accomplish. I don't know very many people who truly SOLO hunt. Just because you don't pay your buddy doesn't mean your were not helped or guided. And just because you pay a guide it doesn't mean you won't locate your own bull. If tagging a certain size of bull will be your biggest factor in determining the success of your hunt, then use every option at your disposal to make it happen.
My family has hunted the Manti our whole lives. We mainly do general archery and occasionally rifle. I've helped my brother take two LE archery bulls off of the unit. But when my dad drew a LE muzzy tag last year, he set his sights on 345+. I felt we should have been able to turn one up but with all things considered he hired Gooch's Guide Service. They did an awesome job and my Dad got an awesome bull. We all had a great time scouting and spotting.
No matter what you do, just make sure you make memories and enjoy your time on the mountain. It is a great place.

Manti377 · Mar 19, 2018

>You can hire a guide and
>still spend as much time
>as you want doing your
>own scouting. You can
>truly make the hunt whatever
>you want. Just because
>you pay someone for there
>expertise doesn't make you less
>of a hunter or take
>away from what you accomplish.
> I don't know very
>many people who truly SOLO
>hunt. Just because you
>don't pay your buddy doesn't
>mean your were not helped
>or guided. And just
>because you pay a guide
>it doesn't mean you won't
>locate your own bull.
>If tagging a certain size
>of bull will be your
>biggest factor in determining the
>success of your hunt, then
>use every option at your
>disposal to make it happen.
>
> My family has
>hunted the Manti our whole
>lives. We mainly do general
>archery and occasionally rifle.
>I've helped my brother take
>two LE archery bulls off
>of the unit. But
>when my dad drew a
>LE muzzy tag last year,
>he set his sights on
>345+. I felt we
>should have been able to
>turn one up but with
>all things considered he hired
>Gooch's Guide Service. They
>did an awesome job and
>my Dad got an awesome
>bull. We all had a
>great time scouting and spotting.
>
> No matter what you
>do, just make sure you
>make memories and enjoy your
>time on the mountain.
>It is a great place.
>

carbonnation, congratulations to your dad on a stud bull with a muzzleloader.

2pointer · Mar 19, 2018

Carbonnation,

I like the way you think! You are absolutely right, I can hire a guide and make the hunt everything that I want it to be. It does not have to be one or the other. I don't think I had looked at it that way.

I really want to hire a guide to help me make the most out of this hunt, I just do not want to end up wishing, I had saved my money. I've never hired a guide for big game before, so this is new territory for me. I appreciate all of the input.

2Pointer
www.jglowblinds.com

Ranger1 · Mar 19, 2018

When I was faced the same question a number of years ago. I choose to go with a guide for an archery elk hunt on Dutton. The guide knew the unit like the back of his hand and when it came to finding game it paid off from the first morning until the seventh morning. Then when we got the big boy down it sure paid off having some do all the heavy lifting and packing out.

I had already killed six elk with the bow and had never done a guided hunt but it was the best decision looking back at it thirteen years later. You are paying for all the guides knowledge of the mountain and the elk on that mountain. If you have the dollars it is an investment you won't regret and to top it off you will make some great new friends.

Still do all the checking on a guide to make sure you get one with the same ethics as you and positive experiences of other hunters will help out. Also remember some still go home with a tag in their pocket and a guide will limit that chance a bunch.

Cam@strawberry · Mar 19, 2018

Ask for references, specifically guys who didn't harvest. Meet with the outfitter if possible, spend some time talking. Be very clear on your expectations and be honest in your own personal limitations.

Do those things and you'll have a hunt that everyone walks away from successful.

https://www.facebook.com/strawberrybayoutfitters