Elk Hunt w/ Non-Typical Outfitters Wyoming

Went hunting with them in 09, and took a great bull. It was the best hunting trip I have ever been on. They are known for giant mule deer, but they also have some really good elk hunting. Are you going this year?
 
I'm looking at doing an elk hunt next year. Glad to hear a positive experience. I'm also looking at Boulder Basin Outfitters, if anyone has experience with them. I'm looking for a 320+" bull.
 
Bow or rifle? General tag im assuming?...If you are thinking of hunting on a general tag and wanting a 320+ bull..Non-typical should not be at the top of your list. Just fact, the elk down south of jackson are not known for the size as other areas north of there. Yes, they have some fun and good elk hunting and a 320 bull is possible...but it would be a damn good bull for a lot of those areas..let Wiley stick with his big bucks, if you are honestly looking for 320+ or bust, on the general tag, you better keep at your research. Boulder basin, Wapiti Ridge outfitters, Triangle X Ranch, Yellowstone outfitters...those are much better chances for bigger bull opportunities on general tag. Wilderness...grizzly country, but pack-in and good harvest percentages. Most of who i named above are booked well in advance with return hunters for good reason. I guided for TX for 5 years, but left them this year to pursue a career in powerline work. I am pretty familiar with most the outfitters in the wilderness area surrounding yellowstone and would be happy to answer questions as best i can . feel free to PM me and ill do my best to get back to ya quickly.
 
I agree with mntnguide.

I haven't hunted with Non typical or the other outfitters he mentioned but I have hunted the wilderness south of Yellowstone for elk and the Greys River for deer.

To start with you can get a 2 on 1 elk hunt on the Greys River for $3,500 to $4,000. There isn't any secret, they are that cheap for a reason, they aren't high success on trophy elk. The outfitters mntnguide mentioned will cost almost twice that.

One of the big differences is access. There will be a lot of people hunting the Greys, with and without horses. On the wilderness hunt you may not see another hunter the entire hunt.

When I was hunting the Greys for deer I asked the outfitter how they did on elk. I was told if they got some cold weather and snow they did pretty good but if it was warm and dry they didn't do so good.

I haven't hunted with Boulder Basin but I have talked to Carl Sauerwein a couple of times, he seemed pretty straight. If I was looking for a horseback wilderness hunt I would consider him. He usually comes east to some of the hunt shows each winter. But if you look at his web site some of those 350+ bulls are from the late hunts, not the general hunt you would be going on.

But even in the wilderness a 320 bull isn't an average bull. If you want a 320 bull you are going to have to pass on smaller bulls with the possibility of eating your tag.
 
I am very aware of some of the outfitters mentioned in these posts. Many guide in the areas I hunt in NW Wyoming. As an elk hunter, you need to be able to field judge bull elk yourself and not rely on your guide or outfitter to do it for you. If you want a 320+ bull you had better know what to look for when you field judge an elk. That includes evaluating main beams, width, fronts and 5ths.

I know of an out of state hunter who hunted in old Wyoming Unit 121(now 53-2) on a late season elk hunt. He had waited for years to draw the tag and wanted a 330+ type bull. He was going to go it alone but later hired an outfitter. He was encouraged by his guide, who was the outfitter, to shoot a particular bull elk on the first day that was supposed to reach that 330+ mark. He did so and was rewarded with a 6x6 in the 280 range. He expressed some real unhappiness to me about the experience. I am hoping he will pm some of the folks who have posted here.

just sayin...mh
 

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