Horseback Elk Hunts

reejohns · Jul 12, 2019

Hey all,
I'm trying to gather some info on a 2020 rifle elk hunt on private land. I've been mainly looking in New Mexico and a few Colorado places with a preferred max budget of $6-7k from the outfitter/guides including the tags and tax. I'm not including any travel related or taxidermy expenses in there. All the places I've seen in that range are at lodges or cabins, but would prefer an outdoor drop camp and exploring the land on horseback. Anyone know of an outfitter in those areas that offers this in that budget range? This is a first time elk hunt, so any advice in planning is appreciated. I've seen a lot of sites, but a lot of the details have 2015 prices or so and so I'm not sure how current they are. Thanks!

WVHUNTER · Jul 13, 2019

Most private land hunts aren't horseback hunts. Most outfitters don't go to the expense of maintaining horses to hunt areas you can drive your truck to. Which you can do on most private ranches.

If you are looking for true horseback/tent camp adventure I would look at the Wyoming Wilderness south of Yellowstone. It's a General area that will take two preference points to draw for a non-resident in the Special Drawing. So you should be able to apply for a point in 2019 and 2020 and then hunt in 2021. These are public land hunts but you won't see many other people.

These camps are 25 miles from the trail head, usually a day(7 or 8 hours just to get to camp). Usually 8 day hunts, a day in, hunt 6 days and a day out. They will hunt from horseback also so I think you will get all the saddle time you want. It's a true wilderness adventure.

Good luck with your search.

reejohns · Jul 13, 2019

Yeah I figured that?d be the case for being a private land hunt, but wanted to roll the dice and see if there was a unique opportunity out there. Wyoming sounds great and I'm sure it?d have awesome scenery by Yellowstone. My Dad's getting a little older and wanted to at least get him out there when he's still pretty mobile as some of the hunts can be physically taxing. Thanks for the info on the other hunt and will be sure to look into that and have time to play the draw

Gator · Jul 15, 2019

Look up both Colorado and Utah outfitters and guides and see what they have to offer, SW Colorado has some horseback hunt or at least they did.

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Founder · Jul 15, 2019

I'm not sure how hard an elk tag is to get in Colorado 76, but take a look at Frazier Outfitting. He does pack in type hunts that sound fun.

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txhunter58 · Jul 15, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Jul-15-19 AT 12:11PM (MST)[p]VERY hard. He won't be able to get an elk tag in 76 unless he bought a landowner tag. $$$$$. But there might be parts of the Weminuche wilderness in unit 75 that he hunts in?

Also The San Juan wilderness in southern Colorado might be an option Pretty sure they offer OTC hunts and I have heard some good reports from there.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

RoughCountry · Jul 15, 2019

Check out San Francisco River Outfitters in NM they might be what you're looking for. I don't know about private land but they hunt a good area with horses. The tough part would be drawing that tag or you could buy a landowner tag but that would increase the dinero !!

Trevor · Jul 18, 2019

You should check out Colorado Elk Camp Outfitters in Cortez CO. They might be able to help you out. Not sure if they operate in unit 76.

heywouldya · Jul 18, 2019

Western Wyoming may have what you're looking for. There were some "general" elk hunts that are easy to draw.

hwy

BPKHunter · Jul 23, 2019

I know you didn't ask about Idaho, but most outfitters will use horses here. Tags are available without "points". Contrary to rumors we have a lot of elk, though they don't have the general trophy quality of some other states, but for your budget I think Idaho would work.

Good luck.

Ridgeside · Jul 24, 2019

Contact Cliff Gray at TrueHunts.com out of Eagle Colorado. He offers Horse back wilderness hunts in units you will be able to obtain a tag in. Might be just what your looking for.