Help with guide

[171farm]

So for 2017 a group of us plan to do an Elk hunt in Colorado. We plan to apply for a preference point this year and all of us will only have that one point. We are looking at doing a guided or semi guided hunt 1st rifle is possible. We want to go guided for our first time but also do not want to break the bank. We have considered drop camps but would like help (cooked food, camp taken care of and ready when we return for the evening, and the option to use horses). We have been looking around and it seems the affordable ($3,000 and less) guides are harder to find info on. The popular more expensive ones are easier.

We have found a few we like...Commander and Company (called and spoke with the owner already) and Platoro Outfitters (haven't talked to them yet). Does anyone have any personal experience with either outfitter? Also looking for other reccomondations as well.

Thanks in advance

 

[Hilltop]

Pretty hard to find a decent, fully guided, bull elk hunt for under 3k. Maybe you could do a guided cow elk hunt? There are gobs of those out there in the 1-2k range. Good way to get your feet wet. The experience is very similar, you just pull the trigger on an elk without horns. One thing to keep in mind- Most of the really cheap hunts out there are that way for a reason. I used to guide for an outfit on easily accessible and heavily hunted national forest. Their hunts were very cheap but professional. We averaged 25-50% success on bulls... Many bull hunters went home unhappy even though we gave our best effort. We never had a cow hunter leave unhappy that I'm aware of. Our cow hunts were always 100%. IMO, you would be better served to hunt cows, or save for another year for a better bull hunt.

 

[171farm]

Thanks for the advice. We know it's an uphill battle.

 

[88man]

maybe search tresspass type hunts? You might be able to find something that will be in your price range. Can't you guys cook?? LOL

 

[Hilltop]

Thanks for the advice. We know it's an uphill battle.

Forgot to mention- That public land hunt I guided back in the early 90s cost $2750. Guessing an equivalent hunt now is at least $3500.

 

[buckbull]

Pretty hard to find a decent, fully guided, bull elk hunt for under 3k. Maybe you could do a guided cow elk hunt? There are gobs of those out there in the 1-2k range. Good way to get your feet wet. The experience is very similar, you just pull the trigger on an elk without horns. One thing to keep in mind- Most of the really cheap hunts out there are that way for a reason. I used to guide for an outfit on easily accessible and heavily hunted national forest. Their hunts were very cheap but professional. We averaged 25-50% success on bulls... Many bull hunters went home unhappy even though we gave our best effort. We never had a cow hunter leave unhappy that I'm aware of. Our cow hunts were always 100%. IMO, you would be better served to hunt cows, or save for another year for a better bull hunt.

Excellent advice here. I'd be really leary of someone charging less than $3000. Most of the guys I know guiding are charging clients around $4500 and thats for a public land hunt; private add another $1000. If this is a once in a lifetime hunt, save your money for a quality hunt. If you just want to get your feet wet, learn the area, with the intention of going more often then the cow elk hunt makes alot of sense.

 

[buckbull]

Forgot to mention- That public land hunt I guided back in the early 90s cost $2750. Guessing an equivalent hunt now is at least $3500.

I went guided in 2010 for $3500 (after dickering with outfitter from $4000). Same hunt now is $4750.

 

[171farm]

maybe search tresspass type hunts? You might be able to find something that will be in your price range. Can't you guys cook?? LOL

Of course we can cook. I just think that's a valuable thing that if you don't have to worry about allows you to get in the woods earlier or out later knowing there will be something warm waiting for you when you wake up or head back to camp at the end if a long tiring hunt

 

[mntnguide]

I have never heard of an outfitter doing a semi-guided hunt and allowing the hunters to use his horses. Semi guided usually is a guide to come get your game once you butcher it in the field, all food and camp equipment, and sometimes a cook. .occasionally they will have the guide take you out on horses in the morning then you hint back to camp, but due to insurance reasons, I don't believe any reputable outfitter will let you have the horses to do what you please with

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[171farm]

Thanks for all the insight. Anyone have any info on the two guides mentioned?

 

[sheephunter]

Thanks for all the insight. Anyone have any info on the two guides mentioned?

sent you a PM

 

[171farm]

Thanks and replied

 

[171farm]

Platoro Outfitters have been removed from the list. The person I talked to on the phone was the least informative of all guides I talked to. He also was unable to answer questions I had about the unit he guides in

 

[luckynv]

I met a couple of guys from Texas that were doing a Diy hunt and rented horse's. The service dropped them and their feed off for a week. They said it was about $100.00 a day with all the feed and tack. Someone better know horses though. I have seen ad's in magazines but no personal experience. I think someone was teasing you about the cooking Good luck and God bless

 

[gypsumreaper]

Any semi guided hunt is usually packed into camp, all gear and food supplies. The "guide" then cares for the horses, camp and cooks. He is there to advise on hunting and areas. He may take you out the first day to show you where to go and all that. But most outfits will not allow you to take their horses out, if you haven't hunted with horses before its not as easy as ride to a spot and then hunt. Reason why guides go with you on a guided hunt is partially to take care of you and guide you the other part is to take care of the horses and make sure no one gets hurt. The insurance company requires a guide to be with clients when they are on horses. If you were on a horse alone and the guide was in camp and you got hurt, unless you stole the horse and there is proof you took it, there isn't a lawyer that could get an outfitter outa that lawsuit. Also most companies won't do a drop camp and allow you to bring leased horses. It's the same thing you are in their camp and you are their responsibility. Most outfitters aren't gonna allow you to bring your own horses anyways. If you do that what's the point of hiring an outfitter at all. But I'll tell ya hunting on horses is about 10 times the work as hiking in on foot. It may seem easy and helpful but remember gotta feed horses, gotta water horses, gotta saddle, unsaddle, wake up earlier, know the regs of tieing horses to trees, high lining horses, packing meat on horses isn't just throw the meat on and go, plus any emergency which happen pretty common, thrown shoes, sore backs. And any horse leaser that gets a horse back in bad condition is gonna get more money outa you or put you on a no lease list. If you want horses and a good hunt id suggest just going fully guided or drop camp. Good luck pm me if you have any other questions


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[RICMIC]

I agree with gypsumreaper on his advice about renting horses. Three of us rented horses several years ago from Sombraro Ranch. They rent over much of the north half of Colorado, and you can pick up at one of the ranches or they will deliver and pick up at the trailhead. I have experience with horses, but my partners didn't, and we were lucky that someone didn't get seriously injured or even killed. We had two horses, and had bought canvas saddle panniers for hauling gear. We had to walk in with our camp gear, rode out, then made a 2nd trip hauling feed for the horses. We did use the horses to haul out an elk, but I would never do it again without having a non-hunter in camp to do the chores. I believe that it cost us around $900 for two horses for a week (2008). Sombraro delivered exactly as advertised, and I can recommend them if you decide to go that way. I still have the saddle panniers, and if someone has an interest I will sell them.

 

[Slugz]

x 2 for Sombrero....I've used them a few times. But as others have said lot of work involved. We actually decided against having a few horses this year due to not having enough horse experienced people in camp.

 

[gypsumreaper]

That's one reason outfitters charge so much. Taking care of horses is a pretty big job. Some outfits hire a person just to deal with the horses and pack animals. I'm really experienced in the horse industry but there's still sometimes that I wish id of left the horses at home


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[Slugz]

I'm really experienced in the horse industry but there's still sometimes that I wish id of left the horses at home


Now that made me laugh brother.....ain't that the truth sometimes!!! I do not miss the rodeo or gear strewn all over the woods post rodeo!

 

[Rollin]

I think a good place to start would be with the Colorado Outfitters Association. They list all of the outfitters and areas they hunt. A quick look at their website and you'll be able to request a copy of their latest information that they mail out to you. The booklet they send you includes the outfitters and their areas but also includes a lot of ads that list some interesting hunts that may fit what you're looking for.

Also, you may want to consider tags that allow you to shoot a bull or a cow. That should help the % success and still allows you to bull hunt. Good luck, and have fun with the research