Outfitter vs. DIY

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draggah

New Member
Aug 5, 2013
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Elko, NV
I have hunted deer successfully in Nevada, but I drew a bull tag for 111E any legal weapon. I harvested a cow elk, but it was very difficult and I got lucky in 061. I am more of a DIY guy, but I have a large project with work coming up and I'm not sure I can dedicate scouting trips to Ely when I'm on call so often.

What's your opinions on using a guide service? Is it worth the $5500? I'm am debating whether I should use them, or buy a quality spotting scope and try it on my own. Thanks for reading.
 
Ikeepitcold

Ikeepitcold

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Feb 22, 2011
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Your call. I chose a great outfitter for my wife's bull tag in the same unit last year and he a great time. We saw a crap ton of elk with good bulls in the 350" mark. She didn't fill but it wasn't due to not having the opportunity to do so.

I would check outa few outfitters nd not go for the cheapest price. Go DIY or go for a reputable outfitter. Pm me if you. House to go with a guide and I'll give you some guys to contact. If you choose DIY get the best glass you can afford, look at the MRS for Nv and call the biologists for the area.
 
Gr8bawana

Gr8bawana

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Aug 14, 2014
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Not being sure if you are familiar with the area, 111-115 is an area that you can glass very well from a lot of spots. As IKC said get the best glass you can if you don't already have it. Much of the area can be glassed from good roads and then you can decide whether you want to go after the bull. Also don't limit yourselt to 111 just because it is the most well known. The success loop will get pounded by all the deer and elk hunters the most.
 
ivorytip

ivorytip

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the price of that guide will buy you a damn nice spotter and bino pair! and you get to keep the glass after the hunt is over. i love DIY hunts but the more i talk to people, a guided outfitted hunt is begining to sound pretty damn nice.
 
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nv-hunter

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BATTLEBORNHUNTER said:
As far as 111 goes id say pass on the guide and do it yourself. You can see multiple bulls a day in that unit anywhere you go.
Click to expand...
X2 if you glass lots and lots went on a buddies hunt last year and saw elk every day from 250 inch to one that pushed 370-380.
If only he had pur money into good rifle scope he wouldn't be having tag soup. Was seeing 5 to 15 bulls everyday
 
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NVBird'n'Big

NVBird'n'Big

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May 27, 2011
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Having hunted this unit my advice is that you don't need a guide. If you drive up and down hwy 893 you will see all the outfitters parked on the side of the road glassing the schells. They spot from there then go up and after em. My advice is to have a good spotting scope and get yourself in great shape. Find the bulls from the bottom and book your ass up the hill after em, that's all the outfitters do and it's effective.
 
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nv-hunter

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NVBird'n'Big said:
Having hunted this unit my advice is that you don't need a guide. If you drive up and down hwy 893 you will see all the outfitters parked on the side of the road glassing the schells. They spot from there then go up and after em. My advice is to have a good spotting scope and get yourself in great shape. Find the bulls from the bottom and book your ass up the hill after em, that's all the outfitters do and it's effective.
Click to expand...

X2 exactly what he said
 
packer58

packer58

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Aug 24, 2011
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Loma Rica, Ca.
NVBird'n'Big said:
Having hunted this unit my advice is that you don't need a guide. If you drive up and down hwy 893 you will see all the outfitters parked on the side of the road glassing the schells. They spot from there then go up and after em. My advice is to have a good spotting scope and get yourself in great shape. Find the bulls from the bottom and book your ass up the hill after em, that's all the outfitters do and it's effective.
Click to expand...
NVBird'n'Big is giving you sound and accurate advice. Here's one more bit of advice that i learned the hard way by not being totally prepared for where the great bulls may be located on the Schell's during the early season. If the big bulls are living in the top quarter of the mountain due to warm weather it can be very difficult to get into striking distance before the animals bed up for the day. Take enough equipment to spend the night on the mountain if necessary that way you are within striking distance the following morning. The Schell range is very demanding and can be very rewarding. My only regret during my solo 2011 bull hunt was my inability to close the distance fast enough starting from the bottom every morning. I did end up killing a nice bull towards the end of the season and started that day with boots on the ground at about 2:30 am to get a jump on the mountain. Your hunt is very doable DIY, just be prepared for whatever the elk/mountain throws at you.

Hope this helps with your decision.
 
Ikeepitcold

Ikeepitcold

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If your leaning toward diy IMO having also hunted this are many times for elk I personally would not bother with the Schell range. This unit is big and everyone goes to the Schells. That range is a dawnting task as others have said. I also killed my bull there and hiked up above tree line to kill mine.
There are so many other smaller mountains that are much lower and hold lots of bulls in the 350" class. I'm just saying do stick to one range. Be mobile, prepare yourself for A,B,C,D back up plans. The range east of the Scheels to the Utah border is a great place to have a look.
Scout as much as you can before season and cover country other then where everyone else goes.

Just my two cents.

I'll be out there again this year on a Jr rifle hunt and you won't find me anywhere near the Schell range.
 
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jvonbank

jvonbank

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May 30, 2017
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Lake St Louis, MO
Congrats on the great tag draggah! I drew it too this year and was in the same boat as you with considering an outfitter. I've already got the good glass and was leaning going DIY so will probably stick with that plan based on the feedback here. Another question on this hunt for the people who have been there - is there any benefit to having a quad? I would have access to one if it would help, but am not really looking forward to dragging it 1,250 miles if it isn't a big benefit.

Thanks,
Jared

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
Ikeepitcold

Ikeepitcold

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A quad is a good idea if your concerned with bring home Nevada pin strips on your truck. Most roads are passable in a pick up, a few years ago they closed most of the two track roads.
 
packer58

packer58

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Aug 24, 2011
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Loma Rica, Ca.
jvonbank said:
Congrats on the great tag draggah! I drew it too this year and was in the same boat as you with considering an outfitter. I've already got the good glass and was leaning going DIY so will probably stick with that plan based on the feedback here. Another question on this hunt for the people who have been there - is there any benefit to having a quad? I would have access to one if it would help, but am not really looking forward to dragging it 1,250 miles if it isn't a big benefit.

Thanks,
Jared

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Like IKIC said, most of that country can be accessed with a full size pick-up except for the wilderness of coarse. The way i approach 99% of my hunts is that it's better to have it parked in camp and not use it rather than needing ONE TIME and not have it with me.
 
JimP

JimP

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Just as a devils advocate I'll throw in the plus for a outfitter.

While some might drive the bottom roads and glass for a animal to go after I would bet that there are a lot of them that have boots on the ground up on the mountain watching the elk as the days go by.

When you hire a outfitter you are hiring them for their knowledge of the area and animals. If they do spot one from miles away you can almost always bet that they know the quickest way to get to them. That along with time. Odds are they will be making camp on the mountain where as if you hunt from below it might take you hours to get to the location where you saw the elk last, where the outfitter may just have you in place when the sun comes up as you watch the herd of elk on a hillside that is only a couple hundred yards away vrs a couple of miles. Then when it comes time to get the animal out that you just shot the outfitter just may have horses or mules, either the two legged or 4 legged kind to make that a lot easier. Even if you don't hunt off of horseback if they are available to pack a 500 lb animal out you will be quite grateful.

What it all comes down to is personal choice. If you have the time to get out there and scout and learn what you need to learn a outfitter might not be for you. However if you can't get there a couple days a week during the summer and don't have the time to do your scouting then a outfitter might be for you.
 
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nv-hunter

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Ikeepitcold said:
A quad is a good idea if your concerned with bring home Nevada pin strips on your truck. Most roads are passable in a pick up, a few years ago they closed most of the two track roads.
Click to expand...

How can you not want "Nevada Pinstripes" they come free with the tag
 
Ikeepitcold

Ikeepitcold

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Just for info in case your thinking about it. There are no packers in Nv. that will just bring your bull out. We tried for months to hire a packer to bring out a Mt Goat but non of the many guys we talked to would do it without hiring them to guide the hunt. We just packed the goat out ourselves.
 
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