I'd like some opinions on my situation. I'm planning on burning over a decade worth of points next fall for a unit in Colorado, 1st Rifle elk tag. It's a unit that I've never hunted before, and a guided hunt is too much coin for me, so I've been debating either renting pack animals for a 100% DIY hunt, or using an outfitter to use one of their drop camps. The only concern I have about a DIY hunt is basically setting up shop in an area with elk. I'll be starting from ground zero, so all the scouting is on me, and once I have the pack animals, that's it, I can't trailer them around. Using a drop camp, it would be nice to have everything set up ahead of time, but it just feels out of my hands a little. Anyways, I'm just wondering if anybody has wrestled with this dilemma, and what your decision/experience was like.
2017 Colorado 1st Rifle
- Thread starter Collins
- Start date
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
One thing to remember about drop camps, most of them are set up for around 5 to 6 hunters. Unless you have enough hunter with you to fill it up, there will probably be other hunters, enough to fill the camp. On a positive note, lots of the outfitters that have drop camps will have stock and packers to pack you game (for an extra fee of course).
What units are you considering?
What units are you considering?
JimP
Administrator
I would also rethink about hunting a unit that you have never hunted or know the lay of the land. You might end up in a area that has zero possibility of shooting a elk. But if you don't mind risking all those points and eating tag soup then go for it. Also if you have never used pack animals on a hunt my suggestion on this is to hire it out and leave the animals to a wrangler. There is a lot more work with horses and mules than just using them to haul in a camp and then letting them go off and feed while you are out hunting.
Also by the time you go to the expense of a drop camp and hiring out a wrangler with animals to haul your camp and hopefully your trophy out you are not that far away from a fully outfitter hunt.
Also by the time you go to the expense of a drop camp and hiring out a wrangler with animals to haul your camp and hopefully your trophy out you are not that far away from a fully outfitter hunt.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Very true. The outfitter has guides, wranglers, cooks & camp jacks too. Well worth the extra $$$ IMHO
MtnBuck
Member
Jim, IME drop camps usually include bringing out your animal.
OP, Wilderness area or National forest?
With horses I wouldn't worry about not being able to move them with a trailer. If the entire area for miles around is dead (unlikely) load up your stuff on panniers and use the horses to move.
Having said that, unless you have plenty of experience with horses and a partner to help you out I would do the drop camp. Any good outfitter will tell you their success rate for that drop camp and provide you with contact numbers so you can chat with previous customers.
If you're in good shape you'll be able to cover plenty of prime ground from a well placed drop camp. Arrange to meet the outfitter early and have him mark your map with prime spots. Better yet get the coordinates for your GPS.
OP, Wilderness area or National forest?
With horses I wouldn't worry about not being able to move them with a trailer. If the entire area for miles around is dead (unlikely) load up your stuff on panniers and use the horses to move.
Having said that, unless you have plenty of experience with horses and a partner to help you out I would do the drop camp. Any good outfitter will tell you their success rate for that drop camp and provide you with contact numbers so you can chat with previous customers.
If you're in good shape you'll be able to cover plenty of prime ground from a well placed drop camp. Arrange to meet the outfitter early and have him mark your map with prime spots. Better yet get the coordinates for your GPS.
gypsumreaper
Active Member
- Mar 13, 2014
- 308
- 0
Drop camps should include packing out ur game. Also some outfitters will do camps for 1-2 guys without mixing groups we never mix groups, but our camp price just goes up with less guys in camp. Now you want horses left in camp it's even more for the Semi Guided hunt where our wrangler/camp jack takes you out to a spot horseback then drops you and goes back to camp for chores and then cooking. If an outfitter wants to mingle you in with other groups sometimes it works great other times it doesn't. Talk to your outfitter before hand and see what he does and what he provides. It may seem expensive but once you see what is provided in a camp that little extra for another outfitter could be very well worth it. Some outfitter camps have table, Coleman stove, lantern, wood stove, tent and that's about it. Others have cots, camp chef stoves, wood stove, water heaters, showers, latrines, chairs, tent, sleeping pads and cooking and eating supplies. So a 1000 dollars could change from bare minimum to luxury
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dirtytough
Member
One thing about a drop camp worries me. How good of a spot is the outfitter going to put you in? If I was an outfitter my guided/semiguided clients are going to get put in the best areas.
In a years time you should be able to do a ton of research on your unit of choice and figure out where the elk are. Figure out 3-4 areas that hold elk and have a packer on speed dial. It seems like outfitters are fairly reasonable in Colorado for just packing out game. $250-$300 seems like the going rate for an elk.
I also talked to a guy that got packed in with his own gear. He got to ride a horse in and out and his game was also going to get packed out for $600. That seems cheap to me. If you do the research and figure out an area you could probably get dropped with your own gear for somewhere in that price range.
Regards, Branden
In a years time you should be able to do a ton of research on your unit of choice and figure out where the elk are. Figure out 3-4 areas that hold elk and have a packer on speed dial. It seems like outfitters are fairly reasonable in Colorado for just packing out game. $250-$300 seems like the going rate for an elk.
I also talked to a guy that got packed in with his own gear. He got to ride a horse in and out and his game was also going to get packed out for $600. That seems cheap to me. If you do the research and figure out an area you could probably get dropped with your own gear for somewhere in that price range.
Regards, Branden
maine canoe guide
Member
I'm with Colorado Cowboy. Join a guided hunt trip. It's for me anyway. I don't have a chance to scout for Elk or learn the area. It's a long trip from Maine and I want to give myself a good chance at a decent bull elk and there is no way I could deal with horses and maps and all the things that go into an Elk hunt. Besides my hunting buddies are slackers and not up for a trip out west. I'm planing a trip in 2019. I'm not afraid to hire a guide to do lots of things it's the best way to learn the area and tricks of the trade quickly. Of course being a guide myself I'm
not an impartial judge.
not an impartial judge.
gypsumreaper
Active Member
- Mar 13, 2014
- 308
- 0
I will say that is really really cheap. But it also depends on the terrain that the outfitter is working in. My rate is $350 per pack animal to spike camp gear in. And $600 to pack out a bull. But our terrain is also classified as extreme so we have a little more wear and tear on panniers, manties, lash ropes, and animals.
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One main point I should mention is that I will be hunting with my dad and his buddy, they are both around 60 years old. We all have experience hunting off horseback, but the animals owner has always been with us. At this point I'm going to ask a few more questions to the outfitter and see if that sways me one way or the other. If I find out we will be sharing a drop camp with another group, then my dilemma will resolve itself. Thanks guys.
It's a high elevation unit, also classified as rough-extreme, wilderness hunt. I'm pretty sure animals will be needed one way or another to get us in and out.
gypsumreaper
Active Member
- Mar 13, 2014
- 308
- 0
You can also ask about spike camps. That's ur gear packed to your spot. But once ur in ur in, also same as drop camp. Atleast a drop camp the outfitter should give you areas to try and some help. We always do cause we want our guys to be successful. And make sure to let them know about the ages of ur dad and buddy so that the outfitter doesn't drop you in a camp that may be for 20 year olds. They should have different camps that may have some easier terrain for people vs everything being rough extreme.
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Slugz
Veteran member
Gotta do your homework/scout.....just my 2 sense but if you are burning a double digit amount of points......and will not be able to get boots on the ground 2-3 times in the area you are gonna hunt, prior to the hunt......you are gonna have to put your trust in someone. Setting up shop in an area with elk is mitigated either with planning,scouting, knowledge or an outfitter.....time = money.
Another thing to evaluate is.... Do you have all the gear to do a DIY hunt comfortably with the hunting group that's going in? 1st rifle in a rough/extreme area = weather.
IMO the number one issue out of state hunters have to account for first and foremost is "where are the animals" " How do they react to pressure, weather" That a tough one to crack that takes time. Outfitters are well worth the money for your situation.
Randoms thoughts: DIY route..you wanna be set up and scouting 4 days prior to the opener in order to paint the picture as it will be vastly different after archery and muzzleloader. As JimP/CC said......by the time you add it all up you are close to a fully guided hunt cost.
The solution may be just waiting a year or two and saving more money.
We have decided to hire an outfitter to take us in to a drop camp if we draw tags. I will be hunting with 2 others who do not really have the gear required for a backcountry DIY hunt, especially in October. So for peace of mind and comfort wise, we'll be staying in a wall tent on a wilderness hunt, packed in and packed out on horseback. The outfitter will take us in for a day or two in July or August just to lay eyes on the country for a quick little scouting trip, then we can pack in 2 days prior to opening day, so I will have 2-3 days to familiarize myself with the area and glass before the hunt even opens. Being from Wisconsin, I'll take that. Thanks for everybody's input. Good luck this fall.