Help with guide

Horsenhike

Very Active Member
Nov 11, 2015
668
0
Eastern SD
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.
If you send me the info on the panniers I will give it a look.

Love the horses. Starting to wonder if using them to hunt is worth it. On the plus side for us we have to care for them every day whether we are hunting or not. :confused:
 

crzy_cntryby

Active Member
Dec 9, 2014
269
0
I'm a call in the Calvary kinda guy when it comes to hunting with horses. Get the game down and have reinforcements bring up horses for pack out.
 

gypsumreaper

Active Member
Mar 13, 2014
308
0
It does take a pretty experienced person to deal with horses and have a couple newbies there. There is so much that can go wrong, and there are guys that have done it and not had a single problem but laws of probability. I have had my wrecks as an experienced guide and packer. But it's something I love honestly, my dream is to be an outfitter and I know it's voodoo to a lot of the DIY guys to be an outfitter or use an outfitter but the part of me about hunting is idc if I kill or someone else kills, it's just as rewarding to me. Plus i give my experience to guys that may have always wanted that backcountry wall tent hunt with horses and make it a reality. To me a drop camp hunt is a good option for DIY guys who want to hunt their own way but don't have the means to get all the luxuries into the back country. Plus you kill and the only thing you gotta do is process the downed animal and get it to where the outfitter can get it out for ya.


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Umpqua Hunter

Veteran member
May 26, 2011
3,576
88
61
North Umpqua, Oregon
I have never had a good experience with a cheap big game hunt. As with most things quality and demand dictates price. That's not to say there aren't creative ways to save money.
 

gypsumreaper

Active Member
Mar 13, 2014
308
0
I agree, problem now a days though is a lot of people charge close to the same prices whether it's good or it's not. But that's where you can figure out a lot of information over the phone with an outfitter, I've had guys even tell me they went on a summer pack trip or horseback ride with the outfitter if they provided them, just to get a feel for the outfitter and see what they were all about. The price always seems to go up on outfitters and never seem to drop with the times, guess once they know what they can get they will always get


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