Wyoming Elk Hunt

[Elkoholic307]

Sure you get to hunt huge bulls at the Wagonhound but you're also paying a lot for five star lodging and a steak supper every night. Personally, I'd rather not get charged for all the extra fluff. I'll stay in a tent and eat Mountain House for a cheaper rate as long as I still get to hunt monster bulls.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Sure you get to hunt huge bulls at the Wagonhound but you're also paying a lot for five star lodging and a steak supper every night. Personally, I'd rather not get charged for all the extra fluff. I'll stay in a tent and eat Mountain House for a cheaper rate as long as I still get to hunt monster bulls.

***Ain't that the truth, LOL! I had a lot of those Mountain House meals this past season and they are pretty darn good to the point that I just bought 4 #10 cans of the stuff to vacuum pack my own meals and save a lot of money compared to buying the individual meals. Big bulls can be found on public land if you do a lot of research, but IMHO the big thing is learning an area over a number of years. That's why we're so successful and the bull here my buddy shot in 2010 went 357 3/8" net.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

$9500 is alot of money but sometimes you also get what you pay for. If you would be happy with a nice 6x6 its one thing but if you want an outfitted hunt with a high chance of a 340+ bull I think it is not going to be cheap. They must have something there to be able to get that much money for a hunt. Not saying you cant get a 340 bull DIY or on a less expensive guided hunt but your chances would probably be much lower.

When the OP said he was looking at an outfitter that charged that much, I figured he was willing to do so. There are literally 100's of outfitters that charge 1/2 that much (and less) that can get you a decent bull. You just have to do your homework ....where have i heard that before!

I am 72 now and retired. I do have the means to spend some money for an outfitter and have hunted with them before with mixed success. I have a wilderness hunt booked for a M/L hunt here in Colorado this year for less than 4K. I have a thing for wilderness hunts (I have done over 30) and just cannot get enough of them. There is just something about horseback riding into areas where you see almost no hunters and the pristine conditions are unbelievable. I guess I'll keep doing them as long as my $$$ and body hold out.

 

[WapitiBob]

Here lies a dilema that a lot of guys face that don't live close enough to the elk to effectively do their own scouting and prepare properly for a DIY hunt. They really want a big bull, but don't realize how difficult it can be to get a really big one say 340 or better. I'll use my uncle for an example...he's always wanted a 350 bull. I've pointed him in the right direction with the "short-list" of operations in various states like Wagonhound listed above. Obviously, he's found them too pricey even though he could afford them if he wanted to. Instead he's been on over 10 elk hunts ranging from $1,500-$4,000 and his biggest bull is a 260. He's spent over $25,000 spread over 30 years hunting elk. I told him to just save up for one premium hunt on a premium top-tier ranch. He's been "over-sold" on all his elk hunts trying to do it on the cheap. That's the problem picking up hunts at a "show"...unless you have first hand knowledge from guys that have hunted there you can fall pray to being oversold on a hunt.

The DIYer is in the same tough boat as a lot of guys are putting faith in saving up points for that special elk hunt. The price can't be beat, but most guys don't realize the risks of putting all your eggs in one basket. A bad drought year, weather, forest fires...not being able to get off work for long enough to properly scout the area before the hunt, or family emergencies can ruin a hunt. Most guys w/ premium tags don't go home with monsters...some even go home with raghorns.

That's a lot for a guy to consider, but if a guy is running out of time to hunt and defintely wants a big elk before they die I always advise them to just pay the money for a premium first-class operation on a ranch that has enough acreage to eliminate any issues.

^ should be required reading

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

but most guys don't realize the risks of putting all your eggs in one basket. A bad drought year, weather, forest fires...

That's a lot for a guy to consider, but if a guy is running out of time to hunt and defintely wants a big elk before they die I always advise them to just pay the money for a premium first-class operation on a ranch that has enough acreage to eliminate any issues.

The same can be said for guided hunts. A couple of years ago I booked a hunt into a very famous area of NW Wyoming in the Teton Wilderness near the SE corner of YNP. It had a record of lots of great elk and deer for almost 100 years. The hunt was a bust as the wolves had really impacted the herds. I probably should have spent more time researching and understanding the impacts being felt, but I didn't.

 

[minn elk chaser]

Some good comments and ideas. Must remember were not all equal with the amount of money we can spend. Have talked to a couple of outfitters that are more in line with what I can justify.

Have few more years maybe to hunt so want to make the most of them.

 

[300 short mag]

Check out wolverine creek outfitters they look interesting to me. John

 

[MWScott72]

If you want to check out Utah, just go to the UT Division of Wildlife Resources website (wildlife.utah.gov) and search Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMUs). These are private ranches that take on paying hunters. The State gives them a certain number of tags (usually 90% of the allotment) for paying hunters in exchange for allowing public hunters to draw a fraction of those available tags (usually 10%). I'd just go down the list, give them a call, and see what they charge. Once you find one in your price range, do the homework on past hunters to see what you might expect.

I've heard good things about Stillman Creek and Coldwater Ranch in northern UT - pretty sure they're in that 8-10K+ range though. 340+ is going to be tough on a budget. In areas where elk get that big (on a regular basis that is), everyone knows, and the pricing jumps accordingly.

On a totally unrelated note, I'm going to help a buddy pack out his cow elk tomorrow once he pops it. Can't wait! Helps keep the winter doldrums from getting too severe...

 

[minn elk chaser]

Thanks for the Utah info. Will check them out. Wish I could help with pack out. LOL

 

[5575gb]

Friend of mine is an outfitter in WY, guides mostly archery hunters "does take a rifle hunter every once in a while and only about 4-5 bow hunters. Private land, beautiful place. You will see 200-700 elk every single day, his archery hunters are 100% on 300"+ bull and none of his bowhunters have ever hunted a full week. Chance at a 340"+ bull is very good, you'll see about 5-10 a day in that 340-375" range. Send me a PM if you'd like more info, the price isn't out of line either if your looking for a big trophy bull I'd give him a call. 307-752-0771
My buddy and I went in 2012 with our bows and we both took great bulls!

 

[Tony S]

I agree with 30HART 100%. I have done a dozen guided hunts in my life from black bear and whitetails to Dall sheep and Mountain goat. None were cheap for a blue collar worker like myself but I have never come home with an unfilled tag and have a room full of trophies to prove it. Not once have I regreted the money I spent.
My advice would be, if you can scrape up enough cash, go with a proven guide and remove a large obstacle from a once in a lifetime hunt.
Whatever you decide, I wish you luck....

 

[Lab]

Not everyone has the money nor wants to buy his tropy for the wall. A true trophy animal is not in the score of the rack but in the hunt. I think many of us forget that sometime. I know i have in the past. My future goals are to continue to do it DIY and enjoy the great scenory and company every fall. The 360 bull I dream of may or may not fall to my arrow but the time in the mountains will be cherished in my head and heart forever! Best of luck. Time to draw a tag!

 

[crumy]

Boulder Basin is a pretty good outfit.

 

[Montana]

You nailed it! I've struggled with the same dilema for a few years as I am now 72. Lots of variables come into play and some of them money won't solve. If someone wants a trophy class elk close to 400", there are places to get one. Several large Canadian outfits do them, but the catch is lots of us don't consider them "Fair Chase" because they are completely fenced in ranches. Thousands of acres, but managed for trophies....just like farming IMHO. But if its horns you want..........

This got my thinking... I didn't pay much attention to this because high fence is not really my style but as I continued to read on, this came to mind:

As a hunting society a lot of folks look down on high fence hunts but yet make no mention of these hunts that cost 10k or even more... This entire thread is almost proof. If you want a BIG animal you have to pay BIG bucks. So really, what's the difference? Is a high fence hunt more of a logical avenue for the average guy? It sure seems to be the most cost effective way. The price tags on these animals have gotten out of control.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about fair chase... But honestly, not sure if there's a difference between high fence and these private ranches that charge insane amounts for these huge animals.

 

[Fink]

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about fair chase... But honestly, not sure if there's a difference between high fence and these private ranches that charge insane amounts for these huge animals.

I think I'm gonna have to disagree with this. From a price standpoint, sure, there's probably not much of a difference. But that's where similarities end.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

This got my thinking... I didn't pay much attention to this because high fence is not really my style but as I continued to read on, this came to mind:

As a hunting society a lot of folks look down on high fence hunts but yet make no mention of these hunts that cost 10k or even more... This entire thread is almost proof. If you want a BIG animal you have to pay BIG bucks. So really, what's the difference? Is a high fence hunt more of a logical avenue for the average guy? It sure seems to be the most cost effective way. The price tags on these animals have gotten out of control.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about fair chase... But honestly, not sure if there's a difference between high fence and these private ranches that charge insane amounts for these huge animals.

Another thing to consider is that I don't think B & C recognizes these fenced ranches as "Fair Chase". So if you want a Booner, be careful and check out where you hunt.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I think I'm gonna have to disagree with this. From a price standpoint, sure, there's probably not much of a difference. But that's where similarities end.

+1 I found that statement to not even be in the ballpark. To hunt elk in a high fence operation and even consider it to be remotely a fair chase without close to a 100% chance at an animal it would have to be thousands of acres. I've seen elk move several miles in nasty terrain in 15 minutes and they weren't even at a full run. It's too bad that many people are so hung up about taking a bull that's say 350" or bigger when a 300"-320" bull is a heck of a big trophy and can be taken on many DIY hunts in a lot of different units in Wyoming, including on a General Tag.

 

[Montana]

I think I'm gonna have to disagree with this. From a price standpoint, sure, there's probably not much of a difference. But that's where similarities end.

All I know is watching these guys pass on 350 class bulls and then harvesting 370 plus is not an indicator of real hunting unless you have drawn some sort premier tag. Yet the right amount of cash makes this a reality.

 

[Musket Man]

Another thing to consider is that I don't think B & C recognizes these fenced ranches as "Fair Chase". So if you want a Booner, be careful and check out where you hunt.

I dont think B&C would recognize any of them either. SCI does though. High fence is probably the easiest and most guaranteed way to get a monster bull. I have nothing against high fences but their just not for me.

 

[BKC]

I dont think B&C would recognize any of them either. SCI does though. High fence is probably the easiest and most guaranteed way to get a monster bull. I have nothing against high fences but their just not for me.

Here is what I don't like about high fenced hunts. Yes, there might be a ton of land that is inside the fence and it may have great elk habitat and the elk don't know any difference but the elk are there and they are not leaving! If you know they are there then it becomes a cat and mouse game. Other non high fenced elk hunts don't guarantee you any thing because the elk could move off at any time.
Have you ever looked at the sci magazine and the advertisers? High fenced hunts will never be in my resume. I would think it would be pretty hard to sleep at night.