Wall Tent? Lodge? Spa?

[salukipv1]

Another post got me wondering...

Some of these outfitters/lodges offer a "spa" experience, who wants that? I know some of those want you to bring the wife and kids, personally I like the idea of getting away from all of that. And to spend a significant amount more on that? I just don't see the reasonding there?

I can see a lodge based hunt being nice....maybe easier on the old bones....or just a different experience, but does anyone else out there not want to goto a 5star hotel when they go hunting?

Whether its a wall tent where you freeze at night or a decent lodge....I'm happy, its more of an experience I think being in the wilderness in a tent than some lodg.

What are your thoughts?

[SILVERTIP-CO]

I cant tent due to bad lungs, we love our camper trailer for the self contained convenience and free 14 day parking on BLM. On the other hand my favorite hotel in the whole world is the Comfort Inn in Gunnison for its spa tub in many of the rooms, and hot tubandpool in the adjacent building. A hot shower after 12 hrs of hiking and hunting is kinda nice(sometimes). Cant and wont afford a "lodge experience" any time soon but I guess those who can really enjoy it. Big game hunting is exactly what the hunter makes it, nothing more nothing less. Good luck.

[Scott Gags]

I have a low budget approach that still puts me beyond the reach of the day hunters. I own an 12 x 16 wall tent and stove. Cost $625.00.3-4 of us pitch in to rent a horse for the week. Cost$400. We load the camp on the horse and walk in as far as we can get in one day. Roughly 6 hours walking with a pack will get you far enough in that road hunterswill not hunt in that far and still get back to the road in a one day hunt. The horse is equipped with a typical western saddle with a slip on pannier to carry gear, and once/if we get an elk the horse and pannier is used to carry the elk out.

The cost per hunter work out to about the following:

Fuel $250
License $250-$500
Horse$100
Hotels $200 while travelling
Misc $150.00
Total $950 - $1,200

We leave on a Friday, pack in on Sunday Morning pack out on Friday and are back home Sunday AM.