Help! Where do I begin for an elk hunt?

[JDrummond]

I've hunted whitetails all my life in the east and I've always wanted to elk hunt. I would like the opportunity to harvest a trophy animal w/ a muzzleloader. I have started doing my research and I'm a little overwhelmed. All I know so far is that I would probably prefer a guided trip for my first time, and while I'm willing to pay for a guided trip, I don't want to spend the $5000+ for a ranch hunt. Financially I'm more interested in the $3500 and less range.

Here are some questions that I have: 1) What states should I look at? 2) With the hundreds of guides and outfitters in several different states, how in the world do you go about choosing an outfitter? 3) Should I stick w/ hunting areas that require draw permits or are there some OTC areas that provide a realistic chance at a trophy?

I was considering U.S.O. Outfitters b/c of their wide range of states and areas, and b/c of their permitting services, but I'm not sure if that is the best way to go and I've heard some mixed reviews of their services. I don't mind tent camping and hoofing it into the wilderness, and as a matter of fact, I would prefer it over staying at a lodge or a hotel. Bottom line, can someone PLEASE give me some guidance as to where to begin? HELP!

[handloader1]

Stay away from USO. Two of my cousins use to guide for them, and refuse to ever guide fro them again.

Arizona, and New Mexico hold Trophy Bulls. Good luck.

[cherokee_outfitters]

JD,

There are so many choices out there today I can see where a person can get really confused. Maybe some of us on here can help.

reply to Question #1: There's alot of states to choose from. The OTC states are washington, idaho, and colorado. Some areas in new mexico are not that hard to draw. Nevada, Arizona,and Utah are gonna take alot of years to draw into unless you can find an exspensive land owner tag avalible, this is also true with new mexico. I'm not sure what montana and wyoming have to offer but I know you have to draw for a tag.

reply to #2: Everybody is an outfitter nowadays licensed and not licensed. Make sure who ever you choose is a registered and licensed outfitter. You can do this by calling the forest service office in that outfitters area, and also find out what kind of outfitter this person is good or bad as far a how they treat their clients and have not been in trouble alot with the forest service and public. My best advice to you if they sugar coat the whole hunt to sound like a dream hunt then I'd be real leery if it's not just talking to get you there. There are top notch outfitters outthere I'd ask a million questions while trying to pick one. Ask about if there's any hidden charges such as game pack out, or fees for moving a camp.

#3 If you want to hunt this year I would apply for a special draw unit that on average harbor some nice animals. Then I would find a OTC place to hunt elk. Not matter what anyone says waiting 8 to 15 years for a really good area does not mean you will kill that 400 class bull. In reality you'll be lucky to get a bull that will go in the books at 365 class. Oh everyone claims you will but not true. In Otc areas you will probally be lucky to kill a bull that will go in the 300 class. I"m not down grading all the areas, excuse me i'm just removing all the false images that most people read in magazines. I have outfitter friends that hunt trophy areas and they come home all the time with 280 class bulls to 325class bulls. With the exceptional record book bull. As for outfitter like myself that take small number of clients in OTC areas the opportunities are almost as good. Them 300 class bulls are outthere to be taken if you are willing to put in the time and be patient on your shots. I know I've taken clients who have put them kind of bulls on the ground. Basically what I'm saying is for the hundreds of thousands of elk hunters outthere how many book bulls get registered in the books everyyear not that many. You can spend the money and buy a book bull of a private ranch but in my opinion that's not hunting and they should not be allowed in the books. I'm not trying to discourage you about trophy elk just give it some realistic view and you make take a book bull the first year or it may take several years.

You can also think about being put in a drop camp in a outfitters area where they check up on you and pack all your gear in and out. Or maybe some guys on here that travel out west every year have some room for you to tag along in their party this year. That would be an excellent way to get started. Good luck and have fun.

[Bob H in NH]

There are a few paths you can take, some are lots of work some arent:

- hunting consultants will do the leg work for you, but you have to trust them. The only one I have ANY knowledge of is www.hunts.net I have never used them but have called them. A friend of mine swears by them and has been on a bunch of hunts through them. They will ask you questions to see what you want, price, animal size etc

- Reference of a friend or someone you trust. Probably the safest way.

- What my wife and I did. We hit the outdoor shows and started stopping by any booth that had an elk on the wall. It was pretty easy to weed out some looser outfits just talking to the people. You will need to have both good hunting but people you can get along with as well.

Whatever you do, go with a list of questions:

- How is the hunting? Stands, stalk, call, out all day , back for lunch etc etc

- How long have then been guiding with the weapon you want for elk in that area?

- How long have the guides been with them? Are the guides elk hunters with that weapon, there's a big difference between, rifle, muzzleloader, archery.

- Get references, both successfull and not successfull, then call them. I have found these folks very happy to talk about their experience. Though I doubt the outfitter will give you someone who wasn't happy. You can ask about others in camp etc, what they didn't like (nothing is ever perfect).

- How far out is the outfitter booked? How much is repeat business. If you are making the plans now for 2004 and an outfitter isn't booked, find out why.

- How many hunters per week.

- accomondations? tents, lodge, motel? Horses, ATV, trucks or boot power, to get around?

- OTC or draw? If draw what happens with your deposit if you don't draw?

Also you have to factor in the cost of licenses into the trip. This will NOT be included in the hunt cost probably and can run towards $1000 for non-resident tags.

It is the time of your life chasing elk.

Have fun!!

--Bob

[txhunter58]

The only 2 states I know for sure are Montana and Colorado. Montana is a draw only (deadline March 15) and they do NOT have a seperate muzzleloader season.

Colorado is DRAW ONLY for any muzzleloader tag. YOU NEED TO AT LEAST APPLY FOR A PREFERENCE POINT FOR ELK NOW. DEADLINE IS TOMORROW, Apirl 6th!!!!! YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE. GO TO http://wildlife.state.co.us/total_licensing/ You have to charge $253.25 on a credit card and that is refunded in July. Another choice is to apply for a muzzleloading bull as a first choice and a cow as a second choice. As a nonresident, you will NOT be drawn for a bull with 0 points, but you would have a chance at drawing a cow tag as a second choice(muzzleloader statewide) and you would still recieve a preference point. If you are drawn, you could use this year as a scouting trip and hopefully get a cow too.

If you have any other questions about applying to Colorado, you can email me direct. TIME IS SHORT! Even if you end up not going to Colorado, you get all but $3 back of the application fee, and you won't be drawn without a pref point, so I recommend you do it.

[Jorgy]

Actaully, there are units that a non-resident can draw in for Colorado ML without any pref points. I ML a unit that is way undesubscribed (unit 7 which is combined with some other units) so I always put that as my 2nd choice to build points.

[MThunter]

yeah there is no muzzel loader season in montana and I have yet to see someone with one during the general season.

[txhunter58]

Jorgy, you must be referring to deer, he wanted to hunt elk. According to draw statistics from last fall, about 438 applicants for 400 bull tags in unit 7. Deer however, were undersubcribed.

By the way, you mentioned that you wanted to harvest a "trophy" elk with a muzzleloader. Believe me, your first legal bull with a muzzleloader is a trophy in all respects, regardless of how big the antlers are. Unless you are on a $5000 + private ranch, it would be a mistake in my estimation to hold out for really big antlers. Yes, you may get lucky, but I wouldn't count on it the first time. Be careful though, it is addicting! Getting to be a more expensive addiction all the time.

[Jorgy]

Jorgy, you must be referring to deer, he wanted to hunt elk. According to draw statistics from last fall, about 438 applicants for 400 bull tags in unit 7. Deer however, were undersubcribed

Your right, I just looked it up and last year was the first time that unit wasn't 100% draw. Crap, if that holds true this year I'll be cow hunting

[JDrummond]

I know it is tacky to reply to your own post, but please forgive me on this one. Thank you all for your insight and suggestions. I am planning for a fall 2005 hunt, because I just don't see how it would be possible to make it happen this coming up fall. As to becoming addicted to elk hunting--I'm really a little worried that I might never want to leave the woods. I'm already a rabid turkey hunter, and I hear that hunting bugling elk is almost just like hunting gobblers. That could be a dangerous combination for me!

A couple of other questions: 1) Does anyone have a suggestion as to any publications, magazines, or books that could give me some additional insight? 2) Someone mentioned using the services of a hunting consultant. I noticed this week that Cabelas not only offers elk hunts through their outfitting service, but they now have the licensing service to apply for the tags in the different states. Has anyone used their services?