I have a hunting trip planned for Oct in Montrose. It`s in area 62. I have hunted the flat tops east ofMeeker before and only seen bulls 4x4 and 5x5 but only had a cow tag.[:@]Just my luck!!! Has anyone used Western Colorado Outfitters before? Anyone heard good or bad about them? It will be a self guided hunt. They say they have alot of elk running around there but I have only huntedway north of there. Anyfeed back would help. Thanks for you time. Triplespool

I am confused. You say you will be doing a self guided hunt, but you mention Western Colorado Outfitters. Will this be a self guided drop camp or a private land tresspass hunt? As far as public land, this is the most crowded elk hunting unit in the state. I believe that over 6800 people hunted for elk in 62 last year. You will either need to be on private ground or a long way from a road in the steepest/nastyess area to see elk and not hunters. If I had to hunt this unit, I would only consider the first rifle season, since that is draw only. Privateland huts would also be good. Good luck.

Hello txhunter58, Sorry about the confusion. I will be doing a self guided hunt, but staying at the Western Colorado Outfitters lodge. They said they would show me where to go on the map. But I will have to do everything on my own. But I will get 3 meals a day and a bed and warm shower at night. The cost is 945.00 for a 5 day hunt out there. They said it would be on private and public land, depends on where yougo on the map. It will be the second week of rifle season. They also said I could bring my atv and use it but have to stay on trails. Should I be looking for another drop camp some whereelse in the state or see what theyhave to offer. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks for your time. Triple

That is $200/day for food and lodging per person. That means you are paying aprox. $150/day for their location and information. It would only be worth that if the info they gave you turned out to be invaluable as to where to hunt, or you could actually kill something on the private ground, or the public land you could accessthrough the private was situated such that others couldn't get to it easily except through the private. Guess I would have to talk to a number of previous customers before I would put out that much.

In many areas out here in Elk Country landowners will let you hunt their land for a "trespassing fee". It is usually a hell of a lot more than $150.00 a day! Sounds to me like a very good deal. Especially if you get to hunt private ground. Did the outfitter mention success rates? How much Elk hunting experience do you have? Are they at least going to help you pack it out and get it to the processor? That would be the least they should do in addition to 3 squares and a cot.
Good luck . . . Elk hunting is a wonderfull way to spend a few days in the mountains every fall.

You are correct game4lunch, that is why I suspect that the hunt he is talking about is basically a national forest hunt and not private land. Here is a link to the outfitter: http://westerncoloradooutfitters.com/ Sounds like the private land unguided hunts are more expensive than the one he is talking about. It would be a GREAT deal if he got to hunt private ground that had the animals he was looking for.