Hoping to fulfill a lifelong dream of a Colorado archery elk hunt in the 2004 season.
I am looking for a reputable outfitter/guide as I have never been on an elk hunt. I am an avid whitetail hunter but haven' t a clue when it comes to elk hunting so I figure a guided hunt would be my best chance of at least an opportunity at an elk. I searched the " web" and have found countless outfitters but besides price they all pretty much say the same thing. The references they offer sound good, but I doubt they would list a disgruntled customer as a reference anyway. I' ve found one sight that does reviews on outfitters but their list is very limited and it seems the only ones to respond to the reviews are the disgruntled customers. I know some of you bow hunters out there have used outfitters/guides in the past. Please help out a fellow bow hunter and steer me towards a good reputable outfitter. I can' t afford the most expensive ones out there but am willing to pay a fair, reasonable rate for a good experience.
Thanks
By the way, if any of you experienced elk hunters wouldn' t mind taking a novice like myself along, willing to pay more than his fair share of a hunt, we could work out an offshore fishing trip along the Gulf Coast in trade.

Come on ElKampMaster; Big Bulls; Beaver Jack; any of you Colorado boys and/or elk hunters, need some help here.

I know a writer for the Minneapolis paper, Ron Schara, has hunting several years out in Colorado. I saw one of his programs about one of the Elk hunts there on his TV series "Minnesota Bound" and ESPN2's "Backroads". Ron is a down to Earth kind of guy. I'd believe what he says either good or bad about most anything.

I was searching for names of outfitters related to him on the web. Here was one. I have no experience, relationship or recommendation with hiring anyone of these. It's just a starting place to talk to.

Article: http://espn.go.com/outdoors/general/...n/1457489.html

"Colorado Rockies at Dick Dodds Elkhorn Outfitters to ride into the high country near Craig in search of bull elk."

Talk to a number of people and ask for references before you put any money down. It's easy for anyone to promise what you want to hear. It's sometimes tough for them to always deliver on promises.

You might try contacting some of those guys by email. They might talk to you by private email. Don't have any recommendations personally.

Will you be the only one going? Are you willing to do a do it yourself hunt if you got headed in the right direction? I know a guy on another website that knows where the big bucks and bulls reside. He has a business called Antlerquest. For a price he will send you a video, still photos of the country and the game, and maps with hotspots circled. He helped me get a 29" 8x7 mule deer buck this fall. I killed him in one of his circles. I did, however, have to do it myself on a backpack hunt. Don't think I would tackle an elk without a horse.

On the other hand, if you have never hunted elk, a guide would probably increase your chances, and would definately decrease your worries: camp, horses, etc. Good luck in your search.

Also, do you have any hunts to swap? I have been on multiple swaps for a hunt on my place in Texas. If you do, you might be able to swap some of these guys a hunt in your state for one in Colorado.

MEOMAKO,

I was in Colorado this year mule deer hunting and met a guide outfit at the hotel I was staying in. Their name is Top Gun Outfitters, Larry Smith, Lic. # 1563. His email address is: www.guidemyhunt.com/topgun, phone #:Home 814-473-8151, Office: 814-473-3802.

Larry and his outfit had been on a hunt the 1st week of elk season and had come to the hotel to rest and clean up , before going on another hunt the second week. I was able to talk to him and his guides. I believe he told me he was from Penn. state and had been guiding in Co. for several years.

Another Guide I met was with an outfit called the: Craig Wildbunch, they have a web site also but don't have it written down. I do know that this outfit has private land you can hunt as well as guided hunts. I saw signs on side of the road leading up to Routt Nat'l Forest that said the land belonged to the Craig Wildbunch.

Anyway, I' m in the same boat as you. I want to go back in 2004 elk hunting and trying to decide wether to go on a self hunt or guided. I know my chances of success would be better with a guide but there's just something about doing it yourself. To me it's not the shooting but the doing, if you understand what I mean. Also my son and son-in-law want to go with me this time and that will determine the cost we can handle. Besides, I opened my mouth before my brain was in gear and told them that I would pay for their license if they would go. Don't get me wrong, I'm retired and have a fixed income, just trying to do something with my boys.

Wish you luck and may see you in woods of Co. in 2004.

dog1

Your probably barking up the wrong tree looking for outfitters from us "colorado boys". We don't need them

Jorgy
I know what you mean, kind of. I duck and goose hunt here in Louisiana and don't need a guide. I fish saltwater, inshore & offshore and don't need a guide. But when it comes to elk hunt, which I've never been; I think if I want to have a chance at success I'll probably need a guide.
Thanks for the insight.

Jorgy - so do "CO boys" go up to a certain mountain and come back down with changed appearance and a gold rifle when this happens? Does this apply to all CO boys? How long do these special knowledge and powers last?

I ran into several "CO boys" hunting Elk in NW WY 2 weeks ago. In the first morning of hunting on those mountains they had managed to produce 2 disabled snowmobiles and a pickup with the skidplate torn off and a hole punched through their radiator trying to run over rocks...

hmmm Sounds like all "CO boys" don't know about those powers you got.

MinnFinn, what I mean is that most of us on this board that live in Colorado don't pay for an outfitter, so it would be hard for us to recommend one. I wasn't trying to be a smart ass

I understood you perfectly, and wouldn't have taken offense. However, some local guys might hear about outfitters with a good rep and ones with a bad rep. Doesn't hurt to ask. Nonresidents are probably a better source for personal experiences with outfitters.