I'm curious about what drop camp costs and services are?

Suppose a group of four men were going elk hunting 8-10 miles into a wilderness area. What would a typical drop camp cost, total, and what would these guys expect? Would the camp outfitter pack the hunters and their gear in on horses? What gear would be provided in the camp? Would cut wood be provided to fuel a heating stove? Would the outfitter carry out all meat and how often would they check?

I suppose different outfitters do things differently and certainly costs vary. I'm just interested in getting a fix on the general parameters of this kind of hunt.

Keep in mind, most outfitters will put you where you won't interfer with his paying clients. Some times where there are no elk. Remember he is in business to get clients elk not place non-clients in productive areas. He saves them for the full pay people.

It is public land and you can do it on your own with a little work, you can also rent horses and tack here in WY from several people.

Alsatian
I am doing an Alaskan hunt this year and have some info on drop camps up there including there web sites.It's kinda rough as this has been just my research notes and It's not for Elk but will give you an idea of what to expect in some drop hunting camps. I shot you an email

Part of the context for my query is that my wife was curious about the costs of an elk hunt. I decided I would take a swag at estimating the cost of a seven day elk hunt according to a variety of methods -- totally do-it-yourself backpacking (with paying for a packer to pack out meat), a drop camp, a guided pack-in hunt, and any other flavor of hunt that I can get information on.

RandyL: personally I am attracted to the idea of a do-it-yourself hunt related to your suggestion, though without renting horses as I am not horse-savy. By my way of thinking, if I make a backpack hunt for a cow elk and fail to bag a cow elk, I will be out for my cow license but still have an outstanding backpacking trip and learn something, hopefully, about elk hunting into the bargin. As I understand it, not every dude who lays down his $3,500 with a guide/outfitter comes away from the hunt with any more success than that anyway.

Am I right in thinking that a horse novice shouldn't be thinking about renting horses for a hunt up country? Sure, I rode some very gentle quarter horses that belonged to my older cousin when I was a kid, but I'm guessing this doesn't qualify me for feeding, watering, currying, sadling, unsadling, hobbling, packing, unpacking horses in the back country and keeping the horses from freaking out and running away due to some surprising event such as a thunderstorm or encounter with hikers.

If you have never packed horses I wouldn't do it without a guide or a wrangler doing most of the work. I have ridden for over 30 years and the toughest work I ever have is when my buddies talk me into wrangling for the group when we pack back in in Wyoming. You got to know what you are doing or you can get in trouble in a hurry. That said-my guess is if you could find a place to hunt, you could hire a wrangler to do your work as far as getting you in and out of a place. Probably cost you around a $1000 for his services to go in and come back with you doing all the rest of the work.

Duck makes some good points. You might pick an area and then hire some one to pack you in by your choice not an outfitters chioce. In Wy if you hunt a wilderness area you need a resident or outfitter to be with you. If you hunt an area out side of a wilderness you can do what ever you want. I pack my elk out each year on my back. About three miles is the furtherest I ever done that trick. I can pack one hind and both back straps in one load, one hind on another and both fronts on another. Takes all day and some times two. But it can be done, just allow time for it. In Wy you only have to take the 4 quarters and the back straps.

Another factor is drawing the tag. Some states you can buy them across the counter but here you have to draw. A cow tag is almost a sure draw though.

Montana Bob,

Have you checked out Larry Bartlett's site Pristive Ventures? Larry is not a guide but a hunt planner. For a nominal fee, he will get everything together for you including your air taxi, maps, etc. It's really a bargain and he does a good job. For the record, no I am not associated with the guy personally or professionally, but he has a great reputation up here and will do you right.

AlaskaMagnum
Sitting here next to me at the computer is my signed copy of Caribou Hunting A Guide to Alaska's Herds by Larry Bartlett and yes the guy does know his stuff! The book he put together is full of info.
I have 3 outfitters in mind for this years Caribou. I have emailed Tony Lee of Westwind after checking out his informative web site and am seriously thinking of his outfit this year. I just happen to see his setup on TV the other day on the Mens Channel. He puts his clients right into the Caribou for a decent price. I am waiting for a few more weeks to make my up my mind. I bid on a big job and if I get it I might do a combo hunt with Moose. Tried to check out the site Pristive Ventures and can't find it. Do you have a link? Never Mind found it it's Pristine Ventures.
Thanks

YES, YOU'RE RIGHT! DON'T DO IT! You will survive the experience, but you won't be hunting!