My father and I are going on an elk hunt with USO this fall. We are heading to the Floyd Lee Ranch in New Mexico. I was wondering if anyone has hunted with them. If so, was it a positive or negative experience. And, has anyone hunted the Floyd Lee? Thank you.

I'll take a stab at this.

Are you unaware of the lawsuit initiated by USO in AZ?

I do not think USO is very popular these days.

Good Luck.

I know this and feel some sympathy for the states this effected. However, we booked this hunt long before we knew what was going on. The seem like a reputable outfitter and that is what we based our decisions on. I know they are not the most popular outfitters out there, but they have a good reputation for putting hunters on quality animals.

With that being said, I still would like to know if anyone on here has used them, and what their experiences were.

I would appreciate any answers.

Thank you

Hi. Did you buy a landowner tag through them or did you draw ? That will determine what type of hunt you have. The hunters paying 7,500.00 + for landowner tags will get the first crack at them. Aside from them Arizona fiasco their reputation has been suffering of late. In -expirienced guides, illegal pratices, over hunted ranchs etc. I know 2 people who have hunted with them but that was many, many years ago. Good luck.

Uplander, I just moved here to Kansas from Grants, New Mexico, which is about 38 miles from the ranch. Unit nine, which is the Floyd Lee Ranch, has elk on it to be sure, but the whole unit has been pretty well shot out of large bulls. Now, if you are going there to shoot a young bull in the 275 to as high as 300 class, you'll be in good shape. That is not to say there are not a few huge bulls still roaming around up on Mount Taylor. Ask your outfitter when that phamplet he sent you about seeing 300 and 330 class bulls all the time was made up. Also, if I am not mistaken, Unit Nine, which is the unit the ranch is located on, may have had an actual reduction in the number of over-all permits issued and there has to be a reason why (not as many elk up there). Call the Albuquerque Field Office of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and ask those folks about the quality of hunting for elk, or huunting for trophies, on Mount Taylor today as compared to seven or eight years ago. There are a lot of cows up there if you plan on a cow hunt. Three years ago I ran into some fellows from the United States Palma Rifle Shooting Team who were going to hunt elk on the place under US Outfitters. They were disgusted and told me that the phamplet sent to them about the elk hunting there totally mis-represented the actual conditions. One did finally get a bull, but it was below the 275 class. The people who hunt elk who live in Cibola County and McKinley County talk about the place having far fewer quality bulls than it once had. Again, for meat hunting it would be okay. I don't mean to rain on your parade. You two may go out there and see two huge bulls and be more happy than a pig in a brand new mudhole.

We are aware of the quality of animals. I don't think, nor have I been told to expect a big bull. They said the majority of the elk are in the 275 class. And that would be fine with us. We are in the primitive weapons area. Muzzleloader only. I appreciate your post.

I will venture to say that if you keep your expectations in check, and go to enjoy the experience, you will have a good time, and get a decent bull. Just about every show that was on realtree back in the day was on the floyd lee ranch, so they have a pretty good area with decent bulls, but not many monsters. Just relax, and enjoy yourself..

If you go into it fully aware of the animals you will be seeing, then good luck with your hunt and have fun. If you fill out early there are a boatload of things to do. Take a trip to the Acoma Reservation a few miles away and go to Sky City, not the casino, but the old sky city where Acoma Indians still live. It is a village on top of a mesa that was built hundreds of years ago and if memory serves me right, is the oldest continually lived in community in the United States. Up on New Mexico 53 is El Morro, a national park with an inscription rock chizzled with the names of visitors to the area over the years. Some of the names are of the Spanish Conquistadors. Up the road futher is the Zuni Reservation, wich also is loaded with historic things. Chaco Canyon is about 60 miles from that area and is another must-see sight. If you are driving to the area try to take a trip down New Mexico 117. The sign off Interstate 40 will say Reserve, but that is a long, long way off. All you need to drive is about 30 miles down the road. On the left are sandstone cliffs and on the right are lava flows. It is an amazing area. Again, if your outfitter has been straight up with you and it appears he has, you are aware of what you are getting into at the ranch. The fellows from the Palma Shooting Team told me there were not told about the quality of animals up on the ranch. Good luck and have fun.

If you see George Taulman, kick him in the nuts for me!

I guarantee you that if he is my elk unit-shit happens when you party naked!

Upland hunter, Your hunt should be a slam dunk if the guide you get is worth 2 cents. On the other hand, realize that there's a lot of anger out there and riding around in a USO truck could be hazardous to your health.....good luck

I contacted him after seeing a Realtree video years ago. His attitude on the phone turned me off, I never booked with him nor called him back. He was pretty cocky in those days. He may be a little more humble (human) after having shit in his pants.

Let us know how the hunt works out. There has been a lot of chatter on the board about USO and I'd be interested to see how things shake out.


Okie John

I hunted USO about ten years ago and the guide and facilities were absolutely top quality.As to their current hunts,I haven't been with them recently so I can't give you an answer.

Guide welfare tags a no go!
GREAT NEWS!
We didn't just win, we won in a BIG,BIG WAY!

Wyoming's Legislative Task Force on outfitter concerns met today, and considered the outfitter set-aside proposal (40% of Wyo non-resident elk licenses going to outfitter clients).

When it came to a vote, the outfitter rep on the panel made a motion to keep the proposal going. Out of 10 other Task Force members, there was DEAD SILENCE - NO SECOND to the motion, so it DIED - quickly, cleanly, and decisively.

Hopefully we've nailed some more nails in the coffin of this proposal that keeps coming back from the dead. THANKS to all who helped - when (real) sportsmen stand up on our hind legs, we can do wonders.