My brother and I are planning our most adventurous hunting experience: 10 to 14 days hunting in backcountry wilderness from horseback using turn of the century gear and weapons.

We are looking for a reputable and trustworthy outfitter who can supply the mounts and basic camping gear (wall tents, etc) plus a guide who will assist with packing, cooking, trophy preparation and other chores, but not be overly intrusive in our hunting efforts. Obviously there are legal issues here in some areas, probably more so in Canada than Alaska.

We would like to be in mountainous terrain (alternative trip: canoeing up a river in the north forest and tundra). This trip would take place probably in two years (Fall 2003).

Recommendations? Tips? Advice?

I'm thinking of Tim Sundles owner of Buffalo Bore Ammo. He lives in Carmen, Idaho and his passion is taking friends into the backcountry on pack trips to hunt. He gets WAY back into the bush. He has a website...give him a call at work. He might have an opening then.

Harald,

I have no suggestions, just envy for your opportunity to do something like this. Personally I am going to northern Maine this fall with an old friend up there whose specialty is tracking deer for hours and days--should be quite an experience!

What sort of turn-of-the-century arms are you planning to use?

John

I would contact Dellis Ferrier of (or near) Hotchkiss, CO. They do week long horseback trips for elk into the top of the West Elk Wilderness Area north of Gunnison. They have about a 60% success rate on elk. I went x3 years. Truly memorable scenery and great folks.

[ I would like to point out that 60% is an excellent success rate on fair chase Rocky Mountain elk hunt on public land in the Rockies. Average is 20% !!! You can go on a ranch and get 100%, if you like that sort of thing.]

Don

[This message has been edited by Don G (edited 07-25-2001).]

the only suggestion that i will make is to start getting in shape now.i know it just about kills me deer hunting the foothills of ky. for 9 days solid.thats staying in a motel.i am 5 foot 10 and 190 but dont think i would make it a week in alaska sleeping in a tent.i hope you are in top shape before you leave or you could find yourself in a bad situation.i dont know you,you may be in olympic condition.but if i was planning a trip like that i would want my lungs in a whole lot better shape than they are now.

Thanks for the leads guys!

John, I will likely be using my Model 71 Browning (.348 Win) with the Williams receiver sight. I may use the 220 gr X-Bullet, but to be consistent I may stick with the old style Barnes or Hawk bullets, though they are not as good.

Don, 60% sounds good to me. Excellent point Eric. We are looking at 2 years from now so I have some time to get there.

[This message has been edited by Harald (edited 07-25-2001).]

I found this via internet phone search. Paonia is where you leave the blacktop, so it must be him. Tell him David G's nephew sent you. He's usually booked 2-3 years in advance.

Dellis Ferrier
3866 L Rd
Paonia, CO 81428
970-527-3010

Don

[This message has been edited by Don G (edited 07-26-2001).]

I personaly yearn for a backcountry Elk hunt with a sidelock and "mountain man" gear. I dont know if it will ever happen but wouldnt that be a Grand adventure ?......10

Dellis makes a black powder trip every year, or used to. The fact that it's in the Wilderness Area means you won't hear an engine for the whole week. We saw one other horseback party in 6 days. We saw many more Rocky Mountain sheep than people! It was a truly unforgettable trip. Two of my brothers and I made it. We will try again one year to get all four of us out there. My middle brother John goes with Dellis every three years.

Don

Harold,

I have some back country horse hunts as you describe in New Mexico for muzzle loading Elk..We have had 100% success on bulls over 300 B&C on that hunt...Cost: $3000.00..I think I have 2 or 3 opennings for 2001, maybe.

But in 3 years, I dunno what will be available...

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Thanks again for the suggestions. I am not too fond of those coal burning guns, think I'll stick with a plain sighted lever action for the time being (Model 86, 95 or 71).