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My friends and I (5 of us) are looking for a self-guided elk hunt next year, preferably on private land (fair chase) or light pressure public hunting land. A cabin based or drop camp hunt would be great - as well as access to people or equipment retrieve any animals. We just finished a self-guided 5 day hunt for Mule Deer in SE MT on a private ranch (free range, not a hunting ranch), and all got deer. Three of the folks, it was there first deer ever. One guy got a whopper. We are more focused on the experience versus everyone getting a big trophy elk. Any recommendations? "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | ||
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go for an area 96 type 6 cow-calf hunt.. late hunt, Novemberish... snow... sleep in the Best Western Pinedale Wy.. breakfast at the Wrangler.. drive out before daylite.. elk migrate down to the feed ground soda lake.. good hunt depending on the weather the worse the better... Les | |||
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Thanks. Would prefer an opportunity at bulls as well. A tag good for either sex would be ideal. "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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That's a tall order in most the elk states. In my native Colorado, either sex tags for elk can be hard to come by and are usually in the premier arreas. And some of those take over 15 preference points to draw. | |||
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There are several places in Colorado that do ranch trespass hunts. They also provide cabins. | |||
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Thanks. So far Colorado does seem to have some options. I was hoping someone here would have used someone before. "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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I assume that you have checked Eastman's Hunting Journal's issue with maps. Never used it myself, but it sounds promising. Norman Solberg International lawyer back in the US after 25 years and, having met a few of the bad guys and governments here and around the world, now focusing on private trusts that protect wealth from them. NRA Life Member for 50 years, NRA Endowment Member from 2014, NRA Patron from 2016. | |||
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For Colorado: If all 5 of you want either sex tags I think you can put in for the 1st. season draw as a group. Then if you draw, everyone gets to go.Be sure that you each fill out the draw forms corectly because if 1 messes up, none of you will get tags. There are several areas that are good 1st season hunting and if you go on public land the pressure is light because it's a draw only season. I hunt in south western Co. in the San Juan mtns. and have drawn most every year. There are plenty of outfitters here and they could give you much better information. Sorry I don't have names but we always go do it yourself hunting on public land. Call Col. div. of wildlife andget as much info as they can give you. Good luck. | |||
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Thanks! "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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How are some of the hunt services, like the Huntin' Fool? Are they worth money.service? "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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If you are more focused on the experience than a big trophy bull, a cow elk hunt is a good introduction into elk hunting and the odds of getting an elk are very good. Plus you can do the hunt for very cheap. It will also allow you to learn the lay of the land for future bull hunts, the hardest part is deciding where you want to go. For what you're looking for, why not just get an outfitter? The costs associated with paying a trespass fee to get on private land with elk (there is no such thing as "light" hunting pressure on public land without many years of building points), buying a guaranteed license, paying for someone to remove the animal from the field....you may as well book a hunt. From the criteria you listed this does not sound much like a self guided hunt. | |||
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We might go with land owner tags. Not sure how much they are on CO, but run $800-$1,200 in NM. "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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For bulls with a rifle? Be careful with that... I've seen cow tags in good areas in the $300-600 range, but bull tags in good areas may be an order of magnitude higher. A grand for a rifle bull tag is likely in a marginal area, unless the waning economy has hit the hunting market a lot harder than I thought.  _____________________ A successful man is one who earns more money than his wife can spend. | |||
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Go to North Fork Idaho, then drive (4 wheel) up on top to Long Tom Lookout and pitch a camp in the designated camp areas..Walk off the mountain each day to the road, you have about 3 or 4 routes down to the road. Have someone designated each day to pick you up on the road and drive you back to camp. Its about 6 or 7 hour hunt off the mountain. Best if there is about 3 inches of snow on the ground, nasty weather and elk go together. I have shot many bulls on that hunt, but its too tough for me these days at 77 years old..My last hunt there was in 2007..you will have to back pack your elk downhill to the road in blowdown timber or if you can find a packer to get them you will need a chainsaw to get the horses in there and out..It is a tough hunt, but the elk are there for those who can stand the pain. My last hunt there and I had a horse and chain saw and I had to spend two nights on that mountain, it is a cold place to spend the night so be prepared to build a fire and have a shelter like a pop tent or what ever. I built a lean to with a manti, and had a bedroll. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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You'll get laughed off the phone trying to buy a decent bull tag in NM for $1000. Don't get me wrong, lots of ranchers selling bull tags for $1000 but no ranchers that actually have elk are selling them that cheap. More like $2500. Pancho LTC, USA, RET "Participating in a gun buy-back program because you think that criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think your neighbors have too many kids." Clint Eastwood Give me Liberty or give me Corona. | |||
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I think Colorado has a 4 person limit on group applications. | |||
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I got a unit wide land owner tag in 2009 for $800 in NM GMU 53. Had elk 4 of the 5 days I hunted. I passed on a big 320"+ the first day because I didnt like the shot; then waited for another 6x6 and only say 5x5s and less. "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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That's a hunt!!! "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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Northwestern Colorado is an easy draw for cow tags. The bulls are small and not worth the money, but the cow hunting/camping trip is great. Ray, Is that area of Idaho overrun with wolves yet? That may change the face of that great hunt. | |||
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That's great!  I'd go back there.  _____________________ A successful man is one who earns more money than his wife can spend. | |||
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There is no limit on the size of group for an elk hunt. You are limited to a maximum of 2 people for goats and sheep only.
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Austin, You may already know this but Montana couldn't even sell all of their elk tags. I know Montana is a good ways away but is probably a guarantee that your whole party would draw. Now if I had my druthers I'd pick Colorado too. If nothing else for her scenery and proximity. I have 8 pts in CO and see no sign of ever getting drawn there. So I'm cheating and going with Aaron Neilson next year for one of his muy grande elk hunts. Course he won't tell which unit we'll be in... LOL | |||
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Austin Its the best hunt I know of if your in condition, young and can make several trips off the mountain with quarters in a pack board in blow down timber most of the time..but there are elk there..Best when the weather is NASTY, thats what I hate about elk...My dad said Elk hunting is akin to masterbation, once you pull the trigger you got a mess on your hands! That about says it all.  Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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