I'm from Michigan and trying to plan an elk hunt for fall of 2010 in Wyoming with a partner.

We're looking at the Willow creek drainage, areas 84, 89, and 90 (south of Jackson, east of Hoback Junction). We're planning a September archery hunt.

We are looking for a DIY hunt. We are on a budget. but sometimes spending a little more money makes a lot of sense.

We'd like to hire someone to pack us in, and pack us out (and potentially an elk) on horseback. don't need the horses for a week, just want help getting in and out. don't need a guide.

Is this type of service offered? I contacted about 6-8 outfitters listed in that area from the Board of Outfitters website (http://outfitters.state.wy.us/) and got one response back, and he said it wasn't a service they offered.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Also, I've read that there are places that will cut/package/freeze your elk, after you've quartered it and packed it off the mountain. Anyone have any input for such services in the area?

thanks in advance for any advice or information.

Lonny Mantel, of Pavillion leases horses by the day. I think he will drop them off and pick them up to. Not a bad price and a hell of lot cheaper than owning them. You would only need two to walk in and pack your stuff for a comfortable bow hunt.

Harvester: don't mean to rain on your parade, but keep your money in your pocket 'til Feb/March 2010.. you won't know if you've drawn a tag til then.. If I'm still alive by then, pm me and I'll give you some local names.. one outfit rents horses/tack by the day, and WILL deliver to trailhead of your choice.. Mantel will bring 'em to Pinedale rodeo grounds... (I know, I rent two for the season, and I have my own horsetrailer) may have some better sugestions as to area.. The term for what you want is a Pack Drop.. right now there is a meat processing plant in Jackson the Hole.. they ususaly don't stay in business for more than a couple of years.. by the way,, how old are you guys? I came from Michigan when I was 43, and should have come 20 years sooner.. you have two years to get in shape.. get started!!..you'll be hunting between 8000 and 10000 feet.. not much air up here.. HTH Les

thanks for the info guys..

we both put in for a preference point this year, and will put in for a preference point next year as well. we'll apply for a general elk license, and pay the fee to convert it to an archery license. based on the results i'm looking at, with two points, we should be guaranteed a general elk tag.

i'll turn 34 in 5 days. partner is the same age. i run 5 days a week right now, have for years.. in the winter time, i do stairs at the office building - general about 60 floors over lunch. i know i need to ramp up my workouts - plan on carrying a pack with about 50 lbs (well, i'll work up to 50 anyway) on it for my stair workouts. by summer of 2010, i'll be working out 7 days a week.

thanks again, any additional advice is always appreciated!

I used to hunt that area, then the wolves and griz moved in. Elk numbers have been down for about 5 years but seemed up this year.

It can be a great area. You would not likely kill a monster but there should be medium 5x5's and maybe a 6x6 or two in the area. I suggest you get with a local outfitter that hunts the area and see what you can work out.

We hunted the area on the opening week with success, depending on weather. And on the last week hoping for snow. Both times can be good.

Be prepared for a lot of hiking if you do have horses.

Also, if you draw a bull tag, be open to taking a cow if elk numbers are down.

If you draw a general tag, you don't convert it to an archery tag, you simply buy an archery tag in addition. THat allows you to hunt with a bow in Sept. then a rifle later when the rifle season opens. There are archery only tags, that have very good odds of drawing, but I am not sure if those areas are archery only.

thanks for the advice guys.

yes, i'm also considering the bighorn mountains. no grizzlies, and limited draw archery hunts. according to the stats from last year, there were 2 or 3 zones in the bighorns that had an archery success rate approaching 30% - pretty darned good, imo!

if i had 2 points in last year's drawing, i would have had a 60-70% chance of drawing one of those limited draw archery seasons in the bighorns.

i'm considering putting in for one of those hunts as a primary, then a general elk tag for a secondary. thanks for the clarification, kudu on the archery tag.

a successful hunt for us will be to see some "hunt-able" elk - that is, not something we're glassing for miles away, but on elk that give us a chance to hunt. we stay safe, and hunt some elk, that's success in my book.

killing an elk would be awesome, but doesn't really define the success of my hunt. not looking for a trophy either - any legal bull would be a trophy for me. i'd consider shooting a cow, definitely, but my hunting partner isn't sold on it yet, and given that shooting a cow would take at least a day's effort from both of us, i've got to respect his wishes.

as far as horses go - i really don't want the hassle or liability of dealing with horses for the week. just want some to get us in and get us out. i've got to believe we can hire someone to bring a few horses out, ride us up to our base camp, and lead the horses back out. then they show back up at the end of the week (or earlier, if we shoot an elk). think that's doable?

That is doable. For country from the Hoback to the Grey's River, call Doug Broadhead at 307-413-2860. He has a couple saddle horses and 4 great pack mules. He's savy and knows what he's doing.

I live near the Bighorns, but hunt the Absorkas,let me know if you show up in the Bighorn area, Tensleep and such, we can do a cup of coffee or a beer.

thanks for the tip, sbt!

and thanks for the offer, kudu! my hunting partner likes getting remote and off the beaten trail. he's a little worried about hunting the bighorns, because of the ATV access. Anyone ever hunt the bighorns that could comment on the amount of traffic the area gets? not worried about hunter traffic, just recreational atv usage that might effect the hunting.

He is right about the ATV's! And I don't blame him. There is a wilderness area in the BigHorns, foot and horseback only.