My Dad has expressed interest in going on one last big hunt for Elk. He's not that old yet (70) but insists his time is short and wants to go on a guided elk hunt to get one "big one" before he tips over. He mentioned Arizona because he believes the wolves have ruined the hunting in the upper west.

What say you? How bad have the wolves really gotten?

I saw two beautiful bulls last year in Idaho that I didn't shoot at. (long story)This in an area that has supposedly been hit pretty hard. My thing is, he wants to do this next year and I haven't been on a guided hunt. I have only hunted elk in Oregon (close to home), and Idaho.

I would appreciate your observations on wolves and some outfitters you know personally or have used and been impressed with.

Nate, depends where you're hunting, what you're after and what you want to spend. What kind of bull is he looking for and what's the spending limit? One of the best elk hunts I know of isn't too far from here, has no wolves but is darn pricey. A book bull, however, is very likely.

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He mentioned Arizona because he believes the wolves have ruined the hunting in the upper west.

I don't think any of us non-residents will live long enough to draw Arizona. I would head to Utah for a CWMU hunt.

Brad, I'm not even sure he is that bent on an actual book animal. I was just in Butte a week ago and passed through Missoula and over through Coure De'Laine and really liked the way the area looked for elk. ( would like to move there if my family wasn't all in So. Ore)

What's pricey? I've never hired a guide, or packer to do any hunts for me.

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Originally posted by M16:

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He mentioned Arizona because he believes the wolves have ruined the hunting in the upper west.

I don't think any of us non-residents will live long enough to draw Arizona. I would head to Utah for a CWMU hunt.

What's a CWMU hunt? Cronic Waste Management Unit?

Big Nate, "Pricey" would be around 12K...

Did you say Brittish Columbia?

I think 12K might be a bit much. I guess I'll have to let him decide though.

Boy I was reading about what bullets will kill elk. I'm almost afraid to say what I plan on using.
Anybody have any ideas about hunts further south? Utah or NM?

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Originally posted by vapodog:
Did you say Brittish Columbia?

No, but should I?

White Mountain Apache Tribe

This is where I took my Dad for his last Elk hunt(his last hunt period). An experience he talked about right up to the end. Lawdog

What's a CWMU hunt? Cronic Waste Management Unit?

Cooperative Wildlife Mangagement Unit. You can buy tags from private ranchers instead of having to draw. You also get to hunt during the rut with a rifle if you like. Prices usually range from $8,000-20,000.

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Originally posted by BigNate:

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Originally posted by vapodog:
Did you say Brittish Columbia?

No, but should I?

yup

BigNate, let me suggest something a bit different. How about a hunt with your Dad to Namibia, (Africa)? It's more do-able than you think. A plane ticket and 10-day hunt with five or six critters real good critters on the ground will run way less than 10K. No worries of weather problems. Hunting kudu is very much like elk hunting.

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Originally posted by Matt Norman:
BigNate, let me suggest something a bit different. How about a hunt with your Dad to Namibia, (Africa)? It's more do-able than you think. A plane ticket and 10-day hunt with five or six critters real good critters on the ground will run way less than 10K. No worries of weather problems. Hunting kudu is very much like elk hunting.

best idea yet.

Nate,
All I can say is do it. My dads been gone 4 years now. I wish I had the opportunity to do what you are planning. Personally what I would suggest is to contact a good booking agent if you have never gone on a guided hunt. You can discuss what you are looking for, price range, physical limitations, etc and they can help identify outfitters who fit the bill.

Jeff

Nate

As soon as Wyoming starts to issue Commissioner's tags next year go to the WY, G&F website and see who has the Commisioner's tags for sale or bid. There will be quite a few. If you secure a tag I can put you in an area near Gillette that is only open every 3 years and you can hunt the bugle season with a rifle. The chances of your Dad killing a bull of 370 B&C are absoutely excellent.

Regards,

Mark

As others have said just do it. I was fortunate to be able to hunt with my dad from Canadian bear to carolina turkeys and the last was a New Meixco turkey hunt the spring before he died, because of our profession he always loved the spring hunt the best be it bear or turkey. I am able to enjoy the memories and am not setting around saying I wish I had done this or done that.

For the money I'd agree with Matt, check out Nambia, or RAS. More animals, and they pamper you
on most of these hunts - real enjoyable.

My vote would be an African hunt too, but I'll bet your pop has no interest in a 24hr plane flight & hunting in a 3rd world country. He's an elk guy, & elk guys want to hunt elk.
Arizona would be almost impossible to draw. Dont' shy away from a guided hunting in the NW, lots of good elk hunting there. NewMexico is a good bet, I think you don't need a draw on the Indian Res. What Skibum said, time is short when your pop gets past 65, do it while you can & enjoy the memory when he's 85!

Big Nate I am with vapodog on that one, BC! If your not going to go to the Gobi desert in Mongolia and hunt Ibex and gazelles, or to southern Africa on a plains game hunt, I say BC!

You might as well have some adventure in your last hunt with POP!

If your dad doesn't mind the long flight, what about a redstag hunt in New Zealand. They are kind of like an elk, just have a lot more points.

I agree with the South Africa option.

I went on a guided trophy elk hunt in northeast New Mexico in 2000. In 2002 I went to South Africa. The all-in cost for the two hunts was so close I could cover it with a $100 bill nearly.

The New Mexico hunt was five days with a 6 X 6 on the wall. The RSA hunt was ten days and a 40" gemsbok and a 56" kudu on the wall. In the middle of that ten days I toured two game parks just to relax and enjoy the sights.

Which of those hunts do you think your dad and you would have enjoyed the most?

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Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Nate

As soon as Wyoming starts to issue Commissioner's tags next year go to the WY, G&F website and see who has the Commisioner's tags for sale or bid. There will be quite a few. If you secure a tag I can put you in an area near Gillette that is only open every 3 years and you can hunt the bugle season with a rifle. The chances of your Dad killing a bull of 370 B&C are absoutely excellent.

Regards,

Mark

Mark, can you PM me about this hunt. All the details you have. Thanks.

I live in Arizona and I don't think I'll live long enough to draw an rut rifle tag in a good area.

You could buy a tag on the Indian reservation for 30-40K though

Big Nate-I hope you're still looking into taking your Dad on an elk hunt. It would be an experience neither would forget!

I got to take my Dad on one elk hunt, it snowed and it snowed we got the rigs stuck 2x on the way in. We had to shovel a ton of snow to get our camp put in. And we have a great group of guys to go with.

Because of the snow my Dad could only get about a 1/2 mile out of camp. Conditions were pretty darn tough.

I gotta tell you that 1/2 mile walk was about the best walk I ever had! I wouldn't trade it for anything.

So I say get after it and get it figured out.

I've done a fair bit of guiding from Montana down to Sonora. So, if I can be of any help just PM me and I'll try to help you sort it out.

You should be able to find some good ranch hunts in the ranges of $4000 to $6000. Just be careful and check your references out very carefully. I am of the opinion that about 85% of the outfitters are people you do not want to do business with.

Good luck and let me know if I can be of any help.

MD

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I am of the opinion that about 85% of the outfitters are people you do not want to do business with.

Mark, that's a sad and sobering truth.

There's no question that I'd look to New Mexico instead of Arizona, simply because there's no drawing to contend with in order to secure a landowner tag on a quality hunting property, and you have a tremendous chance at taking a big bull.

One of the best and least-known places to hunt elk in New Mexico that offers a great chance at a stupendous B&C bull is at the Acoma Pueblo. This is big, wild country, and it's not too steep, so it would work well for an older hunter in reasonable physical condition.

It's not cheap, not by any means, but it's less expensive than White Mt. or San Carlos, and I think there's a one to two year wait to ge in, which isn't bad. You'll be hunting truly wild elk (without names or ear tags!) in their natural, unfenced high-desert habitat, so this is REAL elk hunting, not some canned, high-priced package deal that includes 'guarantees'.

Real hunts NEVER come with guarantees.........

Send me a PM if you're interested, and I'll provide contact details.

AD

Thanks all for the input!

I've been incredibly busy and between life stuff and reading up on different outfitters I've had little time to get on the board.

Some of these hunts are to expensive for us. I'm not against spending some money but some of these $30k hunts are rediculous. I hope to find what I would like for at least a third of that, if not even less. Maybe someday but thats a lot of money! Nate

Bigate, you don't have to pay ten grand for a good elk hunt. Check with Ray Atkinson (on this board, in Twin Falls, Idaho), who can probably fix you up with a good outfitter here in Idaho, who won't bust your bank account for a long remembered hunt.

Here is one outfitter I know who is honest, outstanding, and hunts a really good area.
Sawtooth Wilderness Outfitters, wwwsawtoothadventures.com. Also contact Idaho Outfitters & Guide Assoc. at http://www.ioga.org, and ask them for outfitters names, etc.

One thing about Idaho, however, is to remember that although the hunting is good, the country is rough in most good hunting areas. Be in shape if you come to Idaho.

Good luck. L.W.