Hunting & Fishing Elk outfitter recommendation

[kwlazycarr]

Looking for outfitter recommendations for 2019-2020 season. I’ll take any referrals y’all have. Thanks in advance.

 

[Jsmith410]

Do you have a particular state you’re looking in?

 

[kwlazycarr]

Preferably New Mexico but very open.

 

[Enthusiast80]

To OP,

I don't have any recommendations, unfortunately, but I did get a recommendation for an outfitter in the area I was looking originally. I emailed him and called him and got zero response. I waited a couple days and moved on. I found the outfitter I am going to be using in CO by scouring the internet. Once I found one I liked, I checked out everything I could about them online. After that, I called the local DNR office where they operate and asked about them. The local DNR was a wealth of knowledge. I, thoroughly, recommend calling them once you settle on where you are going to hunt. I posted a thread on here hoping someone had hunted with them before but got no response. Finally, I called the outfitter. Had a great conversation. The owner and I spoke for about a half hour as I peppered him with questions. I liked his answers and he gave me some references. I am scheduled for a 2nd season elk hunt in 2019 with them.

Looks like I am kind of rolling the dice but I tried weighting the dice in my favor as much as I could. Good luck on your search. I hope you have a fun and successful hunt.

 

[kwlazycarr]

Thanks for the input. Good luck with your hunt.

 

[deltawiskey]

Al Bayer in Idaho...you would be hard pressed to find a better guide!!
https://elkspringsoutfitters.net/
DW

 

[kwlazycarr]

I’ll look into him. Thanks

 

[BattleBorn]

Black Mountain Outfitters is a good bunch of guys and does several states including NM and AZ. If your willing to spend the money, Vermejo Park Ranch outside Raton NM is amazing. But runs about 16k for a trophy bull hunt.

 

[45.308]

Do your research and once you narrow it down, 100% call and ask fish and game. Every year with out fail, hunters get taken in Alaska by illegal guides and those with very poor F&G records / complaints. Always ask for a full disclosure from your guide. Ask for a list of prior clients and call them. On my registration there was a box to check if they are willing to be contacted by future clients so I always provided that information up front. And if every prior client have a glowing report again be leery. Not every client will be 100%, ask for that list too. If they are unwilling to provide, I would suggest go elsewhere. Look for red flags, didn't know the area (understand guides have permits for special areas but at times there is such a term as guiding blind which means the guide has no experience in that unit / area, its not a bad thing to guide blind , unsafe, will take the risk of something illegal even if so minor, meat care.

Be leery of those who offer high success and especially without proof from prior clients / F&G.

Make a list of questions before calling. Get answers and call again with additional questions. I prefer phone calls, you can get a better feel of client Vs email which are OK for general questions and info.

And don't forget to toke your guide, assistant guide and camp usually an apprentice guide who does most of the behind the scenes work to provide you with a superb hunt. Its say a lot about you to handshake the camp chore and give him a toke. Some just hand the owner or lead guide and let it be. If you were satisfied of course.

Be prepared yourself. Get up early. Do some chores around camp especially on weather days. Act like you want to be there even when things so south and they do.

 

[isofahunter]

I echo 45.308 points. Have your shit squared away and be honest about your abilities and share with guide. I guided a guy one hunt that said he was in great shape and looked to be so. He failed to mention the bum knee and after day one of living like a bull elk he was done.

 

[kwlazycarr]

Good info. Thank you gentleman