Re: Elk Outfitter suggestions?
J.Marsh, great question. Same kind of dilemma here about finding the right elk guide service and want to take someone not as experiences also. The trips are expensive and can create memories of a lifetime even if do not get an elk, so would like to vote with our dollars for someone good who will help us get the best opportunity at some nice ones. Getting a 6x6 or bigger even if hire a good guide may not happen while would like to be in a great place to try it at the right time of year, in shape, and be well practiced at anticipated range with intended hunting bullets. A couple outfitters I saw online at one of the smith sites here on SH but have no experiences with are:
http://www.purplesageoutfitting.net/
http://www.sawtoothbc.com/home.cfm
The Sawtooth Mountains are beautiful and have a good friend who works for the State of Idaho as a surveyor so is always in the woods. He has elk hunted his whole life with his family and gets some big ones so will see what or who he suggests. His family homesteaded in Idaho, not sure what the tag deal is there for out of state people while will look into it more. We worked together for years and travel often, so he will give me the straight scoop if he has any ideas. Have a book called Fly Idaho written in 1994 (adventure guide to the Idaho back country) about all the dirt air strips - has many services listed all over the state the author has never steered me wrong but do not know how to select the best ones without further first hand recommendations. Does anyone here know Idaho?
Example from the Sawtooth area one is listed in Fly Idaho, page G-9: "Sawtooth Wilderness Outfitters who does guided pack trips for elk, deer, cougar, bear, and fish in units 35, 36, & 39 with several hundred square miles of exclusive hunting rights. For information call Darl Allred, Box 81, Garden Valley, ID 83622. Summer phone (208) 259-3408 winter phone (208) 462-3416."
http://www.sawtoothadventures.com/
Talked to Darl and he will do Drop camps and get you set up with maps - once in an area the hunters are responsible for doing their own hunt so his normal deal is not totally guided. For rifle mule deer season is 10/10 to 10/31 and elk season is 10/15 to 11/8 so if go for elk and buy the extra deer tag there is two weeks were can go for both deer and elk at the same time.
(and my Fly Idaho book has info for other parts of the state written by a pilot who wrote this guide in 1994 and do not know where the best elk populations are in Idaho, but bet my surveyor friend might when I call him to help focus where most of the elk are).
Hear Utah and New Mexico have some big elk. Also NV. Personally have a soft spot for ID / NM as like the country but we need to be open to where the best opportunity is. Someone here, A10XRIFLE, on the SH got a nice one in New Mexico and the guide was Adam Archuleta:
http://www.angelcanyonoutfitters.com/
Not sure how his friends did on the same trip while sure you could ask. The thread with a picture of A10XRIFLE's nice elk is at:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1384416
And A10XRIFLE includes a comment right at the top of the thread in the OP after getting his nice bull that says, "I hear there are some Big Bulls and Muleys in the Glasgow Montana area. Hmmmm may have to find someone to take me." Confirms the advice above earlier in this thread to consider Montana for elk also.
From doing it for years please realize some elk hunts can be more physically demanding than others. Pick the hunting experience accordingly. When able to hike a lots of miles day after day without blisters in rough terrain and shoot a decent cannon it helps make the dream happen. If not you might want to be on horseback as often can get close with the animals. Some services fly you in or transport you somehow so the walk is not far to the shot. Do lots of homework when going elk hunting as others have said, while be assured you will not be able to control everything so at some point have to enjoy it doing your best no matter how the hunt results end up. Quality time in the outdoors with family and friends are some of the best.
