need advice on good elk dropcamp outfitter, good backpack in area or private land acc

[J from Denmark]

Hello guys and gals
We are two freinds here from Denmark that want to do a diy type elkhunt in 2018
I am pretty much looking for the same as most people are.. good elknumbers and few other hunters.
We want to hunt in a beatifull mountainrich area and want to hunt on our own and wouldnt mind paying for acces or outfitter drop camp if thats what it takes to get to the right area.
We are quite experienced and decently fit and know that the hunt can be very physically challinging and we see this as a part of the lure in this.
I am pretty deep into doing rechearch right now and its very hard to find the right area or the right outfitter.. it seems like everytime I find an area that looks promising I will afterwards find negative comments on the netforums and so on about high huntingpressure or unreliable elknumbers.
I know that there are no "sure bets" but just looking for some good firtshand experiences from you guys.
Any kind of advice will be welcome
Thanks

[CraigC]

Several years ago I hunted with an outfitter in South West Colorado in the San Juan mountain range. From our camp site we could see Mnt. Uncompahgre. We hunted with this outfitter 4 years in a row.  Over those years we tried the outfitted hunt, guided hunt, and a drop camp hunt. It was a rugged hunt requiring the use of horses to get to camp site which was at 13,000. Being at that elevation requied you to be in good shape and it took a couple of days to acclimate.  We were always in elk but it was rugged and required lots of hiking to get to them. I enjoyed it! Like I said its been awhile so let me check on the status of this outfitter and I will get back to you

[J from Denmark]

Craig, on the advice of Mike Vestvang I am actually checking out San Juan Outfitters With Justin Adkisson right now. Think They might be perfekt for a dropcamp setup..

[Nala]

This is so awesome!  

Here's a couple fellow TRAD hunters from Denmark and are here getting advice to come here in 2018 for the hunt of a lifetime, one that many of us dream about doing one day.

I really like seeing and reading about this stuff.  So cool having these guys coming over to experience some of the most beautiful country and wildlife the USA has to offer.

I welcome them and am glad they are coming here and wish them every success.  Hopefully the hunt they have will match up to the hunt they are dreaming of.  

Larry

[JohnV]

A drop camp sounds like a good option for you.  The outfitter will provide nearly all the camp gear and should set you up in a decent area where you have a good chance to actually see some elk.  In addition, they will help you pack out meat if you get anything.  I once did a drop camp with Larry Amos at Winterhawk Outfitters and was pleased with his setup.  Over the counter tags in Colorado.  Google Winterhawk for info.  Two of us got into elk just about every day.  My friend killed a cow and I passed on a 3 yard shot at a cow, hoping to take a nice bull.  This was 15 years ago so you need to check up on how his camps have done lately.

[CraigC]

I have yet to find any info on that outfitter...I've been search the web and have come up empty...he may have retired...still looking...when we did the drop camp everything was provide tent, food, cooking gear..they packed us into an area that had elk via horses.

[HMlongbow]

try out TwoBear outfitters in Hamilton Montana.
Elkoutfitters.com and Alan will set you up it is a unlimited draw unit so you need to put in by March 15 and you will draw.  No over the counter tags or surplus tags here.  You put in for it you will get them unlimited and he has a drop camp you won't see any hunters

[calgarychef]

Something that comes to mind if you haven't been in the back country much (maybe you do have experience, so if you do no offence intended) is perhaps get someone to show you around for a day or two until you get the feel for your surroundings.  Being in a different ecosystem is a bit unsettling.

[wingnut]

If I'm not mistaken Winterhawk sold out to San Juan Outfitters.

Mike

[J from Denmark]

thanks for all the good advice folks
yes we want to hunt on our own but also we know the value of having somebody with knowlegde of the area get us in there and giving us the main pointers in that given area.
the real drill in my eyes are not to get into a dropcamp that the outfitter just has had hunters in right before us...
also it seems like there is areas with a higher chance of good elk numbers then others..

[wingnut]

Make sure you call and talk with the outfitter and with successful and unsuccessful clients before you book.  Also if you have a question make sure you ask it both on the phone and in email.  Sometimes things that we think we heard are not what was said.

30 years ago a friend and I booked a moose/mule deer hunt with an outfitter in BC.  We asked a bunch of questions in person and both thought we knew what to expect.  We were to pack in on horseback to the back country and hunt.  When we arrived we were introduced to the guide and piled into a pickup, taken to a cabin on a lake and started our hunt the next day 100 yds for a road.
After 3 days they moved us via truck higher on the mountain into a camp next to the road.

When we asked the outfitter about it when we saw him again at the end of hunt, he said we booked a moose hunt and that's what we got.

So ask the questions and set expectations. Get written answers so there can be no misunderstandings later.

Mike

[CraigC]

Hey guys sorry this took so long to get this info back to you but here is the site of a good CO outfitter:
 http://www.actionadventures.net/index.html

Jay Michell is the owner.  His son now runs the wilderness side of the business while Jay runs the hunts from a private ranch.

I talked to Jay today and booked a hunt on his private ranch for 2018.  He thinks he may have a cancellation in his 2017 hunts and if that's the case I will get that slot.

one thing that changed is it now take 4-5 years of preference points to hunt bulls in the wilderness area whereas the private ranch doesn't require any which is another reason I booked now...the last time I hunted it only took two year's of preference points so we could hunt bulls every other year.

Jay said he has a few traditional bow hunters ever year and he has shoot trad bows so he appreciates our style of hunting.

good luck
cc

[tecum-tha]

Good elk numbers and few other hunters, good luck with that.
You will most likely only get that in draw areas (good elk numbers maybe but also a good bunch of other hunters) or on private land (which they ask a pretty high price and will be more or less diy).
Over the counter units are pretty much completely overrun by hunters or there are not many elk.
Drop camps can be hit or miss, as the elk  do not care if it is hunting season or not but follow their own rhythm. We once hunted an OTC unit and there where some guys in an outfitted camp. The guys did not see an elk the whole time. I only saw 10 elk in 4 weeks of hunting in this area.
If the rut is late, you will not have much bugling bulls and your chances are getting lower to locate elk. If the rut is normal, you will have a good chance of getting something in the last two weeks of the season mostly. But the weather can be much closer to winter and you may be snowed in for a little bit. This is high mountain country with all its beauty and dangers.
If the hunting pressure gets too high in some areas, the elk are pushed lower onto private lands where you have no access.

[Crested Finger]

There are a lot of good public land options in Colorado.

[damascusdave]

Around here good elk hunting seems to be about those full time elk hunters aka wolves and cougars...Ask about their effects on the elk population...And have a plan for dealing with cougars that may see you as an easy meal

DDave

[ProAlpine]

My limited experience elk hunting has taught me that there are generally lots of elk, it's just a matter of finding them before the other hunters do. I spend my scouting days looking for where the other hunters have been, not looking for elk. A reliable outfitter may be a valuable resource for this.

What state do you want to hunt in?

[J from Denmark]

Thanks guys
Craig, I will look into action adventures..

No particular state, just where we can find the best opportunities.

The updated plan scince I started this thread is now that I am going this year also, but by myself on this first trip.
Still trying to find the right area or dropcampoutfit though