Anybody know a good elk guide for Colorado?

[semper fi]

If this is the wrong place feel free to move it.
I am trying to book a hunt for 2010 for Colorado. Does anybody have any good guides or outfitters they would recomend. After searching the web I have came up with more questions than I started with.. I have talked to several over the phone and they all promise the moon.. but I would like to hear from anybody who has someone they would recomend for a good bow hunt. I dont want to blow the money I have saved for the trip on a bad guide or bad outfitter. I aint looking for a monster just a place that will do their best to put me on a bull. Anybody got a few sugestions?

[LKH]

You probably need to identify where you can hunt with whatever pref points you have before you can identify an outfitter.

[pumatrax]

My recommendation is contact the Colorado Division of Wildlife...check out the success rate and bull to cow ratios for a particular GMU..(game management unit)..I wouldn't recommend going to an open (over the counter area)..everyone and their brothers can go to..pick an area where you need a preference point or two to draw(where there are a LIMITED number of licenses for the GMU...then go it alone without an outfitter....especially for traditional archery...do your research and get in shape

[rappstar]

I didn't want to say it but pumatrax said it so I'll pile on.  Go hunt on your own!

If you don't have any points, there are a lot of good over-the-counter units in CO where you will have legit opportunities for a bull elk.

Spend the money you saved for a guide on some cool stuff for yourself.  Buy all of the Elknut DVD's and watch them a lot.  Hit the CDOW website to narrow down a GMU or two.  Get some maps and start planning!  

You can get away from other hunters without a ton of effort and the Elknut DVD's will teach you right away what you would otherwise learn in about 5 years of hunting elk.

[pumatrax]

there are quite a few "so called" outfitters operating here with no license...they take you out on public land and charge you a small fortune...be Very careful ..confirm their license with the Division of Wildlife...no sense paying for something you can do yourself...I'm 55 years old and a native Coloradoan, been here all my life..kinda resent seeing what a "money game" hunting is becoming...good luck

[Tater]

Some very good information here. No matter which way you decide to go do your homework ask for refrences and then ask for more.
  All the information is out there with a little effort.
        A DIY hunt is really not that tough just takes planning and the big part whether guided or unguided GET IN SHAPE it will make all the difference in your hunting experience.

[rastaman]

Fred Eichler runs Fulldraw outfitters and offers hunts in Colorado.

[Stripstrike1]

Mark Horne "sponsor here" and his brother run a first rate operation in Colorado. Contact them through their website here on this site.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by rastaman:
Fred Eichler runs Fulldraw outfitters and offers hunts in Colorado.

 ^

[Kevin Winkler]

I would recommend that you contact Joe Sanchez at Eagle Spirit Outfitters in Steamboat Springs CO.
 http://www.eaglespiritoutfitters.com/

I and two of my friends hunted with them the last week of archery season this year. Another friend of mine told me about them and said we wouldn't be disappointed. And he was right! We all had a great hunt and saw lots of elk.

Joe's two sons Joseph and Jacob are both traditional bowhunters and certainly know how to bowhunt Elk!  
They had five hunters in camp the last week of season and two guys had several shots, but due to one thing or another never connected, my one friend Bill shot a decent 3x4, my other friend Erv never got a shot and I got a respectable 5x5 with my longbow. Joseph and Jacob put several Bulls into most everyone's shooting range. The day I shot mine I had another nice bull come into Jacob's calling that morning at 10yds but I couldn't get a shot.

You won't be unhappy with Eagle Spirit if that is the type of hunt you would be looking for.