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We have booked with Western Colorado Outfitters in Montrose Colorado for the 2nd Rifle Season
We might be looking for something different next year. Any information would be great
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I have never done a guided trip, but myself, my father, and two others have gone elk hunting on our own in the Rockies both in 2014, and 2015. I don't think we will be able go for 2016.
One thing we found in all our research is that a guided hunt is expensive and no hunt is a guarantee.
If your stuff isn't being brought into the back country via pack horse plan to hike your ass of bringing all yourself and gear as far off the beaten path as you can stand to go.
We had all hunted deer since childhood so none of us were novice, just novice to Elk.
Don't get discouraged, they can be one of the most elusive animals to hunt, unless you get lucky and catch them in rut when they are bugling.
We always hear stories about huge elk herds and bugling during second rifle season but we never saw it. I don't think I saw more then three elk together, and they are gone like a flash.
2014 one guy in our group got a nice bull elk. I got a small mule deer.
2015 one guy got a huge mule deer. No elk.
2016 I have trouble getting time off at my work
2017 we hope to try our hand at archery and hope we can catch them in rut.
If I was going on a guided hunt I would probably pick a state that requires you to have a guide, well because I would never be able to hunt there without one...
I will post some pictures when I can.
ETA/ I will sub to the thread and try to answer any questions I can.