Well, i cant say i would ever recommend Cody Carr's Hunting Adventures for a november rifle elk hunt. As mentioned before, that is nasty country, with VERY few elk and not many mule deer either. It was foggy and low visibility the first 3 days of our hunt and plenty of snow. Very few elk tracks most anywhere we went. I finally saw a group of cows about 3 miles in the backcountry on day 4. Never saw a bull. Hit a giant muley buck in the backstrap on day 3. Somehow my turret got spun up to 300 yds, on a 100yd shot. I didnt check my turret before the shot. (mental error) It had never moved before and didnt even move one click afterwards. He fell off the back side of ridge and i couldnt get a follow up shot. Tracked about a mile in the snow and actually saw him again with a doe. No shot opportunity again, but he appeared to be fine at least.
Our guide was very knowledgeable, but all we did was drive around and hike gated roads and some trails. Usually, we were going behind other hunters. The place was crawling with hunters! Lots of road hunters and alot of our areas were just off the road on rock outcroppings to glass. As soon as we left a spot, another hunter would take our place and vice versa. Musical chairs with areas and hunters. Cody's operation is primarily about nice lodging and excellent food. Not so much about the hunting. Two very small legal bulls were killed of 8 hunters and no deer at all. These bulls were the hunters first, so i understand. Also, it wasnt like they saw any bigger bulls to choose from. Evidently, only one deer was killed at all in the two week period counting the week i was there. Muley numbers were very low. I hunted by myself for 3 of the 6 days. (my choice) as i was hoping to see the big muley again. Did a 9 mile hike in the newly dropped 10 inches of snow on the last day. Only saw one doe and not many tracks. In my opinion, this is not where you would want to spend 5000 bucks on a guided rifle elk hunt.
Oh, and Cody showed me a video of a giant bull elk when i arrived. Over 400 class bull with red stag type crowns on each beam! Said it was in the Trout creek area from back in August. I immediately thought he was full of shit, but didnt call him out on it. I know i have seen that clip before, i just dont remember when. None of the other guides in camp knew anything about that bull. I will be wondering if it was a flat out lie or not. I guess some outfitters just want to tell you what you want to hear.