Personalized Guided Elk Hunt

Shields08

Shields08

FNG
Joined
Nov 3, 2020
Messages
8
Location
Mississippi
Sorry ahead for the long winded post. I see post on here with little to no background info, so I am trying to paint a detailed picture of my situation. I am new to western hunting as I am from the southeastern US. However I have 7 points for Elk & Deer in both Wyoming and Montana. I am an avid hunter, but never been west. I am starting to prepare for cashing in some points and starting to learn how to hunt in the mountains. Thinking of starting with Elk. I am the type of guy who seeks adventure and would love to do trips DIY style, but also don't have any friends that care enough about it to go out west with me. So doing all this solo, I think the best way to cut my teeth and learn is through a guide. I have the means to pay for a good hunt so that's not the problem, and I think I have enough points to draw some units that offer pretty good opportunity as well. However, the experience I am looking for doesn't sound like it's easy to find with typical outfitters. Everyone wants to harvest a huge trophy and so do I, but I want to experience a true mountain adventure with someone I can trust that can teach me 1 on 1 about the planning, map scouting, hunt style, mountaineering, woodsmanship, habits of western species, etc. I don't want to be just a number in an 8 man camp who just tags along behind a guide until he just tells me there it is and shoot. I am looking for a guide, but a more hands on approach so I can truly learn. I know I definitely want to do this backcountry style in some rugged beautiful mountains. I am 40 yrs old but very good shape and physical condition. I have GoHunt Insider. For Wyoming Elk, the area's around Yellowstone look very appealing. Riding way back in for 10 days sounds awesome. Unit 60, 51,59 etc all look like good adventure hunts with trophy potential. Also the Bighorns in north cental WY look good too. But most important to me is who i'm out there with and the total experience. I've heard Yellowstone Outfitters is top notch in Thorofare, along with Constant quest and a few others working in the Big Horn's as well. But most of these are taking large groups every week or so and just funnel people through. I'm looking for a less crowded personal hunt. I hear archery is way less crowded and less crowds. I don't really want a drop camp, especially in G-Bear territory. What other options or guides operate in WY, MT, or even ID that offer something like I am describing. I see Jackson Hole Outfitters says they offer personalized guided hunts with very small groups etc. but I can't find any real hunting reviews on their operation. Has anyone heard or experienced their hunts? I know these guides are booked a few years in advance, so I am trying to get a reservation in but not really finding what I thought was out there. Any info would help. On a side note, this experience is described perfectly by Jay Nichol (Mindful Hunter) on the GoHunt podcast Ep.172 Time stamp 37:00
 
I can’t help you with any guides but I was in the same situation you’re in when I first started hunting out west. I never could find anyone to go and after looking at maps for a couple years I loaded my truck up and headed west by myself. As far as hunting goes it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. My second year there I saw the same locals I saw the year before and started hanging out with them in the evenings after hunting. They taught me a lot and I’ve been hunting with them off and on for about 20 years now. My advice would be to study as much as you can and just get out there without burning your points at first. Now the guys that would never go with me want to go every year. I took a friend out there once and will never make that mistake again.
 
Am a fan of using a knowledgable guide to shorten the learning curve.

You may want to consider doing a guided black bear (1:1 spot and stalk - no bait) hunt in the area(s) that you want to go hunt elk in. Tell the outfitter that you want to learn and have questions. You get to cover the same country, look at the same food and water sources, get to see the same animals (bear/elk/deer/etc), get to look at the same trails, etc. You can hit the guide up when you want and get instant feedback to your questions. The guide can point out subtle signs on the trails that most folks miss. The guide can tell you about the winds, what they do at what time under what temperatures, etc.
 
Maybe try something like this:

Cliff Gray elk class

I have watched almost all of Cliff Gray's videos. I really like him and his stuff. Watch a few videos and see if you would get along.

His class/experience sounds like exactly what you are looking for. And it is much cheaper than a guided hunt. And it doesn't use up your points.
 
I was in your spot a few years ago and planning a solo elk hunt until my wife thought differently of it.

I took a leap and hired a guide, it greatly accelerated the learning curve. It was a great trip with great people.

I'm a big fan of Cliff, soaking up all I can from his years of experience as a back country guide.
 
Slick8 said:
I was in your spot a few years ago and planning a solo elk hunt until my wife thought differently of it.

I took a leap and hired a guide, it greatly accelerated the learning curve. It was a great trip with great people.

I'm a big fan of Cliff, soaking up all I can from his years of experience as a back country guide.
Click to expand...
The quality of the guide makes a huge difference.
 
You will not find what you are looking for. There is no way to research to be sure your guide will be friendly personable with good communication skills and willing to make your hunt and educational experience.

God’s work long hard days. They have one goal. Keep the Hunter happy. Usually that means killing an elk. That is their soul focus. A guide with a good personality can definitely pass on some knowledge. But personally, I think the best way to learn how to help an elk is to do it on your own. My first two hunts back in the early 80s were guided. They were the worst hunts I have ever done. Didn’t kill anything and didn’t learn anything.After those hunts, I’ve killed bulls in both of the same areas. As a matter of fact, 20 years later, I was the licensed outfitter in that area believe it or not.

I have since sold that outfit. I operate a different type of service now. I help hunters get started on DIY hunting. I am familiar with Yellowstone Outfitters. I have at leased horses from them for 12 years. They are probably your best choice but make no mistake they are extremely busy.

You have a good attitude and you are definitely on the right track. Getting started with Western hunting is never easy. There is no crash course. I know you don’t wanna hear that but actual experience is really the only way to learn. Have you considered applying for a call tag to get your feet wet? You can gain some experience in the mountains and learn your area before going back to hunt bulls.

I’ll send you a message. Maybe you’ll be interested in a solid plan to get started. Are you archery hunting or rifle?
 
Take a look at Elkbros adventure camps out of new mexico. They take the coaching approach and work with you throughout the summer to shorten your curve when you show up.
 
Th
Indian Summer said:
You will not find what you are looking for. There is no way to research to be sure your guide will be friendly personable with good communication skills and willing to make your hunt and educational experience.

God’s work long hard days. They have one goal. Keep the Hunter happy. Usually that means killing an elk. That is their soul focus. A guide with a good personality can definitely pass on some knowledge. But personally, I think the best way to learn how to help an elk is to do it on your own. My first two hunts back in the early 80s were guided. They were the worst hunts I have ever done. Didn’t kill anything and didn’t learn anything.After those hunts, I’ve killed bulls in both of the same areas. As a matter of fact, 20 years later, I was the licensed outfitter in that area believe it or not.

I have since sold that outfit. I operate a different type of service now. I help hunters get started on DIY hunting. I am familiar with Yellowstone Outfitters. I have at leased horses from them for 12 years. They are probably your best choice but make no mistake they are extremely busy.

You have a good attitude and you are definitely on the right track. Getting started with Western hunting is never easy. There is no crash course. I know you don’t wanna hear that but actual experience is really the only way to learn. Have you considered applying for a call tag to get your feet wet? You can gain some experience in the mountains and learn your area before going back to hunt bulls.

I’ll send you a message. Maybe you’ll be interested in a solid plan to get started. Are you archery hunting or rifle?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the detailed reply. I have considered starting with spring bear, or even antelope. I have 6 Antelope points in WY, but that hunt while fun is completely different than a mountain hunt. I'm in the situation that it's such an expensive haul out there, when I go, I want it to also be an opportunity at a descent animal that gets me excited. Cow tags or spike Bulls just don't really do it for me. I am willing to go rifle or archery, but I hear that archery is just more intense and fun around peak rut. I don't mind doing mule deer first either, but seems like with my point range I can draw a pretty dang good elk tag, but only a decent deer tag. With the elk points I have, no sense in letting them accumulate because i'm now in that slot where it doesn't really change again until I get over 14-16 points, and I'm not waiting that long. So I'm ok to burn them and start over.
 
If you don't want to be just one of 8 dudes in a camp, then logically it makes sense to go for a unit that has limited tags. If there are only 5 NR tags in a unit, then you may be the ONLY dude in camp. I certainly don't want to call out any specific units, but I think you know how to find what I'm suggesting.
 
I say, "Just Do it"

You learn little from following a guide through thew woods for 5 days. Get out there on your own and plan on spending more time.

You WILL draw a WY tag. Get out there in the late summer, drive and hike your unit.

Hint; The main factor you have to consider is hunter pressure. Where do those animals go when pressured?
 
See if you can draw a cow tag in one of the areas you're looking at for bulls and come see what you're up against.
As far as hunting grizz country, have fun it's not for me. We have plenty of nice bulls and not around grizzly bears.
Why worry about bears when you could just be hunting in a more relaxed setting ?
 
Folks should do a better job at selecting an outfitter and ensuring they get a quality guide.

Black bear kicked my butt for years. Literal man-months chasing them and always a day late and a dollar short.

Got an outfitter to understand that I wanted to learn and got hooked up. I gained a massive amount of knowledge during that week long bear hunt; considerably more than I did the entire time I spent chasing them solo. It was money well spent just on the bear lessons. What to look at during spring vs fall. What food sources when, understand that bears are going to eat what they want when they want and don't care about this awesome food source right here. How to judge a bear based upon poop, tracks, visual on size and demeanor. That area where bear would never be is full of "dead" plants; but those plants aren't dead but a bear ate part of it so go look for more of them (uneaten). What they tend to do when bumped by humans. What the likely are going to do in the morning vs afternoon and how to intercept them. The list goes on.

But it was also the other stuff. Glass up elk? That's a Q&A session. Glass up mule deer? Yep the same. Glass up whitetail? Same. Javelina? Same. Learned a ton about cats, both lion and bobcats, and how to know when one came through. Other critters that can and cannot be legally hunted? Same.

I continue to count my blessings that chose to ignore the sage advice of the RS elite and paid to get all of my questions answered. Finding bear is no longer an issue. Everything I learned on that single hunt has paid dividends on all of my hunts no matter where I go.

Do what makes sense for you.
 
AZ_Hunter_2000 said:
Folks should do a better job at selecting an outfitter and ensuring they get a quality guide.

Black bear kicked my butt for years. Literal man-months chasing them and always a day late and a dollar short.

Got an outfitter to understand that I wanted to learn and got hooked up. I gained a massive amount of knowledge during that week long bear hunt; considerably more than I did the entire time I spent chasing them solo. It was money well spent just on the bear lessons. What to look at during spring vs fall. What food sources when, understand that bears are going to eat what they want when they want and don't care about this awesome food source right here. How to judge a bear based upon poop, tracks, visual on size and demeanor. That area where bear would never be is full of "dead" plants; but those plants aren't dead but a bear ate part of it so go look for more of them (uneaten). What they tend to do when bumped by humans. What the likely are going to do in the morning vs afternoon and how to intercept them. The list goes on.

But it was also the other stuff. Glass up elk? That's a Q&A session. Glass up mule deer? Yep the same. Glass up whitetail? Same. Javelina? Same. Learned a ton about cats, both lion and bobcats, and how to know when one came through. Other critters that can and cannot be legally hunted? Same.

I continue to count my blessings that chose to ignore the sage advice of the RS elite and paid to get all of my questions answered. Finding bear is no longer an issue. Everything I learned on that single hunt has paid dividends on all of my hunts no matter where I go.

Do what makes sense for you.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you found a great connection and opportunity to get started. Do you mind sharing who you went out with? Or PM me?
 
I am really surprised nobody here has any experience with or know someone who has used Jackson Hole Outfitters. They seem very popular with trail rides and pack trips. Their website talks about customizing small group personalized guided hunts. I would just like to hear from some that may have experienced their hunts.
 
I can't help with guides but if your goal is to eventually do diy backcountry hunts I would recommend doing some off season extended backpacking trips out west. Hunting with horses and a wall tent is much different than the backcountry with everything on your back.



Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
You could network and go with someone very experienced as a party. Another couple of years and you would have the points to bring someone along that is very experienced that has recently burned his points.

That would be a win win for both parties.
 
Shields08 said:
Sorry ahead for the long winded post. I see post on here with little to no background info, so I am trying to paint a detailed picture of my situation. I am new to western hunting as I am from the southeastern US. However I have 7 points for Elk & Deer in both Wyoming and Montana. I am an avid hunter, but never been west. I am starting to prepare for cashing in some points and starting to learn how to hunt in the mountains. Thinking of starting with Elk. I am the type of guy who seeks adventure and would love to do trips DIY style, but also don't have any friends that care enough about it to go out west with me. So doing all this solo, I think the best way to cut my teeth and learn is through a guide. I have the means to pay for a good hunt so that's not the problem, and I think I have enough points to draw some units that offer pretty good opportunity as well. However, the experience I am looking for doesn't sound like it's easy to find with typical outfitters. Everyone wants to harvest a huge trophy and so do I, but I want to experience a true mountain adventure with someone I can trust that can teach me 1 on 1 about the planning, map scouting, hunt style, mountaineering, woodsmanship, habits of western species, etc. I don't want to be just a number in an 8 man camp who just tags along behind a guide until he just tells me there it is and shoot. I am looking for a guide, but a more hands on approach so I can truly learn. I know I definitely want to do this backcountry style in some rugged beautiful mountains. I am 40 yrs old but very good shape and physical condition. I have GoHunt Insider. For Wyoming Elk, the area's around Yellowstone look very appealing. Riding way back in for 10 days sounds awesome. Unit 60, 51,59 etc all look like good adventure hunts with trophy potential. Also the Bighorns in north cental WY look good too. But most important to me is who i'm out there with and the total experience. I've heard Yellowstone Outfitters is top notch in Thorofare, along with Constant quest and a few others working in the Big Horn's as well. But most of these are taking large groups every week or so and just funnel people through. I'm looking for a less crowded personal hunt. I hear archery is way less crowded and less crowds. I don't really want a drop camp, especially in G-Bear territory. What other options or guides operate in WY, MT, or even ID that offer something like I am describing. I see Jackson Hole Outfitters says they offer personalized guided hunts with very small groups etc. but I can't find any real hunting reviews on their operation. Has anyone heard or experienced their hunts? I know these guides are booked a few years in advance, so I am trying to get a reservation in but not really finding what I thought was out there. Any info would help. On a side note, this experience is described perfectly by Jay Nichol (Mindful Hunter) on the GoHunt podcast Ep.172 Time stamp 37:00
Click to expand...

PM inbound.
 
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