Recommendations for elk pack out near Gunnison CO

[TNHunter]

We are planning our annual elk hunt near Gunnison, Colorado and may need the services of someone to help pack out our elk this year. Any recommendations appreciated. Thx from Nashville

 

[Tsnider]

not sure but im curious if you can get one cheap this year. last i read they were predicting 40% of the herds in Gunnison will die off this winter resulting from the amount of snow.

 

[njdoxie]

not sure but im curious if you can get one cheap this year. last i read they were predicting 40% of the herds in Gunnison will die off this winter resulting from the amount of snow.

Can anyone confirm the 40%? If true, that's depressing, glad I hunt elsewhere in CO.
edit: sorry for thread hikack, hope someone can point u in the right direction, first try the outfitters in the area.

 

[oake]

Ferro's Blue Mesa Ranch

 

[Trogon]

If you are using an outfitter, you need to go through the outfitter that's permitted for the area you are hunting. Thats my understanding of the situation anyway.

 

[Hayguide]

I haven't seen the 40% , but who knows. Elk are way tougher that Mule deer. They have longer legs and bull through the snow better. In fact, they help the deer in feeding stations by making the trials. And Colorado does have a feeding program. They lost a bunch in 07/08-- because they did not respond fast enough. They have been feeding in the Gunnison Valley since Jan 15th according to the DOW. If you go to that site, you can see it. I would call out there. also- log into bowsite.com Click on Colorado- the locals out there are not as concerned from what I see, lots of snow- but if the weather changes they are saying its not that bleak! Nothing you can do anyway- I still plan on going to 751- I guess that area is getting the same winter.
And the info on packing out meat from Wild cat is correct. You have to use the outfitters who have that area, otherwise a local or out of state can help- but I don't think they can take money. I wouldn't bank on getting help, if you do great- but its not that easy and if you use the wrong guy and the DOW gets wind-not good at all! I get a drop camp for that reason, cant pack one down on my own anymore. I quarter and hang them- then have the drop camp wranglers take the meat down as part of the deal.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

For the OP outfitters are permitted in areas. Therefore you can't just call any outfitter and say come get our elk, and I suggest this to all hunters whether you like it or not find out who the permitted outfitter is in your area that you are hunting. This can serve many reasons needing game packed out in cause of weather, someone is injured and needs assistance, you have to get off the mountain quickly. You never know and making that quick phone call can save time, meat or a life.
But the deal with packers is they still have to be permitted in the area to pack. John Doe with 2 horses can't go in and pack out your elk for any sort of cash, trade or barter it is illegal. Yes I know many many guys hate this cause the outfitters corner the market but they have to pay for several things for them to do this.
So call an outfitter in the unit you want to hunt and ask his permit area and if it's not where you are hunting ask him for reference to the outfitter permitted.
Another good thing is call the outfitter before you hit the woods give him a heads up that you are in the area and may need his services. Nothing worse than getting a call at 4:30 in the afternoon to come get an animal when you have Camps the next day. If you let him know some outfits will have guys on call just in case. But last minute random calls a lot of times get turned down.

As for the 40% I'm saying no way, here's the deal the Dow launches this 40% deal when it was -30 in Gunnison and everyone freaked thinkin its gonna be another 07/08. But here's the deal in 07/08 it was -20 and lower for almost 2 months straight this is what killed the herd, this year we have a ton of snow but with the warm weather it's not as hard for the deer to dig and forage as well as they aren't trying to stay warm 24-7. These projections by the CPW has put a huge damper on my client booking and I'm in a completely different area than Gunnison. They did start feeding in January and I know a few guys in Gunnison that say it's a heavy snow winter but the elk and deer are doing just fine.

 

[Josh Wright]

Animals are doing fine. I'd say 15℅ of muleys at the most. Elk are great.

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[elkduds]

Thanks for the update, Josh, is that the Gunnison valley? I'm glad the locals there got the CPW moving on feeding or "baiting," when it was cold and deep.

 

[Hayguide]

so in other words, The sky is not falling- get your tag request in. I just got my booklet- getting ready to send that $641.00 check out, maybe that's why there feeding(baiting)

 

[Josh Wright]

Yes. I live in Gunnison basin.

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[Longshot]

Colorado Hunting and Fishing Guide and Outfitter | AEI Guide and Outfitter

 

[TNHunter]

Thanks for all the info. I hope that the elk herd stays strong. Buddy of mine been hunting Gunnison for last 20 years and loves it so much that he named his first born "Gunnison." I've been going last 3 years. Fine folks on Rokslide and Gunnison.

 

[ndbuck09]

I hunted in the Gunnison area for 2 years. My first 2 years of elk hunting. In hindsight back to 2010, my buddy and I would have been in a world of hurt had we gotten an elk down the 8 miles in that we were. I tried to call outfitters for the area prior to yr 2. I talked to the guy that has the ranch up the soap creek drainage right by the trailhead and he literally laughed and asked me why he would commit to helping guys hunt and pressure his outfitting area. Needless to say he was a lot of help...Not. Basically he said I could pay $2k a person on a drop hunt and that would include packing out an elk.

 

[plainview]

Ferro's Blue Mesa Ranch

[I've rented horses from Ferro's. If you are going to go that route you need some basic packing knowledge. It worked out OK for us ... a few minor wrecks ...but everything about that outfit is well worn. Tack, horses ... all of it. It was inexpensive, but we had our own trailer to get to and from the trailhead. I don't know if they do any actual packing for anyone. If they do, it's probably right above their headquarters ... which is just on the north side of the Blue Mesa Lake dam.[/I]

 

[Hayguide]

I would not be happy with my drop camp outfitter and would find a new one if he started packing meat out for DIY hunters venturing miles in farther than they could pack. I have no problem running into other hunters who don't do drops that have a way of packing out meat. Actually met one guy who was a local last year on the same hillside as me 1/2 mile away, he asked me where I was hunting and told me where he was. he shot a cow and I helped him with it. I shot a big bull the next day, didn't need any help because the wranglers came. I plan on walking to his camp next fall and visiting him again and sharing a beer or two-cool guy. 68 and still taking his horse and pack animals up the mountain by him self!

 

[D_Eightch]

I would not be happy with my drop camp outfitter and would find a new one if he started packing meat out for DIY hunters venturing miles in farther than they could pack. I have no problem running into other hunters who don't do drops that have a way of packing out meat. Actually met one guy who was a local last year on the same hillside as me 1/2 mile away, he asked me where I was hunting and told me where he was. he shot a cow and I helped him with it. I shot a big bull the next day, didn't need any help because the wranglers came. I plan on walking to his camp next fall and visiting him again and sharing a beer or two-cool guy. 68 and still taking his horse and pack animals up the mountain by him self!

What's the logic behind that if it is something they planned ahead of time? Who cares if they walked or rode a horse?

 

[Hayguide]

Well, that make more pressure in the area, for $300-500 its selling out the customers that paid more for a drop and cutting into there chances at killing elk and having a place with out a lot of pressure. The whole reason for a drop camp,. My outfitter and 3 others I have done solo drops on say no way. Most wouldn't walk in that far and expect to pack an animal out on there back, so he is protecting the clients from more pressure by not offering an easy way in and out- but if someone does it- go for it but its a long shot on a secure outfitter to get it out for them without a drop or pack in agreement.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

I guess as an outfitter, I feel your reasoning is very odd hayguide. Now my outfit will turn guys down if they ask us to pack guys into an area we already have a camp in cause that is for our clients, and most hunters understand that.
But when it comes to meat if someone did pack in to an area where my hunters are and harvest and they call me to get it off the mountain I will come in and get it. Not just for the money but that animal needs to get off the mountain and be harvested. I would be pissed if I came up on an animal that was spoiled as a hunter and the guys said well we called the outfitter and he said no so we got out as much as we could and it was just to hot.
I believe the outfitter owes it to the public as well as the animals to do all they can to assist everyone. Regardless of how their clients feel, an all my clients feel the same way they would rather get the animal off the mountain than watch it rot and turn an say well man we did pay for a drop camp and you didn't so you don't deserve it anyways.

It's public land I can't make guys not hunt there it's their choice just as my hunters paying me to drop camp vs hike in themselves.

 

[Hayguide]

I don't know of any outfitters or hunters ,or even the DOW who would let an animal rot, but pre arranging a pack out for someone in the area of your camps would make any paid drop camp group-mad- why would they pay 1800 a pop for the service and have the wranglers agree ahead of time for another a party to be close to a camp with the same pack services and no comittment? Not to mention, as a client we sign are lifes away on liability waivers-t that point your hired.
Its not good business. The post is about making pre- arranged pack out- not an after the fact decision. That's a big difference to the whole approach on the task at hand.
Your right in the fact everyone owes the respect to the meat and the sport-- in fact my group would attempt to help some one in the situation. But pre arranging it is a risky proposition for an outfitter with paid camps close by and it wouldn't go over to well . If you find one let me know, I wont book my drop, I will throw a small camp on my back and go in 6 miles and yell when I need help.