Thorofare wilderness hunt

[Colorado Cowboy]

I had heard about Thorofare for 25 years and decided to celebrate my 70th birthday on a hunt there in 2011. I picked an outfitter after contacting 3. Spent 6 month preparing ( gym time, walking 3 to 4 miles daily and horseback riding). Long, spectacular ride of 9 1/2 hours and about 32 miles. I hunted second week. In the saddle every day before daylight and back to camp in the dark. Saw bears and wolves almost every day. Saw one nice bull the first day, running up a ridge about 400 yards away and I passed. We kept pounding the area every day and seeing almost no elk. I talked to the guide about going to another area with no luck. Bottom line is camp got 1 elk a 5x5 for 5 hunters. When I got back to the trailhead I talked to the outfitter and left pretty pissed off. He said the wolves have really moved into his area and were giving the elk a hard time. I wrote him a letter and never heard a word back. Great country, but bad timing and an outfitter who lied to me.

 

[DanMan]

I have heard enough similar experiences as this one from CC to know that all hunts / camps and outfitters in the thorofare are not equal. But then again that's true anywhere you hunt.
I continue to be impressed with the Consistent Quality of hunts provided by CQ outfitters.

 

[Split toe]

I will be headed west for a hunt with YO in a couple days. Fingers crossed!

Good luck and come back and give us a report!

 

[mntnguide]

I will be headed west for a hunt with YO in a couple days. Fingers crossed!

Dont forget your snow clothes. Its white up there. Should be good timing for your hunt and movin some elk out of the park.

 

[voltage]

Dont forget your snow clothes. Its white up there. Should be good timing for your hunt and movin some elk out of the park.

Thanks for the tip. I have everything (and then some) packed, and am ready for one heck of an adventure.

 

[T-town]

Good luck and give us a good write up when you get out of the wilderness. 1446 days until I head up the trail with YO.

 

[DanMan]

Are you sure you kin skin griz?
Watch yer top knot Pilgrim

 

[TedO]

I had heard about Thorofare for 25 years and decided to celebrate my 70th birthday on a hunt there in 2011. I picked an outfitter after contacting 3. Spent 6 month preparing ( gym time, walking 3 to 4 miles daily and horseback riding). Long, spectacular ride of 9 1/2 hours and about 32 miles. I hunted second week. In the saddle every day before daylight and back to camp in the dark. Saw bears and wolves almost every day. Saw one nice bull the first day, running up a ridge about 400 yards away and I passed. We kept pounding the area every day and seeing almost no elk. I talked to the guide about going to another area with no luck. Bottom line is camp got 1 elk a 5x5 for 5 hunters. When I got back to the trailhead I talked to the outfitter and left pretty pissed off. He said the wolves have really moved into his area and were giving the elk a hard time. I wrote him a letter and never heard a word back. Great country, but bad timing and an outfitter who lied to me.View attachment 949698

Which outfitter did you hunt with?

 

[Floated_down]

I had heard about Thorofare for 25 years and decided to celebrate my 70th birthday on a hunt there in 2011. I picked an outfitter after contacting 3. Spent 6 month preparing ( gym time, walking 3 to 4 miles daily and horseback riding). Long, spectacular ride of 9 1/2 hours and about 32 miles. I hunted second week. In the saddle every day before daylight and back to camp in the dark. Saw bears and wolves almost every day. Saw one nice bull the first day, running up a ridge about 400 yards away and I passed. We kept pounding the area every day and seeing almost no elk. I talked to the guide about going to another area with no luck. Bottom line is camp got 1 elk a 5x5 for 5 hunters. When I got back to the trailhead I talked to the outfitter and left pretty pissed off. He said the wolves have really moved into his area and were giving the elk a hard time. I wrote him a letter and never heard a word back. Great country, but bad timing and an outfitter who lied to me.

what was the lie?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I asked specifically about the wolves and their effect on the elk. I also asked about deer. The outfitter told me no problem. I never saw a deer and only about 10 to 15 elk on the whole trip. The outfitter was Bill Perry owner of Hidden Creek.

 

[Floated_down]

I asked specifically about the wolves and their effect on the elk. I also asked about deer. The outfitter told me no problem. I never saw a deer and only about 10 to 15 elk on the whole trip. The outfitter was Bill Perry owner of Hidden Creek.

It's obviously pretty common knowledge that there are wolves throughout the GYE. They cover crazy amounts of ground and can move from unit to unit on a whim. I saw 4 wolves and lots of wolf sign two days before I shot my elk. Sorry you guys had a tough hunt, but I'm not sure its fair to blame the outfitter for the existence of wolves.