Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting I want to hunt elk this year but..........

I love to hunt elk more than anything but a new baby and family and work travel have destroyed Oct for me. The soonest I can leave home is Nov 2. I don't like getting started late on a season so OTC 3rd in CO is not my first choice. I have always done DIY but might consider an outfitter that isn't too "hands on". Bull and or cow is fine this year. I would really appreciate suggestions on states, seasons, outfitters and other options anyone here might have to offer. Thanks so much in advance!

Most of the good outfitters I know are booked for this year. However, you could drive from somewhere down in TX to Colorado on the 2nd and get your camp set up. That would still give you seven days to enjoy your hunt. Better than not going. Just a thought. Good luck.

New Mexico is your huckleberry if you're looking for a cow tag later in the season. Land owner tags can be picked up pretty easily.

ro: that's what I'm thinking - thanks for the reply
jm: I'm certainly interested in this. Do you have suggestions as to where to start? Thanks!

Most of the outfitters that have cow tags left over advertise in the Albuquerque Journal classifieds. You will also see some bull tags advertised, as well, as the season progresses. You can subscribe to the Journal on the 'net. It costs about $2.30 or so a week for a digital subscription.

keep your eye's peeled on the classifieds here, and check out ABQ craigslist too.

A google search and a few phone calls couldn't hurt either. Vermejo normally has late season cow tags right around $600

Edit: this will be a price on top of the state tag prices**

Thanks again fellas.

Vermejo is sold out unless you want a fully guided/lodge deal fwiw.

Get ahold of Kiowa Outitters or Tristate Outfitters for Raton NM elk late

3rd season is the Best season... .. .

4th is what I recommend to everyone

When the filet is gone, the Sirloin aint' so bad�

Blackbrush, if you're primarily looking for meat I'm sure you can still find a guided cow elk hunt available. I have hunted cow elk with J&J Outfitters in Utah, and despite very cold weather I saw plenty of elk and tagged a cow early in the trip. I think the closest cow elk hunt to Texas would probably be near Raton, NM.

Guided cow elk hunts aren't free, but I think they are well worth the cost. I think mine was about $1500, and that came with meals, lodging, and most important help to get the meat out of the mountains/off the ranch (one was kind enough to die in a gully) and in the back of your truck!

I'm booked with Kiowa for Jnuary 6th. Have to double check the date but it's right around there. FWIW i\I've booked withthe in 2009 for Antelope, 2010 for elk, 2014 for elk and and as I said 2015 for elk, So far I'm batting 1,000 for the hunts so far.
The cow elk hunt is on the Vermejo Park ranch and is basically a cull hunt. You can knock off $100 if you bring a friend to hunt. AFAIK, he's had a 100 percent success rate on this hunt. It is a 640,000 acre ranch and there's lots of elk.
Dunno if he's booked out yet. I just book at the time I pay the last half of the hunt money.

PH: id 575-445-9330
WWW,kiowahunting.com.

If you call, tell Tim I sent you.
Paul B.

Again, I really appreciate everyone's input here. I'm following up on all of the suggestions and hope to come up with something good. If I connect, you're all invited to dinner.

blackbrush,

Check Utah. You might be able to pick up leftover bull tags. I'm almost certain that you'll be able to pick up leftover cow tags.

Here's some friendly advice: pick a couple excellent elk states, e.g., NV, AV, & UT, and start acquiring bonus points. From my experience, especially in CO, OTC bull elk hunting is difficult due to the number of hunters.

BTW, if you can believe it, maybe try to get CA bonus points for Roosevelt elk. While I've never hunted them, I know people who've seen them. They are some of the biggest racks in the nation. But drawing a tag is about as hard as finding a conservative in Hollywood.