Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting looking for a 2024 bull elk hunt

Buddy and i are in the early planning of a bull elk hunt in 2024.

this is what we think were looking to do:

- Bull doesn't need to be biggest, but looking for more then a raghorn.
- ranch house or hotel type hunt ( not looking to do a 30 mile pack hunt)
- Guided
- guaranteed tag, over the counter, or a easy draw tag.
- not an overly psychically demanding hunt
- spot and stalk from vehicles is fine.

any recommendation on a respectable outfitter/guide are appreciated.

Thanks in advance

I don't have any recommendations for you but it seems like you're wanting both the hemi and the good gas mileage...

Maybe look into New Mexico private ranch hunts?

Budget?

Not sure on a budget yet.

And by not overly physically demanding, we're not looking to scale sheer cliffs or compete in an iron man contest lol.

And a tent style camp is not out of consideration. We just want to be comfortable and eat decent meals after the hunt.

Oh, the horror! No first elk hunt should be any of that! No pain, no gain. Nothing like nursing a busted ankle over a cold can of beanie weenies back at the truck with a dead battery.

I guess you would be looking at the Vermijo Ranch or Chama Land and Cattle company in NM,or maybe one of the Jicarilla hunts. probably won't like the price though.

Almost all the ranches participating in the RFW program in Colorado also offer the type of hunt you want.You can get the names from the CO. Big Game Brochure and then Google them to get contact info.There are almost 20 of them.

There’s a number of ranches in NE NM that would suit your needs. Price will most definitely dictate the size of bull you would expect to have a chance at.

Vermejo
Bobcat in Eagle Nest
TO Ranch east of Raton
V7 Ranch in Cimarron
NRA Whittington Center
Express UU Bar ranch in Cimarron


Grab a Bugle magazine and peruse the back pages listing outfitters……bunches listed.

Archery or rifle?

If it is archery, I have a recommendation.

OP said he didn't want an overly physical hunt - you gotta draw the string back ya know.

I'm not that lazy.

Rifle

I could make the same recommendation for a rifle hunt, but I am not sure what the draw odds are for that unit.

I’d figure out the budget fast because the hunt costs can get exciting.

There are lots of reasons for not wanting a backcountry hunt but I have eaten some very fine meals and stayed in very comfortable camps about as far from roads as is possible in the lower 48. Not that I’m trying to talk you into to one of those, but wanting a nice camp and good food shouldn’t rule them out. Completely understand not wanting to ride to get there or other reasons though. Those hunts aren’t for everyone.

Bucks & Bulls offers several hunts in NM on private ranches, tags included on the hunts. Myself and a few friends have hunted on a couple of the ranches. Good food and bunk house type accommodations, bulls from 300” up to 330” typically. Check out their website for more details, or call them.
Tri State Outfitters in NM also has several large ranches to hunt. Bridger Petrini is the owner, very good operator. They have the TO and other very good ranches.
In Colorado, check out Three Forks Ranch. Great food and accommodations, lots of elk though nothing huge. Best part is you can rifle hunt it during the rut. It’s a RFW property so they have the tags.

ok, lets try this again.

looking for recommendations on a 2024 guided bull elk Rifle hunt in Colorado or other states.

Budget $5000ish.

Were open to various options (motels and local diners, ranch house and meals, or a wall tent and camp meals)

Looking for decent opportunity to harvest a mature representative of a bull elk.

hope this is better and provides more info.

Thanks Ralphie.

is our new budget and exceptions in line?

I think your budget is low for what you want. Some of the suggestions already give fall above the 10K. $5k is about the norm for a no frills Colorado bull elk hunt

Be hard pressed to find a land owner voucher in a decent area for 5k much less adding all the other wants.

Landowner tags in NM for even marginal units are going for more than $5000, most of the time double that for good units. If that’s a hard line and you want to draw a tag NM is still a lottery draw with no point system. Good luck.

Get in touch with Flat Tops adventures. He does backcountry and has bought a ranch for ranch hunts maybe.
Wyoming has some hunts that would meet your criteria but PP are needed to draw.

RFW, Ranching for Wildlife ranches in Colorado have long seasons and no draw for outfitted hunts.
https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/RFWParticipating.aspx


Your budget is kind of low but may be doable.

$5000? Not happening for what your expecting with respect to bulls and accommodations. I’d double that and cross my fingers.