Every hunter needs to experience a backcountry, traditional elk hunt in the West at least once in their life. Hunting from horses, based out of wall tents in the backcountry is something you’ll never forget. We have a number of traditional hunts in some great areas. Check out this Idaho elk hunt in the Frank Church Wilderness area; we also have a number of backcountry elk hunts in Colorado; and New Mexico. You might fly into a backcountry airstrip, or pack into camp from a trailhead with horses and mules. On some of our hunts, you’ll do both.
Pack-in with Horses and Mules
Pack-in hunts will start out on horseback with a ride into the backcountry. All of the stock will be well trained, and experienced backcountry animals. Once at camp, accommodations will most often be very comfortable, large wall tents (usually with a cook tent, hunter tent, guide tent, and tack tent), cots complete with foam pads, lanterns, wood stoves, tableware, first aid kit, applicable safety equipment and more. Camp sizes will range in size from one hunter to a maximum of four hunters on most hunts. Often these hunts are guided 2:1 unless you specify that you want to have your own guide.
Typical Itinerary on a Pack-in Style Traditional Elk Hunt
Untampered and untamed, this is nature at its core; be sure to prepare for the physical challenge of steep, rugged terrain on this hunt. Most mornings start off with breakfast while guides/wranglers catch and saddle horses for the morning ride. The rides in the morning will vary in length and difficulty depending on where the elk are holding. Most hunters prefer to spend the entire day trying to locate your dream bull, and you’ll eat lunch up on the mountain. Bulls on these hunts will most likely range from 260″ to 320″ with good potential of seeing bigger bulls.
- You might fly into a backcountry airstrip, or pack into camp from a trailhead with horses and mules. *On some of our hunts, you’ll do both.
- On most of these hunts, camps will be wall tents.
- You will typically have a camp cook with good, home-style food.
- Usually you’ll be hunting from horseback, and on foot.
- Unpressured bulls in remote, backcountry on public land is the game.
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My hunt was absolutely top notch.
The outfitter is a fantastic man and incredibly hard working and knowledgeable, there is no doubt he will do everything within his power to make peoples hunts successful and enjoyable. I plan to do it again with him next year for sure.Wade Zuver
The outfitter handled everything perfectly.
We were thankful that Outdoors International hooked us up with a great outfitter because they were able to find us an acceptable alternate on short notice. Overall the two year process to get this float in was seamless and worry free. Just like it should be.Stan Masneri
Second time I’ve done this particular trip.
The steelhead run was awesome! The food was even better than the first time, which is hard to imagine, and our guide is the best there is! If catching big fish is your thing I highly recommend booking through Outdoors International.Jim C.
