Trip planning where to start.

[X-Force]

So my brothers and I have been talking about taking our dad out on an out of state hunt. We are looking at planning the trip for 2015 or 2016 so everyone will have time to get funds together.  Budget is an issue like it is for most people $5500 but it would be nice to keep it down to around $3500 to $5000 for guide, camp, tags travel to and from hunt etc. Ive never gone on an out of state hunt before but i know logistics, shipping gear, meat and hide gets pricey... not to mention taxidermy, butcher and all that.

So the style hunts we have been talking about are in no particular order:
The "Bob" like JPhelps (elk, maybe deer)
Frank Church (elk, maybe deer)
Alaska drop camp (moose or caribou)
Alaska float tip (moose or caribou)

Either Alaska hunt we would probably go unguided. Would it be worth looking into an unguided Rocky Mountain drop camp? Just looking for ideas. Even other hunt ideas would be great.

We would have six of us going.

[vandeman17]

My old man and I went on a guided elk trip into the Bob a few years ago and had a blast. It was some amazing country and we made many great memories. It was both our first guided hunts. This year, we are doing a drop camp elk hunt into NE Oregon and we can't wait. We have done many hours of research so feel free to pm me with any questions and I will help as much as possible.

[Yelper Guy]

Check into some of the guided New Mexico elk hunts. From what I've seen they have some massive bulls down there.
Some of the native tribes only allow a certain number of hunters on there land, making for some huge racks.
Good luck!

[X-Force]

Thanks for the info guys.

I know we got some very experienced out of state hunters on here.

I'm thinking the elk hunt may be an easier hunt to plan and schedule but my dad and I have put together over night on the water raft trips in to some pretty remote areas like through frank church. And we have rafted for 16 years... a little slower now days because our vacation time is hunting.

Just looking for more thoughts experienced ideas and all that

[huntnnw]

Look into buying some primo landowner tags in NM,CO,NV or UT u can hunt some fantastic areas that produce big bulls and bucks. There is only  some many people allowed to hunt the area and are different per landowner, pretty much have run of the area to yourselves. Unless you guys are wanting to do the horse pack in trip these wouldnt fit that criteria