Outfitter Recommendations Montana

[SeatoSummit88]

Hey Everyone,

I am looking into a 5-7 day guided/semi guided elk/deer combo hunt for next season.  I would be going with 1-3 other guys. Rifle hunt. Do any of you have personal recommendations for Montana outfitters?

I appreciate any suggestions.

-S2S

[h20hunter]

Tag

[WAcoyotehunter]

Rick Wemple Outfitters

http://montana-hunting-outfitter.com

[jackelope]

Bearpaw Outfitters?
@bearpaw

[huntnphool]

Bearpaw Outfitters?
@bearpaw

 +1, you are on his website, if anyone is going to work for you it's someone that knows you have direct access to loads of ears.

[SemperFidelis97]

Tag

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[HUNTIN4SIX]

Proud to recommend Montana Safaris.
Guided for them...The real deal of your looking for a wilderness hunt

[vandeman17]

mills wilderness adventures

[SeatoSummit88]

Thank you everyone so far for your suggestions.  I have looked at Bearpaws website and am definitely keeping him in mind!  I keep finding outfitting companies that offer the combo hunts, or just elk or just deer in both lodge settings and wilderness hunts.  I have never booked with an outfitter, so I guess I should weigh out the options of hunting out of comfort, but with good access spots, and bare essential back country hunts with access to vast areas with probably no one else around.  I have seen outfitters with high rated reviews near Missoula, Bozeman, and in between but due north. For $3500-$6000, I don't really know what kind of experience I want yet... The search continues

[Stein]

You should't have much competition from other hunters either way, see if they are putting you on leased ground or public while you are researching.  I know a bunch of guides have locked down tons of private ranch land at the base of most ranges that hold elk.

There are many options available from true wilderness to "stand here and we'll drive the herd over this ridge" type of ranch hunts.

[nwmein199]

tag

[fishngamereaper]

Snowy Springs, near Essex/West Glacier area.....Shawn is a solid guy.

[SeatoSummit88]

Stein, that's exactly what I have come across. Some outfitters offer both options, lodge/cabin & back country wilderness; others have particulars on what option they focus on.  I don't feel comfortable dropping $975 on an out of state license and doing a DYI hunt on public land. So I look towards the unguided options; so $975 for license; and then $2000-$3000 for a drop camp or lodge, unguided week of hunting, but they throw in that the guides/outfitter will point you in the right direction..still unsure... Then you have your 2 hunter x 1 guide; 5-7 day fully guided back country or lodge hunt. $3500-$6000 and you have someone there, fighting in your corner to help put you on elk. But God, the last thing I want is to wake up, start walking with my buddy and a guide, and then 30 minutes into our trek, he says, ok, the guys should be working the herd over the hill, so get your rifle ready, then the tractor will back over and pick it up for you.  I need to call these outfitters and get the low down on their S.O.P's. Also it will probably help to get a feel on how they communicate over the phone and what their tone is... (excited for a potential client, or whatever...its this much, do you want to do it, I don't care, I have more people that will come attitude). Thanks for the advice flowing in everyone. I'm googling as we speak.

[dune]

If your going for deer do a DIY. On state land or BLM in central or eastern MT drive over a month before. And scout or go with bear paws you will shoot a good buck.

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks Dune. I think I am leaning towards an Elk hunt, and then having the combo tag on me in case of a mule deer crossing my path. But that's good to know as well! I have had most all of my friends recommend a DIY hunt for whitetail or muleys in Idaho, with good success rates. I have not spoken with many people who do the same in MT; so I appreciate your suggestion.

[Netminder01]

tag

[huntnphool]

Thanks Dune. I think I am leaning towards an Elk hunt, and then having the combo tag on me in case of a mule deer crossing my path. But that's good to know as well! I have had most all of my friends recommend a DIY hunt for whitetail or muleys in Idaho, with good success rates. I have not spoken with many people who do the same in MT; so I appreciate your suggestion.

 Just remember that although there are good number of both elk and mule deer in Montana, typically there are not good numbers of both in the same general area......as a general rule of thumb.

[vandeman17]

Thanks Dune. I think I am leaning towards an Elk hunt, and then having the combo tag on me in case of a mule deer crossing my path. But that's good to know as well! I have had most all of my friends recommend a DIY hunt for whitetail or muleys in Idaho, with good success rates. I have not spoken with many people who do the same in MT; so I appreciate your suggestion.

 Just remember that although there are good number of both elk and mule deer in Montana, typically there are not good numbers of both in the same general area......as a general rule of thumb.

True but I think more so is them being in the same general area in the same time frame

[SeatoSummit88]

Great Points! Thank you!

Duly Noted!

[Carl]

Tag II

[bearpaw]

Bearpaw Outfitters?
@bearpaw

 +1, you are on his website, if anyone is going to work for you it's someone that knows you have direct access to loads of ears.

The Montana outfitter licensing structure dictates for there to be three types of outfitters:
 - Outfitters who operate on public lands
 - Outfitters who operate on private lands
 - Outfitters who operate on both types of lands

Generally speaking hunts conducted on private land provide a higher success rate but cost more. In Montana we currently operate on private lands and most of the properties we've had have been primarily deer and antelope hunting. However, we now have a large lease close to where some of Montana's largest elk have been taken, historically elk did not inhabit this ranch during hunting season, but recent fires changed the habits of the elk in the whole area, this year we had lots of elk on that ranch, but we need to wait and see if the elk continue to inhabit the ranch before we sell elk hunts there. We are also trying to lease another large ranch that borders a game reserve that historically has a lot of elk and deer. Once we have confirmed that we'll have good elk hunting in Montana we'll add it to our website which we are planning to update after this hunting season is finished.

Utah currently provides our highest success on elk and on average the largest elk, if you draw a tag our hunt is very cheap, if you want to buy a landowner tag it is a pricey hunt, but we will be targeting 300 to 380 class bulls. These elk hunts are not combination hunts, you have to buy an elk hunt and/or buy a mule deer hunt. Idaho provides our most economical and most popular elk/mule deer combo hunts, but success rates on elk or mule deer are not as high as in Utah and the country is pretty rugged, unless you are in good condition success is usually lower than hunters in good physical condition.

The advice given by others is pretty accurate, you just need to decide whether you want the wilderness experience, an affordable public land hunt, or a pricier but higher success private land hunt. Bookings are coming in earlier for us than I've seen since before the banking crisis happened, so the sooner you decide on a hunt the better your chance of getting the hunt you want. Good luck to the OP with whatever he decides to do.

[NW SURVEYOR]

Having hunted elk and deer for 40+ years (All DIY) I have decided to retain the services of an Outfitter in Montana.
He will be providing a tent, cots, stoves. lantern, chairs, tables, cookware and assorted other sundry items at a drop camp approximately 3 miles from a trailhead.
He will be guiding at a camp approximately 6 miles from us and will check in periodically.
We have any elk and buck mule deer tags and will pick up a wolf tag to assure that we won't see any.

At 59 years old I'm getting a little slower and weaker.
The thought of packing an elk out 4 miles has lost it's appeal.
Been there, done that!

At this time, I will not share the outfitters name, but he is listed on this thread.
He has provided some references which all attest to his professionalism and skill.
The trip will be for my 35 year old son and I.
We will supply the food, chainsaw for cutting wood and personal items.

I think a realistic goal is to shoot a small bull and a decent buck.
Anything above that is gravy, this has been discussed with the Outfitter and he is in agreement.

We expect to hunt the 20-27 of November so the mule deer should be rutting pretty good.
We ride in early the 19th and out early the 28th.
The area is northerly of Lincoln.

I will try to revisit this thread after the trip.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families!!
Rob.

[puyallupaul]

Hunted with Mills to get my bull. Down year though. Only one in camp.
Some years are better than others.
Best camp I have been in for several guided hunts.

[vandeman17]

Hunted with Mills to get my bull. Down year though. Only one in camp.
Some years are better than others.
Best camp I have been in for several guided hunts.

Is it the bull in your avatar?

[R2Rcoulee]

KBarL Ranch in the Bob Marshall Wilderness has Elk & Deer hunts. I've never used them, but stayed in at their 40 acre ranch inside the Bob. I was doing a rebuild on the suspension bridge & stayed there for a couple weeks. Its great Elk country, but they also have a decent amount of deer. Nice facility & staff.  There is also Sun Canyon Outfitters that packs you into the Bob Marshall.

[puyallupaul]

Yes it is. Made book by 4/8.
Biggest bull out of the 40 + year camp.

[puyallupaul]

fishngamereaper : sent  PM.  Hunted unit across from his place this year.
Sorry about high jack.

[pianoman9701]

Rick Wemple Outfitters

http://montana-hunting-outfitter.com

An old friend of mine guided for this guy up to a year ago and his dad back in the 60s. He says they're a top notch outfitter. Rocky is an 81 year old Marine. He's guided people like Billy martin in the US, Mexico, and Africa. He knows what he's talking about.

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks for all the pour-in of feedback! I have been looking at quite a few outfitters so far. I have been noticing, for reputable outfits, they are almost already booked for next season! I think for my first big out of state hunt, I will be looking for a lodge hunt 5 day, and probably closer to the western edge of MT. I have about 3 in the running and will hopefully be able to find one of my buddies to give me the thumbs up!

S2S

[SeatoSummit88]

Well. I appreciate all the insight from members here. I wanted to share an update. I checked with many of the grearmt outfitters everyone recommended and decided to hold off for a fully guided Elk hunt until 2019. However I was able to find a  landowner who gave me permission to hunt his property for Whitetail. I'm excited to get out to MT, cover some ground and make a great adventure this late fall.