Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Backcountry Hunting => Topic started by: LDennis24 on February 01, 2022, 10:17:08 AM

Title: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: LDennis24 on February 01, 2022, 10:17:08 AM: Anyone know an outfitter with horses who can handle a guy who weighs 260+? For a Backcountry high buck hunt.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: 300rum on February 01, 2022, 10:44:38 AM: A big horse doesn't necessarily mean that they can handle a bigger load. A big horse still has to pack their own bigger frame. For some reason you see all these women buying big horses because they are afraid they are going to hurt a smaller horse. It has more to do with how the rider carries their weight in the saddle, working with instead of against the horse.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: HUNTIN4SIX on February 01, 2022, 10:47:41 AM: Montana Safaris is a good one with good broke big stout horses. They are family and I worked for them.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: 300rum on February 01, 2022, 10:57:25 AM: Prices seemed very reasonable.

Quote from: HUNTIN4SIX on February 01, 2022, 10:47:41 AM
Montana Safaris is a good one with good broke big stout horses. They are family and I worked for them.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: Rob on February 01, 2022, 11:13:52 AM: might check with these guys
http://www.icicleoutfitters.com/

I have seen them out in the Wenatchee area. One of the outfitters rides some kind of draft horse. They also do sleighrides in Leavenworth with draft horses.

Not sure if they go where you want to go, but worth a check!
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: vandeman17 on February 01, 2022, 11:17:06 AM: Look for places that not only pack in but ride in on mules. Majority are a comfortable ride and will carry you anywhere
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: Jingles on February 01, 2022, 11:17:34 AM: Depending on where you are anticipating hunting, Paysayten either Early Winters or Cascade Wilderness Outfitters both have horses that'll get you there and back. Both have horse that will pack the bulk but will pack the tall guys without having your heels dragging the ground
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 01, 2022, 11:38:59 AM: Are you talking out of state where the animals are?
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: LDennis24 on February 01, 2022, 12:16:31 PM: No my brother would like to try a high hunt drop camp with his daughter but he said he kept seeing a weight limit of 250 listed where he was looking. I haven't heard back on what ones he was checking out. Just thought I would ask.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: Jingles on February 01, 2022, 12:52:57 PM: Quote from: LDennis24 on February 01, 2022, 12:16:31 PM
No my brother would like to try a high hunt drop camp with his daughter but he said he kept seeing a weight limit of 250 listed where he was looking. I haven't heard back on what ones he was checking out. Just thought I would ask.

Might want to check if the weight limit is for the people or amount of gear per person, when I was packing weight limits were for amount of gear per person, you would not believe what folks would try to take in.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: James on February 01, 2022, 03:39:38 PM: Cascade wilderness outfitters had horses that could handle that weight, or at least they did 10 years ago.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: KNOPHISH on February 01, 2022, 04:35:21 PM: I went on a few drop camps and 250# was the limit for your gear which they put on a pack horse or mule. I was about 220 but another guy was a little bigger.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: MADMAX on February 01, 2022, 04:50:03 PM: Call Aaron at early winters :twocents:

http://www.earlywintersoutfitting.com/contact.html
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: LDennis24 on February 01, 2022, 04:55:38 PM: I just sent him Early Winters info today. And Darwoods as well. Cascade Wilderness Outfitters is now Darwoods as the son took over in 2020. Thanks for the help everyone!
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: mountainman on February 01, 2022, 07:38:31 PM: Been on several with Steve and Jess Darwood. Great horses and mules and awesome camps, as long as the wind doesn't kick up and take your camp out with a tree lol! Seriously, great outfit👍
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: huntnfmly on February 01, 2022, 07:43:57 PM: Quote from: Rob on February 01, 2022, 11:13:52 AM
might check with these guys
http://www.icicleoutfitters.com/

I have seen them out in the Wenatchee area. One of the outfitters rides some kind of draft horse. They also do sleighrides in Leavenworth with draft horses.

Not sure if they go where you want to go, but worth a check!

Bruce runs a great outfit been out with him a couple times
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: LDennis24 on February 01, 2022, 09:57:40 PM: Thanks for all the help everyone! Much appreciated!
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: savagehunter on February 04, 2022, 12:19:58 AM: Tell him to lose 10 pounds
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: LDennis24 on February 04, 2022, 07:54:22 AM: Men in our family are not small by any means. Our father is 6'1" and 280. I am 6'4" and 315. Our great great grandfather was 6'9" and 300+ too. They said the only time he ever fell to the ground was when the mule who killed him kicked him in the head. It kicked him in the head that day and he fell off a loading dock later that day due to his balance being off, probably from a brain bleed, and he died three days later. I guess nobody ever thought he would go down that way. This was in Louisiana in 1936 and nobody had ever seen someone that big. Heard a story of him knocking a mule out too, by punching it after it almost killed him. Not sure if it was the same mule.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: Rob on February 04, 2022, 09:34:14 AM: This song comes to mind as you tell your story of your Great Great Grandfather
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=big+john+song&view=detail&mid=72EF2D126FF7BEF6E63372EF2D126FF7BEF6E633&FORM=VIRE0&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dbig%2bjohn%2bsong%26cvid%3dd3cc94197260455b9e25fb3a14824288%26aqs%3dedge.0.0l9.5118j0j4%26FORM%3dANAB01%26PC%3dU531
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: LDennis24 on February 04, 2022, 12:15:39 PM: Yeah I love that song! Here a few pics of him. Standing in the back. The horse must be a large horse though or his height was a little exaggerated. He was pretty old by this time. Born in 1861. I don't know if anyone has any younger photos of him.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: Rob on February 04, 2022, 01:35:52 PM: I am about 6'3" and that is about where I would come up to on a decent sized horse. Most likely the folks in the photo are on the short side per your original note. I read somewhere that people have been getting taller over the generations so he may have been ahead of his time.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: LDennis24 on February 04, 2022, 04:59:04 PM: I have decent size horses at home and depending on how they hold their head the pic can be deceiving. He was said to be 6'9". Might be shorter but not much. He was a big guy and everyone has said that it was true. A 17 hand horse would be 5'8" at the withers, add a foot for head height and you have 6'8"? :dunno:
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: NRA4LIFE on February 04, 2022, 05:19:09 PM: Quote
Heard a story of him knocking a mule out too, by punching it after it almost killed him.

Was his name Mongo?
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: Rob on February 04, 2022, 06:00:53 PM: Gotcha. I mis read your earlier post and thought he was 6 foot 4.

Cool stories. My sister does lots of family reseach and found stories of my ancestors fighting Indian raids and hunting Bear.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: LDennis24 on February 04, 2022, 08:10:35 PM: Quote from: NRA4LIFE on February 04, 2022, 05:19:09 PM
Quote
Heard a story of him knocking a mule out too, by punching it after it almost killed him.

Was his name Mongo?

:chuckle:
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: hal on July 11, 2023, 07:45:19 PM: Sawtooth Outfitters ride out of a trailhead in Twisp. When we used them they were owned by Brian Vallerman from Alta Lake.
They have Mules and horses. Choose the Mules if possible. Can carry the weight you need and are much more sure footed and smarter than horses. They set us up at Upper Eagle lake about 7200". We paid for their equipment and food as well as their cooks. Great deal.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: nwalpineguide on July 11, 2023, 09:35:00 PM: Check with Icicle Outfitters & Guides. They have large horses and mules for the area they provide services at.

I've utilized them a few times over the past 20 years with great satisfaction.
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: zwickeyman on July 12, 2023, 02:37:32 AM: Quote from: vandeman17 on February 01, 2022, 11:17:06 AM
Look for places that not only pack in but ride in on mules. Majority are a comfortable ride and will carry you anywhere

:yeah: A large quality Mule
Title: Re: High hunt outfitters with big horses?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on July 12, 2023, 05:32:28 AM: What area do you plan or want to hunt? Remember outfitters are only allowed to hunt areas they have operation permits for.