Rifle bugle hunt

[vandeman17]

My dad just emailed me and said that he is interested in booking a rifle rut hunt for elk this fall. We went on one in Montana two seasons ago and had a good time. We are contacting that outfitter but I was wondering if any of you guys or gals out there has any recommendations on places to go. We are open for any states as well as guided, semi-guided or drop camp  hunts.

[Bob33]

Why not contact Bearpaw/Dale?

[Bean Counter]

If I had the money for a guide, I'd think New Mexico. For one thing, 10% of the draw tags are set aside for non residents who use an outfitter. Also, there's landowner tags. Oh yeah, did I mention BIG BULLS? 

[bobcat]

I've never done it but you might check into doing a fly in hunt out of McCall or Salmon, Idaho. I believe they have a September elk season in the wilderness areas and you can get flown in for a DIY hunt, or a guided hunt, depending on your budget. I think deer is open at the same time. I've always wanted to try this.


Here's one site I found with Google:

http://www.mccallaviation.com/hunters.html

[vandeman17]

Why not contact Bearpaw/Dale?

I am going to shoot him a pm for sure but I just also wanted to see what other guys had to say.

[vandeman17]

I've never done it but you might check into doing a fly in hunt out of McCall or Salmon, Idaho. I believe they have a September elk season in the wilderness areas and you can get flown in for a DIY hunt, or a guided hunt, depending on your budget. I think deer is open at the same time. I've always wanted to try this.


Here's one site I found with Google:

http://www.mccallaviation.com/hunters.html

That actually looks pretty cool too. Will have to research the areas that they offer and see what they look like. We could easily buy a nice wall tent and all that stuff for the cost of going with a guide.

[JLS]

Idaho's early season opens Sept 15th, in the Frank Church.  A caution about the fly in hunts.  You still have to get from the airstrip to your hunt area, as you'll likely have other hunters with the same idea as you.  The Franch Church is steep and deep country, so do your homework well. 

Montana has early hunts opening on Sept 15th in the Bob Marshall complex west of the Continental Divide, and also in the Absorakee Beartooth Wilderness north of Yellowstone.  The A-B hunt has really fallen on hard times with the decline of the northern Yellowstone elk herd.

I believe WY also has early hunts in the Thorofare and upper Green River Basin that opens Sept 15th.  Much of this will be wilderness area, so you'll be required to hunt with an outfitter.

Good luck in your planning.

[vandeman17]

We hunted the Bob in 2010 on a rifle hunt and it was tough but I believe the weather and the full moon had a lot to do with it. I have actually been reading about the Thorofare and seeing what it has to offer.

I didn't think about how we would get our gear and all that away from the landing strip and to a place to hunt and set up camp... hmmmm

[deerslyr]

Did you guys see many elk in the Bob when you were there?

[JLS]

What outfitter did you hunt with?  The Bob is not an easy hunt, despite the notion many folks have about bugling up bulls every day. 

[vandeman17]

We actually only saw one elk on our whole trip and I was lucky enough to harvest him. About a 270" 5x6 on our last full day of hunting. We had blue skies, warm weather and a full moon all week so the hunting was tough. We went with Mills Wilderness Adventures. If we were to go with them again, I would hunt differently but that is true with any new spot in that it helps to learn the area.

[7mag.]

I've never done it but you might check into doing a fly in hunt out of McCall or Salmon, Idaho. I believe they have a September elk season in the wilderness areas and you can get flown in for a DIY hunt, or a guided hunt, depending on your budget. I think deer is open at the same time. I've always wanted to try this.


Here's one site I found with Google:

http://www.mccallaviation.com/hunters.html

Be careful about that hunt. As others have already said, the work begins when you get off the plane. The wolves have cleared most of the elk out of there now as well. Not near what it was a couple of years ago.

[kglacken]

My uncle did a new mexico hunt a few years back and had a good time! lots of bulls and a great camp. Talk to Dale Matthews at iron Mountain adventures. Great guy to book hunts through. I have met him and hunted with him I know for a fact he wont book a hunt for you unless he knows you will have a positive experience. Check out some of the pictures he has on his site too. http://www.ironmountainadventures.com/

[vandeman17]

Did he have points accrued to draw in New Mexico or was he just lucky? I seem to have terrible luck!

[bobcat]

New Mexico does not have a point system.