6 CO Elk Pref Points - Need Help with GMU & Guide Reccomenda

[okelkhunter]

All,

I'm new to the forum here and joined to get some help from everyone. I have hunted 2nd rifle season 3 times in CO to save preference points and now have 6. Would really like to go Muzzleloader season in 2016. Would like to use a guide to increase odds of a good bull.

Can you all provide your thoughts on recommendations for a guide and GMU to use 6 points. Guides are hard to choose but nothing is better than a good reccomendation from a fellow hunter. I'm not afraid of a good backpack or horseback hunt, looking for best guide and area to kill a good bull with 6 points.

Or is it better to get 7 or 8 and if so, who would you use then.

Thanks!

[WapitiTalk1]

Welcome to the forum okelkhunter, glad to have you on board! I know zilch about the Centennial State but I'm sure you'll receive some sound advice from our members that do to help you on your way. Again, welcome and the best of luck to you sir with your upcoming wapiti hunt.

[Osprey]

I've never done a fully guided hunt for Elk so I can't help in that dept but what did you think about the units you hunted in 2nd season? You could possibly go back but in Muzzy season if you liked them. I think 6 points should be good for most easier to draw limited areas unless you hold out for the upper tier point units then your looking at 10+. You stated you want a good bull, I remember a year or so ago I looked at a outfiiters associated mag from CO and Commanche Wilderness Outfitters had quite a few of the top bulls listed now I've never used them nor know anyone who has but you could reach out to them I believe he hunts private near RMNP and since its private I bet you don't need a ton of points for any season just $$$ for access.

[saddlesore]

6 points isn't many for a better ML hunt. You are in between a lot and not so many.

Looking at last years statistic,I see only one unit that requires 7 points.That was Unit 4. Unit 501 requires 5

Units 6,25,48,54,69,76 require 3 or 4 points. Everything else that is very good area require 10+. There are many that are so-so that require zero or 1

I don't know of any outfitters to reccomend in those units.

Tenderfoot Outfitters out of Gunnison hunts in Unit 54,but I wouldn't say big bulls abound in that unit,but there are some. I hear good things from his clients that do his fully guided hunts,but not so much for his drop camps.I hunt the same unit ,but not ML.

The only outfitter I can reccomend is Jeanne Horne of J bar H out of Meeker,but she is booked up for 2016 and that unit 12 takes 10+ points for a NR Either Sex tag Several units offer the Either Sex tag in lieu of a bull tag

If you are really set on a big bull, Private land option is the best,and you are probably talking $5000 +

Subscribe to the Colorado CPW magazine,Colorado Outdoors to get their yearly Preference Point subscription that will becoming out soon. You can also visit their website, under Big Game,Statistics and look at Preference point history there.

If you joining RMEF ,you get their Bugle magazine that has list of outfitters there.

[under H2O hunter]

Picking an outfitter is a ruff mind numbing process and you will second guess yourself the entire way through it... There is no magic number that says with "X" amount of PP your gonna get this size or quality bull. Facts are that Colorado has a very sizable amount of elk in the state. This intern brings lots of people here looking to take some of those elk. The quality of elk is not there size wise because of this. Even with the units that are managed for better quality animals have seen a decline over the past years. There are units such as 76 for example that require 12+ PP and there are guys I know that have come home empty handed who are excellent hunters. However every unit usually holds a few decent size bulls. You need to figure out what kind of experience you want to have then try and pick an outfitter or style of hunt based on that. Simple going with an outfitter doesn't mean you'll enjoy the hunt or that you're gonna get a stud animal. Every outfitter i have had the pleasure of talking with all seem to try and sell you on what ever it is that you are looking for. If you want big bulls they will tell you they have them blahblahblah... Fact is that outfitters are a business and they will blow sunshine up your a$$ to simply get your money.. Ask lots of questions, ask to speak with some of their former clients, if you can try and meet them face to face first at things such as the International Sportmans Show or RMEF banquet dinner...

[saddlesore]

That certainly isn't true with Jeanne Horne of J Bar H outfitters and bet there are quite a few in Colorado just like her. If the above statements were true, most of her clients would not be repeats. At present she is totally booked for 2016 and does not have many openings for 2017.She was voted outfitter of the year a few years back and was appointed to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. You don't get either by being deceitful.

I quantify these remarks by saying,I have never hunted with her, but she still permits me to use water from her place for my livestock when I am hunting.

In over fifty years of hunting, I have only used an outfitter once and that because one was required in British Columbia

[under H2O hunter]

That certainly isn't true with Jeanne Horne of J Bar H outfitters and bet there are quite a few in Colorado just like her. If the above statements were true, most of her clients would not be repeats. At present she is totally booked for 2016 and does not have many openings for 2017.She was voted outfitter of the year a few years back and was appointed to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. You don't get either by being deceitful.

Please tell me what part of my prior post was Un-True? I have spoken with lots of outfitters. Every single one is in business to make money...Now they may be better at selling ice to eskimos but they are all salesmen of their business. I have lots of friends who are outfitters and they are nice people. I am not saying that you won't enjoy their stories but they are simply stories... Picking an outfitter is a very difficult process do to the fact that not a single good outfitter can or should guarantee you anything other then their pack animals and equipment. Having repeat customers doesn't speak to quality of animals it simply states that the customer was previously satisfied with their experience. You ever wonder why most of the outfitters here in colorado have a very low in state client base? Its worth taking a look at. Very few encounters seem to be favorable when you read stories about the interaction between outfitters and non outfitted hunters.. Why do you think that is? Why is it that you hear story after story after story about outfitters harassing game back onto "their" property and such... Its business thats why. If they can make their customers happy they are more likely to have those customers come back...

Now are all outfitters rude and snakes? Of course not but if you talk to a lot of them you'll see that most are full of shit. Sorry but this is been my experience with them and I have been dealing with them for over 25 years and I to have been to many round table meetings and participated in the process of rule changes. Its to bad the common DIY hunter doesn't have the same pull and voice as the Outfitters Association....

If you want another example of Outfitters pulling shit over on people just take a look to the North of Colorado and what the Outfitters pulled in Wyoming... Who do you think got the law to not allow Non-Residents to hunt and use the public land in the wilderness areas.... It was the outfitters association.... Damn same....

Like you I have never used nor needed to use an outfitter and as long as I am not required to I don't plan to.... I have had to many friends get taken for a ride and have been disappointed by the process.

This is just food for thought. Be careful, wise, and do your self a favor by doing your homework... If I am wrong well thats just as good as you being right and that is favorable for the guy looking to use an outfitter.

Best of luck

[saddlesore]

Sorry you have such a low opinion of outfitter.That certainly has not been my experience.I had lengthly response,but saw your post had been revised to take out some things. J Bar H outfitters do not fit into the categories you described.
Have a good day

[under H2O hunter]

This just showed up in my news feeds on Facebook today. Think it will be interesting to fallow.