I'm still looking over various OTC archery elk areas to score my first elk after a couple failed attempts. My dad asked about looking into a pack service to get us and our gear in, and hopefully bring us out with an elk. Has anybody here done something like This? Thoughts? Any suggestions if you've got a pack service that you like?
Pack in services
- Thread starter Gabenzeke
- Start date
JeremyA
New member
You might want to add where you will be hunting so members know where you are asking about for this service. I live in Southern Colorado never looked into this or heard of any. That said I’m sure there are outfitters out there that offer these services. Good luck.
I'm kind of open on locations. I've been hunting SW CO and originally wanted a change of scenery such as ID, but I'd be willing to head back to CO if someone had a good recommendation. Not looking for giant elk, any legal animal since it'll be my first.
JeremyA
New member
Well I am moving to ID this summer. Give me a year and I may have a lead for you. I do have another question. Are you looking for a pack in do to a disability or just wanting the comforts while being in the backcountry?
I hunted out of my camper this year as my base camp. I hunted with a disabled buddy of mine. I covered 85 miles in 6 days. We did split up a couple days to give him a break from the brutal hikes I do. We were into the elk just not able to seal the deal in time. I have only been hunting elk for 3 years and killed 2 bulls. I like your planning. Getting into the solitude is the key. You can set a base camp at a trailhead and still get into the elk, just more physical work.
I hunted out of my camper this year as my base camp. I hunted with a disabled buddy of mine. I covered 85 miles in 6 days. We did split up a couple days to give him a break from the brutal hikes I do. We were into the elk just not able to seal the deal in time. I have only been hunting elk for 3 years and killed 2 bulls. I like your planning. Getting into the solitude is the key. You can set a base camp at a trailhead and still get into the elk, just more physical work.
Elkhunter24
Well-known member
The area I hunt in CO there is an outfitter that will rent you a horse or mule. You can check with any local outfitters in the area to see if they offer anything like this.
el unit
Well-known member
pm sent.
We are looking into this for 2018 (Northern CO). Since we aren't comfortable handling stock on our own for the duration we were looking @ pure pack-in/pack-out and bringing all of our own gear.
Cost wise it was a minimum of 4 horses (480 pounds total gear capacity) @ $750 round trip per horse (so $3000). Plus an additional $500 per elk packed out. With 3 guys and 2 tags, works out to max of $4000 or $1333 per guy. That's the top end as I understand it and wouldn't include riding horses (which in our case is fine).
Same guys do drop camps for $2500/guy so it's about half that price. I have been combing the area for llama guys but unsuccessful so far.
SW COlorado probably has a wider pool than my area, so prices may be a touch lower, but I think that's pretty in-line.
Cost wise it was a minimum of 4 horses (480 pounds total gear capacity) @ $750 round trip per horse (so $3000). Plus an additional $500 per elk packed out. With 3 guys and 2 tags, works out to max of $4000 or $1333 per guy. That's the top end as I understand it and wouldn't include riding horses (which in our case is fine).
Same guys do drop camps for $2500/guy so it's about half that price. I have been combing the area for llama guys but unsuccessful so far.
SW COlorado probably has a wider pool than my area, so prices may be a touch lower, but I think that's pretty in-line.
We have our own gear, so we decided against a drop camp. My reason is last year I took my dad with me for my second hunt in the Weminuche. I had previously hunted roughly 4 miles in, so that was my first idea for a spot. Once we got in, I could see on my dad's face that he was whooped for a couple days and so we didn't travel far on those days. I feel like if I could get him to a spot relatively fresh we'd have a better shot. Really want him to get one, more than I want one myself as I've got time to make this happen. Obviously I'm talking about getting one elk down as he might not fare so well on pack out. Not necessarily disability, just age and a bum knee from an old chainsaw injury. Appreciate any help.
psycho
Well-known member
I know what you mean with trying your best for your dad. My dad has always been tough but this last year at 75 he couldn't make it the 2 miles in to help us pack out two cow elk. He disappeared in the night and it was a little scary trying to find him and why he didn't make it back to the jeep. We were at 9800 feet which did him in. He was just going slow so now we mostly road hunt. Easier to get him an antelope. As suggested above most of the outfitters will either have a service to pack out meat/gear or have a recommendation for you. In NV i saw some signs at a trail-head advertising pack service starting at $400 a day. Doesn't help for CO but more info for you. Good luck with your dad. Hope he gets one as its a great feeling to share with family.
squirrel
Well-known member
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- Dec 29, 2013
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What you are seeking would be very popular, but the only way it can be done legally is to find a full fledged outfitter permitted in the spot you want to go or one whose territory you are willing to go to.
It is just the way it has to be if you want to have the federal gov't as your business partner.
If you go on private this is not at all true.
there is/was a meat packing only permit available but you couldn't put so much as a sleeping bag on the animals or you were in violation, it was not popular and may not even be available any more. It did not fill a substantial need of the public.
Most outfitters will not see enough profit in what you want to do it, even outfitted drop camps are not where the $ is, but they are available but generally not in the best spots which are saved for higher dollar fully guided clients.
You would be best served to rent animals from someone more or less local and DIY from there, if an outfitted drop camp does not appeal.
Check out Pack Animal Magazine's outfitter directory, it used to be rentallama.com but Alexa is changing her "mission" to include yaks/goats/llamas/wooly mamoths... anything that can carry your gear. If she does it like the rentallama site it is very helpfull.
It is just the way it has to be if you want to have the federal gov't as your business partner.
If you go on private this is not at all true.
there is/was a meat packing only permit available but you couldn't put so much as a sleeping bag on the animals or you were in violation, it was not popular and may not even be available any more. It did not fill a substantial need of the public.
Most outfitters will not see enough profit in what you want to do it, even outfitted drop camps are not where the $ is, but they are available but generally not in the best spots which are saved for higher dollar fully guided clients.
You would be best served to rent animals from someone more or less local and DIY from there, if an outfitted drop camp does not appeal.
Check out Pack Animal Magazine's outfitter directory, it used to be rentallama.com but Alexa is changing her "mission" to include yaks/goats/llamas/wooly mamoths... anything that can carry your gear. If she does it like the rentallama site it is very helpfull.
el unit
Well-known member
Good luck to you and your father- hope to see some pics in September from your hunt.
squirrel
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2013
- Messages
- 736
good luck to you and your Dad, check those licenses and territories. Make sure they are valid and line up with each other.
From a guy who knows what he is talking about. Free advice on the fully guided clients get the good spots.
If they got rid of “outfitters” and allowed “packers” the world would be a better place.
Currently it is perfectly backasswards.
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