Colorado Elk hunts

Colorado has long been known as the elk hunting capital of the West. With the largest elk herds and OVER-THE-COUNTER TAGS, it remains the number one destination for western dream hunts.

We offer the very finest Colorado has to offer. From fully guided hunts in some of the most beautiful country God has created, to do-it-yourself pre-scouted spike/drop camps.

We are pleased to be outfitting in the beautiful La Garita Wilderness, of the Rio Grande National Forest, Colorado unit 68 as well as in the San Juan National Forest units 73 & 74, under very special permits. Within our permitted areas we are the only outfitter allowed to offer full service guided camps as well as drop camps insuring our hunters access to the finest areas within our permitted area.

Saguache, Colorado: Rio Grande National Forest

La Garita Wilderness, Colorado Unit 68

La Garita Wilderness is a great choice for your Colorado dream hunt. With over the counter bow, 2^nd and 3^rd rifle hunts as well as great draw odds on 1^st rifle, 4^th rifle and muzzleloader hunts. We love to hunt high country and do very well on early season hunts in this area. These camps are located at 10-11,000 feet and are near the prime rutting areas that our elk inhabit. With large open areas and bugling elk, the hunt method of choice is a mix of spot and stalk on foot and the possibility of some horseback hunting.

Our main drive in base camp is located at about 10,500 feet right on the wilderness boundary. Here we can offer a few more comforts as like hot showers and full time cooks. Our more rugged back country spike camps are located on the edges of black timber just below tree line.  There is also a very high chance that we will/could use spike camps as well on your hunt from our base camp to stay right in the middle of the action!

Drive-in camps: Rio Grande National Forest, La Garita Wilderness boundary, Unit 68

These camps are right in the middle of the migration routes as well as in the wintering areas and the home range to year round resident herds of elk. Early season bow, muzzleloader and rifle hunts can all be great from this base camp. Camps are easily accessed by 4×4 trucks and hunting is done on foot with the aid of trucks, ATV’s and some horseback.

You will be sleeping in canvas wall tents with cots, sleeping mats. There will be 2 people in each 10×12 tent or 4 people in a 14×17 tent. There is also a dining tent that has a wood stove as well as tables and chairs to relax and enjoy dinner or a game of cards at night. We have hot water showers and full time cooks in base camps.

This camp is an excellent choice for hunters looking to stay in “lower” elevations (10,350) with easier access and exceptional hunting. We also have an unguided option where hunters can have lodging and meals provided as well as day to day advice on where or how to hunt the area. The big advantage here is guides for a day rate are possible, as well as complete pack in/out services are almost always available for additional fees.

Wilderness spike camps: La Garita Wilderness, Colorado Unit 68

These very basic camps are located very remote in the wilderness areas of unit 68. These camps will offer a great staging location for day to day hunting plans. These camps are much more basic than our base camp but offer what you will need to stay in the action. You and your guide will be the only residents of these camps. Clients will “enjoy” freeze dried meals and bare bones amenities as the only access is horseback or hiking in on foot.   Hunting will be done on foot from all spike camps but with a call to the wrangler for a pack out.

Guided trophy Mule Deer hunting in Unit 68 Colorado, the Rio Grande National Forest, and La Garita Wilderness

Unit 68 is a sleeper unit for great mule deer. From high country bow hunts to 3^rd and 4^th season trophy rut hunts we have you covered! We can also get you in touch with landowners for mule deer vouchers where you can skip the draw and plan a super hunt! We have been known for harvesting trophy mule deer for years, check out our past trophy rooms!

Unit 68: La Garita Wilderness Colorado Elk and Mule Deer Hunting
2×1 guided elk or mule deer hunts with camp lodging, meals and guides. Prices are per person.

IN COLORADO YOU MUST HAVE A HUNTERS SAFETY CARD IN ORDER TO HUNT.
There will be no refunds if you arrive with no hunters safety card!

Reservation and cancellation policies:
50% deposit is due at the time of booking; final payment is due no later the 60 days before your hunt date. There are no refunds for canceled hunts for any reason in Colorado camps unless you can supply another hunter to fill your spot. On all draw hunts, a $500 deposit is required.   If you don’t draw 100% of your money will be refunded. For draw hunts the remaining 50% deposit is due within 30 days of the posted draw.

Colorado GUIDED hunts include:
All in field transportation for hunting, all meals, fully guided hunting days, tent lodging, and field work of elk including caping, quartering and packing out to trail head.

 Colorado trips do NOT include:
Hunting license fees, transportation to and from home to base camps, sleeping bags, towels, pillows, personal items, rifles or ammunition, meat packaging, transportation to Gunnison to have meat butchered, taxidermy, gratuities for guides and cooks, alcohol.

Drop camps in Colorado Unit 68-73-74

Camps are located in pre-scouted locations that offer an excellent chance for the do-it-yourself hunter to harvest an elk, mule deer or bear. We offer drive in camps in the lower elevations for people wishing to use both ATVs as well as trucks to access hunting areas. Our off mountain manager will check on you at prearranged times on prearranged days. You will only really need to bring your food for the week, rifle, sleeping bag, personal items and all your hunting gear. We will have a sleeping tent/dining tent where there will be lanterns as well as cook stoves and tables and chairs. You will also have an outhouse tent. If we have guides that are available we will offer you the chance to hire a camp guide who can help guide you into the right spots.

Colorado Unguided Drop Camps:
$2,000 per person, 4 person minimum
Guide fee for help: $400/day
Meat delivery to butchers: $150
Capping fee: $100 (if not done for pack out)
Skinning fee: $50
Quartering fee: $50 (if not done for pack out)
Re-supply run: $200 plus cost of supplies

What is in our drop/spike camps:
1 dining tent/ sleeping tent, outhouse tent (1), cooler (1), 2 burner cooking stove (1), propane, pots-pans, plates, bowls silverware, cups, cots- sleeping mat, table and chairs in dining tent, wood stove, drinking water.

Colorado spike camp trips do NOT include:
Not included: Food, ice, paper products (toilet paper), sleeping bags, personal items, rifles or ammunition, meat packaging, capping or packing out of game.

More services can be arranged in drop-spike camps, please talk with us about your special needs.

Mancos/Durango, Colorado: San Juan National Forest, Units 73 and 74

We also elk and mule deer hunt in the southwestern corner of Colorado near the New Mexico border. The towns of Durango and Mancos, Colorado are the closest towns that you are likely to know. These Colorado guided elk hunts are in game unit 73 & 74 and take place in the San Juan National Forest where I am under a special permit, in fact we have the ONLY outfitter permit in all of unit 73. Our area covers everything from 11,000 foot elevations to lower elevations where migration hunts take place at about 7,000 feet.  We offer both fully guided drive in camps and un-guided drop camps where you can drive in to your camp and use 4×4 or ATVs to access your hunting areas.

Unit 73 & 74 Durango Colorado Area Hunting
2×1 guided elk hunts with camp lodging, meals and guides. Prices are per person.

IN COLORADO YOU MUST HAVE A HUNTERS SAFETY CARD IN ORDER TO HUNT!
There will be no refunds if you arrive with no hunters safety card!
50% deposit is due at the time of booking; final payment is due no later the 60 days before your hunt date. There are no refunds for canceled hunts for any reason in Colorado camps unless you can supply another hunter to fill your spot. On all draw hunts, a $500 deposit is required.   If you don’t draw 100% of your money will be refunded. For draw hunts the remaining 50% deposit is due within 30 days of the posted draw.

Colorado GUIDED hunts include:
All in field transportation for hunting, all meals, fully guided hunting days, tent lodging, and field work of elk including caping, quartering and packing out to trail head.

Colorado trips do NOT include:
Hunting license fees, transportation to and from home to base camps, sleeping bags, towels, pillows, personal items, rifles or ammunition, meat packaging, transportation to Gunnison to have meat butchered, taxidermy, gratuities for guides and cooks, alcohol.

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Call or email us today for more information: 505-801-7500 or info@compasswestoutfitters.com

Equal opportunity employer and provider, operating under permits from the San Juan National Forest as well as the Rio Grande National Forest. We are licensed by DORA (#1929) since 1997. Insured by Philadelphia and bonded by Western Surety, copies furnished on request