Turning western dreams into reality since 1997.
A note from outfitter Chris Guikema — and the team behind every Compass West hunt.
Thirty-five years of boots on the ground.
"I've had my boots on the ground hunting from Alaska to Mexico, and my waders in nearly every renowned trout stream in the West. I've done my due diligence over 35 years to make sure my clients hunt the very best destinations available."
Chris began guiding fly-fishing trips in Montana in 1990 and owned a guide service and lodge on the famed San Juan River before founding Compass West Outfitters in 1997. In the decades since, he has guided elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, antelope, oryx, aoudad and ibex across New Mexico, Colorado and Old Mexico, plus brown bear in Alaska and hunts around the globe.
That well-rounded background — more than 30 years of boots-on-the-ground field experience and nearly three decades planning hunting and fishing destinations worldwide — goes to work on every trip we book. Chris specializes in the finest big-game hunting New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Sonora, Mexico have to offer, and personally makes sure every client is on the very best destination for their tag, from the draw application all the way to field care.
"If I'm not on the phone talking hunting, I'm hunting or fly fishing. If you're considering a hunt with us, I'm here to help you get the very best out of your hard-earned dollar — and your dream tag."
Guides who live the country they hunt.
Our guide teams are unit specialists — sheep fanatics who spend their summers glassing the high country, elk guides who know the bulls by the sound of their bugle, and mule deer guides who watch the same bucks from shed season to opening day — or guides who spend the entire season on a single high-quality ranch, ensuring you have the very best hunt possible.
The quality of our guides and cook staff sets us apart, but it's the success rates, trophy quality and client satisfaction that keep hunters coming back year after year.
Our standard in the field.
Treat Every Tag Like Our Own
We hunt every second of every day like it's the trip of a lifetime — because for you, it is.
Earn Your Trust
From the draw application to field care, we handle the details so you can focus on the hunt.
Deliver the Full Experience
Great guides, great cooks, comfortable camps, and memories that outlast the mount.