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Only
the finest mule deer and elk hunting in New Mexico and Southwestern
Colorado |
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Call us today! 505-801-7500 |
Colorado has
long been known as the elk hunting capital of the west. With the
largest herds (over 250,000) as well as highest harvest rates, it
remains the number one destination for western dream hunts. What we
offer is the very finest the southwestern part of the state has to
offer. From do-it-yourself pre-scouted drop camps where all you need is
a GPS, your trusty rifle, a bed roll and your food for the week, to
fully guided horseback hunts in some of the most beautiful country God
created. We are pleased to be outfitting in the beautiful San Juan
National Forest under special permit. Within our permitted area we are
the only outfitter allowed to offer guided camps as well as drop camps
insuring our guest’s access to the finest areas within our
permitted area. We have been outfitting in the southwest since 1996 and
are happy to share the wonders this area has to offer. At Compass West
Outfitters we welcome you to the southwestern US and look forward to
making your dreams reality!
505-801-7500 or click here for our hunting information request form
Elk Hunting in Colorado
We offer the very best for all
sportsman and woman from high quality bow rut hunts to primitive
muzzleloader hunts in the peak of the rut. Add in first season rifle
hunts where the rutting elk are still easy to fool and willing to come
to proper calls, and the ability to hunt mule deer or bear at the same
time and you’ll see why we are a hunt you want to experience year
after year. We also offer late season migration hunts were the elk can
literally fill a valley as they work their way to the wintering
grounds. Our northern permit area is in the middle of the summer and
rutting range and our southern areas are smack dab in the middle of the
migration route out of the high country we offer the very best
opportunity for every season. Colorado also offers a rare opportunity
in the western US to purchase over the counter bull elk tags with out
the worry of a draw. This allows hunters who choose to bow hunt or hunt
the 2nd or 3rd rifle season to simply plan their trip and head out.
Limited draw hunts offer the chance for quality hunts in the peak of
the rut with muzzleloaders or 1st rifle hunts when the elk are still
rutting with a simple application for these limited hunts. Colorado
allows you to gain preference points for each year that you are not
successful in the draw. For the most part the areas that we guide in
Colorado require only 1 preference point. For people that really plan
ahead you can also buy preference points in Colorado then the next year
apply for your hunt and be able to just about plan for your trip. If
you apply for a hunt and are unsuccessful in the draw you will have
first shot at all openings we have for over the counter hunts, we also
keep you an opening if you tell us in advance that you would like to
still hunt if not successful in the draw.
Mule deer hunting in Southwestern Colorado
Although most people that
choose to hunt with us for trophy mule deer hunt in unit 2 in New
Mexico, the number of our hunters switching to Colorado is growing
every year because in Colorado if you draw a mule deer tag you can also
buy an over-the-counter bull elk or bear tag. This allows our hunters
to enjoy the possibility of harvesting both a monster buck and bull in
the same week on the same hunt! The Colorado department of Wildlife has
been managing our areas for the last several years to increase both the
number of deer as well as the age class. They have been doing a great
job and the number of trophy bucks as well as the buck to doe ratio is
increasing every year. Many of the bucks in southwest Colorado are over
24” with good mass and the possibility of a 30” is just
over every ridge and in every canyon!
Bear hunting in Southwestern Colorado
In the southern areas that
we guide we have an incredible number of bears. You are not permitted
to hunt bear with dogs or over bait so the hunts are spot and stalk in
Colorado. Success rates vary year to year but we have enjoyed good over
all success rates on bear hunts, although harvest rates are higher in
the low elevation camps where we have more oaks. Spot and stalk hunts
for bear is an adrenalin rush to say the least, glassing up and
stalking a 200 pound bear is a thrill that you will likely never
forget. Our camps are all 2x1 hunts (two hunters and one guide)
therefore your hunting partner and you must know and understand that
stalking a bear resulting in a harvest will take time away from elk
hunting, likely the entire day. So long as both hunters are OK with
spending the time in pursuit of a bear then we encourage you to
purchase a over the counter tag. *All bear harvested in Colorado must
be registered with the DOW within 3 days, this can result in a shorter
hunt for you as you must pack out your bear skull and meat to register
with the DOW.
Combo hunts
We offer
either elk-mule deer, elk-bear combos or any mix you choose. Mule deer
hunts are all draw hunts so you must apply for tags for this hunt. Bear
and some elk hunts are over the counter, please talk with us if your
plans include a desire to combo hunt so that we can assist you with
choosing the best times for your hunt.
What camp to choose in Colorado
We will assist you in the choice of camps, based on your needs and desires, but here is a basic outline of what we offer at our Colorado area pack in camps.
Guided camps range from 8,000 feet in elevation in the lower hill country where oak brush and aspen trees fill the hill sides, to camps located at over 10,000 feet where you are camping and hunting at or above tree line and hunting up to 12,500 feet in elevation. Depending on the desires and physical level of you or your group we will discuss the best choice of camp. We encourage you to be very up front with us regarding your physical abilities as we can customize hunts at any camp to your group’s physical level if we know what your group is going to be able to handle.
To access hunting areas we use horses on most days in the guided camps but you are also going to be hunting on foot in these areas so you will need to be able to hike 2-4 hours per day. Guides will always remember that we are used to the elevations much better than you are, guides are instructed to always wait for you and travel at your pace! All that said, we are not planning on walking you to death, we just want everyone to know just what to expect so there is never a surprise. Elevation sickness is a real threat to all people entering the mountains, please be sure to follow the elevation sickness avoidance information that will be sent to you at the time of booking. There are no refunds for people that must leave camp do to elevation sickness or other reasons.
Lower elevation camps
Great choice for elk-bear combos as well as all the later season hunts, also good mule deer-elk combo hunts, but allow us to help guide you to the right choice!
Our lower
elevation camps are always the best choice for later season hunts like
2nd, 3rd and 4th rifle seasons but on late snow years we will likely
allow you to make the choice between either lower elevation or higher
elevation camps. Our oak brush and aspen camps are at most times the
best choice for people looking to combo hunt bear-elk or later season
elk-mule deer hunts. These lower camps also have a good resident
population of elk and deer allowing all the seasons to be hunted
successfully from these camps. Bears do flock to the areas near our
lower camps to take advantage of the acorns that grow here. Mule deer
numbers are also much higher at these camps in the later weeks as the
rut for deer is about to begin and the big boys will be heading down
from the high country in search of does. Generally speaking the lower
elevation camps are not as steep they tend to be more rolling, but
don’t let that fool you there are still plenty of steep canyons
to hide that trophy just waiting for you to dare to enter!
High country camps
Best choice for bow and muzzleloader hunts as well as 1st rifle season. They are also good for early elk-mule deer combo hunts as well.
We love to hunt high and do very well
on early season hunts in this area. These camps are located at about
10,000 feet above sea level so be ready and be in good shape. Our high
camps are located near the prime rutting areas that our elk inhabit,
often you’ll go to bed with the sound of screaming elk just
outside camp. With the aid of horses we will access areas above tree
line each morning and hunt our way down. With large open areas and
bugling elk, the hunt method of choice is spot and stalk on these
hunts. To locate bulls, guides will use both bugles and cow calls,
guides will also take advantage of the open areas to glass for bulls in
the surrounding hills. It’s not uncommon to glass up a bull in
the morning and then get as close as you can on horseback to try and
call him in. We also have some monster mule deer in the 30” range
that run the tree line. This is a spot and stalk hunt and is offered as
a combo hunt if you draw a mule deer tag. Camps are located on the
edges of black timber just below tree line to protect us in the event
of heavy wind or possible snow as early as September. They are simply
the best choice for muzzleloader and bow hunters as well as 1st rifle
hunters, there is also a good chance that we may still have a high
camps set for the 2nd rifle season if it is a late snow year.
Drive in camps
We have a great opportunity on all our hunts to locate camps right in the middle of the migration routes as well as in the wintering areas, and home range to resident herds of elk that are here year round. These camps can also be used by people not wishing to hunt horseback. Early season bow, muzzleloader and rifle hunts can all be great even at the low elevation camps. These camps are accessed by 4x4 trucks and hunting is done on foot with the aid of trucks to access hunting areas and some horseback if conditions are safe. These camps are a great choice for people looking for a less adventures hunt in lower elevations with more comforts. They are great hunts and in prime locations they are simply located in areas where with trucks we can cover large amounts of ground allowing us to move with the elk as the migrate out of the high country. Many hunts from this camp involve being dropped off early in the day high above camp and hunting down hill all day in the direction of camp or to a location where you’ll be picked up or the truck will be waiting. An excellent choice for hunters looking to stay in lower elevations with easier access and exceptional hunting.
What is in our camps and how the days roll
You will be sleeping in custom canvas wall tents with woodstoves and cots with sleeping mats. There will be from 2-6 people in each tent depending on the number in your hunting party and the size of tents. There is a dining tent that will also have woodstove as well as tables and chairs to relax and enjoy dinner or a game of cards at night. There is a hand and face washing tub in the kitchen tent as well as a good place to shave and do a little cowboy shower. We will have an area set aside to clean up in the form of a shower although there will likely be no showers in camps you can take a sponge bath in a private area with plenty of hot water, just be sure to ask the cook at breakfast to have water ready for you that night when you return. Camps will all have an outhouse for guests that will be located near camp. We ask that guests stay only on the trails in camp; we are under special permit to both camp and hunt in the areas of Colorado we guide, the damage that we can inflict on the fragile mountain environment can take longer than our lifetime to repair, please respect this and stay only on existing trails when in camp. Please also take the time to point out any trash you see in camp or in the field to your guide so that we can be sure to leave an area better than when we arrived. Guides will have a tent as well that will house all the guides and the cook. This area is off limits to all guests other than in the event of an emergency. All guided camps will have a satellite phone to be used in the event of an emergency only, there are evacuation plans in the kitchen tent as well as GPS locations near by in the event that someone must be airlifted out.
Breakfast will be a hearty continental with hot breakfast burritos to take on the trail with you. At breakfast you’ll fix yourself a sandwich to pack in your saddlebag as well as grab chips, cookies, jerky, candy bars, fruit, and anything else to snack on for the day. You’ll also want to pack water for the day at this time. Guides will get the horses ready and help you pack the saddlebags with your lunch, water and rifle. You’ll head out on horseback before first light in order to arrive to the guides desired area to set up for the morning hunt. You will likely spend full days in the field, although we can customize all trips to your needs and desires. Afternoons will be spent stalking likely areas as well as glassing surrounding hillsides and valleys. Late afternoon you’ll be back to sitting on feeding areas on late hunts and calling on rut hunts. Once the daylight fades you’ll be on your way back to camp where you’ll be able to check your gun and unpack from the day’s adventure. Once in camp you can clean up a little in the kitchen tent and relax as the camp cook gets dinner ready. Dinners are family style and hearty meals nothing fancy, after all we have to pack everything into camp. After dinner guides and cook will clean up and then you’re on your own. There is a lantern in the dinner tent where you can relax and read a book or play a game of cards. You are welcome to bring any liquor to camp that you would like, just remember that it must fit in the two small duffle bags that can weigh no more then 30# each (more information on this is in your packing lists and camps rules information package).
Once you have taken your elk:
You never know when you’re going to take your elk or deer, it might be on the first day, or even on the way to camp or in the last minute of the final day! Once you have an elk down the guide will cape your animal, as well as quarter your elk for packing back to camp. We encourage you to help as much or little as you like with this. Guides can simply assist you if you would like to take care of all of this on your own as a part of your experience. Once we have gotten your animal to camp, guides will hang your elk and prep your head for mounting if you choose or get the skull ready for a European mount. Please be ready to make the call in the field whether or not you want to do a shoulder mount, depending on your wishes the cuts the guide makes change. In early seasons we will likely be able to keep your meat in camp for 1-5 days depending on the weather. If we experience a warm fall the camp cook will likely have to pack your meat to the trailhead to transport to local meat packers. If this is the case you may at this time choose to leave camp on a “meat run”. If you choose to leave camp with your meat our off mountain manager will meet you at the trail head and transport you and your meat to town where you will be dropped off at your car or local motel. You will be responsible for both meat packaging (elk about $200) and motels and meals once you leave camp. You will not be able to return to camp once you leave on meat runs, because the cook will simply meet the off mountain manager at trailhead then return to camp. If you harvest early in the week and the weather is cold you will have the option to leave camp once we have 2 elk to pack to the trailhead. In the event of a very successful week we will likely need to make meat runs before we pack everyone out, if this is the case everyone will be able to make the call, stay in camp or leave early.
Turkey hunting in both Colorado and New Mexico:
Colorado:
Our southern permit area in Colorado is a prime turkey holding area as well. We offer 1x1 spring turkey hunts that are sure to be one of the best hunts you’ll ever be on. The same low elevation areas that hold our wintering elk and deer covered in oak brush and aspen also hold some of the highest populations of turkey in the southwest. Our hunts here are 1x1 hunts and are 2-4 days hunts. You’ll stay at a local motel and take care of your own meals (or you can also camp in the area), guides will meet you at assigned locations and head for the hills to locate and call in that spring gobbler. Please call me for more information on this hunt, because of or high repeat rate we have limited openings each year. Hunts are $350.00 per day, two day minimum 1x1 hunts, but we will also work with hunters choosing to hunt with a friend on a 2x1 hunt for a special rate.
New Mexico:
We also guide turkey hunting in New Mexico state wide but love to hunt in unit 2, this is a draw only hunt but odds for the last 5 years have been 100% with an outfitter application. They are great high dessert hunts in beautiful country that is located in the northwestern part of the state in the heart of the mule deer areas that we guide. We are also willing to assist you in other areas of the state that offer over the counter (2) turkey tags, including the Gila areas with advance reservations. $350.00 per day 2 day minimum.
Spike or drop camps in Colorado:
We offer drop camps in both the low elevation and high elevation areas that we also guide. Camps are located in pre-scouted locations that offer an excellent chance for the do it yourself hunters to harvest an elk, mule deer or bear. We will offer drive in camps in the lower elevations for people wishing to use both ATV’s as well as trucks to access hunting areas. We will also have higher elevation camps where you will be packed in on horses with all your gear and “dropped” in a prime location where elk are close by and you can hunt on foot from this prime location. You can also lease horses for this camp in order to have access to more country as well as help in packing out an elk. Our off mountain manager will check on you at arranged times on arranged days that will be arranged when you are dropped off. In low elevation camps where we can drive in we’ll try and check with you every other day. Cell phones will work in some camps and on top of most of the hills. We HIGHLY recommend that you lease or buy a satellite phone. You’ll only really need to bring your food for the week, rifle, sleeping bag and all your hunting gear. We’ll have a sleeping tent with a wood stove and plenty of wood as well as a cook-dinning tent where there will be lanterns as well as cook stoves and tables and chairs. You’ll also have an outhouse tent. In the kitchen tent you’ll find two tables one for sitting and one for kitchen prep, two burner stove, wash pans, water, all the pots, pans, plates, silverware, and cups that you’re going to need for your stay. In the sleeping tent there will be cots for everyone in camp as well as sleeping mats. We’ll help you out with prime locations as well as a few GPS locations to check out you’ll then be on your own for the week to enjoy the wonders of Colorado. We will have a pack out service for people who down an elk, fee for this service will be discussed at time of booking. We can also do emergency re-supply runs for people who don’t plan on the amount of food they are going to eat in a week. We are also going to be offering semi-guided drop camps, 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 as well as head to the woods with 2 guys a day to help out.
Call or email us today for more information:
505-801-7500 or click here for our hunting information request form
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