A few of my hunting buddies and I are looking into rifle pack in hunts for WT, mulies, or elk. The ones that we are most interested in are pack in on horseback and camping for a few days. We have mostly researched montana, wyoming, and colorado. The two main issues are money and season dates. I'm a teacher so it needs to be in a state that the season is still open over thanksgiving week. Anybody on the board have experience in a state or with a specific outfitter? Typically when we hunt together we do a lot of spot and stalk before harvesting, and enjoy the challenge that provides. We are open to traveling anywhere, but prefer to keep the expenses (excluding licenses, tags, and travel) under 5k (I know limited options but I am a teacher).
Thanks in advance.

I have no outfitters to recommend but be aware that most western states are pretty well finished with all hunting seasons by Thanksgiving. You may find a 4th season hunt but you aren't going to get back into the mountains by horesback because the snow is usually deep by then. Most of the late season hunts are on the flats since most of the game has migrated out of the high country due of the snow! Good Luck. Baker

Look into a West Texas hunt. Call the Longfellow Ranch and see if they would do a package for that for your group.

www.jacobsden.net

Call for more information

Chris

3182720146

I would check with Gary Webb in New Mexico Gila area, not sure how the seasons line up but he was highly recommended everywhere I looked.

Thanks for the fast replies and info. I knew when I got home from work I could expect something to help direct our search. I guess I really am Texan all through since I didn't even think about snow depth in Nov. Not opposed to taking days off, but most of what I saw was a 6 day minimum and that's simply not allowed in teaching. I will check into the three places listed. Thanks for taking time guys.

In Northern New Mexico- You don't want to pack in on horseback to a wilderness camp that late.
Over Thanksgiving week, we offer Lodging Accommodation- Ranch Only Bull Elk Hunts, Mountain Lion Hunts, and Youth Only Mule Deer Hunts.
For all of our latest news, photos, and info- check our www.facebook.com/BarXBarRanch

Also, the Nail Ranch at Albany(I think it was the Nail) used to offer a horseback only hunt, with tent camp and a chuckwagon. You also had to use rifles with open sights only. They only did one hunt per season.

I so want to do that hunt someday.

Ditto what everyone else said on the high country hunts in November.

I know years ago when I hunted the Nail it was booked so far out they would not even mention it. Said it was there most popular hunt. I do not know if they still have it or even advertise it.

I just checked their website-it is not mentioned.

Go to the link and give the Division of Wildlife a call. They will tell you what your options are. This may be the one time they are actually helpful!
http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/PlanYourHunt.aspx

I rent my cabin out to deer and elk hunters who hunt around Pagosa Springs, co. There are no seasons left during the week of your Thanksgiving holidays. I'm also a teacher in Texas and would have gone to Colorado every year if there was a season that overlapped the Thanksgiving holidays.
Here is the 2015 dates.
Rifle Deer/Elk/Moose
Moose Oct. 1–14 Oct. 1–14
Separate limited elk (1st season) Oct. 10–14 Oct. 15–19
Combined (deer/elk) (2nd season) Oct. 17–25 Oct. 22–30
(3rd season) Oct. 31–Nov. 8 Nov. 5–13
Combined limited (deer/elk) (4th season) Nov. 11–15 Nov. 16–20
Plains deer (east of I-25, except Unit 140) Oct. 24–Nov. 3 Oct. 29–Nov. 8
Late plains deer (east of I-25, except Unit 140) Dec. 1–14

Oh, if anyone is interested, you can see my cabin and rates at www.pagosaspringscabin.com

What unit is your cabin in?

It siting in Pagosa Springs which is right where three units come together, 77,78,771