Any first hand reference for a elk hunt outfitter around west Colorado? Thanks

I forget who I used the one time I went, but just wanted to mention to be sure to find somebody with private land to hunt or somebody that gets you way back into a Wilderness Area. I've never seen so many people out in the woods like I did during my hunt there. We rode horses through the National Forest to the Mt Zirkel Wilderness Area, and then well into the Wilderness Area to be where the elk where. On the way through the National Forest, we where surrounded with four wheelers. Guys going back and forth to their camps with cases of beer, food, BBQ'a and everything else including kitchen sinks!!!!

While I can't speak for every part of Colorado, or what most hunting there is like, I would never ever want to be where all those four wheelers where during hunting season. They never stopped riding around. We heard very few shots except when it seemed like somebody was target shooting, or just drunk, late in the evening.

Similar thing happened in Idaho from an outfitter that was forced to refund our money and charge by the Fish and Game for a long list of violations. Years later, he kept up his methods and went to jail for a few years. He told us we where hunting private land and he was sneaking us onto land he didn't have permission to be on, along with trying to convince us that public land was really his private lease and everyone else was trespassing.

I hunted out west every fall for over 25 years and yes, avoid the pumpkin patch at all cost!

I hope to find a reputable outfitter..

Yes sir, G ood luck and I'm sure there are some good ones in Colorado!