Friends,

I would like to book a New Mexico Bull Elk hunt for 2 to 3 folks for this year (or next if needed).
I am seeing some great options on this forum and have done some searches, but i am interested in any personal recommendations.

Here is what we are looking for:
2 to 3 hunters (My father, for his Birthday, and a possible friend). Maybe one non hunter.
Rifle
low fence
Guided or semi guided
Food and lodging provided would be nice, but open to all options.
High success rate
Landowner tags or draw ok
no points in the system
Ability to add on deer awesome
Want some really good bull options, with brow tines 5x5 or 6x6.
Want hunt experience.
Price range is not important; i dont know what these should cost

Any recs? Thank you in advance.

I think your pricing expectations are low.

Good to know. I do not really know what to expect, and money is not the driving factor. So getting better educated on options and more opinions from folks like yourself will help.

That budget range was made by perusing the forum and seeing a lot of hunts around $5k, and then choosing a budget range with that in the middle. But if the end result is $10k, or whatever, so be it. So long as the value is there, it is what it is!

Agree.

...Even a 'free' elk hunt isn't.

Don't forget to look into hunts with the Navajo Nation as well.

My understanding is reservation hunts carry a premium price.

Thank you, price is not a driving factor. I am looking for an awesome hunt. I do not know what these should cost - so i am looking for recs for the right place.

Are you limited to NM?

No sir; choose NM for the following reasons, but open everywhere-
Why NM? Appears to be able to get in this year, versus waiting for points in other states
Appears easier to add on other possible animals like deer
Closer
better weather

I have researched some outfitters in NM and have come to some conclusions about pricing for “guaranteed” tags (landowner or whatever) and that is, they cost usually around 10-15k pp.

There are quite a few people i could recommend for you for a guaranteed hunt in the 10-12k pp range with a good chance at a 300” type elk, and if expectations for a smaller elk are ok (5x5) then could be easier to get.

But honestly, many of the excellent guides are booking for years out, and many will be booked up this year, esp for 3. Maybe could squeeze one in, but 3 is a different animal. Now if you simply wanted your dad to hunt and you and a friend along for the ride as non-hunting partners, that might be more doable for this year.

I would drop the friend no problem, and just take 2; focus is on my dad. 10 to 12k a hunter is ok.
Could wait a year if we had too; i just want to know who the good guides are. Thanks.

In Colorado the Ranching for Wildlife lands have longer seasons and guaranteed tags for outfitted hunts.
You might look into some of those ranches.
This list has the ranches that offer draw hunts for CO residents so they also offer those hunts as outfitted I'm betting.
Google some ranch names and see what they have and costs.

https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/Ranching/RanchSizeLocationSpecies.pdf

Kiowa Hunting Service

Grey Ghost Outdoors

I also would recommend Kiowa. The owner has been around for a long time and offers quality hunts. You might also try Jim Welles with JFW Ranch Consulting, he has been at it for a long time as well. I have hunted with both of them and had very good experiences.

Thank you for the actual recommendations. I will check all of these out, Daniel, wytex, and Deans

https://www.hillranches.com/
https://www.turnerranchoutfitting.com/the-ranch
Kiowa Hunting Service but I would push for Private in Colorado

NM has gotten absurd on LO vouchers, to many Voucher jockeys jacking up the price.