Mile High Outfitters offers horseback, tent camp, wilderness hunting and fishing trips in the Frank Church Wilderness in Central Idaho. No one can guarantee a trophy bull or state record fish; but here’s what we can promise. We will provide sound, quality horses and mules, your professional guides will work hard, you will get to visit God’s greatest creation in the largest wilderness in the lower 48 and, even though you will eat like a horse, you will lose weight because we will work your ass off. Elk, deer, lion, bear and wolf tags are guaranteed.
Mile High has two major areas of operation. The original area is in the center of the Frank Church Wilderness and the front range area is on the edge of the wilderness. Both areas are rugged and beautiful, and they kill people every year who are not prepared or take them for granted. Both areas use horses and mules and offer tent camp accommodations. There are two major differences between the two areas. The wilderness has a long rifle season stretching from Sept. 15- Nov. 18 for elk, deer, bear lion and wolf. The front range, because it is more accessible, has a shorter rifle season but also has an archery season for elk and deer. The other major difference, because the wilderness is so vast and it takes us 2 days to ride stock in, we fly our customers into the wilderness via one of the air strips. Even though the front range is more accessible, it has very limited tags. Physical fitness is a must if you accompany us on one of our wilderness or front range hunts. Elk and Mule Dear hunts can be booked as a 1×1, 2×1 or we can do drop camps in the front range. Lion hunts are only booked as a 1×1. Bear and wolf hunts can be booked as a 1×1 or 2×1. fishing trips can be booked as guided or drop camp for both lake and stream fishing.
Travis, Brenda, Charlie and Clay Bullock, owners of Mile High Outfitters, live in Challis, Idaho and are the backbone of this elk, mule deer, black bear and mountain lion outfitting and guide business. They offer both fly in and pack in hunting and fishing trips into the Frank Church Wilderness and the Salmon River Mountains. Travis started working for Con Hourihan at Taylor Ranch Outfitters and Scott Farr at Wilderness Outfitters in 1984 when he was 15 years old. He and Brenda bought Mile High Outfitters in 1995. Since then, they have added three other businesses to their operation including the old Big Creek Lodge area, the Lucky Boy Outfitters area which was the original White Cloud Outfitters area and a portion of the Gary Madsen, 4×4 Outfitters area. Combined, Mile High has approximately six hundred and fifty square miles of hunting and fishing area in the Frank Church Wilderness and the Salmon River Mountains. The wilderness fish and game units are 26, 27 and 20-A which is considered the Middle Fork elk zone. The front range area is located between Stanley and Challis between the Salmon River Mountains, the Sawtooth Mountains and the Boulder/White Cloud mountains. Our front range hunts are in fish and game units 36 and 36-B which are part of the Sawtooth and Salmon elk Zones. There are over 150 miles of streams and 20 high mountain lakes to fish in Mile High Outfitters’ exclusive guiding and outfitting area.
Travis and Brenda’s two boys, Charlie and Clay Bullock are the 4th generation of Bullocks to hunt and fish the same area. Their great grandfather, Claude Bullock took their grandfather Craig elk hunting on Big Creek in 1957; back when it was known as the Idaho Primitive area. Each year Travis, Charlie, Clay and the guides break one or two horses and mules to add to the forty head of stock in their pack string. Brenda takes care of the office and keeps her boys in line. This family does everything it can to make your wilderness hunting and fishing trip enjoyable and safe. They maintain their string of horses, mules, riding saddles, pack equipment, tents, trucks, trailers, snowmobiles and ATVs constantly. Mile High guides are experienced in horsemanship and eager to help. They have eyes like an eagle, are in good shape and are experienced at spotting and stalking game. They understand that most hunters will not be able to keep up and they are professional enough to let you go at your own pace but please – no whining.
Mile High, through the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board, has an allocation of guaranteed non-resident elk and deer tags. These non-resident tags were greatly limited by unit in 2020. Mile High is insured, bonded, a member of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, permitted on the Challis BLM, Salmon/Challis Forest and Krassel Ranger district on the Payette Forest and is licensed by the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board – license number 7940.
If you book a trip with Mile High Outfitters, you will be required to fill out a contract. This contract protects both you and Mile High. It gives the specific trip dates, where to show up and exact costs. Our insurance company also requires an acknowledgement of risk form be filled out by each guest. Mile High will send a recommended gear list for your trip and there are two videos on this site that
cover some of the items you may or may not need during your hunting or fishing trip. Mile High Outfitters has an allocation of guaranteed elk and deer tags for our clients but they are limited so we encourage hunters to book early.
Age and Weight limits – Due to misuse of our stock by overweight clients, we have a weight limit on each client of 250 pounds. If you look heavier than what your contract says, we will weigh you with your clothes on. If you are heavier than 250 pounds, you will not be allowed to ride our stock. We apologize if you do not fit this category, but we work hard to provide the best riding stock possible. We care deeply for our horses and mules, and we can’t risk clients hurting them. I won’t sugar coat it, if you’re so fat your belly hits the saddle horn and your ass hangs over the cantle, don’t call us! There is no age limit. If you feel young enough at heart to join us on an adventure, we will do our best to accommodate you. Age catches all of us and unlike obesity, it is not a choice. The oldest hunter we have ever taken was 94. He was 5’ 10” and 150 pounds. He lion hunted with me 4 times and killed 3 cats. If he wanted to hunt again, I would sign him up tomorrow.
Unsafe gun handling – As guides, we expect each client to handle their weapon so as not to endanger the guides and other hunters. The first time you point your rifle at someone, we will ask you to point it in a safe direction. The second time you do it, we will haul you back to the trailhead and send you home. There is no room for stupidity when it comes to firearms.
Hunting and fishing trips can be booked as a guided trip or drop camp. Most hunters book as a 1×1 (one guide per hunter) or 2×1 (two hunters per guide). Guided hunts are much more successful than drop camps because we use horses and mules each day to hunt and therefore, we cover much more country. Hunters are also accompanied by guides who know the area and are familiar with the habits of the game. Drop camp fishing trips are very popular and work well for enthusiastic fishermen in both the high mountain lakes and wilderness stream fishing. We offer a few drop camp hunting trips outside the wilderness and it is an economical way to access hard to reach areas but we have very few openings and they usually sell out fast. We do not put drop campers on top of guided hunters or vice versa.
We highly recommend trip cancelation insurance. Due to the ever-changing wilderness environment, forest fires, smoke, mud slides, foul weather, and other acts of God, we are sometimes kept from providing all or part of your trip. Each year hunters cancel out due to work, health issues, etc. and either want their money back or roll their hunt over for the following year. Because we do not overbook, we expect each client to follow the contract. If you do cancel out, there are three options. First, use your trip cancelation insurance. If you did not buy insurance, find someone to fill your spot. Lastly, we will try to fill your spot and if we do, we will refund your money minus a 10% fee.
Fish and Game laws and ethics. We expect all our customers to obey all fish and game laws and to act as ethically as possible. If you wound an animal, that is the only one of that species you are allowed to shoot unless the guide feels the animal will be fine. Anyone who brings a scope with long range turrets must have covers on the turrets so they do not spin while going down the trail in the rifle scabbard. If you show up with exposed turrets, you will be asked to leave. We have had more problems with wounded game from wannabe long range shooters with exposed turrets than anything else.
We have found that most problems come from a lack of communication, and we have done everything we can to give you as much information as possible. We want you to enjoy your time with Mile High, but you need to be realistic about your expectations as well as ours. Our piece of God’s country is beautiful but rugged. It is there to be enjoyed but will kill you in a heartbeat if you underestimate it. We will work hard and do our best to accommodate you but the choice to have a good time is up to you. We prepare as best we can for your trip, but mother nature gets the last word in how your trip ultimately plays out.
Travis and Brenda’s two boys, Charlie and Clay Bullock are the 4th generation of Bullocks to hunt and fish the same area. Their great grandfather, Claude Bullock took their grandfather Craig elk hunting on Big Creek in 1957; back when it was known as the Idaho Primitive area. Each year Travis, Charlie, Clay and the guides break one or two horses and mules to add to the forty head of stock in their pack string. Brenda takes care of the office and keeps her boys in line. This family does everything it can to make your wilderness hunting and fishing trip enjoyable and safe. They maintain their string of horses, mules, riding saddles, pack equipment, tents, trucks, trailers, snowmobiles and ATVs constantly. Mile High guides are experienced in horsemanship and eager to help. They have eyes like an eagle, are in good shape and are experienced at spotting and stalking game. They understand that most hunters will not be able to keep up and they are professional enough to let you go at your own pace but please – no whining.
Mile High, through the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board, has an allocation of guaranteed non-resident elk and deer tags. These non-resident tags were greatly limited by unit in 2020. Mile High is insured, bonded, a member of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, permitted on the Challis BLM, Salmon/Challis Forest and Krassel Ranger district on the Payette Forest and is licensed by the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board – license number 7940.
If you book a trip with Mile High Outfitters, you will be required to fill out a contract. This contract protects both you and Mile High. It gives the specific trip dates, where to show up and exact costs. Our insurance company also requires an acknowledgement of risk form be filled out by each guest. Mile High will send a recommended gear list for your trip and there are two videos on this site that
cover some of the items you may or may not need during your hunting or fishing trip. Mile High Outfitters has an allocation of guaranteed elk and deer tags for our clients but they are limited so we encourage hunters to book early.
Age and Weight limits – Due to misuse of our stock by overweight clients, we have a weight limit on each client of 250 pounds. If you look heavier than what your contract says, we will weigh you with your clothes on. If you are heavier than 250 pounds, you will not be allowed to ride our stock. We apologize if you do not fit this category, but we work hard to provide the best riding stock possible. We care deeply for our horses and mules, and we can’t risk clients hurting them. I won’t sugar coat it, if you’re so fat your belly hits the saddle horn and your ass hangs over the cantle, don’t call us! There is no age limit. If you feel young enough at heart to join us on an adventure, we will do our best to accommodate you. Age catches all of us and unlike obesity, it is not a choice. The oldest hunter we have ever taken was 94. He was 5’ 10” and 150 pounds. He lion hunted with me 4 times and killed 3 cats. If he wanted to hunt again, I would sign him up tomorrow.
Unsafe gun handling – As guides, we expect each client to handle their weapon so as not to endanger the guides and other hunters. The first time you point your rifle at someone, we will ask you to point it in a safe direction. The second time you do it, we will haul you back to the trailhead and send you home. There is no room for stupidity when it comes to firearms.
Hunting and fishing trips can be booked as a guided trip or drop camp. Most hunters book as a 1×1 (one guide per hunter) or 2×1 (two hunters per guide). Guided hunts are much more successful than drop camps because we use horses and mules each day to hunt and therefore, we cover much more country. Hunters are also accompanied by guides who know the area and are familiar with the habits of the game. Drop camp fishing trips are very popular and work well for enthusiastic fishermen in both the high mountain lakes and wilderness stream fishing. We offer a few drop camp hunting trips outside the wilderness and it is an economical way to access hard to reach areas but we have very few openings and they usually sell out fast. We do not put drop campers on top of guided hunters or vice versa.
We highly recommend trip cancelation insurance. Due to the ever-changing wilderness environment, forest fires, smoke, mud slides, foul weather, and other acts of God, we are sometimes kept from providing all or part of your trip. Each year hunters cancel out due to work, health issues, etc. and either want their money back or roll their hunt over for the following year. Because we do not overbook, we expect each client to follow the contract. If you do cancel out, there are three options. First, use your trip cancelation insurance. If you did not buy insurance, find someone to fill your spot. Lastly, we will try to fill your spot and if we do, we will refund your money minus a 10% fee.
Fish and Game laws and ethics. We expect all our customers to obey all fish and game laws and to act as ethically as possible. If you wound an animal, that is the only one of that species you are allowed to shoot unless the guide feels the animal will be fine. Anyone who brings a scope with long range turrets must have covers on the turrets so they do not spin while going down the trail in the rifle scabbard. If you show up with exposed turrets, you will be asked to leave. We have had more problems with wounded game from wannabe long range shooters with exposed turrets than anything else.
We have found that most problems come from a lack of communication, and we have done everything we can to give you as much information as possible. We want you to enjoy your time with Mile High, but you need to be realistic about your expectations as well as ours. Our piece of God’s country is beautiful but rugged. It is there to be enjoyed but will kill you in a heartbeat if you underestimate it. We will work hard and do our best to accommodate you but the choice to have a good time is up to you. We prepare as best we can for your trip, but mother nature gets the last word in how your trip ultimately plays out.