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Our archery hunts take place in the front range between Aug. 30 and Sept. 30. We use horses and mules to access very rugged portions of this steep terrain. You are welcome to have elk and deer tags along with wolf tags on this hunt. All TAGS ARE GUARANTEED. Just like a wilderness hunt, we ride horses and mules out of camp each morning and spend many hours in the saddle or hiking. If you are not physically fit, this hunt is not for you. The first hunt offers hunters the opportunity to hunt for large mule deer bucks in velvet. Most hunters book this hunt for the elk but those large mule deer are what really get me excited. They are probably the most challenging animal to hunt in early season. Elk are in the rut and bugling during the month of September. We typically hunt at 7500’- 8500’ in elevation. Most archery hunts are booked as a 1×1 guided or drop camp. Archery hunting is very unique because it forces you to get close to the animal. A lot of rifle hunters have been bitten by the “long range bug” and feel the need to shoot from long distances. These hunters, if they practice, are usually more successful but they miss out on the hunt. Testing your hunting skills to see how close you can either sneak in on the animal or call the animal to you is what makes archery such a challenge. I’m not putting long range hunters down but when elk hunting, there is nothing better than calling a bull in close.
We have put together some YouTube videos on how to prepare for your hunt. Archery hunting takes more preparation than any other hunts we offer. Not only should you be in “sheep” shape, you need to practice shooting your bow continually prior to your hunt. The best archery hunters I know shoot one arrow every day and they do it from different angles. In the field, you very seldom get a second shot so the first one is the one that counts. The game is usually on steep terrain. The more you can simulate the situation, the better your odds of making a good shot in the field.
Bow hunting equipment is fragile. Archery equipment never ceases to amaze me in its ability to fall apart while in the field. Carry some tools with you all the time. Allen wrenches are a must and you should check and tighten your bow constantly. Bring a good shoulder sling to carry your bow while riding the horse. An arrow tube is what most hunters prefer during the early morning horseback ride in the dark. We put this tube on a pack mule. his protects both the hunter and the horse. One time we got to the place where we were to start hunting at daylight and my hunter had lost all his arrows out of his quiver during the ride in the dark. We hunted the rest of the day for arrows instead of elk. Drop-a-way arrow rests are common, but they have more moving parts than a whisker biscuit and lead to more problems. Long stabilizers may help your shooting at targets but get in the way while you are riding a horse. Make sure your stabilizer and front sight do not stick out further than the limbs of your bow or it will be riding on your hip and bumping the saddle while riding a horse. I have found more than one stabilizer on the trail where it came unscrewed while riding. When you ride a 1500-pound horse with your bow and you rub into a tree, the horse and tree will not give. Many hunters have learned this lesson the hard way. When it comes to bow hunting equipment, less is more. The simpler the bow, the less to go wrong.
