COLORADO ELK HUNTS
Guided, Semi-Guided and Spike Camp
Dark Timber Outfitters runs elk hunts on 100% public land in Colorado’s Game Management Units 61 and 62 on the Uncompahgre Plateau. Every hunt is five full days. Our fully guided hunts are with guides who know and love this gorgeous stretch of public land - the drainages, the wind patterns, the elk movement that only becomes clear from seasons spent with boots on the ground and the dedication to hunting the same ground.
How to Choose the Right Elk Hunt for Your Experience Level
We calibrate every hunt to the hunter. First-timers get maximum mentorship — our guides
explain their decisions, are ready to answer questions about their approach to the hunt and elk
behavior in real time and treat the hunt as the starting point for becoming a lifelong elk hunter. Experienced
hunters get the autonomy they’ve earned, with guide support for terrain they haven’t hunted.
Veterans who know the area can book a spike camp with logistical support and check-ins.
If you’re not sure which option fits, call us. We believe it’s important that you get the hunt
you’ve dreamed of and not settling for the hunt an outfitter tells you to book. We’ll be honest
about what we recommend — even if that means steering you toward a different hunt type than
the one you called about.
Unit 61 Elk Hunts
Unit 61 is one of Colorado’s premier hunting units. Limited draw licenses keep hunter pressure low and bull quality high. If you have enough preference points saved for elk, consider joining us on a hunt in unit 61. From dark timber and aspens to steep oak brush canyons, this unit is home to a very healthy elk herd with a lot of bulls on the landscape. Simply stated, Unit 61 is one of the best elk hunts in the state of Colorado.
1-on-1 Option
$6,700
Unit 61 is one of Colorado’s premier hunting units and is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many hunters. A dedicated guide for five full days. Comfortable accommodations out of Dark Timber Lodge, which is located in Unit 61 and you’ll eat very well. One hunter, one guide, full attention on your hunt.
This is the way to experience Unit 61 if you’ve waited years for this hunt.
2-on-1 Option
$5,700
Hunt with a partner who also has the points to draw. Two hunters, one guide, five full days. Same quality of guiding but as a shared experience.
Unit 62 Elk Hunts
Over-the-Counter Access Every Year
Unit 62 is one of the largest game management units in Colorado. Over-the-counter licenses mean you can hunt here every year without going through the draw — while Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming require a lottery process where you may wait years to draw.
The elk herd in Unit 62 is above biological objective. Elk in our permit area stay on public land and move in and out of the various draws, benches and drainages our guides have studied for years. The terrain ranges from sagebrush and oak brush to aspens and dark timber. Hunter pressure is a factor — but for guides who know where elk go when hunter pressure hits, it’s a navigation tool, not a problem.
Unit 62 is one of the largest game management units in Colorado with a lot of hunt options depending on what type of elk hunt you’re interested in. We can help hunters plan out a schedule if they’d like to take advantage of the great experience a Unit 62 hunt provides. It’s an excellent opportunity to hunt elk every year.
Fully Guided 2-on-1 Hunts
$5,000
Our hunts in unit 62 are fully outfitted with a 2-to-1 hunter to guide ratio. We have two base camps for our fully guided hunts: Dark Timber Lodge and the Sawmill Base Camp. Home-cooked meals, comfortable accommodations, and guides who hunt alongside you every day. For residents, over-the-counter (OTC) elk licenses are available for archery, 2nd rifle, and 3rd rifle seasons. For non-residents, OTC licenses are available for 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons, while archery can be drawn with zero points, making this hunt available every year.
Semi-Guided Hunts
$2,600
Our semi-guided hunts are based out of the Sawmill Base Camp, also in unit 62. We provide delicious meals, comfortable accommodations and detailed information for where to hunt and how to get there. You hunt independently during the day with packing services if you’re successful. This is for hunters who want camp support and local knowledge without a guide on their elbow.
Unguided Spike Camps
$1,800
Our spike camp hunts (also known as a “drop camp”) are perfect for groups of 2-4 hunters looking for a more DIY style elk hunt with logistical support. We bring you and your gear in via ATV to our preset camp where you’ll find a cook tent (equipped with a kitchen), wood stove and firewood, a sleeping tent and outhouse. We provide information about the area your hunting, a radio for check-ins, and meat transport once you have your meat back to the spike camp. We do not mix groups so these are great for a group of friends and/or family members who want to hunt together.
What Every Hunt Includes
Five full days of hunting (arrive the day before, depart the morning after day five). Accommodations at Dark Timber Lodge, Sawmill Base Camp, or spike camp depending on your hunt. Home-cooked meals (Guided and Semi-Guided only). Hot showers and comfortable beds at the lodge and base camp (Guided and Semi-Guided only).
Airport pickup at Montrose Regional Airport is an option. Meat care is a top priority which we demonstrate by keeping your meat clean and cool with thoughtful field care and transport to a reputable processor as quickly as possible. For bull elk, we work with a world-class taxidermist.
A gift membership to Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is included for every hunter who isn’t already a BHA member.
What to Know Before You Book
This is public land, fair-chase elk hunting. We love what we do, we work hard and have a good time doing it! The elk have no obligation to cooperate and owe you nothing. It’s important to understand that. Come prepared physically and mentally for five full days plus a day on either end of your hunt for travel. Elevations range from 8000’ to 9800’ and know you could experience about every weather pattern imaginable. We will be honest with you before you send a deposit — about the difficulty, about the realistic expectations for your season, about whether this hunt is right for you, and about how awesome an experience it can be. If we can’t offer the right hunt based on what you’re looking for, we’ll tell you.
Every booked hunter receives our Hunt Info letter (driving directions, gear list, etc.) and also our Hunt Preparation letter. The hunters who show up prepared are the hunters who have the best experience — regardless of whether they fill their tag.
Late Season Hunts
At Timber To Table Guide Service, we offer late season hunts focused on putting wild, healthy and delicious meat on your table. Designed specifically for new hunters (youth and adult), these three day hunts are limited in number. They include professional instruction on field skills while hunting and how to process an animal if successful, giving you the knowledge and confidence to bring your own game from timber to table.
Let’s Plan Your Elk Hunting Adventure
Join us on a hunting trip in Units 61 and 62 in beautiful Western Colorado!