Questions to Ask an Outfitter
Over the years I’ve had a fair number of conversations with hunters about elk hunting, about Dark Timber Outfitters, about who we are or what our hunts are like, and lots of other elk hunting topics.
I always enjoy these conversations as it provides the opportunity to explain why I think our outfit is the right choice for folks looking for an elk hunt in Colorado. It’s also an opportunity to clarify why we might not be the right outfit…for example, if you’re looking for an antelope hunt or a hunt off horseback, I’m not your guy.
I’m also aware that most of the hunters are having these same conversations with other outfitters which is smart. Finding the right outfitter can really make or break the elk hunt you’ve been dreaming about and investing a lot of time and money into. So, here are a few questions I believe are helpful to ask any outfitter to get a sense if they’re running a good operation, if they’re being honest with you and if they’re a good fit for the hunt you’re envisioning:
1) How many hunters do you have in your camp for each season? This question gives you an idea of where an outfitter’s priorities may line up. Are they more interested in making sure every hunter has as quality an experience as possible, so they cap their hunter numbers? Or are they in it for the money more than your hunt experience and therefore run as many hunters through their camps as possible? I call this “puppy mill outfitting”. Some outfitters have a huge permit on public land and can book a lot of hunts and still not overhunt their area. But others will simply book a ton of hunters to generate income year in and year out while providing a quality hunt experience is secondary. At Dark Timber Outfitters, you can be sure we put your hunt experience at the forefront. We limit the number of hunters we book which ensures everyone has room to roam.
2) What is the opportunity rate on your archery/rifle hunts? Most hunters ask about “success rate” which is definitely an important question. But a guide cannot release the bowstring and cannot press the rifle trigger. They can get you to where the elk are and provide the guidance for a shot opportunity. But a hunter’s lack of physical preparedness or inability to hit the target will result in a poor success rate regardless of the number of opportunities. But the opportunity is there. And that is the better gauge of how good the hunt actually was. Success rates are certainly helpful to know, but the opportunity rate allows you, the hunter, to read between the lines a little more. At Dark Timber Outfitters, we work hard and hunt smart with the goal being for all of our hunters to have a shot opportunity, regardless of whether you have a bow, muzzleloader or rifle in hand.
3) How long have your guides worked for you? Finding and keeping good elk guides is tough because it’s a seasonal job, the guide may have family obligations that require them to be home, or a new job opportunity might come up that doesn’t allow them the flexibility to guide. There’s a lot of variables. But most guides simply love guiding and do it because they love being out there, chasing elk, spending time in beautiful country, away from traffic, phones, etc. But they still need to be taken care of and that is a reflection on the outfitter. If an outfitter has a high turnover of guides or can’t find guides, that should tell a hunter something. On the flipside, if the outfitter has guides that come back every year, that should tell you the hunts are good and the outfitter takes care of his staff. At Dark Timber Outfitters, we have an awesome team who’ve been with us for years…some from the start. Our guides work together to make everyone’s hunt as great as possible, our guides are good people, elk savvy and are definitely able to have fun while still busting ass. Guides make the outfit what it is and we’re fortunate to the have the team we do.
There’s obviously a million other questions to ask an outfitter but I believe these are important ones to include in your conversations. If you’re ready to get honest answers from a great elk hunting outfit, shoot an email or give a call. We’re booking our 2027 hunts and would love for you to join us. Thanks for reading.