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Pine Valley Outfitters – Wade Hollerman I first contacted Wade Hollerman after reading a very favorable report in the May 2018 edition of the Hunting Report (www:huntingreport.com) about how Hollerman could cater to older and less physically capable hunters. After speaking with Wade, I called four of his references. I received very favorable comments, including: • “Young guy, doesn’t quit, great hounds”; • “Will tailor the hunt to the individual”; • “Great family, girlfriend, packed out goat”; • From a firefighter: “safe”; • “eats, sleeps and lives this stuff” I later found those responses to be spot on. I asked each man if he was aware of any negative reports and one told me he had seen one, which I then reviewed and considered. I decided to give this young man a try. After a successful Lion hunt (reported in another place on this site) with Wade in early 2019, I booked an Elk hunt with him for November 2019. Conversations and emails with Wade before the hunt were very helpful in planning for equipment and clothing. I took my old 7mm Remington Magnum and the same insulated mountain boots, cold weather clothing and raingear I used on the Lion hunt. I hunted with Wade, and his associate Rick Navarrete on a large cattle ranch near Wagon Mound, New Mexico. There were three hunters including this geezer and a 14 year old girl. We all killed bulls, one a very large 6x6. Wade, Wyatt and Rick guided us and we spent most of our time glassing and watching some huge herds migrating our way. Again, the guides were knowledgeable and very hard working. The hunt was tailored to the hunter’s physical abilities and I believe we were successful because of their hard work. All three guides were very knowledgeable about the ranch and the habits of the game. This was not a slam dunk “Ranch Hunt” where we had our pick of giant bulls. It was a free range hunt and we had to work to find our quarry. We saw no other hunters or guides close to the ranch. The guides were all professionals and not moonlighting locals. None of the animals had names. The accommodations were in an old ranch house and were warm and comfortable. The guides did the cooking and the meals were great. The elk tenderloin was delicious. The guides had quality spotting scopes, rangefinders, binoculars and “young eyes” which enabled them to point out the game to those less capable. They were all knowledgeable about firearms, specifically about practical ranges and trajectories. They were well equipped with cold weather clothing and raingear, but the weather during this hunt was mild. I would enthusiastically recommend this outfitter to others.