Bowsite.com

Overall, I would give the entire experience a B- or a "little" above average. Our hunt was planned Monday - Friday, with a Sunday night arrival and Saturday morning departure. Upon arrival Sunday night, the main guide (John Harris) directed us where to place our stuff and gave us some time to get settled before our orientation meeting downstairs in the lodge. There are two rooms above the lodge and multiple smaller cabins throughout the property where hunters stay over the course of their hunt. Our group of 8 stayed above the Lodge in two separate rooms joined by a walkthrough hallway. Each room consisted of bunk beds and a few single full size beds. The beds were decent, but some were just a mattress on a piece of plywood that was better than sleeping on the ground, but not favorable to a back that carried a pack 8 miles up and down the rockies all day. Each room had a bathroom with a sink, toilet, and shower with scent free soap provided. After getting settled in we met downstairs for orientation with John and Rob. Orientation consisted of signing waivers and gave a quick lay of the land and rules of the camp. After the orientation we were paired with our guides based on hunting ability or hunting partner preference. Hot Breakfast and Supper were provided in the morning and at night with a plethora of snacks and sandwich options to pack for lunch. The breakfast chef didn't show up Monday or Saturday mornings, not sure what was going on there but we didn't have breakfast on the first day of our hunt which put a bad taste in most of our hunter's mouths, excuse the pun. We were promised breakfast before we left Saturday, also no bueno on that meal, gas station sandwiches were a close second. The hunt's were largely based on hunter ability. Our guide, Stu was an absolute beast and very knowledgeable on hunting and the local area. We didn't see a ton of animals, some of that coming from the weather, some coming from hunting later in the season, and some coming from the hunting locations available based on hunter ability to maneuver a mountain. The closest I came to a bull elk was 680 yards on an uphill cross canyon shot, the bull was laying down and his vitals were between two trees. I didn't feel comfortable with the shot, and there wasn't a way to get much closer. My biggest mule deer was a 4x3 at 500 yards and he wasn't big enough to shoot based off the Outfitter (Cody's) management preferences. In total our group had 16 tags (8 elk and 8 mule deer) and we left with 1 elk in the trailer.