Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter and Outdoorsman
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Colorado is considered to be a top North American hunting destination for many reasons. Many professional hunters think of elk hunting when they think of Colorado. This state is also famous for its drop camps, hunting sites, and mule. Hunting is popular all over the state, meaning there are a lot of opportunities for deer, elk, moose, duck, and other wild animals.
You will definitely get an incredible experience hunting in Colorado, especially elk hunting. Whether you’re an experienced hunter or not, Colorado will give you an excellent opportunity to have the experience of a lifetime. The elk population is nearly 270 000 animals in Colorado, making it one of the biggest elk herds.
Moreover, elk hunters have great options in late August and September with archery, muzzleloader hunts. The hunters can also move to four separate rifle-elk seasons that span October through early November.
Drop camps in the wilderness provide a great approach to the thrilling experience of big game hunting. Drop camps allow hunters to go deep into the wilderness without the fatigue, lack of amenities usually associated with backpacking.
It’s also more affordable, and that’s what makes these camps appealing to the hunters. Also, elk drop camps are more popular than a guided hunt. If a hunter wants to have a successful DIY hunt without any guides, this requires intensive planning and a great amount of time spent on preparing all needed gear.
Here are 5 Colorado elk drop camps, where you can get an amazing hunting experience and maybe even a very successful elk hunt.
In this post, we'll cover:
Beaver Creek Outfitters
Beaver Creek Outfitters offers high-quality and high opportunity full-guided drop camp hunts. Also, it provides multiple elk tags that are available for all rifle seasons. This drop camp is located in northwestern Colorado, the home to the largest elk herd in North America.
These are considered one of the most favorite hunter elk drop camps, as they are perfect for the DIY elk hunter, who looks for an area full of elk away from the crowds. There are numerous drop camp setups in the pre-scouted areas.
The Colorado drop camp elk hunters consistently maintained a high success rate of the hunts over many years. And no matter what experience or background the hunter has. The Colorado archery elk hunts also have a high success rate each fall.
Beaver Creek Outfitters’ hunting locations are located in the heart of the largest elk herd in North America. You can also get inclusive elk hunting packages with Colorado-guided elk hunts.
Action Adventures Guide Outfitter
Action Adventures is a family-owned and operated Colorado Outfitter in western Colorado. They offer great personalized experiences and many different options to choose from.
They have several hunting camps, such as East Creek Camp, Merino Mountain Camp, Timberline Mule Deer Camp, Boulder Basin Camp, Robins Creek Camp, Wapiti Ridge Camp.
These are guided and outfitted camps that are well-equipped and never overbooked. The equipment you get is top-notch with safety and comfort. The qualified staff will always help you whenever you need it. The outfitter is famous for providing high-quality wilderness hunting experiences.
The famous Boulder Basin camp is a wilderness pack-in elk camp, which has been operated for more than 30 years. It’s famous because of its success rate. Compared to other elk drop camps, it’s the one with the highest success rate for bulk elk. This camp consists of 11 300 feet, and you can also often glass elk herds right from the tent.
There are lush creek bottoms and timberline alpine tundra, which comprise the majority of the area. Elk bulls are usually vocal in this particular area in September, which gives a fantastic hunting opportunity for bow hunters. The rifle hunters also have a great experience hunting in this area, with an average of 85% success rate over the last ten years.
Another great elk drop camp is called Robins Creek Camps that sits perched high on a ridge. It has an infinite elk habit in every direction. Here you can also observe elk herds right from the camp. An interesting fact about this camp is that there have been several occasions when elk bulls were taken within 200 yards of the camp.
Around the camp, you will find timberline alpine meadows, which elk love and frequently visit. There also have been nights when elk on either side of the camp get into bugling matches. They’re calling back and forth, which doesn’t let you sleep at all.
There is also a deep ravine that leads to a lush creek bottom. Here big bulls like to hide. This campsite is usually high on the list of many elk hunters. Action Adventures Outfitter offers pricey elk drop camps compared to others; however, with the price you pay, you get superior service, opportunity, and area, which are key in the successful elk hunt.
White River Mountain Ranch Elk Hunt
White River Mountain Ranch(WRMR) Elk Hunt is a great option for hunters who want to take advantage of the unique private ranch for a very affordable price. The ranch is located in Colorado’s Game Management Unit 12. It is an over-the-counter unit for private land during the archery season and rifle season as well.
This is what makes WRMR a great opportunity for exclusive private hunting without having to wait to draw a tag. Here you can choose the WRMR Classic Elk Hunt that will allow you to take any bull off the ranch. This ranch is actually an elk sanctuary. For more details, you can check the website.
The White River Mountain Ranch Camp Elk Hunt takes the elk hunter experience to the next level. You can backpack into the ranch and camp outdoors for the whole duration of your hunt.
This is a great way for the physically fit to test their limits and capabilities as hunters.
Colorado Elk Camp Outfitters
Colorado Elk Camp Outfitters focuses on making your hunting experience the best you’ve ever had as a hunter. This is a small family-owned outfitting business that focuses mainly on personalized services and building lasting friendships and a friendly community.
The camps that they offer are not overcrowded. The owners are the guides and take care of every hunter’s satisfaction with the hunt. Colorado Elk Camp has taken many elk hunters on incredible hunting trips in Southwestern Colorado. During these trips, the hunters have a great opportunity to bag big trophies, such as elk and mule deer.
The hunting guides grew up in the area, so they know everything about it. They have an unrivaled understanding of the hunting locations in the area and the movement patterns of elk.
Drop Camp Hunts offered by Colorado Elk Camp Outfitters are usually DIY(Do It Yourself) 7-day elk hunting trips. During those trips, you will ride deep into the San Juan National Forest on the horses that the outfitters provide. Then you will be dropped off at a wall tent, which is already set up for you.
The camp provides you with an oversized cot, sleeping pad, cooking utensils, cook stove, propane heater, and a wood stove, meaning you will have all of the needed amenities.
The only thing you need to bring with you is food and clothes and sleeping bags. It’s also recommended to take a water purifying system or tablets, the hunting tag, and a camera so that you can capture one of the best elk hunting experiences in Colorado.
Regardless of your background and skill level, you will have a guided hunt, which will be a rewarding and exciting experience for you.
Trappers Lake Lodge Drop Camp
Trappers Lake Lodge offers a lot of different hunting experiences, including elk hunting. Here you will have an incredible hunting experience as well as a great time. The camp provides all of the needed amenities, such as tents, cots, heating/cooking stoves, propane, water source, wood, camp table/chairs. You also get horses to and from the camp.
This experience is unmatched with the wild game roaming the Colorado high country. This area is home to moose, deer, elk, bears, beavers, coyotes, and many more wild animals. You will definitely need to take a camera with you to capture the beautiful wide-open nature of this area.
The hunters usually are dropped at one of twelve fully stocked and remote camps. As mentioned above, the camps have all the needed amenities, including wall tent(s), wood stove, cook stove, table, cots, chairs, eating and cooking utensils, lantern, firewood, shovel, saw, ax, water supply, and latrine.
The hunters only need to take food and personal gear with them. This includes sleeping bags, hunting gear, and a pad. The prices are affordable and include a game pack, one riding horse, and one pack horse per hunter.
Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.