One of the best known elk areas in New Mexico is the famed Unit 4, a northern unit having virtually no public land, and an area carefully managed by ranchers and outfitters to provide premium elk hunting.
This is mountainous country, interspersed with both high and low-lying ranches. It is a scenic area, with an abundance of elk and some good mulies. Some of the ranches this outfitter hunts are lower lying private ground with areas of parks and meadows, scattered water tanks, and conifers, meaning some outstanding late-season elk habitat. Others are high-ground ranches, so wherever the elk are, he can get you onto them.
We have worked with this outfitter for about 15 years or more and he has been operating for over 20 years in New Mexico. Nothing fancy here, but some good elk hunting. We have probably sent him over 150 clients. He controls leases on a number of private ranches. Elevations average from about 7,000 feet to as high as 10,000 feet, resulting in a variety of cover and hunting styles, depending on which ranch you hunt and the dates. High country or low, he covers it all, and has some nice mule deer too, plus bears.
Many of his guides have been with him for over 10 years, and some for over 20 years, which says a lot for the quality of the operation. Unhappy clients do not tip well, so guides leave. Here the many successful clients make it worthwhile for a top notch guide to stay on. You get the benefit, so please take good care of your guide!
This outfitter has been featured on numerous television shows with many of the well-known TV celebrities. The outfitter also donates a hunt on a regular basis to the Make A Wish Foundation and Wounded Warriors. (Butch donates monthly to wounded warriors). This is a class guy, a no BS sort, who will tell you how it is, and who enjoys getting clients their elk. Also, all this outfitter’s New Mexico elk hunts INCLUDE THE LANDOWNER TAG! So you do not have to enter any draw! Just buy the hunt and the landowner tag allows you to buy your elk license over the counter. The elk license is approx. $775-$1000, plus a $90 hunting license and about $20 for other minor extra costs. High success, good bulls and no draw. That’s really about all you can ask for.
He offers a variety of different elk hunts in New Mexico:
• He has archery spot & stalk/stand hunts for bugling bull elk.
• He also offers rifle elk hunts running from October to end of December.
• He has some very affordable cow hunts.
• He also offers an elk/muley combo rifle hunt (you must draw for mulies, but should be 100% draw IF you apply before deadline in late March, or he can back you up with a landowner tag if you fail to draw), BUT PLEASE SPEAK TO US FIRST ABOUT THESE COMBO HUNTS! He has an option on the rifle elk hunts of taking a bear for a $500 kill fee during the first three weeks of October. License required for bear, of course. They are over the counter, but must be bought 48 hours in advance of your hunt.
In short, many choices, many different hunts, and the free deer and cheap bears on some hunts are a definite bonus. However, you do get excellent shot opportunities and you do have bear and deer options. He also offers both 1×1 hunts and 2×1 hunts, and we think the $500 difference to hunt 1×1 is certainly worthwhile (this outfitter will not pair two strangers together to hunt 2×1, so if you are a single, you will have to do a 1×1 hunt). They also have the ability to tailor the hunt to your physical ability, so if you have any concerns in that regard, discuss it with us and we will coordinate a plan with the outfitter to match your abilities to one of his ranches. He even does quite a few handicapped elk hunts.
The outfitter manages these ranches to produce good bulls with consistency year after year. Because of his dedication and effort, this outfitter averages around 85%+ opportunity on both bow and rifle elk hunts on his fully-guided hunts, and shoots about 100 bulls each year. He mainly shoots 5×5 or better bulls and has been doing it for years. Dead on the ground rifle averages are typically about 75% and about half of that for bow, which is still excellent. That’s about as good as it gets! Mature 5×5 and 6×6 bulls taken here will generally run 260” to 280”, with a few bulls hitting up to 300+”. Most good outfitters in New Mexico produce trophy elk in that same range. That is the reality. The outfitter also offers very reasonable cow elk hunts with almost 100% success. On all his elk rifle hunts, the shots average 250 to 350 yards, and some much longer. Be prepared to do that! It will pay off. Call us if you want some advice on long range rigs.
Accommodations are in two different lodges, each with 5 double-occupancy bedrooms. There are usually 8-10 hunters in camp per week on all hunts.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OF THESE HUNTS WILL GENERALLY INVOLVE HUNTING EARLY MORNING AND LATE-AFTERNOON ONLY, WITH A LOT OF RELAX TIME IN BETWEEN BACK AT CAMP. THIS IS IN ORDER TO NOT DRIVE THE ANIMALS OFF THE RANCH YOU ARE HUNTING!
2027 PRICING:
ALL ELK HUNTS INCLUDED GUARANTEED PRIVATE LAND ELK AUTHORIZATIONS TO PURCHASE LICENSES INCLUDED IN PRICES. NON-HUNTING GUEST $1,500. IF ROOM AVAILABLE
OCTOBER DATES 1st-5th, 8-12th, 15-19th, 23rd-27th, Oct.30th-Nov. 3rd  Â
OCTOBER PRICES-1X1 $11,450. 2X1 – $10,950.
NOVEMBER DATESÂ 7th-11th, 15th-19th, and 30th-Dec. 4th Â
NOVEMBER PRICES- 1X1 $10,950. 2X1 $10,450.
DECEMBER DATES Â Â Â 8th-12th , 16th– 20th, Â AND 27th -31st
DECEMBER PRICESÂ 1X1 $9,950, Â 2X1 $9,450.
2027 COMBO RIFLE BULL ELK AND BUCK MULE DEER ALL ELK LICENSES GUARANTEED
DEER ARE ON A LANDOWNER DRAW IN MARCH 98% SUCCESS DRAWING
OCTOBER- DATES 23rd-27th or Oct 30th-Nov. 3rd
PRICES – 1X1 – $12,950. 2X1 – $12,450
Hi-Country Camp
Private land at over 10,000 feet. Runs on generator power and has running water and flush toilet, with some cabins and some wall tents. It is rugged country, but it is a drive-to camp (4WD vehicles are a must, so rent accordingly). The hunting is awesome, as is the camaraderie around the campfire! Usually 6 hunters per week. There’s some good deer and bears up there as well, if you have a tag. September archery, October rifle. All Hi-Country Camp hunts are 2×1 only, and the outfitter will not pair 2 singles together, so booking requires multiples of 2.
Archery Sept 2nd-6th, 9th-13th, 15th-19th@noon and 20th@noon -24th
Rifle Oct. 1st -5th, 7th -11th, 13th-17th and 19th -23rd
Archery 2×1 $7,950. Rifle 2×1 $9,950. ONLY 2X1 GUIDE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AT Hi-Camp
Cow Elk
These are 3-day hunts with 80+% success for decades, and most clients tag out in 2 days. Your hunt is over when the elk is packed out. And if you are worried that you might not be able to handle such a hunt, consider that the average age of his clients is 63, and he takes hunters more than 20 years older than that each year and still gets them an elk (even bulls). His clients take close to 100 cows each year! In November and December, the elk are down low in the sage and agriculture at about 7,000 feet. If you can shoot straight, you will almost certainly get your cow elk. Arrive afternoon of the day before the hunt for safety orientation, planning and test shooting of your rifles. Shots can be long, so you should be capable to at least 300 yards. Practice using a bipod/shooting sticks! Dates throughout November and December. Tags are guaranteed, so no draw! Hunting license approx. $90; cow tag approx. $347.
Motel Cow Elk Hunts
4 nights/3 days hunting –
NOVEMBER-4th-6th, 12th-14th OR 20th-22nd, DECEMBER 5th-7th,13th-15th or 20th-22nd
PRICES – 1X1 $3,500 or 2X1 $3,200
In-Camp Cow Elk Hunts
4 nights/3 days hunting –
DEC. 5th-7th, 13th-15th or 20th-22nd
4-NIGHTS IN CAMP WITH A COOK PRICES 1X1- $3,950. 2X1- 3,650.
2026 ARCHERY ELK HUNTS; BEAR AND DEER MAY BE INCLUDED
ARCHERY – September 1st – 6th * ( hunt starts at noon and end at noon )
September 8th-13th ( noon to noon), 15th-19th@NOON OR 20th -24th
GUIDED 2X1 only – $8,250.
**ADD MULE DEER FOR $1,000. GUARANTEEDED LICENSES BUT MUST APPLY TO LANDOWNER DRAW
BY MID MARCH 2025. WE WILL SUPPLY CODES AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS.
BEAR CAN BE ADDED ALSO YOU BUY LICENSE ($250.) AND $500. TROPHY FEE FOR KILL
NOT INCLUDED: Your transport to and return from Chama, NM 6.875% sales tax you pay on arrival; game processing, skinning, caping and taxidermy (they field dress and transport to processer and taxidermist); gratuities.
LICENSES: Hunting License approx. $90; Elk license is currently approx. $775 for bull elk and $350 for cow elk; deer approx. $350; bear approx. $300 (must be bought 48 hours in advance of hunt), but please check New Mexico license pricing online.
ALL ELK LICENSES ARE OBTAINED BY PRIVATE LANDOWNER AUTHORIZATIONS = GUARANTEED. PRICES INCLUDE LANDOWNER AUTHORIZATION, BUT NOT THE ELK LICENSE. ALL MULE DEER ARE BY A LANDOWNER SPONSORED DRAW IN MARCH (normally 98 to 100% draw).
TRAVEL
Fly into Santa Fe, rent a car, drive north 100 miles about 2 hours.
OUTFITTER PAYMENT POLICY:
50% DEPOSIT PAID TO HUNT NATION AT TIME OF BOOKING.
30% PAID TO OUTFITTER 120 DAYS BEFORE THE HUNT.
20% PLUS NEW MEXICO STATE SALES TAX PAID ON ARRIVAL.
CANCELLATIONS: If you cancel they try to re-sell the hunt and if they do you get a refund, less 10%. If unable to re-sell deposit is forfeit unless another arrangement is made.
