Elk

Guided Only Hunts with No Services

This hunt will allow you to apply for a PUBLIC LAND ELK OR DEER HUNT, using the outfitter number to increase your odds of drawing a license. A guide will be furnished for the first two days of your hunt, which is mandatory by Game and Fish regulations. You may also book a guided only hunt for one of the following time frames: three days to nine days depending on the weapon type of your hunt.

You may apply in any unit that you would like, unlike other outfitters that only operate in a hand full of units and do not offer you opportunities to apply in different areas. WE DO NOT OPERATE IN UNITS THAT ARE COMPRISED OF MOSTLY WILDERNESS AREAS, i.e. UNITS 45 AND 16B/22 AND ALSO, WE DO NOT OPERATE IN UNIT 6B. We can do hunts in 45 and 16B/22 but we do not hunt in the Wilderness areas and do not pack in.  We will hunt the exterior areas of the Pecos Wilderness areas in unit 45 and in the case of 16B we will hunt in unit 22 for the time frame that you book.

Kiowa also separates itself from other outfitters, because WE DO NOT CHARGE ANYTHING FOR THE USE OF OUR OUTFITTER NUMBER, to increase your draw odds. Kiowa Hunting Service is licensed by ALL of the national forests in the state and by all of the Bureau of Land Management Districts in the state. We are also licensed by the State Land office.

One guide will be provided for the first two days of your hunt, MANDATORY BY STATE LAW, when you use the outfitter number for a tag. Kiowa will furnish one guide for all hunters that are on the successful application.  If you want an extra guide to change your’s or your group’s guide ratio from 4×1 or 2×1 to 2×1 or 1×1 that can be arranged for the charge available for that change for all participants.  If you decide you want a guide only hunt we do those hunts on either a 1×1 basis or 2×1 basis only.

Additional guides or additional days must be determined at the time of the booking and may not be modified unless additional personnel are available.

Partially Guided and Accommodated

Public Land Rifle, Bow, and Muzzleloader

These hunts are only offered in Game Management Units 10, 12, 51 and 52 for all weapons types (rifle, muzzleloader and bow). These hunts are designed for those hunters who are looking for a quality hunt, feel confident about hunting elk on their own, want a guide for part of their hunt, but do not want the hassle of having to bring and set up a camp.

These are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the partially guided hunts:

1. We have one base camp for units 10 and 12 and we have one base camp for units 51 and 52.  This camp is centrally located to access both of the units easily.  We do not provide individual camps for groups.

2. We do not pack people into areas.

3. I do not know how many people are in camp as it is based on the draw.

4. In these camps, Kiowa provides the cook, meals, snacks, water and soft drinks and a person knowledgeable of the area to send you to where we feel you will find elk. We provide tents, cots, pads, shower area, lights and heat, and rest rooms or porta-potties. 

5. The hunter is responsible for the license, personal gear, bedroll, weapon and transportation to and from camp and during your hunt without the guide.

6. This hunt has a higher success rate than the two-day guided only hunts and the reason is simple: on the two-day guided only hunts we are there two days and leave… no assistance, no additional knowledge, nothing else is furnished.  In the partially guided and accommodated hunt you can receive up to date knowledge of where elk are seen or heard about, additional areas to hunt, and assistance with retrieval, if staff is available. While you are hunting, the staff is out scouting for you. This additional information will allow you to move to areas that have recently been seen with elk, giving you the potential for a higher success rate. Unless you are intimately knowledgeable of the area you are hunting and know where to look after two days, you are on your own.

Unit Descriptions:

The units where we offer this service can be described as follows: Unit 51 and Unit 52 are located in North Central New Mexico. Unit 52 is approximately 300,000 acres in size and Unit 51 is approximately 380,000 acres. Both units are in a roadless/wilderness area that prohibits off road vehicles and off road traffic of any type. This is a public draw unit and it usually offers a very high opportunity to draw a license with the use of our outfitter number.

Units 10 and 12

These areas consist of National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State trust and private land holding. The area is located south and west of Grants, New Mexico and is on the north end of the Gila range. I consider Unit 10 a sleeper unit. While it has smaller elk numbers, it has a good population of quality elk that has the potential to produce for you the bull of a lifetime. Due to the makeup of the unit, which includes Native American reservations, National monuments, and private land holdings, these areas provide a bull the opportunity to gain age and, consequently, size. We have taken bulls from this unit that are greater than 300 B&C and occasionally one better than 350 B&C.

Unit 12 is predominately private land and checkerboard areas. There are good areas of Bureau of Land Management properties located on East and South sides of the hunt unit. This unit is known for big bulls but the area is checker-boarded and you need to make sure that you know where you are as you hunt. The drawing odds for this unit is difficult.

Guided Elk Hunts – Fully Accommodated

Carson National Forest – Unit 51 and Unit 52

Units 51 and 52 are our main units on the Carson, but we offer hunting in all units of the Carson National Forest, including  units 2, 49, 53, and the Valle Vidal in unit 55A. We offer hunts utilizing all weapon types: rifle, muzzleloader, and archery.  The units on the Carson are all very large running from 100,000 acres to almost 400,000 acres. The vegetation runs from timberline to sagebrush flats so a hunter can find an area that suits his capabilities.   Most of these units have Motor Vehicle restrictions and there is no off road or minimal road traffic allowed.   For a description of units 51 and 52 see above.

These units offer the hunter easy access, an excellent elk population, and limited hunting pressure. This is a public draw unit and it usually offers a good opportunity to draw a license with the use of the outfitter number.

• The cost of hunt includes: the use of the Outfitter Number for drawing a license, the appropriate number of guides, camp accommodations, meals, courtesy transportation during the hunt, retrieval of game and caping for trophy preparation of the animal.

• The hunter is responsible for: applying for the license (with our help), their personal items including bedroll and weapon, motel accommodations or any accommodations that are not in our camp, personal gear and transportation to and from the camp to the hunt area.

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Lincoln National Forest – Units 34, 36, & 37

We offer archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunts in the Lincoln units. These units are known for big bulls and excellent numbers. The guides for these units are very knowledgeable of the hunt area, are excellent hunters, and have a history of getting clients on big bulls. These units are excellent, making then extremely popular and in high demand by sportsmen. Because of this it can be very difficult to draw a tag but should definitely be used as one of your three choices. These units have some of the best bull-to-cow ratios of any unit in the state. The odds of you drawing this tag are far greater than those of the Gila Units. Game Management Unit 36 is the easiest to draw, of the Lincoln units, and has the highest bull-to-cow ratio in the state at 71:100, according to Game and Fish. This is your chance to draw a tag and have a guided hunt to go with it for the cost of the landowner tag alone. At a minimum, you should make this one of your three choices on your application. We only offer fully guided and accommodated hunts OR guided only hunts with no accommodations or meals for a minimum of two days or greater in these units.

• The cost of hunt includes: the use of the Outfitter Number for drawing a license, the appropriate number of guides, camp accommodations, meals, courtesy transportation during the hunt, retrieval of game and caping for trophy preparation of the animal.

• The hunter is responsible for: applying for the license (with our help), their personal items including bedroll and weapon, motel accommodations or any accommodations that are not in our camp, personal gear and transportation to and from the camp to the hunt area.

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Gila National Forest

These are THE bulls that you hear about. In the past the Kiowa team has taken bulls up to 383 and our hunters often take bulls in the 340 and 350 class. Everyone wants to hunt the Gila and some do. Great hunts, but understand that if you apply for these tags, use one choice and not three because the odds of drawing a Gila tag are around 5% or less. Not all Gila units are equal and some units and hunts are easier to draw than others.  The best way to determine the easier to draw units is to give us a call and we can discuss them. Great hunt, great guides and great bulls if you draw, but consider additional options for your application.

We only offer fully-guided and accommodated hunts OR 2-day guided hunts with no accommodations or meals in these units.

• The cost of the hunt includes: Camp accommodations if utilized, meals, courtesy transportation during the hunt, assistance in retrieval of the harvested animal and the caping and trophy preparation of the animal.

• The hunter is responsible for: Applying for the license (with our help), motel accommodations or any accommodations not in our camp, and personal gear.

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Cibola National Forest – Units 10 & 12

These units are known for big bulls and a good number of elk. The number of elk in these units are not as high as in other units, however, the size of the units, the national monuments, closed areas, and private land holdings within the hunt unit allow for bulls to gain age and, consequently, size. The guides for these units are very knowledgeable of the hunt area, are great hunters, and have a history of getting clients on bulls.

We have hunted this unit for over 13 years and the crew that was there on the first year is still there today.  The guides live and recreate in this unit.  They know the area intimately because it is their back yard.  Taking bulls that are up to 340 B&C, as we did this year, is not an uncommon occurrence as we have taken that caliber of bulls continually over the years that we hunted it.  The reason that we take bulls like this is that the guides know the area intimately and scout it year-round and have a very great knowledge of the elk habits of the herd and know the little areas where they can disappear to.

This area is lower in elevation than other units, the terrain is easier than some units, and there is a network of roads for access throughout the unit. The camp is located on private property and offers easy access to most of the unit. The camp is located on the south end of unit 10 and we will use this camp to access the unit 12 hunts. This unit has normal dates for archery hunts but only one muzzleloader and one rifle hunt, which is another reason that the elk have a chance to get bigger here. We offer all four types of hunts on the Cibola: a guide only hunt with no accommodations or meals for a minimum of two days or greater, a 2-day guided hunt with no accommodations, a 2-day guided hunt with accommodations and meals, and a fully guided hunt with accommodations and meals for either five, seven or nine days.

• The cost of hunt includes: the use of the Outfitter Number for drawing a license, the appropriate number of guides, camp accommodations, meals, courtesy transportation during the hunt, retrieval of game and caping for trophy preparation of the animal

• The hunter is responsible for: applying for the license (with our help), their personal items including bedroll and weapon, motel accommodations or any accommodations that are not in our camp, personal gear.

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Santa Fe National Forest

The Santa Fe National Forest is in the middle of the state and is made up of part or all the following units: 5B, 6A, 6C, 43, and 45.  The forest consists of 1.6 million acres and the elevations run from 5000 feet to 13,000 feet.  The unit 6B is the Valles Caldera and it is surrounded by units of the Santa Fe National Forest, it is a National Preserve and an entity on to itself.  The Santa Fe National Forest also adjoins the Jicarilla Apache Reservation and holds some great animals.  We currently do not operate within the wilderness of unit 45.  We are licensed to work in the wilderness and can enter and hunt the wilderness but due to logistics we have elected to not work in the wilderness but in the surrounding areas.

We have hunted the Santa Fe National Forest and have done well in the areas.  We have the manpower to provide you either a guided only hunt, minimum of two days, or a fully guided hunt if you desire.  Some of the units in the Santa Fe are easier to draw then other units and offer you the opportunity to draw an elk hunt.  The elk population in these units is good and we have had good success hunting them.  We offer all two types of hunts on the Cibola: Guide only hunts with a two day minimum and fully guided hunt with accommodations and meals.

• The cost of hunt includes:  The use of the Outfitter Number for drawing a license, the appropriate number of guides, camp accommodations, meals, courtesy transportation during the hunt, retrieval of game and caping for trophy preparation of the animal.

• The hunter is responsible for:  applying for the license (with our help), their personal items including bedroll and weapon, motel accommodations or any accommodations that are not in our camp, personal gear.

Private Land Elk

Guaranteed Licenses – Bull Elk Rifle

These are Guaranteed License hunts that occur on private ranches in New Mexico and Colorado. All the following ranches have the potential to produce 300 B&C class bulls for the hunters.

Hunts begin in early September with archery hunts and in early October with rifle and muzzleloader to take advantage of the rut and the bugling of the bulls. You will be hunting where we know there are animals and we have a high percentage of shot opportunity for a hunter to harvest bulls.

Each private land ranch differs by terrain, elk population, the number of hunters on the ranch per hunt, accommodations, and other variables. These hunts are not very physical but can become physical. Elk hunts are difficult, and you should come prepared for physical effort. We are not asking you to be a triathlete, but if you can’t walk any distance without stopping you are hurting yourself and may be wasting your money on killing a bull. Call us and we’ll discuss the options with you and pair you with a ranch that is suitable for what kind of hunt, you would like.

• The cost of the hunt includes:

IN NEW MEXICO: the landowner authorization for you to purchase a hunting license, the appropriate number of guides, camp accommodations, meals and snacks, courtesy transportation during the hunt, retrieval of game and caping for trophy preparation of the animal.

IN COLORADO: the appropriate number of guides, camp accommodations, meals and snacks, courtesy transportation during the hunt, retrieval of game and caping for trophy preparation of the animal.

• The hunter is responsible for:

IN NEW MEXICO: buying a valid hunting license with the use of a supplied landowner authorization number from any vendor in the state.

IN COLORADO: obtaining a valid license by applying for and drawing a license through the application process for Colorado.  Failure to draw a license in the application process, the hunter will then contact the landowner and buy a voucher from the landowner to be used for the purchase of a hunting license.

IN BOTH STATES: The hunter also will be responsible for bringing any personal items including alcohol, weapon and ammunition, and any specific item he requires.   Motel accommodations or any accommodations that are not in our camp will be his responsibility and transportation from their home to camp or prearranged meeting location.

Private Land Elk – Unit 10

This ranch is situated west of Grants, New Mexico, which is west of Albuquerque, along the I-40 interstate corridor.

Elevation is approximately 6,800 feet and consists of rolling hills and mesa type terrain. We have hunted this ranch for the last six years and have maintained a 90%+ success rate for rifle bull elk hunts.  The ranch is not overly physical, and the hunt will consist of spending time glassing, locating elk, determining if the hunter desires the animal and then moving into a position for a shot.

At this time, you need to be able to move and cover distance.  This hunt is strictly on foot.

 The ranch is hunted very lightly per hunt, thus the high success rate. There are some exceptional bulls that occur on this ranch and in the past we have taken bulls up to 370 B&C.  The average bull is above 300 and because of the number of hunters that we allow on the ranch a hunter can spend his time and look for a bull that he wants.

Colorado Private Land Elk Hunt

This hunt occurs in Southeastern Colorado in Game Management Unit 83. This is a great hunt with the potential of a once-in-a-lifetime harvest and this trophy class ranch gives you the opportunity to take that 300 plus B&C bull. This hunt, though easier than some, is still an elk hunt and that translates into getting out and hunting. You are hunting at 7,500 to 10,000 feet in elevation, and the lodge is located at 9,500 feet, so the better your physical condition, the better your odds for success. This is not about riding around in a vehicle and trying to find an elk… you start the morning out walking and you end the evening walking. Come prepared. Covering multiple miles on any outing is a normal situation. It is a morning and evening hunt and not a hike the hills all day type of hunt.

In a normal weather year, this area will hold a tremendous number of bulls. The area hunted is 11,000 plus acres and runs from sagebrush flats with wetlands and alfalfa fields, to timberline and above. We will hunt this ranch during the last archery season, and all four of the rifle hunts.

 All archery and rifle hunts are by draw with the application window for Colorado closing approximately April 2nd, 2025. In 2024 we had a 92% draw rate for the rifle hunts.  New this year is the application for Archery tags, which I would assume would be close to the rifle draw success.

If you fail to draw a license, then you may purchase a license voucher from the rancher that will enable you to buy a license across the counter.

Public Land Elk Trophy Gallery

Please enjoy these photos from past Kiowa customers and their trophies taken on public land. Click an image to open the gallery.