Elk – Private Land

Kiowa Hunting Service offers private land elk hunts in New Mexico and Colorado.

Guaranteed License – Bull Elk – Rifle

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

Hunts begin in early September with archery 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. 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: private landowner authorization, meals, guide, accommodations on some hunts, courtesy transportation during the hunt, and caping for trophy preparation of the animal.

The hunter is responsible for: their personal gear, weapon, transportation to the prearranged meeting area, meat processing, taxidermy, motel costs and NM elk license.

Unit 7

This ranch is 12,000 acres in size and is situated north of Grants, New Mexico, in GMU 7 in the western center of the state just north of I-40, west of Albuquerque. The ranch is located about a 45 minute drive out of Grants, New Mexico and at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet.

We have hunted this ranch for the last seven years and have maintained a 90%+ success rate for both archery and rifle. This ranch is challenging, but has been highly successful. The ranch is hunted very lightly per hunt, thus the high success rate of the hunt. These are five- and six-point bulls and occasionally we will find a bull that will exceed 300 B&C. This is not a “get out and hike 10 miles a day hunt” but the hunter must be able to cover some distance to get to the elk. This is not a truck hunt and vehicles are used only minimally. We operate the hunt out of Grants, New Mexico.

Accommodations will be in a motel in Grants, at hunter’s expense, and the meals will be in restaurants in Grants at Kiowa’s expense. The typical day will be to travel from Grants to the Ranch to begin the hunt. Once on the ranch, we will be there all day. There is a bunkhouse on the ranch where we have lunch and take a break during the day. There are no modern facilities at this bunkhouse.

After your harvest your animal will be skinned and quartered. There is a meat processor in Grants that can process your meat quickly. The head will be caped and you can take your trophy with you or we will relay the trophy to a taxidermist that we utilize.

Unit 10

This ranch is situated west of Grants, New Mexico, which is west of Albuquerque. Elevation is approximately 6,800 feet. We have hunted this ranch for the last five years and have maintained a 90%+ success rate for rifle bull elk hunts, so it’s highly successful, but not extremely physical or challenging. Though not overly physical, the hunter must be able to cover some distance to get to the elk.

The ranch is hunted very lightly per hunt, thus the high success rate. There are some exceptional bulls that can be found on this ranch and in the past we have taken bulls up to 370 B&C. These hunts are very limited and vacancies are rare. Our policy on private land hunts is to not book in advance several years. We offer the hunters that hunted with us this year the first right to return. Only if they do not rebook do we open up our bookings for the ranch. 

We operate the hunt out of Grants, New Mexico. Accommodations will be in a motel in Grants, at hunter’s expense, and the meals will be in restaurants in Grants at Kiowa’s expense. Kiowa Hunting reserves the right to limit the number of non-hunters participating in the hunt to maintain quality.  For details on what Kiowa furnishes and what the hunter furnishes please see the section above.

Colorado Private Land Elk Hunts

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 archery seasons, and the second, third, and fourth rifle hunts.

All rifle hunts are by draw with the application window for Colorado closing April 2^nd, 2024. In 2023 we had a 83% draw rate for the rifle hunts. If you fail to draw then you may purchase a license voucher from the rancher that will enable you to buy a license across the counter.

Cost of hunt includes: guide, courtesy transportation during the hunt, private land trespass, accommodations in the ranch lodge, meals, trophy preparation of the animal, and put and take trout fishing. Airport pickup can be arranged if flying into Alamosa, Colorado.

Hunter is responsible for: hunting license, personal gear, weapon, and arrival at camp.

Private Land Elk Trophy Gallery

Enjoy these photos of past Kiowa Hunting Service customers and their trophies. Click an image to open the gallery.