Our hunting seasons have been very successful, 95% success rate for elk. We have had clients that missed several opportunities at good bulls and some good bulls were even passed. Some nice trophies have been taken, (250-350 inches), with many branch bulls left over for future seasons. The expectations of finding exceptional animals are really good in the future. Hopefully the following information will be helpful with your planning of a successful hunt in 2023.
7 DAY RIFLE HUNTS $10000.00
We will have openings for the 2025 rifle season but at this time we are not sure what openings will be available for the 2025 season as we offer our 2024 clients the first chance to re-book for the 2025 season. We will book some hunters for the 2025 season at this time, but they will be booked, and they will be scheduled for the 2025 season as openings become available in January after the previous clients have had their opportunity to re-book. First booked will have first opportunity at openings that become available. We will create a roster for available openings for the 2025 season.
Your Montana elk/deer or elk combination license is included in the price of your full-service hunt. The deer license is sometimes included so you will be able to take that 170 plus B&C inch mule deer if we happen to see him while elk hunting. Rifle hunters booking a hunt in either of the first 2 hunts will have the option of also hunting antelope for an additional $1000.00 plus the price of the license, $230.00 which must be submitted by June 1, 2023. You will arrive the first day of your hunt and hunt that evening, on the last day you will hunt in the morning and depart that afternoon. You will lose a half day of hunting on the first hunt as you will not be able to hunt till the next morning.
Dates and openings of 2025 rifle hunts we offer (Current as of: 12/15/23)
Oct. 24th to Oct. 21st — 4 openings
Nov. 2nd to Nov. 9th — 4 openings
Nov. 11th to Nov. 18th — 4 openings
Nov. 20th to Nov. 27th — 4 openings
7 DAY ARCHERY HUNTS-$10000.00
Your Montana elk/deer combination license is included in the price of your full-service hunt. The deer license is included so you will be able to take that 170 plus B&C inch mule deer if we happen to see him while elk hunting. You will arrive the first day of your hunt and hunt that evening, on the last day you will hunt in the morning and depart that afternoon.
Dates and openings of 2025 archery hunts we offer (Current as of: 2/15/23)
Sept. 6th to Sept 13th — 2 openings
Sept. 15th to Sept. 22nd — 2 openings
Sept. 24th to Oct. 1st — 2 openings
Oct. 3rd to Oct. 10th — 2 openings
PRICES OF 2025 HUNTS
Archery: $10000.00 for 7 days of hunting with 1 guide to 1 hunter.
Rifle: $10000.00 for 7 days of hunting with 1 guide to 2 hunters.
These are full-service hunts that include your elk/deer combination license (the deer license is included so you will be able to take that 170 plus B&C inch mule deer if we happen to see him while elk hunting, meals, cook, lodging, horses, game retrieval, and transportation to and from the Bozeman airport. The hunts will start with you arriving at noon of the first day of your hunt and hunting that afternoon (the next day for hunters coming on the first rifle hunt) and end after the morning hunt on the last day of your hunt with you departing at noon of that day.
These hunts are sold first deposit has first choice of openings. A 25% deposit is required to book a hunt with another 25% due along with the submittal of your license application, deposits will be refunded if you are unable to obtain your license, balance due at time of hunt. Deposits will be refunded if you are unable to obtain your license otherwise deposits are non-refundable.
PREVIOUS YEARS SUCCESS RATES
Rifle: 2012 to 2016 (last 5 years)
Elk———–90%
Archery: 2012 to 2016 (last 5 years)
Elk———-50%
CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR ALL-TIME SUCCESS RATES
2025 PRICES (Current as of: 12/15/2023)
GENERAL SEASON ELK/DEER HUNT– 7 Full days – $10000.00
ARCHERY ELK/DEER HUNTS– 7 Full days – $10000.00
COW ELK HUNTS (license not included) – 1 to 7 days – $3500.00
**Future pricing is subject to change without notice**
Your Montana elk/deer combination license is included in the price of your full-service hunt. This includes elk, deer, fishing, and birds. You will arrive the first day of your hunt and hunt that evening, on the last day you will hunt in the morning and depart that afternoon.
SPRING BLACK BEAR- 7 Full days – $5000.00
April 15th to May 31st- Bear licenses must be purchased 5 days prior to your hunt.
ANTELOPE- 5 Full days – $4000.00
Opens October 8th- applications due before June 1st
NON-HUNTER – $2000.00 per hunt or $350.00 per day
Mountain Lion licenses must be purchased 5 days prior to your hunt. Lion hunters are scheduled every five days, hunters scheduled for the second, third and fourth hunts may have to wait for previous hunter to complete their hunts. This is due to fast filling lion quotas. Lion hunters that stay the full ten days and don’t get an opportunity to take a legal lion will have the option of returning the following year for $1000.00 plus the cost of the lion license.
OUR HUNTS
We offer full-service hunts on a 20,000-acre private lease that includes, meals, cook, lodging, guides, game retrieval, transportation to and from Bozeman airport. Archery hunts are 1 on 1 and rifle hunts are 2 on 1.
We require a 25% deposit to book a hunt. If you are booking over a year in advance, you may send 25% at time of booking and 25% due along with the submittal of your license application by March 15th of the year of your hunt. The balance is due prior to the start of the hunt. Deposits will be refunded if you are unable to obtain your license otherwise deposits are nonrefundable.
SUMMER TRIPS
Fishing – Hiking – Riding
starting at $500.00 per person per day
June July August September
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE EQUIPMENT LIST
Payment can be made with check, cashier’s check, money order, traveler’s checks or the following credit cards: Master Card, Discover or Visa.
ELK RIDGE OUTFITTER’S POLICIES AND EQUIPMENT LIST FOR RIFLE & ARCHERY HUNTS
WEATHER
Archers can expect any kind of weather from dry 80–90-degree days and 35–45-degree nights to 30–40-degree windy wet days and 0–30-degree nights. Rifle hunting, till approximately Nov 15 the weather can vary greatly between late summer type weather and cold wet winter weather, after mid-November expect snow and cold winter weather.
BOOTS AND SHOES
Hunters may want light-hiking boots that are waterproof and heavier insulated boots possibly with liners. All boots should have good lug type or air bob soles. Bring slippers or light shoes for walking around lodge in the evenings.
CLOTHING
We recommend wool, it’s warm, and sheds water, and are quiet. Fleece also works well. We like to dress in layers so we can shed them as the day warms. Camo clothing is recommended for archers, rifle hunters need 400 sq inches of orange, we recommend mesh nylon or fleece vest for quietness.
BEDDING AND TOWELS
No sleeping bag needed, we provide beds with sheets, blankets and pillows. We also provide towels for your personal use.
PACKING THINGS FOR AIRLINE TRAVEL
We suggest packing everything in one large bag so you will be allowed more room for your game on the way home. You may want to send your luggage home by UPS or Parcel Post so you can take more meat home with you to save shipping costs.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
We do not provide any alcoholic beverages. You are welcome to provide your own.
OUR GROCERIES POLICY
We supply all your meals that will be well rounded and nourishing, however you will need to let us know prior to your hunt if you have any food allergies or special dietary needs. We will do our best to accommodate your needs if we are able to plan ahead.
AIRLINES & MOTELS
Airlines flying into Bozeman are Delta, American, Northwest, United, Horizon and Alaska. If you are arriving by plane let us know when your flight arrives so we can make arrangements to meet you. If you are planning on staying at a motel prior to or after your hunt, we recommend the Grand Tree Inn 1-800-624-5865 they have a shuttle service to and from the airport, let them know that you are a client of Elk Ridge Outfitters and you will receive a discount on your room rates. If you are driving, we have a local motel located in Wilsall about 8 miles from our lodge; Fort Wilsall 406-578-2006 or 406-209-3599
ARRIVAL AT ELK RIDGE
You will arrive here on the morning of the first day of your hunt and hunt that evening; on the last day of your hunt, you will hunt in the morning and depart that afternoon.
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Any photos or videos taken by clients may not be used for promotional purposes or used in contests of any kind without prior approval from Elk Ridge Outfitters, photos or videos may be used for personal use only. Elk Ridge Outfitters has exclusive rights to use any photos or video taken by Elk Ridge Outfitters or their employees while hunting, vacationing or horseback riding at Elk Ridge Outfitters in any promotional way they wish unless prior agreement has been established between Elk Ridge Outfitters and the client.
ARCHERY EQUIPMENT
Bows should have least 70# draw weight or more. Arrows must weigh at least 500 grains. We don’t allow mechanical broad heads that open on impact; we’ve lost too many animals with these. We don’t recommend carbon arrows; the material they’re made of doesn’t allow a bad hit animal to heal. A good heavy 3 or 4 bladed broad head is recommended. Over draws are ok. Learn to use a hands-free type cow elk call. Archery hunters will be required to shoot a target with a guide before they hunt. Shots at elk will be 40 yards or less. Camo clothing is recommended for archers.
GUN & AMMO
Rifles of 270 or larger are recommended, the most important thing is to be able to shoot it accurately. Your rifle needs to be sighted in for 200 yards. Use the heaviest bullet weight that works well at 200 plus yards, we don’t want them running out of steam at 200 yards, shots will be mostly in open country. Bring at least 2 boxes of ammunition, you will be required to check your sights with a guide when you arrive and may have to resight your rifle if you should it bump it during the hunt.
