Colorado Archery Elk Hunting

Archery and Guide Options

Join AEI Outfitter for an amazing adventure! We are prepared to hike you deep into wild elk country or to set you up in established stand sites. Our guides will ensure you a first class hunt and we promise to work as hard to give you the best opportunity at success. If you are fortunate to harvest an animal, your guide, along with AEI Outfitter staff, will field dress and pack your animal out for you. Food, lodging and pack outs are included with all AEI Outfitter base camp hunting packages. Gunnison offers quality meat processing and taxidermy services to get your trophy ready for travel.

Clean and accommodating log cabins are provided for all hunt packages at the main base camp, complete with comfortable beds and wood burning stoves. Specialty cabins for couples and lodging upgrades may be available; please inquire. The meals are good home cooking and are served with big appetites in mind. 

Although base camp is remotely located in the heart of the Gunnison National Forest our facilities are equipped with everything needed to make your stay an enjoyable one.

Archery elk hunts in Unit 55 require at least 0 points (67%) to draw for residents and 1 points (66%) to draw for non-residents.

Fully-Guided Archery Elk Hunt
Our fully-guided elk hunts gives you the opportunity to hunt 1-on-2 or 1-on-1 with an experienced Colorado elk guide. This hunt package is our most successful option and offers the best opportunity for harvesting big game animals. This hunt takes place on nearly 360,000 acres of surrounding Gunnison National Forest and the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. 

Private Land-Stand Archery Elk Hunt
The private land, stand hunt allows you to hunt on established stands and blinds on both private (~2,000 acres) lands. This is a stand-hunt only, but we provide transportation to and from stand locations each hunt and suggest hunt locations throughout the week based on elk movements and sightings.

Semi-Guided Archery Elk Hunt
For more experienced hunters, the semi-guided hunt is another hunt option with AEI. We will look over maps with you daily, helping you come up with a game plan and strategy. Though physically, this is not a guided hunt, we help you as much as possible to find the elk and give advice on how to hunt certain areas. This hunt takes place on nearly 360,000 acres of surrounding Gunnison National Forest and the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness.

DIY Drop Camp Archery Elk Hunt
For the more adventurous hunters, a drop camp hunt is another option. Our simple but comfortable, backcountry camps are set in locations that are not easily reached by day hunters. We help hike you and your gear into the camp location and give you advice on what areas to focus on. We have a few different geographical options for our early season hunters to have a memorable backcountry elk hunting experience. We provide a teepee style sleeping tent with a lightweight wood stove and cots. The rest of your food and gear is up to you to provide. 

* All of our hunting options include food, lodging and pack-out services!

*Archery Tags in CO GMU 55 are by drawing only. Non-residents need at least 1 elk preference point to draw a tag in our area and 2 points guarantees it.  While residents can draw with 0 points but 1 point secures it. You must submit a drawing application before the deadline in early April of each year. Applications for tags are available at the beginning of March each year through the CPW website. See below for more information.

2024 Hunting Packages, Dates & Rates

5 Day Hunting Packages

All elk hunts are for 5 days and include a 7-day food and lodging package.

Archery Dates 2024

ALL  GUIDED HUNT OPTIONS ARE FULL

Week 1: September 2-6  
Week 2: September 8-12
Week 3: September 14-18 (Muzzleloader)
Week 4: September 21-25

Guided                         Private - Stand       Semi-Guided           Drop Camp (walk-in)
1 X 2     $5,800/pp           $4,200/pp                $3,200/pp               $2,000/pp (min 3 ppl)
1 X 1     $7,000/pp

Archery Dates 2025

Week 1: September 2-6  
Week 2: TBD
Week 3: September 13-17 (Muzzleloader)
Week 4: TBD

Guided                         Private - Stand       Semi-Guided           Drop Camp (walk-in)
1 X 2     $6,000/pp           $4,400/pp                $3,400/pp               $2,200/pp (min 3 ppl)
1 X 1     $7,200/pp

Non-Hunters: $1,000 per person.

Archery Licenses are available by drawing only, please see below.

*Prices do not include license fees or gratuity. 

*Gratuity is not mandatory but is an industry standard and MUCH appreciated! 

Recommended Gratuity - Guides: 10%-20% of Hunt Cost, Support Staff/Packout Crew: $30 p/p, Head Chef: $50-$100, Asst. Chef: $25-$50.

*All hunts require a deposit of 1/2 the total cost of the hunt unless reserving a hunt beyond the current year. All deposits for future hunts beyond the current upcoming year are 1/3 the total hunt cost.  The deposit is non-refundable unless extraneous circumstances are approved by outfitter or if the hunter does not draw the tag applied for.

Unit 55 Hunting Applications

Please note that unit 55 archery tags are limited, therefore you must apply for the tag in Colorado's annual application process. Applications for licenses open online March 1. The deadline for applications is the first Tuesday in April of each year. We can assist you in this process upon request. 

Currently, tags can be drawn as a resident with 0 preference points and non-residents can draw with 1 preference point. Tags are available through the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife. 

Reservations

To make a hunt reservation, we require a deposit of one-third the total hunt cost. The second payment is due by June 15 and final payment is due 30 days prior to the start of your hunt. Deposits are non-refundable. Please be aware that any person born in 1949 or after must have a current Hunter Safety Card to purchase a hunting license in CO.

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