Colorado Muzzleloader Elk Hunting

Muzzleloader Hunting 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.

Muzzleloader elk hunts in Unit 55 require 1 points to draw for residents and 5 points to draw for non-residents.

Fully-Guided Muzzleloader 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 Muzzleloader 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 Muzzleloader 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 Muzzleloader 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!

*Muzzleloader Elk Tags in CO GMU 55 are by drawing only. Non-residents need a minimum of 5 elk preference points to draw a tag in our area while residents need a minimum of 1 point.  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.

Rates and Dates 2024

5-Day Muzzleloader Elk Hunting Packages

Muzzleloader: September 14-18, 2024

ALL  HUNTS OPTIONS ARE FULL

Guided                                      Private - Stand                Semi-Guided
1 X 2     $6,000 per gun          $5,000 per gun              $3,700 per gun
1 X 1     $7,200 per gun            

*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.

Rates and Dates 2025

5-Day Muzzleloader Elk Hunting Packages

Muzzleloader: September 13-17, 2025

Guided                                      Private - Stand                Semi-Guided
1 X 2     $6,200 per gun          $5,200 per gun              $3,900 per gun
1 X 1     $7,400 per gun            

This is a limited tag hunt. See below for details. 1st Deposits, which are 1/3 of the hunt cost are required to lock in your spots. The deposit is non-refundable unless extraneous circumstances are approved by outfitter or if the hunter does not draw the tag applied for. 

Group Rate

Four or more fully-guided hunters, $200 off p/p. Non-Hunters: $1,000 per person. Muzzleloader 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: 15%-20% of Hunt Cost, Support Staff/Packout Crew: $25 p/p, Head Chef: $50-$75, 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.

Application & Licenses

Muzzleloader Licenses are available by drawing only. Applications are available through the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife. You can apply for your tag online or call to request an application. We can assist you in this process upon request. The deadline for applications is the first tuesday in April of each year.

CO Preference Point Minimums to draw a Unit 55 Muzzleloader Bull Elk Tag:

Resident Muzzleloader - 1 points (2 points guarantees a tag)

Non-Resident Muzzleloader - 5 points (6 points guarantees a tag)

Reservation

To make a hunt reservation, we require a deposit of either 50% of the hunt cost or $500 if reserving a hunt more than 1 year in advance. The second payment is due by June 15 of the hunt year 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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