Frequently Asked Questions

Our hunt price includes lodging, meals, beverages, transportation during the hunt, guide services, and field processing of game animals. The price does not include transportation to and from the hunting area, license and tag fees, tips, or taxes. These expenses are the hunter's responsibility. We do not provide alcoholic beverages. 

Hunters typically arrive at camp the afternoon before the hunt begins and we serve dinner that night at the lodge. Breakfast is available the morning after the hunt ends for those who stay that long. We quarter and cape your trophy in the field. Getting your trophy from the field to the lodge is the responsibility of the hunter and guide. Sometimes the trophy is killed in a remote, nasty location. If the hunter chooses to hire pack horses to pack out the carcass, the hunter is responsible for those expenses. We do not process the meat but we have a deep freezer at the lodge and there are several cold storage facilities nearby for you to use. Bring coolers with you to transport your meat. We can donate it to local needy families if you choose not to take it with you, and we will facilitate that for you. 

Whether it's a rifle, muzzleloader, or a bow - bring the one you are most comfortable shooting and you can shoot accurately. Killing animals cleanly is more about shot placement than ultra-high velocity and a loud bang! We'd rather have you bring a .270 that you can drive tacks with than a .300 magnum that you are afraid of. We prefer the modern muzzleloaders that are effective at long range. For bowhunters, bring a bow that you can comfortably pull back in hunting conditions - on your knees, sitting on a rock, with your torso twisted at an odd angle, and so on.

Yes, we have both muzzleloaders and rifles that you can rent if you don't want to bring one. Check with us to make sure we have one available and it is sighted in, ammo is available, and it's ready to hunt with. The cost to use one of ours is $150 for the hunt, including ammunition. 

Archery shots are generally 60 yards and under. Some archers are proficient out to 100 yards, and if you can shoot this far - consistently and accurately - you will have more opportunities. We would prefer that you be able to shoot out to 60 yards but will work with whatever your limitations are. 

Modern muzzleloaders are effective out to 500 yards. If you have a muzzleloader that can shoot this far, being able to shoot at long distances will greatly increase your odds of killing a trophy-sized animal. We recommend the Gunwerks Muzzleloader System. It’s the only muzzleloader we know of that shoots 1 MOA out of the box. The Remington 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader and the CVA Paramount are also good options at a lower price. We have muzzleloaders that are ready to shoot out to 500 yards that you can rent if you don’t have one. 

As for rifle hunts, the sky is almost the limit. We have had hunters that are proficient out to 1,000 yards - and more! This is the exception, rather than the rule. Again, if you can reliably shoot past 500 yards, you increase your odds of taking a trophy animal. Whatever rifle you choose to hunt with, practice with it at longer ranges. Shoot it in a prone position using a bipod or with a backpack as a rest. The better prepared you are for field shooting, the better off you will be.  

There is a shooting range about 10 miles from the lodge. They have targets out to 500 yards and gongs out to 1,000 yards. There is no charge to use the range. Click here for driving instructions. 

As for archery equipment, we have block-style targets at the lodge for archery hunters to practice with. You can shoot out to 100 yards. 

Once you've determined what you want to hunt, fill out the Hunter Contract and send it back to us. After we receive the contract, we'll contact you and begin planning your hunt. We'll put you in the Outfitter Draw and we don't take a deposit until you draw. Once you draw, we take a 50% deposit with the balance due upon arrival in camp. If you choose to hunt with a guaranteed tag, we take the cost of the tag and the balance is due on arrival in camp. 

Absolutely! The rate for a non-hunter companion is $500 per person, per hunt. 

An outfitter's success rate isn't always evidence of their performance in the field. Many times, hunters miss multiple animals and go home empty-handed. While this isn't the guide or outfitter's fault, it would appear so in the success rate stats. The same goes for shot opportunity stats. What one person might consider a shot opportunity is not an opportunity to another. A better measure of an outfitter is what their past clients have to say about them. Ask a potential outfitter for their referral list and call the past clients and talk to them about the outfitter’s performance. This is the best indicator of a quality outfitter. 

We have added this section to our FAQ because we get asked about tipping frequently, especially from hunters that are going on their first guided hunt. The hunting industry is the same as most service industries, tipping is customary but not mandatory. Tipping is a sensitive subject. Ask most guides or outfitters about it and they are reluctant to answer. The truth is, tips are an important part of guides' and camp cooks' livelihood and are greatly appreciated. The following may be helpful:

Guides

Ultimately, the guide's tip depends on his performance. Generally, tips for guides start at 10%. Most hunters tip more if the guide did an outstanding job. 

Cooks

Cooks are some of the hardest working people in the camp. It is customary to tip them, especially if the food is great - like ours is! Most hunters tip the cooks at least $100, and many tip more. Once you eat our food, you'll understand why! 

You can fly into Albuquerque International (ABQ) or Phoenix International (PHX). Albuquerque is a little closer and it is easier to access from the interstate. Phoenix usually has more flight options, and it may be cheaper than flying to Albuquerque. Both have a number of rental car options. 

Our lodge is located in Apache Creek, New Mexico, right in the heart of the Gila and Apache National Forests. Click here for driving directions. 

The state of New Mexico makes a number of special big game tags available through auctions and raffles. The holders of these tags are able to hunt during extended seasons, statewide (with a few exceptions), and with any legal weapon. These tags include elk, deer, ibex, oryx, antelope, desert bighorn sheep, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Additionally, they offer two premium statewide deer and elk hunts through the draw. These tags are the best you can have in New Mexico and the potential to shoot a trophy of a lifetime with one of these tags is very high. Contact us if you are interested in bidding on one of these hunts, have won a tag in a raffle, or drew one of the tags. For more information, click here.