Hello everybody, I live on the eastern shore of Maryland and a few of my buddies and I are looking to kill some bulls in 2013. My question is where would be a good place to go? Also, how much should I be looking to set aside for this? Found a few places in Pennsylvania but looking advice from someone who has gone, where you went and how much was it?

Good guide or good bulls? Good price or good hunting?
Some great bulls in NM and if you don't draw, landowner tags are available but usually only thru an outfitter, AZ has outstanding Elk---plan on 7 years min to draw. MT still has Outfitter setasides I think---book an outfitter, get a tag. COL has some no quota areas still I think but don't count on a group killing decent bulls---best bet there is a Rancher who has a cooperative program with State. I have killed decent bulls in Idaho out of drop camps in Selway-BitterRoot Wilderness but it is damn tuff country. Usually only two of five of us would kill. There is British Columbia where I had to pass on a 5x5 that would have gone 350 because I was in a 6x6 only area. Never got around to Utah but there are some Private ranches with super bulls----genetic manipulation and costly...draw for free range is tuff. Never did WYO for Elk either but neighbor took a 380's there but other four on hunt struck out. NV has some super bulls---I got 15+ years of of rejects from drawing.
You, my elk killer wanna be and buds, need to research thru State Depts of G&F, review their regs, maps....pick a State, then find their list of approved outfitters. There are charltans in CO and prob elsewhere!
I suggest you use a reputable Booking Agent , like for example www.weshixon@weshixon.com or Jack Atchesons or Jim McCarthy.....these guys make their living from being full time hunters and Agents....there are others but I trust these.

I went in to Idaho last year got a nice 5/5 bull and a 6 ft. Bear with the bow. 5bear outfitters out of mt. It's a great hunt 15 mile in to the back country horse back hunt food is great elk tags ? Lic $165 bear tags $31 each can get two wolf tags $31ea Gary does bow and gun hunts. I would hunt elk in the morning and bear in the after noon on baits with hope of seeing a wolf on wolf but did hear them. I think hunts are in the $3000 range.

Idaho huh? Ill have to look into that. Can you message me the details on who you used? If i can't find any closer hunts near MD i may check idaho out.

check out "lancaster's outfitters.com"  owners name pat lancaster.they are excellent guides they hunt mostly southern coloradoand northern new mexico. you would have to contact them about prices as the vary due to type of hunt you want. as would be obvious if you are expecting  a 400plus bull it will cost more than say,  a cow hunt.most of thier bussiness is repeat costumers, in the world of guided hunts that says alot

There is a place in colorado i will be guiding at and it will be my first year there but looking at their web page they have taken some nice bulls out of there and nice mulies also... I've also talked to some other hunters that have hunted in those areas and had nothing but good things to say about the areas... I've even done some camping there and have seen a lot of game... so I'm really excited about this hunting season... Their website is www.cowboycampoutfitters.com and they are no super expensive

heres a couple 2011 pics from "lancastersoutfitters"  check out thier website for more pics

I am looking into a hunt primarily for elk but really like the options of bear and wolf to be included.  This outfitter/hunt sounds very interesting.  Could you please messge me with more details and info. of outfitter.  I have been a long time life member of NAHC and some buddies and I are looking for a group hunt of this caliber!

Yep and please email me the exact location with coordinates of a 400's bull on the day after I get there......

Posted By TOM IN TENNESSEE on 14 May 2013 06:37 PM
Yep and please email me the exact location with coordinates of a 400's bull on the day after I get there......

Yeah. Any outfitter that claims they can get anybody a shot at an honest to goodness 400 point bull on public land is a liar. Bulls that big are as rare as albino black bears. Not saying they don't exist, but only a handful are taken across the west in any given year. 

Now, if you are content to shoot elk that are fenced in, 400 points is possible and may even be a sure thing. But not on public land under fair chase. None of the bulls in the photos above will score more than 330, if they even score that high. The points aren't long enough to score any higher.

I'm out of New Mexico.  The draw is already past, but there are a lot of private land tags to be had out here.  A good guide I have used in the past is Duane Tewa of Medicine Bow Outfitters.  My cousins used him last year for elk, and they got two bulls, with one hunter missing his shot at five different bulls!!  Lol.  Anyhow.  He hunts off a private ranch in northern NM.  Bulls aren't the biggest as they aren't "Gila" bulls, they mostly come south out of CO, but they are there.  Cabins and food provided.  1 on 1 to guide or 2 to 1.  Good outfit, good people.  NM's big bulls mostly come from the Gila region.  There are a lot of chances to hunt bulls on private lands down there, but get ready to pay a premium.  The biggest bulls in the US come from the AZ-NM Gila area.  Beautiful country.

Oh, and that bull in the upper left corner....he'll score better than 330! 7x6 with wide antlers and good mass. He's a dandy.

Posted By jrburge16 on 15 May 2013 09:43 AM
Oh, and that bull in the upper left corner....he'll score better than 330! 7x6 with wide antlers and good mass. He's a dandy.

He's a good bull, but his top fork on the left antler isn't deep enough to score high. The deductions between the 2 antlers with unequal tops and the odd ball 7th point will keep him right around 330. He may be a little higher than that but not by much. He has mass and width, but not much in overall length.

For a bull to really score well he needs to have every point over 18 inches long and the top fork needs to be as wide on both sides as the 4th point (always the longest point) is long. He also needs good length between each point. That's where he loses points.

That being said, I'd pull the trigger on him in a heartbeat if the season was open and I had a tag in my pocket.

Yeah, Flags! That is why my 390's bull barely broke 360.......damn G3's and unbalnced main beams....still quite proud of him tho......