We provide a comfortable, pre-set backcountry camp designed to be your basecamp for a DIY hunt. This typically includes a sturdy wall tent, wood stove for heat, cots with sleeping pads, essential cooking gear (pots, pans, utensils, propane cooktop), and lanterns. Most importantly, we handle the logistics: packing you and your personal gear into camp via horseback, and packing you out at the end. We also provide pack service for any elk you harvest from the camp back to the trailhead. Remember, this is an unguided, DIY-style hunt – the hunting strategy, calling, field work, and getting your elk back to camp is up to you.

Think self-sufficient backcountry hunting, minus the heavy camp infrastructure. You need to bring your personal hunting gear (bow, arrows, broadheads that fly right, optics, pack), a quality sleeping bag rated for potentially cold September mountain nights, your pillow if you like, all your own food for the entire trip duration, a reliable water filter or purification method (camps are near water sources), game bags, and sharp knives for field processing. Don't forget personal items, toiletries, medications, and layered clothing suitable for highly variable weather. A satellite communication device (like InReach or Zoleo) is highly recommended as there's no cell service. We'll send a detailed gear list upon booking.

If you're successful (congrats!), your job is to properly field dress the elk and transport the meat (quartered or boned-out), cape, and antlers back to the main designated camp location. Once it's secured in camp, we handle the pack-out via horseback/mules from that point to the trailhead on your scheduled departure day. If you harvest an elk mid-hunt and need it packed out sooner, you must contact us immediately via your satellite device to discuss arrangements; additional charges may apply for unscheduled pack trips.

These drop camps are geared towards experienced hunters who are comfortable and capable in remote backcountry settings without a guide. You absolutely need solid hunting skills (especially archery elk tactics), proficiency with map/compass/GPS for navigation in rugged terrain, good physical conditioning for mountain hunting, and the knowledge to properly field dress, quarter/bone, and care for game meat until pack-out. Your success and safety largely depend on your own skills and preparedness once we drop you off.

We strategically place our drop camps deep within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge or Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forests, well away from roads and accessible only by horseback. We choose locations based on our knowledge of elk activity during the archery rut – typically near reliable water, with good access to basins, ridges, parks, or wallows where you can effectively hunt. You can expect a true, remote wilderness setting.

There is generally no cell service in our camp areas. That's why we strongly recommend every group bring at least one satellite communication device (like an InReach, Zoleo, Spot, or satellite phone) for check-ins and, most importantly, for emergencies or coordinating an unscheduled game pack-out. We provide emergency contact info and protocols before your trip. While we might do periodic ride-through checks depending on the area and schedule, you must be prepared for self-sufficiency and have a reliable way to communicate externally if needed.