Winterhawk Outfitters
Winterhawk Outfitters
Rated 3 out of 5.0 based on 20 Outfitter reviews.
Contact: Larry Amos
Location: Collbran, Colorado
Species Hunted: Elk, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Turkey, Mountain Lion
State(s) Hunted: CO
Website: no information on file
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Submitted by: David Schulz
Review Submitted: Nov 2, 2014
Hunt Date: Sep 13, 2014
Species Hunted:
Days Hunted: 6
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Bow
Price Range: 4000-4999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Elk bow hunt
The camp was great along with people in camp. Weather was warm so the elk were up at 12000 feet. Only our guide wouldn't ride a horse so we couldn't go after the elk. Our guide and every other guide in camp wouldn't go after them. The guides had us sit by open pastures were the ranchers cows ere feeding. They would call once or twice an hour, till 10;00 then they said elk are bedded down. So eat your lunch and take a nap. Only problem was he would sleep till 5;00 every afternoon. I paid for a guide to make an attempt to fined me an elk. Sad part is all there guides did the same thing. And where are the owners, so we could say something. They went home for the week and never came back. We heard 0ne elk bugle and our guide would not go after it. They also clam to have 160,000 acres to them selves , but this was public land and there were other hunters driving by on 4 wheelers. They might be better for gun hunts but don't know how to hunt with a bow. Guides were guys from other countries that were outfitters in there country. Do they really care if we are successful. Unless you are made of money don't waste your time here.
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Submitted by: Korry Kobel
Review Submitted: Aug 29, 2013
Hunt Date: Oct 1, 2012
Species Hunted: Elk, Mule Deer
Days Hunted: 6
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 4000-4999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Very poor operation
This is a very poor operation. Their description of their hunts on their site are the opposite of reality. They claim a wilderness experience, but when asked how often camps were further from base; the guide answered "never". "It is too difficult back in that far to get the camps broke down once the snow falls". So that is why we had our "camp" actually just OUTSIDE of the national forest. At least they claimed we were outside since they used CHAINSAWS upon our arrival to restock the firewood. They also said they "NEVER leave the horses in camp because they are too much of a pain to wrangle up in the morning. Plus it is too much work to have to pack in feed and hay for them. Also it makes camp sites difficult so they don't have to carry water." Good thing we didn't have to share water with horses too, because we ran out TWICE during our camping trip. Public hunters did have horses though, and they rode through our camp several times. So thus accommodations were poor with the lone exception of our cook. That poor guy was there for his first year with them, and he was appalled at how our group was being cheated. Anyway, on to the guides. Not good is the best summary. One seemed to be interested in hunting on some level, but he only half knew the area and always walked the same cow paths. He wanted nothing more than to run you to your sitting spot, drop you off, and then come gather you up at lunch or dark. And this was the head guide for the camp. One of the other "guides" got lost a little too often, didn't have warm clothes, and liked to break sticks/twigs with his hands for entertainment while "hunting". At least they didn't oversleep after drinking all night in their tent. Then the camp Jack. He did start our fire almost every morning and light our lanterns. I say almost every morning because he got good and lost. The "head" guide thought it was funny he had decided to hike to the top of sheep mountain to make a cell call as the snow storm moved in. Why the camp Jack even left camp is a good question. Nonetheless the National Guard was called after the "head" guide eventually told Larry he was missing. So the next day we stayed in camp until sunrise to increase the chance we may see his boot tracks on the way back up the mountain. Then we got dropped off at our spots again while the head guide climbed up the mountain yelling for the missing Jack. Yes, yelling. Low and behold the Jack waltzes into camp around lunch and announces "touchdown". The hunters head back to camp earlier than normal relieved that he was alive. Then he proceeded to brag about his survival skills and never once offered us an apology. This is only about half of the saga, but I think you get the point. Larry and Laura, who is one of the least friendly people you will encounter, did offer us a reduced rate on another hunt if we sent them our deposit for 2013. We declined. I encourage you to look elsewhere.
Submitted by: Mike Tablack
Review Submitted: Mar 20, 2013
Hunt Date: Oct 20, 2012
Species Hunted:
Days Hunted: 8
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 4000-4999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Winterhawk Outfitters
This was my first outfitted hunt. Winterhawk Outfitters and Larry Amos met and exceeded all my expectations as a quality outfitter. Everything about this hunt was top notch. Hunting was tough and I didn't harvest an animal. The guides worked their tails off for us though.
Submitted by: James Byers
Review Submitted: Feb 26, 2013
Hunt Date: Oct 24, 2012
Species Hunted: Elk, Mule Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Drop Camp
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 2000-2999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
WinterHawk
WinterHawk outfitters provided a courteous service. The camps were nice and well kept.
Submitted by: Joe Borcherding
Review Submitted: Feb 22, 2013
Hunt Date: Oct 13, 2012
Species Hunted:
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 4000-4999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Winterhawk Outfitters - 1st Rifle Season - October
Lack of animals was not the outfitters fault - Elk had not moved down to the lower levels yet . Saw very few elk - 6 or 7 cows ........ ended up taking a cow on the 3rd day . Hunted with a camera on the 4th day . Slept in on the 5th day , and went into town with the outfitter , to drop off the elk to be processed Aside from the actual hunting , the experience was great - wilderness camping , riding the mules , hiking around the terrain , weather changed every day. Thin oxygen was the biggest challenge . Food was great , beds were comfortable , comeraderie of fellow hunters was great .
Submitted by: Kelly Cleveland
Review Submitted: Feb 21, 2013
Hunt Date: not provided
Species Hunted:
Days Hunted: 7
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 4000-4999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Elk hunting with Winterhawk
It was a good hunt had a great group of guides in are camp.You should come in the best physical shape you can get in and plan on hiking 6-8 miles a day.
Submitted by: Jeff White
Review Submitted: Feb 21, 2013
Hunt Date: Nov 2, 2012
Species Hunted:
Days Hunted: 6
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method:
Price Range: 4000-4999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Winterhawk 2013 #rd Season Hunt
This was a good hunt. Larry runs a comfortable camp with good food and sound riding stock. The weather was very warm which put a damper on the Bull movement. Although I didn't get an opportunity on a bull, I had a great experience and will definitely go back.
Submitted by: Greg Harkness
Review Submitted: Jan 3, 2013
Hunt Date: Oct 11, 2012
Species Hunted: Elk
Days Hunted: 3
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 4000-4999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Great Hunt!
As far as I'm concerned, this hunt could not have been much better. I found everything from start to finish to be exemplary! I specifically wanted a traditional pack-in (by horseback) wilderness hunt, with a reasonable opportunity for an average-to-above-average bull elk. That is exactly what I got. The owners of Winterhawk, Larry & Laura Amos, were congenial, friendly and efficient. The backcountry camp manager, Bob, clearly had enormous experience in wilderness hunting and made every effort to insure that hunting opportunities were matched to each hunters' expectations and abilities. The guide service was 2-on-one, and mine was provided by John Williams, who has many, many years of experience in this region. All of the Winterhawk staff that I encountered were extremely courteous and helpful--extending from the Packers & Guides to the Cooks to the Campjack. The meals provided by Karl B. the backcountry Cook were the finest I have ever had in any camp. There were 5 other hunters in my camp, and by the luck of the draw, all were easy companions. The camps were clean, well provisioned and comfortable. If I had a complaint--and I don't--it would be that the hunt ended too soon. Unanticipated personal business concerns necessitated that I take the first bull that met my minimum standards and then cut the remainder of the trip short. I tagged out with an "average"--for the area--5x5-- bull after only 6 hours of hunting. Better bulls were seen by my companions later in the trip. Only one real note of concern---if you are getting yourself into their basecamp make sure that you have a very high clearance 4x4 vehicle. Leave your running boards at home The other caution to potential clients is that the physical conditioning aspects of this hunt are exactly as described by Winterhawk --before the hunt--be in shape. I'm 60, I work fairly hard for a living and I live at altitude so I didn't have much trouble. If you neglect the recommended conditioning you'll regret it. Any hunt is what you make of it, and even had I not been successful in killing a bull, I would have still considered my time spent in this camp as a positive experience. I was very pleased with every aspect of my hunt and would not hesitate to recommend Winterhawk to other hunters
Submitted by: Tom Johnson
Review Submitted: Jul 24, 2012
Hunt Date: Oct 24, 2011
Species Hunted: Elk, Mule Deer
Days Hunted: 1
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Any
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 5000-6999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Dirty Larry
Larry never showed up. We drove 12 hours to get robbed. They collected our money promised there would be 4 hunters in camp when we arrived there were already 15 guys there. We were told we would do a pack in style camp but the guides said there was too much snow. Ironically there wasn't an inch on the ground. It was so bad my cc company refunded my money as they determined it was legally theft. He promised one thing and never even tried to deliver.
Submitted by: Ed Milkiewicz
Review Submitted: Dec 19, 2011
Hunt Date: Sep 10, 2006
Species Hunted: Elk
Days Hunted: 6
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Muzzleloader
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
2 Thumps Up !!!!!!!!!!
Went on a guided hunt with a buddy in 2006 for muzzleloader Elk.We unexpected arrived 2 days early because we drove out from NY and allowed for vehicle breakdowns and a stop at Cabelas.The drive went smooth hence the early arrival.We were charged a nominal fee for the 2 day early arrival which would be expected since we ate at camp and used firewood for our tent.The main camp is 100% top shelf.Camp cook was excellent along with the food.This camp was neater than some houses I have been in.Larry Amos,his wife Laura and the entire staff bent over backwards to make sure our stay was enjoyable.We are both tall hunters so a few saddles were tried so they fit us right.It was way to warm that year with mid afternoon temps in the high 80's to low 90's.The Elk would bugle until the sun come up and then hole up in the dark timber to stay cool.We did see Elk but no shooters,but we were on a fair chase hunt,not a high fence hunt.I will give anyone fair warning: expect to HUNT with these guys.We were up by 3:30 am and on the horses by 4:30 am.We would eat lunch around noon and nap until 1 pm or so and then hunt until dark.We would have up to a 2 hr horseback ride back to camp.We would unload the horses,shower, yes I said HOT SHOWER,eat and then lights out by 11 pm and then start all over at 3:30 am again.Sleeping in on the go-home day until 7 am was great.The only things that I can see that would make some wanna-be hunters unhappy with this outfit is no booze and no sleeping in.Larry assumes you are there to hunt and hunt you most certainly will.We would be up anywheres from 19-20 hrs per day.The hr or so nap mid-day was necessary but you were still basically hunting since whenever you looked up you could glass the hillside.I would like to know how the heck they get those tents so military,quarter bouncing tight.Like I said the base camp was ungodly clean and everything in its place.Can't wait to go back but gotta pay for college for the kids first.Larry-great,guides-great,outfit-great.The only reason I gave a no as to number of animals is that it was way too hot in 2006 and they just holed up during the day.They were bugling as we were riding in the early morning.
note: The following reviews predate the numeric rating system and are not included in this outfitter's overall rating.
Contact: Justin Johns and Ben Harris
Location: Hotchkiss, Colorado
Species Hunted: Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Bobcat, Mountain Lion
State(s) Hunted: CO
Wyoming Hunting Information
Wyoming is a great state for hunters! It offers a wide variety of good big game, turkey, small game, upland and predator hunting.
New Mexico Hunting Information
New Mexico is one of the top destinations for trophy Elk and Antelope hunting. Draw odds can be tough depending on the unit but landowner tags are also available for those who don't draw. Mule Deer are plentiful but generally of average size. Only a couple of units and reservations consistently produce big muleys.
Manitoba Hunting Information
Manitoba is known as a top destination for avid waterfowl hunters. Huge flocks of ducks and geese can be found from the Arctic coast of Hudson Bay to the prairie potholes on the southern border of this Canadian province. There is no legal requirement for non-resident waterfowl hunters to use a guide, but many are available and a high percentage of non-Canadian hunters utilize them. In addition black bear, Canada moose and whitetails are hunted throughout the province.
