Lee Metcalf Wilderness Hunts

A few openings remain for 2024 rifle season.

Featured in North American Hunter.

Adventures Outfitting holds the exclusive USFS outfitting permit for the northern Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area and surrounding public lands.   This hunting area overlooks Montana's famous Madison Valley and contains a large resident elk herd as well as a diversity of other wildlife.   Our specialty is bull elk hunts, but we also hunt deer and black bear.   Using our knowledge gained from more than 40 years of outfitting experience in the Madison Valley, we are able to guide you through this beautiful, awe inspiring country to the trophy hotspots.

Our elk success rates range from 30-80% depending upon the weather and the hunter's physical abilities.   Historically, we have enjoyed 50% success in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. Our staff is comprised of licensed guides who are themselves accomplished hunters.   Their combined experience of more than 50 years guiding service, means that you'll be hunting the best country.

Accommodations are provided at our ranch in comfortable guest ranch cabins.   Hunts are conducted on horseback.   Each morning after a hearty, hot breakfast, we will ride into the Wilderness from one of several access points.   In the evening we will return to the ranch for a hot shower, a delicious home-style meal and warm, comfortable bed! During the day we hunt hard in some pretty rugged country, but in the evening you'll be able to relax and prepare for tomorrow's hunt with a good night's sleep.

Bull elk are the primary focus of our Wilderness hunts.  You may want to consider purchasing a deer license as well since we occasionally see outstanding mule deer.  Deer hunting can be an enjoyable pursuit after you've filled your elk tag.   We hunt elk in the early archery season in September during the rut and in the general season occurring at the end of October through the end of November.   Some early season archery hunts may be conducted from a backcountry camp.   Spring bear hunts are also available.

Trophy Bull Elk Ranch Hunts

Returning hunters have first priority and they usually fill this hunt. 2024 is fully booked. Waiting list available for future years.

Featured in Gray's Sporting Journal.

Adventures Outfitting holds the exclusive lease to over 26 square miles of prime elk territory in southwest Montana. This area has a large resident elk herd and has received very little hunting pressure over the past several years allowing bulls to reach maturity. Elk are an important part of the management plan for the ranch as was demonstrated by the most recent wildlife survey of more than 800 elk.

Because of the large resident herd, our rifle elk hunters have enjoyed very high success rates on bull elk, ranging between 70-100%. In the few cases, in which hunters were unsuccessful, 100% had opportunity. In our entire history of hunting the ranch, all rifle hunters except one have pulled the trigger - and that hunter was holding out for a trophy opportunity that didn't present itself during his hunt.

Adventures Outfitting offers only fair chase hunts for free ranging elk. We are not a game ranch! This isn't your typical ranch hunt either. Instead of hunting from the truck, we leave our vehicles at the gate and hunt on foot and horseback. This access policy provides minimal disturbance to the elk and allows hunters to have a firsthand experience in Montana's elk country.

Hunters stay in first quality guest ranch accommodations. After a hard day's hunting, there's nothing better than a hot shower, home cooked dinner and a warm bed! A hot, hearty, home-style breakfast is served each morning before the hunt and sack lunches are served in the field.

A very limited number of archery and rifle hunts are available. Because of the almost non-existent hunting pressure, we offer an outstanding archery hunt. Check out our video taken during the rut! Archery hunts are five days in length and are conducted during the rut in September with one guide per every two hunters. Rifle hunts are five days in length and occur from the end of October through the end of November with one guide per every two hunters.

Fees:
2 hunters/guide - $9,500/hunter. 1 hunter/guide - $11,500. Elk license additional (License must be drawn, application date 4/1).   Fee includes elk hunting privileges on the ranch, guest ranch accommodations, guide services, horses, game retrieval, pre-taxidermy care for your trophy and round trip transportation from/to the airport in Bozeman.