Elk Hunts - Budge's Wilderness Lodge

Budge's Wilderness Lodge operates elk hunts and fly fishing adventures in northwest Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness Area on public lands under Special Use Permits with the White River National Forest. Licensed Colorado Outfitter #3488, bonded and insured.

The lodge runs three distinct elk hunting seasons:

Archery Season (September) - Guided hunts focusing on bugling bulls and close-quarters hunting - One of the most challenging big game hunts on earth - 2025 recap: 5 out of 7 guided hunters had shot opportunities

Muzzleloader Season (September/Early October) - Consistently the most successful hunt year after year - 2025: 100% shot opportunity rate across all guided hunters - Requires serious shooting prep and fieldcraft

Rifle Seasons (October/November) - First rifle and second rifle seasons with different conditions and strategies - 2025 second rifle season: 9 bulls taken out of 14 hunters - Success depends on hunter fitness, guide expertise, and adapting to weather

"Long days, early mornings, changing weather, and the kind of effort that doesn't always show up in a harvest photo (but always matters)." — 2025 Season Recap

The lodge emphasizes that harvest numbers don't tell the full story. Camp life, camaraderie around evening meals, shared stories in wilderness camps, and the overall experience matter as much as antlers. Their crew puts in long days riding horses, packing camps, and adapting plans as conditions change.

The lodge operates fly fishing trips in Colorado's high country wilderness streams:

• •Early Season (Late June/July): Low snowpack years mean excellent early conditions. Perfect water temps and early summer hatches bring trout to surface immediately
• •Mid-Summer (July/August): Dry fly fishing in full swing. Even in drought years, headwaters springs keep water cold and stable
• •Late Season (September): Golden hillsides, cooler mornings, hopper and caddis patterns produce steady surface action. Streamers and heavy nymphs draw aggressive strikes from larger fish

2025 fishing recap: Guests came from New York, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, California, and Colorado. Cold, clear water, healthy fish, and stable conditions throughout.

Guests can fish and hunt from the main lodge or remote wilderness camps. Wilderness camp fly fishing trips offer solitude and world-class water in smaller, high-country creeks requiring pack-in access.

The lodge opens June 28 every year because: - U.S. Forest Service regulations keep the access road officially closed until June 21 - Snowpack at elevation (typically 80-90% of normal) requires plowing access roads - After plowing, the lodge needs cleaning and prep before welcoming guests - Recent snowpack has averaged 80-90% of normal; above-average years can have snow in dark timber and drifted areas through early July

Budge's donates trips annually to support: - Trout Unlimited - Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - Casting for Recovery - Revital Colorado (first responder retreat—guide Bob Terwilliger volunteers his time annually)

For questions about trips, availability, or planning an adventure, contact them directly. The lodge notes that demand continues to be strong and limited capacity fills up each year.