Elk - Kiowa Hunting Service
Kiowa Hunting Service operates across New Mexico's premier hunting areas—Carson National Forest, Lincoln National Forest, Gila National Forest, Cibola National Forest, and Santa Fe National Forest—plus private ranches in New Mexico and Colorado. With over three decades of experience, they've built a...
Own Elk - Kiowa Hunting Service?
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Full description and what we offer
Kiowa Hunting Service operates across New Mexico's premier hunting areas—Carson National Forest, Lincoln National Forest, Gila National Forest, Cibola National Forest, and Santa Fe National Forest—plus private ranches in New Mexico and Colorado. With over three decades of experience, they've built a reputation for consistent success in harvesting quality elk.
Kiowa offers several hunt formats to match different hunter preferences:
Guided-Only Hunts (No Accommodations) These hunts use Kiowa's outfitter number to enhance your drawing odds. By state law, you get one guide for the first two days when using their number. Guide ratios range from 4:1 to 1:1, with 2-day hunts starting at $1,200–$1,800 depending on guide ratio. Hunts extend from 2 to 9 days and are valid in any unit except those primarily comprised of wilderness areas.
Partially Guided with Accommodations Offered in Units 10, 12, 51, and 52, these hunts include central base camp, cook, meals, snacks, guides to promising elk locations, and staff that scouts for you while you hunt independently. This format boasts higher success rates than guided-only hunts because staff share current elk sighting intel and help with retrieval. Five-day rifle/muzzleloader hunts start at $2,200 for groups of 4+.
Fully Guided with Full Accommodations Complete package hunts across all forest units include guides, meals, camp setup, courtesy transportation, and trophy preparation assistance. Pricing varies by unit and weapon type—archery 7-day hunts range from $5,800–$6,800, rifle/muzzleloader 5-day hunts from $5,000–$6,000.
Private Land Guaranteed License Hunts These New Mexico and Colorado ranch hunts require no lottery draw. The Unit 10 private ranch near Grants maintains a 90%+ success rate for rifle bulls, averaging 300+ B&C with past harvests exceeding 370 B&C. Rifle hunts run October 2–November 15 (five days, any dates), priced $8,000–$9,000 depending on guide ratio.
| Forest | Units | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Carson National Forest | 51, 52, 2, 49, 53, 55A | 100,000–400,000 acres; timberline to sagebrush; robust elk population; limited hunting pressure |
| Lincoln National Forest | 34, 36, 37 | Highest bull-to-cow ratio in state (71:100 in Unit 36); consistently produces 340+ B&C bulls |
| Gila National Forest | All units except 16B-22 | Legendary bulls; past harvests up to 383 B&C; 5% or less draw odds; exceptional guides |
| Cibola National Forest | 10, 12 | Bulls to 340 B&C; lower elevation with easier terrain; 14+ years experience; year-round scouting by resident guides |
| Santa Fe National Forest | 5B, 6A, 6C, 43, 45 | 1.6 million acres; elevations 5,000–13,000 feet; borders Jicarilla Apache Reservation |
| Private Ranches | New Mexico & Colorado | Guaranteed tags; confirmed elk presence; 300+ B&C potential |
No charge for using their outfitter number—many outfitters charge extra to boost drawing odds. Kiowa includes this service free of cost.
- •Licensed across all forests: Licensed by all New Mexico National Forests, Bureau of Land Management Districts, and State Land Office
- •Experienced guides: Many Cibola guides have hunted the same units for 14+ years and live in the areas year-round
- •Consistent trophy success: Regular harvests of 300+ B&C bulls; Unit 10 private ranch averages 300+ B&C with 90%+ rifle success
- •Flexible hunt structures: Choose between guided-only budget hunts, partially guided with camp logistics handled, or fully guided luxury experience
- •Weapon variety: All hunts accommodate rifle, muzzleloader, and archery
- •Scouting support: Staff scouts for you during partially guided and fully accommodated hunts, dramatically improving success odds
Fully guided packages typically include: - Access to outfitter number for draw applications - Appropriate number of guides (1:1 or 2:1 ratios available) - Camp accommodations, meals, and snacks - Courtesy transportation during hunts - Assistance with game retrieval and trophy caping for preparation
Hunters are responsible for licenses (Kiowa assists with applications), personal gear, weapons, bedrolls, and transportation to/from camp.
Archery: September 6–24, 2026 (7-day and 9-day options) Rifle/Muzzleloader: October–December 2026 (dates vary by unit) Application Deadline: March 18, 2026
Specific dates available for each unit across all forest types.