Elk - Red Dirt Trail Outfitters

Ross Hastie started hunting elk at age 5 with his dad in Colorado's Flat Tops and never missed a season for 17 years. After guiding for an outfitter based out of Montrose, Colorado, he moved to New Mexico in 2002 and has been guiding hunters ever since. He achieved his outfitting dream in 2004 after meeting New Mexico's experience and licensing requirements. His focus is simple: high-quality animals on fair-chase hunts with guides who take pride in the work.

Red Dirt Trail Outfitters operates out of Tucumcari, New Mexico, located on I-40 about 200 miles east of Albuquerque and 120 miles west of Amarillo, Texas. The hunting territory spans northeastern New Mexico's ranching country with a diverse landscape: red sandstone mesas, native buffalo grasslands, rolling sage sandhills, creek valleys with cedar and pine canyons, and high prairie grasslands. Hunts take place on private land across roughly a dozen different ranches.

This is their signature hunt. They maintain relationships with 12+ ranches spread from Clayton to Clovis, New Mexico, and do extensive scouting year-round to identify quality animals and their patterns.

Track Record: - 100% success rate - Average horn length: 15½" - Average B&C score: 78 - Multiple Boone and Crockett record book qualifiers yearly

Hunting is done from 4x4 vehicles with glassing and spot-and-stalk methods. Most shots are 100-150 yards, though proficiency at 200-400 yards is expected. An on-site taxidermist capes and mounts trophies, or prepares them for your own taxidermist. Starting in 2017, they added a meat processor at camp who ships processed meat to hunters.

Itinerary: - Friday afternoon: Check-in at hotel, finalize contract - Friday evening: Gun range checkout with guides - Saturday-Sunday: Guided hunts with dinners at Ross's house - Hotel and meals provided Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon

• •Not included: License ($362), motel ($80/night). Ross handles all paperwork and reservations.

Children can hunt in New Mexico with a Hunter Safety Card.

Hunting on a 65,000-acre private ranch with excellent deer populations. They offer quality deer in the 150-180 class with potential 200-class bucks. The terrain is mesa and small mountains with valleys, creeks, and streams—classic western hunting ground.

Hunting method: glassing, stalking, and patience. Extensive pre-hunt scouting identifies animals, then hunters maneuver for stalks rather than rushing in on big bucks.

Hunts take place north of Las Vegas, New Mexico on historic private land described as "a hunter's dream and animal's sanctuary." No high fences—fair-chase hunting for one of North America's most revered trophies.

Stay in a nice lodge with all amenities. Terrain offers variety: creek valleys with cedar/pine canyons, old cottonwood stands, draws elevating to open prairie grasslands. This works for hunters with different physical abilities—some prefer steep mountain work, others need more horizontal terrain.

Success Rates: - Rifle hunters (bulls): 75% - Cow elk hunts: 100% - Archery hunters: 50%

• •Bull elk taken: 300-400 class

Availability: - 4 rifle/bull elk hunters - 2 bull elk archery hunters - 8 cow elk hunts (with access to other ranches for additional cow hunts)

• •Trophy fee: Add $3,000 for bulls over 350 gross. Not included: License ($550). Cow hunts typically booked around other hunts—usually one before Thanksgiving, then first 3 weekends in December.

Turkey hunting is Ross's favorite. They hunt Merriam turkeys from a newer ranch near Las Vegas, New Mexico. Hunters stay in a Las Vegas hotel and drive ~20 minutes to the ranch. This is classic turkey hunting in a beautiful river valley with huge old cottonwood trees along the creek.

Hunting methods: blinds and stalking. Archery or shotgun allowed for 2 bearded birds.

2017 Results: - Opening weekend: 7 hunters, all tagged out with 2 toms each by Sunday morning - Following weekend: 3 hunters tagged out with 2 toms each (one hunter finished both Friday evening)

• •Hunters staying Sunday night are responsible for their own room.

"I have had the dream of being an outfitter for about 20 years and finally was able to accomplish that goal in 2004. My main goal is to provide hunters from around the world a great high quality hunt, taking care of all the little stuff an outfitter should, and to have the hunters happy and proud that they came hunting with us. Too many outfitters don't care about the quality of the animals or do the little things to make the hunt enjoyable." — Ross Hastie

Their guides are a tight-knit local group who take pride in the work. Hunters have sent them Christmas cards and gifts for years. Ross personally scouts ranches to find the best genetics and nutritional environments. They do fair-chase hunting—not high-fence or feeder hunts.

One example: A husband-and-wife team hunted with Wyoming outfitters for 11 years and never killed anything over 14 inches. Red Dirt showed them 15-inch antelope and up all day long.

• •Member of: New Mexico Council of Outfitters and Guides

Red Dirt Trail Outfitters Owner: Ross Hastie 1723 South 1st Street Tucumcari, New Mexico 88401 📞 575-403-5267 📧 [email protected]

Local airport pickup available for hunters flying in with private planes. Ross handles all licensing paperwork and motel reservations so hunters don't have to.