Stories from our hunters

I’m 26, and this was my first elk hunt and my first hunting experience west of the Mississippi. Let me tell you—it did not disappoint. Kolten and his team at DryCreek Outfitters are an outstanding group to work with.

As this was my first time hunting out west and pursuing elk, I had a lot of questions, and Kolten answered every one of them for me. The weather was definitely a factor, with temperatures dropping to 9 degrees and about two feet of snow on the ground the first morning. Thanks to the experience and knowledge of our guide, he knew exactly where the elk would be in these conditions. His expertise on both the elk and the land we hunted was a complete game changer.

Over the three days I hunted, I saw six mature bulls and more than 40 mule deer. On the day I harvested my bull, our guide, Tristen, positioned me perfectly—close enough to be within my shooting range—and provided guidance every step of the way, including helping me get the bull out of the woods.

What I took away from this hunt is that you’re paying for their experience and knowledge of the land. Be prepared physically before you go, practice shooting your rifle, and let their expertise take care of the rest.

This was a public land hunt and the most challenging three days of my hunting career. However, if you stick with the guide and push through, the team at Dry Creek Ranch will do everything in their power to get you on a bull.

I have definitely found my outfitter for all my future western hunts. They are a fantastic team to work with—friendly, knowledgeable, and they treat you like family. If you’re looking to harvest big, mature bulls and have the experience of a lifetime, I highly recommend Dry Creek Ranch Outfitters.

I just got back from my first elk hunt with Dry Creek Outfitters, and it was amazing! From start to finish, the team made this trip unforgettable. When I arrived, the staff welcomed me with open arms, which made me feel right at home. The wall tent was cozy and had everything I needed, plus the views of the wilderness were incredible. The guides were fantastic. They really knew their stuff about elk and were super patient with me as it was my first time hunting elk. They taught me the terms of the land scape, to call, and spot elk, which made me feel ready for our time in the field.

The actual hunting was so exciting! Being out in nature, hearing elk calls, and waiting for the right moment to take a shot was thrilling. The guides worked hard to get us in the best spots and made sure we stayed safe. On the first day, I got to draw my bow on my first elk, and it was a rush! Unfortunately, the elk didn’t  give us an ethical shot, but the guides had me in front of elk every day. We had three chances to shoot, but it didn’t work out, which is just how bow hunting goes sometimes.

Overall, my first elk hunt with Dry Creek Outfitters surpassed everything I expected. Kolten was super quick to respond to any questions before and during the trip. The beautiful scenery, knowledgeable guides, and support made it a great experience. I left feeling accomplished and with a new love for nature and hunting. If you’re thinking about your first elk hunt or want to improve your skills, I strongly recommend Dry Creek Outfitters. I’ve already booked my second trip for 2025, and I can’t wait to go back! Thank you, Dry Creek, for an awesome introduction to elk hunting!

 I had an excellent experience with Dry Creek Ranch. They welcomed us the evening before the hunt and took the time to answer all our questions. We discussed what to expect for the upcoming week and reviewed possible day-by-day strategies to maximize our chances of success.

Kolten was my guide, and he did an outstanding job. He was highly professional, knowledgeable about the area, and well-versed in elk behavior and movement. Kolten skillfully positioned us using the wind, terrain, and cover to get us close enough for an ethical shot.

I had two opportunities at big bulls during the hunt and successfully harvested the second one. I can’t say enough good things about Kolten and his operation. I’m already looking forward to earning enough points to return for another incredible hunt.

Thank you again for an unforgettable experience!

My two sons, who love to hunt whitetails, have wanted to do an elk hunt for years. Finally in 2024 we made it happen. A huge shout out and tremendous thanks to Dry Creek Ranch, owner/operator Kolten Johnson, and our guide Tristan Walker. This was truly a once in a lifetime adventure. The arrangements were easy and well thought out. The accommodations, albeit a bit chilly during fourth rifle, made the experience great. And ultimately, the outcome was extraordinary. We have done lots of hunting and been with outfitters in the past for Whitetail deer but this was a whole new world of adventure.

Our guide, Tristan was incredibly personable, knowledgeable, and hard-working. Ultimately, when he spotted the fantastic bull that my son Luke ultimately took, he guided Luke to a position for a shot absolute brilliantly. Similarly, the recovery of the animal, while physically challenging, was brilliantly managed by Tristan.

I would highly recommend Dry Creek Ranch to anyone who wants the truest and best of outdoor adventures.

Dry Creek Ranch Outfitters provided us with a trip of a lifetime. My wife and I spent our honeymoon together in the mountains of Colorado during the first rifle hunt of the 2024 elk season. From the second we arrived in Colorado Kolten and his team greeted us with southern hospitality and immediately began to provide us with exceptional care. We rode in horse back 13 miles (roughly 8 hours) and arrived at a pre-set camp site that included a canvas tent with cots, a wood burning stove, and fire pit with chairs outside. Our guide, Macray, was unmatched. He was patient, personable, knowledgeable, incredibly skilled, and hard working. Due to Macray’s knowledge of the area and wildlife my wife was able to fill her bull elk tag on the first morning of the rifle season and I filled mine on the 3rd morning. Macray ensured that my wife and I had everything we needed at all times and kept us informed on the decisions he made regarding our hunt. This hunt was physically challenging, as the terrain was incredibly tough but having the assistance of a guide, the horses, and the additional supplies provided by the outfitters we had the perfect combination of a public land hunt with an outfitter. We built friendships that will last a lifetime and made memories that we will never forget, we will be lifetime customers of Dry Creek Ranch Outfitters.

  Dry Creek Ranch Outfitters owned by Kolten Johnson is the real deal if your looking for a guided hunt.  Kolten has quite the crew of guides and ‘eyes everywhere’ to find whatever your hunting?  

We being old ‘boomers’  opted for Cow hunts on a private ranch(s) around the Greenhorn mountain area.  We pulled ‘Damage’ tags and Kolten was pretty confident we would find both small and large herds!  The first pre-dawn look, Kolten spotted a lone Cow and the chase began.  This guy could run a marathon fully geared up and was not easy to follow!  I finally had the Cow in sight but lost her because I was not focused inright!  So we followed her and saw a small herd (6-7) about 250 yards away.  By the time I got set, they were moving through the juniper trees and I decided not to take the shot.

Next two days were spent glassing for herds with no avail. Meantime down on the private lands,  Charlie found fresh tracks when we went down a plateau to a large open area and walked the tree line.  Charlie decided these two Elk were heading to a bedding area and would catchup with their herd next day.  

The forth day (early AM) we were back at the same area with Dakota when he got a call that a LARGE herd was near our base camp.  We high tailed it over and met Kolten who literally jumped into action as we snuck up on a herd of 30 or more about 300 yards away! Both myself and my hunt buddy were total out of breath as we arrived at a fence and Kolten said to take aim and SHOOT!  George took the first shot and dropped a large Cow.  I took a shot after and hit one in the neck?  She took off but dropped after a short distance.  The herd took off but stopped maybe 1000 yards away along another fence line.  They remained there as we walked up and inspected our kills.

I have to give Kolten credit for these kills, he knows where the Elk are and how to approach them and he’s FAST so the only way your not going to get a shot is if you can’t keep up!  There was another 2nd season group of two that got their Mule Deer tags filled the same way but with other guides.

Can’t say enough for Kolten and his crew.  They want you to fill your tag but without ‘killing’ yourself in the process!  I would recommend ‘Dry Creek Ranch Outfitters’ to anyone serious about taking home some MEAT!

I want to send my thanks and gratitude for a great 2024 Elk hunting experience in Colorado hosted by Dry Creek Ranch Outfitters. I had the privilege spending an entire week with my son, Colton, in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Our guide, Dakota, was outstanding, he was professional, timely, knowledgeable, and experienced. We had an unbelievable week of hunting where we got to see many species/wildlife. We got to see Bear, Elk, Mule Deer, Big Horn Sheep, and Grouse. This trip was one to remember and I thank Dry Creek Ranch Outfitters for making it happen.

Thank You!