Montana Guided Elk and Deer Hunts

Get a true Montana deer and elk hunting experience in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

When the leaves start to rustle, the nights get frosty, and the elk begin to bugle, here at Big Salmon Outfitters we turn our full attention to hunting. We hunt the vast Bob Marshall Wilderness area. The country is remote, rugged and wild.

No corners are cut when preparing for your hunt. You will be pleasantly surprised at our clean, comfortable base camps in the heart of the back country. We serve excellent meals, use quality equipment, and provide excellent horses that are well conditioned and ready to go.

From camp we travel by horseback to different drainages during each hunt. This enables us to access some of the most remote and beautiful areas in the country. Expect a rigorous and chalenging hunt that is not for the faint of heart.

Big Salmon Hunting Camp

Big Salmon camp is a 20 mile horseback ride into camp. It is located on the bank of Little Salmon Creek and is 45 minute ride above Big Salmon Lake the largest lake in the Bob Marshall. 

At camp the tents are wall tents, there is a large cook tent, guide tent, hunter tents (usually 2-3 hunters per tent), shower tent, outhouse, corrals, fire pit. In the hunter tents we provide cots, wood stove, drying racks, chairs, table, wash bins.
All meals are served family-style in the cook tent around a large table. Breakfast is served before day break, the cook provides hunters with a sack lunch for the day of hunting, and dinner is served when hunters return for the evening, followed by dessert. 
Clients are welcome to bring alcohol, we just don't provide it but we are happy to pack it in. 
The Big Salmon camp is located in a draw so the terrain is steeper than the Bartlett camp. Elevation of camp is 4500ft, elevation of some trails we use can be up to 8000ft elevation.  
 
 
 

Bartlett Hunting Camp

Bartlett camp is located at the mouth of Bartlett Creek and the South Fork of the Flathead River and is a 28 mile ride into camp. 

Camp is the same as the Big Salmon camp as regards to what we provide, meals, guides, horses. 
The Bartlett camp is located on the river bottom with trails leading to the surrounding mountains. 
Elevation of camp is 4500ft elevation of some trails we use can be up to 7000ft elevation. 
 
 
We utilize horses and mules as much as possible and as much as clients are comfortable. We can also hike from camp. We have raised and break all of our own stock and know them well. They are all descendants from our great-grandfathers original herd from 1932 when we started outfitting in the Bob Marshall and packing horses/mules. 
Our guides have worked with us and our stock for years and are knowledgeable of the area, game, and stock. 

Dates and Rates

 

2025

Bartlett Camp:
  Sep. 4-11 -$7,250 (Archery Only)
  Sep.14-21 - $7,500 (Early Rifle Season)
  Sep. 23-30  - $7,000 (Early Rifle Season)
  Oct 26 - Nov. 4  $7,000 
  Nov 7 - 15 FULL
     
Big Salmon Camp:
  Sep.14-21 - $7,500 (Early Rifle Season)
  Sep. 23-30 - $7,000 (Early Rifle Season)
  Oct. 4-11 $7,000 (Early Rifle Season)
  Oct. 14-21 $7,000 (Early Rifle Season)
  Oct 24 - 31  $7,000 
 
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2026
Bartlett Camp:
  Sep. 4-11 -$7,250 (Archery Only)
  Sep.14-21 - $7,500 (Early Rifle Season)
  Sep. 23-30  - $7,000 (Early Rifle Season)
  Oct 26 - Nov. 4  $7,000 
  Nov 7 - 15 FULL
     
Big Salmon Camp:
  Sep.14-21 - $7,500 (Early Rifle Season)
  Sep. 23-30 - $7,000 (Early Rifle Season)
  Oct. 4-11 $7,000 (Early Rifle Season)
  Oct. 14-21 $7,000 (Early Rifle Season)
  Oct 24 - 31  $7,000 
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*2:1 Hunter/Guide Ratio
*$1,000 Deposit to hold your hunt 
*+$3,000 to hunt price for 1:1 hunt

Click "View All" to check out our Dates and Rates for a complete list of packages and start booking your trip today!

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What to Expect

Here is a short summary of your 8 day hunt.

Day 1

  • Meet at the trailhead between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m.
  • Conduct a pre-ride Safety Meeting
  •  Adjust client saddles and saddlebags 
  • Start the venture into camp
  • Stop a few times to stretch and once to eat lunch
  • Arrive at camp and move into wall tents
  • Have an orientation meeting to discuss the area and camp
  • Eat Dinner and discuss plans for the next morning

Day 2 thru 7

  • Eat a hot breakfast prepared by our full time cook
  • Saddle up and ride or walk to hunting area
  • Spend the day hunting; eat a sack lunch in the field
  • Return to camp and find a home cooked meal with dessert waiting
  • Fit in an afternoon or full day of fishing if you tag out or want to have a relaxing day

Day 8

  • Eat breakfast while the crew packs up for the trip back
  • Stop a few times to stretch and once to eat lunch
  • Arrive back to the trailhead usually around 5 P.M.

Preparing for your Hunt

Below is a list that might be helpful as you get ready for your hunt. Please bear in mind as you go through this that a packer’s dream is a client with two army sized duffel bags and a rifle (we provide scabbards) with a combined weight of 70 to 80 pounds. Keep out a warm coat and rain gear to be worn or tied to the back of your saddle. When you arrive, please have everything you need for the trip into the backcountry packed separately from the street clothes you will need when you return. This way we can pack everything up the night before we go in and get an early start the next morning. 

Please remember to let us know of any fragile or breakable items, so proper precautions can be taken when we pack them.

  • 400 square inches of hunter's orange
  • Insulated or wool base layer (long johns) top and bottoms
  • Light weight wool socks
  • Heavy wool socks
  • Wool or flannel shirts
  • Light pants
  • Wool or comparable warm pants
  • Light sweater or jacket
  • Winter coat (wool or insulated)
  • Warm gloves
  • Light weight gloves
  • Warm hat
  • Leather hunting boots (400 grams or more insulation and waterproof preferred) 2 pairs desirable incase the 1st pair gets to wet to dry overnight. 
  • 1 pair insulated boots (pack boots) optional
  • Gaiters (These help keep your lower pant legs dry during wet conditions which keeps your pants from wicking into your base layers and socks. When water wicks into your socks it eventually causes your feet to get wet)
  • Camp shoes
  • Rain gear (top and bottom)
  • Sleeping bag 10 degree or warmer
  • Small pillow (optional but very nice to have)
  • Toilet articles (towel, wash cloth, wet wipes, soap, tooth brush/paste)
  • Valid hunting and fishing licenses
  • Rifle of your choice suitable for game being hunted
  • 20 or more rounds of ammunition
  • Knife
  • Binoculars with bino buddy type harness
  • Waterproof matches
  • Camera
  • Head lamp
  • Extra batteries for head lamp and camera
  • Compact fishing rod with case and fishing gear (if you want to have the option to fish)
  • Medications (if applicable)
  • Watch
  • Windproof lighter/ waterproof matches
  • 1 quart water bottle (hard plastic works well, such as Nalgene brand)
  • Day Pack—small backpack or fanny pack that can be carried on your saddle horn. Preferably made of quiet material.

** Important!!! The boots that you bring are probably the most important piece of equipment. Make sure you have at least one good pair of insulated waterproof boots although two are preferred, so they have a day to dry if needed. If you are wearing pack boots, two pairs of liners are nice, so you can dry one pair while wearing the other the next day. We have found that Hoffmann, Schnee’s, and Kennetrek make boots most suitable for our weather and conditions. I personally wear Kennetrek Mountain Extremes with 400 grams of insulation.

Deposit Policy:
A deposit of $1,000 will book the particular hunt you want until January 15th of the year the trip is to be conducted. At that time deposit must be paid to 50%of the hunt cost is required. Another 35% of the balance is due May 1st of your hunt year. The remaining 15% of the balance is due September 1st of your hunt year. 


Cancellation Policy: 
Deposits and all monies paid are nonrefundable unless clients are unsuccessful in drawing a license due to no fault of their own. This space is held, and this means turning others away. Deposits are transferable if you have someone else to take your place. In the event of forest fires, USFS closures, or other natural disasters, deposits may be held for a future reservation within 2 years.

Packages

Resources

Big Salmon Outfitters
Licensed and Insured Outfitter 
Micky Cheff #32517
(406) 644-2557

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