While on a trip to Colorado recently, I met with outfitter Mike Bondurant, owner of La Garita Outfitters (303-704-7765, elkhunter1983@yahoo.com; www. Lagaritaoutfitters.com). Bondurant has been in the hunting industry for a number of years and this summer bought out his partners in this outfit. He now is making some interesting changes.
Although he still offers outstanding mule deer hunting, as well as 1 x 1 guided elk and antelope hunts, Bondurant recently added a new whitetail lease in Kansas that deserves your attention for 2011. His lease is in Unit 4 near the I-70 corridor, where he expects to produce bucks in the 155- to 170-inch class! Clients fly into Wichita or Salina and are picked up and taken to Lake Wilson, where there are several comfortable cabins with all the amenities. There are no more tags available in this unit for this season, but Bondurant says that even if you do not draw next year, he may be able to acquire a tag for you.
This lease had been hunted by a turkey outfitter for the last two years. Before that, bucks killed here averaged in the 160s, although a buck scoring 191 and several in the 180s were also killed. An archery hunt here for six to seven days costs $2,500, and the five-day rifle hunt is only $3,500. These are introductory prices, and I would expect prices to be raised for the 2012 season. By the way, there is some outstanding pheasant hunting available after you tag your buck. Bondurant will also offer turkey hunts, but you need to call for details as these plans hadn’t been firmed up at this writing.....
