Last verified Jul. 2026

Drop camps, explained

What's actually in a drop camp

Outfitters pack the camp in ahead of you — commonly by horse or mule into backcountry or wilderness-area terrain you couldn't easily drive to — and it's waiting when you arrive. A typical setup includes:

• A wall tent or similar shelter, already pitched
• Cots, a table, and chairs
• A wood or propane stove, and basic cooking equipment
• A latrine

What it does not include is a guide hunting alongside you day to day — that's the core difference from a fully guided hunt, and the reason it costs less. Most drop camps are self-catered: you bring and cook your own food, sleeping bag, water treatment, and personal gear. Colorado drop-camp listing example

What's usually included beyond the camp itself

The detail that matters most is pack-out: many Colorado drop-camp outfitters include packing out any game you harvest by horse or mule, which is a real service on steep, remote terrain — check whether it's included before you book, since it isn't universal. Colorado drop-camp listing example

What it costs, relative to guided and DIY

Drop-camp pricing is set by the outfitter, not the state, so treat any figure — including this one — as a range to confirm directly. Real Colorado drop-camp listings run from roughly $1,800 at the low end (larger groups, shorter trips) up to $4,500 or more for smaller groups or longer hunts, commonly priced per hunter and cheaper per person the more hunters in your party. Colorado drop-camp listing example That sits well below a fully guided hunt, which commonly runs $5,000-$15,000+ once a guide is with you every day, and above full DIY, which skips the packed camp and typically costs a few thousand dollars total including your license. Market pricing survey — Western Obsession TV

Who a drop camp suits

A drop camp fits hunters who can scout and hunt on their own — reading sign, judging terrain, field-dressing an animal — but want the backcountry access, camp logistics, and often the pack-out handled by someone who knows the country. It suits a group better than a solo hunter, since camp costs split more ways, and it suits hunters who don't want (or can't justify) the cost of a guide every day but also don't want to backpack in and set up camp themselves.

The trade-off is real: without a guide, your success depends entirely on your own scouting and hunting skill, and drop camps are usually in the same public, over-the-counter units anyone else can hunt, so expect other hunters in the area. If that trade-off doesn't sit right, vet a fully guided outfitter instead, or go full DIY and keep every dollar. The outfitter directory lists verified operators if you're ready to book.