After 15 years of putting in for a controlled hunt in Oregon, my lifelong friend, Buzz Ramsey and I drew nonresident bull tags. We hired Mike Jenkins, the owner of Upfront Outfitters to guide us on this hunt. We chose the GMU because it always has snow by the November 8th start date and the Elk migrate to more huntable elevations. I have been on a number of guided Elk hunts in several states and Upfront Outfitters was by far the best I have experienced. During our hunt there was no snow. Upon arriving at camp Mike Jenkins told us that this was going to be a very difficult and challenging hunt. The Elk had been hunted in an earlier season in the GMU, and most were holed up in the difficult to access very steep and rocky canyons. Mike and his guides had scouted the territory and set up game cameras the week before our hunt and were disappointed at the sparsity of Elk. Our experienced professional guides were extremely knowledgeable about the territory and where the best spots to find Elk were. We hunted hard and covered a lot of territory and took stands on several great ambush spots with obvious game trails. Our guides, Anthony and Baily worked their butts off. Buzz harvested his bull with a 530-yard killing shot across a very steep canyon and it took about an hour and a half just to get to the animal. I saw five cow elk the first day at about 600 yards and none on days two and three. On day four they put me on an excellent stand and then for four hours circled around about two miles both above and below me on the same and adjacent ridges trying push Elk to my stand. At about 4:15 pm, Anthony came rushing back to announce he had spotted a herd of about 15 Elk and at least one had antlers, but he couldn't tell how big. We hoofed it up the ridge about 1000 yards and snuck up on the sound of vocal cows and calves, several bedded within about thirty yards. With two minutes of legal shooting light remaining, I harvested my bull at 217 yards. At the age of 74, I have been fortunate to have harvested Elk in the high double digits, and I have never seen a better recovery job. Mike and his guides treated every fork full of meat with the respect it deserves. No evidence of dirt or pine needles and nary a hair on the meat. The carcass was practically devoid of all meat, and they expertly deboned the quarters and skinned the head with no knife marks on the skull to blemish my european mount. Mike and his guides are easy to like, serious about the business of getting their clients game and made our hunt a fun memorable experience. Mike offers guided hunts in several northwest states. Hire them, you won't be disappointed! read more

I've been hunting big game since 1977 and although most of my hunts have been do-it-yourself (DIY) experiences, I've been on enough guided hunts to be able to compare them. What I've found is that the adventure is about more than harvesting an animal as you want to witness and be a part of hunting with true professionals that have a unique understanding of the animals, know in advance where they are likely to be found, and are willing to work hard while being as helpful as possible along the way. Upfront Outfitters lived up to these qualifications and then some. Oh, and did I say the food was good? I was extremely impressed with Mike's willingness to share his knowledge, past experiences and advice about all aspects of hunting. Since I was hunting with my lifelong friend Kim Hunter (he wrote a review too), we each had a guide and outfitter Mike Jenkins was able to join us during the hunt when he spent time making sure the elk hadn't left the target area. I can't say enough about the camaraderie shared between these three, how hard they worked together to provide us with the best hunt possible given the unusually dry weather and previously hunted elk on the public land we hunted. And most of all how they treated us as friends all working together on a common goal. This made it a great experience regardless of the outcome. As it turned out both Kim and I enjoyed success by each harvesting a bull elk. Mine was across a canyon at 530 yards and unknown to me at the moment was that my guide "Bailey" filmed the bullet flight and double lung hit through his spotting scope while I lay prone. My bull only went 40 yards. Kim's elk came on day 4 of our hunt when both guides working with him located a bull and got Kim in position for the shot. I cannot say enough good things about our experience and know that my partner Kim feels the same way. I would recommend Upfront Outfitters without hesitation to anyone that wants a hunting trip to remember. Buzz Ramsey read more

I hunted Rocky Mountain elk with Upfront Outfitters in Oregon last September during the archery season, and it was a fantastic experience. From start to finish, the entire team went above and beyond to make sure everything was well organized and enjoyable. Mike, the owner, is a true gentleman. He and his wife Kirstin took great care of me throughout the entire process-from the planning stages all the way through the hunt itself. They were extremely accommodating with my food preferences and very mindful of my hunting abilities, which made the experience comfortable and enjoyable. Although I was not able to harvest an elk on this trip, the overall experience was outstanding. I learned a tremendous amount about elk hunting, gained valuable skills, and truly enjoyed my time in the field. By the end of the trip, it felt less like I was hunting with an outfitter and more like spending time with family and friends. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine hospitality were very impressive. The entire crew worked hard to make sure everyone had a great experience in the woods. I would highly recommend Upfront Outfitters to anyone--whether you are new to elk hunting or an experienced hunter looking for a quality outfitter and a great atmosphere. I'm already looking forward to returning for future hunts with them and closing the deal :-) read more

I'm new to hunting and recently drew a once-in-a-lifetime permit that was not expected. I realized I'd need some guidance to make the most of this opportunity, I reached out to Upfront Outfitters and spoke with Mike with a specific request, I didn't just want a guide, I wanted to learn. They paired me with Anthony, and it was the perfect fit. Anthony is consistently a step ahead. He was awake before me every morning with coffee and food ready, and that work ethic lasted throughouyt the day, for all 5 days. Even though the terrain was new to him, he took the time to thoroughly scout and understand it. Every move we made was calculated and constantly adjusted our strategy based on the time of day, change in weather and hunting pressure. He was always showing me things, from identifying optimal glassing points to explaining movement patterns, specific calling techniques based on seasonality, tracking etc. Anthony is a great teacher and very easy to talk to. It felt more like hunting with a friend than a guide. Not only did I come home with a full freezer, I also left a much better hunter. If you're looking for a guide don't hesitate to call these guys. read more

We had an amazing experience chasing Spring gobblers with the guys over at Upfront Outfitters this year. Mike was very easy to work with in getting the hunt scheduled, and his guides Anthony and Bailey are not only exceptional turkey guides, but they are a load of fun to hang out with at camp. I personally spent most of the week with Anthony, and he is truly a master of his craft. His calling ability, intuition, and decision making in the turkey woods are unlike anything I've ever seen, and his ability to predict turkey behavior is uncanny. His level of skill when it comes to hunting turkeys cannot be overstated. Also, despite heading out each morning at 0400 for the hunt, these guys got up extra early to ensure we had a hot breakfast and cup of coffee before heading out to the woods. They had us in the birds every single day, and every member of our 5 man group filled a tag, with one of us even tagging out with three birds in four days. It was truly an incredible experience, and we'll be booking another turkey hunt for next year as soon as we get home! read more

After a lot of homework I choice Mike Jenkins with Upfront Outfitters here in Oregon for my first ever guided hunt. Mike and Kristen had great communication leading up to the actual hunt which I appreciated a lot. I was then handed over to my guide Bailey. Bailey is a great young man who loves the outdoors and passionate about hunting. He was a great attentive host in camp and a better guide. He got us on elk 4 out of 5 days including bulls 3 Times. I did pull the trigger twice - a difficult shot at just over 400 yards without success. But I still consider the hunt successfull - no meat but great memories. I'm saving my money as I'll be a repeat customer. Dennis Mock Camas, Wa. read more

Recently finished up a backpack mule deer hunt with Austin in southeastern Oregon. He's an outstanding gritty, tough and resourceful guide who was completely focused on finding a quality buck for me over the course of the hunt. Despite the wind, rain and snow several bucks were presented but unfortunately we had to deal with the unpredictable patch of moving pumpkins above and below. I certainly would recommend Austin and Upfront Outfitters on any future hunts. They delivered what was offered but unfortunately the hunting pressure in the area we were hunting was a bit too high for my liking. read more

Upfront Outfitters was an unbelievable experience. I went on my first archery Elk hunt with Mike. Him and his guides were both professional and knowledgeable on the area we hunted. Not many people have the skill and knowledge to put a bull in your lap at 12 yards but they do! Camping and food were both top notch. If you're looking for a back country hunting trip/experience that provides opportunities and great service, I highly recommend Upfront Outfitters! Great people and great hunting! read more

Had an awesome 4-day turkey hunt with this outfitter. The guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and worked hard to keep us on birds every day. We saw plenty of turkeys and were able to harvest quite a few throughout the trip. Overall, the experience exceeded my expectations and I'd definitely hunt with them again. read more

My brother and I went on a rifle elk hunt with Upfront Outfitters and had a great time. Mike was very professional and answered all my questions in a timely manner. If you are looking to hunt big game in Oregon, I highly recommend Upfront Outfitters. My brother and I plan on going back for another hunt sometime. read more

Booking and payment was all very smooth. The team was very clear on logistics and plans for my spring turkey hunt. My guide (Bailey) was fully dedicated to getting me on to a bird. After the harvest he made sure all photos and processing of the bird was taken care of. Excellent experience. read more

Unforgettable mule deer hunt. Spent five days with a guide who is an incredible individual and got to share great stories and laughs I had opportunity on multiple quality bucks. Ended up with trophy 4x4 every bit of what I had hoped for ! read more

I had an amazing 3-day turkey hunt! the guides were super knowledgeable and hardworking, always putting me in great opportunities. It was an action packed 3 day and could not recommend this outfitter more!! read more

If you need a good guide service Upfront Outfitter Is the way to go. Bailey my guide worked hard both days to put me on a turkey. I will definitely use them again they make it such a personal experience. read more