Code of the West Outfitters, LLC, Joe Wood

Code of the West Outfitters is a full-time professional guide service specializing in backcountry hunting and equine education within the White River and Routt National Forests. Based in Meeker, Colorado, the outfitter operates primarily in Game Management Units 12 and 24, areas renowned for their robust elk populations and significant seasonal migrations. While Joe and his team pursue Elk, Mule Deer, Bear, and Moose, they are particularly noted for their expertise in tracking Mountain Lions across the rugged canyons of the region.

The operation offers a range of traditional wilderness hunting packages designed for both guided and self-sufficient sportsmen:

• Fully Guided Tent Camps: These 7-day all-inclusive packages (including 5 hunting days) feature 2-on-1 guiding and comfortable wall-tent accommodations. To ensure a personalized atmosphere, these camps are strictly limited to six hunters at a time, with dedicated camp cooks providing home-style meals.
• Wilderness Drop Camps: Targeted at independent hunters, these 7-day packages involve an 8-to-10 mile horseback ride into remote basins. The outfitter provides all necessary camp gear, including tents, stoves, and firewood, and handles the pack-in and pack-out of hunters and their harvested game.
• Mountain Lion Specialist Hunts: In partnership with Jared Wood’s Hound Town Enterprises, the outfit offers specialized lion hunts utilizing a team of professionally trained hounds to track predators through the winter snow.

Beyond the hunt, Code of the West is a center for backcountry education. Joe Wood offers 7-day customized courses in their Guide School, teaching essential skills such as equine riding, wilderness survival, Dutch oven cooking, and pack stock management. During the summer, they also provide scenic Pack Trips and fishing tours, allowing families and outdoor enthusiasts to experience the White River National Forest without the pressure of a harvest. Whether leading a hunter to a bugling bull or teaching a new student how to throw a diamond hitch, Joe Wood and his family maintain a tradition of excellence rooted in the rugged heart of the Colorado Rockies.