LKS Outfitters, LLC dba Flat Tops Wilderness Guides, Horn Fork Guides, Rivers Bend Outfitters, Jimmy Oswald

LKS Outfitters stands as Colorado’s largest public land outfitter, operating a massive network of wilderness territories that include over one million acres for mountain lion hunting alone. The company is an umbrella for several of the state’s most historic outfits—Flat Tops Wilderness Guides, Horn Fork Guides, Pack String Outfitters, and River’s Bend Outfitters. This vast footprint allows them to offer hunts in seven different elk and deer units, nine bighorn sheep units, and five mountain goat units. Their operations span five distinct wilderness areas, including the Flat Tops, Collegiate Peaks, Buffalo Peaks, Eagles Nest, and Mount Massive Wilderness Areas.

The hunting experience with LKS is defined by its scale and “old-school” wilderness logistics; the company maintains a string of over 120 horses and mules to service 44 remote wilderness camps. Because they operate in such diverse terrain, they can accommodate everything from “double black diamond” backpack hunts for bighorn sheep in the Gore Range to horse-supported lodge hunts in the Flat Tops. For elk and mule deer, they specialize in both fully guided wall-tent expeditions and DIY drop camps, primarily focused on Game Management Units 24, 25, 48, 49, 56, 57, and 481. Their bighorn sheep and mountain goat programs are particularly elite, often assisting raffle tag winners and high-point holders in harvesting world-class rams.

Beyond the fall harvest, LKS Outfitters is a major provider of backcountry summer recreation. They lead multi-day summer pack trips, wilderness fishing expeditions, and scenic horseback rides that allow non-hunters to experience the same pristine landscapes. Despite the massive size of the operation, Jimmy Oswald maintains a high level of technical oversight, ensuring that every camp—whether it’s a 4-hour ride into the Flat Tops or a high-alpine goat camp—is staffed by experienced horsemen and survivalists. Their unique ability to guide nearly every big game species in Colorado (except desert bighorns) makes them a one-stop-shop for serious sportsmen targeting the state’s most iconic wildlife.