Meet Your Pennsylvania Elk Guide Team
Drawing a 2026 Pennsylvania elk tag can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
PA Backcountry Outfitters is a Pennsylvania elk outfitter and guide service
bringing together experienced Pennsylvania elk guides, successful elk hunters
and lifelong outdoorsmen with the preparation and local knowledge needed to
help make that opportunity count.
PA Backcountry Outfitters can guide hunters throughout Pennsylvania elk country
based on the zone awarded to the hunter. Our team develops each hunt around the
specific tag, season, hunt zone and conditions involved.
Pennsylvania Game Commission Commercial Elk Guide Permit
PA Backcountry Outfitters operates under a Pennsylvania Game Commission
Commercial Elk Guide Special Permit issued to owner Matthew A. Lutz for
commercial elk guiding in Pennsylvania.
The permit identifies Back Country Outfitters as the business and elk as the
authorized species, providing hunters with a clear, documented professional
guiding credential.
Dean Carper
Senior Pennsylvania Elk Guide
Dean Carper is the senior guide on the PA Backcountry Outfitters team and
has been professionally guiding Pennsylvania elk hunters since 2010.
During his guiding career, Dean has been involved in approximately 45
successful Pennsylvania elk hunts. His experience includes scouting,
locating elk, reading elk behavior, judging mature bulls and helping hunters
navigate Pennsylvania elk country.
- Professionally guiding Pennsylvania elk since 2010
- Experience on approximately 45 successful Pennsylvania elk hunts
- Particularly strong knowledge of Pennsylvania elk zones 306, 307 and
308
- Experienced in elk scouting and mature bull judging
- Experience guiding successful record-book Pennsylvania elk hunts
- Experienced Western big-game hunter
His outdoor background also includes shed hunting, turkey hunting,
coyote hunting and fishing.
Dean Carper's Pennsylvania Elk Guiding History
Dean Carper began professionally guiding Pennsylvania elk hunters in 2010.
From 2010 through 2025, Dean guided with Trophy Rack Lodge,
building extensive firsthand experience in Pennsylvania elk country before
joining PA Backcountry Outfitters as Senior Guide.
Over that period and throughout his professional guiding career, Dean has been
involved in approximately 45 successful Pennsylvania elk hunts.
His work has included preseason scouting, locating elk, evaluating mature bulls,
tracking, recovery and helping hunters navigate the challenges of Pennsylvania
elk hunting.
Although PA Backcountry Outfitters can guide hunters throughout Pennsylvania
elk country based on the zone awarded, Dean has particularly strong experience
and local knowledge in Pennsylvania elk zones 306, 307 and 308.
He has spent years developing knowledge of elk movement, habitat, access and
hunting conditions within those areas.
Through his years guiding Pennsylvania elk hunters, Dean has developed strong
working relationships with landowners and Pennsylvania Game Commission personnel
throughout Pennsylvania elk country. PA Backcountry Outfitters also supports the
Keystone Elk Country Alliance and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
His professional guiding history has also been documented through successful
Pennsylvania elk hunts covered by outside hunting publications and news sources,
providing a long-standing record of his experience before his current role with
PA Backcountry Outfitters.
Matt Lutz
Owner / Pennsylvania Elk Guide
Matt Lutz is an owner of PA Backcountry Outfitters and brings approximately
10 years of Pennsylvania elk guiding experience to the team.
Matt has been involved in approximately 30 successful bull and cow elk harvests
and has developed strong knowledge of Pennsylvania elk zones, elk behavior,
preseason scouting and judging mature bulls.
- Approximately 10 years of Pennsylvania elk guiding experience
- Involved in approximately 30 successful bull and cow elk harvests
- Guided David Kammerdiener's 2022 Dagger Bull hunt
- Knowledge of Pennsylvania elk zones and elk judging
- Experienced archery hunter and outdoorsman
Matt helps lead PA Backcountry Outfitters alongside Madyson Carper and
works directly with hunters in preparation for their Pennsylvania elk hunt.
Madyson Carper
Owner / Pennsylvania Elk Guide
Madyson Carper is an owner of PA Backcountry Outfitters and plays an
important role both in the field and behind the scenes for the hunters
who come to camp.
Madyson is an archery hunter and outdoorswoman who has participated in
multiple guided bull and cow elk hunts.
- Owner of PA Backcountry Outfitters
- Female Pennsylvania elk guide
- Experienced archery hunter
- Experience on guided bull and cow elk hunts
- Elk shed hunter
- Hunter coordination, lodging and meals
Together with her fiance and fellow owner Matt Lutz, Madyson helps make
sure hunters are taken care of before, during and after their Pennsylvania
elk hunting experience.
Clinton Craft
Guide / Hunter / Fisherman / Trapper
Clinton Craft brings more than four decades of outdoor experience to
PA Backcountry Outfitters.
With 44 years of hunting, fishing and trapping experience, Clinton has
pursued big game across the United States and Canada and brings a wide
range of field experience to the guide team.
- 44 years of hunting, fishing and trapping experience
- Big-game hunting experience in 10 states
- Successful big-game hunting experience in Canada
- Experienced hunter, fisherman and trapper
- Committed to safe and successful hunts
His experience across different terrain, game species and hunting
conditions adds another layer of depth to the PA Backcountry Outfitters team.
Dylan Craft
Guide / Elk Hunter / Outdoorsman
Dylan Craft brings firsthand Pennsylvania elk hunting experience to the
PA Backcountry Outfitters guide team.
As a previous Pennsylvania bull elk tag holder, Dylan successfully harvested
his own Pennsylvania bull and understands exactly what a rare opportunity
a Pennsylvania elk tag can represent.
- Previous Pennsylvania-drawn bull elk hunter
- Successfully harvested a Pennsylvania bull elk
- Extensive hunting and fishing background
- Experienced Western big-game hunter
- Hunting experience throughout the country
That firsthand experience gives Dylan a unique perspective when helping
another hunter prepare for and experience their own Pennsylvania elk hunt.
Alan Gruver
Pennsylvania Elk Guide / Elk Hunter / Outdoorsman
Alan Gruver brings firsthand Pennsylvania elk hunting experience to the
PA Backcountry Outfitters guide team.
As a previous Pennsylvania bull elk tag holder, Alan successfully harvested
his own Pennsylvania bull and understands the preparation, pressure and
opportunity that come with drawing a Pennsylvania elk tag.
In September 2026, Alan guided archery hunter Donald Saum to a successful
cow elk harvest in Pennsylvania Elk Hunt Zone 308. The hunt marked the first
official elk harvest for PA Backcountry Outfitters and Alan's first successful
harvest during his first season guiding with the team.
- Previous Pennsylvania-drawn bull elk hunter
- Successfully harvested a Pennsylvania bull elk
- Firsthand Pennsylvania elk hunting experience
- Experienced outdoorsman and big-game hunter
- Focused on helping hunters make the most of their Pennsylvania elk opportunity
- Guided PA Backcountry Outfitters' first official elk harvest in 2026
That firsthand experience gives Alan a valuable perspective when helping
another hunter prepare for and experience a Pennsylvania elk hunt.
Kenny Myers
Pennsylvania Elk Guide / Big-Game Hunter / Outdoorsman
Kenny Myers brings multiple years of elk guiding experience and a broad
big-game hunting background to the PA Backcountry Outfitters guide team.
His experience includes elk hunting and guiding, successful elk harvests
and time spent hunting big game in different parts of the country.
- Multiple years of elk guiding experience
- Experience with successful elk harvests
- Knowledge of Pennsylvania elk country and hunt zones
- Experienced big-game hunter
- Broad hunting experience in different terrain and conditions
Kenny adds another experienced elk hunter and guide to a team built around
preparation, local knowledge and helping Pennsylvania elk hunters make the
most of a rare opportunity.
A Pennsylvania Elk Hunt Deserves an Experienced Team
A Pennsylvania elk tag can represent years of applications and a
once-in-a-lifetime hunting opportunity. PA Backcountry Outfitters combines
professional elk guiding experience, firsthand Pennsylvania elk hunting
success, preseason scouting, local knowledge, elk judging and decades of
outdoor experience to help hunters make the most of that opportunity.
Our guide service is available throughout Pennsylvania elk country based on
the zone awarded to each hunter, with particularly strong guide experience
and local knowledge in zones 306, 307 and 308.
