Meet the Cowboys & Cowgirls

Whether you are looking for a self-reliant hunt or fully-guided experience, our goal at River's Bend Outfitters is to provide you with a memorable experience. Our team collectively represent over 190 years of professional experience passed down through the generations. With expertise in firearm, bow, rod and reel, our team can provide instruction and guidance for all skill levels.

Tel Gates, Owner and Lead Guide

Tel is a 6th generation rancher and 2nd generation outfitter. He is a Meeker, CO native and knows the mountains inside and out. He packed in his first camp by himself at just 10 years old, started guiding at 15 years old, and has been doing it ever since. Tel is the owner of River’s Bend Outfitters and has grown the business to 15 permit camps and 110 horses.

Kip Gates, Founder & Lead Guide

Kip is a 5th generation cattle rancher and founder of River's Bend Outfitters, est. 1976. He leads hunts out of the Burns, CO hunting location during rifle season. When Kip isn’t guiding on the Gates Ranch, you can find him competing in team roping in Arizona. Fun fact: he holds the record for most horses on a pack string at 16 horses!

Ashlie Gates, Business Operations & Chef Extraordinaire

Ashlie is a Colorado native and wife to Tel. She handles all of RBO’s bookings and day-to-day operations. She also brings tent cuisine to a new level with homemade dishes like pesto pasta, pork tenderloin, meatloaf, and warm ginger snap cookies. Ashlie’s first date with Tel was packing out a bull elk, which clearly worked because she’s been a part of River’s Bend Outfitters ever since!

Captain Travis - “Capi," Guide & Cook Tent Boss

Capi has worked with River’s Bend since 2004. He is a guide for the archery seasons with a great sense of the mountain and elk. If he isn’t with the hunters, he’s probably got his chef hat on, pourin’ himself a whiskey and meal prepping in the cook tent for our guided camps. Capi lives in the Florida Keys with his wife as a fishing boat captain. 

Daniel “Dan O”., Guide

Dan O has been working with River’s Bend Outfitters since 1991. He is a guide for both archery and rifle seasons at the Meeker hunting location. Dan has a fluent knowledge for the mountain and the camps. He is originally from Pennsylvania and moved to Meeker full-time with his wife in 2018.