Colorado Hunter 2008 by Steamboat Pilot & Today

HUNTER ER 2008 EDITION | A COMPLETE HUNTING GUIDE FOR NORTHWEST COLORADO | FREE

Colorado

On the Hunt

Local hunters recount tales of triumph

Gearing Up This year’s latest and greatest upgrades and innovations, Page 22

Highlights from the Harvest

Ready for the Wild A few survival items can make all the difference

41 Ranks No.

In the

Craig listed 41st among top destinations for outdoorsmen

‘The Last Tracks In’ Catching up with a Northwest Colorado classic outﬁtter

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1,700 +/- acres 2.5 +/- Mile of Yampa River Frontage Abundant Senior Water Rights Excellent Livestock Handling Facilities Extensive Improvements

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385 Acres Adjacent To Flattops Bordered On Three Sides By U.S.F.S. Abundant Water Rights Historical and Updated Improvements

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Fall 2008 | COLORADO HUNTER

Welcome

To our neck of the woods

Bryce Jacobson Publisher, Craig Daily Press 466 Yampa Ave. Craig, CO 81625 970-824-7031

Bryna Larsen Publisher, Steamboat Pilot & Today 1901 Curve Plaza Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 970-879-1502

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elcome to “Colorado Hunter,” a magazine for those who choose to hunt big game in Northwest

Colorado. We’ve chosen to make Northwest Colorado our home. We live and work here because of the gorgeous landscapes, friendly people and the history that makes the Old West unique. This area offers limitless recreational opportunities in all seasons. But the autumn holds a special place for us, when we welcome thousands of hunters from across the country to enjoy our spectacular wildlife and one of the largest elk herds in the nation. We know ﬁlling your tag is going to be a challenge. But, because Northwest Colorado’s backcountry is easily accessible, and in many cases, the terrain is accommodating for our visitors from lower elevations, we hope you are successful in ﬁnding the elk and in getting a shot. Most importantly, this area provides you, your family and friends the perfect setting

for creating lifelong memories. The story of a good hunt — whether you make the kill or not — as well as the camaraderie shared around the campﬁre, are what make hunting special. We hope you’ll agree that Northwest Colorado offers the ideal backdrop to make those memories. There really is something for everyone in this magazine — from novice hunters to pros and from the ﬁrst-time visitor to those who have enjoyed Northwest Colorado’s beauty and game for decades. In these pages, we give you the nuts and bolts of what, where and when to hunt while also offering you a glimpse into the newest technology on the market and tips on making each hunting trip the best one yet. We’ll also show you why Northwest Colorado offers some of the premier hunting in the nation and why hunters in the know return here year after year. We hope you enjoy “Colorado Hunter” and your visit to our neck of the woods. We’re happy to have you here.

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What’s inside Welcome Season dates and fees Great hunting areas Word on the herd A ﬁrst for everything Harvest highlights Gearing up with latest trends On the Hunt — Call Mountain wild pigs On the Hunt — Turkey hunt on Little Goose On the Hunt — Following the dream On the Hunt — Approaching dawn On the Hunt — The elusive Shiras moose CWD still a hunters’ concern Quality ﬁshing to be had Bow hunting a throwback to the old days Preparing for the wild

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Colorado Hunter

GMU information What to do after the hunt Hunting a family affair Craig among top locations for outdoorsmen Program offers access to private lands Buckskin Network off the air The economics of tourism Catching up with a classic outfitter Region offers slew of other species options Area directories With regulations, not much has changed Rifle: The weapon of choice Effective shopping for effective eating A final checklist before heading out Easy recipes for easy flavor

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is a joint publication of the Steamboat Pilot & Today and the Craig Daily Press.

466 Yampa Avenue Craig, Colo. 81625 970-824-7031

P.O. Box 774827 1901 Curve Plaza Steamboat Springs, Colo. 80477 970-871-4202

Photo: Wes Uncapher Cover photo: Wes Uncapher

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Season dates and fees 2008 Colorado Division of Wildlife big game hunting season dates ARCHERY Deer/elk (west of Interstate 25 and Unit 140): Aug. 30 to Sept. 28 Pronghorn: bucks only Aug. 15 to 31; either sex Sept. 1 to 20 Moose: Sept. 6 to 28 Black bear (unlimited with cap): Sept. 2 to 28 MUZZLE-LOADING RIFLE (by draw only) Deer/elk/moose: Sept. 13 to 21 Pronghorn (either sex): Oct. 21 to 29 Black bear (unlimited with cap): Sept. 13 to 21 RIFLE COMBINED DEER/ELK Separate limited elk (ﬁrst season): Oct. 11 to 15 Combined deer/elk (second season): Oct. 18 to 26 Combined deer/elk (third season): Nov. 1 to 7 Combined limited deer/elk (fourth season): Nov. 12 to 16 RIFLE PRONGHORN (by draw only) Oct. 4 to 10 RIFLE MOOSE Oct. 1 to 9 RIFLE BLACK BEAR (unlimited w/cap) Concurrent with deer/elk riﬂe seasons. To participate in unlimited bear season, a hunter also must hold a deer or elk license for the same unit(s), season and manner of take.

2008 Colorado Division of Wildlife fees

($5 Habitat Stamp required on every license) Species Resident Nonresident Elk (cow) $46 $251 Elk (bull or either sex) $46 $526 Deer (buck or doe) $31 $316 Pronghorn (buck or doe) $31 $316 Bear $41 $251 Moose $251 $1,761 Mountain lion $41 $251 Youth big game $10.75 $100.75 Mountain goat $251 $1,761 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep $251 $1,761 Desert bighorn sheep $251 N/A Combination small game & ﬁshing$41 N/A Fishing (annual, 16 and older) $26 $56 Fishing (5-day) N/A $21 Fishing (1-day) $9 $9

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources 2008 big game hunting dates

General archery deer: Aug. 16 to Sept. 12 General muzzle-loader deer: Sept. 24 to Oct. 2 General any weapon deer (Northern, Central and Northeastern Regions): Oct. 18 to 26

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General any weapon deer (Southern and Southeastern Regions): Oct. 18 to 22 Buck/bull combination (Northern Region): Oct. 4 to 16 General archery any bull elk: Aug. 16 to Sept. 12 General archery spike elk: Aug 16 to Sept. 7 General season spike bull elk: Oct. 4 to 16 General season any bull elk: Oct. 4 to 16 General muzzle-loader elk: Oct. 30 to Nov.7 Youth general any bull elk: Sept. 13 to 23 Youth late season any bull elk: Nov. 15 to 25 Note: Before you can apply for a Utah big game permit, you must possess a valid Utah Hunting or Combination License. Call 800-221-0659 to do this over the phone. Official drawing application dates for 2009 permits (residents and nonresidents) will be posted by the end of the year (Deadlines typically fall prior to the end of January). — Limited entry permits leftover from the big game drawing as well as general elk and deer permits and remaining antler-less permits have been on sale since early June on a first-come, first-served basis. Check http://wildlife.utah.gov to purchase or click on “Hunting,” then “Big game,” to check availability or contact the division’s Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources 2008 permit fees

Hunting license: $26 ($11 if 14 or younger) resident, $65 nonresident

Wyoming Game and Fish Department 2008 big game hunting season dates

Visit http://gf.state.wy.us/admin/Regs/ for a complete list of season descriptions categorized for each species according to separate dates for each area, hunt type and speciﬁc quota limitations.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department 2008 big game license fees

Resident ($5) and nonresident ($14) application fees apply Species Resident Nonresident Deer $38 $312 Deer (doe/fawn) $22 $34 Elk $52 $577 Elk (cow/calf) $43 $288 Antelope $33 $272 Antelope (doe/fawn) $22 $34 Moose $112 $1,402 Bison $402 $2,502 $6 Bison application fee Bighorn sheep $117 $2,252 Black bear $45 $362 Mountain goat $122 $2,152 Mountain lion $30 $362

Input on the seasons

Species Resident Nonresident Deer (general archery, general any weapon, general muzzle-loader) $35 $263 Deer (premium limited entry and premium Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit) $163 $563 Deer (limited entry) $75 $463 Deer (CWMU) $35 $263 Deer (buck/bull combination) $80 $651 Elk (general archery, any bull, spike bull, muzzle-loader any bull, muzzle-loader spike bull or youth any bull) $45 $388 Elk (premium limited entry) $508 $1,500 Elk (CWMU, limited entry and management bull elk) $280 $795 Pronghorn (CWMU and limited entry) $50 $288 Moose (bull moose, CWMU bull moose) $408 $1,513 Bison (Henry Mountains) $408 $1,513 Bison (Antelope Island) $1,105 $2,610 Bighorn sheep (Desert bighorn, Rocky Mountain bighorn) $508 $1,513 Rocky Mountain goat $408 $1,513

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is requesting public comment and feedback to help determine the five-year Big Game Season Structure for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear and moose. Every five years, the Colorado Wildlife Commission (an 11-member board appointed by the governor) adopts an overall framework for annual hunting regulations. This five-year structure addresses the timing and length of hunting seasons, legal hunting methods, the general proportion of licenses that will be limited or unlimited and the balance among different kinds of hunting opportunities. The current structure ends in 2009, and this five-year cycle will determine guidelines for the 2010-14 seasons. Check the DOW Web site at http://wildlife.state. co.us for updated information, upcoming meetings and participation opportunities regarding this process. Suggestions and comments can be mailed to, “Big Game Season Structure c/o Public Involvement Section, 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216,” or e-mailed to wildlife.bgss@state.co.us

All nonresident big game permits also serve as nonresident ﬁshing licenses Combination license: $30 resident, $80 nonresident

The DOW is conducting movement study on local elk herds. If you harvest an elk marked with a red Allﬂex ear tag, the DOW asks that you report the location of the harvest to the nearest division ofﬁce.

Radio alert

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Fall 2008 | COLORADO HUNTER | 9 ��

Great hunting areas TERRY CARWILE ❘ Colorado Hunter The big game hunting season soon will be upon us. Bow hunters, muzzle-loaders and hunters preferring modern ﬁrearms will advance on the Northwest Colorado landscape. During 12 big-game seasons in 2008 (not counting bear), the population of our region will swell by thousands. This increase is fueled by one thing — the prospect of a successful hunt. Deer, elk and antelope live here in numbers not seen in other parts of the country. Add to that large tracts of public land — both national forest and BLM with reasonable access — and we have a recipe for success that’s hard to match.

‘Quakie Knob’

Many years of hunting in this part of the country have resulted in my preference for western Moffat County. I spent a few years hunting the Elkhead Range and enjoyed some success. I like an area we call the “Quakie Knob,” about a mile north of Freeman Reservoir. The Bears Ears pack trail borders it on the east side. A person can hike for about three-quarters of a mile from the Freeman Reservoir campground to the northeast and hit the pack trail. Once on the trail, it’s just a short hike north to a saddle formed by Black Mountain to the east and the “Quakie Knob” to the west. The so-called knob is actually a small aspencovered hill that makes a good landmark. Hike a little farther, a half-mile or so, and the pack trail crosses the south fork of Fortiﬁcation Creek. Another short distance to the north is the north fork of Fortiﬁcation Creek. Both of these drainages consistently produce elk.

Cross Mountain

My favorite area is Cross Mountain west of Maybell. The east side of the mountain, between the Yampa River and Moffat County Road 10, has produced many ﬁne days in the ﬁeld. I like it because it can be scanned with binoculars well and access is good along the base of

the mountain. Cross Mountain is a Wilderness Study Area, and the boundary is along its base. Motorized travel is prohibited inside the boundary, but it’s OK to drive the four-wheeler or pickup on the marked BLM trail outside the boundary. I know how tough it can be to get a deer or elk carcass off Cross Mountain, but if a hunter exercises a little restraint and a little care, it’s not too difﬁcult to get a ﬁeld-dressed animal to a vehicle.

Great Divide

For those with antelope tags, the Great Divide area is where most people prefer to hunt. Great Divide generally describes the western portion of Game Management Unit 3. Again, there’s a lot of public land with good access and the animals are easy to see (binoculars or a spotting scope are important here). I’d suggest heading northwest from Maybell on Colorado Highway 318. When you hit the Snake River, turn right on Moffat County Road 21. Heading northeast along the river, a number of marked BLM trails branch off the county road. Any of those could have the buck you want. The harvest numbers and success rates in GMU 3 are remarkable. Great Divide sees a fair amount of pressure though, and gas and oil exploration is on the increase. Firearm safety, always important, should be emphasized even more. — Carwile is the sportsman information ofﬁcer for the Craig Chamber of Commerce

Other hot spots

Longtime Northwest Colorado hunter Ned Miller shares a few of his favorite spots across the region:

South Fork of Hog Park Creek (Jackson County)

You can reach South Fork from Columbine, north of

Steamboat Lake, turning east on Forest Development Road 550 then east on FDR 500 through Big Red Park across King Solomon Creek and north to the Continental Divide where you come to FDR 499. Keep in mind that everything east of FDR 499 is within the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area boundary, so your hunt would be north and west of 499. Here, the Continental Divide separates GMUs 5 and 161, so again, be on your toes about your boundaries. This area is best during the early riﬂe seasons.

Wilson Mesa (Rio Blanco County)

This is probably the best-kept secret spot anywhere in Colorado. There is timber, feed, water and privacy with very little hunting pressure as it’s a difﬁcult area to get into, even on foot or horseback. The easiest way in is up to the Morapos Campground then to walk east across both forks of Morapos Creek, then turn north along a fence line that goes up the mountain for a very steep climb. Probably the ﬁrst time you try this you would want to do it during daylight. You will cross a smaller east-west drainage about halfway up and when you reach the top, you need to start your hunt to the northeast and east along the rim. You probably will want to have owned or rented horses available to pack out your elk. If you pack it out on your back you will need to make six to eight trips or more, and then you might never want to do it again.

Trail Creek (Routt County)

This fantastic spot is a true “ooh and aah” place with heavy timber on the east and west and Trail Creek running north to south down the middle of a long meadow. I’ve had elk walk right through my camp and cross the creek to graze for hours in plain sight. This whole watershed was hurt badly by the Routt Divide Blowdown a few years ago. The jeep road up the west side of the north fork of Elk River was closed because of the downed timber and access to Diamond Park is by Lost Dog Creek Road that now connects to the old jeep road at Trail Creek. As the elevation is more than 9,000 feet, you would need to hunt this area during one of the earlier seasons because of heavy snows. I would recommend camping in Diamond Park and hiking or ATVing north for your hunt along the old jeep road.

Photo: Wes Uncapher

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Word on the herd Elk and deer herds still healthy despite atypical winter

DAVE SHIVELY ❘ Colorado Hunter

lthough the massive snow banks marking one of the longest Northwest Colorado winters in memory have melted away, the million-dollar question remains: What impact did the 2007-08 winter have on the region’s high-quality cache of thriving deer and elk herds? The 2007 season left big game hunters and outfitters scratching their heads. Unseasonably high temperatures and mild conditions into the third and fourth rifle seasons halted typical elk migrations out of the high country. “In the third rifle season the elk were still up high,” said Steamboat Lake Outfitters outfitting director Russ Lambert. “I was still seeing bulls at 12,000 feet. Normally you’re up to your hip in snow by then, but we were running dry ground. The harvest rates were not as good.” When the snow finally arrived, it hit hard across the region with severe and sustained winter conditions following the deer and elk rifle seasons, eventually leading to snowfall records at the Steamboat Ski Area and snowstorms occurring into early June. Although the weather was irregular from recent winters, it didn’t have much of an impact on the overall number of elk.

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The Colorado Division of Wildlife’s updated elk herd population estimates are based on the 2007 harvest and the division’s January survey ﬂights of the region. The DOW’s most recent analysis of the Bears Ears herd, which occupies an area from the Wyoming line south to U.S. Highway 40 between Steamboat Springs and Craig (this includes Game Management Units 3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301 and 441) projects a current population of between 24,000 and 26,000 animals, with an extraordinary bull-to-cow ratio of 34-to-100. This estimate is roughly double the DOW’s objective of 11,000 to 15,000 animals with a 20-100 to 25-100 ratio. The White River elk herd, North America’s largest, is estimated at 33,368 (down from 39,020), but with a healthy 22-100 bull-to-cow ratio and right in the DOW’s objective range. The White River herd territory stretches south of U.S. 40 in an area bounded by Meeker, Riﬂe and Glenwood Springs and includes GMUs 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 211, 131 and 231. “Elk are designed for the bitterest of winters — they’re hardy,” Lambert said. “Time will tell. I suspect the younger bulls, the 2 1/2-year-olds, took it harder than the mature ones. The old learn to conserve energy.”

Because winter kill occurs in the late winter (after their survey ﬂights), DOW spokesman Randy Hampton noted that the division will not have a full assessment on the mortality rates until next year. However, the 2007 elk harvest — the lowest statewide (49, 012) in nearly a decade — is just as big of a factor. “Just looking at it in general in terms of population,” Hampton said, “there’s higher winter mortality localized, but with a much lower hunter harvest, overall it’s zero gain.”

Deer still here

The deer in Northwest Colorado did not fare as well. Deer populations threatened by deep snow in nearby Gunnison and Eagle prompted the DOW to implement feeding programs last winter. Although these measures were not necessary for the Northwest Colorado herds that migrate from the Upper Yampa high country west to Moffat County and south to the Flat Tops-White River area, the numbers still were fairly dramatic. Jeff Yost, a terrestrial biologist with the DOW, cited the similar results from separate survival studies done out of the DOW’s Hot Sulphur Springs and Meeker ofﬁces on

migratory herds of radio-collared deer as a guideline for regional survival rates. While average statewide doe survival is about 83 percent and remained so in Middle Park (85 percent for the Meeker area’s White River herd), fawn survival, which is usually 73 percent, dropped to 32.5 percent in Middle Park and about 30 percent in Meeker. “The bottom line is that when they come out in the fall, they’ll be similar numbers of adult deer, but fewer yearlings, fewer two-point bucks,” Yost said. “Starting in ’09 and 2010 is when you’d get out and not see mature bucks because of that age class — especially if there’s a couple of hard winters in a row.” Still, deer populations have been rebounding since the heavy winters in the 1980s as the DOW later moved away from an over-the-counter to a draw system with leftovers (leftovers go on sale Aug. 12, with an updated list posted at www. wildlife.state.co.us/hunting/biggame). In fact, the White River, North Park and Bears Ears deer herds’ estimated populations all exceed the DOW’s objectives. Only the Middle Park herd is under objective.

The beneficial flip side to the winter weather also must be considered. “That extra moisture means the habitat is in good condition with lots of vegetative growth,” Yost said. “It gives the deer and antelope ample food and hiding cover that can make up for previous years.” Boyd J. Tallent, owner of Craig-based Yampa Valley Outfitters, is excited about the prospect of antler growth from the quality forage conditions. “I think we had some kills — and that worries folks,” Tallent said, “But sometimes you think it’s a big kill and the animals show up. With record snow, only the strong survive. They’ll be some mature bucks with good bone structure.” The late winter also gave the animals a little extra time to put on weight before the hardest weather hit. “I saw a lot of good leftovers in the fourth season,” Tallent added, “and it those survived, it will be excellent buck hunting this year.”

File Photo

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Keeping the pests away Permethrin, DEET provide ways to bugproof for outdoors RAY SASSER | The Dallas Morning News

he state park where I get my daily exercise is starting to get crowded on weekends as more visitors come to enjoy the weather. It’s still cool at night but warm during the day, perfect for camping. It’s also perfect for hiking, biking, birding, ﬁshing and most other pursuits that put humans in proximity to biting insects. The risks from bugs such as ticks, chiggers and mosquitoes are a lot worse than when I was a kid. The bugs don’t seem to be more plentiful, but the diseases they pass on are a growing concern. Everything from Lyme disease to West Nile virus can be passed from insects to humans. As an avid hunter, I’ve learned to use a chemical barrier to make myself bugproof. Turkey hunters are particularly susceptible to bugs because we sit down in the very cover that harbors

ticks and chiggers, and we try to stay as still as possible while mosquitoes buzz around, looking for an opening. There have been lots of ecofriendly products touted as insect repellents in the last 10 years. I’ve tried several to no avail. Some people possess a body chemistry that’s particularly attractive to insects, and I happen to be one of those unfortunate bug magnets. Added to that disquieting fact is a skin allergy that makes me itchy when bitten, so you can bet that I do whatever is necessary to keep bugs away. What works for me are two products developed by the military.

First, let’s talk about permethrin because that’s the newest bug barrier and it’s the one I still get a lot of questions about. A fair percentage of the outdoors public still doesn’t know about permethrin. It’s the product used in upscale clothing like Buzz Off, though you can also buy permethrin in an aerosol can and treat clothes you already own. Permethrin is an insecticide and should not be applied to skin. Instead, you saturate your clothes with the product and allow them to dry. I put it on my shirts, pants and socks. Since I started using permethrin at least 15 years ago, not a single tick has penetrated the barrier and imbedded itself in my hide.

Chiggers are no longer a factor. You can ﬁnd this product in just about any sporting goods store and many stores that sell insect repellent. The last two brands I bought were Repel Permanone and Sawyer. Just read the label to make sure the active ingredient is permethrin and follow the directions. Whereas permethrin makes your clothes bugproof, DEET is applied to your skin. DEET is diethyl-meta-toluamide, and scientists are still not sure how it repels mosquitoes. It apparently confuses their receptors so the bugs wind up in a stupor. It takes mosquitoes awhile to shake off the effect of coming into close contact with DEET. DEET is the active ingredient in many commercial insect repellents. You should always read the label and follow the directions. Combine permethrin on your clothes with DEET on exposed skin and you’re bugproof as far as ticks, chiggers and mosquitoes are concerned.

Photo: Wes Uncapher

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Blind hunter overcomes disability to bag antelope

MICHAEL PERETTI | The Gallup Independent

fter the tragic accident in 2004, Mike Sanders never thought he would be able to do the things he loved. Burned over 80 percent of his body, blinded in both eyes, without a left hand and hospitalized for over a year-and-a half following an area ﬁre and explosion, his life seemed to him to be over. But now, thanks to the support from his closest friends and his own personal perseverance, he recently did something that he never thought he would do again. On Aug. 1, Sanders shot an antelope while on his ﬁrst hunting trip since the accident. “I thought that I was going to lay around the house and never do anything again,” Sand-

ers said. Sanders, who lives in Jamestown, N.M., was an avid hunter before he was disabled. He said he was recently encouraged by a friend to try hunting again. With the help of special equipment, it was made possible. Mike Sanders, along with his wife, Michelle, and his friend, Joe Chepin, made the trip to the Double H Ranch west of Socorro, N.M. About 10 miles east of the ranch, the group spotted a group of antelope. After two missed shots, he hit one from about 200 yards away with a .308 caliber riﬂe. “I loved it,” he said. “I think it’s great,” Chepin said. “For a blind man to do something like that is great.” Using special equipment attached to the riﬂe, Chepin and Michelle helped Mike line up the shot.

“I think it was amazing,” Michelle said. “I never thought he would ever be able to hunt again, or even handle a firearm.” Michelle said the hunt was her first time hunting. She said that at first it seemed frightening that her husband would want to try hunting again. “It is kind of scary because it is a blind person, but he has it in his head that he knows what he is doing,” she said. Mike said that reloading is one of the hardest parts since he has only one hand. He was ambidextrous before the accident and was used to using his left hand more than his right before he lost the hand. But he said it was easy getting used to using his right hand and he now uses it to pull the trigger. The only other challenge

was taking aim, Sanders said. “I didn’t know what I was pointing at, so you got to learn to trust other people,” he said. “They are my eyes.” Mike said he plans to keep hunting and is planning on going on a muzzle loader hunt for elk on Mount Taylor in early October. Later in the month he will go on a deer riﬂe hunt. “I intend to keep on hunting from this point on,” he said. The main message Mike would like to relay to people is that no matter how bad a situation is, there is technology out there to help you do the things you love. “With good friends, and support, you don’t have to give up on your ambitions,” he said. “I hope that I can be an inspiration to people who think their life is over because of a catastrophic injury.”

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Craig resident Garrett Stewart shows off the fruits of his hunting labor. Courtesy Photo

A not so elusive ﬁrst kill 12-year-old gets first hunting license and shoots first deer

JOHN VANDELINDER ❘ Colorado Hunter

s a wet-behind-the-ears hunter at the ripe-old age of 8, Craig resident Garrett Stewart would tag along with his family, in an attempt to prepare for the opportunity to earn his first kill. There was something about hunting that played with Garrett’s mind. Being too young, he could track the animals, but he couldn’t shoot them. He could be a part of the hunting party, but he couldn’t celebrate his own accomplishments. So, he watched everyone else around him take down a prized buck, though he couldn’t get one of his own. Now, the smallest member of the Stewart clan is 12, and he’s making up for lost time. During the second rifle season of 2007, on a typical hunter’s Friday with a full moon on the horizon, in the haze of the sunset, Garrett got a glimpse. A glimpse of antlers rising from behind a hill. A glimpse of brown fur facing right at him. A glimpse of his first kill. “I was really nervous at first,” he said. “It’s harder to find them when it’s a full moon.” Garrett steadied his .270 rifle, took a deep breath and fired. “He dropped right away,” the 18 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

now-experienced hunter said. “One shot, one kill.” His first time. Todd Stewart — Garrett’s older brother — has been responsible for the wall mounting of several deer and elk, becoming somewhat of an envy of Garrett’s. But, he’s got his big brother beat on one thing — speed. “Todd didn’t have one (kill) his first two years,” he giggled and said. “I got one already, and I just got my license a few weeks ago. There’s no competition, but I got it first.” Garret’s bragging rights aren’t just limited to his house. At his school, many of his friends claim they have killed their fair share of prized game, but he has yet to see proof. Now Garrett has the proof to back up his claim. The photo shows a hefty 3-point Mule deer buck. His grin shows all the years of hard work, albeit there were only four of them. The confidence in his voice grew while telling what will surely be his most frequent tale for years to come. But yet, Garrett knows how fortunate he was to kill the soonto-be-mounted buck. He admits it takes that little bit of something extra. “Sometimes you get lucky,” he laughed and said. “Sometimes you don’t.”

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or 11 weeks last season, local area hunters submitted their best kills for the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s ongoing “Hunt of the Week” feature. Abbreviated submissions are as follows: Name, harvest date, measurement if applicable and weapon, area and quotable nutshell from hunt play-by-play.

Edward Watson 9/8, 6-by-6, 335 gross, 328 1/8 net (Pope and Young Club) with a Hoyt Compound Bow, near Green Creek.

“I looked through the timber into the ﬁeld and just saw antlers and a huge bull attached coming my way. … I took my backpack off and started dancing a jig (very quietly of course). … Great birthday hunt!”

We Know What You Need To Know!

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Cutting costs for the hunt RAY SASSER ❘ The Dallas Morning News

ou can’t pick up a newspaper or turn on a TV these days without hearing a dire economic prediction. These are stressful times for everyone, particularly for middle class sportsmen who own a $40,000 ﬁshing boat or pay several thousand dollars a year to go hunting on a lease 200 to 400 miles from home. Fuel costs are a major issue, but so is the cost of everything else, partly due to increased shipping expenses. Ammunition has risen steeply since last hunting season. Even the cost of shelled corn has skyrocketed as hunters compete with ethanol production. I’ve heard corn prices as high as $10 for a 50-pound bag. That’s double last year’s cost. Here are some tips on how to tighten your sporting belt: ■ Plan hunting and ﬁshing trips as soon as possible. Rather than travel to a hunting lease four long weekends a season, schedule vacation time to coincide with the peak hunting period for your favorite game species. If you’re deer hunting, try to match your hunting period to the peak of the rut, which varies from one area to the next. ■ Don’t drive to a hunt by yourself.

Carpool by loading up as many hunting companions as your vehicle will hold. Share gasoline and other expenses. Do the same with fishing trips. Every boat should have at least two anglers, and many boats are big enough for more. ■ When planning a fishing trip, concentrate on one small area of the lake where you’re confident of catching fish. If the fishing is slow, stick it out and wait for the fish to start biting, rather than cranking up the outboard for a 10-mile run. It’s hard to catch fish while moving at 50 mph. If you determine it’s necessary to move from one end of the lake to the next, load your boat on the trailer and drive it to a wellpositioned ramp. Even while towing a big boat, your truck or SUV gets better fuel mileage than the boat. ■ If you shoot a lot of shotgun shells, invest in reloading equipment, then buy shotshell components and reload your own ammo. You can save 40 percent or more on a box of shells. If you hunt with the same buddies all the time, pool your money, buy the equipment together, then make a social event out of getting together once a month to reload shells. ■ You can also save money reloading rifle cartridges, but most big game hunters

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don’t shoot enough to justify the expense of buying reloading equipment. Most riﬂemen who reload cartridges are more interested in accuracy than in monetary savings.

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GEARING UP

This year’s latest and greatest upgrades and innovations Sitka Celsius Jacket and Bibs Sitka unveils its new Celsius series this year with a simple equation: Less weight and more heat equals more meat. The extreme weather of the Alaskan city for which the company is named has clearly been kept in mind. “I wear it myself, it’s really light but keeps you warm like a down jacket,” saidAlan Nielsen, owner of Meeker’s Rocky Mountain Bowstrings. The water resistant/ breathable Celsius outer fabric packs increased high loft soft shell insulation in key body areas with an articulated cut to minimize bulk and maximize motion and heat retention.

Jacket, retail Camo $299 Bibs, retail Camo $249

Ruger 22 Charger LR Ruger answers the long-range, small-game challenge by offering a pistol version of the country’s most popular autoloading .22-caliber rimfire rifle — the 10/22 Carbine. The new Charger retains the reliable 10-shot rotary magazine with a precision-rifled barrel, weatherproof laminated stock and an adjustable bi-pod.

$322

22 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

Browning X-Bolt Hunter

Browning Citori Lightning

New additions to this incarnation of the bolt-action rifle’s time-tested design include a free-floating barrel machined from a solid block of forged steel; a lighter, lower-profile receiver; a bolt unlock button; and a detachable rotary magazine with a redesigned Satin-finish walnut stock.

This non-cataloged, limited-edition version of Browning’s classic overand-under Citori model presents the ﬁrst all-weather shotgun, complete with nickeled barrel and a high-pressure laminate Lightning stock. Not to mention the intricacies of the Citori’s machined receiver, tight lock-up and high-relief engraving. “Often, hunters are reluctant to take a high-grade shotgun aﬁeld in wet weather. This Citori laughs at bad weather,” said Ken Constantine, owner of Steamboat Springs’ Elk River Guns.

$739

$1,674

Zeiss Victory Diavari 3-12x56T The Germans just have a knack for the highest quality and performance products. A century and half of optics manufacturing has helped Zeiss create the Porsche of scopes, with 12X magniﬁcation and a huge 56mm objective that can illuminate and sharpen images in the worst light. “At ﬁrst daylight, that wider scope can help you identify whether that bull elk’s just a legal four-point or that seven-by-seven you’ve been looking for,” Constantine said. “It’s the ultimate in low-light performance.”

$2,179

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Benelli USA Ultra Light ��

This may be the only 6 pounds you’ll never want to drop. The leaner touches of a featherweight alloy receiver, shortened magazine tube and carbon ﬁber raised target rib highlight the lightest 12-guage auto-loading shotgun in production, weighing it at 6.0 pounds, but still boasting a satin walnut ﬁnish and Benelli’s simple and reliable Inertia Driven operating system. “If you’re pheasant hunting, you might walk 10 miles a day,” Constantine said. “If you don’t think cutting off a pound and a half counts, I invite you to try.”

$1,248

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PSE Archery X-Force HF ��

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PSE founder Pete Shepley calls the X-Force compound bow the “culmination of more than 35 years of design and testing.” The result is the fastest bow ever produced. At 4.1 pounds, the oversized design of the new Hybrid Fast (HF) Cam system produces 93 foot-pounds of kinetic energy. “It’s way faster, speed-wise than anything out there,” Nielsen said. “We’re talking 350 feet per second whereas everything else is 305 to 310.” Available in 50-, 60- and 70-pound draw weight options.

Retail $849.99 to $949.99

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Bushnell Elite 1500 ARC Sometimes gravity just sucks, especially when shooting up or down steep angles. “It’s the horizontal distance that counts,” Constantine said. Angle Range Compensation in this waterproof laser rangeﬁnder accounts for terrain angle to instantly calculate true ballistic range and horizontal distance, switching from Bow, Riﬂe, BullsEye and Brush Modes at the touch of a button.

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On the Hunt

Trent Swanson’s California wild pig was estimated to weigh 400 pounds. Photos courtesy of Trent Swanson.

Pig tales from California TRENT SWANSON ❘ Colorado Hunter

fter a few days of business in Southern California, I drove north along the coast, past the mansions of Santa Barbara and the dunes at Pismo Beach. I headed inland, through the wine country of Paso Robles, and then north to King City. There, I met Chris Denham, the editor of Western Hunter magazine, to pick up some ﬁnal supplies for our wild pig hunt with Geoff Tippit of Call Mountain Outﬁtters. One of the supplies we needed were hunting licenses. Chris had already been archery hunting on the Tejon Ranch, but he needed an extra pig tag. I needed a nonresident hunting license and two pig tags. Our search of the Safeway, Rite-Aid and the only gun shop listed in the phone book proved fruitless. We decided to head up to Hollister, which is the nearest city 26 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

to the 20,000-acre ranch we were going to hunt. There, we checked K-Mart, Big-5, Safeway, a local grocery store and a local sporting goods store. The K-Mart had nonresident hunting licenses, but no one had nonresident pig tags. After making a few more calls, we ﬁnally found pig tags at the Wal-Mart in Gilroy, more than 30 miles in the opposite direction from the ranch. The nice guy behind the counter set them aside for us, but we ended up getting to the ranch later than we expected and long after dark. That night, we met up with Geoff and his two partners, Todd Anderson from Prescott, Ariz., and Scott Naccarato, who lives just off the ranch. They had spent the afternoon scouting and had found a couple places that would be worth a closer look in the morning. We settled into camp, made plans for the morning and then hit the sack.

Wildlife abounds

I planned to hunt mostly with my Hoyt Trykon bow but also brought a Marlin 1895XLR in .45-70. Chris brought his Hoyt and his Christensen Arms .300 WSM. Our plan for the first morning was to drive to a couple of ponds that the pigs had been using regularly and sit in ground blinds. It was a bitter cold morning, and we were glad we bundled up for the long ride in the back of the pickup. I was the first one dropped off. Scott showed me to a popup blind situated across a muddy inlet leading to a large pond. As soon as I got situated, I started seeing animals. A flock of band-tailed pigeons swerved and darted between the tall oaks. Ground squirrels fretted all around. A pair of California quail snuck right in front of me, less than 15 yards away. The regal male stood watch as his mate cautiously

sipped from the pond. Later in the morning, a blacktail doe and her spotted twins also slipped up to the water’s edge for a drink. All this action kept my camera busy, but I never saw a pig. Before noon, I met back up with the rest of the crew. Chris had a morning similar to mine, but his wildlife report also included a bobcat. Todd sat over a small puddle and had one pig come by, but it never stopped within range of his bow. Geoff and Scott spent the morning glassing and scouting. Once we shared all our stories, we traveled to the other side of the ranch to a line camp, where they often house hunters. The Moody Camp consisted of a main house with running water, showers, a kitchen and a few small cabins that included two beds each. Scott lit the firepit, and we relaxed in the shade until the coals were hot. He then loaded up the grill with three or four different varieties of homemade wild pig sausage and sliced large wedges of tomatoes and onions. All of the pigs had been shot on that ranch, so we sat back and enjoyed the sustenance they provided. A quick nap after lunch prepared us for the evening hunt. I headed back to the same blind, but this time, my only wildlife sighting was a large bobcat chasing squirrels. Chris and I were kicking ourselves for not buying bobcat tags. Because the evening was proving unproductive, Scott picked me up early. As we drove to meet Geoff and Chris, who had been exploring a different part of the ranch on ATVs, a large sow crossed the road in front of us. My rifle was cased in the back of the pickup, but Scott’s .30-06 was handy. Three quick shots yielded my first California wild pig.

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The crew included Scott Naccarato, from left, Todd Anderson, Geoff Tippit and Chris Denham.

Scott, who has killed more pigs than he can count, estimated her weight at nearly 400 pounds. By the time we reached my pig, gutted her and dragged her back to the road, Geoff and Chris had arrived. We relived the scenario with them and celebrated by taking many photos.

Up-close encounter

The next morning was a repeat of the ﬁrst. We all saw plenty of wildlife but no pigs. Chris and I had a few business calls to make so we headed back into Hollister for lunch and cell phone service. That evening, we decided to try something new. Scott had to help out on the ranch, so Todd and Chris hiked into an area where two large black boars had been seen feeding for two nights in a row. Geoff and I rode ATVs to a high ridgeline with deep brush down the backside and many open grassy hillsides and deep draws leading down the other side. We checked for sign along a major trail and then set up on a hill overlooking it. The trail had seen so much use that the dirt had turned to powder. It looked as though the pigs had walked the same path for a hundred years. From my vantage, I ranged the closest section of the path at just more than 125 yards and the furthest at just less than 200 yards. I had traded my bow for the Marlin, loaded with Hornady’s 325 grain LEVERevolution ammunition. I had this load sighted in three inches high at 100 yards, so the bullet would drop only four inches at 200 yards and still carry plenty of energy. Geoff walked down the ridge about 100 yards to glass across the valley. As he was glassing, a herd of pigs started wailing, screaming and ﬁghting right below him. When I heard the commotion, I ran down

28 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

Wild pigs in California are descendants of domesticated pigs that became feral as early as the 1700s. In the 1920s, a landowner in Monterrey County released a number of European wild boar, which also have bred with the feral pigs. They are not farm raised or hunted within an enclosure. The wild pigs are classiﬁed as a big game mammal, but the season is open year-round and there are no daily bag limits or possession limits. The only limit is how many tags you want to buy. the ridge and found Geoff. We could hear the pigﬁght below, but it was just too thick to see them. After a few moments it stopped, so I went back to my original setup. With the Marlin resting solidly on my SnipePod, I prepared for the shot that was destined to come. I rethought the ballistics and planned accordingly. I left my 2.5-8x36 Leupold scope turned down to about 4x, but I mentally prepared to turn it up if needed. My location, partway down the hill with the sun to my left and the pigs coming from the right, was perfect. As the sun began to set, I heard something moving behind me. I thought it might have been Geoff on his way back. Then I heard it again. I looked around but saw nothing. After the third time, I decided the noise warranted a closer look. I

rose, slowly turned and watched a red pig feed nonchalantly less than 15 yards away. I ducked back down, cranked down the power on my scope and then rose again, but this time with the rifle mounted to my shoulder. I was sure glad to have the lightweight SnipePod attached to the rifle instead of a heavy, cumbersome, springloaded bipod. My first inclination was to hold behind its shoulder, but because of the range and the accuracy of this gun, I held just behind its ear and fired. As expected, the pig dropped immediately — too bad I didn’t have my bow. Upon hearing the shot, Geoff ran back up the hill with a look of amazement and bewilderment. Neither one of us expected a pig to come out that close. It was not much of a test for the long-range performance of the Marlin/Hornady combination, but it did the trick. With the sunset creating a beautiful scene, we quickly positioned the meat sow for pictures.

Head shot

Meanwhile, Todd and Chris were having some fun of their own. They had hiked to a hilltop where they had a clear view of the large meadow that two pigs had been using for two nights in a row. They hoped the pigs would make it three nights in a row. They waited patiently, and as the sun began to set, one large boar ﬁnally showed himself. Chris already was prepared as the pig walked out at about 300 yards. He waited for the pig to turn perfectly broadside, but instead, it turned and walked to the only dead tree on the entire slope. There it stayed hidden behind the dead tree and its branches for another 15 minutes or so. Precious time clicked by as they waited. Finally, the pig moved

out to the left of the tree but presented only a head-on shot. At 287 yards, it was either that shot or none. The Christensen Arms riﬂe did just what Chris asked of it; the bullet smacked the pig in the head and killed him instantly. After the shot, the huge boar folded and then cart-wheeled 40 to 50 yards down the hill. By the time Chris and Todd reached the pig, it was pitch black so they gutted him and left him to cool for the night. After they hiked out, we headed back to camp to tell stories and enjoy another supper by the ﬁre. When we awoke the next morning, Chris and Geoff drove in to retrieve Chris’ pig

while Todd and Scott went to help on the ranch. They were preparing for a pig roast and bachelor party for the rancher that night. I had to get home with my two pigs, so I loaded them up and headed down the road. Luckily, Chris and Geoff were able to drive a winch-equipped Jeep down the ridge to just above the pig. After some interesting engineering, they pulled the pig right up to the Jeep. They spent the rest of the day helping out around the ranch, while attending to a pig being roasted over a custom-made roasting trailer. That evening, I was sad to miss a great meal

and a fun party but happy to get back home. On this ranch, the steep, grassy hills leading down to even steeper ravines, chalked full of oak trees and brush provide perfect habitat for pigs. Wild oats growing interspersed between the trees were the feed of choice while we were there. By far, the hardest part of our hunt was the hunt for our licenses. The ranch was full of pigs, we saw a ton of turkeys, blacktail deer, and other wildlife, and experienced hospitality that only can be offered by those who making a living off the land.

Hunting turkeys and Blacktail Deer with Call Mountain Outﬁtters Geoff Tippit has been guiding for more than 20 years. He got his start guiding with his grandfather for waterfowl in Northern California and now specializes in hunts for wild pigs, blacktail deer and turkeys in California and javelina in Arizona. The ranches in California are all 100 percent private, and the hunts are 100 percent fair chase for wild game. Pig hunts are offered year-round and in combination with spring turkey or summer/fall blacktail hunts. The ranches are in the central part of the state from south of Hollister to north of Ukiah. Hunters can drive to the ranches or ﬂy into either San Jose or Sacramento, depending on the ranch

being hunted. Most hunts are spot and stalk, but other arrangements can be made for any hunter, including those with special needs such as handicapped hunters and children. All licenses and tags are available over the counter. The spring turkey hunts are conducted during the peak of the breeding season, which provides plenty of calling and strutting. The season runs from late March through early May. The bag limit is one bearded turkey per day, but you can take home three birds during the spring season. All the ranches are managed for trophyquality blacktail deer. Most mature blacktails sport a 2x2 frame, so any 3-point or 4-point

buck is considered a trophy. Only 14 hunts are offered each year according to their quality management structure. Based on the bucks we saw while on this ranch, in addition to Geoff’s impressive track record, you would be hardpressed to find a better outfitter for blacktails. The archery hunt starts the second week of July and runs through the first week of August. The rifle hunts start the second week of August and run through the end of September on most of the ranches, and until the end of October on some of the other ranches. For more information, visit www.callmtnoutﬁtters.com or call 928-713-7871.

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On the Hunt

Turkey hunt BRYNA LARSEN ❘ Colorado Hunter

on the Little Goose

received a new 12-gauge Remington semi-automatic shotgun for my birthday in November, and that pretty black gun sat in its box all winter. Needless to say, when I got the chance to go turkey hunting, I was a little excited. It was a weekend of firsts — my first turkey hunt, my first trip to Sheridan, Wyo., and my first time pulling the trigger on that beautiful Remington. Michael Sisk and I took off in his Beechcraft Bonanza from Steamboat Springs Airport on a Saturday morning in May. The weather was clear, brisk and sunny — all the signs of a fantastic day of hunting. Sheridan is 1 1/2 hours by air from Steamboat and six hours by car. Michael and I landed at about 10:30 a.m. and we were on the private Little Goose Ranch before noon. If you’ve never been to Sheridan, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s a pretty little town nestled at the base of the Big Horn Mountains. The people are friendly, and it’s a Mecca for hunting, with lots of public and private land and abundant and diverse wildlife — deer, elk, moose, bear, pheasants, Merriam turkeys, and the list goes on. On this day, we had our sights set on the turkeys. We spotted a few birds and took off on foot to try and sneak up on them and get a shot. Our good friend Brent Caldwell, who lives in Sheridan, was with us, and he, too, had a tag for the day. After a sketchy log crossing and an easy hike, we were at the base of an open field. The deer were everywhere and made stalking difficult. In the spring, the turkeys are mating, and the toms are in full form. A good hunter can call in a bird, and Brent was making a great effort. I had never spotted turkeys before, and Brent took the time to show me the birds in his binoculars and teach me the difference between a tom and a hen. This little tutorial was handy. The toms are large, beautiful and pomp as birds with bright red heads, beards and full feathers. They strut for the hens during mating season, and it’s incredible to watch. So often in nature, the females are dull in color, unattractive and smaller than their male counterparts. It’s no different with 30 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

turkeys, and the two sexes are easy to tell apart. It was only a few minutes before we heard a tom gobble a few hundred yards from our position and then saw another tom and hen in the opposite direction. We decided to split up, and Brent went west down the fence line while Michael and I headed out across the open ﬁeld to try and catch up to the birds we had spotted. It didn’t take long for the turkeys to notice Michael and me. They have incredible eyesight and can even turn their heads 360 degrees. The tom ﬂew off, and there was no catching him. We slowly walked back to our original position and then could see the bird Brent was calling in. In a matter of minutes, we heard the shot, and Brent had a beautiful turkey on the ground. One down, one to go. Brent, Michael and I decided to head back to the truck and circle around the ranch to another area and draw that Brent knew well. We loaded up, went for a short drive, and came out at the top of the ridgeline where we could get a good view of the terrain. The afternoon was gorgeous and we knew that even if we didn’t get another bird that day, we were lucky to be there and on the hunt. It wasn’t long before we spotted a tom with a harem of hens. There was good cover, and we knew we could get in close. He was a beautiful bird, and I was excited to shoot my new gun. There’s nothing better than wild turkey on the barbecue, and I could taste it as we moved in on him. We snuck along a drainage ditch and moved in closer. Michael hung back and let Brent and me make a

move. As we crept along a row of brush and trees, my heart began to beat faster. I really wanted a chance at this turkey. But then, a hen spotted us, and they were on the move. Brent thought I might be able to move down quickly and still get a shot off, so I was on the go. My heart was pounding, and the birds started to run. I followed. Something in me decided I could outrun this tom. I crossed a creek after him and rounded a terrace. I wasn’t thinking clearly, just running and trying to catch up to the fast-moving tom. As

Bryna Larsen with her prize from Little Goose Ranch in Sheridan, Wyo. Photos

courtesy of Bryna Larsen.

Michael Sisk and Bryna Larsen fan the feathers of her Merriam turkey out on the Little Goose Ranch in Sheridan, Wyo.

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I rounded a thicket, I didn’t expect him to be standing on the other side, but there he was. I shouldered my gun, clicked off the safety and pulled the trigger. He ﬂew, and I could hear Michael’s words in my head: “Lead the bird, shoot again.” I shot again. It was too late; I was too slow. The bird was in ﬂight and gone. I sat down. My heart was pounding, my breath was shallow, and I was defeated. Brent caught up to me, and we both laughed at what had just happened. When we got back to Michael’s position, all he could do was shake his head at me. “You didn’t lead him far enough,” he said. “And just who do you think you are trying to run down a turkey? Are you crazy?” My reply: “Yup, pretty much.” We decided to call it a day and drove home to enjoy the evening at the Caldwell homestead. That night, we attended the annual National Wildlife Turkey Federation banquet at the local Holiday Inn. There was a silent and live auction and dinner with lots of great people talking about turkey hunting. I had no idea it was such a big deal, but I had gotten a small taste of the excitement and was ready to go again. Of those folks I met, I recited my story of trying to run down the bird earlier that day and we all had a good laugh. The next morning, we were up and ready. Brent, his son, Keegan, Michael and I

headed back to our spot from the morning before and again spotted the hens on the hillside. Again, a short hike and sketchy log crossing and we were back at the fence line, in position and ready. Unfortunately, there were no toms in sight, only hens. The morning was beautiful, sunny and warm. Brent knew the birds would be moving around, so we decided to head back to our “big tom” spot from the prior afternoon. We knew the bird was there and hoped he’d still be hanging around. After a half hour or so of spotting, we found him. He was headed across a draw, and we knew we could circle around and maybe cut him off. Michael hurried across an open ﬁeld and found the bird. He called us on his cell phone and gave Brent, Keegan and me good directions to the tom’s location. Slowly, we crept across the open grassy ﬁeld. The sun was warm and the pressure was on. Sweat was trickling down my forehead. This time, though, my heart wasn’t beating fast, and there was no running involved. It was a slow stalk. I could see Michael, but I couldn’t see the bird. He motioned and gestured, and I knew the tom was close. But I couldn’t see him. I ducked down and crossed under a fence. Brent and Keegan held back, and I crawled closer and closer to Michael’s position. Still, no bird. We started to think he had cut down the draw and was gone. We moved inch by inch in the grass, closer

and closer to the last place Michael had seen him. Then, across a ditch, I could see his bright red head in a small patch of brush. Michael saw him, too, and I knew it was the tom. We had a small debate about the sex of the bird, but I knew from my tutorial the day before that this bird had my name written all over him. I sat down, shouldered my gun and put the bead right on the bird’s head, just as Brent had told me. I clicked off the safety and squeezed the trigger. The turkey didn’t move. “Shoot again”, Michael said in my right ear. I squeezed again. This time, the tom jumped, and I could see his full body. I thought to myself, “Last shell, make it count.” I squeezed again and the bird toppled backward. I got him. We guessed it was a pretty long shot for my shotgun, about 50 yards. I used a full choke in my gun and was relieved that I hadn’t panicked or ﬂinched when I had the chance to shoot. Growing up in Nebraska, my dad, brothers and I used to shoot blue rocks in our backyard on Sunday afternoons in the spring. It was always fun and I learned a lot about shooting fast, watching the target and squeezing the trigger. But nothing compares to the real thing. I pulled out my cell phone and called my dad. I recounted the morning’s events and bragged about my beautiful turkey, the Big Horn Mountains in the background and my incredible trip to Sheridan.

MOUNT THE DEER ON YOUR WALL NOT YOUR HOOD!

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WE’RE BUILDING BUMPERS AND HEADACHE RACKS BUILT TO PROTECT AGAINST DEER AND ELK DAMAGE! 32 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

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On the Hunt

Fran Reinier poses with a New Zealand Red Stag, harvested in the spring of 2008. Photos

courtesy of Fran Reinier.

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Following the dream Local hunter sets sights in New Zealand FRAN REINIER ❘ Colorado Hunter

rowing up in the Midwest, Sunday nights were dedicated to watching Lassie, Bonanza and Walt Disney. My favorite was Walt Disney, no matter what the program was, because there was always a message. One of those messages that has followed me through life was if you believe in magic, your dreams can come true. Dreams coming true have followed me into hunting, and I think I’ve found the Walt Disney of New Zealand. Although our professional guide, Gary Herbert, would humbly remark it was all our good luck, I

believe his staff and knowledge led to an amazing hunt experience for my husband and four of our friends. From the get-go, I knew it was going to be a hunting trip to remember. Gary sent two of his guides to pick us up at our hotel, and their easy and professional manner gave an easy feeling to us — like old friends getting together after a long separation. Once at the lodge, it was off to sight in our ﬁrearms after the long trip over the ocean. Gary had us check our own ﬁrearms along with those our friends rented from him. As someone who teaches hunter education in Colorado, I really appreciated

Bob and Fran Reinier take advantage of the location to track down wallabies after going big game hunting. 34 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

the attention to safety. To those curious about our firearms, my husband and I hunted with rifles he won as a sponsor at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation banquets. I used a .300 Win Mag with factory ammo and my husband, Bob, used a Winchester .280, also with factory ammo, and yes, I have a muzzle break on my rifle that was developed by a friend of my husband. We decided who would go up in the helicopter first and where everyone would go for their first day out, and then we all sat down to an outstanding dinner.

The ﬁrst hunt

It was up at 5 a.m. for some of us. The weather is not good for flying the helicopter, so we re-group and change directions. My husband and I decide to go stag hunting for half the day, head back to the lodge mid-day then see what Mother Nature is up to. As we pull into the property, the guides ask “who’s got the first shot?” My husband generously says, “the wife.” Boy, I’m glad. We hike a short distance, glass the hillside, find the “girls” and sit and watch for the “boys” to show up. It’s not a long wait, and the hills become alive with the sound of roaring! We watch one stag for a while and decided to glass another area — we know where that guy is and he’s not going anywhere. We find another stag rounding up his girls. We watch for a while, when out of the blue, a huge stag comes up out of the bottom. Usually, I try to keep my composure, but I let a swear word slip out. We watch and talk, watch and talk — what to do? “OK, I like this guy and I want him,” I say. Did I mention the stag lied down? Well, he did, and we are trying to get him up on his feet. My guide is doing jumping jacks trying to get this guy up. “How do you feel about shooting at an animal lying down?” he asks. I don’t like it, but he’s not moving. So, I take aim and as luck would have it, I shoot about a foot over his back — he’s standing now! I didn’t miss the second shot. He’s still standing but hit, and the guides tell me to shoot again. Down he goes, right where he’s standing. It was a 275-yard shot, a little far for me, but all my practice pays off. We hike over, after my knees and legs stop shaking! No ground shrinkage, I can’t believe I shot this majestic animal, I’ve never have had a trophy like this before and I’m thrilled beyond words. Pose for pictures, then the work begins.

Bob Reinier triumphs with his prize gold medal stag in New Zealand.

My husband and I offer to help. We’re told that this is the guides’ job. We load the stag in the truck, then it’s time to leave and check in with the landowner. We take a lunch break and visit with the rancher.

Ear to ear

Back at the lodge, everyone comes out to check out my trophy. I’m grinning ear to ear and thrilled beyond any of my wildest hopes for a trophy. We make a plan for my husband and I to go up in the helicopter. We share the flight with two other guys we met in camp, an uncle and nephew. The weather is up and down. So, at 5 p.m. after the weather clears, we gather our gear and have a safety briefing — definitely a good thing. Gary again asked who goes first, and my husband again says “let her go first.” I can’t thank my husband enough for this opportunity! I really love the flying, except for a slight vertigo problem. As we near the mountains, Harvey refreshes us on having no fear — he knows the mountains, the animals and his helicopter. So, the big watch is on, we all four are looking for the Tahr. The three of us are looking at the mountain, when Bob pipes up over the headset, “what’s that running below us?” We were all looking across and he was looking down, trying to find some air, later

we ﬁnd out that he was suffering from motion sickness and was looking for the air vent to try and get cool air on him. Gary looks and is yelling “Fran, there’s your Tahr and he’s a monster!” He is a monster, and I’ve never seen a Tahr run straight downhill onto the riverbed. Harvey gets ahead of the Tahr, sets down, we jump out, and I follow Gary running across the rocky river bed and set up for the shot. One hundred yards and closing, I shoot and hit, shoot and hit and a third time, shoot and hit, the Tahr drops and Gary is thrilled for me — this is the largest Tahr that anyone has ever taken in his company. I’m so excited I plant a kiss on his cheek. Again, we pose for pictures.

Tahr trophy

OK, time to switch positions in the helicopter, it’s Bob’s turn to hunt. So, we all go back to watching the rocks for the Tahr. We see a few different groups but Gary doesn’t see a good male. We fly in and out of the cracks and crannies of this mountain range and finally find a good male, running like hell. Harvey gets ahead of him and we repeat the jumping out of the helicopter, only when Bob jumps out, he looks like he is falling and I can’t do a darn thing. I find out after

we are back at the lodge, that Bob’s legs are so wobbly — he’s still fighting motion sickness — that he lies down on the side of the mountain before he takes a shot at the Tahr. Bob shoots and misses a few times, since Harvey and I are flying from distance I can’t really see what is going on, but we get called back to pick up the guys. The Tahr is running down and across the mountain and into thick cover. We fly by the cover and can’t see him; we fly on, pass and turn back again. I see the Tahr twitch his ear and I shout, “he’s still there!” We fly back toward him and I don’t think there’s more than a few feet between the helicopter and the side of the mountain! Finally, the Tahr bolts and Harvey tries to fly ahead. Back out of the helicopter go Bob and Gary. Gary radios that the Tahr is down. Back we go, and while they are taking photos of the Tahr a darn Chamois runs by us! Gary is beyond words — “You are the luckiest people,” he repeats several times! For a small animal, that darn Chamois can flat run. We lose it several times, but track it down and repeat the drill of baling out of the helicopter. While Bob and Gary are going for the Chamois, we find a really old Tahr. Harvey thinks he’s at least 15 years old and wants to take him for a trophy, only one small detail — I don’t know how Fall 2008 | COLORADO HUNTER

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Gorilla Rock is one of the many tourist destinations in New Zealand.

to fly a helicopter. So, we fly back, pick up the guys, fly them ahead again, and this time Bob gets his Chamois. We set down, take photos again, and Gary asks about the Tahr. We fly back toward the last place and find him and Gary is concerned. He is very, very old. He’s not going to make the winter. We try to get into a position to get him, but it’s too dangerous. As luck would have it, one of our friends would harvest this old boy the next morning.

Tape measure trophies

By the time we return to the lodge, everyone has heard of my monster Tahr and sidebetting is going on — a few of the guides think Gary is making the story up. The tape measure came out that night and my Tahr measured everything from 13-7/8s to 141/4 inches long, with 9-inch bases. Bob measured him with a tape we had and he measured 14 inches. Since my horns aren’t home yet, I’ll let anyone who wants to know when our friend, an SCI scorer, measures it.

Late the next afternoon, I venture out to the skinning garage and watch my husband and two guides working on all the animals that came in the evening before — did I mention I’m married to a taxidermist? That evening during dinner, a plan is made for Bob to go out hunting for his stag. Early the next morning, it’s extremely windy. All the animals are hunkered down and not making a peep. We hike and hike and ﬁnd a few boys down under the rocky bluffs, but not the one Bob is searching for. Finally, after about seven hours of hiking, our guide spots him. We get a brief glimpse and he’s gone again. Re-fueled and rested after lunch, we start the search again. Two young bulls are running around so we decide to follow them. Eureka! They run down into a thickly covered ravine and run right by a mature bull. He doesn’t move, but our guide spotted his head in a clear spot in the brush — he’s so camouﬂaged it’s hard to see him. It’s a long shot with lots of cover, so it’s time to make the sneak. Bob and the guide,

Andrew, sneak along and I take a high point above them to watch with my binoculars. It takes about 20 minutes to get into position and Bob shoots, hits him and I watch in horror as the stag ﬂips over backwards and starts sliding downhill. Oh please, don’t break up the antlers. The stag gets up and Bob shoots again, and again he continues to slide downhill. Yikes! He stops and we make sure that he’s done sliding, then hike over and get him out of the ravine. Of course, we pose for pictures. It’s been a 12-hour day, but it was worth it! We get back to the lodge, eat and drop into bed. What a great day.

What a trip

Now with the serious hunting behind us, the next day Gary asks if we would like to go wallaby hunting and deepsea ﬁshing. Sure, sounds like fun! We get up and go about 7:30 a.m. and have fun trying to shoot at these fast hop-pity things! Who knew that they could move so fast? The ﬁshing trip makes it a great day for all — all the

guides come out with us and we all enjoy a few beers together. The captain and his first mate are picture-book old salts of the sea, a perfect combination for our group. Now nearing the time to leave, Bob, most of the guides and our friend Robert work on skinning and finishing the capes. On our last night together with everyone in the lodge, we enjoy dinner with drinks and laughter — a nice end to an unbelievable hunting trip. Reality hits, it’s time to pack up and leave and I’m a little sad. Gary asks me if I’m satisfied with my hunt. What an understatement. Gary, you are Walt Disney of New Zealand — you made all my dreams come true on this trip. The only thing missing was Tinkerbell. Writer’s note: Fran Reinier is a Colorado Hunter Education instructor and works for the Steamboat Pilot and Today. Occasionally she writes articles for the newspaper’s hunting guide. Gary Herbert was SCI 2006 International Professional Hunter of the Year. Fall 2008 | COLORADO HUNTER

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once read that the day goes downhill after dawn. I tend to agree — at least in part. Dawn and sunrise are a magical time. The world wakes up and says, “Here’s a new one – what are you going to do with it?” But the day doesn’t necessarily go downhill. The clean slate means that things can just get better. You can do whatever you want.

A new day means new experiences. — Trent Swanson

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On the Hunt

unrises in western Kansas outclass all others I’ve seen. Luckily, I get to go back a few times every year to see them at my wife’s family farm. They are spectacular not only for their beauty, but also for what they hold — the promise of a day with Nichole’s family either working on the farm or searching the endless ﬂat for prairie dogs, coyotes, pheasants or deer. Driving from the farm with my father-in-law, Terry, as the eastern horizon barely begins to show, proves that a good match between couples has a lot to do with each other’s upbringing. Nichole’s parents instilled in her many of the same values my parents instilled in me. Those values, combined with mutual respect and similar interests provide us with a happy and grounded homelife. Terry has spent a lifetime on this ground and has seen more and knows more about each square mile than I ever hope to learn. The morning is full of lessons and I’m sure he gets tired of my incessant questions. I want to learn it all; take in the history, the knowledge, the dedication and the hard work that makes a Kansas farmer. Today I don’t ask many questions. I’m actually beginning to learn my way around and can recognize the different crops, farming methods and equipment. Also, I’m slowly learning that distances in this part of Kansas are different than distances anywhere else. Give it your best guess, double it and you might be in the ballpark.

To gain elevation and effectively hunt wide-open country, climb in the back of the pickup and use tripod-mounted binoculars. Photos courtesy of Trent Swanson. 42 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

We’re looking for deer — mule deer, whitetails, it doesn’t matter. I have a muzzleloader and deer permit. Around the farm, there aren’t too many whitetails and neither species grow to the huge sizes like in surrounding areas. The rainfall is just too low. But I don’t come here for the biggest deer or for the most deer. I come for opportunity — opportunity to hunt, opportunity to learn and opportunity to spend time with one of the greatest families I’ve known. We drive. There are three basic areas where Terry has seen deer throughout the years. Each is about 15 miles from the other and each encompasses an area of more than 10 square miles. These deer don’t migrate. They use parts of their large range all year. Within their range, there are fallow and planted ﬁelds of milo, corn and wheat. There also are great seas of Conservation Reserve Program land. Throughout the years, I have seen deer in each. From the truck, you can cover a lot of ground, and when you see deer in the distance or want to glass a ﬁeld three miles away, you can climb in the back and use the cab as a rest for your tripod-mounted binoculars. It blows my mind the way Terry can spot deer with his naked eye, but he’s lived out here his whole life. Anyone else needs binoculars and a tripod.

It’s 9 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving and we have covered two of the three areas, seeing deer in each. The hunt doesn’t start until next week, so we head back to the farm. Each day until the hunt starts we’ll be back out early. I’m confident that we will find deer. It will just be a matter of getting within muzzleloader range when the time comes. Opening day finally arrives. My best friend, Rick, has joined me for the hunt. He has not hunted with a muzzleloader and hasn’t been to this part of Kansas. He is definitely in for a treat. We’re on our own. Terry has pointed us in the right direction, but because he doesn’t hunt, he allows us to go at it alone. He did say to call him on the cell phone if we get lucky or if we need to be picked up. We decide to go after the mule deer that live closest to the farm. During scouting, we saw one funny-looking 4x4 and a nice 3x3 in a group of about 15 deer. We park the truck and walk to an old oil tank that was used for grain storage in the ’60s. From here, we can glass CRP, corn stubble, standing milo and winter wheat. We quickly spot two groups of deer and watch them intermingle and then move off. When they finally drop over a shallow rise, we plan a stalk. During our stalk, we realize the deer

have moved north, across a fallow field into one of those oceans of CRP. We sneak to the edge of the CRP and watch as they continue north more than a mile away. We decide to follow them and when we get to where we think they should be, there is not a deer in sight. We crawl and glass, crawl and glass. They should be right here. They may be bedded down in front of us, so we slowly work through the deep CRP grasses and weeds. Nothing. They could be anywhere. We can see for miles in all directions, but I am always surprised where a herd of deer can hide. We start back toward the closest road, hoping to gain a few feet of elevation to make a cell phone call to Terry, when I spot the ugly 4x4. I had already decided that I would rather shoot the 3x3 because I will take pretty over ugly any day, but we figure they would still all be together. Again, we crawl and glass, crawl and glass. The cover here is no more than 3 feet tall and the deer have definitely learned to bolt at the first sign of danger. After 45 minutes of crawling, we are almost to the edge of the CRP when we realize that these crazy deer are not bedded in the cover, they are bedded in the open winter wheat field! A couple of the does have sensed our presence and are beginning to get nervous. Fall 2008 | COLORADO HUNTER

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I quickly make the decision to stand up and shoot. We are well within the limits of the muzzleloader, but the grass is too high to use the SnipePod. Rick wants to get a final reading with the rangefinder, but I don’t want to miss the opportunity. As I stand, I focus my sights on the 3x3 but must wait for him to take one step to clear the doe bedded behind him. He steps forward and at the shot, I hear the hit but see no visible sign of it. Did I miss and hit the doe behind him? He gathers up with the ugly 4x4 and a couple of smaller bucks as I reload. Before I finish, he lies down and the others run off. Sadly, my shot is a little low and too far back. He gets up and starts walking in the direction of the departed herd. Once more he lies down, and then gets up again. He eventually beds in a sparse CRP field where I sneak up and finish the job. With help from Terry and Nichole’s brother, Heath, Rick and I make short work of the gutting, dragging, loading, skinning and quartering. If you’ve never had the chance to clean a deer in a work shed, out of the wind, with lights, and the deer hoisted to just the right height off the front of the tractor, you’re missing

out. The memories of the camaraderie will last forever. Rick and I spent four more sunrises out searching for his deer. We got close. We were within 43 yards of three different deer — one deer three times. What can I say? The weeds were tall and the deer outsmarted us. Rick missed, too. But that’s hunting. Two of those deer were 4x4’s — neither huge, but with one more point on each antler than my 3x3, either was just what he was looking for. Oh well. This hunt was about spending time together and enjoying the wide-open spaces. We caught up on recent happenings and as great friends always do, laughed and reminisced. We also spent one afternoon chasing pheasants with Heath and my lab, Lacey. Hunting wild and wily pheasants with friends, family and a good dog has spoiled me. The explosion of a gawky Kansas rooster from the end of Lacey’s nose proves to me there is no need for drugs — the heart-pounding stimulation is instantaneous. Then, after making the shot, my heartbeat begins to slow and my chest swells with pride as she prances back with the colorful bird held carefully in her mouth.

We only hunted five or six spots and though we didn’t find birds at each, we flushed a total of about 35 birds. Most were hens, but we ended up with three roosters in the bag. Next year maybe I will get a chance at one of those two 4x4’s that Rick chased. Maybe a big whitetail will move in. Maybe I won’t see any deer at all, but that’s hard to believe as I get weekly updates on their movements from Nichole’s folks. The one thing I know for certain is that the sunrises will always come and they will always hold the promise of a new beginning, the expectation of what the new day holds, and the ability to decide what’s best for me. I also know that I married the best girl on Earth and was welcomed into a family that not only provided me with the girl, but the opportunity to experience the Kansas sunrises. Trent Swanson, a Colorado native, now resides in Arizona and hunts as much as he can. He is the Senior Editor of Western Hunter magazine and vice president of a company that provides risk management services to the outdoor recreation industry.

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The author chose this pretty 3x3 over a much uglier 4x4 near his in-laws’ farm in Western Kansas.

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On the Hunt

Michael Sisk with his 32-inch Shiras moose taken in Northern Idaho. Photo courtesy of Bryna Larsen.

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The elusive Shiras moose Seven days in gorgeous Idaho ends with surprise twist

BRYNA LARSEN ❘ Colorado Hunter I sat upright in bed reading a book about moose habitat and behavior. I had to regularly remind myself that the information was critical to my future. Fighting off sleep, I turned the pages of what I thought was an unusually dull read. “The Shiras moose is the smallest of the moose subspecies,” I read on. “Shiras moose can stand up to 6 feet at the shoulder and can weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds. Moose of both sexes have a bell, which is a ﬂap of skin that hangs below their neck,” according to the book. “Shiras moose are found mostly in Wyoming, Idaho, British Columbia and some isolated areas of Colorado and Utah.” Riveting stuff, I thought. Regardless of what I knew, didn’t know or what I quickly was learning about moose, it didn’t quash my excitement for my upcoming trip to Idaho. We were headed to Oroﬁno and ultimately hunting Unit 9 as my friend Michael Sisk had drawn a coveted moose tag — a tag you’ll draw

only once, regardless of whether you fill it. With this once-in-a-lifetime tag, Michael thought it was pretty important to surround himself with skilled hunters. He invited his best and most successful hunting buddies (I’m not one of them) to tag along, help spot animals and share in the event. Brent Caldwell of Sheridan, Wyo., Trent and Erik Swanson of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Michael’s father, Jerry Sisk, of Brighton, Colo. Luckily there was room for one more, and I got the spot. But a few days before leaving for the trip, Erik came down with pneumonia and he and Trent had to back out. Michael and I flew from Steamboat on a beautiful fall afternoon in October. We were to rendezvous with Brent and Jerry in Orofino and then planned to pack into the backcountry with Clearwater Outfitters that same afternoon. A winter storm had blown through the area the night before, and we ended up spending one night in base camp before loading up the mules and riding four hours over a mountain pass into high camp. It reminded us that hunting doesn’t always mean sticking to a tight schedule or

plan; sometimes, plans have to change due to weather or animal migration patterns. This would become a theme as the week wore on.

Cold, beautiful Idaho

Northern Idaho is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been. The mountains are steep and rugged, and the vegetation is thick and plentiful. We likened it to a rainforest at times, heavy vegetation and nearly impassable, lots of moisture and clear mountain streams. The hemlock trees are unbelievable and the mountain lakes are the prettiest I’ve seen. Our camp was rustic but comfortable: a couple of large wall tents (although our entire party slept in the same tent), a few cots and a makeshift outhouse. A woodstove provided heat and a cooking source. Bathing was out of the question. Snow covered much of the pass on the way in, and base camp was a soggy, damp, cold place. There was a small stream nearby, but it hardly had enough water to wash pans.

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We unloaded our gear and went for a walk the ﬁrst afternoon at high camp. Although the landscape was spectacular, we didn’t see any signs of moose. This set the tone for the next four days. On average, our hunting party hiked about 10 miles a day. Through wet, heavy ground cover and up steep mountains, we looked for the elusive Shiras moose. And, at every ridge we climbed, every trail we crossed, every mountain lake we came upon, we found the same thing — not a critter in sight. It was as if the moose had left the area completely. On the second cold morning, Jerry and Brent stumbled onto a cow and a calf at the edge of Mudd Lake. We were excited to have some hope that there could be a bull around. But that was the only sign of a live animal we saw that day. Each night, we ate warm food and discussed the day’s events and the beautiful country we’d seen, and we dried our gear over the woodstove. We laid out a plan for the next morning and always headed out into the darkness long before sun up. And each night brought a new plan and another strategy.

Plan B

Finally, by Thursday morning, after hunting hard for ﬁve days, we decided on

Plan B. Brent and I were making breakfast and visiting about our situation. We had two more full days to hunt. And, we knew after being in that area for five days, we weren’t about to shoot anything, let alone see anything. Our new plan: pack up what we could carry and hike ourselves out. The outfitter wasn’t supposed to come back for us until Saturday. But we knew we could hike out to base camp in about four or five hours, get in the truck and drive around to the north side of the hunting unit. We knew the unit was a big one, and if the moose had moved out of the high country, we would be more likely to find one at the opposite side of the unit. We decided to take only the necessities and leave the rest for the outfitter to pack out with the mules. I remember saying that the worst-case scenario was that we’d get to see some more country. Best case — we’d run into a moose and fill the tag. At about 8 a.m. that Thursday morning, we bugged out of camp and headed down to base camp. It was a long hike, but enjoyable nonetheless. We tossed what little gear we’d hauled out into the back of the pickup and told the outfitter’s wife to pack out the rest and meet us Saturday in Orofino. At the same time, Michael got on the phone with Erik, who was bedridden with pneumonia in Phoenix. He told him about our poor luck,

and Erik sprung into action. He called up a friend who is a biologist and is familiar with the moose migration and behavioral patterns in Idaho. The biologist said to head to Avery — lots of public land and a better chance at a moose. The five-hour drive went fast, and at the end of a very long day, we landed on the doorstep of Ben Scheffelmaier, owner and proprietor of Scheffey’s General Store and Motel, our oasis and home away from home. Ben told us about a restaurant and bar down the street, the Avery Trading Post, and in no time we were planted in a warm seat, waiting on bacon cheeseburgers and watching the Colorado Rockies play baseball on a big-screen TV. The bar was filled with locals, and Michael and Brent went to work quizzing them about where to go to find the moose. Most of them loggers, they knew the country well. “You have to go to Adair,” one short, heavyset man with a half beard told us. Then, he went to his truck for a map that he insisted we take with us. In no time, we had a new plan, full bellies and a warm bed to sleep in. Things were definitely looking up. But the next day, we came up short again. We followed the logger’s directions but couldn’t find any moose. Despite

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ﬁnding fresh evidence of a moose presence, we didn’t ﬁnd the animal and felt defeated. That night, back at the Avery Trading Post, the same loggers were shocked to learn we’d come up empty handed. I ate my cheeseburger and thought about how far we’d come, about the long grueling days and the effort we’d put in to killing the Shiras moose. We had one morning left to hunt and then we all had to head back home. The Rockies won that night and were headed to the World Series. Maybe it was an omen.

The snap of a twig

That Saturday morning, we awoke with tired bodies and made every attempt to get an early start. Michael thought a little coffee would help get us going, and we stopped for what seemed like forever at the local coffee stand. With caffeine in hand and the sun rising, we headed for Adair and for our last chance at claiming a moose. As I followed Michael down the twotrack, I thought about the trip and how we’d hunted so hard and never even got to see a moose. It’s all part of the sport, I know, but it wasn’t making getting skunked any easier. Brent and Jerry had gone to spot at another location, and it was getting close to 11 a.m. We had all

fter seven days of some of the most difﬁcult and physically demanding hunting I’d ever done, at the last minute, on the last day, we were victorious.

agreed that if we didn’t have a moose down by noon, it was over. We’d be heading home. Michael and I whispered to each other and then walked in complete silence toward the end of the trail and a small pond where we’d hunted the day before. I had all but given up and I think maybe he had, too. Then, we heard a twig snap. We froze in our tracks and looked at each other to conﬁrm what the other was thinking. We slowly walked a few more steps, and then we heard him grunt. On a dead run, we headed for a small terrace that ran alongside a dark wooded area slightly above the pond, and there he stood. A mature Shiras moose. Michael

had shot twice with his .270 before I even spotted the animal’s shovels headed into the timber. He looked huge! Two more shots and a ﬁnal and it was over. We walked slowly into the dark timber and there he lay. After seven days of some of the most difﬁcult and physically demanding hunting I’d ever done, at the last minute, on the last day, we were victorious. The moose measured 32 inches, and while he wasn’t a huge trophy, we all thought he was the greatest we’d ever seen. Today, a Polaroid of Michael’s moose hangs on the bulletin board outside Scheffey’s. Ben snapped it while we ate hot dogs in the parking lot on that sunny Saturday afternoon in October.

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Chronic wasting disease still a Colorado hunter’s concern COLORADO HUNTER STAFF

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he Colorado Division of Wildlife is the ﬁrst to remind hunters of chronic wasting disease, a fatal neurological disease that occurs in free-ranging and captive members of the Cervidae family. The disease attacks the brains of infected deer, elk and moose, causing the animals to become emaciated, display abnormal uncoordinated behavior, and eventually die. As a result of ongoing investigations that have found no causal relationship between CWD and human health issues, the public seems to be getting more comfortable and complacent with the disease. The numbers back it up. DOW spokesman Randy Hampton said the number of animal heads submitted statewide for CWD testing has dropped steadily throughout the past three years, from 13,593 in 2005, to 11,600 in 2006 and only 8,077 last year.

“Tracking for CWD, we’re trying to monitor its spread, so we need a certain number of heads for a reliable scientiﬁc sample,” Hampton said. Hunters with concerns about harvesting or consuming an infected deer, elk or moose harvested in Northwest Colorado (including trophy-caliber bucks and bulls) can submit testing samples by bringing the animal’s head to a testing site. A small amount of tissue is removed and sent to a laboratory. Hunters can then track results of the test by phone (800-434-0274) or online (www.wildlife.state.co.us/hunting/ biggame/cwd). Although elk and deer testing is voluntary and costs $15 per animal when submitted to one of the following DOW sites, moose testing is mandatory and the test is free if submitted to a DOW site. For any animal that tests positive for CWD, hunters can be reimbursed for test fees and processing costs and can apply for a replacement license.

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If you have questions about CWD precautions and public health, call the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at 303692-2700. Call the DOW in Fort Collins at 970-472-4300 if you see or harvest an animal that appears sick. Further information about the disease, submission details and guidelines, ongoing research and current information about distribution and relative rates of infection by Game Management Unit is available at www.wildlife.state.co.us/hunting/ biggame/cwd. The CDPHE and DOW advise hunters to take the following simple precautions when handing deer, elk and moose carcasses: ■ Do not shoot, handle or consume

any animal that appears sick. Do not consume meat or organs from animals known to be infected with CWD. ■ Wear rubber gloves when ﬁeld dressing and processing animals and wash hands and instruments thoroughly after completion. ■ Disinfect by soaking knives, saws and cutting table surfaces in a 50-50 solution of unscented household bleach and water for one hour and then air dry. ■ Minimize the handling of brain and spinal tissues and avoid eating brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils, pancreas and lymph nodes of harvested animals. ■ Bone out the meat from your animal and cut away fatty tissue to remove remaining lymph nodes.

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Ofﬁces Craig DOW Warehouse, CWD Submission Site 1715 N. Yampa Ave., 970-824-2502 Open seven days a week, Aug. 26 to Dec. 31 with the following varying hours: Aug. 25 to Oct. 9, 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 11 to 15, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Oct. 16 to 17, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 18 to 26, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Oct. 27 to 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Nov. 1 to 7, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Nov. 8 to 11, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Nov. 12 to 16, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Nov. 17 to Dec. 31, 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; CLOSED Nov. 27, Dec. 25, Jan. 1, 2009; open weekdays Jan. 2 to 31, 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Glenwood Springs Service Center 50633 Colo. Hwy 6 and 24, 970-9472920 Open weekdays Aug. 30 to Jan. 31, 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; CLOSED Sept. 1, Oct. 13, Nov. 27, Dec. 25, Jan. 1, Jan. 19; open weekends Oct. 11 to Nov. 16, 9 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Grand Junction Service Center 711 Independent Ave., 970-255-6100 Open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; CLOSED Sept. 1, Oct. 13, Nov. 27, Dec. 25, Jan. 1; open weekends Oct. 11 to Nov. 16, same hours.

Hot Sulphur Springs Service Center 346 Grand County Road 362 (west of Byers Canyon), 970-725-6200 Open weekdays, 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; CLOSED Sept. 1, Oct. 13, Nov. 27, Dec. 25; open Saturdays Oct. 11 to Nov. 15, same hours; Sundays Oct. 19, 26, 8 a.m. to noon. Meeker Service Center 73485 Colo. Hwy 64 (two miles west of Meeker), 970-878-6090 Open weekdays, 8 a.m. to noon, 1 to 5 p.m.; CLOSED Sept. 1, Oct. 13, Nov. 27, Dec. 25, Jan. 1; open seven days a week Oct. 11 to Nov. 16, same hours. Steamboat Springs Service Center 925 Weiss Dr., 970-870-2197 Open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; CLOSED all state holidays; open weekends Oct. 11 to Nov. 16, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walden DOW Work Center 285 Grant St., 970-723-4625 Open Aug. 18, 22, 26, 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sept. 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 28, 29, Oct. 7 to 9, 11 to 15, 18 to 21, 24 to 27, Nov. 1 to 4, 13 to 17, same hours.

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Hunting rainbows Quality fishing to be had after the elk is bagged TOM ROSS ❘ Colorado Hunter

our autumn outdoor adventure in Colorado isn’t over when your bull is on the ground. If you had the foresight to bring a spinning rod or fly rod in the truck, you still have an opportunity to stalk the biggest trout of the year. I’m going to assume you’re the best hunter in your group and your animal is hanging before anyone else’s. Your options are to drive game for your buddies, migrate to a bar and watch football or to go off in pursuit of a chunky 18-inch rainbow. It’s a no-brainer. Local hunters keep their rods in their rigs throughout hunting season and look for opportunities to find big fish whose metabolisms come alive in the cooler water of autumn. Brett Lee says there is no reason

to go any farther from the hotels and restaurants of Steamboat Springs than Stagecoach Lake State Park, 15 miles south, near Oak Creek. Lee is one of the owners of Straightline Sporting Goods in Steamboat and a veteran hunter. Lee knows the Colorado Division of Wildlife has been stocking Stagecoach with bigger fish than normal to give them a chance to survive the giant northern pike that are cruising the lake. The strategy is succeeding, and October is the month the fish come out of the depths of the lake for a burst of feeding before winter sets in. “Boy, was it dynamite,” Lee said of the 2007 fall season. “We fished until the lake froze. It was some of the best fishing in years.” Hunters looking for deer and elk in game units west of Craig also have unusual opportunities to fish for smallmouth bass and northern pike in the Yampa River. The hard-fighting “smallies” are prone to chasing streamers and lures in white and chartreuse color combinations. The reconstruction and expansion of Elkhead Reservoir east of Craig was completed in 2007 and the reservoir filled completely. It will take a little time for this impoundment to bounce back completely, but the new flood ground should be very fertile and support a

2008 Colorado fishing regulations for trout Anglers may purchase licenses on the Web at www.wildlife.state. co.us or by phone: 800-244-5613 Daily bag limit: Four fish in aggregate. Possession limit: Eight fish in aggregate. Nonresident fees: Annual: $56; five-day: $21; one-day: $9.

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rapidly growing fish population. The public areas at the reservoir are managed by Colorado State Parks. Once Lee has his elk hanging, he heads for the reservoir in his float tube. During a typical outing, Lee said, he might catch 10 or 12 fish, all of them between 17 and 22 inches in length. The region’s enormous elk population means that, with cooperation from the weather, the chances of success are as high as anywhere a hunter can journey. Hunters hope for a moderate snowstorm and overcast skies — enough foul weather to move the elk out of their high-elevation hideouts, but not enough to make four-wheel roads impassable. The cooler temperatures of autumn also bring rainbow trout back into shallower water in large impoundments like Stagecoach Reservoir and Steamboat Lake. Fly patterns are no mystery at Stagecoach — the old standby, woolly bugger in olive, black and brown, will successfully imitate the minnows that trout gorge on in Stagecoach. The cold water of autumn dictates a slower retrieve than fishermen are accustomed to in summer, Lee said. On the other side of the Park Range, in Jackson County, anglers will find their best opportunity for a trophy brown out of North Delaney Lake.

All three Delaney Buttes lakes are easy to locate on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest maps, which hunters will want to purchase anyway. By the way, you can camp for free at this area. Realistically, hunters who haven’t bagged their animals aren’t going to entirely divert their attention from elk and deer to trout. But Lee knows how to mix hunting and fishing pleasure. “If the weather is right, you can hunt all day,” he said. “But if the weather is hot and sunny, why not take a break in the middle of the day and go fishing?” Lee pointed out that hunters visiting Colorado often hunt in parties. It’s almost inevitable that one hunter will bag an elk on the first day, while the rest of the party hunts for several more days without getting a shot. If the first lucky guy has had the presence of mind to pack his fishing tackle, he’s in for a second vacation.

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ompared to riﬂe hunting, it’s like going back in time. And becoming one with nature. Putting on a mask and relying on scent, cunning and stealth. Being careful to know when not to blink because your prey will see you, to fight off the nervous lump in your throat because when you swallow, it will hear you and if you are sitting upwind, you’re done. They will smell you. It’s bow hunting.

A throwback to the old days 54 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

raig, “The Elk hunting capital of the world,” is a haven for hunters of all shapes and sizes. But, those who choose to swap the bright orange of rifle season for the vast array of earth-toned camouflage of a bow hunter, say the latter brings out a different beast from within. “Bow hunting is way more personal” than rifle hunting, Mountain Man Taxidermy owner — and lifetime bow hunter — Scott Moore said. “When you bow hunt, you’re stepping out into the animals’ playing field, and you’re up against their senses in their domain. We, as humans, are at a mismatch at that point, so you better be prepared.” Those who bow hunt use different tactics, all with the same goal in mind: bringing home that prized kill. “Oh buddy, it’s an adrenaline rush like no other,” Dream Archery co-owner Matt Smith said. “There is no comparison to rifle hunting. You get the feeling of being part of nature and a sense of the past, when hunting used to be all about survival. It really allows you to get in touch with the animal. I know I do.” Bow hunting season for deer, elk and antelope runs Aug. 25 to Sept. 23, while rifle season begins in mid-October. The congestion found from the hundreds of rifle hunters trouncing through Moffat County’s wilderness isn’t found when hunting with a bow. “It’s much better hunting with a bow,” Moore said. “You don’t see the crowds that come with rifle season. You’re not seeing guys running around in orange, shooting their guns from hundreds of yards away. Bow hunters respect one another’s ground and with the way we get all done up with the camouflage, it’s extremely difficult to even see another hunter.” Sitting in a sagebrush blind or stalking a water hole, bow hunters must get a lot closer to their prey than those with a gun. Technological advances in rifle equipment allow those in orange to attack from great distances: some scopes can zero in from a mile away. Not with a bow. “You pretty much have to be within 40 to 50 yards,” Smith said. “A lot of hunters shoot from 20 yards. A lot of times, with the deep camo we wear, you can get close enough to where you feel like you can reach out and touch” the prey. Moore said different times of the day call for different hunting tactics. At dusk and dawn, he said, sitting on a trail frequently used by animals is effective, but during the day he has to “put my stalk on.” “It’s kind of like an ambush,” he said. “You have to sneak up on them, or circle around in front of them. Tracking the animals is just as important as being able to fire an arrow accurately.” Muzzle loading season overlaps bow season Sept. 8 to 16, but unlike regular rifle season, there are much fewer hunters that use the old time gunpowder weapons. But, every so often, a bow hunter and a muzzleloader cross paths. “It’s kind of funny sometimes to see those” muzzleloaders, Smith said. “One time last season a buddy and I were using a cow call and pulled a muzzle hunter right to us. He didn’t even see us and he was standing 3 feet away.” Moore, the sneaky deerstalker that he is, actually uses the muzzle hunters to his advantage. “I wait for them to mess up,” he said. “I’ll find the deer’s escape route and when those noisy muzzle guys come through, they will scare the deer right to me.” — John Vandelinder File Photo Fall 2008 | COLORADO HUNTER

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Ready for the A few survival items can make all the difference DAVE SHIVELY ❘ Colorado Hunter

he trouble with hunting is that, as Justin Gallegos puts it, “the whole idea is to get off the beaten path.” Gallegos, who operates Craig’s Majestic Trophy Outﬁtters, knows how easy getting preoccupied with prey can be. Suddenly, you’re way off the beaten path back to camp, disoriented and in need of survival basics. “It’s not because you’re egotistical, but because you get so caught up with the project at hand,” said Gallegos, who instructs a variety of survival courses. “It’s your ﬁrst time to Colorado, and you see some 300class bull 200 yards off, it’s easy to say, ‘OK, I’ll sneak around this ridge to get closer.’ That keeps happening and suddenly, you’ve walked half a mile with your mind on the elk and not where you’re at.” Because no one ever is going to tell you that you’re lost, Darrel Levingston, a Routt County Search and Rescue member for 15 years, reminds hunters of a simple rule of thumb: “As soon as you hear the word (lost) in your head, it’s time to sit down and prepare to be there for the night,” Levingston said, noting

56 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

how fast a blinding and disorienting storm can hit the Colorado high country. “Once the visibility is gone, you’re flying in the clouds. “Dig in, make a fire and get comfortable, and you’re usually able to be found by that next day or morning. If you keep moving, it could mean a three- to four-day search.” Both Levingston’s and Gallegos’ common advice is in the details of what to pack. A few paramount items can help you spend a panicfree night in the backcountry and get by for 24 hours or longer. Gallegos follows the minimal guidelines of his “main five,” which includes: a light source such as small LED headlamp; a multi-task tool; a source of fire; a canteen, ideally with a built-in filtration system; a “survival pack” in a one-gallon Ziploc bag holding a 12-foot length of small nylon rope or fishing line to help construct shelter, small gloves and dry socks, energy or granola bars and at least the few first-aid items needed to dress a wound, including gauze, iodine and tape. Gallegos added that he never goes hunting without a topographical map and the requisite clothing layers for quickly changing weather,

including access to a waterproof/ breathable outer layer. Levingston noted that, above all else, he makes sure always to carry more than one way to start a fire, namely a lighter or two as well as waterproof matches and even a film canister packed with Vaselinesaturated cotton balls. “You can light that cotton ball and it will go five minutes and burn a hole right in the snow,” Levingston said, ever stressing the age-old preventative advice of informing someone where you’re going to hunting and then sticking to that plan. Sticking to your bearings is just as important. “Take that 10 to 15 seconds to get your bearings — your brain is like a camera, give it time to decipher where it’s at, and it will register,” Gallegos said. “Say I go by a big, dead pine, I’ll actively register it by asking myself something like, ‘OK, wonder why that big pine is dead?’” Although nothing substitutes for thorough knowledge of an area, Gallegos added that with daylight and visibility to assess surroundings, two key bearings — fence lines and water sources — always will lead downhill and often back to civilization.

Wild Into thin(ner) air

Altitude tips to keep in mind Dr. Dan Smilkstein knows a thing or two about the effects of altitude. When he’s not busy summiting peaks in the Peruvian Andes well above the 19,000-foot mark, the Steamboat Springs physician can provide the following bits of advice for ﬂatland hunters headed straight to the high-country hills: ■ Be aware of your elevation. Some people develop altitude sickness as low 4,000 feet, while 8,000 feet will get most people. ■ Look out for the following symptoms: disrupted and irregular sleep, loss of appetite, mild nausea, low energy, drowsiness and mild headaches. If you’re experiencing any of these, do not go any higher. You don’t have to go back down, either; within 24 to 48 hours, your body will adjust. But if the symptoms are worse — breathing problems or a change in mental status with severe headaches — no question you need to descend to a lower altitude. ■ Drink plenty of ﬂuids and a carbohydrate-rich diet. Avoid alcohol. Remember

to eat regularly to keep a steady flow of calories and energy. ■ The rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t sleep 1,000 feet higher than you did the night before. So if you’re just coming up to altitude, spend two to three days, if you can, in the valley before heading up to camp. ■ A high level of exertion as your body is acclimating can put you over the top. Avoid pushing yourself too hard the first 24 hours. ■ Tylenol and Ibuprofen (and hydration) are fine to treat headaches. Be careful with any sleep medications. Diamox is the oldest and best-known medication that can significantly help sleep quality and ventilation. Speak with your doctor before heading to altitude about potential medications and any underlying pulmonary and cardiac conditions.

As a basic checklist, Levingston cited and elaborated on the “Ten Essentials” from the Mountain Rescue Association’s General Backcountry Safety Workbook, with the ability to make fire, to stay dry and to orient oneself as the principal packing priorities: ■ U.S. Geological Survey topographic map, magnetic compass and other navigational aids such as cell phones, GPS systems or Personal Locator Beacons. “Keep the GPS and cell batteries warm in a pocket next to your body and keep the cell phone off until you need to use it,” Levingston said. ■ Waterproof matches in a waterproof container and a candle/fire starter. The ability to make fire is so critical that Levingston advises the cotton-ball canister; weather-proofing matches by dipping the tips in molten wax or even a small bottle of (highly flammable) hand sanitizer gel, while Gallegos added the in-a-pinch trick of using a multi-task tool’s pliers to pull off a bullet’s tip to access the casing’s black powder. ■ Extra clothing, including gloves, hat, jacket and raingear. ■ Space blanket or two large, heavy-duty trash bags. ■ Whistle. “I’ve seen so many rescues where the missing person will say later, ‘I could hear your 4X4 and hear you yelling,’” Levingston said, advising a pealess whistle that will not freeze up. ■ Flashlight (with extra batteries and bulb). Levingston advises intentionally flipping over a single battery to avoid lighting the inside of your pack while hunting in the daylight. ■ Extra food and water. ■ Pocketknife. ■ Sunglasses. ■ First-aid kit. Fall 2008 | COLORADO HUNTER

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Green River GMU: 1, 2, 10, 201

CWD has been detected in GMU 10

LOCAL DOW OFFICE Meeker 970-878-6090

Dinosaur National Park is closed to all hunting

In this area, 9,700-foot Diamond Mountain is the highest point, dropping to 5,100 feet in elevation at the White River. Sage and sage-grassland dominate, with the typical vegetation groups as the elevation increases. Weather is generally mild through the later seasons, though the higher elevations can have signiﬁcant snow accumulations. Public land accounts for more than 85 percent of GMU 201. GMU 2 is a “checkerboard” of public and private land, and GMU 10 is mostly BLM land with a lot of scattered private land. Consult a map and be aware of where you are. GMU 1 has poor access into the rough, rocky terrain and into the wilderness area. You must draw a license to hunt the Green River units, and it takes many years of preference points. Hence, the hunting pressure is light. DEER Deer are scattered throughout GMUs 2,10 and 201. If there is winter range migration, it is usually during third season. Deer in GMU 1 tend to stay at the south and north ends of Brown’s Park Refuge. The average good buck in GMUs 2 and 201 measures 24 inches to 26 inches. There are trophy bucks in GMU 10, however they tend to have tall versus wide antlers. Hunt the bush-covered areas, high elevations early in the season, lower elevations later. ELK 300+ size bulls are common. The elk tend to stay put over the seasons. Movement is weather dependent. Overall, elk are scattered in GMUs 2, 10, 201 and the northern portion of GMU. We recommend Blue Mountain and Moosehead Mountain in GMU 10, but be prepared for rough terrain. When hunting GMUs 2 or 201 — hold out for a good bull — the average size is around 305. In GMU 2, try the southwest corner. In GMU 1, try Hoy Draw and Chokecherry Draw.

Lower Yampa GMU: 3, 11, 211, 301

CWD has been detected in these units

LOCAL DOW OFFICE Meeker 970-878-6090

The Lower Yampa units lie south of Wyoming, bordered by the White River and the Little Snake River. The lower elevations of 6,000 feet consist of sage and sage steepe. Pinyon and juniper cover the upper elevations up to 8,500 feet. Expect zero to light snow cover in ﬁrst and second seasons. The later seasons may bring moderate snow and a potential for near zero temperatures. If the weather is mild, deer and elk will not be present in high numbers until the later seasons. Overall access is easy and 4WD is not necessary in most areas. Hunting pressure is heavy. Outside of GMU 301, 70 percent of the Lower Yampa is public land. DEER The herd size is increasing. The mid-range elevations with mountain shrub and pinyonjuniper breaks generally hold the most deer, especially during the regular riﬂe seasons. Movement occurs with weather and hunting pressure. We recommend Bitterbrush SWA and Axial Basin CRM. Public land hunting is typically better in the later seasons. The better buck hunting is on private land with a moderate to high chance for trophy buck.

ELK The large elk herd occupies all available habitat. The later seasons are usually better, especially on public land, due to snow and hunting pressure pushing the elk out of the adjacent units. The success rate is very good on late cow elk hunts. Axial Basin CRM is a hot spot for hunting, but crowding is signiﬁcant. The best bull hunting will be on private lands.

Upper Yampa GMU: 4, 5, 13, 14, 15, 131, 214, 441 CWD has been detected in these units

LOCAL DOW OFFICE Meeker (GMUs 4 and 5) 970-878-6090 Steamboat Springs (others) 970-870-2197 From a low of 6,300 feet, the elevation soars to 12,000 feet along the Continental Divide. The Routt National Forest dominates the eastern 2/3 of the Upper Yampa units with coniferous forests and aspen. Most of the land outside of the national forest is private land. Mountain shrub and rolling sage cover the low country. Expect light to moderate snow in the 1st season, gradually increasing through the 4th season. 4WD is usually necessary on the secondary roads. Hunting pressure is heavy. Hunters will have better success and enjoy more solitude by walking into remote areas. Hunting pressure may create refuge situations on the private lands in GMUs 13, 131, 214 and 441. Mt. Zirkel Wilderness area is in GMU 14, and access is restricted to non-vehicle methods. Public hunting in GMU 13 is limited to a few small parcels of BLM land and some State Trust Land parcels. DEER The deer herd continues to grow, and the hunting is improving. Most of the deer will be found in the western section of these units. Movement also is to the west. Hot spots are located north of Hayden. Some good trophy bucks are seen in the southern portion. In GMUs 4 and 5, the buck hunting has shown steady improvement. This area is not managed for trophy bucks, but it does have a good number of adult males in the population. Hunt the aspen and brush areas. Doe licenses in these units are “list B” licenses. ELK Elk are plentiful throughout the Upper Yampa area. Licenses are also readily available, but hunters should not rely on leftover license availability as these herds approach population objective. The DOW has been working to minimize crop damage and signiﬁcantly reduce the number of elk in these units. There are good numbers of bull elk, however, do not expect to see many large adult males. Large elk numbers occur on the Routt National Forest. The basic movement is from the higher to lower elevation in response to hunting pressure and weather. Hunt the timber and hunt the Routt National Forest early. In GMUs 4 and 5, private land access is only available on a fee hunting basis.

North Park GMU: 6, 16, 17, 161, 171

CWD has been detected in these units

LOCAL DOW OFFICE Steamboat Springs 970-870-2197

North Park borders Wyoming and lies between the Continental Divide and the Medicine Bow

Mountains. The valley floor at 7,880 feet supports agricultural lands and sagebrush. Extensive willow stands line the streams — a favorite moose habitat, so be sure of your target. The forest surrounding the basin varies from aspen/lodgepole to spruce/fir. Alpine occurs above 10,500 feet, peaking at 12,970 feet. The area is generally windy and colder than many places in western Colorado. Prepare for snow during your hunt. 4WD is helpful, as are chains. More than 2/3 of North Park is public land. Mt. Zirkel (west) and Never Summer (southeast) are the Wilderness Areas. Access to all State Trust Lands and the Wilderness Areas is non-motorized. Big game can move onto private lands with no public access. DEER There are about 7,000 deer in the North Park units. If you are a patient hunter, you could have success hunting trophy bucks. The units in North Park have an early 10 day deer-only season that begins the last weekend of September. This season provides additional hunter opportunities as many of the deer in North Park migrate early. Deer can be found throughout these units in the aspen/conifer forest. ELK Elk are distributed evenly throughout these units. During the day, the bulls will be in dark timber — glass in the early morning and evening. The herd tends to stay in the coniferous timbered areas until late in the season, moving to lower elevations with snow and hunting pressure.

Bookcliffs/ Piceance GMU: 21, 22, 30, 31, 32

CWD has been detected in these areas

LOCAL DOW OFFICES Meeker (GMU 21, 22) 970-878-6090 Grand Junction(GMU 30, 31, 32) 970-255-6100 Intense energy development is occurring in these units. Pinyon-juniper woodlands with pockets of sagebrush cover most of this area. The terrain varies from open rolling sagebrush to steep-sided canyon country. Seventy-ﬁve percent of this area is BLM land. There are some excellent remote hunting areas accessible by foot, horseback or ATV. Get maps and study BLM access points. Some areas are very steep and rugged, especially in the southern portion. Weather is generally mild. Rains bring muddy roads. At high elevations, typical third season snows make roads impassible without chains. DEER The hunting ranges from fair to good in the Bookcliffs and Piceance units. Deer are welldistributed in the northern portion from mid-October. Concentrate on higher elevations in early seasons. If the weather is dry, you’ll need to do a lot of walking and looking. Good snows will move the herds to the south. Hunt high early, low later. Cathedral Rim has some big bucks, but tough terrain. Little Hills and Dry Fork of Piceance is better late. ELK Good cow hunting opportunities. The best hunting is in remote areas, mostly at high elevations, where the elk tend to hold up in pockets of green timber and aspen. Check out the Texas Mountain area and Ratt Hole Ridge. Hunting pressure will push some bulls into the large expanses of pinyon-juniper. If snow and hunting pressure are su$cient, some elk will move into the Little Hills and Dry Fork area of Piceance later in the seasons. Most of the GMU 32 elk move into GMU 22 to winter. Fall 2008 | COLORADO HUNTER

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White River GMU: 12, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 231 CWD has been detected in these units

LOCAL DOW OFFICES Glenwood Springs (GMU 25, 26, 34) 970-947-2920 Meeker (GMU 12, 23, 24) 970-878-6090 Steamboat Springs (GMU 26, 231) 970-870-2197 Grand Junction (GMU 33) 970-255-6100 White River offers variety and extremes. Several peaks in the Flattop Wilderness are 12,200’ in elevation. Elevation drops to 5,300’ near Rifle. The lower elevation vegetation starts out with sage, progressing to oakbrush/mtn brush, aspen, evergreens and alpine tundra. Expect mild weather with light snow in the first season, with roads becoming impassable in the upper half of the area by the third season. The high country in GMU 24 is prone to heavy snowstorms in late seasons. Heavy snowstorms can strand hunters on Flattops after first season. While there is a great deal of public land, hunting pressure is heavy especially in northern half of GMUs 23 and 24. 4WD is necessary on all but the few main paved roads. Half of the area is roadless — which makes for very good hunting if you can walk or pack in. You may encounter heavy ATV traffic in GMUs 12, 23 and 33. Hunters in GMU 25 and 26 can gain access using Forest Service Road 610 (Stump Park Rd) or USFS Road 613 (Crescent Lake Rd). DEER The deer are scattered and will move in response to hunting pressure and weather. On public land, GMU 12 is better early. GMU 23 offers Hay Flats and Miller Creek southwest of Meeker and the Jensen and Oak Creek State Wildlife Areas that can be good for deer hunting. GMU 24 is a popular early season elk unit and is heavily hunted for elk, but deer can be found on private land along the White River and in the Sleepy Cat and Sand Peak areas. ELK Generally all of GMU 12 and 24 are considered very good elk hunting. The elk are generally up at higher elevations in the eastern portions of GMU 12 during the early seasons, and then move west to lower elevations (and private lands) as hunting pressure and snow depth increases. Try the abundant public lands in eastern GMU 12 early on. The chance for a trophy bull is low due to unlimited bull elk licenses. Because of access roads, hunting pressure is high on Sleepy Cat, Lost Park and Sand Peak. The Flattops Wilderness Area offers good hunting, but travel is limited to walking or horseback and the potential for heavy snowfall means hunters must be prepared. Successful hunters avoid the main roads and hunt the dark timber and deeper canyons.

Eagle River Valley GMU: 35, 36, 44, 45

CWD has been detected in GMU 36

LOCAL DOW OFFICE Glenwood Springs 970-947-2920

The Eagle River Valley units are bordered by the Colorado River, the Gore Range, the Red Table Mountains and the Continental Divide. Elevation climbs from 6,000 feet with sagebrush and pinyon to more than 14,000 feet with alpine vegetation starting at 10,500 feet. Weather can vary tremendously with 60 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

high country snow exceeding several feet. Much of the public land is open to off road travel. GMUs 35 and 44 have the most public access, however the northern portion of GMU 44 between Edwards and Eagle is primarily private property with no hunting allowed. Check your map and contact the BLM/USFS office because there are some areas that are off limits to vehicles. Hunting pressure is locally heavy, especially around Muddy Pass Road in GMU 36 and Horse Mountain Road in GMU 35 since they are main roads for public land hunters. DEER Deer hunting in these units continues to improve. The herd will be scattered from 6,500’ to timberline and will move down to the lower elevation pinyonjuniper areas as heavy snow arrives. More than 18 inches of snow will move the deer. Try hunting the aspen, open parks and shrublands. GMUs 35 and 36 have the most deer. After the first heavy snow, most GMU 45 deer will move into GMU 36. GMU 44 is managed for trophy deer with limited number of licenses, but it is a good place to take a big buck. ELK Elk are scattered from about 7,000 feet to above timberline. As hunting pressure increases, they seek the deeper canyons and dark timber areas way from roads. Concentrating on the large stands of dark timber and the larger wilderness areas will increase your chance of finding a big bull on public lands. Large blocks of private land in GMUs 35 and 36 provide refuge areas and can make hunting difficult.

Middle Park GMU: 18, 27, 28, 37, 181, 371

CWD has been detected in these units

LOCAL DOW OFFICE Hot Sulphur Springs DOW 970-725-6200

The Continental Divide and the Gore Range Divide encircle Middle Park. Most of this terrain is steep to very steep. The weather can change rapidly with higher elevations receiving more precipitation. Areas can become snowbound. 4WD is recommended, along with chains. Sagebrush/shrubs are common on southern exposures at lower elevations. The valley bottoms are mostly private lands. The remaining 2/3 of this area is public land. GMU 27 has less public land than the other GMUs. Check USFS maps for ATV closures/ restrictions. Hunters around Wolford Mountain (GMU 181 and 27) should be aware that a travel management plan is in place — check with the BLM Kremmling ofﬁce for information. Horses/pack animals are recommended for remote tracts and for Wilderness Areas. The better hunting will be at least 1/2 mile away from roads. There are pockets where hunters overconcentrate. Due to the proximity to Denver, there are many weekend hunters and recreationalists (bikers, hikers, ATVers). Pine beetles have affected more than 90 percent of the lodgepole pine stands in Grand and Summit counties. As a result, ﬁre danger is increased, big game distribution is changing in some areas and logging operations are likely in some spots. DEER All GMUs have good numbers of deer. The buckto-doe ratios continue to increase as a result of limited buck hunting and mild winters. All units are managed for quality bucks. There are good numbers of mature bucks, but they rarely reach trophy status found in lower elevation mountain shrub and mild winter areas. Concentrate on transition zones that have aspen, shrub and coniferous cover in close proximity. Deer tend to move west and down in elevation over the seasons, snow will move them faster and farther. They typically migrate out of GMU 371 with average snowfall.

A limited number of fourth season deer licenses available. ELK Elk are well distributed in all units. Bull to cow ratios are good because the area is fairly steep and heavily timbered. Generally, trophy bulls are rare (a few are taken every year) because bulls are managed for hunter opportunity. With hunting pressure and snow, elk head for the inaccessible timber and private property. GMU 27 has a lot of private land. Hunt the rough terrain and heavy cover away from roads and trails to increase your success.

Glade Park GMU: 40 LOCAL DOW OFFICE Grand Junction 970-255-6100 This 750 square mile unit consists of a relatively Flat summit leading to sloping mesas bisected by deep, rugged canyons. The highest elevation range is approximately 9,800’. Roads provide access to the mesas, but many of the canyons are remote and accessible only by foot or horseback. Weather starts out mild but mud/snow accumulation is likely in later seasons. Early season hunters should favor higher elevations of the USFS land, while later season hunters will do better on the lower BLM lands. Hunters can find many water holes within the dark timber stands on north facing slopes. Elk and deer frequent these areas during warm temperatures and heavy hunting pressure. GMU 40 has a lot of private land, and public access to BLM is often difficult to reach by vehicle. DEER There are some good bucks in GMU 40, but they are difficult to locate. The upper end of the Little Dolores drainage is a great place to find quality mule deer bucks, however there is considerable private land. Late season hunters may have success north of Seiber Canyon to the Colorado River, but it is foot or horseback only in that area. Areas along the Utah border can be good during the rifle seasons, however hunters need to be aware of public land boundaries and the state line. ELK Bulls will be bugling from mid-Sept through first rifle opening weekend. Elk are widely distributed. Most stay high until hunting pressure pushes them to lower elevations and less accessible drainages. Do not hunt areas that have previously received heavy hunting pressure — the elk will not be there. During the rifle seasons, elk hunters can expect to see animals concentrating near Black Pine Reservoir, especially during severe weather events. The more successful hunters do a lot of walking and looking.

Grand Mesa GMU: 41, 42, 421

CWD has been detected in GMU 421

LOCAL DOW OFFICE Grand Junction 970-255-6100

Grand Mesa terrain ranges from high elevation (11,000 feet) spruce/ﬁr forests to low elevation (4,800 feet) pinyon-juniper woodlands. Weather can be rainy or snowy, then warm up and dry out the following day. Roads can become very muddy and 4WD is recommended. There is not a lot of road access in GMU 42. Hunters should be prepared to spend time on foot or horseback. Much of the area is public land. Overall,

rather than trophy status. Hence, trophy bulls are present but relatively rare.

the hunting pressure is heavy. Intensive natural gas development activity is occurring in the Hightower area (GMU 42 and 421). This work includes a major drilling project and a pipeline project. Contact the USFS Grand Valley Ranger District, 970-242-8211 for more details on energy development in this area. DEER Deer hunting is good with the numbers increasing. Deer are found on forest lands and higher elevation private lands during October. The resident deer stay in lower agricultural areas year round. The migrating deer herd begins to move off the forest in mid-November to lower elevations, often to BLM lands. The best deer hunting is at mid elevations (8,500 feet to 9,500 feet), with more buck opportunities in the later seasons. The number of trophy bucks continues to increase. The Battlements can be good in late seasons, but the terrain is rugged. The open country offers good opportunities for those who get out on foot or horseback. ELK The elk herd is well distributed with good hunting success expected. Elk are scattered throughout the forest and on private lands. Most elk stay at higher elevations (8,500 feet to 10,000 feet) in thick timber and oakbrush. There is no migration during the season, movement to the more remote areas is in response to hunting pressure. They will seek classic cover — the heavily wooded, north-facing slopes near water. You will need to get away from the roads. There are lots of legal bulls as the area is managed for quantity of bulls

Roaring Fork GMU: 43, 47, 444, 471 LOCAL DOW OFFICE Glenwood Springs 970-947-2920 This area encompasses the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan and Crystal River drainages. The lower elevations (6500 feet) are primarily developed or agricultural. Timberline is around 11,500 feet and there are 14,000foot peaks in the wilderness areas. Be prepared for daytime highs of 75 degrees dropping to 20 degrees at night. Snow can exceed several feet in the higher elevations and moisture can make roads dangerous or impassible. 4WD is a necessity. About 40 percent of the area is wilderness (Hunter-Fryingpan, Maroon Bells, Raggeds, Collegiate Peaks) and vehicles are not allowed. These rugged areas offer increased hunting success, but require horseback/pack-in camps. Hunting pressure is moderate. There are large blocks of private lands in GMU 43 east of Highway 133 and in the western portion of GMU 444. DEER Deer populations have rebounded in recent years

and hunters are doing well in these units. !e herd size is stable right now, but buck:doe ratios have decreased in some of these areas in recent years. !is herd is concentrated in aspen and oakbrush habitats before the snow flies. Hunting pressure does not generally cause herd movement, but they will move to lower elevation woodlands as snow accumulates. Archery and muzzleloader hunters should head to timberline. Early rifle season hunters should focus on high elevation areas around timberline, Capitol Creek, Haystack Mountain, East Snowmass Creek and Thompson Creek. Later season hunters could try “The Crown,” Holgate Mesa, Williams Hill and Light Hill, but expect to see other hunters in these areas. For a chance at a better than average buck, hunt the west end of GMU 47. Generally, success is better away from roads. ELK Early seasons find elk anywhere from 7500’ to above timberline. With increased hunting pressure and snow, herds tend to move to remote areas or private lands — away from roads and hunters. The wilderness areas are a good bet for success but hunters must hike or horseback in as motorized travel is prohibited. Try Snowmass Creek, Conundrum Creek, Capitol Creek, Avalanche Creek, Maroon Creek, Thompson Creek, Basalt Mountain, Four-mile, the Marble area and the upper Frying Pan drainages. Kobey Park and Sloans Peak are good but deep snow and bad roads should be expected, especially later in the seasons. Some great opportunities for private land cow hunting exist in GMU 43, if you can get permission.

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After the hunt Region packed with plenty of (other) options and attractions to tempt visitors When it’s time for a day off from the ﬁeld, Northwest Colorado has no shortage of amenities to help entertain and relax weary hunters, as well as more sights to help take away any extra breath that wasn’t already spent stomping the woods. COLORADO HUNTER STAFF

Hot Springs Any list of amenities starts with the natural hot springs scattered across the region, all ready to soothe tired legs. If you’re in Steamboat Springs, Old Town Hot Springs, near the corner of Third Street and Lincoln Avenue, provides the most convenient soaking option and a little excitement with its recently remodeled pools and pair of 230-foot slides (www.oldtownhotsprings.org). If you have time, the seven-mile trip to the Strawberry Park Hot Springs north of town on Routt County Road 36 is well worth it. Strawberry Park features a series of natural stone pools tucked into the hillside along Hot Springs Creek (www.strawberryhotsprings.com). If you’re farther west, soak in the same “Healing Waters” springs containing 24 minerals that the Native Americans who once camped near Juniper Mountain would seek. Juniper Hot Springs in Lay, about 25 miles west of Craig, has three indoor pools and one outdoor pool (www.juniperhotsprings.com). Farther south, the new Meeker Recreation Center features a family aquatics area with a four-lane lap pool, diving well, therapeutic whirlpool, water slide, hot tub and lazy river, with extended fall hours to stay open after dark. Don’t forget about the sprawling complex of 22 pools and private baths at the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa right along the Colorado River (www.hotsulphursprings.com). File Photo

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Off-road Riding

File Photo

Endless open space means plenty of options for dirt bike and OHV users. The Sand Wash Basin, about 50 miles west of Craig, offers a Bureau of Land Management-managed area where wild horses still roam. According to the BLM’s Little Snake Field Ofﬁce in Craig, 90 percent of the Sand Wash Basin’s 165,000 acres is open for off-road travel. The Craig ofﬁce (970-826-5000) has visitor’s maps available marking some of the BLM’s inventoried routes in the basin. Jackson County also has plenty of open trails ranging from the vast timber rides in the State Forest State Park, to the 60-plus miles of dirt bike-only singletrack on the Snyder and Willow Creek Trails near Rand and the state’s only OHV sand and open dune riding at the North Sand Hills Special Recreation Management Area. Other public options include the Wolford Mountain area north of Kremmling or the singletrack trails just south of Routt County, between McCoy and Burns as well as the technical trails at the Bocco Mountain SRMA near Wolcott.

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After the hunt Movies and Bowling Simple entertainment never is far. Catch a flick in Steamboat at one of the six auditoriums with stadium seating at the Metropolitan Wildhorse Stadium Cinemas or on Lincoln Avenue at the Carmike Chief Plaza 4 Theater. Craig also has a pair of screens at the recently renovated West Theater at 29 E. Victory Way. If you want to head for the lanes, Thunder Rolls Bowling Center in Craig offers the largest facility in the region. There are another 12 lanes at Steamboat’s Snow Bowl on the west end of town and even six lanes in Walden at Paradise Lanes. Beyond that, the Rifle Fireside Lanes lie just north of Rifle off Colorado Highway 13.

Museums Firearm connoisseurs will surely be interested in taking a look at the Museum of Northwest Colorado. Housed in the historic former Colorado State Armory building, the museum in the heart of downtown Craig showcases the Cowboy and Gunﬁghter Museum as well as a new Craig centennial exhibit and a collection of nearly 1,000 working cowboy artifacts and railroad memorabilia. Meeker visitors can revel in the past with a trip to the historic downtown Meeker Hotel, where Teddy Roosevelt once stayed, as well as a trip to the White River Museum. “It’s free, there’s a lot of homestead goodies and artifacts, the whole story of the Meeker Massacre, and the two ladies that are the curators are very knowledgeable and can cover a lot of genealogy,” said Suzan Pelloni, executive director of Meeker Chamber of Commerce. Other notable museums include downtown Steamboat’s Tread of Pioneers Museum — complete with exhibits exploring Steamboat’s Olympic heritage, ranching roots and outlaw tales from its Wild West past — as well as the quirky and unique collections at Craig’s Wyman Living History Museum.

Museum of Northwest Colorado www.museumnwco.org

Tread of Pioneers Museum www.treadofpioneers.org

Wyman Living History Musem www.wymanmuseum.com

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Sights If you’re heading to or from the 235,406-acre Flat Tops Wilderness Area for your hunt, consider the trip on the 82-mile Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway from Yampa to Meeker. “It’s great just to go check out Trappers Lake, but, especially in the fall, it’s worth it for the pictures you can take of the leaves changing,” Pelloni said, noting that services typically offered by both the Sleep Cat Guest Ranch and the Buford Store and Lodge along the way will be closed due to construction. The other scenic drive worth mention would be the 101-mile

Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic and Historic Byway from Walden to Fort Collins. Stop by the State Forest State Park along the way to ﬁnd out why Walden

has earned the title of “moose-viewing capital of Colorado.” If you’d like to stay closer to town, consider the short but spectacular hike down to Fish Creek Falls just east of Steamboat or the three-mile loop trail up Cedar Mountain, just northwest of Craig, providing great views of the Flat Tops and Elkhead Mountains. If you’re in between the two towns, consider the Carpenter Ranch, where the 1 1/2-mile interpretive trail loop in the Yampa River Preserve (free and open dawn to dusk) gives you a chance to spot some of the Nature Conservancy preserve’s 150 bird species.

File Photo

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Overcoming Teen doesn’t let

debilitating malady

RAY SASSER | Dallas Morning News

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he tale of the tape is final. Texas teenager Ryan Roberts’ Colorado mule deer officially scores more than 253 Boone and Crockett points. Not bad for the 17-year-old’s first mule deer. Off the scale for a young man who was born with a rare debilitating joint malady called Larsen’s syndrome. The condition is characterized by deformities and multiple dislocations of major joints. Like others with Larsen’s syndrome, Ryan has undergone numerous surgeries to fuse his spine and rebuild his knees. Larsen’s syndrome may have slowed down Ryan’s body, said his uncle C.W. Roberts, but it hasn’t slowed his spirit. “My nephew loves sports, and he can tell you more about the Dallas Cowboys, the Mavericks and the Stars than any adult sports fan I’ve ever been around,” C.W. said. “One of his goals is to be a sports writer some day. He obviously can’t play sports because of Larsen’s syndrome, but we got him involved in hunting three years ago, and he’s really taken to it.” In 2007, C.W., Ryan, and his father, James Roberts, were all drawn for limited mule deer permits in a popular hunting unit in southeast Colorado. They hunted with guides on private ranches in late October. C.W. had hunted in that unit the previous season. Because of limited buck harvest and abundant farm crops, he knew the chances for a big deer were good. In fact, C.W. shot a big deer on the first day of the hunt. His buck is a typical 10-pointer with two extra points. It gross scores more than 200 B&C points and is very close to record book quality, itself, but C.W. said the Colorado hunt was about his nephew. “After I’d shot my deer, my guide and I were riding around, and we saw this huge non-typical running with a smaller buck,” C.W. said. “I knew the deer was big,

obstacles stop him from bagging large deer but I only saw him running away, so I didn’t know how big he really was. Bright and early the next morning, we took Ryan back to where we’d seen the big buck.” In Colorado, it’s illegal to shoot from a vehicle unless you have a special permit because of physical limitations. Ryan had the permit. As the hunters drove along, they saw a deer stand up from its bed in high grass. They realized it was the same buck that had been with the big deer on the previous day. Then, just 75 yards away, the target buck stood up beside his companion. C.W. and the guide were hyperventilating. Ryan was the only one in the truck who kept his cool. His rifle shot threaded the needle through a small opening in the high grass and collected the trophy of a lifetime. Boone and Crockett requires trophies to dry for 60 days before they can be officially measured. The club has a minimum requirement of 230 points for a non-typical mule deer to make its all-time records book. Ryan’s deer, with 27 scorable points, long tines and great mass, beat the minimum requirement by more than 20 inches. If the trophy had been entered in B&C’s 26th Big Game Awards held in Fort Worth last summer, it would have ranked 11th among non-typical mule deer taken between 2004 and 2006. “Ryan is a terrific shot, but he’s had to earn everything that he’s gotten,” C.W. said. “He can’t extend his arm far enough to reach the trigger on a normal rifle, so we’ve modified two different rifles for him to shoot. The first was a .22-250, which was too light for mule deer, so we rigged out a .240 Weatherby magnum with a muzzle brake to reduce recoil and a scope with long eye relief to help him acquire the sight picture.” Ryan, a junior at Denton Guyer, still wants to be a sports writer, but he also hopes to expand his hunting horizons, maybe to as far away as Africa.

Special hunters reservations available

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A mule deer buck is bedded down among the tall grass.

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Photo: Wes Uncapher

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Get off the beaten path T

he popular hunting magazines display colorful photographs of huge bull elk standing in open meadows and presenting easy targets. The reality in the mountains of Colorado, however, is far different. Hunting elk is one of the most exciting big-game pursuits in North America. But stalking these animals is challenging, and most hunters won’t get easy shots. “What the hunting magazines show is usually not the case,” says Patt Dorsey, with a slight laugh. An avid big game hunter, Dorsey is also an area wildlife manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. “You’re a lot more likely to ﬁnd elk on a steep hillside in thick timber than out in the

open,” Dorsey said. The success rate for hunting elk in Colorado during 2007 was about 22 percent. That was a little below normal mainly because of the warm weather throughout the seasons. Hunters purchased a total of 227,262 elk licenses. Total harvest was 49,102 elk. The breakdown: 24,137 bulls, 22,529 cows and 2,346 calves. If weather is warm, elk stay at high elevations and in the timber to help them stay cool. Consequently, hunters need to work harder to get shots. When snow falls, they move to lower elevations and bunch up. Elk are very smart animals, Dorsey explains. They quickly sense movement in the woods and at any hint of danger move quickly and hide in rug-

ged, difﬁcult terrain. Compounding the challenge for hunters is the fact that elk typically gather in groups of 10 or more. “That means they have a lot of eyes looking out for each other,” Dorsey says. “They are very communicative and will talk back and forth with barks. If one gets spooked, they’re all spooked and then they’re gone.” Unlike deer, elk are not curious animals — they won’t stop to look at what’s near them.

Elk are a lot more likely to be found on a steep hillside in thick timber than out in the open. Photo: Wes Uncapher

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to find elk “Once elk start running they usually won’t stop until they believe they’re safe. They can easily run for a mile or more,” Dorsey says. To hunt elk, the first thing Dorsey advises is to get off the ATV and walk. It’s rare that a hunter will see an elk from a road during the season — let alone get a shot. When elk start hearing the noise of vehicles they move far away from roads. Elk are most active during the night and are likely to be grazing in transition areas — meadows next to heavy timber, where different types of vegetation meet, just above or below ridgelines. The transition areas provide not only good food sources, but also good escape routes. Hunters should watch those areas at first light and at dusk. During the day, hunters need to move into the dark timber and not be hesitant to hunt in difficult areas. Hunters should move as quietly as possible for short distances, and then scan the woods for 10 minutes or more

before moving again. Even in dense forest it’s a good idea to use binoculars so you can discern subtle movement or colors in the trees. “With binoculars it’s a lot easer to see the tip of an antler, or an unusual horizontal feature in all that vertical,” Dorsey says. If you find the areas where animals graze at night, it’s likely that you’ll find them in adjacent areas during the day. Elk like to remain in one area for most of the day. So a stealthy stalk is the key. Hunters also must be willing to venture into difficult terrain and thick forested areas. When hunting in areas with roads, move far above or far below the roads to find elk. In areas where there are two roads, locate the most difficult terrain in between. Elk will move to lower elevations as the weather cools — but it must be a substantial change. Snow that allows tracking always provides hunters an advantage. Elk usually won’t make a big move to lower elevations until the snow depths are a foot or more. Elk can be found in the mountains

throughout Colorado, but the most renowned area is in the northwest region of the state. The largest herd in the area, 40,000 animals, summers on the pristine high plateau known as the Flattops and migrates 50 miles and more into the vast undeveloped and lower altitude areas of Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties. The areas hold abundant habitat where elk can thrive during the winter when temperatures are relatively mild compared with other areas in western Colorado. “There is a lot of transition mountain brush which they like and plenty of room for them to spread out in the winter range,” says Darby Finley, a terrestrial biologist for the DOW. “They follow the food and there is a lot of it throughout the year.” Colorado is the only state where an elk license can be purchased over-the-counter. That fact draws a lot of hunters to Colorado; but there are enough elk to provide good hunting opportunities for anyone who buys a license. — Colorado Division of Wildlife

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Bill Van Ness 9/9, 6-by-6 bull elk, rack measures 253 1/8 gross with a Mathews Switchback Bow, Buffalo Pass public land.

“At the shot, he bolted but stopped immediately when I cow-called to him — he had no idea what had just happened. Five seconds later, he just dropped. It is never that easy, but I’ll take it after walking and sneaking for miles and miles the previous days.”

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Dave Summers (with guide Perk Heid) 9/1, 5-by-5 bull elk with a Mathew’s Drenalin bow, Mount Shield area public land in GMU 5.

“All I can say about a good outﬁtter who knows the country is, it pays off. We struck up a good friendship, ate well and got on animals every day — that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?”

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Family affair ANDY BOCKELMAN ❘ Colorado Hunter

s the belly of a deer is slit open, its bloody entrails become visible, inducing nausea for some hunters and delight for others. Kelsey Grinstead qualiﬁes among the later. The 16-yearold hunter enjoys the skinning process almost as much as the hunt itself. “I love seeing all the organs,” she said. “Not everybody can handle it, but I think it’s great.” Grinstead has grown accustomed to such sights growing up in a hunting household. Her father, Buddy, has raised her and her brother, Brad, to have an appreciation for the sport. Kelsey described herself as an “outdoor kind of girl,” a trait not shared by many of her 72 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

female friends. “I’m usually the only girl in the group, but it’s always fun to be able to brag to the guys about taking down a deer with one shot,” she said. Since obtaining a license at age 12, she has racked up five kills — three bucks and two cows. Her father fondly remembers her first buck. “She brought it down great,” he said. “It was a perfect heart shot.” The heads of these animals adorn the walls of their Craig home, alongside the trophies claimed by Kelsey’s father and brother. “There’s a lot of competition between me and my brother,” she said. “It’s mostly friendly, but we’re always arguing over who’ll take the first shot and who got the bigger kill.”

Kelsey Grinstead, right, kneels beside her freshly killed cow as friends Brent, left, and Casey Nations, middle, look on. Courtesy photo

Hunting a Grinstead tradition She also tagged along on her family’s excursions before she was 12. “It was fun to go with them even before I could do any shooting,” she said. “I really learned a lot then, especially from my brother’s mistakes.” Kelsey inherited a .243 Ithaca riﬂe from her mother, Tammy, who chooses not to hunt anymore. The “family gun” is part of the larger Grinstead tradition. “One of the reasons we like to hunt is because it’s just a way to spend time together,” she said. “We all love getting outdoors and enjoying nature.” Buddy also is involved in getting other youths interested in hunting. He works as a guide with Craig specialists, Elkhorn Outﬁtters. Elkhorn offers a yearly essay contest open to young hunters across the country. By

writing in about why hunting is important to them and their families, they have the opportunity to join in a trip led by Buddy. “We take as many of them as we can get licenses for,” he said. “We don’t do it for the press or anything like that. It’s just the right thing to do for the right reasons.” Tony Bohrer, a fellow Elkhorn worker, agreed with the importance of giving youths this opportunity. “It gives them a chance to hunt where they normally wouldn’t,” he said. Kelsey participated in the hunt last year, bagging a cow in the process. She will be on an upcoming segment for the Outdoor Channel, discussing the trip. “It was pretty fun,” she said. “It probably didn’t hurt that my dad worked there, though.”

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Reasonable conclusion Outdoor Life ranks Craig among top places for outdoorsmen COLLIN SMITH ❘ Colorado Hunter

hen told the news that Outdoor Life magazine ranked Craig No. 41 on its Top 200 Towns for Hunting and Fishing, locals responded with, “Well, that makes sense.” Among the western mountain towns growing at the base of natural skyscrapers, the little hamlets hidden behind tall trees and old rivers in the American South and all the hills and valleys in between, Craig ranked in the top 50.

A recognition that didn’t surprise anyone in Craig.

Photo: Wes Uncapher 74 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

By the numbers

Outdoor Life’s survey of the Top 200 Towns for Hunting and Fishing included seven Colorado towns, with Craig coming in at No. 41.

The Top Five

Top Five Colorado cities

1. Mountain Home, Ark. 2. Lewiston, Idaho 3. Sheridan, Wyo. 4. Cody, Wyo. 5. Pocatello, Idaho

The abundance of wildlife and public land wasn’t anything new for the people who live here, but maybe the article can spread the word, they said. “That’s a heck of a deal,” Craig Mayor Don Jones said. “I’ll have to go out and get it.” He remembered back when he used to hunt the landscape around Craig and Moffat County, sometimes staking out the hills where the Tri-State power plant and Trapper Mine now cover the horizon with the progress of man instead of wilderness. “I hunted for years and years and years,” Jones said. “I loved it. I really did.” Other residents said they were proud to be named among the nation’s outdoor elite. Craig Sports owner Joe Herod pointed to the banner hanging outside his business. It reads: Craig, Colorado: The Elk Hunting Capital of the World. “I would say we deserve to be up there,”

14. Fort Collins 17. Riﬂe 28. Durango 41. Craig 44. Grand Junction

Herod said. Although he has traveled the country looking for the best hunting grounds, Herod said there’s nowhere he’d rather be than Moffat County. “It’s way better,” he said. Bill Green, a licensed outﬁtter who also runs a private land hunting business north of Craig through Pinnacle Peak Adventures, said it doesn’t matter what they print in magazines. What matters is what the hunters say when they get back from the bush. “Our hunters, a lot of them, are return hunters,” Green said. “For the most part, they love it up here.” The area’s always been pretty popular, Green said, back to the time he was a boy growing up in Routt County. The combination of wildlife and large tracts of public land are something of a winning recipe for outdoorsmen, he said.

“We have a lot of elk, a lot of deer, a lot of antelope, and in the winter, they do a fair amount of mountain lion hunts when you go out west,” Green said. “We’re not short on hunters, either.” Outdoor Life researched every metropolitan area in the country with more than 4,000 residents and judged them based on quality of life, including factors such as the economy, cost of living, job market and outdoor recreation, giving more weight to the latter. Craig came very close to America’s top city, Mountain Home, Ark., but fell short when it came to fishing, according to the survey’s 1-to-10 scale. Craig was the fourth-highest Colorado town on the list, coming behind Fort Collins, Rifle and Durango. “That’s an honor, no doubt,” mayor Jones said. “But I can’t understand us being rated below Rifle.”

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Ranching

for Wildlife Management program gives hunters access to private lands BRIDGET MANLEY ❘ Colorado Hunter

partnership between local landowners and the Colorado Division of Wildlife allows hunters a chance to hunt on private land without paying additional fees. The Ranching for Wildlife program allows Colorado residents to hunt on private lands for no added fee. This year, 23 ranches are enrolled in the program.

The program is a collaboration between the DOW and private landowners to manage the state’s wildlife. Landowners who possess more than 12,000 acres can participate in the program and must meet DOW requirements, which include improving the habitat on their land for both game and nongame animals, according to the DOW’s Web site. The program is open only to hunters who are Colorado residents. By limited license draw, residents can

hunt elk, deer, pronghorn, bear, turkey, moose and bighorn sheep. “The number of licenses on each ranch is determined by negotiations between the landowner and the division,” according to the DOW’s Web site. Hunting licenses granted to hunters for one ranch cannot be used on other ranches in the program. Ranching for Wildlife offers beneﬁts to both the DOW and hunters, division spokesman Randy Hampton said.

Photo: Wes Uncapher

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“The advantage we receive — and the sportsmen receive — from the Ranching for Wildlife program is it provides thousands of licenses to the public to hunt on private land,” he said. Hunting on ranches participating in the program could mean signiﬁcant ﬁnancial savings for hunters. “In many cases, public hunters have to pay thousands of dollars to get access to private land,” he said. However, in the Ranching for Wildlife program, ranches provide hunting access

free of charge to hunters who draw licenses. The program contains a system to identify ranches that meet DOW performance standards. The DOW divides ranches into three tiers, each with a different proportion of private to public hunting tags the ranches receive. On tier A ranches, 90 percent of tags granted are private, while 10 percent are public. Tier A ranches are those that have met four or more of the seven DOW standards, which include habitat management and offering special hunting opportunities

to youths and disabled hunters. Ranches that meet three of the DOW’s seven standards are granted Tier B status. On these ranches, 85 percent of tags granted are private while 15 percent are public. Tier C ranches are granted private to public tags at a ratio of 80 percent to 20 percent. For more information about the Ranching for Wildlife program or for a list of participating ranches, visit http://wildlife. state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/RanchingforWildlife.

Quick facts about Ranching for Wildlife ■ 23 ranches are currently enrolled in the program, providing more than 1 million acres of public access to hunting locations. ■ Livestock grazing systems on about 80 percent of the lands enrolled have been improved. ■ About one-third of enrolled ranches participate in youth hunting opportunities. ■ The program is open only to Colorado hunters.

■ More than 20,000 acres annually have active wildlife habitat improvements applied. ■ About one-third of participating ranches donate hunts to conservation groups for auctions or rafﬂes and proceeds beneﬁt habitat improvement on private and public lands. Source: Colorado Division of Wildlife

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SUNDAY MORNINGS@CRAIG CHRISTIAN CHURCH Contemporary Celebration Service: 8:30 AM Adult Bible Fellowship & Sunday School: 9:45 AM Traditional Worship Service: 11:00 AM At Craig Christian Church, we strive to make every guest a part of our family. We want you to feel at home the moment you walk in the door. What do I wear? The answer is, “whatever makes you comfortable.” Don’t worry about being someone you’re not— just come as you are. We want you to know you matter to us and to God. Good luck this season. We hope to see you at Craig Christian Church.

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Buckskin Network canceled

COLLIN SMITH ❘ Colorado Hunter

n “institution,” as Craig City Councilor Terry Carwile termed the Buckskin Network, is behind the times and being cut loose. The Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Patrol recently made the decision to cease the Buckskin Network program, an AM/FM radio broadcast to transmit emergency messages to hunters in the brush. But that’s old technology. “The reality is that cell phones, in so many cases, are taking over,” DOW spokesperson Randy Hampton said. “If we’re only getting two to three calls a year, it’s just not practical to continue the program.” In addition to cell phones, hunters have started using “family band” radios, Hampton said, which allows hunter base camps to communicate with hunters venturing out a few miles away. Hampton said in his interaction with hunters, many say they use cell phones often while out in the wilderness to call home. “They say they just climb to the top of a hill, usually, and get a hot on a

tower nearby and use their cell phones,” he said. Ken Fleming, 65, has lived between Moffat and Routt counties since he was born in 1943. He now works at Outdoor Connections, a hunting and ﬁshing goods store at 34 E. Victory Way. He agreed with Hampton that many hunters these days can use their cell phones, and usually may be able to ﬁnd signals on tall hills during clear days. However, he said he doesn’t want the Buckskin Network to go away for good. “There’s still people that don’t have that stuff yet,” Fleming said. He added there are some places he hunts where cell phones are useless. “I have a lot of places I go hunting on Great Divide that cell phones can’t be reached,” he said. “And I wonder, ‘what does it cost them?’ If nobody is calling, then it doesn’t cost them anything to offer it, does it?” Hampton said cost was not a major factor in the decision to

stop the Buckskin Network, though it did cost some to pay staff who filled out the reports and maintained contacts with media outlets. “I think government agencies have to look at the amount of time and resources they put into programs, and where there isn’t a need, they should look at reducing those programs,” he said. “For this, there just wasn’t a need anymore.” The DOW still will help people contact hunters in the field, Hampton said, there just won’t be a scheduled Buckskin Network message broadcast. Residents who need to communicate with hunters can call any DOW office. Residents also may call the State Patrol office 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 824-6501.

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Photo: Wes Uncapher

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An elk herd roams the snowy plains during sunset.

Photo: Wes Uncapher

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The economics of tourism

COLLIN SMITH ❘ Colorado Hunter

eople around Northwest Colorado and the state continue to realize the importance of tourism from hunting, Craig resident J.B. Chapman said. “That group of tourists have always brought a lot of money into this area,” he said. “It affects whole communities, whether they keep coming back and how many come each year.” Chapman has several connections to hunting, as a sport and a business. He’s a fourth-generation Moffat County resident who grew up in the outdoors. Chapman also is a member of the hunting advocacy group, Hunting is Tourism, and is a local landowner who has hunters stay on his property each year. One of the chief goals for Hunting is Tourism is to make sure the number of Colorado hunting licenses available to outof-state hunters remains high. Chapman and others are concerned the state will opt to decrease out-of-state licenses in favor of more licenses for Colorado residents. This year, however, there is a more pressing concern, Chapman said. “With the economy doing what it’s doing now, I think everybody is concerned with not so much the percentage or quotas of licenses,

but just getting people here,” he said. Gas is expensive, Chapman said. Food is expensive, Chapman said. How many people can afford a vacation? he asked. Randy Hampton, Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesperson, said the state is aware the economy’s downturn will impact tourism, but ofﬁcials do not believe it will be a large or lasting hit. “Certainly when we see gas prices reach the point they are now, there’s a concern for impact,” he said. “Northwest Colorado is a destination, and it will be less impacted — at least by any loss in hunting tourism — than other places. “Northwest Colorado has such a tremendous wildlife resource, people want to come here to hunt. It is a destination.” There may be fewer people from far-off places, Hampton said, but there also may be more from regional states. Colorado remains the only state with over-the-counter elk licenses, and that is not lost on hunters even when gas hits $4 a gallon. However, Hampton said, many hunters seem more concerned with wildlife mortality from last winter and how that will ﬁgure into reduced license numbers in certain areas. Fewer animals and fewer licenses are two

things not necessarily conducive to successful hunting trips. Hampton said hunters shouldn’t worry too much about either issue. “There were certain areas where mortality was up from previous years (over the winter), but we didn’t see any kind of populationlevel, vastly negative impacts,” he said. Also, reductions in license numbers were mostly limited to cutting licenses that didn’t sell last year, such as some deer tags in the White River area, Hampton said. Chapman, who said it’s important the DOW offer a good number of available licenses, believes dialogue between the DOW, residents, hunters and outﬁtters is critical to ensuring Colorado’s long-term economic health. “We’ve just got to make sure that positive decisions be made to enhance the resource and make sure its sustainable and we can continue to be successful,” he said. “It would be foolish to give out unlimited licenses, also.” Moffat County is not an island, Chapman added. “When people in another part of the United States lose their expendable income, that affects us,” he said. “It’s all connected. It’s all kind of fragile.”

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Mike Homier 9/10, no ofﬁcial measurements for caribou with Homier’s long bow.

“After a successful shot, the obligatory high ﬁves and the numerous pictures, we began the two-day task of carrying all of the meat four miles back to camp.”

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Tom Fox 9/13, Fox’s 70-pound Mathews Drenalin, 100 miles north of Kotzebue, Alaska.

“The next morning, I arrived at the kill site alone. … Everything at the kill site was gone, as if vacuumed from the tundra face. The hair stood up on the back of my neck as I frantically stared into the bush looking for Mr. Grizzly. … Only my imagination can lead me to what, when and who came to my kill site and stole my carcass.”

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Catching up with a Northwest Colorado classic, outfitter No. 22, Ray Heid ay Heid jokes that as the fourth-generation Steamboat Springs resident — who’s now watching his grandchildren grow up as the sixth generation — he almost qualifies as a local. Starting in 1962, Heid spent each hunting season helping his younger brother Delbert develop his North Routt County outfitting business at Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch. Heid, otherwise busy in New Mexico helping the Mescalero Apache Tribe establish

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the Ski Apache resort, took over the operation in 1986. The family continues to run four camps in national forest lands and the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area through seven different hunting seasons, along with year-round horseback and summer pack trips. The fastest septuagenarian telemark skier in the country is quick to relive recent highlights from the two things that matter most, whether it’s tales of

experiencing an elk stampede in hunting grounds he’s been tracking for half a century or of earning the ﬁnal ski turns of the season on Sand Mountain. But his vigor for the outdoors is matched by his skepticism of wildlife management policies that increase the cost and decrease the number of out-ofstate licenses, a move he feels is turning area outﬁtters into “a dying breed.” — Dave Shively

Question

Answer

“

Respect what’s out there, respect the animal. If there’s any one piece of advice, anything, it’s respect this animal. This is his home and he’s a heck of a lot smarter than you are being out there. — Ray Heid

Colorado Hunter: What was your ﬁrst hunt? Ray Heid: The family that lived right across the road from us, Jack and Uintah Raley, she was a Ute Indian. In fact I’ve got a pair of chaps I made that I still wear, where we used her father’s chaps as a pattern. We started making my chaps I think in the year ’49 and ’50. Then I went on my ﬁrst hunt in ’50 down in Rio Blanco. Deer hunting. Have hunted every year since. It was unreal. These old Indians, they’d hunted this for so long. We started from their cabin right at Rio Blanco. We started going west, over the rolling ridges down Piceance Creek. Every time we’d come to a top of a ridge, there’d be a bunch of deer in front of us just going out of sight. We’d come to the top of a ridge and I’d

”

jump off my horse and get my gun out. After about the third time, one of the old Indians, Uintah’s grandfather, said, “Just stay on the horse, boy, pretty soon there’s going to be a big hill in front of us.” Sure enough, we crest the hill and here were all these deer going up the hill in front of us. I shot my ﬁrst buck. They helped me dress it out and put it on my horse and said, “There’s only one thing now, boy.” I said, “What’s that?” He said, “You gotta walk home.” (Laughs) Got to pack the deer home, all the way back.

campﬁre and the tents and it was more the group to get together. And then it went for a while where it was just killing. If you didn’t get a bull, no matter what you showed ‘em, no matter what kind of scenery they got into, they didn’t have a good time. And I’ve noticed the last few years, it might just be the clientele — we’re doing a lot of families and groups that have known each other for a long time — it’s back to being the camaraderie-type thing.

CH: How’s hunting changed since? RH: In the ’50s and the early ’60s, it was

on the out-of-state hunters and losing their revenue, (the Division of Wildlife’s) catering to the California people who’ve moved here and are

camaraderie. You were out there with the

CH: What’s the biggest challenge now? RH: By raising the prices and then cutting back

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Photos by John F. Russell

Question

Answer

residents now, and they’re coming up and saying we don’t want out-of-state hunters. If they’re only giving 20 percent of the tags to out-of state people, we’re not bringing in the thing that keeps the Craig, the Maybell, the Lay, the Meeker — this is their big income for their whole year and yet the DOW is cutting them off … by bowing to the Front Range people and population centers that don’t have to live out here and make a living out here. It’s the small towns in the West that are really getting hurt.

CH: How much are gas prices going to add to that hurt? RH: My philosophy, and I’ve been in the recreation business since ’64, the last dime somebody has, they’re going to spend on

86 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

recreation. They might not buy a million dollar condo, but they’re going to take a vacation and go hunting and go skiing. They’re going to do something that involves recreation and the outdoors.

CH: What’s the greatest reward? RH: The greatest thing is when they show up,

asking, “What time do we do this, what time do we do that?” They get to camp and it’s, “What tent do we sleep in, where’s our tent?” The second night, nobody’s in their tents, they’re all laying up around the campﬁre, looking at the stars. By the third day, they’ve all forgotten watches and what time something happens. By the fourth day, they forgot where they came from. And by the ﬁfth day, nobody wants to leave. And it’s just seeing

that evolution. CH: So why hunt? RH: To get away and do something instinctive. It’s been in our blood thousands of years — in the fall, you start gathering in the meat. It’s just something that’s pretty hard to get away from. Like I said, getting around, the camaraderie around the ﬁreplace, getting up in the morning and scrape the frost off your sleeping bag and start a ﬁre in the tent.

CH: Any advice? RH: Respect what’s out there, respect the animal.

If there’s any one piece of advice, anything, it’s respect this animal. This is his home and he’s a heck of a lot smarter than you are being out there.

A bowhunter crosses the terrain at sunset with deer antlers strapped to his back. Photo: Wes Uncapher

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Amanda Ellis (with husband Miles) 10/5, 310-320 (B & C) with a .270 Winchester Short Magnum, Three Corners Unit, northeast Utah public land.

“I took my time and waited for the biggest bull to turn broadside and took him. My ﬁrst shot hit him in the heart, but he took a few steps, fell down, rolled down the hill and popped back up again. So, I put a second shot in his heart/lungs, and he dropped for good.”

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Christian James Appel (with Dad) 10/20, with a .243 Remington youth riﬂe, private land on Routt County Road 33.

“We stop and my dad looks up and he thinks the deer was a bull. Then he’s like, deer! So, he gets down on all fours, and I shot off his back. I hit it in the bottom of the lungs and broke its shoulder. Then, we did all the usual stuff like gut it and skin it. I kept the heart and gave it to my teacher to dissect in spring.”

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the rest DAVE SHIVELY ❘ Colorado Hunter Beyond the deer and the elk, the next species on most hunters’ lists heading to Northwest Colorado is surely the long-range, open-country hunts for the area’s pronghorn. Darby Finley, wildlife biologist at the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Meeker ofﬁce, said the pronghorn survived the 2007-08 winter well and with healthy animal numbers, the DOW has been able to maintain high license numbers. Pronghorn licenses are unlimited during archery season and by drawing only for the muzzle-loading and riﬂe seasons. “With agricultural development and years of drought conditions on western range lands, the antelope have redistributed on private lands,” Finley said, pointing to the possibility of private licenses leftover from the drawing (on sale Aug. 12) and urging hunters to seek permission to hunt on private property. Colorado law does not require private landowners to post their property with no trespassing

signs or fences, leaving it the hunter’s responsibility to mind property boundaries. Some of the best public land pronghorn hunting comes early, toward the end of the archery season in North Park. “During the rut, the dominant bucks are active, spending time running the sub-dominate males, back and forth and covering a lot of ground trying to keep them away from the harem of does,” Josh Dilley said, highlighting the vast tracts of federal and state public lands across the North Park region’s ﬁve GMUs — a region otherwise known for its tremendous moose habitat.

Northwest Colorado offers a slew of other species options, from pronghorn to grouse Dilley, the district wildlife manager for the Walden East GMUs, also pointed out the scattered pockets of terrain with quality sage grouse hunting across the region. DOW area wildlife manager Jim Haskins said that despite the late winter, the grouse distribution should be about the same as what hunters typically ﬁnd, highlighting the “hot spot” of Hahn’s Peak Basin as one of the best in the state for blue grouse hunting. Other animals often overlooked that thrive in Colorado and provide tremendous opportunities include the sharptailed grouse near Hayden and the cottontail rabbits that populate the area between Craig and Maybell. Haskins also noted that despite the food shortages

from a dry 2007 summer that led to numerous damage calls coupled with the late and heavy winter that likely led to higher winter mortality, the bear population was not negatively impacted to the point of reducing hunting pressure. “Not a lot of people put in for the draw anyway, so there are a lot of leftovers,” Haskins added. When it comes to the area’s predator hunts, the DOW has now made it illegal to hunt mountain lions without a DOW-issued mountain lion education certiﬁcate verifying completion of the Mountain Lion Education and Identiﬁcation Course. Hunters are required to call 888-940-LION for GMU closures prior to any hunting trip — units will close as harvest limits are reached.

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Photo: Wes Uncapher

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Starting them Kansas farmer hopes to introduce youths to hunting BRENT FRAZEE | McClatchy Newspapers

ale Schmidt, 32, still gets excited when he talks about the days of his youth in Kansas hunting country. Growing up on a farm in the central part of the state, he was never far from abundant game. And that played a big part in his childhood. Memories of the days when he would tag along with his dad on duck hunts remain fresh in his mind. He reminisces about the ﬁrst time he went goose hunting; when older hunters taught him how to bring in the birds. And he’ll never forget his ﬁrst pheasant hunt on his own. “I was walking along with my collie, just working a ditch,

when this pheasant got up,” said Schmidt, 32, of McPherson, Kan. “That was the ﬁrst pheasant I had ever kicked up. “When I hit that bird, I couldn’t have been more excited.” Today, Schmidt is dedicated to helping youths discover some of that same excitement. He continues to live close to the land, farming for a living and hunting for a pastime. And whenever he can, he takes youngsters with him on hunts to introduce them to the ways of the outdoors. “I’ve taken a lot of youth out, and it’s so much fun to see them take their ﬁrst pheasant, duck or goose,” he said. “I know how important it was to me when I was younger. Now I’d like to pass that on.” Schmidt has grand plans. He has purchased land and is building wetlands there. He hopes to use that marsh as

young the central part of a guide service he hopes to establish. He wants to include one youngster on each of those guided hunts, whether it be fatherson, grandfather-grandson or whatever. “I would like to guide parties for ducks or geese in the morning, then pheasants in the afternoon,” he said. “That would give them some variety. “I would like to limit it to one youngster per hunt so I could really work with him or her and give them a lot of attention.”

The desired result? One small step in getting more youngsters involved in the sport. A decline in hunter numbers nationwide has been well-publicized this year following the release of a report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Many point to the need to recruit more youngsters into the sport to replace the older hunters who are dropping out. Busier lifestyles, complete with youth sports, video games, shopping malls and other activities, have reduced youth participation rates in hunting over the last 25 years, ofﬁcials say. But hunters such as Schmidt still see hope. “A lot of times, public hunting isn’t a great experience for youth,” he said. “Some of that land gets so many hunters that it can be intimidating for someone just getting started. “But if you can get a young hunter off on private land and show him or her to a good hunt, a lot of times they’re going to want to come back.”

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Young hunters Johnathan and Dakota Uncapher walk through high desert in cowboy gear and hunter orange. Photo: Wes Uncapher

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Dennis Noonan (with Bill Van Ness) 10/20, approx. 330 (B & C gross) with a Blazer 300 Winchester Magnum, public land just outside Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area.

Noonan: “About an hour after light, I looked to my left and saw the body of a large elk with his head hidden behind a low-hanging pine branch.” Van Ness: “I approached Dr. Noonan and he was throwing his arms in the air like he just scored a winning touchdown and was doing a funny little dance, so I knew it had to be good news.”

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Rebecca Troester (with husband Gary) 10/21, about 160 (B & C) with a Ruger M77 .243 caliber, private property outside of Craig in GMU 301.

“We sat in there the whole afternoon, and as it was getting dark, we saw a big buck in a group with, I don’t know, ﬁve or six other deer. It was the biggest. … I shouted, ‘I got my monster,’ … So, we got the guts out from the body, which was gross, but not that big of a deal.”

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GUIDES AND OUTFITTERS * = Colorado Division of Wildlife license agent

4+2T Ranch

Guided archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe hunts for deer and elk from Horse Mountain in the Flat Tops area or for antelope from a desert ranch north of Craig (GMUs 12, 3). P.O. Box 896, Hayden, 970-276-4283, www. huntco4plus2tranch.com. huntco4plus2tranch.co

Adams Lodge Outﬁtters

Primarily elk and deer (archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe) guided, lodge-based and unguided drop-camp hunts in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, wilderness camp at Marvine Lakes available (GMU 24). 200 Rio Blanco County Road 43, Meeker, 970-878-4312, www.adamslodge.com

B.S. Outﬁtters

Primarily elk, deer and antelope trespass-fee hunts on close to 20,000 acres of private and public lands (GMU 3, 301, 4 and 13) with some rustic and improved campsites. 506 Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-6768.

Photo: Wes Uncapher

Back Country Guides & Outﬁtter

Full-service, lodge-based guided archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe elk hunts on a 38,000-acre private ranch. Average year is a 95 percent kill rate (GMU 214 and 441). 32670 Routt County Road 14 (45 minutes northwest from Steamboat), 970-879-3977, www.backcountryoutﬁtter.net.

Badger Creek Outﬁtter

Full-service guided (some trespass for archery) elk and deer hunts on public and private lands (GMUs 11, 211) north of Meeker, archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe seasons with some archery trespass hunts. 7072 Moffat County Road 51, Meeker, 970-824-0227, www.badgercreekoutﬁtter.com.

Bar-H Outﬁtters

Offers elk and deer hunts, fully-guided from tents or cabins, or drop camps, on public forest service lands (GMUs 12 and 24). 2036 Rio Blanco County Road 43, Meeker, 800-230HUNT, www.barhoutﬁtters.com.

Bear Mountain Ranch

Lodge-based, free-range riﬂe hunts on private 10,000acre ranch for elk, deer, antelope, bison and bear (GMUs 17 and 181). 7401 U.S. Hwy 40, Kremmling, 970-724-1154, www. bearmountainranch.net.

Bearcat Outﬁtters

Fully guided or drop-camp elk riﬂe and archery hunts on public and private lands (GMU 12). P.O. Box 110, Craig (28 miles south of Craig), 970-8247958, www.coloradoelkhunts.net.

Beaver Creek Outﬁtters

Craig-based outﬁtter with full-service guided elk and deer hunts (archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe) and drop camps into the Flat Tops Wilderness Area (GMU 12) and other public private lands (GMUs 4, 441 and 214). Also offers wilderness pack trips. 54432 Sandy River Dr., Leonard, Minn., 218-368-3679, www.huntbeavercreek.com.

Beaver Springs

Self-guided, trespass-fee deer and elk hunts 20 miles south of Craig on 80 acres of private land bordering the White River National Forest (GMU 12) with private campground and ﬁshing lake. 908 Ridge Road, Craig, 970-824-2007, http://beaversprings.tripod.com.

Behrman Outﬁtting

P.O. Box 172, Maybell, 970-272-3284.

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Big Gulch Ranching for Wildlife

Full-service and trespass-fee hunts (archery or riﬂe) during 90-day season for elk, deer and antelope on 90,000 acres of private ranch lands. P.O. Box 1342, Craig, 824-6933, www.bgwildlife.com.

Big Rack Outﬁtters & Horseback Adventures

Fair chase guided hunts including deer, elk, antelope, bear and predators on over 30,000 acres with minimal hunting pressure (GMUs 3, 4, 301, 211 and 65). Summer horseback day trips, two-to three-night adventure packages, wagon rides and cattle drives on a working, guest ranch. 42755 Routt County Road 86 (35 miles west of Steamboat), 970-826-4468, www.bigrack.com.

Black Hat Outﬁtters

Bull Basin Guides and Outﬁtters

Elk, mule deer, black bear, antelope and mountain lion during archery, muzzle-loading and rifle hunting seasons, August through January on national forest and private lands. Also offers private fly-fishing program with two options on the prestigious Troublesome Creek and Black Mountain Pond. P.O. Box 1566, Kremmling, 970-724-0417, www.bullbasin.com and www.troublesomeflyfishing.com.

Bulls and Bucks Trophy Elk Hunts

Elk and deer hunting on private lands, with guaranteed preserve hunts 17 miles south of Hayden. Guided and trespass-fee hunts available for archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe seasons and for antelope, mountain lion and bear as well (GMUs 441 and 13). 100 Moffat County Road 30, 970-824-7660, www. bullsandbucks.net.

Kody May guides private-land archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe hunts for elk, deer, antelope and bear on more than 2,500 acres in the Elk River Valley; accommodates hunters of any experience and provides for youths and hunters with disabilities. 6041 S. Pennsylvania St., Centennial, 970-846-8166 or 303-794-2355, www.blackhatoutﬁtters.com.

Fully guided deer, elk and antelope archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe hunts on mostly public lands around Craig and Maybell. 1326 Sequoia Ave., Craig, 970-824-7046.

Buck Mountain Outﬁtters

Chris Jurney Outﬁtting

Fully guided deer, elk and antelope hunts on 8,000 private acres around the Deep Creek and Buck Mountain region. Cabins for hunters on five- to six-day hunts from archery season through late big game rifle seasons. 22990 Routt County Road 54 (15 minutes northwest of Steamboat), 970-870-9665, www.buckmountainoutfitters.net.

Buffalo Creek Outﬁtters

Fully guided, luxury lodge-based riﬂe hunts for elk, deer and moose on 16,000 acres of private land. P.O. Box 2, Rand, 723-8311, www.buffalocreek.com.

Buffalo K Ranch

Bull and cow buffalo hunts offered (bow, pistol, riﬂe or muzzle-loader) year-round (requires no license, fees, or tags). Hunts start at $1,750, lodging included. 15600 W. U.S. Hwy 40, Steamboat (west of Steamboat near Routt County Road 52), 800-371-7888, www.buffalokranch.com.

Buford Guide Service

Fully guided, lodge-based elk and deer hunts on national forest and private lands for (GMUs 23 and 24). The store and gas station will be closed for remodeling this summer, cabins, camping and RV park will all remain open. 24284 Rio Blanco County Road 8, Meeker (20 miles east of Meeker), 970-878-4596, www.bufordstoreandlodge.com.

Charles Mead Outﬁtters

Trespass-fee, semi-guided and fully guided elk, deer, antelope, mountain lion and prairie dog hunts on private ranches around Craig. 574 Legion St., Craig, 970-824-5505, www.cjoutﬁtters. com.

Colorado’s High Lonesome Outﬁtter & Guides

Old fashioned, pack-in style adventure located in the backcountry of GMU 15. Guided and semi-guided elk, deer and mountain lion hunts among 52,000 acres of vast and unspoiled forested terrain in the Flat Tops. P.O. Box 312, Yampa (45 minutes south of Steamboat), 970-638-4239, www.cohighlonesome.com.

Colorado Hunter Services

Trespass-fee elk, deer and antelope hunts (archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe) and cabin rental on private land at lower elevation or public land minutes from cabin accommodations (GMUs 4, 12 and 301). 25 Canvasback Rd., S.C., 866-210-2445 or 866-2105445, www.coloradohunterservices.net

Colorado’s Mountain West Outﬁtting Co.

Trespass-fee elk and deer hunts on 8,000 acres of private lands. P.O. Box 1380, Craig, 970-824-7257, www.primehunts. com.

Colorado Outﬁtters Services

Trespass-fee and semi-guided hunts for elk, deer and antelope (archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe) on private lands near Cedar Mountain and around Craig (GMUs 3 and 301) with some lodging. 501 Cedar Mountain Ave., Craig, 303-288-6268 or 303726-5975.

Colorado Private Ranches

hunts as well as drop camps deep into the wilderness of the Routt National Forest. Elk, deer and bear hunts in GMUs 5, 14, 161 and 214. 55675 Routt County Road 62, Clark (18 miles north of Steamboat), 970-879-3495,www.steamboathorses. com.

Dunckley Peak Outﬁtters & Pack Service

Elk and deer non-guided hunts on 15 private ranches, archery through riﬂe seasons (GMUs 15, 42, 52, 53, 65 and 741). P.O. Box 1244, Winnsboro, La., 71295�Phone 318-4355029 or 318-435-5592, www.coloradoprivateranches.com

Full-service guided archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe bull elk hunts, including drop camps in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area (GMU 231). Horseback riding and ﬁshing trips also available. P.O. Box 935, Craig (30 miles south of Hayden), 970-3268555, www.billscabin.com.

Coyote Creek Outﬁtters

Dusty Trails Outﬁtters

Elk, deer, moose and bear hunts (archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe) by horseback out of Routt National Forest base camp cabin 25 miles southwest of Walden (GMU 17). 5103 Jackson County Road 11, Walden, 970-723-8666 or 970-723-4648, www.coyotecreekoutﬁttersllc.com

Elk, deer, antelope and predator fully- and semi-guided (archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe) hunts and drop-camps in the Black Mountain region (GMU 4). 83250 W. U.S. Hwy 40, Craig (seven miles west of Craig), 970-824-9755

Craig Wild Bunch Guides and Outﬁtters

Eagle’s Nest Outﬁtting

Trespass-fee with tent and guided elk and deer hunts (archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe) to 3,800 acres of private land north of Craig (GMU 4) adjacent to the Routt National Forest. 3386 Moffat County Road 7, Craig, 970-824-9334, www. elk-craigwildbunch.com.

Deluxe drop camps and semi-guided hunts in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area (GMU 24) during archery, muzzleloading and all four elk and deer riﬂe seasons. P.O. Box 1168, Craig (20 miles east of Meeker), 970-8264383, www.eaglesnestoutﬁtting.com.

Cross Mountain Adventures

Specializing in premier, lodge-based guided archery hunts, averaging close to 80 percent opportunity on 23,000 acres of private land around town of Oak Creek with limited pressure. Guided elk and deer trips run through big-game archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe seasons. P.O. Box 775792 (base of Rabbit Ears Pass), 888-4168102 www.eaglespiritoutﬁtters.com.

Offers fully guided elk, deer and antelope hunts on 60,000 private deeded acres on two ranches. Bird, prairie dog and predator hunting, horseback and ﬁshing day trips also available. 1280 Industrial Ave., Craig, 970-824-2803, www.crossmountainranch.com

Dave Parri’s Outﬁtting and Guide Service

Full-service, base camp and drop camp elk and deer hunts and pack service offered for the archery, muzzleloading and rifle big game seasons into the heart of Troublesome Basin (GMU 18). Guided fly-fishing trips also available. P.O. Box 254, Hot Sulphur Springs, 970-725-3531, www. traditionalelkhunt.com

David R. Seely Outﬁtting

Fully guided ﬁve-day riﬂe hunts for elk (some deer) on private property bordering national forest lands (GMUs 12 and 13). 1826 Colo. Hwy 394, Craig, 970-824-4288.

Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch

Del’s has been in continuous operation in North Routt County since 1962, offering both full-service, ﬁve-day

Eagle Spirit Outﬁtters

Elk River Guest Ranch

Customized unguided hunting packages to vast public lands in the Routt National Forest, archery through second elk and deer riﬂe season. 29840 Routt County Road 64, Clark (18 miles north of downtown Steamboat), 970-879-6220 or 800-750-6220, www.elkriverguestranch.com.

Elkhorn Outﬁtters *

Access to over 120,000 private-leased acres to hunt a 90day bull season as a DOW Ranching for Wildlife partner. Archery, riﬂe and muzzle-loading guided hunts offered for mule deer, elk and antelope. Horseback riding, cattle drives, sporting clays, wildlife viewing and photography rides also available. 37399 N. Colo. Hwy 13, Craig, 824-7392, www.elkhornoutﬁtters.com.

Fish & Cross Ranch / Pack Country Outﬁtters

In Yampa at the base of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, this historic working cattle ranch offers full-service guided backcountry hunting trips and some limited dropcamp/self-guided hunts, archery through rifle seasons on national forest and private lands. Horseback rides, guided fishing trips, guided wilderness/wildlife photo hikes and cattle drives also available. 24300 Routt County Road 11, Yampa (45 minutes south of Steamboat), 970-638-1064 www.fishandcrossranch.com and www.packcountryoutfitters.com.

Five Springs Ranch Guide and Outﬁtters

Fully guided hunts for deer, elk, antelope and bear, starting in August archery season and running through riﬂe seasons to December on 7,000 acres of leased private land. 29550 Colo. Hwy 131, Steamboat (10 miles south of intersection with U.S. Hwy 40), 970-879-0868, www.5springsranch.com. Frosty Acres Ranch Mostly trespass-fee elk, deer and antelope hunts (archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe) on 15,000 private acres of GMUs 4 and 301, with private lodging. 41380 N Colo. Hwy 13, Craig, 970-824-8935, www.frostyacresofcraig.com.

Great Divide Elk Hunts

Elk hunting preserve with guaranteed trophy bull success offers riﬂe, muzzle-loading, pistol and limited archery hunts. 7473 Moffat County Road 15, Craig, 970-824-3731, www. greatdivideelkhunts.com.

H & H Processing & Outﬁtting

“Guided gourmet hunts,” for deer, elk, antelope and mountain lion (archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe) on private land in GMUs 22 and 23. 68656 Colo. Hwy. 64, Meeker (7 miles west of Meeker), 970-878-5126 or 970-878-5151.

Hester Hunting Company

Deer, elk, moose, antelope, bear, sheep, goat and mountain lion hunts during archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe seasons. All hunts lodge-based and fully guided, with some overnight spike camps. 1367 Eagle Ave., Kremmling, 970-724-9746.

Homestead Hunts

Offers and semi-guided and trespass-fee elk, deer and antelope hunts on private property near the Great Divide area. 2050 Chapman Lane, Craig, 970-824-8549, www.homesteadhunts.net.

J – T Ute Outﬁtters

Fully guided, camp-based hunts for elk, deer and bear to eight camps in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area (GMU 24) as well as pack services, drop camps, horse rentals and guided horseback rides. 960 Rio Blanco County Road 12, Meeker, 970-878-3448, www.jaybarteeute.com.

J.C. Trujillo Guide & Outﬁtter

Fully guided horseback elk and some deer hunts on public land in Bunker Basin (GMU 12). 54768 Rio Blanco County Rd. 8 (28 miles south of Hayden), 970-276-3300 or 928-717-9360.

JML Outﬁtters

Year-round outfitting business offers elk, deer, bear pack-in, drop-camp hunts on public forest service lands camps during archery, muzzle-loading and rifle seasons (GMU 24). Pack trips, fishing and trail rides also available. 300 Rio Blanco County Road 75, Meeker (30 miles east of Meeker), 970-878-4749, www.jmloutﬁtters.com.

James Creek Outﬁtters

Photo: Wes Uncapher

Elk, deer and mountain lion fully guided hunts (archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe) on public BLM and private land at the historic Durham Ranch (GMUs 12 and 13). 396 Colo. Hwy 13, Meeker, 870-824-6939, www.jamescreekoutﬁtters.com.

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Photo: John F. Russell

Jeffcoat Ranch & Outﬁtters

Trespass-fee elk and deer hunts on private lands. P.O. Box 97, Hamilton, 970-824-3757.

Kawcak Farms

Elk, deer and antelope trespass-fee hunts in GMU 4. 3699 Moffat County Road 13, Craig, 970-824-7161

Last Chance Ranch

Cabin-based, self-guided and drop-camp elk and deer hunts on private land, along with access to public lands of GMUs 131 and 231 in the Routt National Forest. 17825 Routt County Road 29, Oak Creek, 970-736-8564, www.colastchanceranch.com.

Lone Tom Outﬁtting

Elk, deer, mountain lion and antelope lodge-based hunts (archery, muzzle-loader and riﬂe) and drop camps on public and private lands. Also offers ﬁshing and pack trips and horse rentals. 12888 Rio Blanco County Road 8, Meeker, 970-878-5122, www.lonetom.com.

motorized public BLM land (GMU 26) during archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe big game seasons. Also offers trail rides and wild game meat processing. 2834 Luark Rd., Burns, 970-653-4324, www.luarkranch. com.

M&M Outﬁtters

Fully guided, lodge-based elk and deer hunts on private lands near Hamilton as well as mountain lion hunts on public and private lands. (GMUs 12, 13, 2, 201 and 211). P.O. Box 1020, Craig, 970-824-5812

Majestic Trophy Outﬁtters

Fully guided and semi-guided archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe hunts for deer, elk antelope and predators on 2,500 private acres of scrub oak and mixed terrain 20 miles south of Craig (GMU 12, antelope in 3 and 301). Also offers interpretative ATV tours and survival classes for all ages. 215 Bilsing St., Craig, 970-826-4311, www.trophy-outﬁtters.com.

Middle Creek Ranch / Middle Creek Ranch Outﬁtters

Longshot Ranch

Provide housing, ﬁrst-class cooking, meals and guides for hunting guests. Open for all big game and archery and riﬂe seasons on 8,000 private acres of mountainous and open-meadow combined terrain. 28310 Routt County Road 31, Oak Creek (25 miles south of Steamboat), 970-879-7353.

Lost Solar Outﬁtters

Myers Hunting Services

Trespass-fee hunts during big game seasons on 45 acres of private land bordering public BLM land. 28925 Routt County Road 14, Steamboat Springs, 970879-4026. Drop camps and full-service guided hunts, archery through big game riﬂe seasons (GMU 24) into the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. P.O. Box 513, Meeker, 970-942-3000 or 970-878-4220, www.meekercolorado.com/lostsolar.

Louisiana Purchase Ranch Outﬁtters

Elk, mule deer and bear fully and semi-guided hunts on over 20,000 acres of public and private lands 43 miles southwest of Craig (GMUs 11, 211). P.O. Box 206, Meeker, 970-272-3006, www.louisianapurchaseranch.com

Luark Ranch & Outﬁtters

Rents cabins and horses, drop-camps and packing services to 2,400 acres of private and adjacent, non-

98 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

Guided elk and mule deer hunts on public land and the private Gilmar Ranch, 14 miles south of Craig on the Williams Fork River and other adjacent private ranch lands (GMUs 12, 13 and 231). 6148 Colo. Hwy 317, Hamilton, 970-824-9317, www. lazy-v-box.com.

Nine Mile Guest Ranch

Bull and cow elk, mule deer and combination hunts, archery or riﬂe available on private lands. Now offering a fourth season one-on-one trophy mule deer hunt for Unit 22. 50735 Colo. Hwy 13, Meeker, 970-878-4656, www. ninemileguestranch.com.

Oak Ridge Outﬁtters

Guided and non-guided elk and deer hunting (archery,

muzzle-loading and riﬂe) on private lands (GMU 23). P.O. Box 631, Meeker, 970-878-5822, www.meekercolorado.com/oakridge.

Pinnacle Peak Adventures

Offers guided elk, deer and antelope hunts on 6,000 acres of private lands (GMU 4). 2951 Moffat County Road 18N, Craig, 970-824-9269, www.huntpinnacle.com.

PT Outﬁtters

Private land hunts for elk, antelope, deer and bear (GMUs 27, 18, 181). 129 Grand County Road 12, Kremmling, 866-7243616.

R & R Ranch of Colorado

Maybell lodge-based elk, mule deer and antelope guided and semi-guided riﬂe hunts on private 27,000-acre ranch (GMUs 11 and 211). 10202 SW 138 St., Archer, Fla., 352-538-7094, www. rrranchco.com.

Raftopoulos Ranches

Guided archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe hunts offered in the premier GMUs 2 and 201 for trophy bull elk, mule deer and antelope based out of historic lodge at base of Diamond Peak. 2991 Pine Ridge Dr., Craig, 970-824-9501, www.trophyelk-hunting.com.

Red Feather Guides & Outﬁtters

Gould-based outﬁtter offers deluxe horseback-guided wilderness hunts, archery through second riﬂe season for deer, elk and moose. Fishing, horseback riding and camping trips available. 49794 Colo. Hwy 14, Walden, 970-723-4204 (summer and fall) or 970-524-5054 (winter and spring), www. redfeatherguides.com.

Reeder Creek Ranch

Offers some fully guided archery, muzzle-loading and rifle hunts for elk and mule deer, (GMU 28) from family-operated working ranch focusing on private fly-fishing trips. 137 Grand County Road 39, Kremmling, 970-531-2008, www.reedercreek.com.

Rim Rock Outﬁtters

Guided elk, deer, mountain lion, bobcat, antelope and prairie dog hunts and drop camps in GMUs 10, 21 and 22 and eastern Utah. P.O. Box 223, Rangely, 970-675-2619 or 800-465-7501, www.coloradorimrockoutﬁtters.com.

Rocky Mountain Ranches

Specializing in trespass-fee, non-guided big game hunts and drop camps for deer, elk, and antelope on private ranch lands. 466 S. 16th Ave., Brighton, 303-855-0451 or 846-1147, www. rockymountainhunting.com.

Sarvis Creek Outﬁtters

Guided archery, muzzle-loading and rifle elk and deer hunts and drop camps with exclusive outfitter rights to 90 square miles of the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area (GMU 15). Fly-fishing trips also available. 1625 Mid-Valley Drive No. 1, Box 95, Steamboat Springs, 970-819-5636, www.sarviscreekoutfitters.com.

S & K Outﬁtting & Guide Service

Trespass-fee and fully guided elk, deer and antelope hunts on private lands (GMUs 13, 211) during archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe seasons. P.O. Box 731, Craig, 970-824-4932, www.s-koutﬁtting.com.

Saddleback Ranch

Deluxe accommodations at the Double Dollar Lodge for elk and mule deer guided hunts on 8,000-acres of private land on family-owned working cattle ranch, August through fall riﬂe seasons. 37350 Routt County Road 179 (15 miles west of Steamboat), 970-879-3711, www.saddlebackranch.net.

Sable Mountain Outﬁtters

Elk, deer and bear hunts (wilderness drop camps and guided) on public lands in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area (GMUs 23, 24 and 33). Also offers horseback, pack and ﬁshing trips and horse rentals. 5100 Rio Blanco County Road 4, Meeker, 970-878-4765, www.sablemountainoutﬁtters.com.

Sage Brush Hunting Adventure

Elk and deer hunts (archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe) on three private ranches (GMUs 11 and 211) including the 1,255-acre Golden Derrick Ranch, which borders a 30,000-acre BLM wilderness study area. 5455 Rio Blanco County Road 7, Meeker, 888-336-4965 or 970-878-5534, www.coloradobiggame.com.

Seely Hunting Services

Fully guided elk and deer riﬂe hunts on limited-access private property along the South Fork of the Williams Fork River, in business since 1969 (GMU 12). P.O. Box 1040, Craig, 970-824-5539 or 970-824-9474, http://seelyhunting.com.

Sheep Creek Ranch Outﬁtters

Guided elk, deer and bear hunts (archery, muzzle-loading or riﬂe) on 11,000 acres of public and private lands in GMU 22. P.O. Box 2463, Meeker, 970-878-4757, www.huntsheepcreekranch.com.

Shelton Ranch

Lodge-based, full-service elk and deer hunts (archery, muzzleloading and riﬂe) on 7,000 private acres (GMUs 11 and 211) 15 miles south of Maybell with access to public land. 10955 Moffat County Road 57, Maybell, 970-272-3553, www. sheltonranch.com.

Silver Creek Outﬁtters

Fully and semi-guided hunts and drop-camps offered primarily for elk and also deer and mountain lion on rugged national forest service public lands. 33710 Lariat Trail (25 miles south of Steamboat), 970-8465877, www.silvercreek-outﬁtters.com.

Skiles Guest & Hunting Ranch

Elk and deer trespass-fee hunts offered on 800 private acres and adjacent public lands in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area from the base of Dome Peak. Horse rental and packing services available. P.O. Box 12, Burns, 970-653-4329, www.skilesranch.com.

Sombrero Ranches

Rents horses for all hunting seasons, including tack and delivery/pick-up within a 50-mile radius of one of the

Sombrero camps. Guided deer and elk hunts from the Williams Fork Hunt Camp for archery through riﬂe seasons in addition to four drop camps in the Routt National Forest (GMU 12). Craig Ranch — 781 Moffat County Road 15, Craig, 970824-3468; Steamboat Stables — 835 Howelsen Parkway, Steamboat (base of Howelsen Hill, behind the rodeo grounds), 970-879-2306; Meeker White River Horse Camp — 12900 Rio Blanco County Road 8, Meeker, 970-878-4382 or 303-442-0258, www.sombrero.com.

Steamboat Lake Outﬁtters *

Fully guided, cabin- and tent-based elk and deer hunts as well as drop camps (archery, muzzle-loading and rifle) to both private lands and deep into the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area (GMUs 14, 214 and 131). Also offers horseback riding, pack trips and guided fishing and ATV tours. Fuel, lodging, convenience store, bar and restaurant all located on site. 60880 Routt County Road 129, Clark, 970-879-4404 or 800342-1889, www.steamboatlakeoutfitters.com.

Sunset Ranch

Offers big-game hunting trips and drop camps to the Swamp Park region, Mad Creek Lakes and Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area in the Routt National Forest. Multi-day ﬁshing and sightseeing wilderness pack trips also available. 29420 Elk Horn Lane (three miles north of Steamboat), 970879-0954, www.sunsetranchinc.com.

Superior Guide Service

Offers elk and deer archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe hunts on over 13,000 acres of private ranch land (GMU 12 and 211) from two lodges as well as multi-day pack trips and horse rentals. 5801 Colo. Hwy 394, Craig, 970-824-4767, www.wehuntcolorado.com.

Walz Guide Service

Fully guided elk, deer and antelope hunts on Deakins Ranch with 26,000 acres of private land in GMU 301 and 50,000 acres in GMU 2 of this DOW Ranching for Wildlife partner. P.O. Box 1118, Craig, 970-826-9814, www.walzguideservice. com.

Welder Outﬁtting Services

Family-owned outfitter offering full-service guided elk and deer hunts in the Flat Top Wilderness Area as well as drop and setup camps. Pack and fishing trips also available. P.O. Box 823, Meeker, 970-878-4559, www.flattops.com.

Whispering Pine Outﬁtters

Guided and semi-guided elk, deer and antelope hunts on over 50,000 private acres for this Ranching for Wildlife program partner. P.O. Box 472, Craig, 824-9450, whisperingpineoutﬁtters.com.

Wilderness Tracks

Fully guided hunts and drop camps for elk, deer, antelope, mountain lion and small game on public and private lands in GMU 4. 1192 N. Johnson Rd., Craig, 970-824-7874.

Williams Peak Ranch

Guided deluxe lodge-based hunts (archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe) for elk, deer and antelope on 7,500 acres of private land. 1330 Grand County Road 315, Parshall, 970-725-3242, www. williamspeakranch.com.

Yampa Valley Outﬁtters

Fully guided elk, deer and antelope riﬂe hunts on 1,040 acres of private land and 3,000 permitted acres on public BLM land (GMU 3) with seven, handicap-accessible, two-storied shooting houses. P.O. Box 910, Craig (nine miles north of Maybell), 970-8242102 or 706-595-1044.

T & D Outﬁtters

Fully guided deer and elk riﬂe hunts on over 1,650 private acres in the Isles Mountain area outside of Craig (GMU 211). P.O. Box 443, Pine, 303-618-2329 or 720-217-9500, www. tanddoutﬁtters.com.

Three Forks Ranch

All-inclusive deer, elk and antelope hunts on 50,000 private acres surrounded on three sides by national forest offered by Ranching for Wildlife program partner (GMU 5). P.O. Box 69, Savery, Wyo., 970-583-7396, www.threeforksranch.com.

Topgun Outﬁtters

Archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe elk and bear hunts on private lands (GMU 211). 108 Reigel School Rd., Rimesburg, Pa., 814-229-4514, www. topgunoutﬁtters.com.

Triple Track Hunting

Elk, deer, antelope and predator hunts, private land trophy and management hunts, guided and unguided drop camp hunts as well as trespass-fee hunts on private lands. P.O. Box 91, Hamilton (20 miles north of Meeker), 970-7565000, www.tripletrackllc.com.

Triple-O-Outﬁtters

Archery, muzzle-loading and riﬂe hunts for elk, deer and antelope (guided in elevated stands or unguided) on public BLM and private lands (GMU 12, 13, 2, 201 and 211). Also offers ﬁshing, nature photography trips and cabin rentals. 448 Moffat County Road 41, Hamilton, 970-824-6758, www. coloradooutdoors.com.

Trophy Mountain Elk Ranch

Private game hunting preserve with over 3,000 acres for guided trophy bull elk hunting. Bison, turkey and deer hunts also available. 4000 Jackson County Rd. 4, Cowdrey (22 miles north of Walden), 723-4000, www.trophymtn.com

Vanatta Outﬁtters *

Ranching for Wildlife program partner features September through December hunt dates for elk and deer along with August through November hunt dates for antelope including 17,000 prime acres of public and private land at 4 Mile Ranch. P.O. Box 771710, Steamboat, 879-6164, www.vanattaoutﬁtters.com.

Photo: Wes Uncapher

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GEAR, GOODS AND SUPPLIES Aspen Sporting Goods & Video Rentals *

Hunting, ﬁshing and camping equipment and some apparel, knives and maps. 417 Byers Ave., Hot Sulphur Springs, 970-725-0097.

Backdoor Sports

Backpacking gear and offers rentals for tents, stoves and backpacks. 841 Yampa St., 970-879-6249, www.backdoorsports. com.

BAP!

Outdoor retail shop and outlet store for BAP! (ﬂeece apparel), Big Agnes (sleeping pads, bags and tents) and Honey Stinger (energy bars and gels) also sells other gear and clothing from manufacturers like Smith Optics to Smartwool. 735 Oak St., Steamboat, 879-7507, www.bwear.com.

Bear River Valley Co-op *

Offers some hunting apparel. 193 E. Jefferson Ave., Hayden, 970-276-3313.

Bucking Rainbow Outﬁtters *

Steamboat’s only Orvis-endorsed outfitter with full-service fly shop specializes in guided fishing trips and sells some maps, knives, outfitting packs and boots. 730 Lincoln Ave., 879-8747 or 888-810-8747, www. buckingrainbow.com.

Craig Sports *

For nearly 50 years Craig Sports has sold guns and ammunition, archery, muzzle-loading and re-loading equipment and supplies, with some camping and ﬁshing equipment. 1598 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-4044, www. craigsports.net.

Elk River Guns *

Full-service shooting sports center with ﬁrearms, gunsmithing, ammunition, spotting scopes and binoculars, rangeﬁnders and hunting accessories. 1320 Dream Island Plaza, Steamboat, 970-879-7565.

Fishin’ Hole Sporting Goods

Fly shop with ammunition, archery and muzzle-loading equipment and camping equipment. 103 W. Park Ave., Kremmling, 970-724-9407

High Country Sports *

Basic hunting equipment including ammunition, camping and ﬁshing supplies and Routt National Forest maps 491 Main St., Walden, 970-723-4648.

Kremmling Mercantile *

Groceries, blaze-orange apparel and some camping supplies. 101 Martin Way, Kremmling, 970-724-8979.

MJK Sales & Feed *

Ammunition, binoculars and scopes, camping equipment and cookware with some camouﬂage apparel, boots and clothing, as well as certiﬁed hay. 290 Ranney St., Craig, 970-824-6581.

Photo: Wes Uncapher

Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply *

Ammunition, ﬁshing and hunting licenses, cookware, coolers, deer carts, sleds, camping gear, knives, saws and a full line of Carhartt and Murdoch’s hunting clothes. Pack saddles and bridles, blaze-orange halters, blankets, tire chains and shovels. 2355 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-4100, www.murdochs. com.

North Park Anglers *

North Park’s only full-service ﬂy shop sells maps of the Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests with a selection of shirts, hats and jackets. 524 Main St., Walden, 723-4215, www.northparkanglers. com.

North Park Supers *

Grocery store with sporting goods section including a variety of camping equipment. 33482 Hwy 125, Walden, 970-723-8211.

Northwest Pawn Shop *

One of the largest selections of ﬁrearms in northwest Colorado with a huge selection of ammunition, archery equipment, knives, cleaning and reloading supplies and camouﬂage apparel as well. 801 E. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-2962.

Outdoor Connections *

Sporting goods store with archery pro shop, muzzle-loading firearms, rifles, maps, camping and fishing equipment, ammunition, live bait and predator calls. 34 E. Victory Way, Craig, 824-5510.

Planet Powersports

Master Bait & Tackle *

Maps for GMUs 28, 37 and 18, some camping essentials, ﬁshing lures, gasoline, liquor, hats and T-shirts. 6875 Summit County Rd. 30, Heeney, 970-724-3677.

Rents ATVs on daily and weekly bases as well as Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Maps and riding information as well as helmet rentals and on-site delivery available. 2989 Riverside Plaza, Steamboat, 879-5138, www.planetpowersports07.com.

Maybell Store *

Powderhorn Cabins *

“Conveniently located in middle of nowhere,” this general store has basic game bags, calls, camping, hunting and ﬁshing equipment and supplies with some ammunition, gasoline, propane, blocked and crushed ice, meats, produce and dairy. 60311 U.S. Hwy 40, Maybell, 970-272-3262.

Montgomery’s General Merchandise *

Sells groceries, ammunition, licenses, maps and sporting goods. 24 Main St., Yampa, 970-638-4531.

100 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

Lodging general store with ice and some ﬁshing and hunting supplies. 35336 Jackson County 21, Walden, 970-723-4359.

Rocky Mountain Bowstrings *

Full line of high-end archery equipment, camouﬂage and traditional bows with a selection of clothing and some camping supplies, optics and cutlery. The full-service shop features a 20-yard, eight-lane indoor archery range on site. 696 Main St., Meeker, 970-878-4300, www.rockymountainbowstrings.com.

Ski Haus International

Camping, hiking and backpacking gear and boots with sleeping bag, pack and tent rentals. Broad selection of maps and guidebooks including USGS quad maps. 1457 Pine Grove Rd., 970-879-0385 or 800-932-3019, www. skihaussteamboat.com.

Spiro’s Tradin’ Post *

Liquor, movies and quality ﬁshing, camping and hunting supplies including knives, arrows, ammunition and maps. 107 Main St., Oak Creek, 970-736-2443.

Sports Authority *

Riﬂes, shotguns and ammunition, knives, hunting gear and clothes as well as camping equipment. 705 Marketplace Plaza S, Steamboat, 970-871-4570, www. sportsauthority.com.

Steamboat Flyﬁsher *

Quick-dry apparel, boots and socks and maps along with the shops comprehensive selection of fly-tying equipment and materials. 507 Lincoln Ave. 879-6552, www.steamboatflyfisher.com.

Straightline Sports *

The oldest ﬂy-ﬁshing guide service and shop in Steamboat also has boots, shoes, maps, knives and some camping equipment. 744 Lincoln Ave. 879-7568; 800-354-5463, www.straightlinesports.com.

Timberline Builders Supply *

Some camping equipment and ammunition. 209 N. Main St., Walden, 970-723-4422

Toponas Country General Store *

Game processing, cold storage, dry ice, some ammunition, blaze-orange vests and some camping and ﬁshing equipment. Also sells ice, gasoline, diesel fuel, propane and liquor, with ATM on site. 10000 Colo. Hwy 131, Toponas, 970-638-4483.

Tri-River Home Building Center *

Ammunition, knives, camping supplies, propane and a full line of Carhartt clothing including jackets and boots. 720 Tyler Ave., Kremmling (right on Colo. Hwy 9), 970-7249325, www.tri-river.com.

Wyatt’s Sports Center *

Ammunition, scopes and binoculars, slings, knives, hatchets, clothing, maps, camping equipment, stoves and boots. 223 Eighth St., Meeker, 970-878-4428.

MEAT PROCESSING AND TAXIDERMY

CDOW Glenwood Springs ofﬁce

All Seasons Taxidermy

CDOW Steamboat Springs ofﬁce / service center

2354 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat, 970-870-8520.

American West Taxidermy

45 Grand County Road 12, Kremmling, 970-724-9321.

Antler Taxidermy

369 Market St., Meeker, 970-878-3365, www.professionalsofafrica.com.

Axis Leather Works

802 E. Second Place, Craig, 970-824-3256 or 800-3288767, www.axisleather.qpg.com.

B & L Quality Taxidermy

1744 Lincoln Ave., Taylor Building #2, Steamboat, 970879-1316.

Big Cat Taxidermy

Colo. Hwys 6 and 24, Glenwood Springs, 970-947-2920

CDOW Meeker ofﬁce / service center P.O. Box 1181, Meeker, 970-878-6090

925 Weiss Dr., Steamboat, 970-870-2197

CDOW Hot Sulphur Springs ofﬁce / service center

346 Grand County Road 362, Hot Sulphur Springs, 970725-6200

Corkles Mini Mart

597 Main St., Walden, 970-723-4733

Fredrickson Contracting

80 E. 4th St., Craig, 970-824-6401

Hayden Mercantile

111 N. Sixth St., Hayden, 970-276-3922

Kmart

80 E. Fourth St., Craig, 970-824-9624, www.bigcattaxidermy.com.

1198 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-2966

Brothers Custom Processing

2521 Jackson County Rd. 7A, Walden, 970-723-3226, www.lakejohnresort.com

383 East First St., Craig, 970-824-3855.

Bullseye Taxidermy

Lake John Resort Loaf ‘N Jug Store

1445 Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-826-2997, www.bullseyetaxidermy.com.

101 W. Brontosaurus Blvd., Dinosaur, 970-374-2461

Crazy 3 Tannery

53337 Colo. Hwy 14, Walden, 970-723-4310, www.koa. com/where/co/06117/

1480 N. Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-6063, www. crazythreetannery.com.

North Park / Gould / Walden KOA

Custom Quality Meats

Rangely Exchange (The Flowersmith Exchange)

Horne Taxidermy

Rangely True Value Hardware

1430 N. Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-4668. 2036 Rio Blanco County Rd. 43, Meeker, 800-230-4868, www.hornetaxidermy.com.

Kremmling Wild Game Processing

5240 Grand County Road 22, Kremmling, 970-724-3759, www.kremmlingwildgame.com.

Laura’s Corner *

637 E. Main St., Rangely, 970-629-5607 or 970-6752800.

Mountain Man Taxidermy

1176 Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-4910, www.mtnmantaxidermy.com.

Mountain Meat Packing

291 Lincoln St., Craig, 970- 824-4878.

Purkey Packing Plant

73215 Colo. Hwy. 64, Meeker, 970-878-5501.

Steamboat Meat & Seafood

1030 Yampa St., Steamboat, 970-879-3504, www. steamboatseafood.com.

OTHER LICENSING AGENTS City Market

505 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-6515 1825 Central Park Plaza, Steamboat, 970-879-3290

Clark Store

54175 Routt County Road 129, Clark, 970-879-3849

Colorado Division of Wildlife Northwest Region Service Center

711 Independent Ave., Grand Junction, 970-255-6100

513 E. Main St., Rangely, 970-675-8842

105 W. Main St., Rangely, 970-675-2454

Safeway Food & Drug

1295 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-9496 37500 E. U.S. Hwy 40, Steamboat, 970-879-3766

Samuelson True Value Hardware & Lumber 43900 Colo. Hwy 13, Meeker, 970-878-3528

Samuelson True Value Hardware 456 Breeze St., Craig, 970-824-6683

Seven Lakes Lodge

36843 Rio Blanco County Rd. 17, Meeker, 970-878-3249, www.sevenlakeslodge.com

Shop & Hop Food Store

35775 E. U.S. Hwy 40, Steamboat, 970-879-2489

State Forest State Park

56750 Colo. Hwy 14, Walden, 970-723-8366

Stagecoach Lake State Park (marina) 25500 RCR 14, Oak Creek, 970-736-8342

Steamboat Lake State Park (marina) 61105 RCR 129, Clark, 970-879-7019

Valley Ace Hardware

401 E. Market St., Meeker, 970-878-4608

Wal-Mart

1805 Central Park Dr., Steamboat, 970-879-8115

Wal-Mart Supercenter

2000 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-0340

Walden Conoco

609 Main St., Walden, 970-723-4246

Yampa River State Park

6185 W. U.S. Hwy 40, Hayden, 970-276-2061

SHOOTING RANGES Bears Ears Sportsman Club’s Cedar Mountain Range

300-yard outdoor rifle and 50-yard outdoor pistol range for members, but open to the public the first Sunday and Monday of each month. Also open during daylight hours, Thursday and Friday prior to each big game season for rifle sight-in. P.O. Box 622, Craig (4.5 miles northwest of Craig on Moffat County Road 7), 970-824-8376 or 970-824-6755, www.bearsears.org.

Byers Canyon Riﬂe Range **

Unsupervised, public Colorado Division of Wildlife-managed range open during daylight hours (closed during winter months). Five centerfire 100-, 200- and 300-yard rifle ranges, one 25-yard (.22 cal) rifle range, shotgun (hand traps only – not provided) and pistol range as well as straw bales for archery. Portable toilet and trash dumpster on site. P.O. Box 216, Hot Sulphur Springs (12 miles east of Kremmling on the north side of U.S. Hwy 40), 970-7256200 (CDOW Hot Sulphur Springs office).

Glenwood Springs Gun Club

Public welcome to shoot when range is open. Sporting clays, trap, black powder, riﬂe and pistol ranges up to 200 yards. Hunter education courses also available. P.O. Box 2362, Glenwood Springs, 970-945-5556

Hayden Shooting Range **

Colorado Division of Wildlife-managed 100-, 200- and 300-yard riﬂe and pistol range, open to the public, from dawn until dusk year-round. Two miles south of Hayden on Routt County Road 37, 970-870-2197 (CDOW Steamboat Springs ofﬁce).

Meeker Sportsman’s Club, Inc.

Hunter sight-in Thursdays and Fridays prior to each big game season (Tuesday for the fourth riﬂe season). Sight-in is $5 per gun, or member shoot for $10. New memberships cost $40 per family and include full use of archery, trap, riﬂe and pistol ranges. P.O. Box 1325, Meeker (4.5 miles southwest of Meeker on Colo. Hwy 13), 970-878-4636, www.meekercolorado. com/sportsmen/index.htm

Piney Valley Ranch

Public sporting clays shooting sports complex open yearround, features automated, state-of-the art sporting clays course and ﬁve-stand station. P.O. Box 425, Wolcott (east off Colo. Hwy 131 on Horse Mountain Road), 970-926-5495, www.pineyvalley.com.

Routt County Riﬂe Club

Facilities include clubhouse and trap, skeet, sporting clays, heated indoor .22, outdoor pistol, 25-, 50-, 75-, 100- and 200-yard rifle ranges. Public sight-in days prior to the first three big game rifle seasons (check online club calendar). Annual membership dues cost $75 with one-time, new-member application fee of $25. P.O. Box 773116, Steamboat (two miles west of town on U.S. Hwy 40), 970-870-0298, www.routtcountyrifleclub.com.

Three Quarter Circles Sporting Clays and Driving Range

Public twelve-station, two-tower sporting clays course by appointment. 26185 U.S. Hwy 40 (six miles west of Steamboat), 8795649 or 846-5647, www.3qc.net.

Vail Rod & Gun Club (Lazy J Ranch)

Open to the public for sporting clays (ﬁve stand and 10station course available) during the summer. 001 Sporting Clay Way, Wolcott (just south of I-70), 970926-3472, www.lazyjranch.net.

Walden Public Shooting Area

Public Bureau of Land Management range, open yearround, has three benches with range distances of 50, 100, 200 and 300 yards. No trash service. Four miles east of Walden on Jackson County Road 12E, 970-723-4625.

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Photo: Wes Uncapher

White River Bowmen

Bow-hunting club with indoor and outdoor targets and a clubhouse. Family memberships cost $35 per year. P.O. Box 32, Rangely (1/2 mile south of Colo. Hwys 64 and 139), 970-675-8183. ** = A Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp is required to use this range. The stamp ($10.25 per individual ages 18-65 without hunting or ﬁshing license) purchased with a license, or for access privileges to Colorado’s 241 state wildlife areas and 216 state trust lands, is sold through the Division’s service centers and license agents throughout the state, online (www4.wildlifelicense.com/co/start.php) or by phone (1-800-244-5613) to help fund additional habitat for wildlife.

VISITOR INFORMATION RESOURCES Bureau of Land Management

Little Snake Field Office — 455 Emerson Street, Craig, 970826-5000; Kremmling Field Office — 2103 E. Park Ave., Kremmling, 970-724-3000; Glenwood Springs Field Office — 50629 Colo. Hwys 6 and 24, Glenwood Springs, 970-947-2800; White River Field Office, 220 E. Market St., Meeker, 970-878-3800. Grand Junction — 2815 H Road, 970-244-3000. www.co.blm. gov/. Maps (Lakewood state office) — 303-239-3600.

Colorado Dept. of Transportation 877-315-ROAD, www.cotrip.org

Colorado Division of Wildlife

Grand Junction Regional and Area Ofﬁce — 711 Independent Ave., 970-255-6100; Steamboat Springs — 925 Weiss Dr., 970-870-2197; Hot Sulphur Springs — 346 Grand County Road 362 (west of Byers of Canyon), 970-725-6200; Meeker — 73485 Hwy 64, 970-878-6090; Glenwood Springs — 50633 Colo. Hwy 6 & 24, 970-9472920. www.wildlife.state.co.us/hunting/

Colorado Outﬁtters Association

P.O. Box 849, Craig, 970-824-2568, www.coloradooutﬁtters. org

102 | COLORADO HUNTER | Fall 2008

Colorado State Parks ***

Steamboat Lake and Pearl Lake State Parks — 61105 RCR 129, Clark, 970-879-3922 or 970-879-7019 (marina); Stagecoach State Park — 25500 RCR 14, Oak Creek, 970-736-2436 or 970-736-8342 (marina); State Forest State Park — 56750 Colo. Hwy 14, Walden, 970-723-8366; Yampa River State Park — 6185 W. U.S. Hwy 40, Hayden, 970-276-2061. www.parks.state.co.us. Info — 970-4346862; Reservations — 800-678-2267.

Craig Sportsman Information Center

(Moffat County Visitor’s Center / Craig Chamber of Commerce) 360 E. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-5689; 800-864-4405, www.craig-chamber.com/hunting_info.html

Dinosaur National Monument

4545 U.S. Hwy 40, Dinosaur, 970-374-3000, Canyon Area Visitor Center, www.nps.gov/dino/

Hayden Chamber of Commerce

252 West Jefferson, Hayden, 970-276-2502, http://yampavalley.info/haydenchamber.asp

Kremmling Area Chamber of Commerce

203 Park Ave., 877-573-6654, www.kremmlingchamber.com

Meeker Chamber of Commerce

chamber.com, www.steamboatsummer.com.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

134 Union, Lakewood, 303-236-7904, www.fws.gov

U.S. Forest Service:

Hahn’s Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District — 925 Weiss Dr., Steamboat Springs, 970-879-1870, www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/ about/districts/hahnspeak.shtml/; Parks Ranger District — 2103 E. Park Ave., Kremmling, 970-724-3000 or 100 Main St., Walden, 970-723-8204, www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/about/districts/parks.shtml/; Rio Blanco Ranger District — 220 E. Market St., Meeker, 970-878-4039, www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver/rangerdistricts/ meeker/index.shtml; Rifle Ranger District — 0094 Garfield County Road 244, Rifle, 970-625-2371, www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver/rangerdistricts/rifle/index.shtml; Sulphur Ranger District — 9 Ten Mile Dr., Granby, 970-8774100, www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/about/organization/srd/index. shtml; White River National Forest— 900 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, 970-945-2521, www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver/; Yampa Ranger District — 300 Roselawn Avenue, Yampa, 970-638-4516, www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/about/districts/yampa. shtml/.

710 Market St., Meeker, 970-878-5510, www.meekerchamber.com, www.huntmeeker.com.

U.S. Forest Service Maps

NOAA’s National Weather Service Weather Forecast Ofﬁce

U.S. Geological Survey (topographical maps)

792 Eagle Drive, Grand Junction, 970-243-7007, www.crh. noaa.gov/gjt/

North Park Chamber of Commerce

416 Fourth St., Walden, 970-723-4600, www.northparkchamber.homestead.com.

Rangely Area Chamber of Commerce

209 East Main St., Rangely, 970-675-5290, www.rangely.com.

Riﬂe Area Chamber of Commerce

200 Lions Park Circle, Riﬂe, 970-625-2085 or 800-8422085, www.riﬂechamber.com.

Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association

1255 S. Lincoln Ave., 970-879-0880, www.steamboat-

303-275-5350, www.nationalforeststore.com Central Region Offices, Denver Federal Center, W. Sixth Ave. and Kipling St., DFC Bldg. 810, Lakewood, 303-202-4700 or 888-275-8747, http://topomaps.usgs.gov *** = The joint project of the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO) and the Colorado State Parks OHV Registration Program, www.staythetrail.org, offers a one-stop resource with trail guides, maps and links to the Colorado State Parks registration Web site — Offhighway vehicles operating on any public lands or trails in Colorado must be registered or permitted for Colorado use by Colorado State Parks. Out-of-state residents must purchase a $25 Colorado Non-Resident OHV permit. Resident registration (residents must register annually) locations include various OHV dealers or any Colorado State Parks location. Non-resident permits available online, at State Parks offices or anywhere Colorado hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Not much has changed

COLORADO HUNTER STAFF

here are no substantial changes to Colorado hunting regulations from 2007 to 2008, Division of Wildlife spokesperson Randy Hampton said. The biggest change regards a niche hunting season: muzzleloaders. From now on, it appears the DOW will not allow electric-ignition muzzleloader firearms during the state’s muzzleloader season in early fall, Hampton said. “What we want to ensure is primitive seasons stay primitive seasons,” he said. “We don’t allow electric devices because then, it might as well be rifle season.” Incidentally, Hampton added, electricignition muzzleloaders are allowed during rifle seasons. The DOW also changed the transportation laws for electric-ignition muzzleloaders. Any electric-ignition muzzleloader transported in a vehicle must have the battery disconnected and removed from the firearm. The only other change to Colorado’s hunting regulations is the addition of a

limited number of private land-only bear licenses, Hampton said. Some areas of the state have had issues with overgrown bear populations, and the DOW would like to encourage more hunting. None of those areas are in Northwest Colorado, he added. The DOW is in the fourth year of its hunting regulation cycle, Hampton said. Every five years, the agency surveys public opinion and redesigns its hunting season structure. During this time, Hampton said, the DOW establishes its season dates and lengths for another five years. Changes to the structure can happen later, as well. Planning for the next five-

year structure, which will begin in 2010, is expected to last through summer next year, Hampton said. He encouraged all hunters to participate. Send written comments by e-mail to wildlife.bgss@state.co.us or by regular mail to Big Game Season Structure c/o Public Involvement Section, 6060 Broadway Denver, CO 80216. Check the DOW Web site at wildlife.state.co.us for more information through the season structure process.

Photo: Wes Uncapher

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Craig, CO

Wilderness Hunts Elk-Mule Deer Summer Pack Trips Fishing Trips

License #2382 Bonded & Insured Units 12-4-441-214 www.huntbeavercreek.com

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Peter Doran 11/9, 6-by-6 bull, 327 (B & C) with a 7mm Magnum, Browning A-Bolt, on some private land along the Elk River in GMU 214.

“Then he winded me and turned and started to run back into the brush, so I screamed, ‘Stop! Now!’ and he turned and looked right at me. … I pulled the trigger and hit him right in the shoulder, right in what I call the boiler.”

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Roger Bedell During second riﬂe season, 348 B & C with a Remington 7mm Magnum, North Routt.

“It was early morning, and I was watching an oak brush ridge as about 40 elk came out. … I chose to go straight at them at a fast walk. The cows were watching me, but the bull never noticed. … In all my years as a hunter, I never imagined I’d harvest an animal as rare to this area.”

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What to do if you make a mistake E

very year hunters make mistakes in the field. Hunters might: shoot the wrong animal, accidentally kill more than one animal, hunt in the wrong Game Management Unit, etc. Most of these mistakes can be avoided, although some are truly accidental. Officers for the Colorado Division of Wildlife understand that mistakes occur. If you make a mistake, your best course of action is to contact a DOW officer as soon as possible to report the problem.

While you will still be subject to penalties, those could be less severe if the officer determines that you are cooperative, that the error was not intentional, or that it was unavoidable given the circumstances. Hunters who make errors can be penalized with fines, suspension points against license privileges, felonies and misdemeanors, loss of meat, license suspension or confisca-

tion of equipment. Penalties can be much more severe against those who purposefully attempt to hide mistakes from wildlife ofﬁcers. Many errors can be prevented by carefully reading the Colorado Big Game brochure. It is the

hunter’s responsibility to know the rules and regulations of hunting. The brochure provides a variety of important information that hunters must know. “Ignorance of the regulations is not a defense,” says J Wenum, area wildlife manager in Gunnison. “There is a difference between a legitimate mistake and a careless error.” — Colorado Division of Wildlife

Two buck mule deer create silhouettes against the sunset. Photo: Wes Uncapher

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�� It happens, believe it or not. Every year some people decide to use our lines, poles or insulators instead of targets or game to shoot at. • THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS ACT! We pay the cost to repair the equipment. Shot insulators, wires and poles result in electric service interruptions and inconvenience. The inconvenience could be critical if it interrupts a life support system. • IT’S ALSO EXPENSIVE IF YOU GET CAUGHT! There are penalties for intentional damage to utility property. • IT’S DANGEROUS! Live wires can burn or electrocute when they fall to the ground. An innocent person could become a victim - so could the shooter.

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Foreign & Domestic Computer Diagnostic Service Used Auto Sales

Since 1980

H U N T E R S

Riﬂe: The weapon of choice BRIDGET MANLEY ❘ Colorado Hunter

raig resident Miles Fedinec has what some may consider a dream occupation. His job description as a writer for Sportsman’s News, a free publication for outdoor enthusiasts: “travel, hunt and write stories about it,” he said. Fedinec said he has experience in archery, muzzleloading and rifle hunting. From what he’s observed, he said, rifle hunting tops out as the most popular of the three hunting methods. “Rifle hunting is the biggest side of the industry,” he said. “Everyone rifle hunts at one time or another.” Statistics from the Colorado Division of Wildlife support his contention. Last year, the number of rifle hunters in Colorado outnumbered muzzleloaders and bow hunters combined, according to the DOW. “We often hear about concerns about gun safety,” DOW spokesman Randy Hampton said. However, he said, upgraded hunter safety requirements have helped make the sport safer in recent years. “The number of (rifle-hunting related) injuries and deaths are very, very low,”

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Hampton said. Rifle hunting may appeal to hunters who prefer less tiring hunting experiences, Craig Sports owner Joe Herod said. “Bow hunting is strenuous,” he said. “You have to do a lot of stalking; you have to know how to call or sit in a blind for hours on end.” Ideally, bow hunters should be between 15 and 40 yards away from their prey before taking aim, Herod said. In contrast, he said, a rifle hunter can be positioned between 300 and 400 yards away and still have a successful shot. The distance difference allows rifle hunters to “sit on a hillside and wait for (the animals) to come,” Herod said. Fedinec agrees. “With rifle hunting, you have multiple shots and you can shoot a lot farther,” he said. Fedinec said he prefers to use any 30-caliber rifle with a 180-grain bullet when hunting big game, he said. His one tip for rifle hunters heading out in the field this year can be summed up in one work: Practice. “Shoot every chance you get,” he said, adding that hunters should practice using a shooting stick, or mobile rifle rest, before hunting in earnest.

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By the numbers Elk and deer hunters in 2007 in Colorado

48,768 Archery

20,909

Muzzleloader

255,868 Riﬂe

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How to hit the grocery store Efﬁcient shopping for effective eating

DAVE SHIVELY ❘ Colorado Hunter

he only thing worse than a day spent looking for game and coming up empty handed is returning to camp and worrying about filling an empty stomach. When it comes to the most filling foodstuffs with the least weight and hassle, a little planning can go a long way, starting with the prehunt grocery store run. “Men can be bad because they’ll just go in, grab a cart and say, ‘Let’s go down this aisle and this will be good, let’s buy that,’” said Jeanne Horne of Meeker’s Bar H Outfitters, who has been professionally packing hunters into camps for the past decade and recommends hunters plan their meals before even heading to the store. Requiring that her clients pack in no more than 25 pounds of food per person, Horne outlined the following tips to help hunters maximize efficiency in preparing for that fiveto six-day trip to the woods: ■ Cut the pop. A six-pack of pop or beer is 5 to 6 pounds, plus you want something more nutritious. Try packs of powdered lemonade or sports drink mix. ■ Avoid cans. Whatever you plan to get

in a can, see if it comes in a package. Get a lightweight package meal such as Hamburger Helper — hopefully you’ll have the elk steaks to add to them. ■ Substitute. You may be sacriﬁcing taste, but consider packing in powdered milk and egg substitutes. ■ Contain the ice. We tell our hunters to get ice sleeves. At higher altitudes, it will get down to the 20s and 30s at night and will refreeze them. ■ Stay dried. Think about dried fruit, nuts and jerky for snacks and things you can easily add water to. No one wants to peel a 10-pound bag of potatoes; just grab a package of potatoes au gratin. ■ Buy smaller portions/quantities. The same goes for drinks, think about getting the premeasured, individually packaged versions of hot chocolate, cider and coffee rather than the huge canister. They also make little spice packets that are easier to deal with or grab a few extras if you stop at a fast food restaurant. ■ High density. You’re burning calories at this altitude, so think high energy and high nutrition, from a pasta and rice mix or dried soup mix in which you can just add water to

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a high-energy raisin cookie or simply adding dried fruit to pudding cups for dessert. ■ Go gourmet at home. If you want a little extra taste, consider making a big meal such as a beef stroganoff ahead of time and freeze it. Then, all you have to do is cook the buttered noodles at camp. Plus, if you cook meals before and freeze them in a Ziploc bag, there are no cans or packaging and it keeps the cooler colder. If you’re hunting public lands with high pressure and wish to avoid a ﬁre by setting up a cold camp for the night, Majestic Trophy Outﬁtters’ Justin Gallegos reminded hunters of the simple chow solution of military MREs and other similar self-heating meals. “MREs are the best thing in the world for the forest,” Gallegos said. “You can get them at a military surplus store or Cabela’s. They only weigh about a pound and a half. Take six and that will feed you for two full days.” The Colorado Division of Wildlife also recommends that after shopping, hunters should attempt to minimize the amount of packaging materials brought to camp in order to decrease the garbage to store and pack out.

Final checklist The DOW recommends the following ‘DON’T FORGET’ items before heading out of town to the backcountry: ■ First

aid kit (include mole skin/duct tape for blisters) ■ Compass and high-quality maps ■ Fire starter for use in the ﬁeld ■ Knife sharpener ■ Extra batteries ■ Rain gear ■ Blaze orange vest and cap ■ Extra fuel for camp stove ■ Tire chains ■ Cleaning supplies

■ Trash bags ■ Flashlight/lantern ■ Game bags ■ Sunscreen ■ Toilet tissue ■ Hand shovel for burying

human

waste ■ Hunting license ■ List of family/friends phone numbers ■ Extra water bottles ■ Water puriﬁcation pump or tablets

Photo: Wes Uncapher

Elk • Deer • Bear • Mountain Lion

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GREAT FOOD - GREAT PRICES • Burgers

• Tex-Mex • Chicken • Salads ��

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• Ice Cream Call for Take-out Kremmling, Colorado 970.724.9767 Fall 2008 | COLORADO HUNTER

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24 West Vistory Way Craig, Colorado ��

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Easy Teresa “Dicentra” Black is a Seattle-based hiker, backpacker and author of the new book “One Pan Wonders: Backcountry Cooking at its Finest.” Tired of backpacking cookbooks with labor-intensive recipes ﬁlled with special ingredients or need of a dehydrator, Black

Layered Caramel Apple Cheesecake Serves 4 1 package instant cheesecake mix 1/2 cup powdered milk 1 packet instant hot apple cider 1 2-ounce container caramel dip 1/2 cup dried apples, diced 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 2 Tablespoons brown sugar 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) At home: Combine cheesecake mix, powdered milk and apple cider in a zip-locking plastic bag. Label this bag “Add 1 1/2 cups water.” In a second bag, combine spices and dried apples. You can put the caramel dip in this bag for storage. In a third bag, combine the crust mix, sugar and optional pecans. (Tip: You might want to divide the crust mix in half. It does make a lot of topping). In camp: Remove caramel dip from the apple bag and set aside. Add enough water to the apples to cover. Set them aside to re-hydrate. Combine the cheesecake mix and water in your cooking pan. Stir well, breaking up any lumps. Allow it to sit for a minute or two to begin setting up. Spoon or pour the caramel dip on top of the cheesecake, distributing as evenly as possible. When the apples are re-hydrated, top the caramel layer with them. Do not include any extra liquid from the bag. Top the apple layer with the crust. Set aside until ﬁrm.

Gifts • Jewelry • Rocks • Beads

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ﬂavor launched www.onepanwonders.com a year ago with the goal of distributing backcountry recipes for simple meals made with ingredients found in most grocery stores, all of which can be made in a single pan or less. Black highlighted a couple of easy recipes to add a little ﬂavor to your hunting camp.

Cherry Chicken Stuffi ng Serves 1-2 16-ounce box stuffing mix with seasonings 13-ounce can chicken 2 tablespoons dried cherries, chopped At home: Re-package the stuffing mix into a zip-locking plastic bag. Carry the cherries in a second bag. In camp: Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Add stuffing mix. Stir until cooked.

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Add the cherries and chicken just before serving.

NutellaServes Cream Pie 1 2 tablespoons Nutella (or 1 single serving package) 1 snack pack vanilla (or banana) pudding 1 mini graham cracker tart shell At home: Put the Nutella in a screw-top container (or bring the single-serving package). Place everything in a zip-locking plastic bag. In camp: Spread the Nutella over the sides and bottom of the tart shell. Top with all of the pudding. Enjoy!

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TAKE YOUR HUNT HOME IN A NEW FREEZER

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