Colorado Hunter 2009

2009 EDITION | A COMPLETE HUNTING GUIDE FOR NORTHWEST COLORADO | FREE

Learn from locals

Complete date and fee schedules

Favorite spots

After the hunt Where to go, What to do

Everything you need to know From preparing for the hunt to cooking the meat

2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 1

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M E E K E R

C O L O R A D O

The Largest Migrating

ELK HERD in North America

Visit the Meeker Chamber of Commerce Your One Stop for Hunting Information Call 970-878-5510 for more information www.meekerchamber.com 2 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

Inside E FOR PLETE HUNTING GUID 2009 EDITION | A COM

Learn from locaspls ots

Complete date and fee schedules

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Favorite

After the hunt Where to go, What to do

Welcome ......................................................................................................................6 Season dates and fees ................................................................................................8 Great hunting areas ..................................................................................................10 Craig a top destination .............................................................................................13 Game Management Unit information .......................................................................14 Choose filling, easy foods ........................................................................................20 Recipes ...................................................................................................................21 Rifles the weapon of choice....................................................................................23 Teen bags mountain lion ........................................................................................24 Survival tips to live by ............................................................................................26 After the hunt.........................................................................................................32 Crossbows still a curiosity .....................................................................................36 Regulations largely unchanged.............................................................................38 Fishing opportunities ............................................................................................40 Advice from a seasoned hunter............................................................................42 A family hunting tradition.....................................................................................44 Herd numbers down ...........................................................................................46 Photos from the hunt ..........................................................................................54 Hunting business directory .................................................................................55 Packing list.........................................................................................................65

Everything you ow need to kn for the hunt From preparing at to cooking the me

Colorado Hunter is a joint publication

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of the Steamboat Pilot & Today and the Craig Daily Press.

Welcome Hunters

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

P.O. Box 774827 Steamboat, CO 80477 970-871-4202

Your Mind is Ready for the Hunt but is Your Body?

• Sweet Tea • Iced Tea • Coffee • Mocha • Latte • Cappuccino • Real Fruit Smoothies • Frescante • Chai Tea

Whole Food Supplements Nutrition Response Testing Diet Analysis VIBE Whole Body Detox Derma-e Organic Non-toxic Body Care Weight Management

Holly Sperry

Certified Nutrition Consultant

Drive - Thru Espresso

Mon thru Fri 10am-5pm Sat-Sun By Apt.

Centennial Mall, Behind Checker Auto Craig, Colorado

Located in the Centennial Mall between Curves and The Embroidery Shop

Call 970-824-3400

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From Cell Phones to Watches to D-10 dozers-

We have all batteries!

Welcome to hunting paradise

T&H Parts, Inc. 400 Taylor | Craig,

824-3284 www.thparts.com

Any Au to Pa r t Yo u Ne e d a n d M o re. .. .

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GREAT SERVICE IS WHAT WE ARE KNOWN FOR

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hanks for picking up a copy of Colorado Hunter, the premier guide to big-game hunting in beautiful Northwest Colorado.

Like many others who have chosen to call Northwest Colorado home, we live and work here because of the gorgeous landscapes, friendly people and the history that makes the Old West so unique.

This area offers limitless recreational opportunities year-round.

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 and harvesting your trophy animal.

Most importantly, Northwest Colorado provides you, your family and your friends the perfect setting for creating lifelong memories.

The story of a good hunt is as much about the camaraderie shared around the campfire as it is about the harvest you take home. We think you’ll agree that Northwest Colorado offers the ideal backdrop for creating 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 wild game for decades.

In these pages, we give you the nuts of bolts of what, where and when to hunt while also offering tips on making each hunting trip better than the last. There’s also detailed directory information pointing you toward the best outfitters, guides, meat processors and taxidermists in the region.

We hope you enjoy Colorado Hunter and your visit to our neck of the woods. We’re happy to have you here.

Bryce Jacobson Publisher, Craig Daily Press 466 Yampa Ave. Craig, CO 81625 970-875-1788

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6 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

Suzanne Schlicht Publisher, Steamboat Pilot & Today 1901 Curve Plaza Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 970-871-4224

Welcome Hunters to the Downtown Shopping Area of

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION You will be pleasantly surprised to find such a relaxing yet fun atmosphere!

Whether it’s shopping, lunch or a stroll through the park that you have on your mind, you will be able to find it here!

We participate in a variety of events each year such as:

The Annual Art Walk • Taste of Chocolate • Grand Olde West Days • Farmers Market

Formal and Informal Attire

Come fall in love with the downtown area, just as we have!

Jewelry • Gifts • Accessories

Gifts • Jewelry • Rocks • Beads

The Hair Loft Men’s • Women’s • Kid’s Walk-ins Welcome

Now retired after 12 years downtown.

Check out my website:

13 W. Victory Way, Craig 824-5702 10am - 6pm M-F 10am - 4:30pm Sat

www.neolithics.net

Boning and Kitchen Knives Colorado Foods

Dishes & Linens Bakeware & Cookware Coffee Beans & Teas Cookie Cutters

While they’re on the hunt stay busy with us

523 Yampa Ave., Downtown Craig • 824-2151 Store Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6 • Sat 10-4

577 Yampa Ave 2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 7

970-824-8148

Dates and fees Hunting license fees

Hunting season dates

Deer Resident — $34 Youth, resident — $13.75 Non-resident — $329 Youth, non-resident — $103.75

Archery Deer — Aug. 29 to Sept. 27 Elk — Aug. 29 to Sept. 27 Pronghorn — Aug. 15 to Sept. 20 Bear — Sept. 2 to 27 Moose — Sept. 12 to 27

Elk Resident — $49 Youth, resident — $13.75 Non-resident bull — $549 Non-resident cow — $254 Non-resident either sex — $549 Youth, non-resident — $103.75

Muzzle-loading rifle Deer — Sept. 12 to 20 Elk — Sept. 12 to 20 Pronghorn — Oct. 21 to 29 Bear — Sept. 12 to 20 Moose — Sept. 12 to 20

Pronghorn Resident — $34 Youth, resident — $13.75 Non-resident — $329 Youth, non-resident — $103.75 Bear Resident — $44 Non-resident — $254 Moose Resident — $254 Non-resident — $1,829

Deer, limited rifle Second season, combined deer and elk: Oct. 17 to 25 Third season, combined deer and elk: Oct. 31 to Nov. 6 Fourth season, combined deer and elk: Nov. 11 to 15 Elk Limited, Unlimited Rifle First season — Oct. 10 to 14 (limited) Second season — Oct. 17 to 25 Third season — Oct. 31 to Nov. 6 Fourth season — Nov. 11 to 15 (limited) Rifle, Pronghorn — Oct. 3 to 9 Rifle, Bear — Sept. 2 to 30 Rifle, Moose — Oct. 1 to 9

Ptarmigan Inn

The elk sleep outside, but you don’t have to...

FREE continental breakfast (seasonal) FREE internet access Conveniently located 2304 Aprés Ski Way 970.879.1730

Outdoor pool and hot tub Discounted hunter rates 2 FREE public internet computers

toll free reservations 800.538.7519 www.steamboat-lodging.com

8 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

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A local’s guide:

Great hunting areas The big-game hunting season will soon be upon us. Bow hunters, muzzle-loaders, and hunters preferring modern firearms will advance on the Northwest Colorado landscape. Over the course of the big-game seasons, 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.

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 does see a fair amount of pressure though. Firearm safety, always important, should be emphasized even more.

Cross Mountain

‘Quakie Knob’

TERRY CARWILE | FOR COLORADO HUNTER

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

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 aspen-covered 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.

— Carwile is the sportsman’s 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 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 eastwest 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 will probably 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 over 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.

10 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

License #2218 Chris Jurney 970�824�5505

License # 858 Dan Johnson 970�824�7874

Elk • Deer • Antelope • Cougar • Predators UNITS 1,2,3,4,5,10,11,12,13,201,211,301,441

Got Preference Points?

We hunt all of the Special Draw areas 1,2,10 and 201 in Northwest Colorado and can help you set up hunts with oth� er outfitters throughout the state.

Fully Guided • Semi Guided Trespass Hunts • Drop Camps Cjoutfitters.com 1 John 5:13

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Dan Johnson 970�824�7874 970�326�7575 Call PTL Sales & Service � Rick LeBlanc � 970�596�6429 CJ Outdoor Services – Chris Jurney � 970�824�5505 2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 11

SUNDAY MORNINGS@CRAIG CHRISTIAN CHURCH

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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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12 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

Craig a top-ranked destination NICOLE INGLIS | COLORADO HUNTER

Terry Carwile, Sportsman’s Information Officer, thinks Craig is one of the best towns for sportsmen to live in.

“We certainly belong in the upper echelon, whatever that consists of,” Carwile said. “We’re home to two of the biggest elk herds in the United States, and we have an unparalleled level of outdoor activities.”

Outdoor Life magazine seems to agree.

This year, the magazine issued rankings of the top 200 towns for sportsmen, and Craig came in at No. 35.

The national hunting and fishing magazine issued its second annual poll May 28, and named Lewiston, Idaho, as the top town for hunters and anglers to live in.

Three other Idaho locations made appearances in the top 10. Carbondale was the top-ranked Colorado town, at No. 10. Other Colorado towns include Granby at No. 14, Colorado Springs at No. 18 and Rifle at No. 28.

According to the magazine, the poll used extensive data on available sporting opportunities and quality of life. Slightly more weight was given to outdoor-related factors, which included gun-friendliness, huntable and fishable species, proximity to public hunting and fishing, and the potential for taking a trophy animal or fish.

The quality of life index assessed socioeconomic factors like affordable housing, quality of education, and median income.

“Outdoorsmen want world-class hunting and fishing, but like everyone else, they also want to have a high quality of life,” Outdoor Life editor Todd Smith said in a news release. “The towns on this list offer the best of the outdoors as well as decent homes and schools and good-paying jobs. They are truly dream towns for sportsmen.”

Carwile said Colorado sporting destinations have upheld a long-standing reputation for pristine wilderness and trophy hunting and fishing.

“When you talk to hunters and folks who come here from out of state, they’ve been doing it for many years,” he said. “I think we have an unmatched reputation.”

As for Craig’s competition within Colorado, Carwile said that Craig’s hunting opportunities and unmatched access to public land are more desirable than the population and industrial growth on the Front Range.

Having lived in Colorado Springs, Carwile sees the sporting opportunities being overtaken by urban sprawl.

“I could go out after school and go hike or ride my bike and get some place

where I could shoot a rifle or go fishing, and that’s not the case any more,” he said of his former home. “It’s still a magnificent setting, but it’s the worst example of sprawl. It is growing like crazy.”

Carwile sees the remote location and small population as an advantage for sportsmen who choose to visit or live in Craig.

“We have 13,000 or 14,000 people on 4,500 square miles,” he said. “We’re probably still in the category of frontier up here. We’re working our way up, but the downside to that is you get popular and get more people.”

Despite what Outdoor Life may say each year, Carwile maintains his own rankings.

“To me, we’re on top, “ he said.

2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 13

Top 10 places to live for sportsmen 1. Lewiston, Idaho 2. Marquette, Mich.

3. Idaho Falls, Idaho (TIE) 3. Rawlins, Wyo. (TIE) 5. Pocatello, Idaho 6. Bismarck, N.D. 7. Sheridan, Wyo. 8. Pierre, S.D. 9. Rochester, Minn.

10. Carbondale, Colo.

35. Craig, Colo.

Source: outdoorlife.com/bestplacestolive

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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

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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 1.

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.

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

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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

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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.

Source: Colorado Division of WIldlife

14 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

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 well-distributed 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

2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 15

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.

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

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access, however the northern portion of elevations (and private lands) as hunting ����������� GMU 44 between Edwards and Eagle is pressure and snow depth increases. Try �������� ����������� ����������� primarily private property with no hunting the abundant public lands in eastern GMU allowed. Check your map and contact the 12 early on. The chance for a trophy bull ������������ ����������� BLM/USFS office because there are some is low due to unlimited bull elk licenses. ���������� areas that are off limits to vehicles. Hunting Because of access roads, hunting pressure pressure is locally heavy, especially around is high on Sleepy Cat, Lost Park and Sand Muddy Pass Road in GMU 36 and Horse Peak. The Flattops Wilderness Area offers Mountain Road in GMU 35 since they are good hunting, but travel is limited to main roads for public land hunters. walking or horseback and the potential DEER — Deer hunting in these units for heavy snowfall means hunters must be prepared. Successful hunters avoid the main continues to improve. The herd will be scattered from 6,500’ to timberline and will roads and hunt the dark timber and deeper move down to the lower elevation pinyoncanyons. juniper areas as heavy snow arrives. More than 18 inches of snow will move the deer.

Eagle River Valley Try hunting the aspen, open parks and shrublands. GMUs 35 and 36 have the most GMU: 35, 36, 44, 45 deer. After the first heavy snow, most GMU CWD has been detected in GMU 36 45 deer will move into GMU 36. GMU 44 LOCAL DOW OFFICE is managed for trophy deer with limited Glenwood Springs number of licenses, but it is a good place to 970-947-2920 take a big buck.

ELK — Elk are scattered from about The Eagle River Valley units are 7,000 feet to above timberline. As hunting bordered by the Colorado River, the Gore pressure increases, they seek the deeper Range, the Red Table Mountains and the canyons and dark timber areas way from Continental Divide. Elevation climbs from roads. Concentrating on the large stands 6,000 feet with sagebrush and pinyon of dark timber and the larger wilderness to more than 14,000 feet with alpine areas will increase your chance of finding vegetation starting at 10,500 feet. Weather a big bull on public lands. Large blocks of can vary tremendously with high country private land in GMUs 35 and 36 provide snow exceeding several feet. Much of refuge areas and can make hunting the public land is open to off road travel. difficult.

GMUs 35 and 44 have the most public

16 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

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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 buck-to-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 midSept 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, 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 rather than trophy status. Hence, trophy

2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 17

bulls are present but relatively rare.

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 14,000-foot 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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Unlimited Units

Hunters with an unlimited bull elk license (archery or rifle) may hunt in these units. Remember, you must still have permission to hunt private land.

Elk steak recipes Lemon pepper elk steak

Buck Mountain elk steak

Ingredients: • Elk loin steaks • Olive oil • Lemon pepper • Garlic • Salt and pepper

“The night before we go out, this is what we serve,” said Rick Myers of Buck Mountain Outfitters.

“It lets them know what’s waiting for them out there.”

1. Tenderize elk loins either with a meat tenderizer or by poking holes with a fork.

2. Rub one side of the steak with olive oil, and then season with garlic and lemon pepper.

3. Let sit for about an hour, then flip and repeat olive oil and seasoning on the other side.

4. Let sit for another hour.

5. Add salt and pepper to each side to taste. Let the steaks sit for a little longer if using particularly thick cuts.

6. Lay steaks across a grill, but do not cook over direct heat. Instead, move coals to each side if using a charcoal grill, or only turn on the side burners of a propane grill.

7. Cook the steaks in the middle of the grill, between the two heat sources.

Cooking over direct heat often burns the outside of the steak.

8. Cook for about three to four minutes on each side for rare, or five to six minutes a side for medium-rare.

9. Once done, let the steaks sit for about one minute. Letting them cool slightly will make sure the juices stay inside, instead of running out onto a plate once cut.

— Submitted by Karen Tomke of 4+2T Ranch, which also serves as a guide and outfitter, 970-276-4283

Ingredients: • Elk loin or backstrap steaks • Thousand Island dressing • Salt and pepper 1. Season a one- to five-pound elk loin or backstrap steak with salt and pepper to taste, and then marinate in Thousand Island dressing overnight.

2. Prepare a covered grill with low heat, then cook the steak for 25 to 30 minutes.

3. It’s not necessary to flip the meat during the cooking process, but make sure the outside doesn’t burn.

4. Once done, let sit for a minute, then cut into ¼-inch strips. Each serving should equal about one-quarter to one-third of a pound.

5. Serve with baked potatoes or corn on the cob.

— Submitted by Rick Myers of Buck Mountain Outfitters, 970-870-9665

2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 19

Aim for easy, filling food DAVE SHIVELY | COLORADO HUNTER

The 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 pre-hunt 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 last 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 five- to 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 like 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 pre-measured, 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 you can just add water to, to a high-energy raisin cookie

20 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

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 like 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.

Campfire recipe

Campfire recipe

Goulash

Deer or elk chili

Goulash is the perfect campground dinner, because it can be whatever anyone wants it to be, Moffat County outfitter Chris Jurney said. “It’s easy, it goes a long way and it feeds a lot of people.”

What’s better than trouble-free and delicious? Not much, and this chili recipe proves it.

Ingredients: • 1 pound course-ground elk, deer, antelope, beef or any other kind of meat • 1 quart tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce (can also substitute 8 ounces tomato paste and 24 ounces tomato sauce, and also add as many diced tomatoes as desired) • Two to four Anaheim peppers, or any other pepper preferred • Garlic powder • Tony Chachere’s • Salt and pepper • One bag macaroni or penne noodles 1. Char the outside of the peppers over an open flame.

If at home, you can also roast them in the oven.

2. Set the peppers aside, and heat some oil in a pan.

This can be any cooking surface compatible with either a stovetop, grill or open fire.

3. Brown the meat and chop the peppers.

4. Add peppers to the meat and let simmer briefly.

5. Season with garlic powder, Tony Chachere’s, salt and pepper to taste.

6. Let the ingredients cook together briefly, then add tomato or spaghetti sauce.

Ingredients: • 1 pound ground elk or deer • One yellow onion, chopped • One green pepper, chopped • 3-5 tablespoons of chili seasoning • Two cans tomato sauce • One can chopped tomatoes with sauce • One can black beans • One to two can(s) chili beans with sauce • Salt and pepper 7. Stir and let simmer until meat is almost cooked through.

8. Add macaroni noodles, and continue simmering until noodles are done.

For a little variation, try adding different vegetables — such as onion, mushrooms or corn — before seasoning. Cooks may also substitute Anaheim peppers with any other chile they prefer. Try poblanos for a little extra bite, or serranos or jalapeños for something extra spicy.

— Feeds four to six, submitted by Chris Jurney of CJ Outfitters, 970-824-5505

1. In a pan, brown the elk burger with the onion, chili seasoning and one can of tomato sauce.

2. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. When brown, mix meat with all other ingredients into a crock pot, and cook on medium or low for four to six hours.

4. Double the amount of each ingredient to feed eight to 10 people.

5. Craig resident Marti Anson recommends keeping one can chopped tomatoes handy, because cooks may need to add an extra one.

— Feeds about four, submitted by Craig resident Marti Anson

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When it comes to big game, rifles are the choice

Rifling through the options BEN BULKELEY | COLORADO HUNTER

Decisions, decisions.

Whether it’s hunting elk, deer, moose, antelope or other big game, Colorado is full of options. Where the list shrinks, however, is with the preferred method of hunting.

In the early season averages from 2005 to 2007, there were 50,288 bow hunters, 21,116 hunters using muzzle-loaders and 75,301 rifle hunters, according to the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Ken Constantine, owner of Elk River Guns in Steamboat Springs, said the reason for rifle hunting’s popularity in Colorado is simple.

“Higher success ratio, longer effective range than muzzle-loading or bow hunting, and by a considerable margin,” Constantine said.

Joe Herod, owner of Craig Sports, thinks the popularity of guns in Northwest Colorado contributes to the number of rifle hunters.

“There are a lot of rifles here, because

this is a big gun community,” he said. “Also, there might be as many bow hunters in the Yampa Valley as there are rifle hunters.

“It’s a thrill to bugle in elk, or stalk bear, like they did in the old days.”

Because the area attracts so many out-ofstate hunters, using a weapon that increases the chance of a successful hunt is an easy decision, Constantine said.

“Both bow and muzzle-loading tend be more of an expert’s arm,” he said. “They require more practice, and they’re singleshot propositions.”

Perhaps the most popular type of rifle is the .30-06, Constantine said.

“It’s a mice-to-moose type gun,” he said.

“You can go all the way from little varmints to literally moose.”

Because the .30-06 comes in so many varieties, knowing which one to use is essential, Constantine said.

“For elk, use a premium bullet, in case your shot’s a little off and you smack it in the shoulder,” he said. “You’ll want a

2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 23

really tough bullet that will penetrate to the vitals.”

Herod suggests the 7-millimeter magnum or .300 Winchester Magnum.

“Each is for big game like deer, elk or moose,” he said. “You can go for all of those using just one gun. Both guns are rated for deer and up.”

“The .30-06 has bullet loading from 110 to 220 grains,” Constantine said. “There’s not another caliber that covers it that well.”

If it isn’t .30-06, there are still other good options, Constantine said.

“The .308, .270 and 7-millimeter Remington are all really good hunting rounds for the type of hunting we have here in Northwest Colorado,” he said.

This year there are newer and cheaper models on the market, Constantine said.

“There are some really nice entry-level rifles, like the Thompson/Center Venture and the Marlin XL7,” he said. “They’re both nicely made, good, accurate guns for less money.”

Bailey’s bounty 13-year-old Craig girl nabs 140-pound mountain lion BEN BULKELEY | COLORADO HUNTER

With the baying of hounds, the soft crackle of boots on snow and the advice of her father, Bailey Hellander tried hard to concentrate on her quarry.

Her eyesight was limited — she had forgotten her glasses at home — but good enough to see the shape crouched in a tree.

With the sub-freezing air whipping around her face, she tried hard to concentrate.

With her .44 locked in, she squeezed the trigger, sending 140 pounds of coiled muscle to the ground.

With a single shot, the 13-year-old Craig girl had nabbed her first mountain lion.

Last December, Hellander, along with her father, Kirk, and brother, Bronc, made the trip to Thornburg Mountain, near Yellow

Jacket Pass outside of Meeker to hunt the elusive big cats.

While she was lining up her shot, one thing was running through Bailey’s head.

“I kept thinking ‘I’m going to miss, I’m going to miss,’ because I didn’t have my glasses,” she said. “I couldn’t see it. I just saw something jump.”

After her shot reverberated around the mountain, the indiscriminant shape halfbounded and half-fell out of the tree and into Hellander’s tally.

“It was our fifth day out there, and I didn’t think I was going to get anything,” she said. “I thought it was going to take longer.”

There were multiple hunts and several treed cats before Bailey earned her bounty, which will take its place as a rug in the Hellanders home.

24 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

As the lion loomed more than 15 yards away and was perched in a pine tree, Kirk tried to help his daughter.

“I had her use my shoulder to steady (her gun),” he said. “People might have thought it was me who shot the cat, but it was all her.”

The hunt began with several unsuccessful attempts — including another treed cat and a close call for one of Hellander’s hounds.

With a steep ledge on one side, and a wall of trees and rocks on the other, the dog chased a mountain lion down the side of the ledge.

Tracing the cat’s footsteps, the dog managed to bounce off a snow bank and skid unharmed to the bottom.

After tracing the cat, the Hellanders were able to pin it.

“We were at the top of Thornburg

Mountain and the black dog was barking constantly,” Kirk said. “We couldn’t see the cat, so we had to walk around.”

They traced the footprints of the cat and the barking of the dogs, which was the way Bailey wanted it.

“I like the winter, the snow, because you can see the tracks,” she said. “It’s more exciting that way.”

She said she wanted to hunt mountain lions because of the challenge they provide to a hunter.

“My dad always went with my brothers, and I wanted to show everyone I could hunt, too,” she said.

Bringing down the cat wasn’t Hellander’s favorite part of the hunt, she said.

“Probably riding the snowmobile,” she said. “Hiking is my least favorite part.”

Hellander said she would be happy to go hunting again, even if it interferes with her busy freshman schedule and basketball season.

“I’d like to go again next year,” she said. “Maybe just to miss school.”

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Survival tips to live by DAVE SHIVELY | COLORADO HUNTER

The 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 300-class 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 is ever going to tell you that you’re lost, Darrel Levingston, a Routt County Search and Rescue member for 16 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 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 panic-free 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 a few first-aid items 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 to always 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 Vaseline-saturated 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 letting someone know where you’re 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?’”

While 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 — will always lead 26 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

downhill and often back to civilization.

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, candle/fire starter. The ability to make fire is so critical that Levingston advises the cotton-ball canister, weatherproofing 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.

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Advice for high altitudes Dr. Dan Smilkstein, a Steamboat Springs physician with plenty of experience in high-altitude recreation, offers the following 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 the majority of 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.

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■ A high level of exertion as your body is acclimating can put you over the top.

Avoid pushing yourself 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.

2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 27

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Know the cold: Avoid hypothermia BEN BULKELEY | COLORADO HUNTER

Larry Osborn of Triple-O Outfitters in Hamilton knows the dangers of being left exposed to the elements for too long, and what’s at stake if cold is allowed to creep in.

Hypothermia.

While Osborn hasn’t seen any cases of hypothermia since he started his outfitter business in 1989, it hasn’t stopped him from continually warning hunters.

“They need to be made aware that they could walk into a blizzard or rain not knowing their gear isn’t sufficient,” he said. “The best advice I can give is to be prepared for any and all types of weather.

With hunters tracking prey until midNovember, it is always important to be aware of the elements, Osborn said.

“The weather is constantly changing, especially in the fall,” he said. “You need to not only be prepared, but know what hypothermia is.”

Hypothermia is when prolonged exposure to cold, wet or windy conditions causes internal body temperatures to drop to dangerous levels.

Symptoms include shivering, loss of

motor skills and poor judgment. It can be a treacherous condition, especially when victims are in hard-to-reach places.

Osborn’s best advice for beating the weather is to not let it in to begin with.

“Rain gear is No. 1 — anything that will keep you dry,” Osborn said. “Then layering, so you can take something off if you’re too hot, or add if you’re too cold.”

When rain gear can’t stave off the cold, Osborn has other solutions.

“Get somewhere warm immediately,” he said. “Build a fire if you have to. I usually recommend a survival blanket if you’re going into the woods.”

Building a fire is essential for survival, Osborn said, meaning hunters might need to brush up on their campfire skills before venturing out into the wild.

“You have to be able to build a fire under harsh conditions, which is harder than people imagine,” he said.

To get the task done, Osborn recommends carrying cotton covered in Vaseline or steel wool and something to ignite the fire.

“Magnesium sticks work quite well,” he said. “It’s harder to get a fire started with it,

Safety tips ■ Wear water-resistant clothing.

■ Wear multiple layers of clothing.

■ Head for camp if the weather “turns,” or if it is believed hypothermia is setting in.

■ If camp is too far, call for help or start a fire to keep warm.

■ Prevention and preparedness is the best defense.

but they work really well.”

Nature can also offer up ways to keep a fire sustained.

“If you hunt around trees, there’s a real fine bark under the first layer of bark,” he said. “It’s really fine, almost like hair, and you can wad it up and use a match to get it started.”

The best defense against hypothermia is knowing when to head back to camp, Osborn said.

“Above everything else, just be prepared,” he said. “Know what the weather can bring — be ready for all kinds and types.”

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2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 29

Back to basics Bowhunting all about challenge, surroundings COLLIN SMITH | COLORADO HUNTER

Yampa Valley resident Gary Nichols once killed a black bear with a bow and arrow from 25 feet away.

His wife was in the hospital, going into labor a month early, and Nichols bought an over-the-counter bear tag on a whim.

He stalked into the forest with his traditional recurve bow — essentially a piece of wood with a string — and crept into a tree to wait.

About three hours later, a 6 ½-foottall black bear wandered underneath his perch.

It took one arrow to bring the bear down, Nichols said.

“I was elk hunting, and I’d seen this bear about three different times,” he said.

Nichols, 54, has been an ardent bow hunter for the last 20 years.

He said he will never go back to a rifle, for a variety of reasons.

“It’s not about just killing something,” Nichols said. “It’s about being outdoors.

I like to watch the animals walk by, see

the birds. I like to be outside and feel and smell and enjoy nature.

“The older I get, the more important that is.”

Hunting with a rifle is loud, and most of all, it’s easy, Nichols said.

Rifles are for weekend warriors — those who want to pitch a walledtent off a county road and turn the outdoors into their living room.

Rifles are good for people who want to bag the first elk they see.

For Nichols, bow hunting is as much about the wait as the prize.

He invests as much as 50 hours in each animal he takes, first scouting the terrain for herd migration patterns weeks before hunting season begins.

“My ideal season is hunting every day of the year, and then not taking an animal until the last 30 minutes,” Nichols said. “The fun part of archery hunting, in my opinion, is the preparation.

“Just the fact that I’m still healthy enough to be out there, in nature, is what I enjoy. The opportunity to be in

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a place that’s so beautiful, taking in the sights and the sounds, reflecting back on life.”

He tries to keep his hobby simple.

He uses a recurve bow, which shoots arrows at about half the speed of modern compound bows.

Because of that, Nichols has to be close to hit his target. Too far away, and it will either land off-target, or the animal will hear the arrow coming and jump out of the way.

The best way to get as close as he needs is to stake out in a tree about 16 to 20 feet off the ground.

He uses a set of ladder steps that strap to a tree trunk, and he has a foldable chair stand he sets up in the branches.

Nichols wears camouflage from head to toe, and

lightweight athletic shoes so he doesn’t make too much noise when he walks.

He makes his own arrows, too.

“Some people like to take a lot of gadgets out there, but that’s not really necessary to hunt,” Nichols said. “The more stuff you got, the more things can go wrong.”

As difficult as it is, though, he is successful enough to feed his family on wild game every year.

“All we eat pretty much is elk meat,” Nichols said. “We depend on having that elk.”

He never gets tired of the commitment, either.

“The only thing that will stop me is if my health ever prevents me from doing it,” Nichols said.

“But, if I had to, if I was in a wheelchair, I’d still find a way to get out there.”

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What to do after the hunt

Northwest Colorado offers something for everyone COLORADO HUNTER STAFF

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.

Hot springs Any list of amenities starts with the natural hot springs scattered across the region, each ready to soothe tired legs and aching backs. 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 230foot 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 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).

Movies and bowling

Museums Firearm connoisseurs will surely be interested in taking a look at the Museum of Northwest Colorado (www.museumnwco. org). Housed in the historic former Colorado

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State Armory building, the museum in the heart of downtown Craig showcases the Cowboy and Gunfighter Museum as well as 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.

Other notable museums include downtown Steamboat’s Tread of Pioneers Museum (www.treadofpioneers.org) — 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 (www.wymanmuseum.com).

Simple entertainment is never 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

COLORADO P R I VAT E R A N C H E S

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Choose from 15 Colorado Ranches for lease .

One group per lease maximum of six hunters per lease.

Leases border the Routt, White River, San Isabel and Uncompahgre forests. Leases are in hunting units 15, 42, 62, 65, 421, 521, 741.

98% of leases have cabins or a lodge. email: coloradopr@bellsouth.net website and video: www.coloradoprivateranches.com Call Allen Butler at (318) 435-5029

32 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

CEDAR MOUNTAIN

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.

Off-road riding 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 Managementmanaged 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 bikeonly 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.

Sights If you’re heading to or from the 235,406acre Flat Tops Wilderness Area for your hunt, consider the trip on the 82-mile Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway from Yampa to Meeker.

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

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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 ½-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.

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Crossbows still a curiosity BILL MILLER | MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

Crossbow dealers are getting a lot of bewildered stares at outdoor trade shows in Texas.

Previously, these “horizontal” bows could be used only during the state’s regular gun season.

Exceptions for the archery season were allowed only for people with physical disabilities that prevented them from pulling the strings on compound bows or traditional “stick” bows.

But this year, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, with legislative permission, has approved crossbows for anyone during the regular archery season, Oct. 3 through Nov. 6.

Salesmen like Steve Scheffel of Excalibur Crossbows in Ontario, Canada, said a lot of people haven’t gotten the word. Such was the case at the recent Texas Trophy Hunters Association Extravaganza in San Antonio.

“They look at you and say, ‘Why are you here? Those aren’t legal,’” Scheffel said. “We tell them, ‘Well, they’ve just been legalized.’

And they say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know.’”

Scheffel’s company and competitors are trying to get the word out.

“It’s a new market in its early stages,” he said.

But the crossbow has been around for thousands of years — basically, a short bow mounted horizontally on a shoulder stock, similar to a rifle. It shoots short arrows called “bolts.”

Variants of the weapon have turned up as artifacts from ancient China, Greece and Rome. They also were widely used as a military weapon in medieval conflicts, like the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

As a modern hunting tool, the device has been promoted by manufacturers as a way to help people with disabilities, including wounded veterans, get into the field.

Other potential crossbow shooters are kids who don’t have the upper-body strength to pull a regular bowstring.

Game officials in various states, eager to get more people afield, are embracing crossbow hunting during their archery seasons.

Texas now joins nearly a dozen such states, including Colorado, Arkansas and Louisiana. Most other states are either considering them or already allow them, but with various restrictions.

But controversy has sprung up wherever crossbows have been suggested for regular archery seasons, and Texas was no exception.

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Members of the Lone Star Bowhunters Association testified at the Legislature that a crossbow holds back its string with a trigger mechanism, which negates the challenge and skills required with regular “vertical” bows.

“Real archery equipment is hand held and hand drawn in the presence of game, and crossbows are not that,” said LSBA president Jack Jetton of Pearland.

He added that crossbows aren’t needed for kids because TPWD last year eliminated the minimum 40-pound draw weight requirement on compound bows.

“All kids need is to learn the discipline,” he said, “and that’s what the regular bow season was for. That’s what we were trying to defend.”

Jetton noted that his group wasn’t against crossbows per se, only using them during the regular archery season. Now that they have been approved, he said, the LSBA is going to “live with it.”

Scheffel, however, said his company stresses that a crossbow is a “close-range” weapon, effective at only 35 yards or less.

“It’s still bowhunting,” he said. “You need to be close enough to the game to make a clean, accurate shot. At the end of the day, we all want to hunt ethically.”

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Regulations mostly unchanged All harvested moose must be taken in for inspection COLORADO HUNTER STAFF

As the fifth year of a five-year planning structure comes to an end, Colorado hunters can expect a minimum number of changes from 2008 to 2009.

Randy Hampton, Division of Wildlife spokesman, said most of the changes have to do with moose.

There were no significant regulation changes, Hampton said, just minor tweaks.

“The season structures are set up in five-year increments to provide stability,” Hampton said. “This way, everyone knows dates, knows the regulations so they can plan when the seasons are and book vacations.”

The only changes have to do with the moose population, Hampton said.

“There’s a mandatory inspection for any moose harvested in Colorado,” he said. “Anyone who harvests a moose has to bring it in for inspection.”

There are a number of reasons for the mandatory inspection, Hampton said.

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“It helps us track biological data, where the moose was taken from,” he said. “We’re making sure harvests are in line with what we’re looking for, while checking the health conditions of the animal.”

Hampton said the moose population in Colorado is thriving, which is allowing the DOW to open up new avenues for hunters.

“We’ve opened up a couple of new moose units on the Grand Mesa, which had previously not been open to hunting,” he said. “There were two licenses granted in April.”

Hampton does have one warning for elk hunters near Meeker, however.

“We recently introduced moose to the Flat Tops,” he said.

With the introduction of the large animals, hunters need to make sure they have elk in their sights.

“Elk hunters need to be aware that there are moose in that region now,” he said.

“People say, ‘Who could mistake a moose for an elk?’ but, every year we see incidents where it happens.”

Regional DOW offices

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Samuelson True Value stores are the headquarters for the outdoor enthusiast.

Meeker office P.O. Box 1181 Meeker , CO 81641 (970) 878-6090 Glenwood office 50633 Hwys 6 & 24 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 947-2920 Hot Sulphur Springs office 346 Grand County Road 362 Hot Sulphur Springs, CO 80451 (970) 725-6200 Steamboat office (970) 870-2197 P.O. Box 775777, 925 Weiss Drive Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

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Hunt in rivers, streams TOM ROSS | COLORADO HUNTER

Your 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

2009 fishing regulations for trout Anglers may purchase licenses on the Web at www.wildlife.state.co.us or by phone: 1-800244-5613 Daily bag limit for trout: Four fish in aggregate.

Possession limit: eight fish in aggregate.

Nonresident fees: Annual, $56; five-day, $21; one-day, $9.

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

40 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

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.

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. The new flood ground should be very fertile and support a 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

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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 highelevation hideouts, but not enough to make fourwheel 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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Advice from a seasoned hunter:

Be sure to plan ahead FRAN REINIER | COLORADO HUNTER

This year’s buzzword is “stay-cation” — which could be a bad word for those of you whose businesses and jobs depend on hunters. But the down economic times also translate to potential bargains for those who do plan to make their annual trek into Northwest Colorado’s backcountry.

In this day and age, hunters must be savvy customers. Knowing which questions to ask could be the difference between a great, once-in-a-lifetime hunt and a disastrous, money-wasting trip.

The first thing to do before booking a hunt is to find out what the state you’re visiting requires of hunters. Don’t depend on your outfitter to tell you. Every year, hunters come to Colorado only to learn they need a hunter education card. And by the time they’re here, it’s usually too late to get one.

Second, find out what your hunt includes. For example, do you buy the supplies, set up the tent and rent the

horses? Being dropped off in the middle of the afternoon the day before you set out to hunt is a little late to ask about the details.

Third, find out how you are going to get your meat home if you are successful. After the game is down and hanging in the tree is a bad time to try and figure out what’s next. Sound silly? It may to the experienced hunter who has traveled extensively and learned a few things the hard way, but the reality is that most hunters who have a bad experience could have avoided it by asking the important questions up front.

A responsible outfitter or professional will send you an outline of what is available on your hunt, what extra services are possible, and a list of past clients who you can call for feedback. The price of a longdistance call is worth your piece of mind.

Foreign-travel hunts If you plan to hunt outside of the United States, it’s critical to ask the tough

42 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

questions — your life could depend on it.

For example, a trip to South Africa should prompt questions about whether you’ll be in an area where yellow fever or malaria are threats. Everything should be spelled out, from your day charge to the shots you need beforehand. If you don’t know, don’t go.

Hunting in South Africa is reasonable, but it’s not for those who are careless or lazy. Even the airport in Johannesburg is a bit overwhelming if you have never traveled far. From finding your way from the international side of the airport to the domestic side, to determining whether you should hire someone to drag your equipment through the terminal, you will face a bevy of challenges on your journey.

Preparation will reduce your stress and the risk of something going wrong.

Taking firearms overseas requires a hunter to first determine which weapons are legal in their destination country. What does your guide want you to bring, how

much ammo is allowed, and how must your firearms and related gear be packed? Check with the airlines for their requirements. The worst time to find out is when standing in line at 5 a.m. on the way to your destination.

Traveling anywhere now requires a passport. If you think you might hunt in a foreign country, start the passport application process at least six months before you go. One never knows how long it’s going to take, and who wants to pay extra to have your passport rushed?

Also, when traveling to foreign countries, find out if you need to bring proof of hunting experience, and be prepared to prove your abilities. Some professionals can decide that you aren’t as skilled with a firearm or bow as they want you to be, and they can refuse to guide you. Practice, practice, practice.

Once you draw blood, that animal is going to cost you, whether or not it’s recovered. There are no breaks; it costs the same whether or not you go home with that trophy.

Since I mentioned cost, think packaged deals — usually there are better breaks financially if you go for one, certainly better than “a la carte” trophy hunting.

Don’t pack too much. One of the benefits of hunting out of the country is that most professionals provide laundry service. But do pack extra film or digital memory cards, and batteries. You don’t want to run out of juice when you’re hundreds of miles from a camera store. Pack spare underwear and a toothbrush in your carry-on in case you and your luggage become separated. Check on information about the country of choice to see what the electrical voltage may be, and purchase any appropriate adaptors in advance.

Once at your destination, be sure to enjoy the culture.

Take advantage of your opportunity to expand your horizons.

As my great-aunt Eula used to say, “Life is short, enjoy it while you can.” Happy hunting trails!

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2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 43

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From left, Jeff, Luke, Cody and Pete Pleasant, of Craig, are a family of hunters. Pete’s father, Sid, introduced him to hunting, and passed down the many lessons that Jeff will teach his sons, Cody, 9, and Luke, 7. Photo by Hans Hallgren/Colorado Hunter.

A family tradition

Family’s love of hunting spans four generations BEN BULKELEY | COLORADO HUNTER

Like their surname, hunting is passed down from father to son in the Pleasant family of Craig.

Sid Pleasant taught Pete, Pete taught Jeff, and Jeff is now teaching his son, Cody.

Although the lessons remain the same, the times have changed.

“I started when I was 14 in 1953,” Pete Pleasant said. “Originally, we stood in line because they only had 100 permits for sale. People would sleep on the lawn

the night before to be able to get their permits.”

Colorado has become more of a destination spot for hunting, Pete said.

“It’s harder to get a license — there are a lot more people hunting now, and a lot more from out of state,” he said. “I guess the word got out.”

While growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, Pete and Sid would hunt antelope near Sunbeam and the Sand Wash Basin.

“It was just something everybody did,” he said. “We grew up with it. You’d go out on Sundays and hunt.”

44 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

Living in Northwest Colorado has its perks, Jeff said.

“You grow up in a rural community for the hunting and fishing,” he said.

The Pleasants would go to a friend’s ranch for a day of hunting, which was exercise, Pete said.

“With four-wheelers, there’s no more walk and stalk,” he said. “Whatever you shot, you had to dress it in the field and bring it back with you.”

Other changes include the prey and the quality of the quarry.

“I got my first goose when I was 10

years old,” Pete said. “Goose and duck hunting was really popular when we were growing up.

“And back then, they would eat grain. Now, they eat from the ponds and don’t taste as good.”

Regardless of what has changed, the same hunting lessons apply today.

“It was everything,” Pete said. “Like how to gut the animal.

There are 100 different ways to do it, but there are only one or two that are correct and easy. That was one of the things my father passed on to me.”

That and other lessons have been passed from Pete to Jeff.

“The biggest is practice, practice, practice,” Jeff said.

“Whether it’s at Bear’s Ears or the Trapp Club, you need to keep practicing.

“The biggest downfall most people have is, they come in after not having shot a gun in a year.”

The lessons passed from one generation also included safety in the wild.

“You make sure that you’re safe, that you’re using your equipment correctly,” Pete said. “(My father) also taught me about animals — their habitats, patterns and behaviors.

“And that you don’t shoot and run in. You let the animal sit until its eyes have glazed over.”

“You really can’t be too safe,” Jeff added.

In a few years, the Pleasants’ hunting outfit will grow when Jeff’s son, Cody, 9, will enroll in hunter safety courses.

“Some things carry over,” Jeff said. “We’re all pretty accurate, and I don’t think it will take Cody long to pick it up.”

Jeff already has started teaching Cody about hunter safety during deer and elk hunts.

Jeff said he looks forward to the day when he, Pete and Cody are able to recount their own successful hunting stories together.

“As soon as he’s old enough,” Pete said, “that is going to be a neat experience.”

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Herd numbers shift COLLIN SMITH | COLORADO HUNTER

By and large, there are fewer big game animals in Northwest Colorado, said Randy Hampton, Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman.

Some of that is by design, and some because of forces beyond anyone’s control.

“We’ve seen some reductions on the mule deer side of things,” Hampton said. “We saw

some impacts from the 2007-2008 winter that lowered fawn survival rates, and because of that we pulled some license numbers back.

“On the elk numbers, those are down because we wanted them to be. We heard loud and clear from the landowners that there were too many elk.”

However, there are plenty of animals roaming the hills and fields around Moffat, Routt and Rio Blanco counties, Hampton said.

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“There’s certainly enough game out there,” he said. “The Colorado Division of Wildlife continues to offer over-thecounter licenses for elk in the second and third seasons.”

Hunters just have to find the animals once they get a license.

“Hunters will have to actually hunt instead of waiting next to the road for the next big trophy buck to walk by,” Hampton said.

The largest elk herds in Northwest Colorado are the Bears Ears herd, commonly found during hunting season in Moffat County north of the Yampa River, and the White River herd, normally seen south of the Yampa River in Moffat and Rio Blanco counties.

Although the herds’ population numbers are down from previous years, they also are closer to their objective totals than before.

The Bears Ears herd, which was the focus of most of the landowner complaints about elk, was estimated to be at 15,876 as of post-hunt 2008, right in the herd’s population objective of 15,000 to 18,000.

For comparison, the Bears Ears elk herd was estimated to be about 21,000 in post-hunt 2007, though Hampton said that figure was derived with an old population modeling system.

The DOW transitioned to a new model this year after it decided a standard statewide formula did not accurately depict different patterns in diverse regions of Colorado.

The White River herd is larger at an estimated 38,080, just over the set objective of between 32,000 and 38,000.

Mule deer in the Bears Ears region stand at an estimated population of 41,023, slightly above the objective of 37,800.

The White River deer herd was significantly affected by the harsh 2007-2008 winter. Its population is now an estimated 69,643, down from more than 100,000 in 2006.

However, White River deer are nearing their population objective of 67,500. Because of that, the DOW is no longer

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offering reduced prices on doe tags, Hampton said.

Pronghorn make up the sparsest big game populations in Elk the region.

Bears Ears: 15,876 The Great Divide White River: 38,080 herd, which is located among the Mule deer grassy hills north Bears Ears: 41,023 of Craig and is White River: 69,643 the largest herd in Northwest Colorado, is estimated to Pronghorn be 15,721, almost Great Divide: 15,721 exactly the 15,800 Sand Wash: 1,312 objective.

The Sand Wash pronghorn herd is the second largest, and is estimated to be 1,312, less than half its 3,200 objective.

Hampton said the DOW is working to move pronghorn from Great Divide to the Sand Wash Basin in an effort to supplement the latter’s gene pool and raise the population.

Populations may not be the end-all factor for this year’s hunters, however.

In each of the past two years, warm weather during hunting season has encouraged animals to stay at higher altitudes in places hunters don’t typically see them, Hampton said.

Usually, snowpack and cold weather drives animals into the Yampa and White river valleys

Population estimates

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where food is more plentiful. These areas have become the largest gathering spots for hunters after the first season.

Warm weather throws off that pattern, Hampton said. The subsequent effect on hunters was seen dramatically last year.

For the Bears Ears elk herd, first-season hunters enjoyed a 41 percent success rate. That season came after heavy snowstorms.

The weather warmed up considerably by the second and third seasons, and hunter success plummeted to 2 percent and 7 percent, respectively, Hampton said.

“Weather started to move the herds, and then it warmed up again,” he said. “The reality is, you are always going to have some kind of an impact from weather. Hunters will have to take that into consideration, and it may mean you’re not in the same camp you’ve always used, and you may be in an area you’re not as familiar with.”

What the weather will do this year is anyone’s guess, Hampton added, but offered this advice: “We’ve had two years of warm winter, which may mean we’re due for a cold one, and that will be good for hunters,” he said. “The warm weather also could help herds. There could be more animals and bigger bucks.

“But, we had a very wet spring, which means there’s a lot of food out there, everywhere. The herds are very dispersed right now. They’re all over. It’s going to take winter and hunting pressure to concentrate them, so hunters may have to go looking for that next trophy animal.”

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Bob Hayes runs a lucrative guided-hunting operation near Okeechobee, Fla., where clients pay up to $300 to shoot a trophy wild hog.

In July, Hayes — owner of Little Lake Lodge — conducted a special hunt for four boys ages 8 to 12 to encourage their interest in the sport.

Accompanied by their fathers, the youngsters took some target practice with guide Darrell Hazellief using their own guns and some loaners from the camp.

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The kids — Remington Shallenberger, 10; brothers Shane Arnold, 11, and Tyler Arnold, 8; and Dillon Isom, 12 — piled into the lodge’s jumbo swamp buggy along with their fathers, guides and three caged hunting dogs to search the 1,000-acre ranch for wild hogs.

Hazellief explained the procedure to the young hunters.

“We’re gonna put a dog out and he’s gonna find you a hog,” Hazellief said. “He might be behind the bushes. Once we get a hog bayed up, we’ll show you the hog and show you where to

shoot it. We tell you to aim; when you’re ready, say ‘I got it.’ When we get the dog out of the way, we’ll tell you when to shoot. Got that?”

The kids nodded eagerly.

“If the hog should run toward you, do not shoot the hog,” Hazellief warned. “Get behind Bob, me or Carlos. Sometimes they’ll come get you. They mean business.”

Hazellief cranked up the buggy and the group bumped out into a grassy prairie dotted with palmetto stands. Guide Carlos Saucedo released the three dogs, and they bounded eagerly into the field, sniffing the ground and wagging their tails.

For about 20 minutes, the dogs galloped about happily as the buggy trailed them. But suddenly, one of them disappeared into a palmetto thicket and began baying wildly.

“Woo-woo-woo!” he called.

The dog was close enough that the hunting party could locate him just by following the sound. The buggy pulled to a stop and Dillon readied his gun — a Browning .308 with a scope.

Before dogs or people could make another move, a large black boar crashed out of the palmettos and headed at top speed across the open prairie. The dogs, caught by surprise, didn’t

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give chase right away.

But Dillon shouldered his gun, led the fleeing hog from about 50 yards away, and fired. The animal stumbled, then disappeared behind another palmetto stand.

A CLEAN SHOT Saucedo jumped from the buggy and, accompanied by the dogs, ran over to where the hog was last seen. He found it, dead, shot through the heart.

Dillon admitted it wasn’t his first hog, but it was the first time he had killed one on the run.

“Good shot,” Hayes told the youngster.

Hazellief and Saucedo dragged the hefty boar, which they estimated at 200 pounds, to the buggy to continue the hunt.

Dillon’s father was happy.

“We’re gonna take it home, clean it and have a barbecue,” Dennis Isom said.

The rest of the morning unfolded in similar fashion. The dogs dashed around until they located a hog and the other three boys each shot one — all at pointblank range once the dogs were removed.

Remington got a spotted “bar” hog — a male that previously had been caught and neutered to make it a better barbecue entree. Tyler shot his first-ever hog — a sow — and his brother Shane got a boar.

By 1 p.m., the hunt was over.

“That was fun, Bob,” Remington’s father, Mike Shallenberger, told Hayes. “This was

A hunting party prepares to hunt wild hogs at Little Lake Lodge near Okeechobee, Fla., in July.

Photo by Sue Cocking/Miami Herald.

(Remington’s) first year of shooting. I’m pretty sure he’ll get his deer this year.”

Dennis Isom said the best time he spends with his son is in the woods.

“I’d rather him be out here than out on the streets somewhere and I don’t know

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where he is,” Isom said. “I’ve (hunted) all my life. It runs in the family.”

Hayes, who has an 8-year-old daughter, agreed, and shared his outdoors mantra: “Take your kids hunting; don’t hunt your kids,” he said.

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Focus on binoculars: Serious hunters shouldn’t scrimp on price RAY SASSER | THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

A friend who doesn’t do much hunting recently remarked that his son had bought a pair of $200 binoculars that were just as good as the Swarovski ELs that were on my patio table, kept handy for identifying backyard birds.

“I don’t think so,” I said. “Precision optics represent one product area where you truly get what you pay for.”

Technology has improved just about all binoculars, even the inexpensive models, and my friend based his evaluation by looking through his son’s new binoculars once or twice on a bright day.

That’s not the best way to judge binoculars. A $200 pair of binoculars is much better than having none at all. For casual hunting or bird watching, they may be all the binoculars you need.

If you’re serious about how you use binoculars, however, and you use them a lot, in all kinds of weather, you might do like I did and make a lifetime investment.

From September through April, my binoculars pretty much stay in my car, just to make certain I’m never in the field without them.

They’re subjected to dust, moisture and vibration from driving hundreds of miles over rough ranch roads and thousands of miles along smooth highways. They’re abused by the heat and the cold.

After hunting season, my binoculars stay on the kitchen counter, in case an unusual bird shows up in the backyard.

Since my wife took up hunting 13 years ago, she’s worn out three pairs of inexpensive binoculars. Her latest binoculars, made by a reputable optics company, had a suggested retail price of $350. They’ve been used so much that the focus is not as crisp as when they were new and they’ve lost a noticeable amount of brightness.

My $2,000 binoculars, now about 10 years old, are just as good as when I took them out of the box.

Lest this reads like an advertisement for

a specific brand, Leica binoculars may be even better. They do cost more. Zeiss is the third brand always mentioned among the highest quality trio, and they’re priced about the same.

We’re talking $1,700 to $2,500 for the top-end models. For hunting binoculars, you drop down to $1,000 or so for the next best quality level.

What do you need in hunting binoculars?

For most hunting, 10x42 (read 10 by 42) binoculars are difficult to beat. The first number is the magnifying power of the optics. In this case, it’s 10-power.

The second number is the diameter in millimeters of the objective (front) lens.

Objective lens diameter is important because the objective lens gathers light and allows you to see better early and late, when game is most active and binoculars are critical.

Binocular selection is a compromise. I’ve used 8x30 binoculars, which are lightweight, compact and easy to carry but lack the magnification and light-gathering ability that

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I want. I’ve also used 8x56 binoculars, which gather so much light that they allow you to see reasonably well on a moonlit night. The downside is they’re so heavy they feel like a brick around your neck.

Eye relief is a big deal for eyeglass wearers like me. Make sure the binoculars

you’re considering have eye cups that screw in to adjust for eye relief when wearing glasses. I’ll probably never have corrective eye surgery. The only two reasons I’d even consider it are to make using binoculars easier and more effective and to facilitate the use of polarized fishing glasses.

Most hunters or bird watchers cannot afford to pay $2,000 for binoculars or don’t use them enough to justify the expense.

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Photos from the hunt

bed , nab ident ring the s e r Craig ay du on, a th birthd x i M t 16 Gare on his season. k l y e r e n h a arc 2007

der, his son, Alexan est JP Nichols, and hw rt no er de e mul harvested this 2008. of Craig in fall

Austin Sadva r, 17, of Cra ig shot this elk in the w inter of 200 8-09.

a herd ok this photo of ing Penny Gobbo to nt hu le hi w r Mine Craig. of elk at Trappe of n, , Ed Coversto with her father

Colt e deer n Yoast , n durin orth of 13, of C r g th e se Craig in aig, shot cond O hunt ctober his ďŹ rst 2 ing s easo 008 n.

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Business directory GUIDES AND OUTFITTERS 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.

Adams Lodge Outfitters Primarily elk and deer (archery, muzzleloader 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 trespassfee 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.

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, 970824-0227, 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, 800-230-HUNT, www. barhoutfitters.com.

Bear Mountain Ranch Lodge-based, free-range rifle hunts on private 10,000-acre ranch for elk, deer, antelope, bison and bear (GMUs 17 and 181).

7401 U.S. Hwy 40, Kremmling, 970-7241154, 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), 970-824-7958, 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.

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 Cody 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.

Buck Mountain Outfitters 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.

Entire hotel newly remodeled Free hot breakfast

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Steamboat Springs 725 S. Lincoln Ave • (Hwy 40) www.hamptonsteamboat.com

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2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 55

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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.

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, 970-8247660, www.bullsandbucks.net.

Buffalo K Ranch Bull and cow buffalo hunts offered (bow, pistol, rifle or muzzle-loader) year-round (requires no license, fees, or tags).

15600 W. U.S. Hwy 40, Steamboat (west of Steamboat near Routt County Road 52), 800-371-7888, www.buffalokranch.com.

Charles Mead Outfitters 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.

Buford Guide Service Fully guided, lodge-based elk and deer hunts on national forest and private lands for (GMUs 23 and 24).

24284 Rio Blanco County Road 8, Meeker (20 miles east of Meeker), 970-878-4745, www.bufordstoreandlodge.com.

Bull Basin Guides and Outfitters Elk, mule deer, black bear, antelope and mountain lion during archery, muzzleloading and rifle hunting seasons, August through January on national forest and private lands. Also offers private flyfishing program with two options on the prestigious Troublesome Creek and Black Mountain Pond.

P.O. Box 1566, Kremmling, 970-7240417, 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

Don’t delay getting to camp!

If you get in late or super early stop in to the General Store for your hunting licenses— we offer after hours service!

24 hr fueling— 6¢/gal cash discount Gas & Diesel - Propane - Ice - Beer & Liquor - Hunting and Fishing Licenses - Cold Storage and Game Processing and Shipping - Groceries & Gift Shop, ATM

Chris Jurney Outfitting 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., 803892-4103 or 803-730-4176, www. coloradohunterservices.net.

Colorado’s Mountain West Outfitting 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, muzzleloading and rifle) on private lands near Cedar Mountain and around Craig (GMUs 3 and 301) with some lodging.

501 Cedar Mountain Ave., Craig, 303288-6268 or 303-726-5975.

Colorado Private Ranches 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, 318-435-5029 or 318-435-5592, www. coloradoprivateranches.com.

Coyote Creek 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, www. coyotecreekoutfittersllc.com.

Taponas County General Store 10000 Hwy 131 Taponas, CO 80479 970-638-4483

Open 6:30-9:00 Daily

56 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

Craig Wild Bunch Guides and Outfitters 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, 970824-9334, www.elk-craigwildbunch.com.

Cross Mountain Adventures 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, 970-8242803, 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, muzzle-loading 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, 970725-3531, 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, 970-8244288.

Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch Del’s has been in continuous operation in

North Routt County since 1962, offering both full-service, five-day 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), 970-8793495,www.steamboathorses.com.

Dunckley Peak Outfitters & Pack Service Full-service guided archery, muzzleloader 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), 970-824-8257 or 970-6298254, www.billscabin.com.

Dusty Trails Outfitters 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.

Eagle’s Nest Outfitting Deluxe drop camps and semi-guided hunts in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area (GMU 24) during archery, muzzle-loading and all four elk and deer rifle seasons.

P.O. Box 1168, Craig (20 miles east of Meeker), 970-826-4383, www. eaglesnestoutfitting.com.

Eagle Spirit Outfitters 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 biggame archery, muzzle-loading and rifle seasons.

P.O. Box 775792 (base of Rabbit Ears Pass), 888-416-8102, www. eaglespiritoutfitters.com.

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.

KREMMLING WEST END

LIQUOR SPIRITS OF THE WEST

»

200 PARK AVENUE KREMMLING, CO 80459 970.724.3564 KWEL@LIVE.COM

Elkhorn Outfitters Access to over 120,000 private-leased acres to hunt a 90-day 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, 281-8241460, 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

Open 5 am During Hunting Season • Come in for a Great Breakfast • Serving Soup, Salad and Sandwiches

Bring your business here!

Craig and Moffat County – a vibrant, growing economy!

Unsurpassed outdoor recreation, wide-open spaces, the simplicity of rural living, and the services your business needs to succeed.

New! Hospital— 2009!

New! Middle School— 2009!

New Commercial & Residential Construction!

National Retailers, Independent Businesses, & Residential Developments! 2009!

New College Academic Building and Residence Hall—2009-2010!

Coming Soon—Your Business Expansion or Relocation! Join us!!

Craig and Moffat County— a great place to do business!

Excellent Air Transportation *General Aviation – Craig-Moffat Airport *Commercial Jet Service – Yampa Valley Regional Airport Wired for Worldwide Work Unsurpassed Outdoor Recreation Skilled Workforce Colorado Northwest Community College Craig Campus *Business *Computer Science *Power Plant Technology *Mine Safety *Cosmetology *Industrial Electrician *Massage Therapy *Nursing Potential workforce of over 8,400 in Craig/Moffat area

Craig / Moffat County Economic Development Partnership 970.826.2039 | 300 West 4th St., Craig , CO cmedp.com | director@cmedp.com

20496248_EDP_COH09.indd 1

OWNERS

KEITH JENSEN BARBARA LUCEY

1:31:11 PM 20098/6/09 COLORADO HUNTER | 57

310 Park Avenue, Kremmling, CO 970-724-9578

limited drop-camp/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), 970-6381064, www.fishandcrossranch.com and www.packcountryoutfitters.com.

LARGE to Small WE CARE FOR THEM ALL! Pet Boarding Science Diet

• •

Grooming Pet Food

24 Hour

EMERGENCY SERVICE

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, 970-8248935.

Bear Creek Labradors 2430 E. Victory Way Craig, Colo. www.bclabradors.com (970) 824-5964 (970) 824-7567 Fax Kelly Hepworth, D.V.M

Great Divide Elk Hunts Elk hunting preserve with guaranteed trophy bull success offers rifle, muzzleloading, pistol and limited archery hunts.

7473 Moffat County Road 15, Craig, 970824-3731, 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 970878-5151.

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, 970-8248549, 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 928717-9360.

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 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, 970-824-6939, www.jamescreekoutfitters.com.

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, 970824-7161.

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, 970736-8564, www.colastchanceranch.com.

Lone Tom Outfitting Elk, deer, mountain lion and antelope

NEED A CHECK CASHED? VISIT YOUR CHECK CASHING HEADQUARTERS

(across from Wal-Mart) MONEY ORDERS • WIRE TRANSFERS UTILITY BILLING • PAYDAY LOANS

970-824-1078

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Non-guided Trespass Hunts Ranch house rental available

ELK • DEER • ANTELOPE RIFLE • MUZZLELOADERS • ARCHERY CONTACT MILES ELLIS (970) 846-9139 • www.flandersranch.com

58 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

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.

Longshot Ranch Trespass-fee hunts during big game seasons on 45 acres of private land bordering public BLM land.

28925 Routt County Road 14, Steamboat Springs, 970-879-4026 or 970-846-3057.

Lost Solar Outfitters 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 semiguided 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-motorized public BLM land (GMU 26) during archery, muzzleloading and rifle big game seasons. Also offers trail rides and wild game meat processing.

2834 Luark Rd., Burns, 970-653-4324, www.luarkranch.com.

6148 Colo. Hwy 317, Hamilton, 970-8249317, www.lazy-v-box.com.

2991 Pine Ridge Dr., Craig, 970-824-9501, www.trophy-elk-hunting.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.

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, 970-8784656, www.ninemileguestranch.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.

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 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.

Myers Hunting Services 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).

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, 970824-9269, www.huntpinnacle.com.

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., 352-5387094, 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.

Reeder Creek Ranch Offers some fully guided archery, muzzleloading and rifle hunts for elk and mule deer, (GMU 28) from family-operated working ranch focusing on private flyfishing 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.

P.O. Box 223, Rangely, 970-675-2619, 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, 303855-0451 or 303-655-0451, www. rockymountainhunting.com.

Sarvis Creek Outfitters Guided archery, muzzle-loading and rifle

Quality Deer, Elk and Antelope Hunts on Private Property Physically Challenged Hunters Welcome

Lou Rabin, License No.1513 P.O. Box 771582 Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

(970) 879-0868 • www.5springsranch.com

A well done experience for the whole family!

Affordable Steaks & Seafood Starting at $13.95

Includes 20 Item Salad Bar Alaskan King Crab Legs Australian Lobster Tail Hand-crafted USDA Prime and Choice Cuts Slow Roasted Prime Rib Baby Back Ribs Buffalo Ribeye Kobe Beef Angus Bone - In Ribeye

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Best Family Steakhouse in Steamboat Saddle Seats For Kids Children’s Menu Available Free Smores Desserts For Kids

Large Parties Welcome Two 42” TVs in the Bar Bar Opens at 3pm Extensive Wine List Dinner Nightly at 5pm

50 Eighth St. ~ Downtown Steamboat Springs Reservations Recommended 970-879-3131

2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 59

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.

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, muzzleloading and rifle) on three private ranches (GMUs 11 and 211) including the 1,255acre Golden Derrick Ranch, which borders a 30,000-acre BLM wilderness study area.

5455 Rio Blanco County Road 7, Meeker, 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, muzzle-loading 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 dropcamps 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), 970-846-5877, 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.

Creek Lakes and Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area in the Routt National Forest. Multiday fishing and sightseeing wilderness pack trips also available.

29420 Elk Horn Lane (three miles north of Steamboat), 970-879-0954, www. sunsetranchinc.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, 970-824-3468; Steamboat Stables — 835 Howelsen Parkway, Steamboat (base of Howelsen Hill, behind the rodeo grounds), 970-8792306; Meeker White River Horse Camp — 12900 Rio Blanco County Road 8, Meeker, 970-878-4382 or 303-442-0258, www.sombrero.com.

Superior Guide Service Offers elk and deer archery, muzzleloading 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, 970-8244767, www.wehuntcolorado.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 800-342-1889, www. steamboatlakeoutfitters.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.

Sunset Ranch Offers big-game hunting trips and drop camps to the Swamp Park region, Mad

We have you covered

200 West Highway 13 Craig, Colorado 81625 970-824-3471

60 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

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.

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.

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), 970-723-4000, 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.

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.

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, 970725-3242, 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), 970-824-2102 or 706-990-9030.

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Backdoor Sports Backpacking gear and offers rentals for tents, stoves and backpacks.

841 Yampa St., Steamboat Springs, 970879-6249, 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.

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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.

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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, 970824-6758, www.coloradooutdoors.com.

GEAR, GOODS AND SUPPLIES

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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), 970-756-5000, www. tripletrackllc.com.

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Bear River Valley Co-op Offers some hunting apparel.

193 E. Jefferson Ave., Hayden, 970-2763313.

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., Steamboat Springs, 879-8747 or 888-810-8747, www. buckingrainbow.com.

Craig Powersports 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.

2607 E. U.S. Highway 40, Craig, 970-8260060, www.craigpowersports.com.

Craig Sports For nearly 50 years Craig Sports has sold guns and ammunition, archery, muzzleloading and re-loading equipment and supplies, with some camping and fishing equipment.

1598 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-8244044, 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.

A Quality Hunt in a Unique Setting!

• Fully Guided & Exclusive Bookings • Black Powder & Bow Hunts • Combination Hunts • Ranching for Wildlife • Rifle Hunts • Elk • Deer

Accommodations available at the main Ranch House or our Breeze Basin Lodge All Modern Conveniences TOTALLY PRIVATE GROUND

Fishin’ Hole Sporting Goods Fly shop with ammunition, archery and muzzle-loading equipment and camping equipment.

103 W. Park Ave., Kremmling, 970-7249407.

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

2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 61

Horseback Hunts

Bring your personal gear and guns, we provide everything else including horses & saddles.

Summer Packages Include: • Horseback riding, • Wildlife tours, • Exclusive fishing on

the South Fork of the Williams Fork River.

Call for more complete information: Scott Brennise

(970)-824-4767 Cell: (970)-629-2641 www.wehuntcolorado.com Craig, CO 81625 - Lic. #1791

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.

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.

Maybell Store “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, 970-2723262.

Montgomery’s General Merchandise Sells groceries, ammunition, licenses, maps and sporting goods.

24 Main St., Yampa, 970-638-4531.

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, blazeorange halters, blankets, tire chains and shovels.

2355 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-8244100, 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.

Powderhorn Cabins Lodging general store with ice and some fishing and hunting supplies.

35336 Jackson County 21, Walden, 970723-4359.

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, eightlane indoor archery range on site.

696 Main St., Meeker, 970-878-4300, www.rockymountainbowstrings.com.

and riding information as well as helmet rentals and on-site delivery available.

2989 Riverside Plaza, Steamboat, 8795138, www.steamboatpowersports.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., Steamboat Springs, 970-879-0385 or 800-932-3019, www. skihaussteamboat.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., Steamboat Springs, 970-879-7568; 800-354-5463, www. straightlinesports.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, 970-7362443.

Timberline Builders Supply Some camping equipment and ammunition.

209 N. Main St., Walden, 970-723-4422.

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.

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, 970638-4483.

Steamboat Flyfisher Quick-dry apparel, boots and socks and maps along with the shops comprehensive selection of fly-tying equipment and materials.

35 Fifth St., 970-879-6552, www. steamboatflyfisher.com.

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), 970-724-9325, www.tri-river. com.

Steamboat Powersports Rents ATVs on daily and weekly bases as well as Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Maps

Wyatt’s Sports Center Ammunition, scopes and binoculars, slings, knives, hatchets, clothing, maps,

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camping equipment, stoves and boots.

223 Eighth St., Meeker, 970-878-4428.

MEAT PROCESSING AND TAXIDERMY All Seasons Taxidermy 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 800-328-8767, www.axisleather.qpg. com.

B & L Quality Taxidermy 1744 Lincoln Ave., Taylor Building #2, Steamboat, 970-879-1316.

Big Cat Taxidermy 37 E. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-9624, www.bigcattaxidermy.com.

Brothers Custom Processing 383 East First St., Craig, 970-824-3855.

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

Crazy 3 Tannery 1480 N. Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-6063,

www.crazythreetannery.com.

Custom Quality Meats 1430 N. Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-4668.

Horne Taxidermy 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 970-675-2800.

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, 970-8785501.

Steamboat Meat & Seafood 1030 Yampa St., Steamboat, 970-8793504, www.steamboatseafood.com.

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), 970-8248376 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), 970-725-6200 (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, 970945-5556.

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).

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2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 63

Carpet Remnants & Padding

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Good Luck

on the Big Hunt!

(970) 826-0888 408 E. Victory • Craig National Buying Power with Over 750 Stores

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), 970870-0298, 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), 879-5649 or 846-5647, www.3qc.net.

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 year-round, 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.

Vail Rod & Gun Club (Lazy J Ranch) Open to the public for sporting clays (five stand and 10-station course available) during the summer.

001 Sporting Clay Way, Wolcott (just south of I-70), 970-926-3472, www.lazyjranch. net.

Walden Public Shooting Area Public Bureau of Land Management range, open year-round, 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.

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), 970-6758183.

VISITOR RESOURCES Bureau of Land Management: Little Snake Field Office — 455 Emerson Street, Craig, 970-826-5000; 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, 970-8783800. Grand Junction — 2815 H Road, 970-244-3000. www.co.blm.gov/. Maps (Lakewood state office) — 303-2393600.

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, 970-947-2920. www.wildlife.state. co.us/hunting/

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Dealers in Structural Steels & Scrap Metals 64 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

Colorado T-Shirts

✓Don’t forget!

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)

“We Custom Print”

Bring home a souvenir T-Shirt from Colorado • T-Shirts • Turquoise • Belts/Buckles • Souvenirs

• Sweatshirts • Candles • Colorado Mugs • Caps

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Outfitters

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BARGAIN BARN 506 Yampa Ave. • Downtown Craig, CO • 970-824-4246

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

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Cleaning supplies, trash bags Flashlight/lantern

970.824.9380 • 211 W. 4th St. Craig

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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

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Mountain Meat Processing • 5 Generations of Quality Service • Award Winning Taxidermist on Duty • We Ship Anywhere in the U.S.A. • 24 Hour Turn Around Service • Complete Line of Award Winning Sausages

TIN CUP GRILL 10:00 AM TO CLOSE * 7 DAYS A WEEK •

Get out of the woods and come to paradise at the Tin Cup Grill!!!

• Try our signature 30 oz. Porter House Steak or the wide variety of exotic to domestic cuts.

• We have a full service bar, with the best Margaritas in town.

• With a Splash of friendly staff!!!

Yampa Valley Golf Course ~ Craig, Colorado 970-824-3764

• Dry Ice • Shipping Boxes • Cold Storage We Want Your Business – Not just this year, but every year!

291 Lincoln Street, P.O. Box 507, Craig

970-824-4878 WE ACCEPT 66 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER

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Ambulance and Emergency Room, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, cardiopulmonary clinic, surgery and pharmacy

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Whether you enjoy the pace and the beauty of Moffat County year-round, or you are visiting the area for recreational opportunities, The Memorial Hospital at Craig provides right-time medical care for planned and unplanned events.

In November, The Memorial Hospital at Craig will have a new building. This new facility in an important piece, along with new physicians and new tools that will reenergize the medical culture in the region. We aim for nothing short of greatness as we provide skilled medical care and personal attention to our community of patients and friends.

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2009 COLORADO HUNTER | 67

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68 | 2009 COLORADO HUNTER