Colorado Elk or Elk / Mule Deer Combo – Semi-Guided - Hunt #52-EMD2

If you prefer to hunt without a guide but want a comfortable lodge, private ground and a hunt assistant to provide help throughout the hunt, check this one out. The ranch consists of 2000 acres and is in prime elk and deer country. It also borders public land and provides access to areas that are not easily reached by public hunters.

The hunt can be done as a single species hunt for elk during archery, muzzleloader, 1st rifle, 3rd rifle and 4th rifle seasons. It can also be done as an elk/deer combo hunt during archery, muzzleloader and 3rd rifle season. Deer are not in season during 1st and 4th rifle seasons and the 2nd rifle season is not available to book. Being this is not an over-the-counter unit, the number of tags is controlled which means better quality animals and lower numbers of hunters.

The hunt includes use of the ranch house which has generator electric, hot water, full kitchen, and is easily accessed. A hunt assistant will be on hand throughout the hunt and will show you the ranch boundaries, recommend good areas, help pack out game and assist the group as needed during the hunt. An ATV will be on site to drop off hunters or to use for game retrieval where practical. Food is not provided but hunters may use the kitchen to prepare their meals. There is a barn to hang and skin game.

Unlike a drop camp where you get dropped off and hope the area has game, this hunt allows you to cover a much larger area as you can hunt the ranch or walk or drive to nearby public lands. Couple that with comfortable lodging, a hunt assistant and help with game retrieval, and this hunt becomes an option that is very attractive especially at $2300 per hunter!

This GMU has good numbers of resident elk and deer and then receives an influx of migratory animals that winter there. For these reasons, success rates are very good for muzzleloader and rifle seasons and average during archery season.

A group of four is needed to book with five being the max. Your group will have the lodge and property to yourselves. The outfitter has experience on this ranch but 2012 will be the first year that this hunt has been offered. Consequently, openings are available for all seasons.

Non-resident license fees are $579 for bull elk, $354 for cow elk and $349 for deer. A $10 habitat stamp is also required. Anyone born after January 1, 1949 must have a hunter education card to apply – Colorado accepts hunter education cards from other states.

Being this unit does require one or more preference points to draw, you need to apply for a point or you will not be able to hunt here. The application deadline for licenses and preference points is April 3, 2012. I can help with this process. If you want to do this hunt and you do not have any points, you need to be planning years in advance. We can take deposits now for hunts as far out as the 2015 season. For hunts booked for 2013 and beyond, we can take deposits as low as 25%.

Elk preference points needed for non-residents to draw in 2011 were:
Archery -1
Muzzleloader – 3
1st and 3rd Rifle – 2
4th Rifle – 1

Deer preference points needed by non-residents were:
Archery -1
Muzzleloader - 2
3rd Rifle - 1

Some landowner vouchers are available for deer and cow elk for hunters that did not draw tags. There is an additional fee for the vouchers.

5-6 Day Hunts - $2300 / hunter for the following seasons:
Archery – Elk / Deer - 6 Day Hunt - Aug. 25 – Sept. 25, 2012
Muzzleloader – Elk / Deer – 6 Day Hunt - Sept. 8 – 16, 2012
1st Rifle – Elk only - 5 Day Hunt - Oct. 13-17, 2012
3rd Rifle – Elk / Deer - 6 Day Hunt - Nov. 3-11, 2012
4th Rifle – Elk only - 5 Day Hunt - Nov. 14-18, 2012