Colorado has more elk than anywhere in the world. They probably have more elk hunters as well. Here at Hunt Nation we know that the public lands and the National Forests get pretty saturated with hunters every season looking for that prize elk. It is this knowledge that makes us very excited about the hunting opportunities that this outfitter provides. We feel it is very unique and is being offered on such a scale that many of our clients are going to be able to participate and enjoy this awesome hunting experience.
Setting in the northwestern corner of the state, a few miles west of the Craig, this outfitter owns over a thousand acres of private ground. This ranch is strategically located next to larger ranches that participate in the practice of Ranching for Wildlife (RFW ranches). The RFW program is a state sponsored conservation program that helps integrate agricultural practices with wild animal conservation for the benefit of both. The local and migrating elk herds benefit greatly from this program and that make this ranch an elk hot spot. This ranch also serves as access to several thousand acres of land locked BLM land.
The outfitter and his father have been in the outfitting business for over 40 years. After many years of using the usual outfitter setup of wall tents and wood heat stoves. They thought there had to be a better way then setting them up and taking them down every year on this off grid ranch. They came up with the idea of permanent “shooting houses”. The ranch now has 7 of these structures that occupy historically favorable high spots to hunt the migrating elk. With the passing of the outfitter’s father a few years back, his son as stepped in and joined this now 3 generations outfitting business.
These houses come with bunk beds and a propane heater. Plus, lots of windows to watch for the movement of the elk as they work their way to their local wintering grounds. They can accommodate 2 or 3 people, and there is also a Johnny-on-the-Spot latrine right outside the door of each cabin. There is no electricity in the houses, so bring a portable power bank or charge your phone in your truck. There is usually good cell service at each house, which allows the outfitter to stay in contact with each hunter.
When you arrive, you are assigned a “house” where you drive your truck to and park right at. Hunter movement is limited during the day – there is no driving or walking around outside during the day, except for an emergency or to retrieve an elk. When you harvest your elk, you notify the outfitter. He helps retrieve the elk and hangs it on the hanging pole. From there you can either process the elk yourself or take it to the local butcher in Craig. They will skin, quarter, and freeze your elk for a very reasonable price. At the time of this writing it was under $100.
At night you are allowed to cook outside if you have bought a portable cooker. You can do this right on the tailgate of your truck. Or you can eat whatever cold food you have brought. For insurance reasons, there is no cooking allowed in the “houses”. There is also a main office and shed. The outfitter does not provide food, but you are welcome to come up to the main shed and use the kitchen or join-in whatever the group meal turns out to be that night. There is usually a big group meal that takes place every evening. Next to the main shed there is also a 2 stall shower house with hot water for cleaning up.
The camp’s elevation is around 6,500 feet. The rolling terrain, sagebrush flats, and permanent shooting houses make this what one past client calls, “an easy man’s elk hunt.” We think this is the perfect father-and-son hunt. But being able to shoot long distances accurately is definitely an asset!
This is also an excellent hunt for anyone with mobility issues. Again, you can drive your truck right to the door of the shooting house! There is a ladder to climb up to the second floor for the best view, but if you can’t navigate a ladder, the ground floor of each shooting house also has 3 windows that open to shoot from, and even the ground floor offers very good visibility. One client woke up to finding a 6X6 bull napping outside the window!
THE HUNT (Colorado has 4 rifle seasons for elk):
There are many options available when hunting with this outfitter under the current Colorado hunting regulations. Please note there are still some over the counter (OTC) bull and cow tags – but limited mainly to private lands. This outfitted hunt has OTC tags you can simply buy, but only for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons. He also has options for other seasons, but those are on draw. Otherwise, the vast majority of the State’s hunting licenses are issued through the draw process that opens in March. Because the quantity of elk on the ranch varies, the outfitter has made the hunting opportunities vary as well. The hunting takes place in GMUs 3 and 301. There is no archery or muzzleloader hunting on the ranch. We like that!! You get first crack.
2025 PRICES (all prices subject to change without notice until deposit received)
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE LICENSES/TAGS, FOOD OR MEAT PROCESSING.
FIRST RIFLE SEASON
This is a 5-day hunt and requires drawing a license. The outfitter would like to sell this opportunity to a group of 4 to 5 hunters. The group will have access to the entire ranch including the BLM land. They will hunt the local elk that hang out before the migration typically begins.
$2,950 PER HUNTER
SECOND RIFLE SEASON (over the counter private land tags available)
This season is divided up into the first 4 days and then the second 5 days. Under the current Colorado regulations, you need to draw a license to hunt public lands, but if you hunt on this private ground, you can buy your tag over the counter. Alternatively, instead of just buying the license outright, you can opt to apply for the draw and, if drawn, you get the benefit of an additional opportunity – the opportunity to hunt on the landlocked BLM land. You will then typically not use a shooting house but will instead stay in an RV at the main shed and be transported to your hunting spot on BLM each day. The plus is that if you miss on the draw, you can STILL buy a tag over the counter and hunt the private ranch.
FIRST 4 DAYS $3,550 PER HUNTER; SECOND 5 DAYS $4,500 PER HUNTER
THIRD RIFLE SEASON (over the counter private land tags available)
The third rifle season operates exactly like the second, only later in the year.
FIRST FOUR DAYS $4,150 PER HUNTER; SECOND 5 DAYS $4,725 PER HUNTER
FOURTH RIFLE SEASON (requires you to draw)
The fourth rifle season is only available for hunters that have successfully drawn a tag. This will be a 5-day hunt, and both BLM and the private ranch lands are available to hunt.
FIVE DAYS $5,350 PER HUNTER
AN OBSERVER ON ANY SEASON IS $600 PER PERSON.
You may have noticed that the prices go up as the seasons get later. This is because more elk have taken up the migration trail as the weather cools and snow hits the mountain peaks. Once again, another nice advantage this outfit provides is the ability to apply for the draw for the 1st or 4th season, but buy the private land 2nd or 3rd season tags if you do not draw. This pretty much insures your ability to hunt that year. We feel this is a great benefit to our clients.
Talking with prior clients, here is what some of them had to say.
MW Says,” This is an easy man’s hunt. On a slow day you may see 50-100 elk. I’ve seen over a 1000 elk pass by during my hunt”
TB Says,” They do everything they can to get you an elk and they treat you like family. After the kill they truly help every way they can. I’ve hunted with them 10 times and I’ve taken 9 elk. The 10th time I passed an elk early on looking for something bigger.”
AC Says, “I’ve hunted with them several times, mostly 2nd and 3rd season. Always was treated well and had lots of success. I will be going back.”
NOTICE: HUNTERS BORN ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1949 MUST HAVE COMPLETED A HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE, AND MUST CARRY PROOF OF COMPLETION IN THE FIELD WHILE HUNTING.
GETTING THERE
You will be northwest of Steamboat Springs and Hayden, each have a regional airport, but Denver is the nearest major airport. It’s about a 4-hour drive by rental car from Denver.