Download pdf - Colorado Hunter 2010

1

The Top SpotNorthwest Colorado is an outdoorsman’s paradise

Afterthe hunt

Where to go,What to do

2010 EdiTioN | A ComplETE HuNTiNg guidE For NorTHWEST ColorAdo | FrEE

EvEryTHiNg you NEEd To kNoW• Business directory

• maps• dates

• Fees

pluS! photos from the hunt

2 | 2010 Colorado Hunter 2010 Colorado Hunter | 3



108 acres, 4,700 sf home and 6,000 sf shop/barn in excellent condition. Private valley setting. Between Steamboat and Regional Airport. Reduced to $1,495,000

20 acres in the Elk River Valley! Creek, water rights, meadows, paved roads. Two permitted building sites. $475,000

40-100 acres. Three parcels, all with National Forest boundary and excellent hunting. Silver Creek flows through one parcel. $275,000 - $575,000.

303 acres three miles north of Craig. Pond, electricity, views to Steamboat Ski Area . Affordable land close to town. Motivated Seller. $450,000.

Bank Owned!

You’ve heard it before-“they’re not making any more of it”-especially a prime river parcel with direct Ski Area views! 116 acres, ¾ mi Elk River, plus 2nd channel and west fork…lots of water. $4,500,000.

747 acres w/ 40 acres irrigated meadows. Small house, historic improvements. Excellent hunting ranch only 8 miles from Steamboat! Reduced $850K to $1,900,000.

National Forest Boundary at Hahn’s Peak. 125 treed acres with easy access, hunting, hiking, snowmobiling. SteamboatLakeProperty.com. Reduced to $995,000.

54 acres with beautiful home at base of Flattops. Ir-rigated native hay, 5 ponds, creek, springs. Previously listed at $1.2M; motivated sellers now at $799,000.

New Listing

Steamboat recreation properties

Outfitting Business for sale. Pack in, wilderness area close to Steamboat. $99,000.

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Helpful tips for your Trophy

Don’t short cape your animal

Call for information on “Where” to cape

Don’t drag your animal

Keep your hide clean

Do not salt your hide unless it has been properly fleshed

If you are not sure call or bring your animal to B&L Quality Taxidermy

B&L Quality Taxidermy1744 Lincoln Ave. No.2 • Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

970.879.1316 or 970.276.2193

B&LQ U A L I T Y

taxidermy

We Accept Major Credit Cards

20633389_BL_COH10.indd 1 8/10/10 10:19 AM

108 acres, 4,700 sf home and 6,000 sf shop/barn in excellent condition. Private valley setting. Between Steamboat and Regional Airport. Reduced to $1,495,000

20 acres in the Elk River Valley! Creek, water rights, meadows, paved roads. Two permitted building sites. $475,000

40-100 acres. Three parcels, all with National Forest boundary and excellent hunting. Silver Creek flows through one parcel. $275,000 - $575,000.

303 acres three miles north of Craig. Pond, electricity, views to Steamboat Ski Area . Affordable land close to town. Motivated Seller. $450,000.

Bank Owned!

You’ve heard it before-“they’re not making any more of it”-especially a prime river parcel with direct Ski Area views! 116 acres, ¾ mi Elk River, plus 2nd channel and west fork…lots of water. $4,500,000.

747 acres w/ 40 acres irrigated meadows. Small house, historic improvements. Excellent hunting ranch only 8 miles from Steamboat! Reduced $850K to $1,900,000.

National Forest Boundary at Hahn’s Peak. 125 treed acres with easy access, hunting, hiking, snowmobiling. SteamboatLakeProperty.com. Reduced to $995,000.

54 acres with beautiful home at base of Flattops. Ir-rigated native hay, 5 ponds, creek, springs. Previously listed at $1.2M; motivated sellers now at $799,000.

New Listing

Steamboat recreation properties

Outfitting Business for sale. Pack in, wilderness area close to Steamboat. $99,000.

20632627_CB_COHUNTER.indd 1 8/9/10 3:22 PM


For more of our listings and virtual tours, please visit our website, www.steamboatagents.com

Situated in the most desired area of Steamboat Springs, these majestic 367 acres boast mature pines, gorgeous aspen groves and fern filled fields. With direct access to national forest on two sides, enjoy migratory moose, elk, deer and bear and limitless recreation in the great outdoors on miles of private trail system. This ultra private property surround a 4100 square foot Rocky Mountain Log Home, 1400 square foot heli hangar/wood shop and 1100 square foot barn/garage and is merely minutes to jet accessible airport, world renowned skiing, historic downtown, restaurants and shopping. Magnificent Gunn Creek flows through this sprawling estate and appreciate dramatic 360º views of surrounding mountain vistas from many points. To top it off, low taxes are associated with land trust and abundant water rights are included. ID# 129351. Offered for $10,000,000. By appointment only.

SO CLOSE, YET SO PRIVATE - ADJACENT TO 367 ACRES

These two 35 acre mountain lots are only five miles from downtown Steamboat Springs and offer spectacular views of Buff Pass, Flat Tops, Mt. Werner and town. Land is seldomly available in Strawberry Park, of this size and caliber. Horses are permitted, access to national forest and five acre building envelopes, yet to be defined, are just some of the advantages. Ultra low taxes associated with land trust, purchase separately or together and adjacent to 367 acres, also available. ID# 127866, $1,800,000 and ID#127867, $1,650,000.

Dave Barnes, Associate Broker970.819.5169

[email protected]

Michelle Barnes, Associate [email protected]

HUNTSMAN'S DELIGHT IN STRAWBERRY PARK - 367 ACRES

20634343_SA_CoHunt10.indd 1 8/5/10 2:57 PM


For more of our listings and virtual tours, please visit our website, www.steamboatagents.com

Situated in the most desired area of Steamboat Springs, these majestic 367 acres boast mature pines, gorgeous aspen groves and fern filled fields. With direct access to national forest on two sides, enjoy migratory moose, elk, deer and bear and limitless recreation in the great outdoors on miles of private trail system. This ultra private property surround a 4100 square foot Rocky Mountain Log Home, 1400 square foot heli hangar/wood shop and 1100 square foot barn/garage and is merely minutes to jet accessible airport, world renowned skiing, historic downtown, restaurants and shopping. Magnificent Gunn Creek flows through this sprawling estate and appreciate dramatic 360º views of surrounding mountain vistas from many points. To top it off, low taxes are associated with land trust and abundant water rights are included. ID# 129351. Offered for $10,000,000. By appointment only.

SO CLOSE, YET SO PRIVATE - ADJACENT TO 367 ACRES

These two 35 acre mountain lots are only five miles from downtown Steamboat Springs and offer spectacular views of Buff Pass, Flat Tops, Mt. Werner and town. Land is seldomly available in Strawberry Park, of this size and caliber. Horses are permitted, access to national forest and five acre building envelopes, yet to be defined, are just some of the advantages. Ultra low taxes associated with land trust, purchase separately or together and adjacent to 367 acres, also available. ID# 127866, $1,800,000 and ID#127867, $1,650,000.

Dave Barnes, Associate Broker970.819.5169

[email protected]

Michelle Barnes, Associate [email protected]

HUNTSMAN'S DELIGHT IN STRAWBERRY PARK - 367 ACRES

20634343_SA_CoHunt10.indd 1 8/5/10 2:57 PM


FREE continental breakfast (seasonal) FREE internet accessConveniently located

Outdoor pool and hot tubDiscounted hunter rates2 FREE public internet computers

2304 Aprés Ski Way 970.879.1730 toll free reservations 800.538.7519 www.steamboat-lodging.com2304 Aprés Ski Way 970.879.1730 toll free reservations 800.538.7519 www.steamboat-lodging.com

Ptarmigan Inn

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

insideIntroduction.............................................................10

Northwest.Colorado.overview.................................14

Craig.city.map........................................................16

Steamboat.Springs.city.map.................................17

What’s.new.in.2010..............................................20

Season.outlook.....................................................21

Herd.numbers......................................................22

Return.hunters.have.all.the.luck..........................24

Outdoor.Life.magazine.rankings.........................28

Off-highway.vehicles..........................................30

Crossbows.versus.rifles.....................................31

GMU.maps.........................................................32

Bull.elk.license.map..........................................37

Other.game.......................................................40

Survival.tips.....................................................42

Try.fly.fishing...................................................47

Teen.nabs.mountain.lion..................................52

Veteran.hunter.finally.gets.her.lion...............................................................54

Teacher.calls.hunting.“priceless”.................................................................56

Tales.from.the.trails.....................................................................................58

Bagging.a.moose.easier.than.ever...............................................................60

Healthy.populations.cause.for.optimism......................................................63

Photos.from.the.hunt...................................................................................67

Hunting.business.directory..........................................................................74

1

Learn from

localsFavorite spots

Everything you need to knowFrom preparing for the hunt

to cooking the meat

Complete date and fee schedules

Afterthe hunt

Where to go,What to do

2010 Edition | A CompLEtE Hunting guidE For nortHWEst CoLorAdo | FrEE



Welcome to our hunting havenThank you for picking up a copy of

Colorado Hunter, the premier guide to big-game hunting in Northwest

Colorado.Like many others who have chosen

Northwest Colorado as their home, we live and work here because of the gorgeous landscapes, friendly people and the spirit of the Old West that keeps adventure alive.

Our home, and yours for as long as you wish, offers limitless recreational opportunities year-round.

But fall holds a special place in our hearts. It’s when we welcome thousands of you —

hunters from across the country, and in some cases, the globe — into our communities to experience world-class outdoor activities, spectacular wildlife, and one of the largest elk herds in the country.

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 not only your trophy animal for this year, but for many more to come.

But, at its core, what truly makes Northwest Colorado such a wonderful place for out-of-town visitors lies not just with the animals we offer for hunts, but in the people who truly put our area over the top.

Here, you and your family and friends will find the perfect setting to create lifelong memories. The story of a good hunt is as much about camaraderie shared around the campfire as it is about the harvest you take home.

The Northwest Colorado landscape, and the

people you’ll meet here, provide the perfect backdrop for creating those memories.

This magazine serves as our welcome card to you.

There is something for everyone in these pages — from novice hunters to seasoned pros, from the opinions of visitors to those who earn their livelihoods in the hunting industry.

We give you the nuts and bolts of what, where and when to hunt while also offering tips on making each hunting trip better than the last.

There’s also a detailed directory 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 in our home.

Bryce JacobsonPublisher, Craig Daily Press

Suzanne Schlicht Publisher, Steamboat Today

466.Yampa.AvenueCraig,.CO.81625970-824-7031

Colorado Hunter is a joint publication

of Steamboat Today and Craig Daily Press.

P.O..Box.774827Steamboat,.CO.80477

970-871-4202

TIMELESS MEN’S APPARELHOWELSEN PLACE 7TH AND LINCOLN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (970) 871-1137 WWW. ZIRKELTRADING.COM

20631653_ZT_COH10.indd 2 8/10/10 11:08 AM


20631653_ZT_COH10.indd 3 8/10/10 11:10 AM


Master Taxidermist Bill Wille WINNER WORLD TAXIDERMY COMPETITIONS

369 Market St., Meeker, CO 81641(across from Pizza Hut)

Late Drop Off Service • 970-878-3365FAST TURN AROUND SERVICE

SIX MONTHS OR LESS - INQUIRELIFETIME GUARANTEE

PROFESSIONALS OF AFRICA

“SAFARI WITH BILL”PH Bill Wille

CUSTOMTAILOREDSAFARIS

STARTING FROM 7 DAYS

BOOKING FOR:2011 & 2012

LIMITED SPOTSOPEN

20 years Guiding Successful Hunters From Around The Globe!35 Species Plains Game — Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard & Lion

Hunt in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique & Zimbabwe

We are not just a Booking Agent!Professional hunter Bill Wille guides you!

References Availablewww.professionalsofafrica.com

CUSTOM SABLE MOUNTwww.antlertaxidermysite.com • www.professionalsofafrica.com

Custom Mountain GoatRick Mosher - Craig, CO

South African 7 Day Package Safaris:East Cape or Karoo Hunts Includes 6 Trophies(Includes Daily Rates, Professional Hunter 1x1, Vehicles, Trackers, Skinners Meals/Lodging/Bever-ages during hunt) 1 Gemsbok or Black Wildebeest 1 Common Springbuck 1 Black Springbuck 1 Mtn. Reedbuck 1 Common Blesbuck 1 Steenbuck Special $4200. ( limited openings)(NOT INCLUDED: International/in-ternal Airfare, 14%VAT Gov’t Tax on above package,Shipping/Dipping Trophies, Taxidermy,Tips/Gratuities Staff, any additional trophies added or wounded) (Accompany Non Hunter-Observer add $275./day)

South African 10 Day 7 Animals Package Safaris:

Trophy Kudu plus 6 animals 1 Trophy Kudu 1 Blue Wildebeest or Red Hartebeest 1 Impala 1 Warthog 1 Blesbuck 1 Steenbuck and 1Bush Duiker Special $7400. ( limited openings)(NOT INCLUDED: International/in-ternal Airfare, 14%VAT Gov’t Tax on above package,Shipping/Dipping Trophies, Taxidermy,Tips/Gratuities Staff, any additional trophies added or wounded) (Accompany Non Hunter-Observer add $275./day)

For Sale: $750068 POINT GOLIATH WHITETAIL

21-Day Elephant Hunt

14-Day Leopard Hunt

10-Day Cape Buffalo Hunt

KUDUSARE OUR

SPECIALTY

WE SELL

MOUNTS

MOUNTS FROM AROUND THE

WORLD ON DISPLAY

BEST SHIPPING

RATES ANY-

WHERE IN THE U.S.

Also Offering Custom Tailored 1x1 Safaris for Elephant, Buffalo, Lion , Leopard, Rhino ( Dart Hunts)

HUNTING In Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozam-bique & South Africa 14, 21, 28 Day Safaris

Very Limited 2011 & Booking for 2012


Master Taxidermist Bill Wille WINNER WORLD TAXIDERMY COMPETITIONS

369 Market St., Meeker, CO 81641(across from Pizza Hut)

Late Drop Off Service • 970-878-3365FAST TURN AROUND SERVICE

SIX MONTHS OR LESS - INQUIRELIFETIME GUARANTEE

PROFESSIONALS OF AFRICA

“SAFARI WITH BILL”PH Bill Wille

CUSTOMTAILOREDSAFARIS

STARTING FROM 7 DAYS

BOOKING FOR:2011 & 2012

LIMITED SPOTSOPEN

20 years Guiding Successful Hunters From Around The Globe!35 Species Plains Game — Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard & Lion

Hunt in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique & Zimbabwe

We are not just a Booking Agent!Professional hunter Bill Wille guides you!

References Availablewww.professionalsofafrica.com

CUSTOM SABLE MOUNTwww.antlertaxidermysite.com • www.professionalsofafrica.com

Custom Mountain GoatRick Mosher - Craig, CO

South African 7 Day Package Safaris:East Cape or Karoo Hunts Includes 6 Trophies(Includes Daily Rates, Professional Hunter 1x1, Vehicles, Trackers, Skinners Meals/Lodging/Bever-ages during hunt) 1 Gemsbok or Black Wildebeest 1 Common Springbuck 1 Black Springbuck 1 Mtn. Reedbuck 1 Common Blesbuck 1 Steenbuck Special $4200. ( limited openings)(NOT INCLUDED: International/in-ternal Airfare, 14%VAT Gov’t Tax on above package,Shipping/Dipping Trophies, Taxidermy,Tips/Gratuities Staff, any additional trophies added or wounded) (Accompany Non Hunter-Observer add $275./day)

South African 10 Day 7 Animals Package Safaris:

Trophy Kudu plus 6 animals 1 Trophy Kudu 1 Blue Wildebeest or Red Hartebeest 1 Impala 1 Warthog 1 Blesbuck 1 Steenbuck and 1Bush Duiker Special $7400. ( limited openings)(NOT INCLUDED: International/in-ternal Airfare, 14%VAT Gov’t Tax on above package,Shipping/Dipping Trophies, Taxidermy,Tips/Gratuities Staff, any additional trophies added or wounded) (Accompany Non Hunter-Observer add $275./day)

For Sale: $750068 POINT GOLIATH WHITETAIL

21-Day Elephant Hunt

14-Day Leopard Hunt

10-Day Cape Buffalo Hunt

KUDUSARE OUR

SPECIALTY

WE SELL

MOUNTS

MOUNTS FROM AROUND THE

WORLD ON DISPLAY

BEST SHIPPING

RATES ANY-

WHERE IN THE U.S.

Also Offering Custom Tailored 1x1 Safaris for Elephant, Buffalo, Lion , Leopard, Rhino ( Dart Hunts)

HUNTING In Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozam-bique & South Africa 14, 21, 28 Day Safaris

Very Limited 2011 & Booking for 2012


Northwest Colorado: An outdoorsman’s paradisecolorado hunter staff

Open up a map of Colorado and draw a crosshairs over the upper left quadrant. You’ve now identified one of the truly great regions in the country for outdoorsmen, and if you’re smart, you’ve found the destination for your next hunting and fishing adventure.

Northwest Colorado, home to extensive public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Parks, the Bureau of Land Management, Division of Wildlife and others, provides terrain as varied as the game animals that inhabit it. The region is a jumping off point for world-class hunting adventures, gold-medal fishing, renowned off-highway vehicle trails, and plain-old Rocky Mountain adventure of every flavor.

Start in the far northwest, where the rugged canyons and ancient sandstone cliffs of Dinosaur National Moment offer a glimpse into prehistoric life in America. Dinosaur fossils are common in the arid landscape bordering Utah. It’s also where the Yampa and Green rivers come together, providing a popular destination for rafters, kayakers and anglers.

Rangely is the largest town in the far west corner of the state, although Dinosaur also offers limited amenities. U.S. Highway 40 is the main thoroughfare for travelers, and it leads east through barren, hilly landscapes populated with deer, pronghorn, elk and a variety of small-game animals.

Craig, the seat of giant Moffat County, continues to be ranked as one of the top destinations in the country for outdoorsmen. If you could stand 1,000 feet above the city and take in 360-degree views, you’d see why. Craig is surrounded by the public lands and private ranches for which Northwest Colorado has become such a top-flight hunting destination.

Historic downtown Craig offers boutique shopping and dining, but the city also has a Murdoch’s, Walmart and two large grocery stores to help make sure you’re equipped before you hit the backcountry.

Colorado Highway 13 leads heads north and south out of Craig. To the north is a short drive to Wyoming, to the south and west are hunter-friendly towns like Meeker and, eventually, Rifle. In between are game-rich hunting areas and open landscapes.

But back to U.S. 40 and its route through the heart of Northwest Colorado. If you head east out of Craig, you’ll soon be in the small Routt County town of Hayden. Rich in its

ranching heritage, it’s also hunter-friendly and a great place to grab a bite to eat while between destinations.

Another 30 minutes east of Craig is Steamboat Springs, the seat of Routt County and one of the more beautiful resort towns in the Rocky Mountains. Known first and foremost for its world-class ski area, Steamboat also is home to fifth-generation ranches and some of the best trout fishing in the state. Steamboat also is where visitors will notice a change in the topography and ecosystems in Northwest Colorado. Giving way to the rugged sagebrush-covered hills of the far west reaches of the region are more dramatic mountains abundant in thick groves of aspen and pine. Like much of Moffat County, Routt County and Steamboat Springs are home to large elk and deer herds. Steamboat Springs also is home to a booming moose population that has spread south from North Park. Downtown Steamboat Springs offers premier shopping and dining, not to mention an abundance of outdoor sporting goods stores to help you stock up.

South of Steamboat Springs on Colorado Highway 131 is Oak Creek, a place to stop

and eat and walk Main Street before heading off toward the Flat Tops Wilderness Area or any of the other game-rich public lands adjacent to it. Just beyond Oak Creek to the south are Phippsburg and Yampa, the latter of which bills itself as the “Gateway to the Flat Tops.”

No trip to Northwest Colorado is complete without a stop in North Park, a series of towns that has become as well known for its moose population as it has for its fishing. Walden is the largest city in North Park and is a must-stop for anyone traveling through the area on Colorado Highway 14. It’s a one-hour drive from Steamboat and only one hour from Laramie, Wyo. As with the rest of Northwest Colorado, the public lands here are extensive, so the hunting opportunities are seemingly endless.

Use our game management unit maps and descriptions beginning on page 32 to help you plan your next trip to Northwest Colorado. Chances are high you’re hunt here will be successful, which is the way folks in the regions like it. Hell, it’s why many of them call the region home. One visit, and we think you’ll understand why.

ELKHEAD RESERVOIR


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,.all.ready.to.soothe.tired.legs..If.you’re.in.Steamboat.Springs,.Old.Town.Hot.Springs,.near.the.corner.of.Third.Street.and.Lincoln.Avenue,.provides.the.most.convenient.soaking.option.and.a.little.excitement.with.its.recently.remodeled.pools.and.pair.of.230-foot.slides.(www.oldtownhotsprings.org)..If.you.have.time,.the.seven-mile.trip.to.the.Strawberry.Park.Hot.Springs.north.of.town.on.Routt.County.Road.36.is.well.worth.it..Strawberry.Park.features.a.series.of.natural.stone.pools.tucked.into.the.hillside.along.Hot.Springs.Creek.(www.strawberryhotsprings.com).

If.you’re.farther.west,.soak.in.the.same.“Healing.Waters”.springs.containing.24.minerals.that.the.Native.Americans.who.once.camped.near.Juniper.Mountain.would.seek..Juniper.Hot.Springs.in.Lay,.about.25.miles.west.of.Craig,.has.three.indoor.pools.and.one.outdoor.pool.(www.juniperhotsprings.com)..Farther.south,.the.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).

• 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.State.Armory.building,.the.museum.in.the.heart.of.downtown.Craig.showcases.the.Cowboy.and.Gunfighter.Museum.and.a.collection.of.nearly.1,000.working.cowboy.artifacts.and.railroad.memorabilia..

Meeker.visitors.can.revel.in.the.past.with.a.trip.to.the.historic.downtown.Meeker.Hotel,.where.Teddy.Roosevelt.once.stayed,.as.well.as.a.trip.to.the.White.River.Museum..

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).

• MOVIES AND BOWLINGSimple.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.Chief.Plaza.4.Theater..Craig.also.has.a.pair.of.screens.at.the.West.Theatre.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.six.lanes.in.Walden.at.Paradise.Lanes..Beyond.that,.the.Rifle.Fireside.Lanes.lie.just.north.of.Rifle.off.Colorado.Highway.13.

• OFF-ROAD RIDINGEndless.open.space.means.plenty.

of.options.for.dirt.bike.and.OHV.users..The.Sand.Wash.Basin,.about.50.miles.west.of.Craig,.offers.a.Bureau.of.Land.Management.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.maps.available.marking.some.of.the.BLM’s.inventoried.routes.in.the.basin..

Jackson.County.also.has.plenty.of.open.trails.ranging.from.the.vast.timber.rides.in.the.State.Forest.State.Park,.to.the.60-plus.miles.of.dirt.bike-only.singletrack.on.the.Snyder.and.Willow.Creek.Trails.near.Rand.and.the.state’s.only.OHV.sand.and.open.dune.riding.at.the.North.Sand.Hills.Special.Recreation.Management.Area..Other.public.options.include.the.Wolford.Mountain.area.north.of.Kremmling.or.the.singletrack.trails.just.south.of.Routt.County,.between.McCoy.and.Burns.as.well.as.the.technical.trails.at.the.Bocco.Mountain.SRMA.near.Wolcott.

• SIGHTSIf.you’re.heading.to.or.from.the.

235,406-acre.Flat.Tops.Wilderness.Area.for.your.hunt,.consider.the.trip.on.the.82-mile.Flat.Tops.Trail.Scenic.Byway.from.Yampa.to.Meeker.

The.drive.is.particularly.beautiful.in.fall.as.the.leaves.of.aspen.trees.change.from.green.to.gold,.red,.orange.and.pink..

The.other.scenic.drive.worth.mention.would.be.the.101-mile.Cache.la.Poudre-North.Park.Scenic.and.Historic.Byway.from.Walden.to.Fort.Collins..Stop.by.the.State.Forest.State.Park.along.the.way.to.find.out.why.Walden.has.earned.the.title.of.“Moose-viewing.capital.of.Colorado.”

If.you’re.staying.near.Steamboat.Springs,.consider.the.short.but.spectacular.hike.down.to.Fish.Creek.Falls.just.east.of.Steamboat..

There’s.also.a.3-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.1.5-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.

WHAT To do AFTEr THE HuNT

WOLFORD MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR

YAMPA RIVER IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

ILLINOIS RIVER NEAR WALDEN

CRAIG

Photo courtesy of the North Park Visitors Guide.


Craig, Colorado

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Maple

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Redwood Pl

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Birch Pl

Alder Pl

Cotto

nwoo

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e

Sequ

oia

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Aspe

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e

9th St

Fronti

er

8th

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W7t

h Av

e W

4th

Ave

W

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ve W

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Colu

mbi

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Oak

W 8th Pl

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dge

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Ct

Wes

ley

8th StSunset Cir 8th Dr

Alta Vista

Schrader

Crest

Finley

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ord

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Pers

hing

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ey S

t

Taylo

r St

Barc

lay S

t

Scho

ol S

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Bree

ze S

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Yam

pa A

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Russ

ell S

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Tuck

er S

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Rose

St

9th St

7th St

8th St

10th St

Sandrock Dr

Was

hing

ton

St

Victory Way

Industrial

4th St

2nd St

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t St

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Pinon C

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ce

Pine Ridge Dr

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erud

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r View

3rd St

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Field

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Heat

her

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Harris

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Jere

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idge

r

Crockett Dr

Baker Dr

Ashl

ey C

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Ashle

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Mof

fat D

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Haug

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Conn

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Jeffcoat

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Walker

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McC

oyEm

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Country Club

Cooper St

Gyps

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Mar

land

Fairway

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Linc

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Colo

rado

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Legi

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tBe

llaire

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CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY L

IMITS

CITY LIMITS

CITY LIMITS

Uncochief Cr

Yahmonite St

Thornberg St

Village Ln

Buckskin

Dr Merritt St

The Boulevard

12th

St

Bob Adams

DrCrawford Ave

Douglas St Pawintah St

Princ

eton

Park

Dr

Aspen StPine St

Oak St

Lincoln Ave

Yampa St

11th

St

10th

St

9th

St

8th

St

7th

St

6th

St

5th

St

4th

St

3rd

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Logan Ave

Missouri Ave

Spruce StGrand St

Larimer

St

Hill St

James St

Park

Ave

Nob St

Arapahoe

Ln

N. L

arim

er

Broa

d St Woods Dr

Deerfoot Ave

N. Park

2nd

Stre

etMaple StEast M

aple StDabney

Ln

Conifer

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McK

inley

St Spring

Creek Dr

Amethyst Dr

Concordia

Ln

Alpine Ct

Cherry D

r

Willo

w Ct

Old Fish

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Rd

Fish Creek Falls Rd

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Locust

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N. Steamboat

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Meadow

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Bear Dr

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Red Hawk

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Village Dr

Tree Haus Dr

Mt.

Wer

ner R

d

River Rd

83 Steven Kid

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Stuffie

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Indian

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OldStock

Rd

Dream Island Plaza

Walton Creek Rd

Cascade

Dr

Apres Ski Way

Columbine Dr

Eagleridge Dr

Village Drive

Medicine Sprin

gs R

d

Alpenglow Way

Ski Trail Ln Mt.Werner Cr

Mt. Werner Rd

Pine Grove Rd

Trafalgar Dr.

Pamela Ln

Rockies Way

Burg

ess

Cree

k Rd

Ski Time S

quare Dr

Chris

tieDr

Corn

ice

Road

High Point Dr Anglers

Ct

SpringHill Rd

Fox Ln

Anglers Drive

Memphis

Belle Ct

Central Park Dr

Pine Grove Rd

Resort Dr

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Cornice Ct.

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id-Valley Dr

Rollingstone Dr

Stea

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at B

lvd

Delta

Queen CtRobert E

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Lee Rd

Club

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OverlookDr

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Ridge Rd

Temple Knoll

Laurel Ln

Anthony's

Cr

Val D'isere Cr

Homestead

Ct

Skyview Ln

Chinook Ln

Weiss Dr

Shadow

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Mountain

Village Cir

Saratoga Ave

Fairview

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Blackmer Dr

Routt St

Manitou

Ave

Gilpin St

Pitkin St

Evans S

Critt

er C

t

Lithia Springs Rd

13th St

Curve CtShield Dr

CemeteryRd

Elk River Rd

Downhill Dr

Copper Ridge Dr

Jacob

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West Acres Dr

So. Copper Passage

So. Copper Frontage

Divine Way

Duckels CtAirport Cr

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Elk River Plaza

Snow Bowl

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LoggersLn

Howelsen Parkway

Fish Creek Falls Rd

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Blue SpruceCt

HighlandsCr

Anglers Dr

Angle

rs Rd

Alexander Way

Huckleberry

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Santa Fe

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Steamboat Blvd

Golf Course Rd

Fish C

reek L

n

Kinnikinnick

Trails Edge

Pom

a Ln

AthensPlaza

Stone Lane

U.S. Highway 40

Ingles Ln

County Rd 44

River Rd

ForestView Dr

Golf View Way

Heavenly V

iew

Clearwate

r Trail

Whitewate

r Lane Aspen Wood Lane

Glacier Ridge

Parkview Dr LongviewCr

Retreat PlaceCreel Ln

County Shop Rd

Blake Ln

Conestoga Cr

Robin Ct

Covey Cir

Sequ

oia

Ct

CedarCt

Hemlock

Ct

Hiawatha Ct

Dougherty

Ln

Park Pl

SodaRidgeWay

GraystoneDrive

Myra Vista Ct

LupineDr

Little

Moo

nTra

il

Valley

View

Trail Ridge Rd

Aspen Ridge Rd

Granite Rd

Willow Creek Rd

Quarry Ridge Rd

Countryside Rd

Agate Creek Rd

C.R. 14

Aspen Ridge Rd

Aspen Woo

d Drive

County Rd 36

<To Craig

To Oak CreekTurn right on Hwy. 131

To Clark


180 Grackle Rd

Very well constructed 2 bedroom, 1 bath cottage in the great

recreational area known as Wilderness Ranch. Propane heat, water, furniture and genera-

tor are there and ready to go! MLS# 117228

$145,000.

Sandra King, ABR- Broker Associate

Cell: 970-629-0596Office: 970-824-7000390 Yampa Ave., Craig CO

Check Out These Properties!

170 acres located North of Craig, CO. Only 18miles to Routt National Forest.

Beautiful custom built pas-sive solar home with 2,520 sq. ft. Barn and 2 lambing/

calving sheds - all with underground electric and water Water rights from Cottonwood Creek and

plenty of wildlife to enjoy watching or hunting.

Marylou WisdomBroker Assocciate

Home: 970-824-9272Cell: 970- 824-0223304 W.Victory Way

Craig CO

CR 19-Maybell

Amazing 190 acres with extensive water rights including rights on the Yampa River. Property includes

home and outbuildings with unlimited poten-tial for recreational

development unlimited to the imagination.



About You

TBD Johnson Trail

Nice 35 acre piece, close to town with

beautiful views. Annual production of alfalfa. Perfect for your new home. MLS#116236

$79,900. Sandra King, ABR- Broker Associate


About You 5455 RCR 78

Breathtaking views from this large prop-erty located in close

proximity to the newly expanded Elkhead

Reservoir. Well, elec-tric, and road in place. 203 Acres. Located on the Routt County side.

MLS#110540



About YouTBD CR 16

Amazing acreage which includes DEEDED acreage inside Dinosaur National

Monument. Excellent BLM lease, State land leases and Dinosaur Monument lease as well as deeded

4175 acres for over 13,466 acres in Premier Game Unit 10. Historic

water rights date to 1912. Owners would consider

all offers. MLS #110503.



About You

2129 Sprout Dr.

Gorgeous 5 acre Property! A stream runs through the back of the property which borders Public (BLM) land. Flat

building site withfabulous views.

Wilderness RanchLot #646

MLS#111477



About You

About You

TBD N. Highway 13

1362 +/- Acres of extraordinary land.

Acreage can be split into two separate sales;

235 Acres m/l and a parcel of 1127 Acres m/l.Incredible views, annual income pro-

ducing, historic water rights. Rare oppor-tunity to purchase a

property such as this. MLS#112325



About You

643 Eastview Dr.Cabin with a View! Built

on 36.27 +/- acres, beautiful views in every direction. Completely

furnished including appliances, has gor-

geous hardwood floors. Peace & quiet, close to

Nat’l forest w/ abundant wildlife in the area!

$212,900 MLS# 117361

Otis Lyons 326-6938 Nicole Hill 620-3060Vicki Burns 629-2470840 WEST VICTORY WAY –

CRAIG, CO 81625

13555 Hwy 318, Maybell

28.1 Acres, 2400 sq. ft. home. Pristine loca-

tion, surrounded by BLM land, two guest cabins, Excellent hay

grass, spring fed ponds, great hunting!

MLS #112727

Vicki Burns ABR, CRS Broker/Owner

Cell: 970-629-2470Office 970-824-7086

840 WEST VICTORY WAY, CRAIG, CO


180 Grackle Rd

Very well constructed 2 bedroom, 1 bath cottage in the great

recreational area known as Wilderness Ranch. Propane heat, water, furniture and genera-

tor are there and ready to go! MLS# 117228

$145,000.



Check Out These Properties!

170 acres located North of Craig, CO. Only 18miles to Routt National Forest.

Beautiful custom built pas-sive solar home with 2,520 sq. ft. Barn and 2 lambing/

calving sheds - all with underground electric and water Water rights from Cottonwood Creek and

plenty of wildlife to enjoy watching or hunting.

Marylou WisdomBroker Assocciate

Home: 970-824-9272Cell: 970- 824-0223304 W.Victory Way

Craig CO

CR 19-Maybell

Amazing 190 acres with extensive water rights including rights on the Yampa River. Property includes

home and outbuildings with unlimited poten-tial for recreational

development unlimited to the imagination.



About You

TBD Johnson Trail

Nice 35 acre piece, close to town with

beautiful views. Annual production of alfalfa. Perfect for your new home. MLS#116236

$79,900. Sandra King, ABR- Broker Associate


About You 5455 RCR 78

Breathtaking views from this large prop-erty located in close

proximity to the newly expanded Elkhead

Reservoir. Well, elec-tric, and road in place. 203 Acres. Located on the Routt County side.

MLS#110540



About YouTBD CR 16

Amazing acreage which includes DEEDED acreage inside Dinosaur National

Monument. Excellent BLM lease, State land leases and Dinosaur Monument lease as well as deeded

4175 acres for over 13,466 acres in Premier Game Unit 10. Historic

water rights date to 1912. Owners would consider

all offers. MLS #110503.



About You

2129 Sprout Dr.

Gorgeous 5 acre Property! A stream runs through the back of the property which borders Public (BLM) land. Flat

building site withfabulous views.

Wilderness RanchLot #646

MLS#111477



About You

About You

TBD N. Highway 13

1362 +/- Acres of extraordinary land.

Acreage can be split into two separate sales;

235 Acres m/l and a parcel of 1127 Acres m/l.Incredible views, annual income pro-

ducing, historic water rights. Rare oppor-tunity to purchase a

property such as this. MLS#112325



About You

643 Eastview Dr.Cabin with a View! Built

on 36.27 +/- acres, beautiful views in every direction. Completely

furnished including appliances, has gor-

geous hardwood floors. Peace & quiet, close to

Nat’l forest w/ abundant wildlife in the area!

$212,900 MLS# 117361

Otis Lyons 326-6938 Nicole Hill 620-3060Vicki Burns 629-2470840 WEST VICTORY WAY –

CRAIG, CO 81625

13555 Hwy 318, Maybell

28.1 Acres, 2400 sq. ft. home. Pristine loca-

tion, surrounded by BLM land, two guest cabins, Excellent hay

grass, spring fed ponds, great hunting!

MLS #112727

Vicki Burns ABR, CRS Broker/Owner

Cell: 970-629-2470Office 970-824-7086

840 WEST VICTORY WAY, CRAIG, CO

Realtors of Moffat County

Sari Cobb - Broker OwnerCell: 970-629-9876Office: 970-824-4455508 Yampa Avenue, Craig [email protected]

Marylou Wisdom - Broker AssocciateHome: 970-824-9272Cell: 970- 824-0223304 W.Victory Way, Craig [email protected]

Sandra King, ABR- Broker AssociateCell: 970-629-0596Office: 970-824-7000390 Yampa Avenue, Craig [email protected]

Stacey Mathers - Broker OwnerCell: 970-326-7581Office: 970-824-4455508 Yampa Avenue, Craig [email protected]

Sherry Marren - BrokerAssociateCell: 970-629-1109Office: 970-824-0223304 W.Victory Way, Craig [email protected]

Pam Horn - Broker OwnerCell: 970-326-6026Office: 970-824-7000390 Yampa Avenue, Craig [email protected]

Frank & Dan KawcakBroker AssociatesOffice: 970-824-32021425 W. Victory Way, Craig CO

Roy McAnally - Broker AssociateCell: 970-326-6566Office 970-824-3445105 E, Victory Way, Craig [email protected]

Yvonne McAnally - Broker AssociateCell: 970-326-8346Office 970-824-3445105 E, Victory Way, Craig [email protected]

Otis Lyons - Broker AssociateCell: 970-326-6938Office 970-824-7086840 W Victory Way, Craig [email protected]

Vicki Burns - Broker OwnerCell: 970-629-2470Office 970-824-7086840 W Victory Way, Craig [email protected]

Nicole Hill - Broker AssociateCell: 970-620-3060Office 970-824-7086840 W Victory Way, Craig [email protected]


What’s new for 2010colorado hunter staff

Every year the Colorado Division of Wildlife reviews existing hunting regulations and policies and makes adjustments as needed. The resulting changes are important for resident and nonresident hunters to be aware of. Here’s a highlight of DOW hunting changes for 2010 that affect Northwest Colorado hunters:

Big game• The third rifle combined seasons for deer and elk has been extended to nine days and now includes two weekends.

• Game management unit 361 was created from a portion of GMU 36. See map on page 32.

• All muzzleloading elk licenses are valid in specific GMUs. Statewide licenses are no longer available. Either-sex licenses are now available in specific GMUs.

• The rifle season for moose has been extended to 14 days. See story on page 60.

• Hunters who are 18 or older who purchase over-the-counter or leftover big game licenses are required to purchase a habitat stamp.

• Fee changes for nonresident cow elk and bear licenses.

Small game• Small-game hunters are no longer required to purchase permits to hunt properties enrolled in the DOW’ Walk-In Access program.

• Greater sage grouse season has been reduced to two days in GMUs 6, 16, 17, 161 and 171 (the North Park area) because of a decline in annual lek counts. The season is Sept. 11 to 12. See page 40

for more on the greater sage grouse.

For more information, contact a local Division of Wildlife office. Local DOW office phone numbers can be located in the game management unit descriptions beginning on page 32.

— Information provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Welcome HuntersYou will be pleasantly surprised to find such a

relaxing yet fun atmosphere! Whether it’s shopping or 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 ChocolateGrand Olde West Days • Farmers Market

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

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

"Craig’s Classy little Gift Shop"

525 Yampa Ave, Craig • (970) 824-2029Mon - Fri 10am to 5:30 pm • Sat. 10am to 4:30 pm

♥ Outdoor Décor♥ Candles

♥ Sentimental Décor♥ Frames – Figurines & More!

577 Yampa Ave.Downtown, Craig

970-824-8148

We have the BEST Boning & Skinning Knives!

Find the perfect gift to take home.


Wet conditions provide challengesben bulkeley/colorado hunter

Hunters had the upper hand when the Bears Ears and White River herd populations boomed, but this year might present more challenges.

Larger herds and hot summers reduced water supplies in the upper elevations, and normal temperatures in the fall forced elk to congregate in higher concentration near water sources.

The result?“Hunters had much more success because

the elk were all centered around water sources,” said Randy Hampton, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. “They could wait for the elk, knowing they would center around where there was water.”

However, in the past few years, hunters have generally had less success in the field, and for several reasons, Hampton said.

“With wetter summers, there are more places where the elk have been able to find water,” he said. “Now, instead of coming to lower elevation in the fall, the elk are able stay spread out.

“If they don’t have to move (because water sources have dried up), then there is no reason for them to come down to lower elevations.”

That has created a false perception, Hampton said.

“We’ve had people coming in and saying, ‘There’s no elk,’” he said. “That’s not the case.”

So what happened?The elk have spread out, creating the illusion

of fewer animals, he said.But the elk are still there, Hampton said, and

hunters will have to adjust their strategy this

season if they want to have a successful hunt.“Before, they could wait, knowing where the

elk would be,” he said. “Now, they will have to alter their approach to be successful.”

With no signs pointing toward how the weather will be in the upcoming season, Hampton said hunters need to be prepared in case the elk are again spread throughout the area. The spring and summer were relatively wet throughout much of Northwest Colorado.

Precipitation also factors into how concentrated elk populations are, Hampton said, and heat and wetness affect how they spread out.

In addition to the new way the elk have positioned themselves, the upcoming season will feature several changes, Hampton advised.

The first is that the third elk and deer season will be extended from seven days to nine days.

The expanded season will carry one large benefit, Hampton said.

“It will cover two weekends instead of one,” he said.

As the seasons draw closer, there are still plenty of over-the-counter licenses available, Hampton said.

But, as has been the case for the past few years, elk hunters need to take special care when out in the field, Hampton said.

Hampton warns any elk hunters to be aware of moose, especially in the Flat Tops area near Meeker.

“Most people are 99.99 percent sure they can tell the difference,” he said. “But mistakes can still happen.”

DEER:•.Resident.—.$34•.Youth.resident.—.$13.75•.Nonresident.—.$329•.Youth.nonresident.—.$103.75

ELK:•.Resident.—.$49•.Youth.resident.—.$13.75•.Nonresident.bull.—.$544•.Nonresident.cow.—.$354•.Nonresident.either.sex.—.$544•.Youth.nonresident.—.$103.75

PRONGHORN:•.Resident.—.$34•.Youth.resident.—.$13.75•.Nonresident.—.$329•.Youth.nonresident.—.$103.75

BEAR:•.Resident.—.$44•.Nonresident.—.$354

MOOSE:•.Resident.—.$254•.Nonresident.—.$1,819

HUNTING SEASONS:•.Archery/deer.—.Aug..28.to.Sept..26•.Archery/elk.—.Aug..28.to.Sept..26•.Archery/pronghorn.—.Aug..15.to.Sept..20•.Archery/bear.—.Sept..2.to.26•.Archery/moose.—.Sept..11.to.26•.Muzzleloading/deer.—.Sept..11.to.26•.Muzzleloading/elk.—.Sept..11.to.26•.Muzzleloading/pronghorn.—.Oct..21.to.29•.Muzzleloading/bear.—.Sept..11.to.19•.Muzzleloading/moose.—.Sept..11.to.19

DEER/LIMITED RIFLE:•.Second.season/combined.deer.and.elk.—....Oct..23.to.31•.Third.season/combined.deer.and.elk.—.....Nov..6.to.14•.Fourth.season/combined.deer.and.elk.—....Nov..17.to.21

ELK/LIMITED AND UNLIMITED RIFLE:•.First.season.—.Oct..16.to.20.(limited)•.Second.season.—.Oct..23.to.31•.Third.season.—.Nov..6.to.14•.Fourth.Season.—.Nov..17.to.21.(limited)

PRONGHORN:•.Oct..2.to.8

BEAR/LIMITED RIFLE:•.First.season.—.Oct..16.to.20•.Second.season.—.Oct..23.to.31•.Third.season.—.Nov..6.to.14•.Fourth.Season.—.Nov..17.to.21

MOOSE:•.Oct..1.to.14

ColorAdo FEES & SEASoNS


Herd numbers holding stableben bulkeley/colorado hunter

There’s a reason Moffat County carries the informal designation as the “elk hunting capital of the world.”

There are simply more elk in the county than anywhere else.

The White River herd, which is located primarily south of Craig, has a post-2009 hunt estimate of more than 42,000 animals, making it the largest elk herd in North America.

Not to be outdone, the Bears Ears herd, located north of Craig and west of Steamboat Springs in adjacent Routt County, has more than 17,000 animals — a sizeable number, as well.

Randy Hampton, Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman, said that while those numbers are down from a decade ago, they are right where the DOW wants them. “There are still a lot of animals in both populations,” he said. “There are also a lot of licenses left.”

The Bears Ears herd peaked in 2000 at an

estimated 35,000 elk.“The population trend in Bears Ears, since

it peaked in 2000, has been down quite a bit,” he said. “That’s one herd we had told everyone we would do our best to bring those numbers down.

“There have been a lot of licenses issued to reduce that herd size because of agricultural damage. What we’ll do now is flatten off the number of licenses sold.”

Hampton said the objective for the Bears Ears herd, or where the DOW would like to see the numbers rest, is between 15,000 and 18,000 animals.

Now that the herd is at its objective, Hampton said the number of licenses available should remain steady.

“Once we reach our objective, there will be fewer licenses issued for that population to keep at that number,” he said. “We are right at the desired range for a healthy biological range for that population. … In fact, we are right at the level where the population was in the 1980s.”

2009.post-hunt.population.estimates.in.the.White.River.and.Bears.Ears.herds,.according.to.the.Colorado.Division.of.Wildlife

ELK:Bears.Ears.—.17,670White.River.—.42,890Statewide.—.286,510

MULE DEER:Bears.Ears.—.35,950White.River.—.61,450Statewide.—.460,520

PRONGHORN:Great.Divide.—.12,790Sand.Wash.—.1,230Statewide.—.76,190

By THE NumBErS


The total number of elk licenses available for Bears Ears is 17,000.

Statewide, hunters have successful hunts 20 percent of the time, the DOW reported, which is the same number for hunters in the Bears Ears area.

In the White River herd, the population has not yet reached the DOW’s objective.

“That population rose until 2002,” Hampton said. “It was about 63,000 animals (in 2002). Our objective for that herd is between 32,000 and 39,000 animals.

“So we are still a little bit over, so we will continue to issue more licenses.”

The total number of elk licenses for White River is 26,000.

Hunters have a better chance of cashing in their licenses in the White River area, which has a 25 percent success rate.

With mule deer, there are approximately 35,950 animals in the Bears Ears herd, according to 2009 post-hunt estimates.

The post-hunt numbers for mule deer in Bears Ears following the 2008 season was 41,023 animals.

In the White River herd, there are approximately 61,450 mule deer, down from 69,643 following 2008.

Both herds are within the DOW’s herd objective numbers.

In the Great Divide pronghorn herd, there are approximately 12,790 animals after the 2009 hunt, which is down from the 15,721 animals following the 2008 post-hunt estimate.

The Sandwash Basin herd was estimated to have 1,230 pronghorn following the 2009 hunt, down from 1,312 animals after the 2008 post-hunt estimate.

Both numbers are in line with the DOW’s herd objectives.


return hunters have all the luckben bulkeley/colorado hunter

Troy French didn’t have much success during his first hunting trip to Northwest Colorado.

The Waynetown, Ind., native was hunting near Meeker on a semi-guided tour, but the animals weren’t showing up.

On his way back to Indiana, French decided to take a scenic tour north of Craig.

“When I drove home, I took (Colorado) Highway 13,” he said. “And when I was about 20 miles north of Craig, I saw more animals than I had at the national parks.”

Determined to get where the animals were, French contacted the Craig Chamber of Commerce and tried to find an area that would suit his needs.

“The biggest problem was, all the land up there was private,” he said. “But (the Chamber) got me together with Doug (Camilletti), and I haven’t looked back.”

Doug Camilletti and his wife, Janet, have run Frosty Acres Ranch in Moffat

County since 1989.One of the things that has made running

the ranch so enjoyable has been the return of familiar faces each fall, Doug Camilletti said.

“We have a lot of repeat customers, and one of the nice things is they know all the rules,” he said. “They know what they can and can’t do. They know where the deer and elk populations are.

“They know where to get their licenses, and we typically don’t have to re-educate them on state laws.”

Hunters who return to the same area also have a much better chance of cashing in on their licenses, Camilletti said.

“They get to know the migratory patterns of the animals,” he said. “They get to know where the animals are and where they will be.”

Jim Maestretti, of Petaluma, Calif., came to Craig by accident.

“A lot of my friends were hunting in Wyoming, and after they weren’t able to draw, they literally stumbled into Doug and

Janet,” he said. “They threw together a hunt for them at the last minute.”

Like French, Maestretti said he kept coming back not only for the animals he hunted, but the friends he made along the way.

“It’s the quality of the people,” he said. “I would consider them good friends. You get so you miss them, because you can’t see them all the time.”

But Maestretti, who will hunt for the seventh year in a row this fall at Frosty Acres, said he knows the hunting will be quality, too.

“I’m almost 50, so I’m getting more and more picky,” he said. “But I’ve gotten some nice trophy deer in there.

“The deer stay around there — I got a 30-inch buck there once.”

Like Maestretti, French has acquired some trophies during the seven years he has hunted at Frosty Acres.

But that’s only one reason why he will return for his ninth year this fall.

“The main reason is the personalities

Jim.Maestretti.said.he.has.returned.to.Moffat.County.year.after.year.because.of.the.people.he.has.met.in.the.area..A.high.rate.of.success.hasn’t.hurt,.either..Above.are.Maestretti’s.friends,.from.left,.Craig.“Lucky”.Mellor,.Mike.Sturla.and.John.Gale,.Sr.,.who.are.showing.their.2009.prizes.at.Frosty.Acres.Ranch.in.Moffat.County..Photo courtesy of Jim Maestretti.


I’ve dealt with there,” he said. “That’s probably the reason I came back — I love the people I get to deal with.”

French said the ease with which he has been able to draw tags for hunting on private land has been a 100-percent success rate on more than 80 licenses, which also helps persuade him to return.

“There’s also no hunting pressure,” he said. “I don’t have to deal with the public — when I walk over a hill, I don’t have to worry about a rifle pointing at me from the opposite direction.”

French said that while the private lands don’t contain as many animals, he has found more success there.

“The public ground is where the animals hold the terrain,” he said. “The private ground is where they go for refuge.”

French said he plans on returning to hunt in Northwest Colorado for as long as he can.

“As long as I can breathe, draw a tag and have someone to go with me, I’ll go every year,” he said. “I have two sons who are 12 and 16, and as long as Colorado is feasible, I’ll come and enjoy the terrain.

“I can’t see any reason to leave Moffat County.”

Jim.Maestretti,.far.right,.said.he.has.been.coming.to.Frosty.Acres.Ranch.for.six.years.because.he.has.been.successful.during.his.hunts,.and.because.of.his.friendship.with.owners.Doug.and.Janet.Camilletti..This.photo,.taken.in.2009.at.Frosty.Acres,.shows,.from.left,.Mike.Sturla,.Randy.Bien,.John.Gale.Sr.,.Craig.“Lucky”.Mellor,.Robbie.McCorkel.and.Maestretti..Photo courtesy of Jim Maestretti.


A: Stage Stop Meat Market & Deli- QUALITY WILD GAME PROCESSING!!! Large variety of meat sticks and summer sausage 101 E. Market St. 970-878-5085 B: White River Inn-The quietest, cleanest rooms in Meeker Colorado. 219 E Market St. 970-878-5031 [email protected] C:NW Auto Sales-We can put together the car & deal you want, we also provide maintenance, parts, tires, towing, and rentals. 485 Market St. 970-878-3171

D: Meeker Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Center-”Supporting a Strong Business Community” 710 Market St. 970-878-5510 [email protected]

E: Meeker Drugs – Independently owned Retail Pharmacy…Unique Gifts, Prescriptions, Over the Counter Cold, First Aid and Travel Products! 970-878-9988 530 Main Street

F: Wendells- located in the heart of historic down-town Meeker, Corner 6th and Main St 970-878-3688 Gift shop, coffee shop, UPS and FEDEX Authorized Ship CentersOpen Mon – Fri 6 am to 6 pmSaturday7-5

G: Meeker Hotel & Café- the Historic Meeker Hotel and Café, 110 years of western hospitality.Hotel rooms and suites. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 560 Main Street 970-878-5255 www.themeekerhotelandcafe.com

H: Fiesta Guadalajara- the BEST Mexican food in Meeker! 624 E Market St, 970-878-5535

I: Clark’s Big Burger Restaurant- the BEST Burger in town!!858 Market St. 970-878-3240

J: Wyatt’s Sports Center- All your HUNTING, FISHING & CAMPING Supplies and Souvenir items!! Corner of Highway 13 & 8th Street 970-878-4428

K: Napa-Meeker Auto Parts, LLC – See us for all your automotive hunting needs! 945 Market St. 970-878-3651

L: Blue Spruce Inn- Meeker’s newest & finest hotel. Continental Breakfast, WIFI, Hot Tub, Guest laun-dry. 488 Market St. 970-878-0777 www.bluespruce-meeker.com

M: Back Country Realty- For All Of Your Real Es-tate Needs in Meeker and the Beautiful White River Valley. No One Knows This White River Country Like We Do!” 1130 Market St. 970-878-478 www.backcountryrealty.com

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A: Stage Stop Meat Market & Deli- QUALITY WILD GAME PROCESSING!!! Large variety of meat sticks and summer sausage 101 E. Market St. 970-878-5085 B: White River Inn-The quietest, cleanest rooms in Meeker Colorado. 219 E Market St. 970-878-5031 [email protected] C:NW Auto Sales-We can put together the car & deal you want, we also provide maintenance, parts, tires, towing, and rentals. 485 Market St. 970-878-3171

D: Meeker Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Center-”Supporting a Strong Business Community” 710 Market St. 970-878-5510 [email protected]

E: Meeker Drugs – Independently owned Retail Pharmacy…Unique Gifts, Prescriptions, Over the Counter Cold, First Aid and Travel Products! 970-878-9988 530 Main Street

F: Wendells- located in the heart of historic down-town Meeker, Corner 6th and Main St 970-878-3688 Gift shop, coffee shop, UPS and FEDEX Authorized Ship CentersOpen Mon – Fri 6 am to 6 pmSaturday7-5

G: Meeker Hotel & Café- the Historic Meeker Hotel and Café, 110 years of western hospitality.Hotel rooms and suites. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 560 Main Street 970-878-5255 www.themeekerhotelandcafe.com

H: Fiesta Guadalajara- the BEST Mexican food in Meeker! 624 E Market St, 970-878-5535

I: Clark’s Big Burger Restaurant- the BEST Burger in town!!858 Market St. 970-878-3240

J: Wyatt’s Sports Center- All your HUNTING, FISHING & CAMPING Supplies and Souvenir items!! Corner of Highway 13 & 8th Street 970-878-4428

K: Napa-Meeker Auto Parts, LLC – See us for all your automotive hunting needs! 945 Market St. 970-878-3651

L: Blue Spruce Inn- Meeker’s newest & finest hotel. Continental Breakfast, WIFI, Hot Tub, Guest laun-dry. 488 Market St. 970-878-0777 www.bluespruce-meeker.com

M: Back Country Realty- For All Of Your Real Es-tate Needs in Meeker and the Beautiful White River Valley. No One Knows This White River Country Like We Do!” 1130 Market St. 970-878-478 www.backcountryrealty.com

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NW Colorado tops ranks in magazinenicole inglis/colorado hunter

Each fall, without fail, hunters from across the country flock to Northwest Colorado in hopes of capitalizing on two of the largest elk herds in the country. Their hunts often bring them to Craig and Moffat County.

But Moffat County outdoor aficionado Terry Carwile believes Craig has more to offer than a temporary vacation spot.

Carwile, the sportsman information specialist at the Moffat County Visitor Center, said Craig has a quality of life unmatched by hunting and fishing towns across the country.

“Northwest Colorado is an undiscovered jewel,” he said. “And I’m glad, to a certain extent, that it is that way.”

In Outdoor Life magazine’s third annual ranking of the top 200 towns for outdoorsmen, Craig was ranked 68, a dip from 2009’s ranking of 35th on the list, but a respectable placement nonetheless. The list was released earlier this year.

The rankings are based on a comprehensive index, including ratings on proximity to public lands, potential for trophy fish and wildlife, quality of school districts and unemployment rates.

Outdoor categories account for 60 percent of the total score, and socioeconomic factors

account for 40 percent, according to the magazine.

Rawlins, Wyo., about 120 miles from Craig, cracked the magazine’s top-10 list, earning the No. 9 spot. Rawlins tied for third place last year.

Rapid City, S.D., was ranked No. 1 this year.

Granby was the first Colorado town on the list at No. 21. Colorado Springs, Carbondale, Montrose, Trinidad, Rifle and Fort Collins were also ranked as Colorado cities on the list.

Nearby Hayden, 17 miles east of Craig, made the list at No. 114.

Although Craig’s ranking is a positive nod to the city’s outdoor tradition, Carwile said he thinks the city wasn’t give its full credit.

“I think we should be ranked much higher than that,” he said. “I think you’d have a good case to make in terms of level of services we offer around here, the environmental quality, the stability of the economic climate. I think we have a heck of a lot to offer.”

He said the past few years have been different in that fewer people have been traveling to hunt in the area due to economic and changing hunting conditions.

But, the sportsmen’s life is a cyclical one,

and Carwile said Craig is a town that has weathered economic and environmental changes well over time.

“You see good times and bad times when it comes to hunting and fishing,” he said. “But the basic quality is always there.”

Craig received high scores for its proximity to public land and water, and its gun laws, but lower scores for fishable species.

Craig did not appear on the sub-list for “Big-game Heavens,” but was recognized on another list called “Where to Live Like a King.”

“The towns on this list feature high median household incomes and a low cost of living,” the magazine’s website stated. “Essentially, your hard-earned money will go furthest in these locations.”

Carwile said it’s interesting to see where the town stands in a national survey, but there’s no mathematic formula that can measure something as subjective as quality of life.

“I take a lot of it with a grain of salt,” he said. “We could be rated below Rifle or Carbondale, but I have my own opinions about that.

“If I just predicated my existence on hunting and fishing, there wouldn’t be any other place than this.”

YAMPA VALLEY FUR &

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WE BUY & SELL ALL FURS, ANTLERS, FUR PRODUCTS, ANTLER CRAFTS, CAPES, TANNING AVAILABLE FOR ALL CRITTERS

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We are dealers for Leica and Zeiss Optical Gear Call today Chris Jurney 970-824-5505

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We hunt all of the Special Draw areas 1,2,10 and 201 in Northwest Colorado and can

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Outdoor Life magazine’s top 10 towns for outdoorsmen:1..Rapid.City,.S.D.2..Pocatello,.Idaho3..Page,.Ariz.4..Lewiston,.Idaho5..Kanab,.Utah6..Bend,.Ore.7..Mountain.Home,.Ariz.8..Saratoga,.Wyo.9..Rawlins,.Wyo.10..Pierre,.S.D.68..Craig,.Colo.— www.outdoorlife.com/besttowns.

Top 10 ToWNS

Joe.Rodriguez,.middle,.fishes.with.Martha.Henley,.right,.and.her.husband,.Larry.Henley,.along.the.Yampa.River.near.Loudy-Simpson.Park.in.Craig..Craig.was.named.No..68.on.Outdoor.Life.magazine’s.list.of.the.top.200.towns.for.sportsmen.this.year..Photo by Shawn McHugh.

Welcome Hunters and your families!

Sunday ServicesSunday School - 9:45 a.m.Morning Worship - 11 a.m.Evening Service - 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m.

970.824.24963107 W 1st StreetCraig, CO 81625

lighthouseofcraig.comA Caring Church in a Hurting World

SUNDAY SERVICESunday School

10 am - 10:45 amWorship Service 11 am - 12 pmWednesday

Bible Study - 6:30 pm 3900 E. Victory Way Craig, CO 81625 (970) 826-0984 Pastor Dale Potter (970) 824-5424

Directions:Take Highway 40 east of town to the drive-in movie screen. Turn left on Stock Drive and go to the end.Turn right (east) on E. Victory Way. The church is about 1 mile east on the right side of the road.

You are welcome atYAMPA VALLEY

BAPTIST CHURCH

“It is appointed unto man once to die but after this, the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

Jesus said:Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into con-

demnation; but is passed from death unto life.KJV (John 5:24)


off-road vehicles: A cautionary taleben bulkeley/colorado hunter

Off-road vehicles, namely four-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles, can be a blessing, Craig hunter Bruce White said.

Where Jeeps and pickups need chains to continue, an ATV will move over and through mud, sand and boulders with relative ease.

When a hunter is successful near an easily accessible piece of land, an ATV can retrieve the animal with significantly less effort.

But like most things, moderation is key, White said.

“There are people who use them to run all over the place,” he said. “They go off the trails, where most people are walking, and rip up the ground.”

While White said he loves his ATV and understands the appeal of having a capable vehicle where the terrain gets bumpy, overuse has become a problem.

“What I don’t like is when people abuse that privilege,” he said. “If you use it, that’s fine. Just make sure you aren’t bothering anyone else who is out there.

“If you abuse that privilege, it affects everyone. It’s a double-edged sword.”

White, who works at Raftopoulos Ranches in Moffat County, said ATVs have a place when it comes to hunting.

“I use mine to get back and forth,” he said. “When I’m hunting, I only use it to

recover the animal.“I usually ride to a spot, then walk.”Over time, the advantages of ATVs became

apparent, White said, as four-wheelers can typically get where most trucks and SUVs cannot.

“In the ’70s, it seemed like everyone who came to hunt here brought a Willys Jeep with them,” he said. “They would drive to the track, then get out and walk.

“A four-wheeler can definitely get you further. But people have been using (the ATV) where they used to walk.”

Another downside is that the sound of off-highway vehicles passing through scares off animals, decreasing everyone’s chances for a successful hunt.

“Originally, they used them to get all over the place,” he said. “You don’t want to ride so close that you scare off the animals.”

In addition to the added noise, ATVs that go off the beaten path can damage trails.

White said hunters should never road hunt — not just for safety reasons, but in case they plan on getting a trophy animal.

“You have to watch the road, and you have to pay attention to where you are going,” he said. “When you are doing that, you’re not paying attention to the deer, and they can run right by.

“People get caught up in ‘road hunting.’ I would say, stay on trails, ride to where you

need to ride, then get off and hunt on foot.”When a hunter needs to recover their prize,

the ATV has become the last option, White said.

“We have three options,” he said. “We can use the pickup, the ATV or backpack.

“We only use the ATV if the animal was close to the road, or to bring it back to the truck.”

All.off-highway.vehicles.operated.in.Colorado.must.be.registered.or.permitted.for.use.in.the.state..Out-of-state.hunters,.for.example,.must.purchase.a.$25.permit.from.Colorado.State.Parks..OHV.registration.from.your.home.state.is.not.valid.in.Colorado..The.permits.are.available.from.any.Colorado.State.Parks.location.and.where.most.hunting.and.fishing.licenses.are.sold..For.more.information,.call.Colorado.State.Parks.at.303-791-1920.or.visit.www.parks.state.co.us.

Any.law.enforcement.officer.in.Colorado.can.write.a.ticket.for.illegal.off-highway.vehicle.use..In.particular,.hunters.must.remember.that.no.vehicles.are.permitted.in.any.designated.wilderness.area,.of.which.there.are.many.throughout.Northwest.Colorado..

Fines.for.illegal.OHV.use.in.a.closed.area.are.$100..Hunters.also.will.be.penalized.10.points.on.their.hunting.licenses..The.fine.for.riding.in.federal.wilderness.areas.is.$200.and.15.points..

To.be.sure.you’re.riding.in.a.legal.area,.contact.the.local.land.management.agency.and.obtain.the.appropriate.maps..

oHv rEgulATioNS


ben bulkeley/colorado hunter

For novice and experienced hunters alike, there is an assortment of options when it comes to bringing down your animal of choice.

From bows to barrels, hunters have only to choose their date and preferred method.

Joe Herod, owner of Craig Sports in Moffat County, said the type of rifle depends on the kind of game a hunter is seeking.

“The .243 (Winchester) is a good choice for beginning hunters out for big game,” he said. “The .25-06 is also a good choice.”

For the experienced hunter, Herod recommends a number of weapons.

“Anything from a seven millimeter to a .300 Winchester,” he said. “It really just depends on the game.”

Herod said the .300 is a popular choice.

“All around, it’s solid,” he said. “It’s good for anything from elk up to moose, caribou and bear.”

For deer and pronghorn, the .243 and .25-06 are both good choices, Herod said.

“They just shoot flat, and you can come across ammo easily,” he said. “They have both been around forever, and they’re good for deer and pronghorn because they don’t damage the meat.”

For hunters traveling through Steamboat, Elk River Guns on U.S. Highway 40 just west of downtown offers a selection of guns including Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Glock, Browning, Benelli and Savage.

Bows, like rifles, depend on the animal and the hunter, said Ben Rice of Rocky Mountain Bowstrings in Meeker.

“With a younger hunter who is just beginning, you’ll want to go with a low-end bow,” he said. “That way, you’re not paying a lot just to get them started.”

Rice also suggests that younger hunters use bows with shorter axle-to-axle lengths.

“That way, they aren’t getting them caught on trees or bushes,” he said. “They can use the longer axle-to-axle bows, but I usually suggest a shorter bow.”

For elk, Rice recommends the PSE Dream Season.

“You want something between 60 and 70 pounds that will be able to puncture the skin,” he said. “Between the PSE and the new Hoyt 35, you can create enough speed and kinetic energy to get the job done.”

For deer and pronghorn, Rice said the Hoyt Maxis 31 and 32 both work.

“Again, you want something that can bring down the animal,” he said.

different equipment for different game


GMU:.1,.2,.10,.201CWD.has.been.detected.in.GMU.10LOCAL.DOW.OFFICEMeeker.970-878-6090Dinosaur.National.Park.is.closed.to.all.hunting

In this area, 9,700-foot Diamond Mountain is the highest point, dropping to 5,100 feet in elevation at the White River. Sage and sage-grassland dominate, with the typical vegetation groups as the elevation increases. Weather is generally mild through the later seasons, though the higher elevations can have significant snow accumulations. Public land accounts for more than 85 percent of GMU 201. GMU 2 is a “checkerboard” of public and private land, and GMU 10 is mostly BLM land with a lot of scattered private land. Consult a map and be aware of where you are. GMU 1 has poor access into the rough, rocky terrain and into the wilderness area. You must draw a license to hunt the Green River units, and it takes many years of preference points. Hence, the hunting pressure is light.

DEER — Deer are scattered throughout GMUs 2,10 and 201. If there is winter range migration, it is usually during third season. Deer in GMU 1 tend to stay at the south and north ends of Brown’s Park Refuge. The average good buck in GMUs 2 and 201

measures 24 inches to 26 inches. There are trophy bucks in GMU 10, however, they tend to have tall versus wide antlers. Hunt the bush-covered areas, high elevations early in the season, lower elevations later.

ELK — 300+ size bulls are common. The elk tend to stay put over the seasons. Movement is weather dependent. Overall, elk are scattered in GMUs 2, 10, 201 and the northern portion of GMU 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.

GMU:.3,.11,.211,.301CWD.has.been.detected.in.these.unitsLOCAL.DOW.OFFICEMeeker.970-878-6090

The Lower Yampa units lie south of Wyoming, bordered by the White River and the Little Snake River. The lower elevations of 6,000 feet consist of sage and sage steepe. Pinyon and juniper cover the upper elevations up to 8,500 feet. Expect zero to light snow cover in first and second seasons. The later seasons may bring

moderate snow and a potential for near zero temperatures. If the weather is mild, deer and elk will not be present in high numbers until the later seasons. Overall access is easy, and 4WD is not necessary in most areas. Hunting pressure is heavy. Outside of GMU 301, 70 percent of the Lower Yampa is public land.

DEER — The buck-doe ration is increasing. The mid-range elevations with mountain shrub and pinyon-juniper breaks generally hold the most deer, especially during the regular rifle seasons. In GMUs 11 and 211, deer are generally found in the Danforth Hills during second rifle season, moving to lower elevations in Axial Basin (GMU 211), Bitterbrush SWA and adjacent BLM land (GMU 11), and Crooked Wash (GMU 11) by third and fourth rifle seasons. Several thousand acres are open for public hunting in Axial Basin through a coordinated resource management plan (call Meeker DOW office for more information).

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.

Grand JunctionGlenwood Springs

Steamboat Springs

Meeker

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Grand Mesa Roaring Fork

Eagle RiverValley


Steamboat Springs

Meeker

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Green River

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Upper Yampa

North Park

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White River



Eagle RiverValley


Steamboat Springs

Meeker

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10 11 211

301

3 4

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232221

3031

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421

4140

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42 444

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Green River

Lower Yampa

Upper Yampa

North Park

Bookcliffs/Piceance

White River



Eagle RiverValley


Steamboat Springs

Meeker

201

21

10 11 211

301

3 4

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232221

3031

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421

4140

34

42 444

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43 47

471

4537

363525

26

231

5

28

18

171

6

161

14 16

15 27

17

371

181

131

214

441

Green River

Lower Yampa

Upper Yampa

North Park

Bookcliffs/Piceance

White River



Eagle RiverValley


Steamboat Springs

Meeker

201

21

10 11 211

301

3 4

13

12

232221

3031

32

33

24

421

4140

34

42 444

44

43 47

471

4537

363525

26

231

5

28

18

171

6

161

14 16

15 27

17

371

181

131

214

441

Green River

Lower Yampa

Upper Yampa

North Park

Bookcliffs/Piceance

White River



Eagle RiverValley

Craig

game management units

grEEN rivEr

loWEr yAmpA


GMU:.4,.5,.13,.14,.15,.131,.214,.441CWD.has.been.detected.in.these.unitsLOCAL.DOW.OFFICEMeeker.(GMUs.4.and.5).970-878-6090Steamboat.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 first season, gradually increasing through the fourth 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 (GMU 14) and Sarvis Creek (GMU 15) Wilderness Areas access is restricted to non-vehicle methods. Public hunting in GMUs 13 and 131 is limited to a few small parcels of BLM land and some State Trust Land parcels.

DEER — The deer herd is doing well in the Upper Yampa units. 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.

GMU:.6,.16,.17,.161,.171CWD.has.been.detected.in.these.unitsMoose.in.area,.so.be.sure.of.your.targetLOCAL.DOW.OFFICESteamboat.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. 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 — If you are a patient hunter, you could have success hunting trophy bucks. North Park has an early 9-day, deer-only season that begins the last week of September. This season provides additional hunter opportunities as many of the deer in North Park migrate early. Few deer are found in North Park during January classification flights. Small sample sizes lead to higher observed buck-to-doe ratios than can be expected during the hunting seasons. Use three-year average success rates for choosing a hunt.

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. Computer models likely over-estimate the total North Park elk population due to biased January observed bull-to-cow ratios resulting from multiple bias factors, including state line issues, refuge areas and low public land hunter success rates.

GMU:.21,.22,.30,.31,.32CWD.has.been.detected.in.these.areasLOCAL.DOW.OFFICESMeeker.(GMU.21,.22).970-878-6090Grand.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 rolling sagebrush to steep-sided canyon country. Seventy-five percent of this area is BLM land. There are remote hunting areas accessible by foot, horseback or ATV. Get maps and study BLM access points. Some areas are steep and rugged, especially in the southern portion. Weather is generally mild. Rains bring muddy roads. At high elevations, snow 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 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. GMUs 21 and 30 are managed as quality deer units, and licenses are separate from licenses that are valid in GMUs 22, 31 and 32.

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 sufficient, 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.

GMU:.12,.23,.24,.25,.26,.33,.34CWD.has.been.detected.in.these.unitsLOCAL.DOW.OFFICESGlenwood.Springs.(GMU.25,.26,.34).970-947-2920Meeker.(GMU.12,.23,.24).970-878-6090Steamboat.Springs.(GMU.26).970-870-2197Grand.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/mountain 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 National Forest lands in GMUs 12, 23 and 24, deer hunting is generally better in early seasons. Good public land deer hunting can typically be found in GMU 12 on the Jensen and Indian Run State Wildlife Areas.Jensen SWA is north of Meeker, and Indian Run SWA is east of Hamilton. GMU 23 deer hunters can try Hay Flats and Miller Creek southwest of Meeker and the Jensen and Oak Creek State Wildlife Areas north and east of Meeker. Deer densities are lower across GMU 24, but hunters can find deer on the south-facing slopes above the White River.

uppEr yAmpA

NorTH pArk

WHiTE rivEr

BookCliFFS/piCEANCE


ELK — Moose have been introduced to this area. Elk hunters should be sure of their target to avoid accidental kill of moose. Generally all of GMUs 12, 23 and 24 are considered very good elk hunting. The elk are generally up at higher elevations in the eastern portions of GMUs 12 and 24 during the early seasons, and then move west to lower elevations (and private lands) as hunting pressure and snow depth increase. Try the abundant public lands in eastern GMU 12 and 24 early on. The chance for a trophy bull is low due to unlimited bull elk licenses. Because of access roads, hunting pressure is high on Sleepy Cat, Lost Park and Sand Peak. The Flat Tops Wilderness Area offers good hunting, but travel is limited to walking or horseback, and the potential for heavy snowfall means hunters must be prepared. Successful hunters avoid the main roads and hunt the dark timber and deeper canyons. Jensen State Wildlife Area is good during most seasons. Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area is good during third and fourth rifle seasons. Both properties are limited to foot or horseback travel.

GMU:.35,.36,.44,.45CWD.has.been.detected.in.GMU.36LOCAL.DOW.OFFICEGlenwood.Springs.970-947-2920

The Eagle River Valley units are bordered by the Colorado River, the Gore Range, the Red Table Mountains and the Continental Divide. Elevation climbs from 6,000 feet with sagebrush and pinyon to more than 14,000 feet with alpine vegetation starting at 10,500 feet. Weather can vary tremendously with high country snow exceeding several feet. Motorized travel restricted to designated routes. GMUs 35 and 44 have the most public access, however, the northern portion of GMU 44 between Edwards and Eagle is primarily private property with no hunting allowed. Check your map and contact the BLM/USFS office regarding off-road travel.

DEER — Deer hunting in these units continues to improve. The herd will be scattered from 6,500’ to timberline and will move down to the lower elevation pinyon-juniper areas as heavy snow arrives. More than 18 inches of snow will move the deer. Try hunting the aspen, open parks and shrublands. GMUs 35 and 36 have the most deer. After the first heavy snow, most GMU 45 deer will move into GMU 36. GMU 44 is managed for trophy deer with limited number of licenses, but it is a good place to take a big buck.

ELK — Elk are scattered from about 7,000 feet to above timberline. As hunting pressure increases, they seek the deeper canyons and dark timber areas away from roads. Concentrating on the large stands of

dark timber and the larger wilderness areas will increase your chance of finding a big bull on public lands. Large blocks of private land in GMUs 35 and 36 provide refuge areas and can make hunting difficult.

GMU:.18,.27,.28,.37,.181,.371CWD.has.been.detected.in.these.unitsLOCAL.DOW.OFFICEHot.Sulphur.Springs.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


Steamboat Springs

Meeker

201

21

10 11 211

301

3 4

13

12

232221

3031

32

33

24

421

4140

34

42 444

44

43 47

471

4537

363525

26

231

5

28

18

171

6

161

14 16

15 27

17

371

181

131

214

441

Green River

Lower Yampa

Upper Yampa

North Park

Bookcliffs/Piceance

White River



Eagle RiverValley


Steamboat Springs

Meeker

201

21

10 11 211

301

3 4

13

12

232221

3031

32

33

24

421

4140

34

42 444

44

43 47

471

4537

363525

26

231

5

28

18

171

6

161

14 16

15 27

17

371

181

131

214

441

Green River

Lower Yampa

Upper Yampa

North Park

Bookcliffs/Piceance

White River



Eagle RiverValley


Steamboat Springs

Meeker

201

21

10 11 211

301

3 4

13

12

232221

3031

32

33

24

421

4140

34

42 444

44

43 47

471

4537

363525

26

231

5

28

18

171

6

161

14 16

15 27

17

371

181

131

214

441

Green River

Lower Yampa

Upper Yampa

North Park

Bookcliffs/Piceance

White River



Eagle RiverValley


Steamboat Springs

Meeker

201

21

10 11 211

301

3 4

13

12

232221

3031

32

33

24

421

4140

34

42 444

44

43 47

471

4537

363525

26

231

5

28

18

171

6

161

14 16

15 27

17

371

181

131

214

441

Green River

Lower Yampa

Upper Yampa

North Park

Bookcliffs/Piceance

White River



Eagle RiverValley


Steamboat Springs

Meeker

201

21

10 11 211

301

3 4

13

12

232221

3031

32

33

24

421

4140

34

42 444

44

43 47

471

4537

363525

26

231

5

28

18

171

6

161

14 16

15 27

17

371

181

131

214

441

Green River

Lower Yampa

Upper Yampa

North Park

Bookcliffs/Piceance

White River



Eagle RiverValley

Craig

game management units [continued]

EAglE rivEr vAllEy

middlE pArk


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. Hunters might focus on some of the dead lodgepole areas as increased sunlight to the forest floor creates more forage, and these areas tend to hold deer and elk for longer periods of time.

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.

GMU:.40No.hunting.allowed.in.Colorado.National.MonumentLOCAL.DOW.OFFICEGrand.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 and north of Gateway can be good during the rifle seasons, however hunters need to be aware of public land boundaries and the state line.

ELK — Bulls will be bugling from mid-September 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. Successful hunters do a lot of walking and looking. You cannot hunt elk in GMU 40 with an unlimited bull elk license. GMU 40 is a limited unit. You must apply in the draw.

GMU:.41,.42,.421CWD.has.been.detected.in.GMUs.42.and.421LOCAL.DOW.OFFICEGrand.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 GMUs 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 bulls are present but relatively rare.

GMU:.43,.47,.444,.471LOCAL.DOW.OFFICEGlenwood.Springs.970-947-2920

This area encompasses the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan and Crystal River drainages. The lower elevations (6,500 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 were on the upswing for several years but did decline during the winter of 2007-08. Fawn-to-doe rations are low while buck-to-doe ratios are decent. This 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 — 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. Some good bucks can be found if hunters focus in areas away from roads.

ELK — Early seasons find elk anywhere from 7,500 feet 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, Difficult Creek, McFarland 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.

glAdE pArk

grANd mESA

roAriNg Fork


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201

21

10 11 211

301

3 4

13

12

232221

3031

32

33

24

421

4140

34

42 444

44

43 47

471

4537

363525

26

231

5

28

18

171

6

161

14 16

15 27

17

371

181

131

214

441

Grand Junction

Glenwood Springs

SteamboatSprings

Meeker

Archery RestrictionRifle hunters may hunt in these areas with an over-the-counter license, however archery over-the-counter license holders may only hunt on private land in these units.

Limited Units - Draw onlyYou may NOT hunt in these areas with an over-the-counter license.

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.

Archery RestrictionRifle.hunters.may.hunt.in.these.areas.with.an.over-the-counter.license;.however,.archery.over-the-counter.license.holders.may.only.hunt.on.private.land.in.these.units.

Limited Units — Draw onlyYou.may.NOT.hunt.in.these.areas.with.an.over-the-counter.license.

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







Craig

Bull elk licenses

Shipping and Dry Ice Available

WILD GAME SPECIALTY ITEMSComplete Professional Game Processing

JerkyGarlic & PepperFresh Sausage

Hot ItalianBreakfast

Smoked SausageSummer Sausage

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State of the art packaging. Your game will be shrink wrapped and clearly labeled for your custom cuts.

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Cooler for afterhours check in.

After you bag your game, bring it to Steamboat Meat & Seafood Co.Clean Quality Workmanship • Quick, Friendly Service

1030 Yampa Ave. Steamboat Springs • Downtown 970-879-3504 • 970-879-1513 • FAX 970-879-4617

HUNTING SEASON HOURS: Open 7 days a week


Stagecoach Reservoir

Lake Catamount

Dunkley Pass

Oak Creek

Phippsburg

Milner Steamboat Springs

Hayden

✈

✈

Steamboat Springs Airport

Yampa Valley

Regional Airport

U.S. Highway 4051B

51C

51D

51

29

29A

19

97

1551B

11

7

25

14B

14C

14 14E

18200

14A

14D

Colorad

o Highway 131

22

24

819

212A

212B

It’s ALL right here

★ Oak Creek was originally named Bell Town.

★ In 1912 when the county seat building burned at Hahns Peak, there was much debate about where to put the new county seat. Oak Creek wanted it in Oak Creek but seeing as many of the “business” men in Steamboat had ‘bootleg’ interests in the pool halls and bars in Oak Creek they felt ‘the law’ would then be too near their operations so the county seat became Steamboat.

★ In the ’30s and ’40s, the population in a 4-mile radius around Oak Creek was 5,000 to 6,000. There have been 10 operational coal mines in and around Oak Creek. The housing, stores, restaurants and bars were “company owned.”

★ The 12th cavalry came to O.C. in 1915 on horseback and

stayed nearly two years to keep the peace over the town as immigrants wrestled with local coal mine business owners over whether they could start their own businesses. The camp and barracks for the cavalry were located on the property that now houses the middle & high schools.

★ In 1915, there were two newspapers in Oak Creek —

The O.C. Herald, primarily a socialist paper, and the OC Times, which leaned toward the Republican side.

★ There were two hospitals in Oak Creek until the late 1960s ... perhaps the existence of 17 bars and pool halls and other ‘sorted’ establishments was part of the need for the two hospitals?

★ The Tracks and Trails Museum of Oak Creek opened in 2007 on the 100th anniversary of the town’s establish-ment. The museum is on Main Street in the former town hall, a historic building built in 1927 as part of a campaign promise involving the Klu Klux Klan!

About Oak Creek

★ Select Super Market Your hometown grocery store, open 7 days a week. 970-736-2455, Main St.

★ Bonfiglio Drug and Liquor Natural Preventative healthcare, gifts, cards and sundries. 970-736-2377, 877-Bonfiglio, 118 Main St.

★ Fortunes Pizza and Subs on Main. “It’s all Good!” 970-736-2727, 216 E. Main St.

★ Mugshot Espresso, coffee, beer & wine, Wi-Fi, and the biggest buns in town! Join us on the deck for a cupa Joe! 970-736-8491, 116 Main St.

★ Spiro’s/Oak Creek Liquor Licenses, supplies, cold beer and friendly smiles. 970-736-2443, 107 Main St.

★ Brand Spankin’ Used Thrift Shop We’ve got what you forgot! A treasure hunter’s paradise. Books, clothing, & much more. Open Tue-Sat. 970-736-8100, Main St.

★ Oak Creek Motel Clean, affordable, friendly hospitality year round. Drive a little - Save a lot! 970-736-2343, 408 Willow Bend just off Main St., www.oakcreekmotel.com

★ South Routt Medical Center We are here to keep South Routt healthy, because we care! 970-736-8118, 300 Main St.

★ Chelsea’s Number 1 Chinese food in the Yampa Valley! 970-736-8538, 116 Main St.

★ Oak Creek Sinclair Dino’s Deli. 970-736-8319, 312 Meyers St.

Local Merchants

Oak Creek Welcomes Hunters!

Want to learn more?

Spend a day in Oak Creek! Just 20 minutes from Steamboat. Happy Trails!

20636055_TOC_Hunter10.indd 1 8/10/10 10:04 AM


Stagecoach Reservoir

Lake Catamount

Dunkley Pass

Oak Creek

Phippsburg

Milner Steamboat Springs

Hayden

✈

✈

Steamboat Springs Airport

Yampa Valley

Regional Airport

U.S. Highway 4051B

51C

51D

51

29

29A

19

97

1551B

11

7

25

14B

14C

14 14E

18200

14A

14D

Colorad

o Highway 131

22

24

819

212A

212B

It’s ALL right here

★ Oak Creek was originally named Bell Town.

★ In 1912 when the county seat building burned at Hahns Peak, there was much debate about where to put the new county seat. Oak Creek wanted it in Oak Creek but seeing as many of the “business” men in Steamboat had ‘bootleg’ interests in the pool halls and bars in Oak Creek they felt ‘the law’ would then be too near their operations so the county seat became Steamboat.

★ In the ’30s and ’40s, the population in a 4-mile radius around Oak Creek was 5,000 to 6,000. There have been 10 operational coal mines in and around Oak Creek. The housing, stores, restaurants and bars were “company owned.”

★ The 12th cavalry came to O.C. in 1915 on horseback and

stayed nearly two years to keep the peace over the town as immigrants wrestled with local coal mine business owners over whether they could start their own businesses. The camp and barracks for the cavalry were located on the property that now houses the middle & high schools.

★ In 1915, there were two newspapers in Oak Creek —

The O.C. Herald, primarily a socialist paper, and the OC Times, which leaned toward the Republican side.

★ There were two hospitals in Oak Creek until the late 1960s ... perhaps the existence of 17 bars and pool halls and other ‘sorted’ establishments was part of the need for the two hospitals?

★ The Tracks and Trails Museum of Oak Creek opened in 2007 on the 100th anniversary of the town’s establish-ment. The museum is on Main Street in the former town hall, a historic building built in 1927 as part of a campaign promise involving the Klu Klux Klan!

About Oak Creek

★ Select Super Market Your hometown grocery store, open 7 days a week. 970-736-2455, Main St.

★ Bonfiglio Drug and Liquor Natural Preventative healthcare, gifts, cards and sundries. 970-736-2377, 877-Bonfiglio, 118 Main St.

★ Fortunes Pizza and Subs on Main. “It’s all Good!” 970-736-2727, 216 E. Main St.

★ Mugshot Espresso, coffee, beer & wine, Wi-Fi, and the biggest buns in town! Join us on the deck for a cupa Joe! 970-736-8491, 116 Main St.

★ Spiro’s/Oak Creek Liquor Licenses, supplies, cold beer and friendly smiles. 970-736-2443, 107 Main St.

★ Brand Spankin’ Used Thrift Shop We’ve got what you forgot! A treasure hunter’s paradise. Books, clothing, & much more. Open Tue-Sat. 970-736-8100, Main St.

★ Oak Creek Motel Clean, affordable, friendly hospitality year round. Drive a little - Save a lot! 970-736-2343, 408 Willow Bend just off Main St., www.oakcreekmotel.com

★ South Routt Medical Center We are here to keep South Routt healthy, because we care! 970-736-8118, 300 Main St.

★ Chelsea’s Number 1 Chinese food in the Yampa Valley! 970-736-8538, 116 Main St.

★ Oak Creek Sinclair Dino’s Deli. 970-736-8319, 312 Meyers St.

Local Merchants

Oak Creek Welcomes Hunters!

Want to learn more?

Spend a day in Oak Creek! Just 20 minutes from Steamboat. Happy Trails!

20636055_TOC_Hunter10.indd 1 8/10/10 10:04 AM


The other game in towngrouse, bear and pronghorn highlight alternative hunting optionscolorado hunter staff

Northwest Colorado is best known for its deer and elk hunting, but the buck doesn’t stop there. From pronghorn to bear to grouse to rabbit, the region boasts world-class hunting for whatever suits your fancy.

Maybe it’s the short seasons and that much of their prime hunting lands fall in private property that keeps the grouse hunting in Northwest Colorado out of the spotlight.

But most likely, it’s because the serious bird hunters are content with the bigger game keeping attention and fall crowds away from their favorite mountain shrub knolls and ridge tops.

The greater sage grouse is the largest grouse in North America, with males often weighing between 4 and 5 pounds and hen clocking in at between 2 and 3 pounds. The birds thrive in Northwest Colorado, particularly North Park in Jackson County, Grand County and Moffat County.

The 2010 sage grouse season has been reduced to two days in the game management units 6, 16, 17, 161 and 171 in North Park. The season there begins Sept. 11 and ends Sept. 12.

The season is seven days in GMUs 3, 10, 11, 18, 27, 28, 37, 181, 201 and 211, running from

Sept. 11 to Sept. 17. Another overlooked animal that’s prevalent

in Northwest Colorado and makes for a quality harvest is the cottontail rabbit. The rabbit hunting is particularly good west of Craig to Maybell. This year’s cottontail season is Oct. 1, 2010, to Feb. 28, 2011.

But perhaps the area’s most sought-after game is the continent’s fastest land mammal, the pronghorn.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife advises that pronghorn hunts are often more successful on private land, and success rates vary by game management unit.

From there, the area’s bear hunting provides a big challenge (and reward), if not very big harvest numbers.

Ask any Steamboat Springs resident about the black bear population, and they’ll tell you it’s booming given the daily sightings within city limits. But because bears are generally reclusive and the statewide population is a fraction of that of elk and deer, the annual bear harvest is fairly small.

Interested hunters should check with the DOW to determine which animals are available for hunting and which are not. There are certain permit and license requirements for certain animals, as well as bag and possession requirements.


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Survival is about preparationjoel reichenberger/colorado hunter

Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman Randy Hampton often suggests that hunters on the prowl for game in the mountains and valleys of Northwest Colorado need to get away — away from the highway, the road and even the trail.

“Studies show animals are going to be at least one-quarter to one-half mile off a road, and when I say a road, I mean if you drove an ATV up it, you need to be one-half mile from it,” he said.

Finding the ideal spot to nab that trophy rack comes with inherent risks, however, and knowing basic survival techniques and packing appropriately for any of a multitude of potential disasters is essential.

Steamboat Springs resident Darrel Levingston has spent many a cold winter night trying to find lost hunters as one of the members of the Routt County Search and Rescue team. He said he’s seen all the mistakes.

He suggested hunters be equipped with modern technology to help them find their way, or to help rescuers find them, but not to rely on it.

“Technology has changed the way search and rescue works, but all electronics have limitations,” he said. “They don’t always work in every area, and even though it’s great to have out there, we highly recommend people also take such basic things as a map and a compass as backup.”

Weather can be a deciding factor in a Colorado hunt — cold weather can help bring animals down from the high country and into more accessible, lower terrain. But no matter what the forecast is for a particular trip, those venturing into the wild need to be ready for anything.

“It can change in an instant,” Levingston said. “People need to have clothing and equipment for all four seasons, regardless of what the day might look like when they leave in the morning.

“People can get in a lot of trouble when

they start out on their hunt in the morning and it’s a sunny, beautiful, blue sky day. Within two hours, it can be snowing sideways.”

As far as Levingston is concerned, though, there’s one thing more than any other that can help lost or stranded hunters make it home safely and without extended stays in the backcountry.

“Tell someone where you’re going and when you’re going to return,” he said. “Northwest Colorado is a big place to have to start looking for someone. Just knowing where people are going and when they expect to get back will cut search time down dramatically.”

As a basic checklist of what to take, 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 bringing a film canister with Vaseline-saturated cotton balls, weather-proofing matches by dipping the tips in molten wax or even a small bottle of (highly flammable) hand sanitizer gel, while one area outfitter 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

athe missing person will say later, ‘I could hear your 4X4 and hear you yelling,’” Levingston said, advising a pea-less 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

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.as.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.eat.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.in.the.valley.before.heading.up.to.camp...

•.A.high.level.of.exertion.as.your.body.is.acclimating.can.put.you.over.the.top..Avoid.pushing.yourself.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.

SAFETy AdviCE


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Why not try fly fishing?tom ross/colorado hunter

If you could find a way to pack two outdoor vacations into one this fall, wouldn’t you jump at the chance?

All you have to do to bag two Colorado adventures in one week is make certain you’re the first member of your hunting party to hang your elk in a tree. The sooner you accomplish that goal, the sooner you can begin hunting for predators like ornery brown trout.

Think about it: Once you bag an elk, your options are to drive game for your buddies, migrate to a bar and watch football, or go off in pursuit of a chunky 18-inch trout. Better pack your spinning rod or fly-fishing equipment in the truck.

Resident Northwest Colorado 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 fall.

Brett Lee says there is no reason to go any farther from the hotels and restaurants of Steamboat Springs than Stagecoach Lake State Park, 15 miles south of Steamboat near Oak Creek. Lee is one of the owners of Straightline Sporting Goods in Steamboat and a veteran hunter.

Lee knows the Colorado Division of Wildlife has been stocking Stagecoach with bigger fish than normal to give them a chance to survive the giant northern pike that are cruising the lake. The strategy is succeeding, and October is the month the fish come out of the depths of the lake for a burst of feeding before winter sets in.

Stagecoach will look a little different this fall, with the lake drawn down so construction crews can add 4 feet of concrete to the top of the dam. Some boat ramps will be affected, but the fish are still there. Call the local state park office at 970-736-2436 in advance for the latest conditions.

options aboundThe region’s enormous elk population

means that with cooperation from the weather, the chances of success are as high as anywhere a hunter can journey. Hunters hope for a moderate snowstorm and overcast skies — enough foul weather to move the elk out of their high-elevation hideouts, but not enough to make four-wheel roads impassable.

The cooler temperatures of fall also bring rainbow trout back into shallower water in large impoundments like Stagecoach Reservoir

LICENSE FEES•.Annual:.$26.resident,.$56.nonresident•.Senior.citizen.annual:.$1.(residents.only)•.Five-day:.$21.nonresident•.One-day:.$9.resident.and.nonresident•.Second.rod.stamp:.$5.resident.and.nonresident

*Annual licenses are good through March 31, 2001

WHERE TO PURCHASE:Anglers.can.purchase.licenses.on.the.Web.at..

www.wildlife.state.co.us.or.by.calling.800-244-5613..A.temporary.authorization.number.can.substitute.for.a.physical.license.for.14.days.from.the.date.of.purchase..Anglers.must.have.their.temporary.authorization.number.on.hand.while.fishing..

BAG LIMITS:Daily.bag.limit.for.trout:.Four.fish.in.aggregate.Possession.limit:.eight.fish.in.aggregate..The.town.stretch.of.the.Yampa.River.in.Steamboat.

Springs.has.special.regulations:.flies.and.lures.only.and.catch-and-release.(no.kill.fishing).keep.this.fishery.rewarding.with.large.fish.right.in.town.

2010 FEES & rEgulATioNS


It doesn’t take a

Crackshot to shoot

poles, insulators or powerlines

It happens, believe it or not. Every year some people decide to use our lines, poles or insulators instead of targets or game to shoot at.

• THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS ACT! We pay the cost to repair the equipment. Shot insulators, wires and poles result in electric service interruptions and inconvenience. The inconvenience could be critical if it interrupts a life support system.

• IT’S ALSO EXPENSIVE IF YOU GET CAUGHT! There are penalties for intentional damage to utility property.

• IT’S DANGEROUS! Live wires can burn or electrocute when they fall to the ground. An innocent person could become a victim - so could the shooter.

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and Steamboat Lake. At Steamboat Lake, the trout are often

looking for crayfish, an easy food source to imitate with lures. 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. Remember, as water temperatures drop, retrieval rates on streamers and lures should drop with them.

The cold water of fall dictates a slower retrieve than fishermen are accustomed to in summer, Lee said.

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 Elkhead Reservor and 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.

However, federal wildlife officials have made considerable headway on removing the unwanted bass from the Moffat County stretch of the river to protect endangered native species, and local fishermen report having less success.

Another great autumn option in Moffat

County is to drive west of Craig to Maybell and turn northwest (right) on Colorado Highway 318 to reach a section of the Green River in Browns Park that holds large brown trout. You won’t forget the undeveloped range country in this area where 19th century outlaws once hid out and wild horses still roam. Stop at any sporting goods shop in Craig to get precise directions.

On the other side of the Park Range from Steamboat, in Jackson County near Walden, 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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Rangely, Colorado

White River Drive Inn

It doesn’t matter if you are a history buff, thrill seeker or just want to relax Rangely is the place to be.

The gateway to adventure

Welcome to Rangely a town thatembraces the past, thrills in thepresent and welcomes the future.

Dinosaur Diamond Canyon Pintado Rock Crawling Kenney Reservoir Golf Course

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Rangely Businesses Quality Carpet & Furnishings 801 E. Main St. 970-675-5170 Cedar Ridges Golf Course 502 RBC Road 108 Pro Shop and Snack Shop Driving Range and Putting Green 9 Holes - Par 36 970-675-8403 Canyon Land Construction 970-270-9714 2674 Foxen Ct. Grand Junction, CO 81506 Buck ‘N’ Bull RV Park 866-675-8335 2811 E. Main St. 1.6mi. E. of Hwy 139 on Hwy 64 Rangely Liquor Store “Coldest Beer in Town” Great Low Prices and Friendly Service 970-675-8596 719 E. Main St. White River Drive Inn Fast Food….The Old Fashioned Way! 322 W. Main St. 970-675-2049 Open 11am – 7pm Tuesday thru Friday Giovannis Italian Grill 855 East Main St. 970-675-2670 Dine In or Take Out! Pinyon Tree Liquors 321 E. Main St. 970-675-2828 Lowest Prices in Northwest Colorado Los Tres Potrillos Great Mexican Food 302 W. Main Street 970-675-8870 Town of Rangely Welcomes you! Check out the NEW Website www.rangely.com 209 E. Main St. 970-675-8477 Raven Realty, LLC 117 W. Main St. 970-675-2299 www.raven-realty.com

Silver Sage RV & Mobile Park 314 E Main 970-675-2259 [email protected]

DUCO Inc. Oilfield Services P.O. Box 416 Rangely, CO 970-675-8685

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Rangely, Colorado

White River Drive Inn

It doesn’t matter if you are a history buff, thrill seeker or just want to relax Rangely is the place to be.

The gateway to adventure

Welcome to Rangely a town thatembraces the past, thrills in thepresent and welcomes the future.

Dinosaur Diamond Canyon Pintado Rock Crawling Kenney Reservoir Golf Course

AB

C

DEF GHIK ➞J

CanyonLandsCONSTRUCTION

Approx. 1 mileon 64 acrossfrom airport

Silver SageRV & MOBILE HOME PARK

Rangely Businesses Quality Carpet & Furnishings 801 E. Main St. 970-675-5170 Cedar Ridges Golf Course 502 RBC Road 108 Pro Shop and Snack Shop Driving Range and Putting Green 9 Holes - Par 36 970-675-8403 Canyon Land Construction 970-270-9714 2674 Foxen Ct. Grand Junction, CO 81506 Buck ‘N’ Bull RV Park 866-675-8335 2811 E. Main St. 1.6mi. E. of Hwy 139 on Hwy 64 Rangely Liquor Store “Coldest Beer in Town” Great Low Prices and Friendly Service 970-675-8596 719 E. Main St. White River Drive Inn Fast Food….The Old Fashioned Way! 322 W. Main St. 970-675-2049 Open 11am – 7pm Tuesday thru Friday Giovannis Italian Grill 855 East Main St. 970-675-2670 Dine In or Take Out! Pinyon Tree Liquors 321 E. Main St. 970-675-2828 Lowest Prices in Northwest Colorado Los Tres Potrillos Great Mexican Food 302 W. Main Street 970-675-8870 Town of Rangely Welcomes you! Check out the NEW Website www.rangely.com 209 E. Main St. 970-675-8477 Raven Realty, LLC 117 W. Main St. 970-675-2299 www.raven-realty.com

Silver Sage RV & Mobile Park 314 E Main 970-675-2259 [email protected]

DUCO Inc. Oilfield Services P.O. Box 416 Rangely, CO 970-675-8685

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Craig teen nabs first mountain lionbrian smith/colorado hunter

Craig resident Taylor Duzik, 14, has been hunting with her father, Glenn, since she was a young girl.

The many hunting trips she took with Glenn helped her develop a passion for hunting and, after picking up the rifle, she was skilled enough to bag several elk, deer and antelope, she said.

“It is like a huge adrenaline rush,” said Taylor, a sophomore at Moffat County High School.

In the winter of 2008, however, Taylor set her sights on bagging a mountain lion.

After organizing a trip, tracking one and successfully treeing it, she found, much to her disappointment, the cat was a female with kittens, which she couldn’t legally kill, she said.

But Taylor’s spirits weren’t dampened for long.

On Dec. 29, 2009, about a year after her first trip, Taylor’s patience was rewarded with a 180-pound male mountain lion taken in the

Williams Fork area about 20 miles south of Craig.

“Lions are really hard to get, and I was pretty excited I got one on my second try,” Taylor said.

The morning she bagged the cat, Taylor, Glenn and her sister, Mattie Jo, started to look for tracks at about 4:30 a.m. They found a “hot track” by about 6 a.m., and released the dogs on to the scent by about 7:30 a.m., Taylor said.

“We had gone up clear to the top of our road, and there was nothing,” she said. “And it was the last day of our hunt ... so we were coming back down, and he had crossed over our truck tracks, so it was super fresh.”

The dogs soon caught the trail of the mountain lion, Taylor said, which was resting under a cliff until the dogs came. The cat fled, but was treed by the dogs about 400 yards from the cliff, Taylor said.

Taylor arrived at the tree, which was on a steep hill, she said, and shot the mountain lion with her .243 Browning rifle from about 30 feet away.

“She had a place figured out and a clean, clear shot,” Glenn said. “One shot, done with the hunt.”

Glenn, who also is an outfitter, said mountain lions are sometimes hard to hunt, having gone 10 seasons without bagging one himself.

“Lions aren’t something that you can hunt every day,” he said. “You can hunt them only maybe eight or nine days out of the year.”

Watching his daughter take her first mountain lion was rewarding, Glenn said.

“It was a good day,” he said. “Taylor did everything right, she worked hard to get him. She got to the lion and made a great shot. It is hard to shoot straight up.”

Taylor said the family is in the process of having a rug mount made out of the lion. She plans to keep hunting — in hopes of a bear and a bull elk — but also wants to bag another mountain lion.

“Maybe not for a while, because I got my one,” she said. “I want to shoot another one, but it has to be bigger than the one I got.”


•.Colorado.mountain.lions,.also.referred.to.as.cougars,.pumas,.panthers.and.catamount,.are.the.largest.catsc.in.the.state.— much.larger.than.lynx..Adults.can.reach.6.feet.in.length.and.weigh.130.pounds.and.up..

•.Hunters.are.most.likely.to.find.mountain.lions.in.canyons.and.mesa.country..They’re.less.abundant.there.than.in.forests.and.open.prairies..

•.Most.lions.eat.one.deer.a.week..Mating.is.most.common.in.spring,.with.females.typically.giving.birth.to.two.or.three.kittens..

•.Hunting.mountain.lions.requires.a.mountain.lion.education.certificate.from.the.Colorado.Division.of.Wildlife,.as.well.as.a.mountain.lion.license..Hunters.are.required.to.call.888-940-LION.(5466).for.GMU.closures.before.any.hunting.trip..Hunters.must.check.daily.to.see.whether.the.game.management.unit.they.want.to.hunt.is.open..Units.close.when.harvest.limits.are.reached..

•.Hunters.who.successfully.kill.a.mountain.lion.are.required.to.contact.the.DOW.within.48.hours.of.the.kill.and.provide.their.name,.Customer.Identification.Number,.date,.GMU.of.the.kill,.and.sex.of.the.lion..Within.five.days.of.the.kill,.hunters.must.present.their.lion.to.a.DOW.officer.for.inspection.and.seal..Inspections.and.seals.are.free,.but.mandatory..

•.Mountain.lion.season.dates.and.fees.will.be.released.in.October..During.the.2009-10.season,.a.mountain.lion.license.costs.$251.for.out-of-state.hunters,.and.$41.for.residents..The.typical.mountain.lion.season.begins.immediately.after.the.last.combined.deer.and.elk.rifle.season.and.ends.in.March..

— Source: Colorado Division of Wildlife

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on the hunt: When patience is a virtue

fran reinier/colorado hunter

Growing up, my parents and grandparents had a phase they’d use whenever I wanted something that just wasn’t realistic at the time. “All things good come to those who wait,” they’d say.

I had no clue what it meant as a child, and I didn’t really figure it out until my late teens. Over the years, I’ve learned that patience is often on my side, and it’s certainly a good friend to have when you’re a hunter.

My husband has always included me on his destination hunts, but there was one trip I never got to go on — mountain lion hunting. The reason was simple: My bad knees were too limiting.

So, I waited. And hoped.Christmas 2009 seemed no different than any

other Christmas in our home until, out of the blue, my husband told me to take the Division of Wildlife-required mountain lion hunting test online. I can only imagine the shocked look on my face.

Things progressed quickly from there. On New Year’s weekend, I received a phone call from our friend Diana Yeagher to set up a meeting time and place for my first mountain lion hunt. It’s only fitting that Diana’s name just happens to be that of the Roman goddess of hunting. Yeagher can hunt and track with the best of them.

A short time later, we met up with Diana and her husband, Bill “Gimpy” Yeagher. With help from a few other friends, we went off searching for fresh lion tracks. What we found was the tracks of a young lion.

“It’s OK,” I thought, “patience is on my side.” The next few weeks played out pretty much

the same. I began to think the animal kingdom was going to be the victor this time.

But things turned around during the last weekend in January. Diana called on a Saturday morning to report fresh lion tracks in the snow, and off we went. The team included Diana and Bill Yeagher, Teddy and Karen Gilroy, Bud Blomquist, my husband, Bob, and the dogs. Half of them took off on snow machines while the rest of us sat tight and awaited their return.

The news wasn’t good. The mountain lion they spotted had gone into a cave. They didn’t want to disturb the lion, plus they have a rule that they don’t send their dogs into caves. It’s just too dangerous for both the animals and the hunter. So we called it a day and made a plan for Sunday.

To say my excitement level was running high

it took longer than expected, but veteran Fran reinier finally got her mountain lion


that Sunday morning is an understatement. A light snow during the night helped the tracking that much more. We met at the same place, and this time, we spotted two sets of tracks from adult male lions. We decided to track a different lion than the one we had gone after the previous day.

We headed off on our snow machines and the 40-minute ride to the area where the tracks had been spotted. The dogs picked up the scent, too, and they went off and running up the hillside. But the mountain lion was smart and climbed into the rocks. The dogs lost the scent.

But Bud Blomquist was determined to track the lion. He climbed the rocks where the dogs couldn’t go and hiked in waist-deep snow for the next five hours. Back and forth, up and down, around and around the hillside he went. And we followed.

We stopped once at about 2:30 p.m. to regroup and rehydrate. As luck would have, Bud found where the lion had gone into the rocks and radioed up for Bill to bring the dogs. About 15 minutes later, we heard the dogs ahead of us. It sounded like they had the lion treed. But what we found wasn’t what we had hoped for — the dogs were jogging down the trail toward us and not sitting under a tree with a lion in it.

It was getting late in the afternoon, and we were all tired. We heard another voice, but this one was unfamiliar. It was Bud’s cousin Tom Kostur, who had been called in to help us. He hollered that he had found mountain lion tracks again and was going to follow them. Less than 10 minutes later he reported finding the lion holed up in some rocks with its tail sticking out.

Time was of the essence, so I took my rifle from its case and said, “Let’s do this.”

The hillside was thick with scrub oak, rocks and trees. The snow was thigh deep and deeper in spots. Up three of us went, crashing through the tree limbs and scrub oak, getting our boots caught in the branches every step of the way, and using the branches and the trunks of trees to pull our way up the hill. The last 6 feet up the hill was so steep that for every step forward we took, we slid back two. So Tom leaned over the ledge and grabbed Diana’s hand to pull her up. Bud grabbed my hand and pulled me up onto the ledge, as well.

There we stood, out of breath, sweating and wet from climbing through the tangle of trees and brush. And there was the lion and its twitching tail.

The ledge was big enough just for the four of us and one dog. There was no room for error, and a mistake there could have been fatal for any of us.

I lay in the snow and took aim at my target, but the glare from the snow into my scope was so bad that I couldn’t see anything but a bright light.

Tom took off his jacket and threw it over my head to help cut the glare. The hole with the lion was so dark that all I could see was the outline of its body. Tom is a veteran mountain lion hunter and asked a few questions about what I could see, and he gave me advice on how to line up my sight picture.

I held steady and pulled the trigger. Bud and Tom agreed to crawl up to the hole and confirm whether

the lion was dead. I was ready with my rifle just in case it wasn’t. My first and only shot was all it took. They pulled out the lion, we

posed for some pictures, loaded ourselves and my kill onto the snow machines and began the trip back to the trucks.

Back at the trucks, we celebrated with a beer and a phone call to my dad.

It was dark when we got home, and I was exhausted. My youngest son was home on leave from the Army, and he got to see my trophy before returning to base. He couldn’t wait to tell his buddies what his mom did.

Once again, patience won out.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bill and Diana Yeagher are the former operators/owners of Backcountry Outfitters. They currently run an operation out of Rio Blanco County and have permission to lead mountain lion hunts on a private ranch in Routt County.


joshua gordon/colorado hunter

Craig Conrad, a former Moffat County High School teacher and a long-time hunter, said hunting is as much about memories made as the animals he brings home from successful trips.

When Conrad arrived in Craig in 1982, the area’s hunting business wasn’t as big as it is today.

“I had a lot of students who would invite me out to their parents’ land to hunt my first year in town,” said Conrad, who taught shop at MCHS and now works traveling the country as a motivational speaker. “It is something that doesn’t happen quite as often now.”

Twenty years later, students Conrad first went hunting with are now considered friends, and he has memories of their time in the outdoors that will last a lifetime, he said.

A particular memory stands out.Conrad was hunting with Tim and Glen

Duzik, who were his students at the time. The group, including Conrad’s wife, Vicki, was out hunting jackrabbits one night, and Conrad said a thick fog blanketed the landscape.

“We put all the rabbits in the back of the Jeep, and my wife and I got in the vehicle,” he said. “Tim said that one of the rabbits was alive, and so we both go out to check.”

As soon as Conrad opened the back, he said Tim flung a dead jackrabbit and yelled. The teacher had fallen prey to his students’ prank.

“My wife and I were both scared to death as the Duzik kids were dying laughing,” Conrad said. “It is something everyone involved will remember forever, especially since it was an eerie night.”

Sharing a common interest, Conrad said, is a good way to start a friendship, and hunting is a great way to bond with people.

“Anytime you can be outdoors with someone, I think you just get closer than you ever can in an office,” he said. “It’s God’s land, it just creates a special bond.”

But the relationship benefits hunting has provided to the former educator don’t end with just students and friends.

In the past few years, Conrad has been able to enjoy hunting with his son, Colton. Conrad was with Colton when he nabbed his first elk, deer and antelope. As a shared activity, Conrad said hunting beats anything the father and son have done before.

“I can’t put a price tag on the memories I have created with my son,” he said. “We have such a good time out hunting together. It’s

priceless.”On a hunt last year, Conrad said he and his

son were on a friend’s private property and spotted an antelope.

Conrad and Colton dropped to the ground and stalked the antelope, keeping as quiet as possible, he said.

“If it would have been public land, someone would have scared that antelope way,” Conrad said. “Because our friends allowed us to hunt their land, I was able share in my son shooting that antelope.”

Through his son, Conrad said he has met even more people, including local resident Howdy Davis. Davis is now a fixture on Conrad and Colton’s hunts.

“My son would hunt with Howdy, and they became pretty close,” he said. “After awhile, Howdy and I became friends, and

now we hunt together, as well.”Davis and Conrad also spend their winters

ice fishing together, he added.While he has had friends of all ages with

him on hunts, Conrad said the beauty of hunting lies in one fact — age, quite simply, doesn’t matter.

“I’ve hunted with people 30 years younger than me and 20 years older than me,” he said. “We have a common interest, so age doesn’t even play a factor.”

With all the friends and memories he has made through the years, Conrad said he is thankful for opportunities hunting has provided, and to be in an area that appreciates and embraces the tradition.

“I just want to say thanks,” he said. “I’ve went through things with people that I will never forget.”

Former teacher calls hunting ‘priceless’Craig Conrad builds lasting relationships using hunting as a foundation

Craig.resident.Craig.Conrad,.a.former.Moffat.County.High.School.teacher.and.now.a.motivational.speaker,.poses.with.his.son,.Colton,.on.a.friend’s.property.after.Colton.shot.an.antelope.they.followed.for.more.than.an.hour..Conrad.said.by.hunting.with.Colton.and.other.friends,.he.has.made.memories.that.will.last.a.lifetime..Photo courtesy of Craig Conrad.


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joshua roberts/colorado hunter

In 1962, when Glenn Pritchard was young and not old, when hunting was pure and about something other than “money and politics,” the then 19-year-old Moffat County resident found himself waiting patiently in the predawn morning of his favorite place.

The wild.He and the countryside stood still, he

said, man and earth quietly bracing for the last day of hunting season.

The silence didn’t last long.A buck, about a mile off, jumped a fence,

shattering the early morning peace and starting a blurred, hectic few moments the hunter recounts more than four decades later, with clarity like it happened a minute ago.

He moved closer to the animal.“I was shooting a lever 250/3000 I had

inherited from my father,” Pritchard wrote.

“As the buck jumped the fence, up came the rifle. I only had time for one shot.”

The shot rang true. What Pritchard’s patience and precision netted: a 350-pound, 9-by-10 point trophy buck with a 35½ inch spread.

“What a wonderful day,” Pritchard, now 67, wrote. “I had finally gotten a trophy buck. … It was one of the most exciting times of my life. A dream come true. It was hard to believe that I would have even more exciting hunts in the future, as the reader will discover.”

Those words are found in the first 10 pages of Pritchard’s book, “Buckskin Trails: 50 years of Trophy Hunting in Northwest Colorado,” a long-planned work he finished in 2008 and is now found at various locations in Craig and Moffat County.

The self-published book is described as part-biography about Pritchard, a third-generation Moffat County resident, and his family. It’s also a year-by-year chronicle

of hunting deer, elk and antelope, almost entirely within the county’s limits, and includes photographs of kills and natural settings.

Pritchard, who lives with his wife, Audrey, on the couple’s 40-acre spread on Moffat County Road 7, said he doesn’t have any dreams of becoming rich off book sales.

“My wife’s been after me for years to do it,” he said. “It’s a lot of memories. It was just something to do, mostly.

“I didn’t write it to get rich. It was just kind of fun writing it.”

The book is dedicated to Audrey, and their two children, daughter Holli and son Cody.

Pritchard was born on the Two-Bar ranch 45 miles west of Craig on the Little Snake River, situated about halfway between Craig and Browns Park.

He calls the Browns Park area, the “edge of the wild country.”

Tales from the trailsmoffat County resident’s book recalls half a century of area hunts

Glenn.Pritchard,.a.third-generation.Moffat.County.resident,.has.been.hunting.the.area.for.decades.and.has.kept.a.journal.of.his.experiences..Those.times.have.been.compiled.into.his.book,.“Buckskin.Trails:.50.years.of.Trophy.Hunting.in.Northwest.Colorado.”.The.book.is.in.circulation.in.Craig..Photo by Hans Hallgren.


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moffat County resident’s book recalls half a century of area hunts

“The wild country is in my blood,” he wrote. “The wilder the better.”

“I just love that country,” he said. “You can still almost feel Butch Cassidy running around there some days.”

And it’s there, out in the wild, that Pritchard fondly remembers happenings ranging from good hunts to awe-inspiring scenes of nature, and, depending on what you’re prone to believe, perhaps the supernatural.

The experiences are all described in the book.

There was the time when, while looking for shed horns with his border collie, Coco, at his side, he came across “another of those magical moments I have been blessed with experiencing over the years.”

A full-grown timberwolf.“He was absolutely beautiful,” Pritchard

wrote. “My mouth must have dropped to my knees. … He was black and silver with a six-inch black tip on his tail. … He knew exactly what I was. He stood broadside, looking at me, then slowly turned and trotted off into the cedars. He was not the least bit afraid of me.

“The powers that be will tell you we don’t have wolves in Colorado, but I heard (them) howling on Black Mountain at less than 100 yards 40 years ago. Take it for what it is worth, but I know what I saw and heard.”

In 1994, he and Cody were in Browns Park, again hunting for horns.

“The Browns Park area is a special place for us,” Pritchard wrote. “Sometimes a person can almost feel like you are being accompanied by kindred spirits, even though it is just you and your dog.”

Cody, on the other side of his father on a limestone ridge, radioed Pritchard and said he felt like he was “being watched.” Hair was standing up on the back of his neck.

Minutes later, Cody called again. He told his father what he’d found.

A grave. It had no marker.“We were miles from

the nearest road,” Pritchard wrote. “What would a grave be doing here? I told (Cody) I would be right there. The top of the ridge was bare, mostly rock with a few scattered cedars. Right between two of those cedars was a grave. It was old. It was domed rocks 6 feet long and 2 feet wide.

“I went back each year for five years to spend time with whomever was there and had no trouble finding the grave. One day I told Audrey I was going to take my metal detector to the grave and check it out for metal. We hiked for five hours to get there. … I had been to the site several times and had no problem finding the grave.

“However, on this day, I could not find it. Something didn’t want me to check it out. You make the call.”

Pritchard said he isn’t one to believe in farfetched tales, but the experience he had was absolutely real.

“The spirits are there,” he said. “It sounds silly, but there’s something to it.”

There are other tales, too, in the 80-page book Pritchard described as his running diary of hunting and outdoor life.

There are about 100 copies of “Buckskin Trails” available. The book costs $39.95 and can be viewed or purchased at Craig Campground, the Museum of Northwest Colorado, Downtown Books in Craig, or through Pritchard. He can be reached at 824-6196.

He said the book represents half a century’s worth of Moffat County times, tales and adventures as he’s known them, and reaches back into a time when area hunting meant more than just big business.

In a way, the book is his love song to the only place he’s ever called home.

“My blood’s here, I guess,” he said. “If people can enjoy it, that’s what I’m in it for.”


colorado hunter

Want to bag the largest deer in the world? In Northwest Colorado, it’s entirely possible.

Since being reintroduced to the region — North Park, specifically — by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in 1978 and 1979, moose have thrived in an environment seemingly tailor-made for them. Valleys thick with willows, streams, ponds and marshes provide food and shelter for moose, considered by biologists to be the world’s largest deer.

The giant herbivores love Northwest Colorado so much that their numbers continue to rapidly grow. Within the past year, the DOW transferred another group of moose to the Flat Tops Wilderness Area near Meeker. That followed a recent introduction of moose on Grand Mesa in 2005.

What it means for hunters is that a successful moose hunt is morel likely than ever. The North Park moose population is estimated at 480, and Middle Park boasts another 320 of the animals that can reach 6 feet at their shoulders and weigh in excess of 1,000 pounds. The Grand Mesa herd population is about 150, with an objective of 450.

The DOW also has begun a campaign reminding hunters to be very aware of their target, especially when it comes to moose. Illegally shooting a moose because you thought it was an elk carries a hefty fine. The bill starts at $1,350. How you’ll know it’s a moose:• Dark brown or black body• A bell, or flap of skin, hanging from its throat• White/gray inner legs• Overhanging snout and bulbous nose

If you managed to score a moose license this year, prepare to be patient on your hunt, as moose are relatively solitary and can be difficult to find. Stick to forested areas, particularly those near marshes and swamps. Any area thick with willows is prime moose habitat, as that is their primary source of food. They’ll also eat pine needles and the leaves of deciduous trees as well as aquatic plants and aspen trees.

Game management units 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 28, 171, 181 and 191 are available for nonresident moose hunting this year.

You’re best chance of seeing moose is early in the morning or late afternoon. Be aware that the massive cervids can be aggressive, especially when startled. They’ve been known to defend their home territory.

— Some information provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife

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terry carwile/sportsman information specialist moffat county visitor center

As we approach the 2010 big game hunting seasons, it is worth touching on a

couple of issues that have emerged in recent years.

One of the most prominent, and one we hear about most often at the Craig Chamber of Commerce, is the weather.

Consistently, fair weather throughout the fall season has been typical. Other than the occasional snowstorm

immediately followed by a return to warmer temperatures, conditions have been unfavorable for elk hunters in the combined rifle seasons.

The absence of cold weather and sufficient snow accumulation has meant that there has been nothing to stimulate elk herd migration to winter range at lower elevations until very late in the year.

Flyovers by the Colorado Division of Wildlife to locate GPS-collared elk show that the animals have stayed in the higher terrain well into December.

On-the-ground reports by hunters of herd

migration and successful hunts have not come until after Christmas, for the most part. It should be noted that these are reports from late-season cow elk hunters who are seeing animals in the areas of Godiva Rim in Game Management Unit 3 and in the “Triangle” area of GMU 211. For a map and description of the GMUs in Northwest Colorado, turn to pages 32 to 37.

Both of these areas are traditional winter range for elk.

Generally speaking, the early elk hunting seasons have been productive, but success has fallen off sharply during the second and third combined rifle seasons.

Hunting pressure in the high country pushes game animals into more remote, inaccessible areas. As long as the weather is fair and there are not enough hunters willing to take on the task of a more difficult hunt in tougher country, game animals get scarce.

The lack of migratory movement has made hunts at lower elevations less productive, as well.

Mild winters have made for a healthy deer population, and deer hunters have reported consistent success in all of the seasons at high and low elevations in Northwest Colorado.

GMUs 3, 301, 11, 211 and units in higher areas such as 4, 441 and 5 have been productive for deer.

Mild winters are among the elements that have aggravated the pine beetle epidemic. It is important to factor changes in high-country forest conditions because of the beetle infestation into hunting plans.

Of paramount importance is safety while driving, hiking or camping in forested areas. Reports from the U.S. Forest Service indicate that thousands of dead trees are expected to fall daily for the next decade or so in Routt National Forest. The Forest Service also reported that the average lodgepole pine weighs 1,000 pounds, and the dead ones can fall without warning.

The Forest Service advises that forest users avoid activities near stands of dead trees and to use extreme caution in choosing a place to camp or park a vehicle. Forest Service officials also advise that hunters carry a chainsaw or an axe in case a road or trail is blocked by a fallen tree. Efforts to remove hazardous trees are ongoing.

Be sure to check with the Routt National Forest office for updates on campground, trail and road closures because of tree removal operations. The hotline number is 970-870-2140.

For the long-term, hunters should expect enormous changes in high-country big game habitat because of the beetle epidemic.

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As the trees lose their needles and subsequently fall, the lodgepole forest canopy opens up and exposes the ground to more sunlight. The resulting vegetation growth will probably create much better conditions for both small- and big-game animals.

Although there are no current studies under way specific to the pine beetle epidemic and habitat impact, local DOW biologists think there will be benefits to the big-game population in the long run.

In this case, however, better habitat conditions may equate to more challenging hunting conditions. Access to hunting areas may change, and retrieval of harvested big-game animals may be more complicated.

For those who enjoy the high-country hunts, now is the time to begin formulating a new strategy. In the areas where pine beetles have taken their toll, a new long-term plan is in order.

Knowledgeable hunters know that taking a few seasons to get acquainted with an area greatly enhance chances of success. Even if a sportsman is familiar with an area impacted by beetle-kill, approaching the hunt as if it were in new territory is a good idea.

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photos from the hunt

CLOCKWISE, from top: Jerry.Zeman.tracked.and.scored.this.elk.in.2007.west.of.Craig..Chris.Jurney.is.shown.with.a.bobcat.he.killed.in.the.winter.of.2009.south.of.Craig..A.mule.deer.fell.to.Kayla.Jurney.in.2007.west.of.Craig. Photos provided by Chris Jurney.

SHArE your pHoToS!Want to see your photos in next year’s Colorado Hunter [email protected]!


pHoToS From THE HuNT

Chance.Peters.snagged.this.mountain.lion.in.2007.west.of.Craig..Photo provided by Chris Jurney.

Tom.Leeson.got.this.bull.elk..Photo provided by Cedar Beauregard. Mike.Huffstutter.scored.a.mule.deer.in.2009.south.of.Craig...Photo provided by Chris Jurney.

HORSES FOR RENTHunting and Pack Horses

Available Archery, Muzzleloading & Rifle SeasonsSummer Horses Available • Guided & Unguided Rides

www.sombrero.comPermitted on White River, Routt and Arapahoe- Roosevelt National Forests License #217 E.O.E.

Meeker970-878-438212900 County Road 8 Meeker CO 81641

Williams Fork970-276-2048

781 County Road 6, Hayden, CO 81639

Craig970-824-3468

781 County Road 15, Craig, CO 81639

Steamboat970-879-2306

835 River RoadSteamboat, CO 80477

Dotsero970-524-974213721Colorado River RdGypsum, CO 801637

Business Office303-442-0258911 Kimbark StreetLongmont, CO 80501 Jeff Dolan, 970-871-6221

the Hahns Peak InnP.O. Box 89961066 RCR 129Clark, CO 80428www.hahnspeakinn.net

Hahns Peak Inn Hahns Peak is located in Hahns Peak Village on Routt County Road 129. Come let our pleasant and friendly staff fill you with a gourmet breakfast and send you out into the 2.5 million acres of National Forest on your hunt of a lifetime. Then return to the Inn from a successful day in the woods to relax in our hot tub to end your beautiful day in North Routt County with an unforgettable sunset in the high country of Northwestern Colorado.Packed lunches available.We will be happy to help arrange your hunt with local outfitters.


Cedar.Beauregard.shot.this.elk.during.bow.season.last.fall..He.took.down.another.the.same.day. Photo provided by Cedar Beauregard.



LEFT: Bill.Van.Ness.got.his.archery.bull.elk.on.Sept..16,.2009,.near.Buffalo.Pass..He.called.it.an.“incredible.experience.”.ABOVE: Bill’s.8-year-old.daughter,.Lily,.found.this.moose.shed.in.July.2010.while.fishing.in.upper.Soda.Creek.with.her.sister.Allison,.6.

STEAMBOAT LOG CABINSRustic Log Cabins

Fully Equipped KitchensClassic Wood Stoves

76 Wooded AcresClose to Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs

Pets Allowed With Additional Deposit

Call 879-1060 for rental rates and reservations.

A Hunters Hideaway, A Hunters

Dream

970-879-7033

SteamboatLakeAgnesRetreat.com

YAMPA VALLEY FEEDS

LIAM WITH HIS FIRST DEER.

• Tack• Feed• Propane• Horse Supplies• Livestock Supplies

198 E. Lincoln St.Hayden, CO 81639

So muchmore than a

feed store…


Diana.Eubank.stands.with.her.cow.elk,.taken.at.300.yards.with.her..30-06,.on.the.next.to.last.day.of.late.season.2009.Samantha.Young.got.her.first.elk.during.the.second.season.of.2008.near.Emerald.Mountain.

J.P..Huffstutter.poses.with.his.cow.elk.in.2009.south.of.Craig..Photo provided by Chris Jurney.



LEFT:.Rick.LeBlanc.killed.this.elk.in.unit.10.in.2009.west.of.Craig..ABOVE: Casey.Nations.poses.with.a.bobcat.nabbed.in.2008.west.of.Craig..Photos provided by Chris Jurney.

HUNTING HOTLINE 888-711-5913

steamboatlakeoutfitters.com

Guided & Unguided Drop Camp Hunts • Private Land & Wilderness Hunts • Pack Trips & Horse Back RidesCabins, General Store, Gas • Wild Game Processing

ATV Tours • Bar & Grill

Boot, Saddle and Tack RepairCustom Handmade Boots and Leather Items, including Chaps and Chinks.

Drop your repairs off at Murdoch’s orcall us at (970) 824-9536 for custom items.

Anderson’s Saddlery, since 1993


Chris.Jurney.took.these.photos.of.wildlife.near.Craig.

824-21001776 W. VICTORY WAY

CRAIG

879-3900W. U.S. HWY 40

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

After Hours Wrecker Service: (970) 824-8418

Pager 1-800-812-3609 • Mobile 1-326-8876Service Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. - 12 Noon

Service Manager Joe Bird [email protected]

MEMBERROCKY MOUNTAINS

You can depend on Cook Chevrolet for all your vehicle needs.

Full Service, Parts & Body Shop. 4 Wheel Drive Rentals

Huntingfor Great Service?

Celebrating 45 Years!

Elkhead Mountain

LodgeCabin Rental

Craig, Colorado

www.elkheadmountainlodge.com [email protected]

Elkhead Mountain Lodge is available for Do-it-Yourself Archery and Rifl e HUNTING. With direct access to more than a million acres of public land including the Routt National Forest and Bureau of Land Management, your stay at Elkhead Mountain Lodge puts you where the game is!


• 4+2T RanchGuided.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 OutfittersPrimarily.elk.and.deer.(archery,.muzzle-loader.and.rifle).guided,.lodge-based.and.unguided.drop-camp.hunts.in.the.Flat.Tops.Wilderness.Area,.wilderness.camp.at.Marvine.Lakes.available.(GMU.24).200 Rio Blanco Road 43, Meeker, 970-878-4312, www.adamslodge.com.

• B.S. OutfittersPrimarily.elk,.deer.and.antelope.trespass-free.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 OutfitterFull-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, Craig, 970-824-0227, www.badgercreekoutfitter.com.

• Bar-H OutfittersOffers.elk.and.deer.hunts,.fully-guided.from.tents.or.cabins,.or.drop.camps,.on.public.forest.service.lands.(GMUs.12.and.24).P.O. Box 2409, Meeker, 800-230-HUNT, www.barhoutfitters.com.

• Bear Mountain RanchLodge-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, 970-724-9651, www.bearmountainranch.net.

• Bearcat OutfittersFully.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 OutfittersCraig-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 SpringsSelf-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 OutfittingP.O. Box 172, Maybell, 970-272-3284.

• Big Gulch Ranching for WildlifeFull-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, 970-824-6933, www.bgwildlife.com.

• Big Rack Outfitters & Horseback AdventuresFair.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.

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

• Buffalo Creek OutfittersFully.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.

• Buford Guide ServiceFully.guided,.lodge-based.elk.and.deer.hunts.on.national.forest.and.private.lands.for.(GMUs.23.and.24).20474 Rio Blanco County Road 8, Meeker (20 miles east of Meeker), 970-878-4745, www.bufordstoreandlodge.com.

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

• Charles Mead OutfittersFully.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.

Hunting business directoryguidES & ouTFiTTErS


• Chris Jurney OutfittingTrespass-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 and GuidesOld.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), 970-846-1449, www.cohighlonesome.com.

• Colorado Hunter ServicesTrespass-fee.elk,.deer.and.antelope.hunts.(archery,.muzzle-loader.and.rifle).and.cabin.rental.on.private.land.at.lower.elevation.or.public.land.minutes.from.cabin.accommodations.(GMUs.4,.12.and.301).25 Canvasback Rd., S.C., 866-210-2445 or 866-210-5445, www.coloradohunterservices.com.

• Colorado’s Mountain West Outfitting Co.Trespass-fee.elk.and.deer.hunts.on.8,000.acres.of.private.lands.P.O. Box 1380, Craig, 970-824-7257, www.primehunts.com.

• Colorado Outfitters ServicesTrespass-fee.and.semi-guided.hunts.for.elk,.deer.and.antelope.(archery,.muzzle-loading.and.rifle).on.private.lands.near.Cedar.Mountain.and.around.Craig.(GMUs.3.and.301).with.some.lodging.501 Cedar Mountain Ave., Craig, 303-726-5975.

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

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

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

• Dave Parri’s Outfitting and Guide ServiceFull-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, 970-725-3531, www.traditionalelkhunt.com.

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

• Del’s Triangle 3 RanchDel’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), 970-879-3495, www.steamboathorses.com.

• Dunckley Peak Outfitters and Pack ServiceFull-service.guided.archery,.muzzle-loader.and.rifle.bull.elk.hunts,.including.drop.camps.in.the.Flat.Tops.Wilderness.Area.(GMU.231)..Horseback.riding.and.fishing.trips.also.available.P.O. Box 935, Craig (30 miles south of Hayden), 970-824-8257, www.billscabin.com

• Eagle’s Nest OutfittingDeluxe.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 OutfittersSpecializing.in.premier,.lodge-based.guided.archery.hunts,.averaging.close.to.80.percent.opportunity.on.23,000.acres.of.private.land.around.town.of.Oak.Creek.with.limited.pressure..Guided.elk.and.deer.trips.run.through.big-game.archery,.muzzle-loading.and.rifle.seasons.P.O. Box 775792 (base of Rabbit Ears Pass), 888-416-8102, www.eaglespiritoutfitters.com.

• Elk River Guest RanchCustomized.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 (20 miles north of Steamboat), 800-750-6220, www.elkriverguestranch.com.

970-824-3471 PHONE970-824-2787 FAXABVICRAIG.COM

200 HIGHWAY 13 SOUTHCRAIG CO 81625

Welcome to Americas

Best Value Inn.Our Friendly staff awaits your arrival.

Our hotel is equipped with cozy, clean comfortable rooms.

Come relax and enjoy your stay at Americas BestValue Inn

Located in Northwest Colorado

Affordable Daily & Weekly Rates Available


• Elkhorn OutfittersAccess.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.rodes.also.available.37399 N. Colo. Hwy 13, Craig, 824-7392, www.elkhornoutfitters.com.

• Fish & Cross Ranch/Pack Country OutfittersIn.Yampa.at.the.base.of.the.Flat.Tops.Wilderness.Area,.this.historic.working.cattle.ranch.offers.full-service.guided.backcountry.hunting.trips.and.some.limited.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), 970-638-1064, www.packcountryoutfitters.com.

• Five Springs Ranch Guide and OutfittersFully.guided.hunts.for.deer,.elk,.antelope.and.bear,.starting.in.August.archery.season.and.running.through.rifle.seasons.in.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 RanchMostly.trespass-fee.elk,.deer.and.antelope.hunts.(archery,.muzzle-loading.and.rifle).on.15,000.private.acres.of.GMUs.4.and.301,.with.private.lodging.41380 N. Colo. Hwy 13, Craig, 970-824-8935.

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

• H & H Processing and Outfitting“Guided.gourmet.hunts,”.for.deer,.elk,.antelope.and.mountain.lion.(archery,.muzzle-loading.and.rifle).on.private.land.in.GMUs.22.and.23.68656 Colo. Hwy 64, Meeker (7 miles west of Meeker), 970-878-5126 or 970-878-5151.

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

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

• J-T Ute OutfittersFully.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.jaybarteute.com.

• J.C. Trujillo Guide & OutfitterFully.guided.horseback.elk.and.some.deer.hunts.on.public.land.in.Bunker.Basin.(GMU.12).54768 Rio Blanco County Road 8 (28 miles south of Hayden), 970-276-3300 or 928-717-9360.

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

• Jeffcoat Ranch & OutfittersTrespass-fee.elk.and.deer.hunts.on.private.lands.P.O. Box 97, Hamilton, 970-824-3757.

• Kawcak FarmsElk,.deer.and.antelope.trespass-fee.hunts.in.GMU.4.3699 Moffat County Road 13, Craig, 970-824-7161.

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

• Lone Tom OutfittingElk,.deer,.mountain.lion.and.antelope.lodge-based.hunts.(archery,.muzzle-loader.and.rifle).and.drop.camps.on.public.and.private.lands..Also.offers.fishing.and.pack.trips.and.horse.rentals.12888 Rio Blanco County Road 8, Meeker, 97-878-5122, www.lonetom.com.

• Longshot RanchTrespass-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.

DO IT YOURSELF, NONGUIDED HUNTSChoose 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.

COLORADOPRIVATE RANCHES

email: [email protected] and video: www.coloradoprivateranches.com

Call Allen Butler at (318) 435-5029


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

• Luark Ranch & OutfittersRents.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,.muzzle-loading.and.rifle.big-game.seasons..Also.offers.trail.rides.and.wild.game.meat.processing.2834 Luard Road, Burns, 970-653-4324, www.luarkranch.com.

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

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

• Nine Mile Guest RanchBull.and.cow.elk,.mule.deer.and.combination.hunts,.archery.or.rifle.available.on.private.lands..Now.offering.a.fourth.season.one-on-one.trophy.mule.deer.hunt.for.Unit.22.50735 Colo. Hwy 13, Meeker, 970-878-4656, www.ninemileguestranch.com.

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

• PT OutfittersPrivate.land.hunts.for.elk,.antelope,.deer.and.bear.(GMUs.27,.18,.181).129 Grand County Road 12, Kremmling, 866-724-3616.

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

• Raftopoulos RanchesGuided.archery,.muzzle-loading.and.rifle.hunts.offered.in.the.premier.GMUs.2.and.201.for.trophy.bull.elk,.mule.deer.and.antelope.based.out.of.historic.lodge.at.base.of.Diamond.Peak.2991 Pine Ridge Dr. Craig, 970-326-8620, www.trophy-elk-hunting.com.

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

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

• Rim Rock OutfittersGuided.elk,.deer,.mountain.lion,.bobcat,.antelope.and.prairie.dog.hunts.and.drop.camps.in.GMUs.10,.11,.12,.21,.22.and.30.and.eastern.Utah.P.O. Box 223, Rangely, 970-675-2619 or 800-465-7501, www.coloradorimrockoutfitters.com.

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Call Lou879-0868email: [email protected] References provided


• Rocky Mountain RanchesSpecializing.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, 970-846-1147, www.rockymountainhunting.com.

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

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

• Saddleback RanchDeluxe.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 OutfittersElk,.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.5100 Rio Blanco County Road 4, Meeker, 970-878-4765, www.sablemountainoutfitters.com.

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

• Seely Hunting ServicesFully.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.

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• Sheep Creek Ranch OutfittersGuided.elk,.deer.and.bear.hunts.(archery,.muzzle-loading.and.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 RanchLodge-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 OutfittersFull.and.semi-guided.hunts.and.drop-camps.offered.primarily.for.elk,.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 RanchElk.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.

• Sombero RanchesRents.horses.for.all.seasons,.including.tack.and.delivery/pick-ip.within.a.50-mile.radius.of.one.of.the.Sombero.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 Howelson Parkway, Steamboat (base of Howelson Hill, behind the rodeo grounds), 970-879-2306; Meeker White River Horse Camp — 12900 Rio Blanco County Road 8, Meeker, 970-878-4382 or 303-442-0258, www.sombrero.com.

• Steamboat Lake OutfittersFully.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.

• Sunset RanchOffers.big.game.hunting.trips.and.drop.camps.to.the.Swamp.Park.region,.Mad.Creek.Lakes.and.Mount.Zirkel.Wilderness.Area.in.the.Routt.National.Forest..Multi-day.fishing.and.sightseeing.wilderness.pack.trips.also.available.29420 Elk Horn Lane (three miles north of Steamboat) 970-879-0954, www.sunsetranchinc.com.

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

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

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

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

• Triple Track HuntingElk,.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.

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

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

• Vanatta OutfittersRanching.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 77170, Steamboat, 879-6164, www.vanattaoutfitters.com.

970-824-7441 • 1-800-293-7441410 W Victory Way • Craig, CO

www.thefl owermine.comAll Major credit cards accepted

Flower Mine & Gift ShopThe Fun place to Shop!

While your hunting here send owers back to your Dear!

Antler Arrangements Humorous Hunting Signs Cowboy DécorColorado Souvenirs & so much more!

Restaurant538 Yampa • Craig

970-824-6038

Under New Ownership

Great new menu with great old avors. Now serving Breakfast All Day

and Steaks Cut to Order!

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

Physically ChallengedHunters Welcome

Lou Rabin, License No.1513

P.O. Box 771582 Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

Quality Deer, Elkand Antelope Huntson Private Property


• Walz Guide ServiceFully.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 ServicesFamily-owned.outfitter.offering.full-service.guided.elk.and.deer.hunts.in.the.Flat.Tops.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 Pines OutfittersFully.guided.hunts.and.drop.camps.for.elk,.deer,.antelope.hunts.on.over.50,000.private.acres.for.this.Ranching.for.Wildlife.program.partner.P.O. Box 472, Craig, 824-9450, www.whisperingpineoutfitters.com.

• Wilderness TracksFully.guided.hunts.and.drop.camps.for.elk,.deer,.antelope,.mountain.lion.and.small.game.on.public.and.private.lands.in.GMU.4.1192 N. Johnson Road, Craig, 970-824-7874.

• Wild Skies Four Season Cabin RentalsCabin.accommodations.for.up.to.32.hunters.where.the.largest.elk.herd.is.located.at.38,000+.elk,.lots.of.Mule.Deer.and.Bear..Accommodations.are.a.deluxe,.secluded.mountain.cabin.in.GMU.12.(Flat.Tops).surrounded.on.three.sides.by.the.Routt.National.Forest.with.1/2.mile.of.river.frontage;.or.in.Craig,.CO.with.four.individual.cabins.with.kitchenettes.and.a.4800.SF.duplex.with.full.kitchen.and.washer/dryer..(GMUs.3,.4,.11,.12,.13,.23,.24,.211,.231,.301)..(970) 926-0216, www.wildskies.com.

• Williams Peak RanchGuided.deluxe.lodge-based.hunts.(archery,.muzzle-loading.and.rifle).for.elk,.deer.and.antelope.on.7,500.acres.of.private.land.1330 Grand County Road 315, Parshall, 970-725-3282, www.williamspeakranch.com.

• Yampa Valley OutfittersFully.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 706-595-1044.

• Aspen Sporting Goods & Video RentalsHunting,.fishing.and.camping.equipment.and.some.apparel,.knives.and.maps.417 Byers Ave., Hot Sulphur Springs, 970-725-0097.

• Backdoor SportsBackpacking.gear.and.offers.rentals.for.tents,.stoves.and.backpacks.841 Yampa St., Steamboat Springs, 970-879-6249, www.backdoorsports.com.

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

• Bear River Valley Co-opOffers.some.hunting.apparel.193 E. Jefferson Ave., Hayden, 970-276-3313.

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

• Craig SportsFor.nearly.50.years.Craig.Sports.has.sold.guns.and.ammunition,.archery,.muzzle-loading.and.reloading.equipment.and.supplies,.with.some.camping.and.fishing.equipment.504 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-4044, www.craigsports.net.

• Elk River GunsFull-service.shooting.sports.center.with.firearms,.gun-smithing,.ammunition,.spotting.scopes.and.binoculars,.rangefinders.and.hunting.accessories.1320 Dream Island Plaza, Steamboat, 970-879-7565.

• Fishin’ Hole Sporting GoodsFly.shop.with.ammunition,.archery.and.muzzle-loading.equipment.and.camping.equipment.111 W. Park Ave., Kremmling, 970-724-9407.

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

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

• MJK Sales & FeedAmmunition,.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.

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• Master Bait & TackleMaps.for.GMUs.28,.37.and.18,.some.camping.essentials,.fishing.lures,.gasoline,.liquor,.hats.and.T-shirts.6875 Summit County Road 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, 970-272-3262.

• Montgomery’s General MerchandiseGroceries,.ammunition,.licenses,.maps.and.sporting.goods.24 Main St., Yampa, 970-638-4531, www.montgomerysstore.com.

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

• North Park AnglersNorth.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 SuperGrocery.store.with.sporting.goods.section.including.a.variety.of.camping.equipment.33482 Hwy 125, Walden, 970-723-8211.

• Northwest Pawn ShopOne.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.801 E. Victory Way, Craig, 824-2962.

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

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

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

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

• Ski Haus InternationalCamping,.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 Road, 970-879-0385 or 800-932-3019, www.skihaussteamboat.com.

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

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

• Steamboat FlyfisherQuick-dry.apparel,.boots.and.socks.and.maps.along.with.the.shops.comprehensive.selection.of.fly-tying.equipment.and.materials.Fifth & Yampa streets, Steamboat, 879-6552, www.steamboatflyfisher.com.

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

• Timberline Builders SupplySome.camping.equipment.and.ammunition.209 N. Main St., Walden, 970-723-4422.

• Toponas Country General StoreGame.processing,.cold.storage,.dry.ice,.some.ammunition,.blaze-orange.vests.and.some.camping.and.fishing.equipment..Also.sells.ice,.gasoline,.diesel.fuel,.propane.and.liquor,.with.ATM.on.site.10000 Colo. Hwy 131 Toponas, 970-638-4438.

• Tri-River AceAmmunition,.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.

Nightly Happy Hour879-1441

Walk ins WelcomeReservations Accepted

Entrance on 11th StreetOld West Building,

corner of 11th and LincolnSteamboat Springs, CO

ENJOY DINNER IN A RELAXED WESTERN

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Steamboat Springs, CO

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corner of 11th and Lincoln

Nightly Happy Hour

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Variety of Elk and Buffalo selections

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established 1890

1480 N. Yampa Ave, Craig Co. 970.824.6063

www. crazythreetannery.com

Where your hides get a close shave & great tan

Family Owned & Operated

Experienced &Certified

Crazy Three Tannery

3

your community, your magazine

Contact one of our representatives to reserve your advertising space

in a future edition:

(970) 879-1502


• Wyatt’s Sports CenterAmmunition,.scopes.and.binoculars,.slings,.knives,.hatchets,.clothing,.maps,.camping.equipment,.stoves.and.boots.223 Eighth St., Meeker, 970-878-4428.

• All Seasons Taxidermy2354 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat, 970-870-8520.

• American West Taxidermy45 Grand Country Road 12, Kremmling, 970-724-9321.

• Antler Taxidermy369 Market St., Meeker, 970-878-3365, www.professionalsofafrica.com.

• Axis Leather Works802 E. Second Place, Craig, 970-824-3256, www.axisleather.qpg.com.

• B & L Quality Taxidermy1744 Lincoln Ave., Taylor Building Np. 2, Steamboat, 970-879-1316.

• Big Cat Taxidermy37 E. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-9624, www.bigcattaxidermy.com.

• Brothers Custom Processing383 E. First St., Craig, 970-824-3855.

• Bullseye Taxidermy1445 Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-826-2997, www.bullseyetaxidermy.com.

• Crazy 3 Tannery1480 N. Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-6063, www.crazythreetannery.com.

• Custom Quality Meats1430 N. Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-4668.

• Kremmling Wild Game Processing5240 Grand County Road 22, Kremmling, 970-724-3759, www.kremmlingwildgames.com.

• Laura’s Corner637 E. Main St., Rangely, 970-629-5607 or 970-675-2800.

• Mountain Man Taxidermy1176 Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-4910, www.mtnmantaxidermy.com.

• Mountain Meat Packing291 Lincoln St., Craig, 824-4878.

• Purkey Packing Plant73215 Colo. Hwy 64, Meeker, 970-878-5501.

• Steamboat Meat & Seafood1030 Yampa St., Steamboat, 970-879-3504, www.steamboatseafood.com.

• City Market505 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-6515.1825.Central.Park.Plaza,.Steamboat,.970-879-3290.

• Clark Store54175 Routt County Road 129, Clark, 970-879-3849.

• Colorado Division of Wildlife Northwest Region Service Center711 Independent Ave., Grand Junction, 970-255-6100.

• CDOW Glenwood Springs officeColo. Hwys 6 and 24, Glenwood Springs, 970-947-2920.

• CDOW Meeker office/service centerP.O. Box 1181, Meeker, 970-878-6090.

• CDOW Steamboat Springs office/service center925 Weiss Dr., Steamboat, 970-870-2197.

• CDOW Hot Sulphur Springs office/service center346 Grand County Road 362, Hot Sulphur Springs, 970-725-6200.

• Corkies Mini Mart597 Main St., Walden, 970-723-4733.

• Frederickson Contracting80 E. Fourth St., Craig, 970-824-6401.

• Hayden Mercantile111 N. Sixth St., Hayden, 970-276-3922.

• Kmart1198 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-2966.

• Lake John Resort2521 Jackson County Road 7A, Walden, 970-723-3226.

• Loaf ‘N Jug Store101 W. Brontosaurus Blvd., Dinosaur, 970-374-2461.

• North Park/Gould/Walden KOA53337 Colo. Hwy 14, Walden, 970-723-4310, www.koa.com/where/co/06117/.

oTHEr liCENSiNg AgENTS

mEAT proCESSiNg & TAXidErmy

HigH SucceSS RateProviding quality, guided, big game hunts.

Archery, Muzzleloader, Rifle

Antelope • Moose • Mountain Lion • Elk • Deer

Hester Hunting Co.Forrest Hester • Lic #239

970.724.9746Kremmling, Colorado

[email protected]

A well done experience for the whole family! Affordable Steaks & SeafoodStarting at $13.95

Best Family Steakhouse in SteamboatSaddle Seats For KidsChildren’s Menu AvailableFree Smores Desserts For Kids

Large Parties WelcomeTwo 42” TVs in the BarBar Opens at 3pmExtensive Wine ListDinner Nightly at 5pm

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

Includes 20 Item Salad BarAlaskan King Crab LegsAustralian Lobster TailHand-crafted USDA Prime and Choice CutsBaby Back RibsBuffalo RibeyeAngus Bone - In Ribeye


• Rangely Exchange (The Flowersmith Exchange)513 E. Main St., Rangely, 970-675-8842.

• Rangely True Value Hardware105 W. Main St., Rangely, 970-675-2454.

• Safeway Food & Drug1295 W. Victory Way, Craig, 970-824-9496.37500 E. U.S. Hwy 40, Steamboat, 970-879-3766.

• Samuelson True Value Hardware & Lumber43900 Colo. Hwy 13, Meeker, 970-878-3528.

• Samuelson True Value Hardware456 Breeze St., Craig, 970-824-6683.

• Seven Lakes Lodge36843 Rio Blanco County Road 17, Meeker, 970-878-3249, www.sevenlakeslodge.com.

• Shop & Hop Food Stop35775 E. U.S. Hwy 40, Steamboat, 970-879-2489.

• State Forest State Park56750 Colo. Hwy 14, Walden, 970-723-8366.

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

• Steamboat Lake State Park61105 RCR 129, Clark, 970-879-7019.

• Valley Ace Hardware401 E. Market St., Meeker, 970-878-4608.

• Wal-Mart1805 Central Park Dr., Steamboat, 970-879-8115.

• Wal-Mart Supercenter2000 W. Victory Way, Craig, 824-0340

• Walden Conoco609 Main St., Walden, 970-723-4246.

• Yampa River State Park6185 W. U.S. Hwy 40, Hayden, 970-276-2061.

• Bears Ears Sportsman Club’s Cedar Mountain Range300-yard.outdoor.rifle.and.50-yard.outdoor.pistol.range.for.members,.but.open.to.the.public.the.first.Sunday.and.Monday.of.each.month..Also.open.during.daylight.hours,.Thursday.and.Friday.prior.to.each.big.game.season.for.rifle.sight-in.P.O. Box 622, Craig (4.5 miles northwest of Craig on Moffat County Road 7), 970-824-8376, www.bearsears.com.

SHooTiNg rANgES

NEED MOREFREEZER SPACE?

AFTER THE GREAT HUNT?

970.824.9380 • 211 W. 4th St. Craig


• Byers Canyon Rifle RangeUnsupervised,.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..A.Colorado.Wildlife.Habitat.Stamp.is.required.to.use.this.range..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 ClubPublic.welcome.to.shoot.when.range.is.open..Sporting.clays,.trap,.black.powder,.rifle.and.pistol.ranges.up.to.200.yards..Hunter.education.courses.also.available.P.O. Box 2362, Glenwood Springs, 970-945-7401.

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

• Meeker Sportman’s Club, Inc.Hunter.sight-in.Thursdays.and.Fridays.prior.to.each.big.game.season.(Tuesday.for.fourth.rifle.season)..Sight-in.is.$5.per.gun,.or.member.shoot.for.$10..New.memberships.cost.$20.per.person.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.

• Routt County Rifle ClubFacilities.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.applications.fee.of.$25.P.O. Box 773116, Steamboat (two miles west of town on U.S. Hwy 40), 970-870-0298, www.routtcountyrifleclub.com.

• Three Quarter Circles Sporting Clays and Driving RangePublic.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.com.

• Vail Rod & Gun ClubOpen.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 AreaPublic.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 BowmenBow-hunting.club.with.indoor.and.outdoor.targets.and.a.clubhouse..Memberships.cost.$35.per.year.970-675-8559.

Craig Campground

(970) 824-5105

• Cabins• Propane

• Pool room• Game room

• Skinning Area• Gift Store

Hunters Welcome

Store Hours 8:00 am to 7 pm

2800 East U.S. Highway 40 Craig, CO 81625

970-824-5105 24 West Vistory WayCraig, Colorado970-824-9938

Rack-em at the

Good Drinks • Fine Folks&

The Best Pool Tables in Town


826-0071 • 539 E. Victory Way, Craig20616594

Craig / Moffat CountyEconomic Development Partnership

970.826.2039 | 300 West 4th St., Craig , COcmedp.com | [email protected]

Bring your business here!Craig and Mo at County –

a vibrant, growing economy!Unsurpassed outdoor recreation, wide-open spaces,

the simplicity of rural living, and the servicesyour business needs to succeed.

New! Hospital!

New! Middle School!

New Commercial & Residential Construction!

New College Academic Building and Residence Hall—2010-2011!

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

Craig and Mo at County—a great place to do business!

Excellent Air Transportation *General Aviation – Craig-Mo at Airport*Commercial Jet Service – Yampa Valley Regional AirportWired for Worldwide WorkUnsurpassed Outdoor RecreationSkilled WorkforceColorado Northwest Community College Craig Campus*Business*Computer Science*Power Plant Technology*Mine Safety*Cosmetology*Industrial Electrician*Massage � erapy*NursingPotential workforce of over 8,400

in Craig/Mo at area

• Bureau of Land ManagementLittle.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,.970-878-3800;.Grand.Junction.—.2815.H.Road,.970-244-3000,.www.co.blm.gov,.Lakewood.Stat.Office.—.303-239-3600.

• Colorado Dept. of Transportation877-315-ROAD, www.cotrip.org

• Colorado Division of WildlifeGrand.Junction.Regional.and.Area.Office.—.711.Independent.Ave.,.970-255-6100Steamboat.Springs.—.925.Weiss.Dr.,.970-870-2197Hot.Sulphur.Springs.—.346.Grand.County.Road.362.(west.of.Byers.Canyon),.970-725-6200Meeker.—.73485.Hwy.64,.970-878-6090Glenwood.Springs.—.50633.Colo..Hwy.6.and.24,.970-947-2920

• Colorado Outfitters AssociationP.O. Box 849, Craig, 970-824-2568, www.coloradooutfitters.org

• Colorado State ParksSteamboat.Lake.and.Pearl.Lake.State.Parks.—.61105.RCR.129,.Clark,.970-879-3922.or.970-879-7019;.Stagecoach.Stage.Park.—.25500.RCR.14,.Oak.Creek,.970-736-2436.or.970-736-8342;.State.Forest.State.Park.—.56750.Colo..Hwy.14,.Walden,.970-723-8366;.Yampa.River.State.Park.—.6185.W..U.S..Hwy.40,.Hayden,.970-276-2061,.www.parks.state.co.us..Info.—.970-434-6862;.reservations.—.800-678-2267.

• Craig Daily Press newspaper466 Yampa Ave., Craig, 970-824-7031, www.craigdailypress.com, explorecraig.com

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

• Dinosaur National Monument4545 U.S. Hwy 40, Dinosaur, 970-374-3000, Canyon Area Visitor Center, www.nps.gov/dino/

• Hayden Chamber of Commerce252 West Jefferson, Hayden, 970-276-2502, www.yampavalley.info/haydenchamber.asp

• Kremmling Area Chamber of Commerce203 Park Ave., 877-573-6654, www.kremmlingchamber.com

• Meeker Chamber of Commerce710 Market St., Meeker, 970-878-5510, www.meekerchamber.com, www.huntmeeker.com

• NOAA’s National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office2844 Aviators Way, Grand Junction, 970-243-7007, www.nws.noaa.gov

• North Park Chamber of Commerce416 Fourth St., Walden, 970-723-4600, www.northparkchamber.com

• Rangely Area Chamber of Commerce209 East Main St., Rangely, 970-675-5290, www.rangely.com

• Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce200 Lions Park Circle, Rifle, 970-625-2085 or 800-842-2085, www.riflechamber.com

• Steamboat Pilot & Today newspaper1901 Curve Plaza, Steamboat Springs, 970-879-1502 www.steamboatpilot.com, exploresteamboat.com

• Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association125 Anglers Dr., www.steamboat-chamber.com

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceP.O. Box 25486, Lakewood, (303) 236-4216, www.fws.gov

• U.S. Forest ServiceHahn’s.Peak-Bears.Ears.Ranger.District.—.925.Weiss.Dr.,.

Steamboat.Springs,.970-879-1870Parks.Ranger.District.—2103.E..Park.Ave.,.Kremmling,.970-

724-3000.or.100.Main.St.,.Walden,.970-723-8204Rio.Blanco.Ranger.District.—.220.E..Market.St.,.Meeker,.

970-878-4039Rifle.Ranger.District.—.0094.Garfield.County.Road.244,.

Rifle,.970-625-2371Sulphur.Ranger.District.—.9.Ten.Mile.Dr.,.Granby,.970-

877-4100White.River.National.Forest.—.900.Grand.Ave.,.Glenwood.

Springs,.970-945-2521Yampa.Ranger.District.—.300.Roselawn.Ave.,.Yampa,.970-

638-4516

• U.S. Forest Service Maps303-275-5350, www.nationalforeststore.com

• U.S. Geological Survey (topographical maps)Central Region Offices, Denver Federal Center, W. Sixth Ave., and Kipling St., DFC Building 810, Lakewood, 303-202-4700 or 888-275-8747, www.topomaps.usgs.gov

viSiTor iNFormATioN


TWO TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION

We Want Your Business –Not just this year, but every year!

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

970-824-4878 WE ACCEPT

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, Colorado970-824-3764

TIN CUP GRILL

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

• Dry Ice

• Shipping Boxes

• Cold Storage


88 | 2010 Colorado Hunter