Below is a brief description of each hunting area available with Colorado High Country Adventures. Whether you are interested in pursuing elk and mule deer in the high country of western Colorado, or whitetails, mule deer, trophy bull elk and antelope on the plains of Wyoming we can accommodate you. Our 500,000 acres of private land hunting in Wyoming is fantastic for big mule deer, whitetails, trophy elk and antelope, with classic western accommodations in beautiful knotty pine cabins. We also offer great multi-species hunts in British Columbia for Mountain Goat, Cougar, Moose, Mule Deer, and Black Bear. Unguided drop camps are available in Colorado. Please review our hunting locations and let us know what type of hunts you are interested in.
Colorado Flat Tops Wilderness Units 24/12:
(booking 2012 now)
The White River valley east of Meeker and Buford and Flat Tops Wilderness Area of Colorado is home to the largest elk herd in the United States. Here we offer guided and unguided hunts in the beautiful, nationaly designated Flat Tops Wilderness and adjoining White River National Forest. Guided hunts are staged from the ranch with comfortable accommodations in modern cabins while drop camp hunting is from remote pack-in tent camps reached via horse.
Including the ranch, the outfit includes aproximately 150 sq. miles of back country in the White River National Forest east to Trappers Lake and on both north and south sides of the White River. This vast country offers clients a very broad range of hunting opportunities ranging from 8,000 ft elevations to 11,000 ft high in the wilderness areas. Elk can be found throughout the area, and by having lots of excellent habitat to hunt we can find the animals and offer you excellent opportunities to see and encounter elk.
Guided hunts are limited to six hunters per week with 2X1 the standard guide to hunter configuration and 1X1 hunts available. The guides have all worked up here for years and have an excellent knowledge of elk hunting and the country hunted, are experienced back-country woodsmen and know how to handle horses. This part of Colorado has lots of elk and the trophy quality of the White River herd has really improved in recent years and we take some great 6X6 bulls every year.
Complete ready to hunt from drop camps or pack service using your own equipment are available and can be set for up to 10 hunters with a four person minimum. Hunters that are in good shape will have an advantage of course at high elevation. We will ride into each camp every otehr day to check on you for safety purposes, any needed supplies or to pack out animals. Unguided hunters need to be prepared to field ready their killed elk into game bags and to move the elk if necessary to a spot where we can get horse access. We'll do the rest from there.
Average costs: Guided 2X1 hunts are $3600 for 1st rifle, archery and muzzleloader hunts. The combo deer/elk hunts 2nd, 3rd and 4th season are $3200. Complete ready to hunt drop camps are $1750. All hunts are subject to taxes and change. Please be aware that this is a draw unit for archery hunting, however most hunters do successfully get tags with 0-1 points.
Colorado Ranch and Wilderness Hunt: Unit 521
(booking 2012 now)
Here we hunt on a 5000 acre private ranch high in the mountains above the western Colorado towns of Hotchkiss and Paonia. This country is located on the east side of Grand Mesa. The ranch is somewhat easier to hunt with a trail system in place for access to prime locations and an elevation at approximately 9000-10,000 feet. The ranch is reached via 4WD vehicle and hunting is staged from modern, comfortable cabin accomodations. Even though the ranch is off-grid, we have generators and propane allowing for hot water showers, lights and flush toilets.
This is a small hunting concession where we'll host approximatly 4-6 hunters most weeks. Success here is high on good, mature bulls with a 300" class animal a possibility. The deer hunting is very good with lots of big mule deer bucks. Some landowner vouchers are available for deer each year so ask early in the year if you want a combo hunt. Elk summer on the ranch so finding animals is generally not much of a problem. We can also expand hunting opportunities to the adjacent National Forest with drop camps and guided hunts.
This ranch is a locally owned family business where the rancher runs sheep in the summer and helps guide hunters. There are many repeat clients and some long-time guides. Transportation to the ranch is available from Grand Junction if you fly-in.
Average costs: Guided, 2X1 elk hunts cost $3700 per hunter plus your license with 1X1 hunts available at $4500. These hunts are a great value, especially for private land in Western Colorado. Cow elk hunts are $1000 while combo deer and elk hunts are $5500.
Colorado Private Land Elk/San Luis Valley:
(booking 2012 now)
We have elk hunting available in the San Luis Valley for bull and cow elk. These hunts are on large private ranches where we access the properties by 4WD and hunt by spot and stalk. These ranches are in agriculture and herds of elk move around the valley in search of the best alfalfa and crops and we hunt according to game movement. Licenses are available via land-owner vouchers with liberal hunting seasons often starting as early as July which allows hunters to hunt for bulls in summer velvet. We can often hunt until December 31.
Hunters stay in comfortable cabins and we will drive to the properties early each morning. If the hunt is unsuccessful we will leave the elk during the day and return later in the afternoon when they again get up and move to feed. These hunts are fair-chase but come with the highest possible success rates often approaching 90-100% shot opportunity and kill. Many elk will be "average" Colorado bulls, but we do take some real trophies with scores over 300 inches.
Average costs: Costs vary by ranch and 2011 rates have not been firmly set yet. However we expect guided cow hunts to be in the $1500 range with bull hunts approximately $4500. Hunts do not include your Colorado license.
Colorado High Country Pack-in: Unit 681
(booking 2012 now)
Here we offer hunters guided, high country pack-in hunts for elk and mule deer in the mountains at the north end of the San Luis Valley. We also have private land elk and antelope hunts which take place on ranches located on the valley floor. The San Luis Valley and surrounding mountains is really neat place to hunt as often you can see elk, antelope and deer all in the same day. Elk numbers have increased in recent years with many elk summering right in the valley and we have expanded hunting opportunities for late season and cow elk hunts through December. Antelope are plentiful down in the valley as the alfalfa farms keep them around as well as lots of mule deer.
Average Costs: Guided elk and deer hunts will have an average cost of $3500 for guided rifle hunts and $3000 for archery. Self guided drive up drop camps are $1500 and guided late season cow elk hunts are $2000. Antelope hunts are guided at $2000. All prices are per person and subject to change.
Colorado Eastern Slope Private Ranch Trophy Hunting: Units 105, 106, 128, 133, 130
(booking 2012 now)
Mule Deer: We offer trophy deer hunts on the eastern plains for rifle, archery and muzzleloader hunters. We hunt units 105,106 and 130. All of these areas have historically proven to be among the best in Colorado for producing trophy mule deer and whitetail deer. The eastern plains hunts are our most popular and subsequently book up well in advance. We also offer trophy deer hunts on our mountain ranches. All of our deer hunts are accessed by four wheel drive truck, with hunting done on foot utilizing spot and stalk.
Antelope: We offer great rifle antelope hunting on the eastern plains. We hunt units 105,106,128, 133 and 130. All of these areas have historically proven to be among the best in Colorado for producing quality antelope. The eastern plains hunts are our most popular and subsequently book up well in advance. All of our antelope hunts are accessed by four wheel drive truck, with hunting done on foot utilizing spot and stalk. These hunts typically have a 100% harvest rate.
Elk Hunts: We offer trophy elk hunts on two of our ranches, in which only 6 X 6 - 300 inch plus and better bulls will be taken. This hunt takes place in game units where 330+ bulls are taken regularly. Our most popular season is usually the early rifle season. The bulls are typically still bugling some and the weather is not quite as much of a factor. Call early for these bookings.
Average costs: Guided fair-chase hunts at $5500-$6500 for trophy deer, $8500 for elk and $1500-$2500 for antelope. Semi-guided antelope hunts are $900. Prices do not include the cost of hunting licenses, tags or landowner tags and are subject to change.
Colorado Private Ranch: Unit 59
(booking 2012 now, limited availability for rifle hunts)
The Ranch Property: This ranch, which was first homesteaded in 1888, is a property that consists of exclusive leases on 2,200 acres of private land, about 7,000 acres of B.L.M. land and approximately 10,000 acres of U.S.F.S. It is located south of Pikes Peak and features a long narrow valley with excellent grass and timbered ridges rising up from the valley floor. Mule deer and elk are abundant here.
Accommodations: Restored turn-of-the-century mining camp hotel including five bedrooms, parlor with player piano, large dining room, excellent wood fired heat, bath & shower on each floor, extra long beds and a front porch overlooking a trout stream and pond and occasionally, grazing elk. This is actually a restored mining camp hotel that was brought (in pieces) by buckboard from a mining camp location several miles south of the Ranch around 1910.
Average costs: Guided hunts only at $3995 rifle and $2995 archery. Prices do not include the cost of hunting licenses, tags or landowner tags and are subject to change. This hunt is already sold out for 2011.
Steve Bland
Colorado High Country Adventures
(802) 468-8869
"Serving big game hunters since 1994"