Self-guided elk and mule deer combination hunts in Colorado, drop camps


Rich LaRocco 801-709-9280 phone or text
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Rancher offers landowner vouchers for unguided elk and mule deer hunters

Landowner vouchers	2011 prices per voucher

Hunt EK3801
Elk blackpowder	$2,000 + the state tag
Elk ifle or bow	$1,750 + the state tag
Deer, all weapons	$1,000 + the state tag
Cow elk	$700 + the state tag
Notes	Trophy size
This is a hunt for hunters who are physically fit and able to hunt away from roads. The best elk area, an old burn, is a two-hour walk from the road for most hunters. This is not a private land hunt. You may hunt the landowner's property, but the public land is better. Because all tags are limited by the state, both for residents and non-residents, bull elk and buck deer have a chance to grow old enough to grow trophy-class antlers.	Due to limited hunting pressure, bulls and bucks are generally bigger than in most other units in Colorado. There are bulls in the 300 to 350 class in the area, and bucks in the 27 to 30-inch category, occasionally wider. Most hunters should kill 4-point and 5-point bucks and should have opportunities at 5x5 and 6x6 bulls if they work hard and are patient.
Travel	Area
You must provide your own transportation	Unit 501 for elk, Unit 50, 500 and 501 for deer
Licenses	Lodging/meals
Buying one of these landowner vouchers allows you to bypass the permit drawing. Normally you need to apply for two or three years to draw a permit. Click here for the latest prices.	Lodging in a modern home with two bedrooms is included if you're the first hunters to book during your dates. Food is not included, but a kitchen with microwave and range/oven is included.
Guide ratio	Seasons
Self-guided. Hunters who are not skilled at hunting mule deer or elk should expect low success. Such hunters should consider a guided hunt on private land.	Archery and muzzleloader seasons are in September. Rifle elk seasons typically start in mid and late Oct., early Nov. and late Nov. Deer season is also open in late Oct. Cow elk seasons start in late Nov. and late Dec. through early Jan.
Packing service	Terrain
The landowner will pack out your animal for $100 to $300, depending on the distance to the road.	Mostly steep and rocky mountains covered with quaking aspen and ponderosa pine.

If you want to hunt a big game unit that is managed for quality elk and mule deer hunting, here is a good opportunity to consider. We have worked with the landowner for several years, and our hunters have taken some very nice animals.

The landowner gets a few landowner vouchers for mule deer and elk each year. He sells the vouchers at reasonable rates. If you're the first hunter to buy a voucher for a particular hunt, you'll also get the use of his river house. He controls about 1.5 miles of river through his property. Guests may fish the river for brook trout to 14 inches and rainbow trout to 18 inches.

When you buy a voucher, you may then buy an elk or deer tag from the state, bypassing the drawing. The best hunting is on public land, particularly an old burn that you can reach by hiking about two miles from the road. This is not a private-land hunt even though you may hunt the landowner's property. Elk and deer occasionally wander through his land, but hunters who are willing to hike into the better public areas usually find game. The area is about 50 miles west of Denver.

The river house is a modern home with two bedrooms, two single beds, a queen bed, two baths and a kitchen microwave and rangetop. Linens are provided. Meals are provided for an extra fee.

The game unit where you'll hunt is mostly covered with quaking aspen and ponderosa pine and is steep and rocky. The reason hunting is good is that all hunting is limited; even residents must draw permits in the state's computer permit lottery.

Do not expect to hunt on a large private ranch. You may corral your own horses on the property. Hunters without stock can hire the landowner to pack out game for $100 to $300, depending on distance.

Archery and muzzleloader seasons are in September. Rifle elk seasons are typically in mid- to late October or early November. Rifle deer seasons are usually in late October and early to mid-November. Cow elk tags are usually valid about Nov. 26-Dec. 4 and Dec. 31-Jan. 8.

We've had muzzleloader hunters kill bulls as large as 350 on this hunt and bowhunters take bulls scoring as much as 310 P&Y. The landowner drew a tag himself in 2008 and killed a big bull that scored in the 330 to 340 range.

The vouchers allow you to hunt anywhere within the big game unit. Hunters purchasing these landowner deer vouchers have killed some great bucks in the 27 to 30-inch range.

Only skilled hunters with a lot of Western big game hunting experience and the proper vehicles and equipment should consider this hunt because there is no guiding service available.

Click on photos to see bigger images.

Update on 2010 season: Last year my muzzleloader hunters got three deer and missed five shots. My archery elk hunter last year got a 6x6. My third season hunters got two nice 6x6 bulls and a 30-inch buck.