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| Phone: Rich LaRocco 801-451-6755 | |
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Add elk or pronghorn antelope
Hunt trophy mule deer on two Colorado ranches covering 150,000 private acres
This ranch offers a trophy mue deer hunt that has been consistently successful over the past few years. The outfitter typically takes 20 to 24 hunters a year and all but two or three score on four-point or bigger bucks. Most of the racks score in the 170s and the bigger bucks each year normally score in the 180s B&C though there have been a few bigger ones. The property is situated in the northwestern corner of the state and is enrolled in Colorado's "Ranching for Wildlife" program. That program restricts the number of deer permits, but then no drawing is necessary to get a tag, and the outfitter can spread his hunters out throughout October and November and early December.
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Hunt MD373BG |
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| Hunt | Price |
| Mule deer | $4,500 |
| Muley and antelope combo | $6,500 |
| Mule deer and elk combo | $7,950 (not offered in September) |
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Size |
Lodging |
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| Average 170 to 175 B&C, 26 to 27 inches wide. 10 bucks over 180 one year. |
4-bedroom lodge and two newer modular homes. |
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Hunter success |
Length |
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2001: 20 bucks for 22 hunters. Avg. 175 B&C, best 187, widest 29 inches. 2002: Another excellent year. The outfitter reported two bucks scoring in the 180s and almost all the others scoring in the 170s. |
All hunts are Mon.-Fri. Arrive Sat., leave Sun. |
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Tag fees, deadlines |
Outfitter pickup |
| Not included in price. Click here for updated prices | Hayden, Colorado (20 miles away) |
| Notes | |
| Butchering can be done at the hunter's expense in Craig, six miles away, cost $150. All prices are based on a guide ratio of two hunters per guide. No bear or coyote hunting allowed on the property. | |
Much of it is not accessible to motor vehicles. In October and early November hunts, the remote terrain is where you'll find some of the biggest bucks, so come prepared to hunt on foot or horseback if you want to concentrate on trophy-class deer. Expect to glass oakbrush during the rut. Later hunts often see high-elevation snow push the big bucks out onto rolling sage and oak hills.
Most of the customers that Hunts.Net has sent to this ranch have opted to hunt in November. The rut begins in early November and runs through the end of the month and sometimes into December.
Our customers have reported seeing many deer at that time of year. Eric Eckenrode of Texas said he saw 50 to 75 bucks during his five-day hunt, including three "shooters." He said he was "very pleased" with the hunt, especially the equipment, land, lodging and food. He and his three hunting partners all took four-point (Western count) bucks.
The outfitter has operated the place for 10 years. He has three full-time guides, two wranglers, and two extra guides if need be.
No vehicles are allowed on half the ranch, which is hunted by horseback or foot only. There is dark timber up high with peaks to 9,000 feet, while aspen, oakbrush, and sage cover the lower elevations except for 5,000 acres of winter wheat and 2,500 acres of Conservation Reserve Program. Most hunting is done at an elevation of 6,000 to 8,000 feet.
Vehicles are used to get around in the lower parts of the property, which is often a good place to hunt in November and December.
There are usually four to six hunters per week, but there is flexibility because of the long "Ranching for Wildlife" season. The chief reason there are big bucks on this ranch is that the total kill per year is light for the acreage.
You can add elk in October or November or pronghorn antelope in October. The elk hunt is highly successful on 5x5 and small to medium 6x6 bulls. The outfitter doesn't hunt antelope after the first week of November because they lose their horn sheaths after that. Antelope average 72 to 73 B&C points.
Update 2/05: The 2004 season produced a buck that scored 208 B&C along with two in the 190s and three in the 180s. Hunts begin in late October and run through November. The average buck taken in '04 gross scored 170 B&C. Only two hunters did not score. 5-day hunts guided 2x1 are $4,500 plus your license. Mule deer/pronghorn combos take place during the third week of October. Ranch house lodging, family style meals and airport pickup in Hayden are included. Hunt MD373.
Hunts.Net customer Joe Gartrell of California sent us the following report on his late-season mule deer hunt in northwestern Colorado:
Greetings Rich,
Concerning the hunt ... that you arranged for me:
Every aspect of this hunt is first class. The accommodations are nice rooms and comfy beds in a cabin like building. The food was exceptional and there was plenty of it. The guides are all full time ranch hands on this ranch; thus they know where the animals are regardless of time of year or weather. My guide (Tony) was willing to tailor my hunt to suit my specific needs and desires. When I asked to walk instead of driving in the truck, we walked. The only negative aspect of my hunt was that it did not last long enough.
On the first morning we saw 4 bucks in the 170 class, over 35 bucks total, many 140s and 150s and around 200 does (these numbers are not glorified). After stopping for lunch we headed out to some low country on the ranch. Shortly after arriving, we saw a really nice wide 4 point that would have scored about 175, and as we were checking him out I looked behind us to see a large group of does. The guide swiveled around and looked, together we noticed this large buck on the perimeter of the does. We decided he was likely the largest buck on the ranch this year. I set up, squeezed off a round from my .270 win and watched in elation as this big boy dropped to his knees. 262 yards, double lung shot. An incredible deer, 250 pounds, 27" wide, 6x7 nontypical, green scoring 188.
Any hunter looking for a first class mule deer hunt on a ranch that produces great deer should check out this hunt.
This hunt was great .... Joe Gartrell.
The Eckenrode party, Hunts.Net customers, show off the racks they took on this hunt.