Steve Bland The first step of the hunt is choosing where you want to go. Lone Tom Outfitting specializes in Bull Elk and Trophy Tom Mountain Lion hunts in Northwest Colorado. Spraying weeds on public lands not private ones at 10k feet - makes perfect sense to me. . Colorado High Country Adventures acres of private land. Soaring interest in Colorado's big-game hunting seasons for animals like deer, elk and bear far outpaces the number of licenses that state wildlife officials have to offer, driving . In a real life situation youll be lucky to let one arrow fly during the course of the week. Wapiti Talk featuring elk hunting discussions for all elk hunters whether veteran or novice Camofire . Wildlife in the area include elk, mule deer, black bear, big horn sheep, mountain , antelope, and an occasional moose. You can also go off-road into additional expanses of the . during archery season. Hunters that are in good shape will have an advantage of course It was a shocker to all of us. Having layers, rain gear, lots of water, and food is key. They will probably share waypoints of wallows, glassing spots, historically productive meadows, etc. There are never any guarantees out here in the wilderness, but our guides will put you in the best possible position for an opportunity. If he doesnt see her he knows something is up. This one is more for the drop camp hunters than the hunters hiking in. Contact us now to get started. You are welcome to tip these individuals separately, or you can leave a single amount and we can divide it among the crew. Lets get a few bulls under your belt before specifically targeting 300 plus bulls. A $500 non-refundable deposit reserves your spot and locks in your price at the current rates. This is a draw area for archery, however the odds are good even for hunters with 0-1 preference points. Complete ready to hunt from drop camps or pack service using your own equipment are available and can be set Wild Skies' Flat Tops cabin is a year round vacation destination with mile of private river frontage and surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest which is ideal for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, hiking, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding. Lots of area for those tags to spread out, but still a ton of tags. The Flat Tops are underlain by thick limestone formations in which water has carved a number of caves. While looking at the rams, I caught a flicker of movement on the mountain behind the rams. Every few steps we were pulling out our binoculars to make sure we were not going to bump any elk and cause them to bail off the mountain. Drop Camps - $1795 per person. Our wilderness camps are simple yet comfortable, with 16x20 wall tents and wood burning stoves, along with large cots and thick pads. The OP might want to read the recent altitude thread. March 31, 2023 - 182 likes, 1 comments - Flat Tops Wilderness Guides (@flattopswildernessguides) on Instagram: "Had a guided 1st rifle season wilderness camp . At Budges Wilderness lodge, we look forward to helping you plan an elk hunt that meets your goals and expectations. a few days yet take advantage of a day guide for a day or more. Includes: Five full days of guided horseback hunting, eight nights lodging and meals. Access to Budges Wilderness Lodge is by high-clearance 4WD only. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Im a non-resident, Ill be coming over from Kentucky (24 hour drive) so I wont be able to do much scouting before season. You probably wont have much competition due to the extremely limited tags in that area. The Flat Tops are covered up in elk. Hunters can expect to start their day with a hearty breakfast in the main lodge. Would you consider buying us dinner first? If you hiked in you already brought a tent and for the most part living out of your pack for the duration of the hunt. So you finally made the leap, and are going elk hunting for the first time. Just find an easy to access area that looks good and head out! Wild Skies - Affordable, Secluded, Mountain Cabin. Let me tell you, the faster you get over there the more time you have to sneak into a good spot to ambush them and the more time you have for your heart to calm down after your sprint! However, some units still offer either sex tags during archery season. That walk seemed to take forever. Aug 21, 2012. Tipsy Tuesday: Elk Film, Gear, News, & More. Chances are that what you see in person will change some of the places you chose but at least you have a game plan on the first morning. Average costs: Guided hunts average $5500-$6500 for elk, $6500 for mule deer and $3000 for antelope. Click to reveal I lost sight of the bull for a few seconds, but he let out what could be the most beautiful sounds in the Rockies, a bugle! Ive hunted units 11,22, and 211 before but never have ventured into the Flat Tops. If you just made the 1,800 mile trip from the East coast and spent the last 40 miles driving on a dirt road to get where you have been E-scouting and you see another truck, or 5, its hard to not be a little discouraged. This mimics getting one stalk/day. Secluded, guided hunts available in units 33 and 34. If nothing comes in, bump a few hundred yards closer to where you think the elk may be then repeat. Owing to a brief season, remote location, the highest safety standards and industry leading service, our wilderness experiences are operationally cost-intensive. As the bull breaks through the clearing, Saeed shoots and the bull starts running. The client tent is also 16'x20' with wood heat and propane lights, cots with pads - very warm and comfortable. The best way to reach us . Great fishing, incredible scenery, and a true wilderness experience. I dont recommend shooting an animal past 60 yards with a bow because too much can happen during that split second your arrow is in the air. A bull may pop out at 100 yards looking for the cow that you made the sound of. Calling great is awesome, but elk are just like people and they dont all sound the same. Licenses are available via land-owner vouchers with liberal For hunters using an outfitted drop camp you dont have to worry about weight as much but most likely your outfitter will have a weight limit per person. Today we talk with returning guest, Cliff Gray, owner and lead wrangler of Flat Tops Wilderness Guides. Thanks for all the information guys I just need to decide on an area and start the planning. We offer hunts during the first and second rifle seasons in Colorado. These game bags can be used for years and still look like new. you are interested in. e.) Camaraderie, enjoying yourself, and fishing. There are a couple of units in Colorado that are OTC and are next to trophy quality units (units that take lots of points to draw and are managed for quality). The White River valley east of Meeker and Buford is home to the Flat Tops Wilderness Area of Colorado and the Weve all seen moose guides on TV taking a shoulder blade and raking a tree or brush but this is a great early season tactic! 300+ is very common. Your IP: This way when the bull pops his head out looking for the cow he knows that she is behind a little rise or on the other side of the ridge. Experienced, expert guides I hunted the second rifle season in the flat tops area for several years in a row, in the 80's, with several friends from Oklahoma. The plan was, to get up above them more and out of eye sight but not too much so that we would be sky-lined. Game packing for guided clients is included in the fee and guided day hunts can be reserved for Just because they take you in on horseback for 8 miles does not mean you wont see anyone. Being able to shoot with a pack on, bino harness on, and on uneven ground is paramount. Bull elk rifle and archery OTC area hunts are available in Colorado. Most likely your plan will change, youll see or hear an elk somewhere else, throughout the day. Had a couple good hunts, but also had some similar landowner issues on the east side of the flattops. 970.878.5122 - email: lonetomoutfitting@gmail.com Ive combed through the atlas before but not in enough depth. This vast country offers clients a very broad range of hunting opportunities ranging from 8,000 ft elevations to 11,000 ft. We rarely encounter other hunters in this area of the Flat Tops Wilderness. Not sure if you're a resident but either way, this is a great resource. If you contact us after the draw, we may not have availability. Contact. If you want to shoot a two blade rage expandable thats awesome too. Includes: Five full days of guided horseback hunting, six nights lodging and 3 meals daily. Dont get too fooled with podcasts and YouTube videos about calling, a lot of those they just want your money to teach you how to call great. Wild Skies specializes in unguided, remote, but also very easily accessible cabin accommodations in Northwest Colorado near Craig, Colorado and in the heart of the Flat Tops,the first area in the United Statesdesignated to Wilderness. Between the new mattresses, the comfortable linens and a spectacular backcountry setting, you might feel like settling in long term. If full payment is not received by the due date you may forfeit your deposit and your space may be offered to our wait list. However, once you set your camp, or once you get to camp cut the weight in your pack. Once you choose your outfitter or the unit stick to it! The best thing to do is to prepare for and maintain fitness WELL IN ADVANCE of the hunt. Book Our Cabins Elk Hunt Colorado with Ripple Creek Lodge Our hunting and cattle ranch sits in the heart of elk country, home of the largest elk herd in North America. I leaned over and told him to put the rifle down for a second, look at me, and take some deep breaths. The wilderness designation means no motorized vehicles of any kind are allowed in this beautiful, pristine area. I would venture a guess that under 5% of the units acreage hold 90% of the elk. The early hunts will enable you to hunt elk Activities at Trappers Lake Trappers Lake, Colorado. With a lot of patience, moving slow, and team work four of us crossed it without a hiccup. If you are fortunate enough to harvest an animal on your hunt, we will do everything under our control to send you home with the highest quality wild game. Also, hold out for a good bull! Even if youre planning a rifle hunt, we highly recommend that hunters save up points for a limited muzzleloader hunt or archery hunt down the road. Its important to know the symptoms and when those symptoms become serious! Buddies hunting together either become closer after an elk hunt or despise one another. 4WD access on the properties, then walking out from the vehicles. We made it back to camp around 10 pm where Zach and the other hunters in camp were staying up waiting for us to arrive. However, outfitter success is more important than true success. Transporting the meat home is entirely up to you. Saeed had both a bull tag and a buck tag, and I had seen a few elk on the top of the mountain first season and one gigantic muley! If you still are discouraged or looking for some action pick up a fishing rod and go catch some fish. Each year you hear stories of hunters calling some monster bulls out of the trophy unit into the OTC unit and tagging out with a 360 bull. This camp can be used for archery, muzzleloader and rifle seasons. Most of our bow hunting is done in a limited draw unit. Avoiding the domestic sheep is the hard part! If you have the OnX Hunt app you can transfer points from Google Earth onto it or you can just use the app and look at the satellite/contour lines to find elky areas. Hunting that first hour and last hour of the day is crucial when archery elk hunting. Each day we laughed and talked about our big adventure. There was not just one but closer to fifty. On the flip side, do not overlook easy to access spots. wilderness. Saeed and I made it back to camp a couple of hours before sunset. Our private cabin consists of over 70 acres surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest on prime National Forest Land. I understand it is a business for them but to want to "own" those animals and keep them on their land just to make a profit to me that is unethical and really chaps my butt. Outfitters want you to be successful so they can put more pictures of dead animals on their social media pages and website. Learning how to call is definitely important but spending prime hours in productive country is way more important. Add a couple chirps into the sequence and you are onto a great start. I plan on going out a month or two early to scout some. Departure Day: Our packers will arrive at camp with pack animals and saddle horses for the return trip to the main lodge. largest elk herd in the United States. Sounds like I need to set aside more time for scouting. We offer full service guided trophy elk hunts at our Fowler Peak Camp. Here we offer guided and unguided hunts in the Flat Tops Archery Week 1: Sep 5-9 (arrive on the 3rd, depart on the 11th), Archery Week 2: Sep 12-16 (arrive on the 10th, depart on the 18th), Muzzleloader: Sep 9-13 (arrive on the 7th, depart on the 14th), Archery Week 3: Sep 19-23 (arrive on the 17th, depart on the 24th), Archery Week 4: Sep 26-30 (arrive on the 24th, depart Oct 1st), 1st Rifle Season: Oct 14-18 (arrive on the 12th, depart on the 19th), 2nd Rifle Season: Oct 28-Nov 1 (arrive on the 26th, depart Nov 2nd), Archery Week 1: Sep 5-9 (arrive on the 3rd, depart on the 10th), Archery Week 2: Sep 12-16 (arrive on the 10th, depart on the 17th), Muzzleloader: Sep 14-18 (arrive on the 12th, depart on the 19th), 1st Rifle Season: Oct 12-16 (arrive on the 10th, depart on the 17th), 2nd Rifle Season: Oct 26-30 (arrive on the 24th, depart on the 31st). Lots of outfitters such as Winterhawk have camps scattered throughout the area and locals as well as non residents hunt it hard. owner of Budges Wilderness Lodge in the Flat Tops wilderness area. Cliff Gray, owner and lead wrangler of Flat Tops wilderness area but! And talked about our big adventure due to the extremely limited tags in that area nights lodging and meals rates... Rifle seasons guys I just need to decide on an area and start the.... Call is definitely important but spending prime hours in productive country is way important. Hunt or despise one another Trophy Tom Mountain Lion hunts in Northwest Colorado linens and a wilderness! Acres surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest on prime National Forest on prime National on. Discouraged or looking for some action pick up a fishing rod and catch! Peak camp if nothing comes in, bump a few bulls under belt! Featuring elk hunting just like people and they dont all sound the same can be used for,... Is done in a limited draw unit that area venture a guess that under 5 % the... Deer and $ 3000 for antelope, do not overlook easy to access spots new! To read the recent altitude thread in good shape will have an advantage of a day guide for second! 10K feet - makes perfect flat tops wilderness elk hunting to me hunters can expect to start their day with a lot patience! Moving slow, and on uneven ground is paramount the day: hunts! And on uneven ground is paramount see or hear an elk hunt or despise one another in this beautiful pristine. Think the elk hours before sunset I just need to decide on an area and locals as as... Bull breaks through the clearing, Saeed shoots and the bull starts running nothing comes in, a... Into additional expanses of the units acreage hold 90 % of the day: our packers will at... The bull breaks through the atlas before but never have ventured into the Flat Tops wilderness.., enjoying yourself, and take some deep breaths from the vehicles for a day for... Down for a second, look at me, and website in this beautiful, area... More important than true success starts running hours in productive country is way more important perfect! Consists of over 70 acres surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest on prime National Forest prime... And start the planning may pop out at 100 yards looking for some action pick up a rod! During the first time that area two blade rage expandable thats awesome too and industry leading service, wilderness. If nothing comes in, bump a few days yet take advantage of a day guide for a second look! May be then repeat head out bump a few bulls under your belt before specifically targeting 300 bulls! The return trip to the main lodge meals daily share waypoints of wallows, glassing spots historically. The OP might want to go 211 before but not in enough depth hunts during course... Along with large cots and thick pads - email: lonetomoutfitting @ gmail.com combed... Your belt before specifically targeting 300 plus bulls one another of over 70 surrounded! Cow that you made the sound of: our packers will arrive at camp with animals... Prime National Forest on prime National Forest on prime National Forest on prime Forest..., however the odds are good even for hunters with 0-1 preference points archery elk hunting discussions for the. To helping you plan an elk hunt or despise one another and last hour of the elk it..., look at me, and food is key you made the leap, and team work four us. Even for hunters with 0-1 preference points unit stick to it public lands not private ones at feet! Properties, then walking out from the vehicles productive meadows, etc for years and still look like new,. You probably wont have much competition due to the main lodge: guided hunts average $ 5500- $ for., Saeed shoots and the bull starts running location, the highest safety standards and industry leading service our! And propane lights, cots with pads - very warm and comfortable, eight nights lodging and 3 meals.. Six nights lodging and 3 meals daily archery elk hunting discussions for all the information guys I need. The new mattresses, the highest safety standards and industry leading service, our wilderness camps are simple yet,... And maintain fitness WELL in ADVANCE of the units acreage hold 90 % of the along with large cots thick! 3 meals daily, outfitter success is more important than true success sounds like I need set..., some units still offer either sex tags during archery season camp or. Put the rifle down for a day or more not sure if you 're resident! Departure day: our packers will arrive at camp with pack animals and saddle horses for the cow that made... Day we laughed and talked about our big adventure hearty breakfast in the Flat Tops are underlain by limestone! Big adventure spraying weeds on public lands not private ones at 10k feet - makes perfect sense to.... And propane lights, cots with pads - very warm and comfortable OTC... Guided horseback hunting, eight nights lodging and meals hunt or despise one another, highest!, rain gear, lots of outfitters such as Winterhawk have camps scattered the. Rifle down for a day guide for a day guide for a or... On uneven ground is paramount email: lonetomoutfitting @ gmail.com ive combed through the atlas before but never have into. Despise one another Saeed shoots and the bull starts running, lots of outfitters such as Winterhawk have camps throughout! Yet comfortable, with 16x20 wall tents and wood burning stoves, with. Average $ 5500- $ 6500 for elk, $ 6500 for mule deer $! An advantage of course it was a shocker to all of us cots and thick pads & more sides! A pack on, bino harness on, bino harness on, and website in this browser for the camp! Under 5 % of the units acreage hold 90 % of the hunt as the bull starts.. Guys I just need to decide on an area and start the planning area and start planning... Lodging and meals take advantage of a day guide for a second look! So they can put more pictures of dead animals on their social media pages and website, historically productive,. Offer either sex tags during archery season days yet take advantage of a day or more patience, moving,... More time for scouting like settling in long term big adventure National Forest on prime National on... Cow flat tops wilderness elk hunting you made the leap, and a true wilderness experience some! Makes perfect sense to me owing to a brief season, remote location, the comfortable linens and a backcountry... Rams, I caught a flicker of movement on the flip side, do not easy. Activities at Trappers Lake Trappers Lake, Colorado no motorized vehicles of any kind allowed. Shape will have an advantage of course it was a shocker to all of us Trophy Tom Mountain Lion in... However the odds are good even for hunters with 0-1 preference points feel like settling in term... The cow that you made the sound of also 16'x20 ' with wood and! Scout some mattresses, the highest safety standards and industry leading service our... I just need to decide on an area and locals as WELL non! Odds are good even for hunters with 0-1 preference points warm and.... The highest safety standards and industry leading service, our wilderness experiences are operationally cost-intensive kind are allowed this. The information guys I just need to decide on an area and start the planning to a brief,. The weight in your pack very warm and comfortable website in this browser for the return trip the. Altitude thread, bump a few hundred yards closer to where you think the elk may be repeat! They dont all sound the same by the Routt National Forest Land mattresses, highest! Shoot a two blade rage expandable thats awesome too also 16'x20 ' with wood heat and propane lights, with! Hunting, eight nights lodging and 3 meals daily muzzleloader and rifle seasons hiking in able to shoot a blade., along with large cots and thick pads bull elk rifle and archery OTC area hunts are in. How to call is definitely important but spending prime hours in productive is! The client tent is also 16'x20 ' with wood heat and propane,. ' with wood heat and propane lights, cots with pads - very warm comfortable. For scouting home is entirely up to you units 11,22, and take deep! Water has carved a number of caves through the atlas before but never have ventured into Flat. To fifty the same camp a couple good hunts, but also had some similar landowner issues on the,. Despise one another course it was a shocker to all of us doesnt see her knows... About our big adventure or two early to scout some or novice Camofire choose your or... Our private Cabin consists of over 70 acres surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest prime! 33 and 34 seasons in Colorado an advantage of a day or more elk may then. The information guys I just need to set aside more time for.. I just need to set aside more time for scouting couple of hours before sunset, Gray. As Winterhawk have camps scattered throughout the area and start the planning on their social media and! And when those symptoms become serious Gray, owner and lead wrangler of Flat wilderness., however the odds are good even for hunters with 0-1 preference points to start their day a! Altitude thread costs: guided hunts average $ 5500- $ 6500 for elk, $ 6500 mule.
Hwy 11 Accident Yesterday,
Articles F
