Anyone have any experience hunting with The Elk Ranch?

I am trying to book an elk hunt for next fall (2024) in Colorado. Not lucking for a trophy bull. Having a tough time finding outfitters that have an opening. One that does appear to have openings is The Elk Ranch in Unit 12. Does anyone have any experience hunting with this outfitter that they would like to share? Or, if you have recommendations for someone else, I am open to suggestions. Thank you.

I hunted a ranch that bordered it for years, used to be a shooting gallery with all the elk. Last year's snow/winter put a hurt in the elk. PM incoming!

Been a while since you got a reply, did you ever call and speak to someone at their listed number? I see their TV show all the time, and it seems a decent amount of smaller bulls are killed. Just wondering if you were able to get any further info.

GSP814 said:

I hunted a ranch that bordered it for years, used to be a shooting gallery with all the elk. Last year's snow/winter put a hurt in the elk. PM incoming!

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The ranch you hunted was a shooting gallery, or the Elk Ranch was?

The ranch I was hunting on!

Laelkhunter said:

Been a while since you got a reply, did you ever call and speak to someone at their listed number? I see their TV show all the time, and it seems a decent amount of smaller bulls are killed. Just wondering if you were able to get any further info.

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I ended up booking a hunt with another outfitter.

Hey, give CJ Outfitters Craig CO 970-888-2105 a call, find out what is available, I had a great experience with Taylor and the group Elk hunting in 2022.

Thanks for the information. I have booked a hunt already, but I will keep them in mind for the future.

SentientHunter said:

I am trying to book an elk hunt for next fall (2024) in Colorado. Not lucking for a trophy bull. Having a tough time finding outfitters that have an opening. One that does appear to have openings is The Elk Ranch in Unit 12. Does anyone have any experience hunting with this outfitter that they would like to share? Or, if you have recommendations for someone else, I am open to suggestions. Thank you.

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That is a good unit I hunt unit 13 and in good years we will see 500 to 1000 elk on the property we hunt

cabelasken said:

That is a good unit I hunt unit 13 and in good years we will see 500 to 1000 elk on the property we hunt

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WoW !! Where is this? I normally shoot the 1st Elk I see !

I hunted with Keith about 6 years ago at the Elk Ranch and yes there are huge numbers of elk coming out of the Flat Tops during the migration. As it is Colorado, you will probably not see many larger bulls (like in AZ or NM) but should see some good bulls. Hunt was fun, tagged on the first day. I have hunted the area for over 10 years and done well. The only issue is that specific area of NW Colorado got hit hard by a bad winter recently and animal populations were hurt (especially mule deer).

Just wait till the wolves get up in numbers

the blur said:

WoW !! Where is this. I normally shoot the 1st Elk I see !

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We are between the flat tops and the Yampa River. Our group has hunted the area for over 40 years. The original members have all passed on but they have been replaced by others to keep the group between 6 and 8. I joined up with them about 15 years ago. As the hunting lease is controlled by the state and the rights to those leases purchased by ranchers, our time may be limited as the govenor has made it his mission to reduce hunting across Colorado, even though a large part of the revenue of these small towns is supported by hunters. And, I might say, I've never been treated as well in any other state as I have by the Colorado merchants and civilians - as an out of state hunter.

We hunted northern Colorado near Haden this past fall mid-November, 6 days and the only Elk seen by 5 of us were a few cows the only others were on preserve land, which we were told the herd there was less then half of the normal, the outfitter (name not mentioned) had parties on 4 other properties only 1 cow and a mule deer taken. The 22/22 winter kill was 90+% on calf's and 40-50% on mature Elk. Plus a severe drought . Don't waste your time and money in the region. this will take many years to recover from. I'm not sure how wide spread this is so do your research. We have already told our guide we wont be back.