Top 10 Reasons to Book a Hunt with Wild Skies in GMU 12 in NW Colorado

The draw deadline for Colorado is Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Harvest success rates for our archery elk hunters is around 35% and for rifle hunters is between 10-35%.

License cost is $589 per adult hunter and $100.75 per youth hunter (under 18 years of age during hunting season) and all hunters born after Jan 1, 1949 must have completed a hunter safety course and have their certificate information available when purchasing their license.

#10. Largest Elk Herd in the World, Loads of Bear and Great Mule Deer to Boot

Wild Skies’ cabin in GMU 12 in NW Colorado is located in the heart of the largest elk herd in the world at 42,000+ elk.  However, what makes our unit and this herd exceptional beyond its sheer numbers is that 20-25% of the herd are bulls and over the last few years the herd has matured a bit so the average bull is closer to 3.5 years old making the animals larger in general. This is highly uncommon in an area that has over-the-counter licenses available for bull elk. Additionally, our GMU 12 is in the Flat Tops which was formed tens of thousands of years ago from volcanic eruptions which left rich minerals in the soil leading to healthy vegetation growth and herd animals.

Mule deer call the entire region home.  We have some beautiful and healthy specimens in our area but they are creatures of habit and come around the end of October they tend to start leaving the area for lower elevations regardless of the weather.  If a mule deer hunt is your preference I highly recommend either archery season or rifle season 2 for our Flat Tops cabin and both those season do not require any points to draw as a non-resident; however, there is a small chance (less than 10% you may not draw the mule deer license during archery season).  For mule deer, rifle 3 and 4 are better at our Craig, CO location and we do have some land owners we can put you in touch with that have trespass hunts at reasonable prices; however, there is also great public land available to hunt within a 15 minute drive of our Craig, CO location.  Be aware though, that it will take at least 1 point for a non-resident to draw a rifle mule deer license for rifle season 3 and up to 5 points to draw for rifle season 4 (this hunt occurs during the rut for mule deer).

For a video of a mule deer archery hunt filmed a few years ago at our Flat Tops location please enter the following URL in your browser:

http://www.wildskies.com/WildSkiesArcheryDeer1.wmv

Additionally, our secluded cabin is located in a prime area for black bear.  Due to the high berry growth in the area along with prime riparian habitat there is an abundance of food sources for bear.  They especially love the trout that inhabits the river that runs through the middle of our property.

#9. Stop Carting Gear Across the Country and Through the Woods, Avoid the Pain of Setting it Camp, Taking it Down, and Worrying About a Snowstorm Burying Your Camp and Having to Abandon it

For many hunters there is an unfounded belief that you have to suffer through setting up or taking down a wall tent and hunt out of a drop camp to save money and be where the animals are.  They feel if you aren’t in the woods miles deep you will have too many hunters around you.  That may be the case in certain parts of the country but this is not true in our area.  With the largest herd in the world elk can be found literally anywhere in our area and it isn’t necessary to go miles in to be in an uncrowded area where the elk will be found.

Wild Skies offers an unparalleled experience out of a brand new cabin where you can hunt in comfort and affordably.  Save yourself the expense and headache of carting your gear across the country and then having to coax your hunting buddies into helping set up or sticking around until it’s time to tear down camp. Better yet, save yourself the discomfort of having to deal with wet or brutally cold conditions living in a tent. Often our hunters find that for about the same price or a little more or less then the cost most outfitters charge for a drop camp they can stay in our secluded cabin.

Additionally, the county plows the roads leading to our cabin and through the area the entire hunting season. We have a Snowcat to take care of our private driveway areas so you never have to worry about being stranded by a major storm or having to abandon your gear/camp.  If bad weather blows in and you are unable to hunt our cabin is not only comfortable, it offers a variety of activities including: hundreds of books, a foosball and pool table, poker and other games.

#8. Brand New 3500+ SF Secluded Mountain Home is the Ideal Facility for Entertaining Family, Friends or Clients Who Don’t Want to Rough it but Would Enjoy a Wilderness Experience

It’s almost like being at the Ritz Carlton and it sure will feel like it when you compare it to most any other private hunting cabin. Many of our guests plan on using our cabin to host smaller, private meetings for groups between 6-12 for executive retreats or as a sales incentive or customer appreciation event.

This brand new, three level, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, mountain home overlooks our private river on all levels and the northern end has scenic views of Dunckley Pass. It has radiant in floor heat on all levels in addition to a fireplace. You enter through a covered carport and walkway area into an oversized mudroom with dog wash area to take care of muddy boots, clothing etc.  We have a landline telephone and the cabin can sleep up to 12 individual people or up to 18 if couples.

#7.  Over-the-Counter (OTC) and Leftover Elk Archery and Rifle Licenses Available in Addition to Draw Licenses (Deadline for Draw Licenses is Tuesday, April 3, 2012)

In our area, GMU 12, there are limited OTC Bear and unlimited OTC rifle bull elk licenses available. A portion of our property is in the SW corner of GMU 231, on OTC archery elk unit which is more difficult for the general public to access. Additionally, just four miles to the north of our cabin is a trailhead for access to the northern end of GMU 231 which provides fantastic elk hunting opportunities. So whether you go out the back door to hunt GMU 231 or choose to drive to a trailhead to access the northern end of it. You have great opportunities to hunt an OTC elk archery unit. During rifle seasons 2 and 3 which are OTC Bull Elk license seasons you can also get an additional cow elk license and during all rifle seasons and during archery there are always leftover cow elk licenses.  Leftover licenses go on sale August 13, 2013 and OTC licenses go on sale July 9, 2013 and remain available through the hunting season for which the license is applicable.

#6. Drive Right up to the Front Door of the Cabin off a National Scenic Byway and Walk Right out the Back Door to Hunt

We are located in a remote and secluded area but you can drive right up to the front door off a national scenic byway and we are only 45 minutes away from the Yampa Regional Airport which services Steamboat Springs.  For those flying into Denver we are approximately 4.5 hours from the Denver Airport.

#5. Combination of some private land hunting with access through the private land on 3 sides to areas of the national forest that are more difficult or take longer to access by the general public

We have 70 private acres and once on our property you have your choice of east, west or south to access public land.  We are the southern most property in the area and there are no public trails or bridges to cross the river south of our property. Our terrain and the surrounding public land are heavily timbered and have a lot of water and meadows. Some of the best areas to hunt require crossing our river and we have our own private bridge which grants you access to the southern portion of our GMU along a mountain ridge. It is extremely difficult for the general public to gain access to this area. The terrain on the east side of the river is very steep and the terrain on the west is heavily timbered. Without a public trail or bridge south of our cabin it is impossible to ride through on a horse and then crossing the river is no easy feat without a horse.

On a scale of 1-10 most of our hunters rank our hunting area as a 6 in level of terrain difficulty.  Unlike the Rocky Mountains, our mountains do have gains in elevations but there are mostly broken up with wide open meadows and more gradual ascents with flatter mountain tops versus high rocky peaks.  Additionally, the elevation in our area tops out at approximately 11, 500 feet, with the majority or the area located between 8,500-10,500 feet.

#4. Non ATV Area Accessible on Foot or by Horse with Corrals Onsite and Nearby Horse Rental Available

There are very few ATV areas and the closet is over 7 miles away with the ATV trail being no longer than about 1 mile long. It is not advisable to bring ATVs to our Flat Tops location as most national forest/wilderness areas do not allow them.

Approximately 40% of our hunters rent horses or bring their own, but they are not necessarily any more successful in harvesting their animals. Colorado’s largest horse ranch has a satellite location within 2 miles of our cabin. The cost to rent a horse is $450 per horse for groups of 3 or less and $425 a horse for groups 4 and larger. Basic riding equipment such as bridle, saddle, stirrups and blanket are included in the rental.  Hunting equipment such as pack bags and scabbards are not.  The ranch doesn’t care whether you rent the horse for 1 day or 13 the price is the same and generally the horses are rented for the entire hunting season.

#3. Outfitter Available to Pack Out Game for an Additional Charge of $200-250 Per Animal (provided he can get to it on a horse)

This may be the best $200-250 you ever spent.  I provide his contact information upon your arrival to our cabin.

#2. Within a 1 Hour Drive are Several Meat Processors with 24 hr Turn-Around Times, Taxidermists, Sporting Goods Shops, Grocery Stores, Fine Dining Restaurants, Hot Springs, and a Regional Airport for Easy Access in and out of the Area

#1. Property is Available for Vacation Rental Every Day of the Year

Spend quality vacation time with your family while you are afforded an opportunity to scout the area for a future hunt.  Hike; mountain bike; fish; back country horseback ride; cross country ski; snowshoe; snowmobile; canoe; pick mushrooms, whitewater raft; enjoy local hot springs; spelunking; see the wild mustangs; go on a photo safari; shop boutique stores and enjoy fine dining at Steamboat Springs Resort or a spa day; or simply sit on the deck with a cool beverage of choice and do nothing but watch the clouds breeze by and listen to the river.

Snowmobile, cross-country skis and snowshoe rentals are available in Steamboat Springs, CO.   A private chef can be hired for an additional fee along with private fly fishing lessons, wildlife art and clay sculpting classes.

For further information on vacationing, hunting, fishing or back country horse trail riding in Colorado or help with specific questions, contact Lisa Bennett of Wild Skies Cabin Rentals at: 970.926.0216, WildSkies.com or email  Lisa@wildskies.com.