In the Flat Tops Wilderness Area we are limited to … Please let us know if you are interested in purchasing one. The first elk I killed in 1998 was in the center of the Flat Tops and 6.5 miles from the trail head. Petersen’s Bowhunting Editor Christian Berg is a passionate bowhunter and award-winning journalist who spent 14 years honing his craft at daily newspapers before joining Outdoor Sportsman Group in 2008. We are located in the center of the largest Elk herd in the world; we offers fully guided Big Game Hunting for Elk, Mule Deer and Black Bear in the Flat … It contains some of the Rocky Mountains’ most spectacular scenery not to mention the largest elk herd in the world. The one piece of good advice I will give you for bow season in the Flattops (at least in Unit 24) is to hunt 9,000 feet and above. At the edge of the Famous Flat Tops Wilderness Area, nestled deep in the heart of the White River National Forest of Colorado you'll find your hunting passion for deer and elk. Researching places to hunt elk takes time, but will turn elk “hunting” trips into elk “finding” trips. The Routt National Forest is over 1.3 million acres in central Colorado west of the Continental Divide and the White River is over 2 million acres. Drop Camps: Our wilderness drop camps are situated in beautiful pine and aspen tree rimmed areas (areas that elk love!) Game trails for elk and deer abound on the property and almost on a daily basis elk and deer can be spotted traversing our property from the Flat Tops Wilderness to the meadows just east of our property. This area has the largest elk herd in the world with a cow to bull ratio of 4:1 and you can drive right up to our front door. Located in Game Management Unit (GMU)12 in Colorado’s Routt National Forest on the northern end of the Flat Tops Wilderness where the Routt National Forest abutts with the White River National Forest and in Craig, Colorado. Our drop camps are in the middle of Elk Country, if the elk are talking when you are there, you will hear them from camp. It is well known as some of the very best elk and deer country anywhere. Our secluded hunting cabin is surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest, approximately 2 miles from the Flat Tops Wilderness. Also get to close to rabbit ears pass and the crowds grow again. Cliff is a registered outfitter in the State of Colorado, guiding and outfitting over 80 hunters a year for elk, bighorns and mule deer in the White River National Forest and Flat Tops Wilderness Area of the Rocky Mountains. Trophy Bull Elk Hunts. Wildlife in the area include elk, mule deer, black bear, big horn sheep, mountain , antelope, and an occasional moose. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I've hunted the Flat Tops (units 25,26) four times during gun season with no success, but will probably be going back again for the archery opener this fall. It is well known as some of the very best elk and deer country anywhere. Our comfortable drop camps are fully furnished with everything you’ll need and will also include your … In 1995, I went on my first elk hunt and have been blessed to hunt in many wild places since. We're heading out to Colorado to hunt the flat tops on our first elk hunt and will be packing in and setting up a basecamp in the backcountry. First, a horse needs 25lbs of good grass a day and a couple lbs of grain. This area has the largest elk herd in the world with a cow to bull ratio … In 2012 Wild Skies completed building its flagship property in NW Colorado’s GMU12 on the northern end of the Flat Tops just 4 miles from the Flat Tops Wilderness which is the first area in the United States designated a wilderness. Petersen’s Senior editor Christian Berg of Petersen’s Bowhunting Magazine will be out hunting at Wild Skies Cabin Rentals in September of 2016 and the article will be available in 2017. Our hunts are situated in the Flattops Wilderness Area of the White River National Forest in Game Management Units 23, 24, 25 & 34. I'm in favor of sticking with first season because I figure the weather will probably be better and the elk won't have been pressured for a month straight. Wildlife in the area include elk, mule deer, black bear, big horn sheep, mountain , antelope, and an occasional moose. It is well known as some of the very best elk and deer country anywhere. Wild Skies’ Flat Tops cabin is located in Game Management Unit (GMU)12 in Colorado’s Routt National Forest on the northern end of the Flat Tops Wilderness where the Routt National Forest abuts the White River National Forest and just 2.5 miles from GMU 231 (OTC archery elk) . The Flat Tops Wilderness lies within the Routt and White River National Forest and is one of the largest primitive areas in the Rocky Mountains. In regards to your question on altitude, there were two camps: base camp at 9k ft and our camp in the alpine at 10.5k ft. We were there third season and when we arrived it was warm. Archery season is the best time of the year to be in the Flat Tops. As a young boy, I consumed books and articles with tales of wilderness hunts and dreamed of hunting in truly wild and remote places. The weather is good and the elk are bugling. My family had booked a drop in hunt for the Flat Tops Wilderness during first rifle season. and are accessed only by horseback. During his tenure at Bowhunting, Christian has chased game from New York to New Zealand and worked to enhance the brand’s reputation as “The Modern Bowhunting Authority” by providing practical information such as details on the latest bowhunting gear, technical equipment tests, no-nonsense field reviews and proven bowhunting tactics from the sport’s leading experts. Operating on the White River National Forest and the Flat Tops Wilderness under a special use permit from the US Forest Service. Elk Hunting in Colorado with us Semi-guided horse pack in tent camp hunt for bull or cow and deer for only $2495 Most of the outfitters in this region bring hunters into the draws that lead into Colorado’s Flat Tops Wilderness, GMU025 because it requires less time and effort. Hope this helps alittle Mule Deer. Lone Tom Outfitting offers two high country drop camps. The base camp cabins are for hunters who enjoy the opportunity of getting into the Colorado wilderness to comfortably and economically hunt and fish from a cabin base camp. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Bonded and Insured. Our unit, 25, is one of the few Flat Top units that still offers OTC archery bull and cow tags. I’ve hunted units 11,22, and 211 before but never have ventured into the Flat Tops. The elk herd in our area is estimated at 42,000 animals. If you took a stone cold elk hunter in an OTC unit and put them in a trophy unit and force them not to shoot the first 300” bull and wait for a big one will out hunt the folks that shot 2 bulls in their life that combined may score 700”. The words “ELK-14” and “SPOTTED FROM-14” (my way of keeping track of waypoints) bring back memories. The Flat Tops Wilderness lies within the Routt and White River National Forest and is one of the largest primitive areas in the Rocky Mountains. It is also the time of year where it isn’t abnormal to go an entire hunt without seeing another hunter. It had been an unusually warm rifle season in the Flat Tops Wilderness, and there was no change in the forecast. Welcome to Colorado and the famous big game rich Flatops mountains. We have custom hunting maps of the area with the elk overlays for sale. The Flat Tops Wilderness lies within the Routt and White River National Forest and is one of the largest primitive areas in the Rocky Mountains. Elk hunting is the main attraction in the Flat Tops Wilderness and White River National Forest but contact us to discuss bear, moose or mule deer hunts. plan on seeing a ton of people. It is one of the largest and oldest National Forests in the Rocky Mountains. Colorado State Outfitter License #2975. Flat Tops Wilderness CO Drop Camp with River's Bend Outfitters. An Equal Opportunity Provider. The White River National Forest has the largest elk herd on EARTH and the Routt National Forest to the North is not far behind. We back packed in for a 5 day hunt and killed the bull the last morning a 1/2 mile from camp and just up the valley. Petersen’s Senior editor Christian Berg of Petersen’s Bowhunting Magazine will be out hunting at Wild Skies Cabin Rentals in September of 2016 and the article will be available in 2017. Wildlife in the area include elk, mule deer, black bear, big horn sheep, mountain , antelope, and an occasional moose. Petersen’s Bowhunting Editor Christian Berg is a passionate bowhunter and award-winning journalist who spent 14 years honing his craft at daily newspapers before joining Outdoor Sportsman Group in 2008. Colorado has more elk than any other U.S. state or Canadian province. The fact is that most non-western hunters just want the opportunity to get a shot at an elk and these two forests are the best in the West in terms of opportunity. A veteran reporter who has covered everything from fires and murders to political races and business deals to conservation and wildlife, Christian embraces the opportunity to put his news-gathering skills to work for fellow archers. Fall 2018, Sangre De Cristo area to White River Nat Forest, Flat Top Wilderness, Meeker CO. We can accommodate hunting parties of up to 12 sportsmen in superb comfort and luxury in our Flat Tops location and up to 22 very comfortably in our Craig cabins location. Additionally, there are local outfitters that will pack out game for $250-350 provided they can get to it on a horse; however, depending on demand, they may or may not be available on the day you need your animal retrieved. Ultimately, “hunters” are successful “finders” because of three important things; pre-hunt research, experience on the ground and keeping the spot to themselves to limit other human interference. I've seen elk and had opportunities to shoot legal bulls (no record breakers) but blew it. Budge's Flattops Wilderness Lodge is located on the south fork of the White River which is home to large, healthy herds of big game including elk & mule deer. A veteran reporter who has covered everything from fires and murders to political races and business deals to conservation and wildlife, Christian embraces the opportunity to put his news-gathering skills to work for fellow archers. Mulies are an obvious exception, although we have seen most of the big boys feeding in the meadows at around 10,000 feet. The Flat Tops Wilderness – Home to an Elk Herd of 39,000 Our secluded hunting cabin is surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest, approximately 2 miles from the Flat Tops Wilderness. Our cabins sits at an elevation of 8400 feet with ½ mile of private river frontage running through the property and huge alpine meadow areas surround the property. Archery season is the best time of the year to be in the mountains. Our private cabin consists of over 70 acres surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest on prime National Forest Land. All camps are in the Flattop Wilderness, GMU 24. Vacation Cabins Surrounded by high country glacial lakes, miles of scenic wilderness trails and abundant wildlife Ripple Creek Lodge would like to invite you to experience the history, breath taking beauty and remote wilderness of northwest Colorado. This camp is located on the South Fork of the White River National Forest within the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, covering 235,000 acres. If you get too close to the colorado river in 15 it gets hotter and drier. No motorized transportation is allowed in wilderness areas. Sarvis creek wilderness in unit 15 is 1 of the few places you can truly get away from roads. The immediate area surrounding the cabin is non-ATV; however approximately 10 miles away there are some ATV trails. We hunt all three of the Marvine Drainages, east, main and west, at camp locations ranging from 4 to 8 miles in from the campground, elevations from 9,000 to 10,300 feet. Day guiding is available in GMU 24 which is good during all rifle seasons and also GMU 12 either sex archery elk season. During the 2nd and 3rd gun seasons you will see other hunters, especially along the roads. During his tenure at Bowhunting, Christian has chased game from New York to New Zealand and worked to enhance the brand’s reputation as “The Modern Bowhunting Authority” by providing practical information such as details on the latest bowhunting gear, technical equipment tests, no-nonsense field reviews and proven bowhunting tactics from the sport’s leading experts. Wild Skies has attained its place as the world’s preeminent do-it-yourself mountain retreat. With a 16'x20' tent, this camp can provide for up to 6 hunters at one time. lot of people hunt this unit, if your bivy hunting just make sure you look at maps b/c the roads run all over on the flat tops that you may end up close to the road when hunting away from another. We did a drop camp there and rode in on horse back. It is also the time of year where it isn’t abnormal to go an entire hunt without seeing another hunter. sorry to be a bear of bad news but i live in that unit and i dont hunt it for that reason. I've been pouring over onx and dialed in an area that seems ideal but then I heard that it tends to be heavily used by outfitters so now I'm thinking it might not be the best option. That means after a good snow, you need to pack in hay or equivalent. unit 25 drop camp trip I hunted unit 25 in the flat tops in 2008, it was my first CO wilderness hunt. I had been off the mountain for less than 24 hours and was headed back up for a second season elk/mule-deer hunt. And while its best known for elk, it produces quality mule deer bucks and bears as well. But some of the most beautiful and abundant elk habitat is on the plateau. © We offer full service guided trophy elk hunts at our Fowler Peak Camp. He has years of experience hunting mule deer and elk in the Rocky Mountains via remote backpacking and horse/mule packing. I plan on going out a month or two early to scout some. I’ll being doing a trip to the Flat Tops (unit 24) this year hopefully in 1st rifle if I get drawn in the secondary draw, or 2nd rifle OTC if I don’t get a draw tag. Our unit, 25, is one of the few Flat Top units that still offers OTC archery bull and cow tags. The weather is good and the elk are bugling. Explore the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, all from the beautiful, historic cabins at Ripple Creek Lodge. The problem is people don’t understand the difficulty in taking care of stock in the mountains. In 2016, I joined four friends for a hunt in Colorado’s third largest Wilderness, the famed Flat Tops Wilderness. ... Elk Camp, What Elk Camp is all about, Good Times and Great Friends - Duration: 8:38. tracknthetrail 150,846 views. Ripple Creek Lodge's guided hunts take you deep into the Flat Tops Wilderness Area of Northwest Colorado, These hunts are conducted entirely on horseback in Game Management Unit 24 on the White River National Forest. 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