On a hazy July afternoon, wolf expert Karin Vardaman returned to a spring-fed pond in Colorado’s northwestern-most corner. Enough rain had fallen to wet the ground around the watering hole. She tiptoed across the soft earth — careful not to disturb any impressions left by cattle and pronghorn antelope — until one track filled her […]
Hunting and overlanding: Maximizing your trip with 4×4 flexibility
Tired of hiking all your gear into the high country, camping with minimal provisions and equipment, and sleeping on the ground? Join the growing craze of “overlanding,” using a high-end 4×4 vehicle that can both get you there and carry creature comforts for your hunt. The burgeoning craze lets you get out in rough country […]
Colorado hunters have plenty of game to track despite dry summer, CPW says
As the region eases into a much-needed wet season following another drought-dried summer, the state agency charged with keeping track of the open spaces and animals therein isn’t seeing a major impact from the dryness on hunting, specifically. Despite numerous real impacts of the warming climate and historic drought, big game, according to Colorado Parks […]
Tips for hunting with goats
Pack goats are like my offshore fishing boat for the Rocky Mountains. They let me go deep into little nooks and crannies that can hold pockets of elk and deer that others are unwilling or able to access. The advantage of pack goats over other pack animals is their ability to navigate the terrain without […]
Colorado hunting interest surges; bows, muzzleloaders becoming new go-to for hunters
Colorado Parks and Wildlife tracked an increase of more than 50,000 deer and elk hunting license applications this year, following a recent trend of renewed interest in outdoor activities, a CPW spokesperson said. “Up until recently, we were seeing a decline in hunting,” said Matt Yamashita, a CPW area wildlife manager based out of Glenwood […]
Colorado Parks and Wildlife targets specific deer and elk hunts for mandatory testing
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has selected specific deer and elk hunts for mandatory chronic wasting disease testing in 2021. The goal is to inform hunters on how and where to fight the spread of CWD, a parks and wildlife news release said. Beginning in early October, CPW will be sending letters to Colorado rifle season […]
Texas man dies in hunting accident in southwest Colorado
DURANGO — Two hunters from Pennsylvania were trying to lure an elk in southwestern Colorado when one of them mistook a bow hunter for prey and fatally shot him, according to an arrest affidavit. Gregory Gabrisch, 31, of Houston, died from a gunshot wound in the San Juan National Forest north of Rico on Sept. […]
Point & Shoot: How to become a better hunter through the eyes of a photographer
It seems after every photo shoot for an outdoor client or for a magazine chasing elk and the like around North America, I find myself spending more time deleting those pictures I’ve taken that I dislike than time spent editing and saving those pictures I do like. Outside of the initial cost of a camera’s […]
With some Craig inns converting to long-term rentals, hunting season gets interesting in Northwest Colorado
Randy Looper got back from a brief no-cell-service trip with more than 60 emails waiting for him. Looper, the now-former longtime owner of the Elk Run Inn in Craig, was hearing from dozens of hunters — some who had been staying at his community staple hotel for a decade and a half — wondering if […]
Hunting in the Roaring Fork Valley offers rewards but demands the effort
The Roaring Fork Valley could well be the place to bag the trophy elk you’ve always dreamed of — if you put in the miles and the work. The region includes several marquee elk units, including 33 and 34, says Glenwood Springs Outdoors manager Kai Dunbar. “It goes pretty much north of Glenwood and out […]