Elk

HUNTING:

OUR HUNTS ARE CONDUCTED ON MANY PRIVATE RANCHES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN COLORADO. WE LEASE multiple ranches totaling APPROXIMATELY 40,000 ACRES OF PRIVATE LAND AND HAVE ACCESS TO NEARLY 70,000 ACRES OF PUBLIC. ON A TYPICAL DAY ONE OF OUR GUIDES WILL PICK YOU UP BEFORE DAYLIGHT AND PROCEED TO THE RANCH YOU WILL BE HUNTING. AT DAYLIGHT, DEPENDING ON ACTIVITY, WE MAY LISTEN FOR RUTTING BULLS OR BEGIN GLASSING FROM HIGH VISTAS. RANCHES VARY FROM FAIRLY MILD OPEN MEADOWS TO THICK OAK BRUSH HILLSIDES AND STEEPER DARK TIMBER STANDS.  IT IS OUR GOAL TO FIND THE BIGGEST BULL POSSIBLE AND MAKE THE BEST PLAN TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AT SANDY HILLS WE STRIVE TO HARVEST MATURE BULLS IN THE 300" RANGE AND UP WITH THE POTENTIAL OF REACHING 350" OR MORE. BEING PHYSICALLY FIT TO WALK, KNEEL, AND SIT FOR MODERATE PERIODS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. GET IN SHAPE! IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING PREVENTING YOU FROM ACCOMPLISHING ONE OR MORE OF THESE TASKS, GIVE US A CALL AND WE CAN DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR CLIENTS ARE ALWAYS CURIOUS OF WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT FOR SHOT RANGES. IT'S DIFFICULT TO PREDICT AN UNKNOWN SITUATION, BUT WE PREFER TO MAINTAIN 10-60 YARD SHOTS WITH A BOW, UP TO 150 YARDS WITH A MUZZLELOADER, AND OUT TO 500 WITH RIFLES. WE CAN DISCUSS LONGER SHOT SITUATIONS IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE, BUT TYPICALLY IT'S NOT NECESSARY. 

OUR SERVICES:

Hunts include a 1:1 or 2:1 hunter to guide ratio depending on how you book.  our fully-guided hunts include meals and lodging, transportation while you are hunting, professional trophy photos, caping your trophy, packing out your animal, and making recommendations on game processors and taxidermists.

LICENSE PROCESS:

Second and third season rifle elk licenses are over the counter. Archery, muzzleloader, first rifle and late rifle licenses in limited units are drawn through Colorado's preference point system, and each unit and season requires a different number of points. Non-residents draw for everything except second and third season rifle, though leftover archery licenses are usually available. Colorado residents can buy archery licenses over the counter. On some of our elk ground, archery, muzzleloader and first rifle draw with 0 to 2 preference points. On our other elk ground they take roughly 6 to 11 points depending on weapon, and we hold landowner vouchers there for archery, muzzleloader and rifle, which let you hunt in a year you did not draw. No points yet? Many clients apply for a preference point and book an archery hunt the same year, then use that point to draw a muzzleloader or rifle license the following year. Full details: Tags and Draws.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: 

HTTPS://CPW.STATE.CO.US/

BOOKING PROCESS:

Elk generally has availability for each season, though some spots book a couple of years in advance. We have an extremely high return rate with clients, so call early to get the season you want.

TROPHY CLASSES:

We strive to harvest mature bulls in the 300-inch range and up, with the potential of reaching 350 inches or more. Our elk harvest galleries are organized by trophy class: 300 to 320 inches and 320 to 350 inches.

RATES:

Elk hunts are southern Colorado hunts: $3,500 to $18,000 per hunter, with meals and lodging included. Where a hunt falls in that range depends on the weapon season you choose, the hunt area, and whether the hunt needs a landowner voucher. Vouchers are quoted separately and run $1,000 to $7,500 in southern Colorado. See all hunt rates.

SEASONS AND HUNT LENGTH:

We guide archery, muzzleloader and rifle elk hunts, and every elk hunt is 5 days. Season dates are listed at the top of this page.

GETTING HERE AND LODGING:

Fly into Denver or Colorado Springs, rent a car, and plan to arrive the afternoon or evening before your hunt starts. You stay in our lodge or ranch house and have your own room. We have a cook, and meals are provided. Plan your trip.

MEAT AND TROPHIES:

Most clients use a local processor and have their meat shipped home. We can also process your meat for shipping for a fee, and if you drive in, you can bring coolers and take your meat home to be processed there. We cape your trophy and can recommend taxidermists.

COMMON ELK QUESTIONS:

Do I need to draw a tag? Not for second or third season rifle, which are over the counter. Archery, muzzleloader and first rifle are drawn, and on our voucher ground a landowner voucher lets you hunt in a year you did not draw.

How big are the bulls? We strive to harvest mature bulls in the 300-inch range and up, with the potential of reaching 350 inches or more.

What is included? Guiding at a 1:1 or 2:1 hunter to guide ratio, lodging, meals, transportation while you hunt, professional trophy photos, caping your trophy and packing out your animal.

How far ahead should I book? Elk generally has availability for each season, though some spots book a couple of years in advance.