Colorado Hunting
Fall in Colorado brings an explosion of vibrant colors, the first whispers of snow in the high country and amazing big game hunting. Great deer and elk hunting can be found throughout the state. Archery season runs from late August to late September, followed by Muzzleloading Rifle season in September and October, and Rifle season runs from mid October to mid November, with late season licenses available until late January. Black Bear hunting in Colorado occurs in September only. Waterfowl, Antelope, Rocky Mountain and Desert Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, and even Moose are also available to hunt in Colorado, albeit some of these permits are issued via lottery only.
Hunting license rates in Colorado are extremely reasonable for residents and significantly more expensive for nonresidents. For example a Colorado resident pays about $50 for an elk tag, while a nonresident pays about $550 the same elk tag. Mandatory hunter education courses in Colorado cost between $10 and $20 dollars. Colorado actually has some of the more economical nonresident hunting rates in the west. Nonresident hunters will pay more in neighboring states like Wyoming. This is just one reason why it’s so advantageous to own a Colorado hunting ranch. With such a long season, wide variety of game and the rugged untamed western beauty of the Rocky Mountains, private Colorado hunting ranches are constantly in high demand from resident hunters and nonresidents alike.
Colorado is home to the largest elk population in the world, and owners of Colorado ranch hunting property can enjoy a steady income stream from granting short-term access to their lands for hunting or long-term leased access. Many landowners see a return on their investments from partnering with outfitters and guides because hunters pay top dollar to enjoy the peace of mind and increased likelihood of success from hunting trespass free on private land. Hunters are aware that private landowners are able to closely regulate the amount of hunting pressure on their lands, and they will provide landowners a nice income to gain access to the game on their lands. Another reason why Colorado hunting ranches are so highly sought after is that the state contains hunting properties that offer varying types of high quality hunting terrain from heavily forested elk habitat in the high country to rolling sage-dotted countryside where mule deer and antelope dwell. Most Colorado hunts take place in postcard type surroundings. Couple the beautiful Colorado scenery with plentiful well-managed herds, and the economical rates for hunting permits, and it’s easy to see why Colorado has attracted hunters from around the world for generations.
