Colorado drop camps

Drop camps are designed for hunters who like to hunt on their own and take care of themselves. All our camps are either in the Gunnison National Forest, Uncompahgre National Forest, or Wilderness areas of Game Management Units (GMU) 64/65 and 66. This is located in the San Juan Mountain Range of Southwestern Colorado. Elevation ranges from 9, 000 up to 12, 500. Terrain is a mixture of dark timber, aspen groves, snow chutes and open meadows. Unit 66 high country is noted for its tundra – fantastic habitat for elk and timberline bucks! We give you direction and all the tips we can think of in order for you to achieve a successful hunt. We check camps by radio and horseback and pack out your game accordingly. All drop camp hunts consist of 5 full days of hunting with one day for pack in and one day for pack out – seven days total. Extra days can be arranged for during archery, muzzle load, second and third rifle seasons and the late rifle cow hunts. We do not mix drop camp hunters. Drop camps are private. We do require a minimum of two (one can be a non-hunter) in the camps for safety issues. Once you reserve that camp, you can add others to your camp if you wish to do so. We build our camps to suit your group. We consider these camps as “yours” and we will accommodate as many as you wish to have in camp with you. These are canvas wall tent camps equipped with food and camping equipment – basically everything you need except your bedroll and personal items. Each person is limited to 50 lbs. of gear packed in two equally weighted duffle bags (approx. 25lbs ea), or one 50 lb. duffel, one gun/bow case (hard case recommended for the pack in), and one 10 lb. day pack. Sleeping bags for all rifle hunts need to be rated 0 degrees to -20 degrees.

PLEASE NOTE We may need to repack items in order to balance the loads. Please picture your gear going in on horseback!

Due to a fire in 2007 many of our wall tents are new and covered with top quality flys. Floors are covered with tarps also. Extra tarps are kept in camp in case of unusually wet weather so you can cover items outside the tent. You are responsible to keep your tents maintained and keep snow swept off during snowfalls. Fresh water is readily available at each camp site unless otherwise noted, then we pack water in for you. Equipment includes propane cooking grills, 20 lb propane bottles, gas lanterns, wood burning stoves for heat, cots, (you are welcome to bring your own cot pads in addition to your sleeping bags), grub boxes with cooking and eating supplies, table with chairs, water containers, an axe, shovel and hatchet. This is our standard equipment. We pack you and your supplies in the day before opening morning and help you become acquainted with the area you will be hunting. For archery, first and third rifle seasons we may be able to take you in a couple of days earlier so that you have time to scout or acclimate to your surroundings. This is all done by horse and mule. Horses are not left in camp. You will be responsible to properly care for anything you kill, including accidental kills. We will certainly share with you any information available as to where we think the elk and deer may be, particularly animals we have been spotting throughout the season. Our guides and wranglers are more than happy to give any advice for your hunt.

PLEASE NOTE All firearms should be sighted in before arriving at the hunting area. Discharging of firearms in the vicinity will not be allowed prior to opening morning. Guns will be unloaded while traveling horseback. Licensed hunters will be expected to follow Colorado hunting rules and regulations.