In about six years, my family and I are hoping to relocate to Colorado.
As a current non-resident, does anyone have any information or suggestions on public land hunting? I would like to begin my research now. Applying for points, diy hunts, scouting trips, etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Ryan
I'm no help, other than to say to stay out of Denver!
Good luck to y'all!
Bisch
Yes, don't wait that long!
Where in Colorado you relocate to would depend on work? I always liked the area around Eastes Park. Went through Denver once, big city, to much traffic, to crowded. Also liked Colorado Springs, not real big of a town but nice folks. I'm f course there are some tourists trap towns along I-70 that attract skiers and such. Very pricey. Look along I-25, there are many smaller cities that because of the Interstate may well have work available.
I have my favorite places, as mentioned above, it depends on work. I will send you a message Ryan
guess this means i need to come visit and do some hunting ry soon and chase some goats!!?
LOL Bisch! Yes we're trying to stay away from the crowds. Our island is about to sink with the amount of people that reside here. A 30 minute drive to work takes me two hours...
I wish Bill, but we want the kids to graduate from high school first.
Thomas, we're not too worried about jobs at this point and won't reside permanently until we travel and explore a bit. I'm more concerned about hunting opportunities within the State.
Sounds good Tim.
Better hurry Jarrod!
Thanks Guys!
If it was me, which of course it isn't, I would look at Craig/Meeker and that area. A lot like Wyoming, lots of critters, not too many people. The western part of the state still is like Colorado used to be, at least in some places. A big town that isn't too bad is Grand Junction. The front range is pretty much ruined, in my completely unbiased opinion.
Thank you Pat!
Yeah I hate Denver but it pays the bills and I'm lucky now to live close to work and only have to drive side streets. The good places to live don't have much work is the problem. I'd personally love to live in Kremmling or Yampa area. Western slope is nice too. There are some good points to living in Denver Metro but I'd rather live else where and come to the city once in a while to enjoy those good points! Get in the CPW web site and start accumulating points for draw, they will transfer to resident status when you move here
I just got back from there and hunting opportunity should be the least of your worriers. I hunted public land with an OTC tag and saw more sign than I could hunt. The amount of land seems endless. I learned a lot and can't wait till next time. You won't be disappointed. I looked over jobs/housing in the area I was in and it definitely runs to the extremes on both ends. Beautiful country....I'd go in a heart beat if I didn't have such a good job here in DE. My wife has agreed to let me be a mountain man every year or two from here on out though, so I can't complain.
I think it depends on the economy at the time. work opportunity and availability as well. If you are used to city life you might want to be (somewhat) near a city but slightly detached so that life isn't bumper to bumper. Don't know that I'd worry about residing near hunt able areas as we have tons of hunt able area. And no point in living all year in a particular place just for the 1 month of hunting that we have. Like most people don't get to hunt the whole month 15-20 days max. Come visit I'd love to show you around...
If I were moving to CO and work wasn't the deciding factor Durango and Glenwood Springs would be on my short list.
For sure the Western slope, Grand Junction is a Bice place colse to Utah, great elk hunting spot, some if the best trad guys around.
Ryan. You asked about hunting. If I were in your shoes i would start learning all I could about the game you want to go after...probably elk and mule deer. Spend alot of time on the colorado game and fish sites to study everything from wintering and summer grounds, migrating routs, habitat etc. I would also become friends with Tom Clum at RMSG (easy to do) He would be an excellent scource to guide you to alot of good reading material, maps etc. And of couple of visits to check things out wouldnt hurt either. While you are here a side trip up a few miles into Wyoming would also be a great idea, maybe a game changer.
Ryan, start applying for sheep and goat to build up points. I waited to long to get up that high. Bob
I would pick Wyoming, too many people moved here already (mostly non-hunters).
Personally, I couldn't consider moving to a state with such a short hunting season, but that is an individual decision. There aren't many places that I have seen that are more beautiful than along the Conejos River.
QuoteOriginally posted by S2 Bowstrings:
Thomas, we're not too worried about jobs at this point and won't reside permanently until we travel and explore a bit. I'm more concerned about hunting opportunities within the State.
This man has his priorities straight!
QuoteOriginally posted by kadbow:
I would pick Wyoming, too many people moved here already (mostly non-hunters).
I'd have to add that the number on non hunters dwindles as the notion of anti-hunting becomes more and more fashionable. There is good hunting to be found in Colorado though but the persistent paradigm of the state in general is becoming more "boulderish"
Meeker area..great place,great people.Better like cold.
Grand Junction..Palisade..OLATHE.Best corn and cherries you ever laid a lip over.
Good hunting either places.
Miss them.
I've lived in the Denver metro area since 1963 and my choices would be pretty much anywhere on the western slope, eg., Pagosa Springs, Durango (a little bit "boulderish" :) ), Montrose, Gunnison, Grand Junction, Glenwood, any of NW CO, Walden (you need to make your own work there!), plus a bunch of other points in between.
Your work situation might be the greatest limitation. If you own and operate firstlite for a living, you can probably go anywhere you please that has a good internet connection. :biglaugh:
I know a lot of people who "lived" in CO. Everyone says the reason they moved out of CO was no water. Being on the Island I bet water is a big part of you and your families life. CO is DRY.
I worked in Denver for a 90 day temporary assignment towards the end of my career. I liked it except for the traffic.
Lots of great places to eat. RMSG. Lots of hiking hiking close by. Grandkids close by. I liked it, a lot.
Ryan, there is a TON of public accessible land located all over the state. Much of which allows over the counter elk tags. Of course, if you have time for preference points, a certain few are primo spots, and others here may clue you. There are currently, I believe, ten big game animals you can hunt in Colorado, however, at least several are pretty much only by drawing and there are folks who have been in the run for near 30 years and haven't drawn.
There are bears and cougars there, which I don't think you likely have on your islands.
Visit Rocky Mountain National(?) Park, just NW of Denver if you can. Take a day and drive around it. Pretty awesome stuff.
ChuckC
Thank you for all the great information guys!!! Yes, I'll be visiting and need to start collecting points.
We've also considered Wyoming, in fact Montana and Idaho were on the list too...
We're not 100% set on CO, but we are set on initially moving to one of those States mentioned above. Just through talking with friends, family and doing some research, CO seemed like a good start for us.
Aloha!
Ryan
Durango, Steamboat, Grand junction, Colo Springs,
Rifle, Glenwood Springs, Salida, Buena Vista, Woodland park.. in no particular order.
We have Mule deer, White tail, elk, rocky mt goats, big horn sheep, bears, lions, moose, and antelope. Plus rabbits, quail, grouse, turkeys,pheasants, ducks, geese, doves, squirrels, coyotes, fox, bob cats, etc.. hurry up, we need more good people.
oh did I mention that we have about a zillion square miles of public land. But don't tell any one.
Awesome! Thank you Joe!!! :shaka:
I believe you have desert sheep as well Joe, but I hear it is a tough draw for them.
CHuckC
Yeah Chuck, no bears, cougars, snakes...
Snakes may take a while to get accustomed too. ;)
Eastman's Journals WY, publishes two magazines. Subscribers get the Members Only Section with filing dates, seasons, areas, draw odds, etc. Very detailed, not available in the news stand issue. Covers western states. Western Hunter and Elk Hunter has good information.