Tags: colorado hunting land, hunting land for sale, wyoming hunting ranches, utah hunting property, new mexico hunting ranches
Colorado
Elk
Colorado is home to the nation’s largest elk populations. Most of Colorado hunting land is managed for quantity rather than quality with large numbers of elk and great success rates but lower overall trophy quality than surrounding states. In the majority of Colorado’s elk units, resident/nonresident licenses can be purchased over the counter for archery or rifle seasons. On our listing Beaver Valley Ranch for example, the owners and their guests can simply purchase an elk license over the counter prior to the hunting season with no applications or drawings (with exception to the 1st elk season which is a draw season statewide). This applies for both resident and non-resident hunters. If a ranch is 12,000 contiguous deeded acres, the landowner can apply for Ranching For Wildlife. Colorado’s RFW program basically gives a landowner their own hunting unit. The Division of Wildlife issues the landowner licenses to be used at the landowners discretion in return for allowing a small number of public hunters the opportunity to hunt the ranch. The RFW season can run up to 90 days and allows for hunting with any weapon during the rut. In 2009, the Colorado elk population was estimated at 280,000 by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Deer
While deer numbers statewide are down, Colorado still has some great deer hunting with the better trophy areas being in the eastern plains, Spanish Land Grant area, and Eagle County. Deer licenses are on a draw basis statewide but are easily drawn in most units. Landowner’s can also apply for landowner deer licenses.
Wyoming
Elk
Wyoming allows for no non-resident over the counter licenses. All licenses are on a draw basis unless the owner receives landowner tags. On Wyoming land there is good trophy quality in the Laramie Mountains, Bighorn Mountains and parts of northwest Wyoming. There are good elk numbers around Yellowstone, as well as the Snowy Range and Sierra Madre Mountains. Most of the better trophy units are tough draws for both residents and non-residents. Landowners must own a minimum of 160 acres to apply for landowner elk and deer tags and a percentage of each area’s tags will go to the landowners. No matter how much acreage you own in Wyoming, a landowner will receive no more than two tags of any species and the licenses are issued to the owner of record and are non transferable. In Wyoming, non-residents must be accompanied by a licensed outfitter to hunt in Wilderness Areas. Wolves have dramatically reduced elk population in some areas of northwest Wyoming. In 2009, the Wyoming elk population was estimated at 105,000 by RMEF.
Deer
Wyoming has some great deer hunting, especially in the southern half. For most areas, deer tags can be easily drawn or purchased as leftover licenses after the drawings have taken place. Landowners may apply for up to two deer tags with a minimum of 160 acres.
Utah
Elk
Utah is arguably the countries best trophy hunting state. Utah hunting land has produced more record book elk in the last 10 years than any other state. Utah’s premier trophy areas include Monroe Mountain, Pahvant, Fish Lake National Forest, San Juan county, and La Sal Mountains. With the exception of a few areas, the majority of Utah elk units are very tough draws with some units taking residents over 15 years to draw a tag. If you own 10,000 contiguous deeded acres, you can apply for a Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (similar to Colorado’s Ranching for Wildlife). With the CWMU designation, the ranch is awarded a certain number of elk tags in exchange for a allowing a small number of public hunters the opportunity to hunt your ranch. The seasons usually run the months of September through October and allows the owners and guests to hunt elk on the ranch with any weapon during the rut. In 2009, the Utah elk population was estimated at 67,000 by RMEF.
Deer
Utah is also know for some outstanding trophy deer hunting ranches. Trophy areas include the Bookcliffs and land around Monticello in the southern half of the state. Like elk, deer tags are also tough to come by in Utah, but in some cases the trophy quality can be worth the wait. Deer tags can also be given to the ranch owner if enrolled in Utah’s CWMU Program.
New Mexico
Elk
New Mexico is home to great elk populations in the northern part of the state and great trophy quality in the southwestern part. New Mexico is very landowner friendly with many New Mexico ranches receiving elk tags from the Division of Wildlife that can be used at their discretion. Licenses are designated Ranch Only (RO) or Unit Wide (UW). If you have UW tags, you must allow licensed public hunters access to your property. RO tags are only good for “your land” and no public access is allowed. In 2009, the New Mexico elk population was estimated at 80,000 by RMEF.
Deer
On larger ranches, landowners and guests are able to purchase deer tags to be used at their discretion depending on acreage, habitat, and herd numbers.
Hunting Ranches for Sale
