Colorado Elk, Mule Deer and Black Bear in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area and White River National Forest of Colorado GMU 24

Welcome to Colorado and the famous big game rich Flatops mountains.

At the edge of the Famous Flat Tops Wilderness Area, nestled deep in the heart of the White River National Forest of Colorado you'll find your hunting passion for deer and elk.

We are located in the center of the largest Elk herd in the world; we offers fully guided Big Game Hunting for Elk, Mule Deer and Black Bear in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area and White River National Forest of Colorado GMU 24. We also offers fully outfitted drop camps located deep into the remote wilderness for Archery, Muzzleloading and all four Rifle seasons. Remote wilderness, quality game and professional and ethical staff is what you can expect from our Colorado wilderness Big Game hunt. 

Our lodge and outfitting is proud to offer quality guided Big Game hunts and drop camps in the White River National Forest and Flat Tops Wilderness Area of northwest Colorado GMU 24. This letter is intended to provide potential and returning clients information about the upcoming hunting season. 

Hunt Pricing

Drop Camps - $1795 per person 

Price includes all camp equipment, food, pack-in, pack-out and all game packing. 

Guided Hunts - $2495 per person 

Price includes all guide, horse, meals, lodging and all game packing. 

Guided Hunt Information

$ 2495 per Hunter

$   495 per Non- Hunter

Prices include 1 guide per cabin, game packing, horses, meals and lodging.

Price does not include license fee

Where we hunt:

Our hunts are based out of the Lodge complex at the edge of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area in Colorado GMU 24 deep in the White River National Forest. Guided hunters will leave the Lodge each morning on horseback with their assigned guide and return each evening. The Flat Tops Wilderness Area (a federally designated Wilderness Area that prohibits any kind of motorized vehicles within its perimeter) and hunting areas are accessed only by horseback or on foot. Terrain in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area (a federally designated Wilderness Area that prohibits any kind of motorized vehicles within its perimeter) is very rugged with a mix of small open parks, Aspen covered slopes and dense spruce and pine forest. Our permitted area is home to the largest Elk herd in the world! In addition to the tremendous Elk habitat, there are Mule Deer, Moose and Black Bear in the country as well.

Accommodations:

Each hunting party will have their own cabin. The cabins can sleep anywhere from 3 to 5 hunters and have kitchen facilities, running hot and cold water, full bathrooms and are furnished with bedding and towels. There are laundry and ice facilities are on site as well. 

Meals:

Meals are served in the Lodge family or banquet style for both breakfast and Dinner during your entire stay. A pack lunch will be provided to each hunter for their day out in the field. 

Horse: 

Horses are the main means of transport to the hunting areas and are the used to pack game off of the mountain. Hunters should be prepared to ride for a minimum of one hour each way during their hunt every day. It is a good idea to spend a few hours on a horse prior to your hunt if you have never been on horseback before.

What to expect:

Colorado wilderness weather is very extreme during the fall months. We often see the lows well below freezing at night and mid 50’s to 60’s during the day time. It is essential to be prepared for all temperatures and moisture conditions. Layering warm waterproof clothing is the best way to accomplish this. Dress with a thermal base layer, followed with a light weight t-shirt, then a warm hoodie or sweatshirt and covered with an insulated waterproof shell. 

Listed are items you should have for your Colorado Guided Elk hunt;

License (GMU024)

Colorado DOW Big Game Hunting brochure

Rifle (Sighted in at 2” high at 100 yards.)

Insulated waterproof hunting boots

Camp Shoes

Thermal Underwear

Hunting clothing

Socks (1 ½ per sets day)

500sq. in of Blaze Orange 

(Orange camouflage is not allowed)

Blaze Orange Hat

Stocking Hat

Waterproof Thermal Gloves

Waterproof Insulated Coat

Sweatshirts (layered clothing)

Toiletries (Toothbrush, soap, prescriptions

In addition to the items listed above each hunter should carry a day pack that includes this suggested game cleaning gear and survival items.

1 box ammo

2 knifes

Sharpening stone

Bone saw (To cut sternum and pelvic bones)

Pen or pencil (license must be signed upon harvest and notes for outfitter at camp)

Binoculars

Lighter

Compass or GPS unit

Topo map (we have available Creek Lodge)

Fire starting material (paper, candle) 

Emergency space blanket

Small first aid kit

Orange marking tape

Snacks

Water bottle

Please allow to arrive at the Lodge at least one day prior to the beginning of the season so that staff can size you up to a horse and saddle and your body can acclimatize to the Rocky Mountain elevation. 

Wilderness Drop Camps

Drop Camp Information

$ 1795 per Hunter

$   495 per Non- Hunter

Prices include all packing services, food and camp equipment

Price does not include license fee.

Our drop camps are located anywhere from 2 to 5 miles deep into the White River National Forest and the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. Every campsite is located in great Elk habitat allowing hunters the opportunity to hunt directly from camp without the need for horses or miles of hiking. The camps can accommodate anywhere from 2 to 8 hunters each season. Camps will have 2 tents onsite. One tent will house the cooking facilities while the other will be for geared up for sleeping. 

The drop camps are set in their permitted area prior to your arrival and will include the following equipment;

Tents

Stove

Heaters

Lanterns

Cooking Pots and Pans

Paper Goods

Cots

First Aid Kit

GPS Emergency Unit

Water Carrying Container

Toilet Seat 

All of our drop camp sites are located next to a water source. Most of these water sources are small springs and produce good water. It is the hunter responsibility to purify the water for safe consumption. 

All heating, lighting and cooking equipment is fueled by propane for camp comfort and eliminates the need for a camp fire or wood burning stove. 

When you arrive at the Lodge, staff will help organize your gear for the pack in, discuss the basics of riding, fit you to a horse and saddle, discuss legal and ethical hunting regulations and explain proper Wilderness Area camp use. This procedure usually takes an hour or more too complete so it’s important for you to arrive a couple of hours prior to your “pack-in time”. It is also important to schedule a “pack-in time” at least 1 to 2 days before the season starts. There is no extra charge for time in camp before or after the hunting season. 

Since all camps are packed in via horse, weight consideration is a very important part of your pre-trip planning.

All hunters will only be allowed to take to camp;

1 bag (weight not to exceed 35 lbs.)

1 small day pack (to be carried with you, on your horse)

Sleeping bag 

Rifle

A good way to achieve these weight requirements is to pack with your entire hunting party and make sure that the camp is not doubling up on items that can be shared. 

Colorado wilderness weather is very extreme during the fall months. We often see the lows well below freezing at night and mid 50’s to 60’s during the day time. It is essential to be prepared for all temperatures and moisture conditions. Layering warm waterproof clothing is the best way to accomplish this. Dress with a thermal base layer, followed with a light weight t-shirt, then a warm hoodie or sweatshirt and covered with an insulated waterproof shell. 

Listed are items you should have for your Colorado drop camp Elk hunt;

License (GMU024)

Colorado DOW Big Game Hunting brochure

Rifle (Sighted in at 2” high at 100 yards.)

Insulated waterproof hunting boots

Camp Shoes

Thermal Underwear

Hunting clothing

Socks (1 ½ per sets day)

Sleeping Bag (rated below zero)

500sq. in of Blaze Orange 

(Orange camouflage is not allowed)

Blaze Orange Hat

Stocking Hat

Waterproof Thermal Gloves

Waterproof Insulated Coat

Sweatshirts (layered clothing)

Toiletries (Toothbrush, soap, prescriptions)

In addition to the items listed above each hunter should carry a day pack that includes this suggested game cleaning gear and survival items.

1 box ammunition

2 knifes

Sharpening stone

Bone saw (To cut sternum and pelvic bones)

Pen or pencil (license must be signed upon harvest and notes for outfitter at camp)

Binoculars

Lighter

Compass or GPS unit 

Topo map (We have available)

Fire starting material (paper, candle)

Emergency space blanket

Small first aid kit

Orange marking tape

Snacks

Water bottle

Please allow to be packed in at least one day prior to the beginning of the season and one day after the season concludes. 

Cabins

Our Lodge is surrounded by 7 historic log cabins that were built in the 1930s' and have provided accommodation to many visitors to the White River National Forest and Flat Tops Wilderness Area. The cabins maintain their rustic and historic character but also provide guests some comfortable features to enhance your stay at. The cabins are primarily for our guided hunters but if there are extras they can be rented.

All of the cabins have complete bathrooms including toilets, sinks and showers as well as kitchen and dining areas. A refrigerator, dishes, charcoal BBQ and outdoor picnic area are also included with the cabins and provide for a very relaxed and enjoyable stay with us. 

Season Dates

Method of TakeDatesLicense

ArcheryAugust 28 - September 26Draw Only*

MuzzleloadingSeptember 11 - 19Draw Only*

1st Season Rifle (Elk Only)October 15 – 19Draw Only*

2nd Season Rifle (Combined)October 23 - 30Over-the -Counter

3rd Season Rifle (Combined )November 5 – 13Over-the -Counter

4th Season Rifle (Combined)November 16 - 20Draw Only*

*Draw Only licenses are available through the Division of Wildlife’s application process. Applications for theses hunts are due the first Tuesday in April, followed by leftover tags available on a first come first serve basis on August 9th.

This is unique to the Flatops and one GMU north of Craig. The over the counter archery license is for private land only. The public land archery license is a 66% draw success license and must be applied for in April.

Limited License/Preference Points page

Although the deadline is over, there is still a chance to obtain licenses. There are deer and elk licenses left over. See the Leftover List. You may also buy over the counter licenses. 

The Regulations Brochure can be viewed online and printed.

Nonresidents apply at the same time and on the same application forms as resident hunters. They may purchase an over-the-counter license just the same as resident hunters. 

 Maps of Colorado: Includes local, state and federal government, Colorado counties, political and administrative districts, commercial map sites and GIS related links. 

 U.S. Forest Service: Information and maps 

 USGS: Topographic Maps 

 Colorado Bureau of Land Management: Information and maps

More Links 

 Click» for more big game hunting links and Colorado hunting information

License Application Deadline March 31st with only a few left over licenses after that! 

Additionally, persons aged 19 - 64 are required to buy a Habitat Stamp for $10 the first Colorado hunting licenses purchased that year.

Hunter Safety Card required for hunters born after 1949. It is not required to be a Colorado Hunter Safety Card it can be from another state. There is also an on-line hunter Safety Class available.

The link to the Colorado Game & Fish web page is: http://wildlife.state.co.us/

303-297-1192 and mailing address is 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216

Additionally, persons aged 19 - 64 are required to buy a Habitat Stamp for $10 the first Colorado hunting licenses purchased that year.

Hunter Safety Card required for hunters born after 1949. It is not required to be a Colorado Hunter Safety Card it can be from another state. There is also an on-line hunter Safety Class available.

The link to the Colorado Game & Fish web page is: http://wildlife.state.co.us/

303-297-1192 and mailing address is 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216

Hunt ID: CO-ElkMDeerBearMoose-All-Buford-RCL-Dan

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