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It’s no secret that Colorado has more elk than any other state. During
the 2002 season, approximately 230,000 wapiti-chasers harvested just over
61,000 animals for a statewide success rate of 27 percent. Some regions
did better overall, such as Unit 441 in northwestern Colorado, which had
a 50 percent success rate. But there’s one hunting destination in Unit 28
near the town of Parshall that in 2003 enjoyed just over 80 percent
success. It’s called Williams Peak Ranch.
Owned and operated by Mike Miniat, the Williams Peak Ranch consists of
7,000 privately owned acres and has access to another 7,000 leased acres
all in northcentral Colorado. The land consists of “black” timber, sage,
grass and hay meadows, plus aspen laced with streams and ponds. The
property holds an impressive number of elk, including bulls ranging into the
low-300 class. I hunted the rifle season in early October on Williams
Peak Ranch with five other hunters. In five days we took a total of six
elk (three bulls and three cows). The largest bull was a 6 x 7 that
scored 311 points.
According to Miniat, who carefully manages the herd with detailed
input from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, his hunting clients enjoy a
high success rate for three reasons. First, there are large numbers of
elk on his property. Second, his guides are local ranchers and cowboys
who know the terrain and know the elk herd's habits. And, third, his
clients tend to be seasoned hunters who know how to shoot.
Just consider how one hunter and his guide this past season spent
nearly two hours in the black timber surrounded so closely by an elk herd
they couldn’t move for fear of being detected. Finally, a large bull gave
the hunter a shot at roughly 70 yards. The only difficulty was, the shot
was between pines that left a window about a foot wide! Another hunter
took a 5 x 5 walking down a slope at 350 yards. My own bull went down at
264 yards. All that is to illustrate that being able to shoot well
certainly helps Miniat’s success ratio.
Elk hunts at Williams Peak Ranch begin well before dawn, with the
guides picking up the hunters after breakfast and taking them to the area
they’ll be hunting that morning. Rifles are loaded at legal shooting
light, and the hunt may entail stillhunting in black timber, watching a
meadow that has a water source, glassing a large aspen stand or working a
mix of aspen and sage dissected by several draws. It helps to be in shape
because a morning’s hunt could easily consist of hiking 10 to 12 miles in
all, although five to seven is more standard. Then again, you might walk
only two or three, depending on where your guide thinks the elk are.
In most cases, hunters are back at the lodge by late morning. Lunch is
served and then followed by whatever the hunter and guide want to do. You
can take a nap, get back out in the woods, fly fish for trout on the Williams Fork River or hunt ducks if the season coincides with your hunt. I was there
during duck season and enjoyed shooting waterfowl during the midday
break.
The late afternoon hunt usually begins around 3 pm. This time of day
frequently sees hunters encountering running herds that have been moved
out of black timber or aspen bunches by other hunters on adjoining
ranches. Don’t be surprised if you must run to head these herds off. Your
guide may be able to stop a bull with a cow call, leaving you to take a kneeling
shot. Be prepared.
Once your elk is down, your guide will field dress it and have it
retrieved by ATV or 4wd pickup truck, depending on where the carcass is.
Miniat will have it prepped for the taxidermist and even deliver the head
to one in a nearby town and send the meat to the butcher for you.
Accommodations are in a comfortable lodge with single and double
bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room with satellite TV, billiards
table, hot tub and steam bath. A maximum of six hunters is allowed. Meals
are prepared by Chef Mikey, one of Colorado’s most sought-after, private
gourmet chefs. We dined on Maine lobster (flown in live), pheasant, elk
tenderloin, venison, bear stew and the like. Fine wines, beer,
single-malt scotches and other alcoholic beverages are available. (Miniat
takes your alcohol order before you arrive, so what you want is waiting
for you.) Accommodations, meals and all beverages are included in the
prices listed below.
Licenses and tags are not a problem. Bull elk tags for the second,
third and fourth rifle seasons are typically available over-the-counter.
Hunters must apply for the first rifle season, but Miniat says these
licenses are not difficult to draw because they are mostly for private
land. And if hunters are unsuccessful drawing a permit, Miniat has
private landowner tags available that he will provide at no additional
charge. Figuring out which license you should get, however, can be
confusing, so Miniat recommends you let him take care of your tags for
you. You should commit to a hunt on Williams Peak Ranch for 2004
absolutely no later than February to ensure you get a slot.
Muzzleloader season is in mid-September. Colorado’s four rifle seasons
start the second week of October and run into mid-November. Mule deer
hunters may also wish to consider Williams Peak Ranch, which is home to
some fine mulies. During our elk hunt, we saw mulie bucks that most
hunters would be proud to take.
The cost of a hunt here isn’t bad. Prices include guide fee,
accommodations, gourmet meals and all beverages. Hunts run for five days,
but Miniat will allow an unsuccessful hunter some extra time if
necessary. A cow elk hunt is $3,000. Bull elk hunts run $5,000. A combo
bull and cow elk hunt is $6,500. To hunt a mule deer buck and a cow elk, the
cost is $5,500. And a mule-deer-buck hunt only runs $4,000. Miniat is
very flexible and is willing to customize hunts based on your physical
capabilities. He can also help with meat processing, provide
transportation to and from the airport and even arrange for other
activities during your stay.
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