Apply for free deer or elk hunts by Aug. 16

MEEKER | Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Louisiana Purchase Ranch are offeringbig-game hunters an opportunity to apply for a limited number of free, unguided private property elk and deer hunts this fall.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications until the Aug. 16 deadline. The hunts are open to all eligible hunters with specific licenses. There is no cost associated with the application. Interested hunters must send applications to: Colorado Parks and Wildlife—Meeker Office, Attn: Garrett Smith/Louisiana Purchase Ranch, PO Box 1181 Meeker, CO 81641

The application can be found at the CPW website or visit: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/LouisianaPurchaseRanch-Special-Hunt-App.pdf

The Louisiana Purchase Ranch is within the White River elk herd unit, the largest elk population in the state of Colorado. The ranch features a variety of habitat, including sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, grasslands and wetlands.

Up to six hunters will be given access to Louisiana Purchase Ranch to hunt elk or deer during the 2019 hunting season. These six total hunters will consist of both elk and deer hunters, one of which may be an antlered elk and one of which may be an antlered deer.

The hunts will be available to hunters who already possess a 2019 elk (bull or cow) or deer (buck or doe) license valid for Game Management Unit 11/211 during the 2nd or 3rd Rifle Season. Hunters with both a deer and elk license may only hunt one species on the ranch.

The six chosen hunters will be notified by email soon after the deadline. In addition, those selected will receive specific details from CPW, including a hunt packet detailing special travel restrictions and hunting access rules.

The unique opportunity was developed through a perpetual conservation easement agreement between The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Louisiana Purchase Ranch. As part of their efforts in a large-scale big game habitat protection goal, CPW reached an agreement to allow limited public hunting access in perpetuity on the 2,677-acre ranch property, located in Moffat County in Game Management Units 11 and 211.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Crooked Wash Ranch are offering big-game hunters an opportunity to apply for a limited number of free unguided private property elk hunts this fall.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications until the Aug. 16 deadline. The hunts are open to all eligible hunters with specific licenses. There is no cost associated with the application. Interested hunters must send applications to: Colorado Parks and Wildlife—Meeker Office, Attn: Garrett Smith/Crooked Wash Ranch, PO Box 1181 Meeker, CO 81641.

The application can be found at the CPW website , or visit http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/CrookedWashRanch-Special-Hunt-App.pdf

Two hunts will be available to hunters who have already drawn a limited antlerless/cow elk license valid for Game Management Unit 11 during the 2019 muzzleloader big game hunting season.

Two hunts will also be available to hunters who have already drawn a limited antlerless/cow elk license for valid for Game Management Unit 11 during the 2019 1st rifle elk hunting season.

The Crooked Wash Ranch is within the White River elk herd unit, the largest elk population in the state of Colorado. The ranch features a variety of habitat, including sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, grasslands and wetlands.

The following hunts will be available and hunters should be specific about which of these hunting seasons/opportunities they are interested and eligible to apply for: TWO UNGUIDED ANTLERLESS (COW/CALF) ELK HUNTS DURING MUZZLELOADER SEASON, SEPT. 14-22, 2019

– Muzzleloader Season Dates:

– To be eligible, applicants must have drawn a limited elk license with the following hunt code: EF011O1M

– Applicants must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in muzzleloader hunt in application

– Two hunters will be selected from a pool of eligible applicants to hunt a cow/calf elk

TWO UNGUIDED ANTLERLESS (COW/CALF) ELK HUNTS DURING 1st RIFLE SEASON, OCT. 12-16, 2019

– To be eligible, applicants must have drawn a limited elk license with the following hunt code: EF011O1R

– Applicants must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in rifle hunt in application

– Two hunters will be selected from a pool of eligible applicants to hunt a cow/calf elk

The four chosen hunters will be notified by email soon after the deadline. In addition, those selected will receive specific details from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, including a hunt packet detailing special travel restrictions and hunting access rules.

The opportunity was developed through a perpetual conservation easement agreement between The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Crooked Wash Ranch. As part of their efforts in a large-scale big game habitat protection, local wildlife managers reached an agreement to allow limited public hunting access in perpetuity on the 9,796-acre ranch property, located in Moffat County in Game Management Unit 11.

For more information or questions, call Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Meeker office at 970-878-6090.

Special to the Herald Times