Photo by Dave Dietrich
try for its vast public lands, private ranches and herds. From Craig, Colorado Highway 13 heads north toward Wyoming and south to hunter-friendly towns like Meeker. Everywhere you go is as prime of hunting habitat as you’ll find anywhere. Head east from Craig on U.S. Highway 40 and you’ll arrive in Hayden, also rich in ranching and hunting heritage. Another 30 minutes east is Steamboat Springs, the seat of Routt County and one of the most beautiful resort towns in the Rocky Mountains. Known for its world-class ski area, Steamboat also is home to fifth-generation ranches and some of the best trout fishing and hunting in the state. With sagebrush-covered hills giving way to mountains thick with aspen and pine, like Moffat County, Routt County also is home to large elk and deer herds as well as a booming moose population. South of Steamboat on Colorado Highway 131 are the towns of Oak Creek, Phippsburg and Yampa, the “Gateway to the Flat Tops” and the wilderness area’s prime hunting habitat. Then comes North Park, a series of small towns known for its moose and fishing. Located an hour drive on Colorado Highway 14 from Steamboat and Laramie, Wyo., Walden is the largest city in North Park and the best place to load up on provisions. Its public lands are extensive, offering endless hunting opportunities. Farther south are such hunting hotbeds as Kremmling, Hot Sulphur Springs and Granby, which also carry vast herds of elk and deer. So no matter where you put your crosshairs, set them on Western Colorado and you’re already ahead of the game — in more ways than one.
Joe Wood 2655 County Road 12 Meeker, CO 81641 970-878-0233 970-688-0249
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visit www.cohunter.com for more