i'm not totally sure which ranch it was on, they went down around trinidad about three years ago for elk. They spent 13 points on the hunt. They didn't see much game on that section of the ranch and they said that the ranchers were kind of jerks about everything. They were upset about lack of game on the ranch and lack of help from the ranchers. And i think that for 13 points...i would be a little upset too.

my uncle is a landowner and he thinks that most of the RFW guys, especially in the trophy areas, are NOT gonna let you hunt an area of the ranch where the big bulls hangout. They're gonna let you hunt the worse piece on the ranch without telling you its the worst. i mean you might still see some game, but he thinks they're gonna save the big bulls for the paying customers. Cuz a lot of the RFW guys aren't just RFW, they're also outfitters. They're gonna save the big bulls for the boys that pay 7 or 8 grand to hunt, not the average joe who draws a tag from the DOW for 40 bucks.

that's the same uncle who went on the elk hunt, i'm thinking he formed this theory after he went on the elk hunt. But he also knows some of the RFW ranchers up around Craig so there might be some truth to it

I think your uncles theory is close to if not the whole truth. When you can make anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 during big game season why would you cut into your profit margin by letting a joe blow with his forty dollar tag take a 5,000 dollar bull???

yeah i think it makes sense too, They make lots of money off the guys that pay big bucks and i bet a lot of those guys come back the next year to hunt again if they're succuessful.

i'm sure some of those ranchers are even herding the animals to differents sides of the property. i've heard stories of some outfitters that get on four wheelers at night and herd elk across the county road over onto their ranch so their clients can be the only ones to hunt them. It's just wrong and its a shame that hunting has become more and more about money

Im assuming that your uncle hunted the hill ranch and that would piss me off to to burn 13 points and not get my trophy. I see your point about the rfw ranches wanting to make a profit from the animals on the land, but maybe it is just me but I have never herd of a bad experience in forbes, I should also say I am good friends with the local game warden down there so maybe that helps!

That's good, yeah i think they were on hill or forbes or one of those, i'm not totally sure which one they were on

If it was down by Trinidad and they had a bad experience as you stated it was probally the Crazy French Ranch.

Which is no longer in the RFW program effective end of 2006 I think.

To say the least there were some issues with this ranch and the public.

hmm that's interesting, they must have actually been crazy french people lol.

ok so i've done some research and i think it might have been the mountain meadows ranch which is actually close to pueblo not trinidad, my bad.

Hello I am new to the forum and glad to find it. I love to talk hunting. I was born and raised in Grand Junction Colorado right next to unit 40 and 61. Unit 61 has some great bulls in it and great genetics in 2008 I seen 2 bull taken with 20 inch 3rds one grossing 386 and the other 352. But there is alot of hunting pressure and you must do your homework and if you scout you scout correctly. Too many go right to where the elk are and push them out, scout from a distance. Now unit 40 is a great unit for big bulls. They have stopped the RFW in unit 40 and should get even better. The problem is all the private property and not a one them will let hunt without paying. Unit 40 also has good genetics and bulls get the age they require to get huge. Boths units have the potential of killing a great bull over 300 inches. And despite all the hunting shows and magazines killing a bull that scores 300 inches or better on public land is a great accomplishment. Good luck and great hunting. If you have any questions I will be more than happy to answer them.

I really would like to take a closer look at both of those units now. I think i can draw either one of those tags in the next year or so with the amount of points i have.....and if i can have a chance at a 320-350 plus bull then that would sure beat waiting 10 years to draw up in the corner. Do you have any specific places that i should check out?

Hello again. I guess what I would need to know next is how hard or what kind of a hunt are you looking to do. Like I said unit 40 has a ton of private. I would start with the west end around East and West Springcreek, Renegade Point, Haystack Canyon and Ryan Park. On the east end around the top of Bangs Canyon.And in unit 61 you want to check out Tenderfoot Mesa and down towards Bull Canyon. Also try Triangle Mesa and the North Fork Mesa Creek. Your best season to hunt Is the 1st elk only season. If you do any scouting in the summer you will not find very much sign because most of where I have told you about is not there summer range, but they will be there by archery season. Both areas have quite a few roads and can get you close to the elk. I will tell you though four wheelers are your worst enemy when it comes to elk, in my hunting areas if an elk heres a fourwheeler they wont bugle again for 3 days (just a tip). Let me know if you need anything else. Good luck and good hunting !