The 2012 Rendezvous included a three-day, packed agenda of fly fishing demos and workshops. Within the Rendezvous, Winterhawk staff had the opportunity to see and demo the latest Orvis Products and participate in several workshops focused on enhancing fly fishing skills. The workshops included teaching techniques, nymphing and water safety. The team also participated in a “best practices” session with other guides and clients.  The Rendezvous also offered the opportunity to meet many other guides from across the western states to share experiences, skills and knowledge.

We look forward to sharing this information with our clients and the rest of our team this upcoming season! If you’re looking for an unforgettable fly fishing adventure this summer, look no further than the wilderness horseback experience we offer at Wintherhawk. We are an Orvis endorsed outfitter and have been guiding clients for 30 years. We can tailor a trip to the needs of any group.

For more information on our Orvis fly fishing expeditions, check out our fishing page. If you have questions, contact us on our website or call us at 970-487-3011.

In this next installment, we welcome a guest column from Bill Miller, founder of the website, OutfittersRating.com. Bill has years of experience with both outfitters and their clients. Here’s what he has to say about preparation for a hunt.

What Your Outfitter Expects From You

By Bill Miller

The reason for OutfittersRating.com is to offer every possible assistance in helping you find a reputable hunting outfitter so you can enjoy the anticipation of and participation in every outfitted hunt you take. As the motto says, “Trust, but verify.” But what tools does the outfitter have to check up on you?

In reality he has very few – especially when you consider the high percentage of hunts booked on-line and over the phone these days. At least when most hunts used to be booked at sport shows, the outfitter had a chance to eyeball his potential customers when they came by his booth. After talking to them and giving a once over, he could decide how hard he was going to work to sell a hunt. While there usually wasn’t a sign up in the back of the booth that read, “We have the right to deny service to anyone,” it was definitely an implied motto of doing a deal.

So what does an outfitter/guide hope he can expect in his hunters? Well these five have to be at the top of the list:

1)    They are in shape. – If you’re spending thousands on a hunt … increasingly tens of thousands these days … take the trip seriously enough to get yourself into at least modestly good condition. When the guide has peeked over the ridge and spotted a bull within range in the next bowl, he has done his job. If you can’t get there or arrive so winded you can’t make the shot, it’s not his fault.

2)    They are able to shoot. – Firearm or bow, it’s up to you to be safe, familiar with and capable of making a reasonable shot. The story of hunters handing their guide the rifle or the bow and asking them to make the shot is not just a Mountain Legend. It happens, but a reputable guide simply won’t do it. It’s up to you to prepare for the hunt and make the shot.

3)    They read the gear list. – Too many hunters are like young fathers on Christmas Eve and take the attitude, “Directions!?! I don’t need any stinking directions?” That packet or website full of extremely valuable information the outfitter has so painstakingly compiled is tossed aside or completely ignored. Then they show up with way too much gear to be ferried into camp or with the wrong gear for the season. Why? Because they didn’t bother to read the instructions.

4)    They understand what can be controlled and what can’t. – If the outfitter has provided everything he promised when you booked the hunt, then he’s done all he can to make your hunt a success. He can not control the weather or the movement of the animals. A million things can arise beyond his control like forest fires, trespassers, stock getting injured, floods, lightning strikes, etc., etc., etc.. If the unexpected and uncontrollable happens and the outfitter makes an honest effort to adapt and overcome, then he’s done all he can, and you have no right to blame him.

5)    They tip based on the effort. – Be honest in tipping the help including your guide, wranglers, packers, cook and housekeeping staff. And if in doubt, err on the side of generosity. And tip in cash or add it to the bill at the end of the hunt. Experienced, serious guides do not need another knife or set of binoculars or even a scoped rifle. None of these jobs are overly high-paying. They need the money.

So think it over. If there were a HuntingClientsRating.com, what would be your score?

Check out our previous articles in this series on Shooting Practice, Ethical Shooting and Getting in Shape for an Elk Hunt.

We’ve again teamed up with the awesome folks at Elk101.com to put together these great prize packages. Here’s what the winners will receive:

First Prize

• Fully Guided archery or rifle elk hunt with Winterhawk Outfitters
• Round trip airfare to the Vail/Eagle airport
• Round trip transportation to base camp
• Colorado elk license
• Your choice of a Hoyt Bow or Browning X-Bolt Rifle
• $1000 Shoulder Elk Mount by Gene Ray Taxidermy
• $750 Gift Certificate for Sitka Gear
• $250 Gift Certificate for Danner Boots
• $250 Gift Certificate at the Winterhawk Online Store
• Elk101.com Prize Package of elk calls, hunting knife and gear
• A case of wine from Adobe Road winery

Second Prize

• A private land, Texas whitetail and hog hunt for 1
• A $500 gift certificate to the Keystone Country Store

Third Prize

• A five-day summer horseback and fishing vacation for a family of four with Winterhawk Outfitters
• A free, Orvis fly fishing rod

To enter the 2012 Winterhawk/Elk101 “Let’s Go Hunting” Sweepstakes, visit our Sweepstakes Page. Good luck and we hope to see you here in the Flat Tops soon!

We’d also like to congratulate Lyle Ruport from Minnesota on winning the 2011 Sweepstakes. Lyle will be hunting with us here in September! See you soon, Lyle!

If you hunted in Colorado last fall, you’re probably aware of the benefits and the challenges that the heavy snowpack presented. In September, areas above timberline still carried the wet, lush grasses of June and July. Big game populations were able to pack on a significant amount of fat throughout the summer and even into the autumn months. There was plenty of food and water. Going into the winter, herds were in excellent condition.

Late September, 2011 - still lush and green

The challenge for hunters last year, was locating the animals. Elk herds stayed at lower elevations much later than usual. They waited for late snowmelt to migrate back up to their high-alpine, summer haunts. When they finally reached these areas, it was already mid to late summer. The lush, green conditions then lasted through September and even into early October, rather than drying up and turning brown as things often do by the end of August. This allowed the elk to stay high and scattered during the early hunting seasons, forcing hunters to work hard. Fortunately, some cold weather and snow finally kicked the rut and migrations into gear, creating great hunting opportunities.

The story will be much different in 2012. Colorado typically sees it’s heaviest snowfall in March, adding roughly 20% of its annual snowpack during that month. This year, there were good storms in February, but March was warm and dry.  Currently, most areas of the state are well below 50% of average for snowpack. As with any situation, this will bring both benefits and challenges to hunters.

On the positive side, the herds had an easy winter. They were fat going into the year and in most areas, they did not have to work as hard to survive. And unlike the long runoff last year that kept them from entering their summer ranges, the runoff this year will be short and sweet. Most summer ranges should be free of snow by early June.

We should expect to see elk and mule deer in their typical summer habitat throughout the warm months. Compared to last year, patterns will be much more like normal. When things begin to dry up in August, perhaps even a few weeks earlier than usual, animals will begin to concentrate in areas with remaining water and reliable food sources. For hunters who are used to hunting in dry, Rocky Mountain conditions, this could be an ideal year. Animals could be much more concentrated and easier to locate than last year.

Of course, the weather during hunting seasons this fall could do anything. Hunters must still be ready to adapt to any situation. For those that love elk and mule deer hunting in Colorado’s high country, the unpredictability of the weather is part of the excitement and the challenge. But all things considered, we’re coming off a relatively mild winter and the herds should be in great health. We have a great hunt to look forward to in Colorado this year!

If you haven’t started preparing, don’t wait any longer! Get in shape and practice your weapon consistently (see our recent posts on these subjects). The more prepared you are, the more fun you’ll have and the better chance of success you’ll have.

Click here for more info on Winterhawk hunts. If you have questions, contact us on our web site or call us at 970-487-3011.

For many hunters who come to the Rockies in pursuit of elk, it may be one of the most physically demanding hunts they ever take on. Elk live in steep, rugged places and the better shape a hunter is in, the better their chances are of being successful. Besides the success factor, being in good physical condition will certainly make your hunt more enjoyable.

We began writing this “New Year’s Resolutions” series after seeing some very preventable and frustrating mistakes while guiding hunters over the past several seasons. In an effort to help hunters be better prepared for an elk hunt, we’re offering our thoughts on the subjects of shooting practice, ethical shot selection and now, physical conditioning. We are certainly not the final word on any of these subjects, but we hope that we can inspire you to be ready to kill an elk on your next hunt.

When it comes to conditioning, it’s important to make a plan for yourself that’s attainable. While being a marathon runner or Iron-Man triathlete would be ideal, for many people, that’s simply not realistic. Start where you are. We would suggest consulting with a trainer at a local gym to help you get started. Make a workout plan that fits your ability level. If you can’t keep up with it, the plan will have no chance of working.

With that said, it is extremely important to challenge yourself. Tailor a workout routine to your abilities, but continually push yourself to get better. We’ve seen many hunters miss opportunities over the years because of poor physical conditioning. They simply couldn’t get to where they needed to be in order to get a shot. If you’re making the time and financial investment to hunt elk in Colorado, it is certainly worth it to be in shape when you get here.

We strongly recommend a workout routine with a mix of cardio and strength training. In our experience, strength training is the most critical piece. While cardio is great preparation for the altitude, even the best runners will wear down after a few days of hunting if their legs aren’t strong. When planning your workout routine, make sure you adequately focus on things like squats, leg presses and lunges. Get your legs in shape!

In your cardio workouts, interval training is the best way to prepare for an elk hunt. Interval training features short periods of very high intensity, followed by periods of low intensity. This closely simulates common elk hunting situations – making fast climbs in steep terrain to get into position, and then settling quickly for a shot.

Make a commitment now to begin a challenging and realistic workout routine. You can do it, and when you’re sucking for air and feeling the burn in your legs while trying to get within range of a bull elk, you will be glad you did!

For more information on hunts with Winterhawk, visit our hunting page on our website. If you have any questions, give us a call at 970-487-3011 or contact us online.

At Winterhawk Outfitters, we take the wounding of game very seriously. A clean kill, as it should be for any hunter, is of very high importance. No matter how heavily your heart might be pounding and no matter how nervous you might be with a rush of bull fever, simply aiming for the middle and pulling the trigger is never an option.

Every hunter must be confident in his or her ability to pick a very specific point of aim and deliver an accurate shot. Here are a few tips on shot placement for elk and taking ethical shots in what might be a new, high alpine environment.

Although an elk might seem huge and is certainly larger than any whitetail you’ve ever seen, a well-placed shot in the vitals still takes accuracy and good judgment. First, analyze this bull elk and imagine the exact spot you would pick as your point of aim:

Did you hone in on a specific point? Now remember that spot. Next, let’s take look at this diagram, showing the vitals and bone structure of a deer, which will mirror that of an elk. Notice where the heart is, and where the lungs sit, top and bottom, left and right.

After examining this diagram, would you change your point of aim? Many hunters tend to hit elk either too far back or too high. As you can see, if you drew a line up the animal’s leg and continued straight up the body, the heart lies right on that line, less than halfway up the chest.

Aiming about a third of the way up the chest and right on the front leg crease not only gives hunters a great shot at the top of the heart, but it also provides the most room for error. The last thing you want to do is hit an elk behind the lungs into the gut. And hitting too high can mean a one-lung hit or a hit in the “no-man’s land” between the lungs and spine. Any of these scenarios will often result in an unrecoverable animal.

You will also notice that the front leg angles forward toward the front of the chest and then joints back toward the shoulder blade, forming a “V” that exposes most of the vitals in a broadside position. That means archery hunters can take advantage of this same point of aim, a bone-free window into the heart.

So what about shots that aren’t broadside? Both archery and rifle hunters have a great shot with quartering away animals. Just remember, your point of aim will now be further back. The steeper the angle, the further back your point of aim will be. Just visualize the path of your arrow or bullet through the elk’s vital area from this angle (see photo below). Based on this angle, your point of aim will probably be a few inches behind the crease.

Archery hunters are always advised not to take a shot on an elk that is quartering toward the hunter. When an elk is angling toward you, the front leg bone obstructs the vital area (see photo below). An archer should always wait for a better shot. Rifle hunters may be able to take this shot if they are confident in their rifle’s ballistic ability to pierce bone at the given distance. However, taking this shot with a rifle will spoil a significant amount of shoulder meat.

With a specific idea of your point of aim, hunters must then take into account their shooting ability. A hunter should know his or her limits and pass any shot where they do not feel completely confident in making a clean kill. If you’ve been practicing all year, you should know exactly what your abilities and limits are. Again, please see our previous article on shooting practice.

When you’re in the field, don’t let adrenaline get the best of you and hastily fling lead into the air. If you’re not sure of the shot, pass it. If you do feel confident, relax, pick your exact point of aim and execute a great shot.

If you have any questions about elk or mule deer hunts with Winterhawk Outfitters, call us at 970-487-3011 or contact us online. You can also find information on our hunting page.

If you or a loved one served in the armed forces in Iraq or Afghanistan in 2011, please give us a call at 970-487-3011 or contact us online. We’d be happy to discuss the details with you and help arrange the big game hunt of a lifetime.

To all of our nation’s veterans and to those currently serving, we thank you!

Even if you plan to purchase an over-the-counter tag, applying for a preference point is still a great idea. Building up preference points now will ensure your ability to draw a great tag in the future. And in Colorado, gaining preference points is extremely cheap when compared to many other western states.

The cost of a preference point in Colorado is no more than a $25 point fee and a $3 application fee. The rest of the license cost is refunded when you receive your point. And if you had a big game or annual fishing license last year, the $25 fee is waived. Next to the large fees charged by many other western states, this makes building points in Colorado a bargain.

The application process might seem daunting at first if you’ve never tried it. But you’ll soon discover that it’s fairly quick and easy. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call. We’d be happy to walk you through the application process.

In units 25 and 26, where we hunt in the Flat Tops Wilderness, most elk licenses are sold over the counter. Archery, second rifle and third rifle licenses are unlimited and can be purchased online, at Colorado sporting goods stores or anywhere licenses are sold.

In our local Flat Tops units, muzzleloading and first rifle seasons are by limited drawing only. However, don’t be scared away by the drawing process. It’s easy and can be completed online in just a few minutes. These are great hunts that shouldn’t be overlooked!

First, the muzzleloader season typically falls during mid-September. This is the beginning of the elk rut! It’s a great time to be in the woods, as the elk are starting to become vocal. In 2011, about 37% of applicants with three preference points were able to draw this tag. Those with four or more points all drew the tag. So, while three points gives you a shot, it would help to have four or more points to draw this license. If you’re interested in an excellent muzzleloader hunt, don’t wait to start building those points!

Next, the first rifle season is a great limited hunt that can often be drawn without any preference points in our area. In fact, 64% of applicants with no points drew this tag in 2011. This first rifle season falls in mid October. The elk can still be vocal this time of year and with fewer hunters in the woods, there is less pressure on the elk. And in case you haven’t heard, kids hunt FREE during the first rifle season! If you’re interested, give us a call for details.

All deer licenses in Colorado are by drawing only. Typically, deer tags in our area are very easy to draw. The one exception is the high country rifle season in early September. This tag can take a non-resident six points to draw. However, if you’re interested in a spectacular hunt for a big mule deer buck, it’s certainly worth the points.

Click here for more information from the DPW on the 2012 hunting seasons. If you have questions about hunts with Winterhawk Outfitters, give us a call at 970-487-3011 or contact us online. You can also visit our hunting page.

The trout that live in these environments are extremely wary and sensitive to outside movements. They have very little protection when feeding and are easily seen by raptors and other predators. They survive by being extremely vigilant in spotting intruders from the banks or from the air.

Techniques for fishing these waters begin with a careful approach. Simply walking up to the water’s edge will send trout-shaped shadows darting for the far side. First, study the water from a distance and decide where you intend to make your first cast. Then, imagine a 20-degree angle coming from the surface of the water. Keep your head below that imaginary line as you approach. The closer to the water you get, the lower to the ground you’ll have to go.

If fishing a stream, always start on the downstream side and work your way upstream. Remember that the trout are facing upstream, intercepting insects as they arrive on the current. Positioning yourself below the trout and casting up to them gives an additional layer to your concealment.

Only approach as close as necessary in order to cast. Depending on the situation, you may be forced to crawl into position or cast from your knees several yards back from the bank. This is very true in open or grassy areas where your silhouette will stick out. Whatever you do, keep a low profile and resist any temptation to stand up and peer into the water. The trout will spot you first and they never look twice.

Keep in mind that trees or tall brush surrounding a body of water can work to your advantage. These will break up your outline and allow you to move more freely. A lake in the timber can be easy to move around, especially if it’s deep. But even with a backdrop, it’s best to keep your movements slow and limited.

Once in position, you must execute a delicate cast that won’t spook a cagey cutthroat. Around beaver ponds or open streams, where you’re most likely to be kneeling, casting can be difficult. Be sure and keep your elbow above shoulder level and your forearm at 12 o’clock. This will keep your line high and help you avoid snagging grass or brush behind you.

Then, on your last forward motion as you’re about to place the fly on the water, stop your casting motion abruptly and even draw back slightly instead of following through to the water’s surface. The abrupt stop in your motion and slight retraction will stop your fly in mid air. Your fly will then float the last couple of feet, straight down to the glassy surface as gently as a snowflake.

When you get a strike or hook a fish, the rules don’t change. Keep yourself low and fight the fish from the same position. Each spot can produce a number of fish as long as you don’t stand up and announce your presence to the rest. A grassy bank makes it easy to stay on your knees and slide the fish right up into your lap. If you’re releasing the trout, stay on your hands and knees and slowly reach out to place it back in the water. You can then continue fishing the same hole from your concealed position.

Fishing these waters has the potential to be frustrating as you watch fish evacuate each hole you approach. But with a low profile and a gentle cast, every spot has the potential to produce a surprising number of trout.

For information on Winterhawk Outfitter’s ORVIS endorsed, summer fly fishing expeditions, give us a call at 970-487-3011 or contact us online. You can also find information on our fishing page.

2011 Early Archery Elk

Winterhawk Outfitters is currently offering a special on our early archery elk hunts! Guided hunts during the first and second weeks of archery season are now being offered for $3,400, a savings of $1,000!

Drop camps during the first two weeks of archery season are being offered for $1,600 (4 or more hunters) or $2,000 (3 or fewer hunters), a savings of $600!

We’re offering a significant discount on these hunts in an effort to generate more interest in the early season. The late archery hunts are popular due to their close proximity to the rut. While it’s understandable that the rut draws a great deal of interest, these early seasons are a fantastic time to hunt elk!

One of the great benefits of hunting the first weeks of the year is that there has been no hunting pressure on the elk since last fall. This means an opportunity to hunt elk that are almost completely unpressured.

Our hunting tactics tend to be a little different this time of year as well. Those looking for a high adventure hunt will certainly enjoy the style of hunting that the early season affords. The approach often includes fast-paced spot-and-stalk or ambush tactics, setting up on well known travel routes and cow calling to close the distance. Bulls are often less wary this time of year and cow calling can be extremely effective.

As an added bonus, the early season is a beautiful time of year to be in the high country. Early September is spectacular in Colorado, typically with mild days and crisp nights.

Our hope in offering these discounts is to prove how exciting and productive the early archery hunts can be. If you’re interested or have questions, please give us a call at 970-487-3011 or contact us online. You can also check out our archery page for dates and details.