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GUIDE SERVICE WEST ELK WILDERNESS OUTFITTERS Pack trips and horseback trail rides and trout fishing in Colorado's West Elk Wilderness and Fossil Ridge Wilderness! Full service big game outfitter, guided hunts and drop camps. Authentic Colorado vacations with Gunnison country's best adventure outfitter! Wilderness horseback camping adventures, in the most spectacular part of the Rocky Mountains. September 05, 2010 |
Home Gunnison Country Guide Service (unit 55) Hunt Information West Elk Wilderness Outfitters (unit 54) Hunt Information Pack Trips Trail Rides Hunting Fishing Slide Show Hunting Photo Gallery 2007 and 2008 Gunnison Country Guide Service Photo Gallery 2006 West Elk Wilderness Photo Gallery 2006 Hunting Photo Gallery 2005 Hunting Photo Gallery 2004 Seasons Greetings Newsletter 2004 Hunting Photo Gallery 2002 Testimonials Rates Speaking Engagements Links Our Other Website Colorado State Directory John Nelson P.O. Box 1443 Gunnison, Colorado 81230 (970) 641-2830 Email: John Nelson packtrip@adelphia.net |
 WEATHER & WILDLIFE: It's definitely winter here. We had a heavy dump of snow in early December and the temperatures dropped to over 20 degrees below zero. Since then it has warmed up to either side of zero for the lows each morning, and we have mostly beautiful sunny days. The snow has settled, but the cold has kept it from melting off and it is a white Christmas here.The big game herds have moved down onto their winter ranges, and it is not uncommon to see mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and antelope from the highways. It is impressive to see the number of large trophy mule deer bucks that have come out of the woodwork. As usual, we have a herd of muleys feeding in our yard at night. Some even visit the bird feeders along with a cottontail rabbit or two and of course, a variety of feathered friends. This started out like it could have been a very tough winter for the herds, but recent snows have dodged the Gunnison Valley and the animals seem to be wintering well at this time. There is still a lot of winter left to go here, and we will continue to monitor the herds' condition. The horses and mules have been on a full winter ration of hay since late November, and a ton of hay (plus some) disappears every third day. WINNERS AGAIN: For the fourth year in a row, we've been awarded the "PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD" for "BEST ADVENTURE OUTFITTER". This is an award voted on by visitors and members of the local community, and it is Presented by the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce. We have won it every year since the program began in 2001. Of course, our greatest awards are the letters and emails that you send saying you had a good time here, and the fact that so many of you return to join us again. We really do appreciate your business and value your trust and friendship. We can't say, "Thanks" enough. ON THE ROAD: We are planning a couple of shows this year. We will have a booth again at the Bass Prro Shops Outdoor World in Springfield, MO for the annual Rendezvous For Outfitters and the local Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation banquet from Feb. 26 - 28, 2005. Then we will go to Houston, TX on April 15 - 17, 2005, for the National Rifle Association Annual Meetings & Exhibits. We will be in booth #2633. BUSMAN'S HOLIDAYS: My friend and partner Gary Ballard, my wife Linda, and I traveled to Ontario, Canada for a whitetail deer and wolf hunt. It was one of those "should have been here last week" hunts, and we struggled to even see a deer despite the outfitter's and our best efforts. But, that's hunting! Then we all drew javelina tags in Arizona for early February 2005, during the HAM (handgun, archery, or muzzleloader) season. Linda and I plan to hunt those little porkers with a pistol. COWBOY POETRY: I will be performing at the Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Arvada, CO on January 13 - 16, 2005. This is one of the bigger gatherings, and has grown into a sell out crowd in recent years. Then Linda and I will travel to Yankton, SD on Feb. 5th for the local chapter banquet of the Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation where I will be on the banquet program. I have produced a video of my poetry filmed in our high summer camp on Fossil Ridge and other locations and an audio CD of many of my favorite poems. I am including an order form for your convenience. CHRISTMAS POEM: I have included my 2004 Christmas Poem which has become a tradition here for many years now. Often I like to write humorous material, but sometimes a theme just comes naturally and easily and just seems right. I was honored and humbled to be asked to recite a poem (My Last Will) at my friend and fellow outfitter Don Steen bergen's funeral last April. Don loved his mules and had four of them when he died including a yearling and 3 year old that he was looking forward to trailing to ride and pack. Don's wife, Alice asked me if I would consider buying the mules. Knowing the affection that they had for these mules, it was a true gesture of trust and respect that I am gratified to receive. My partner and friend, Gary Ballard agreed to the purchase for our West Elk Wilderness camp. The two older mules, Taco and Tequilla served us well packing in the West Elks, and some of you may remember them. The 3 year old (which I started calling Li'l Debbie) went to my Fossil Ridge camp to begin training to pack and get accustomed to mountain trail work. She worked well for us and is going to be a good one. The yearling will join the string in the future. NEW HUNTING SEASON STRUCTURES: The Colorado Wildlife Commission has set the season structures for the next 5 years with few changes from the past. The most significant change is the addition of a 4 day gap between the third and fourth rifle seasons. In our units (54 &55) you will still be able to purchase unlimited bull elk licenses over the counter for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons and unlimited either sex licenses during the archery season. As in the past, all deer, rifle cow elk, muzzleloader elk, and first and fourth rifle season bull elk tags must be applied for by the April drawing deadline. The 2005 season dates are as follows: Archery: Aug. 27th - Sept. 25th, Muzzleloader: Sept. 10 - 18th, First Rifle: Oct. 15 - 19th, Second Rifle: Oct. 22nd - 30 th, Third Rifle: Nov. 5 - 11th, Fourth Rifle: Nov. 16 - 20th. THE 2004 SEASON: The 2004 season in the Fossil Ridge country was much improved over the 2003 season, and of course, weather is a big part of that equation. We took some bigger bulls this year of which several were caped out to be mounted. Four very good six points were taken including 3 from the base camp and one in a drop camp. The drop camp success was slow in the early seasons, but improved considerable into the later hunts. And the veterans who have hunted the same camps and same seasons for years did exceptionally well. The base camp seemed to steadily produce opportunities here and there throughout the season, and we managed to get a 73% shooting opportunity on bull elk. The number of buck mule deer in our area is exceptional, and we are seeing some excellent trophy bucks, although they are not always easy to get a shot at. We had three deer hunters and went 100% on muleys. One buck scored 181 plus points Boone & Crockett. Keep applying for those deer preference points. The deer hunting here is very good. THE WEST ELK WILDERNESS CAMP: My friend Gary Ballard and I partnered up to purchase another outfitting business and to operate a hunting camp in the West Elk wilderness in 2004. The camp is packed in six miles into very rugged and beautiful country. The 2004 season was one of learning the new country and the habits of the elk and mulesy there, and we enlisted the help of experienced guides who had worked the area in the past. It was also a season of upgrading the equipment and livestock and cleaning up campsites and packing out old caches. This work will continue into the 2005 season and the future. The hunting success there started slowly, but steadily increased to excellent with the coming of snowy cold weather and our improved knowledge of the area. We took some very good six point bulls there including one archery bull that will make the Pope And Young record book. In the later seasons shooting success was very near 100% on elk. Mule Deer are plentiful near the campsite with many bucks being seen.Our plans in 2005 include the use of spike camps as necessary to access the higher country and more rugged, remote hell holes that are a longer ride from base camp. We probably will not offer drop camps in this area except for those few hunters who have hunted out of them in the past here. Our plan is to concentrate on making the base camp guided hunt a special, top quality experience with a high potential for success. EVERY DAY IS A GREAT DAY at the Gunnison Country Guide Service: I have included a magnetic 2005 calendar to join all the other valuables stuck to your refrigerator. Our phone number, email, and website is right there so you won't have to look any farther. "Tis the season to be booking!" Give us a call or write and make sure you get the dates and camp you want reserved. Also check out our 2004 Hunting Photo Gallery to see if yours is there. Happy New Year and Warmest Regards, John and Linda Nelson |
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