Dear
Hunter and Sportsman,
Hello,
my name is Dave Mapes. I am going on my 30th year as an outfitter
and guide here in the Gunnison Valley of Colorado. With the high
peaks of the Continental Divide surrounding the valley to the north,
east and south, we have some of the most majestic country in the
lower 48 states. I feel very fortunate that for the past 30 years,
I have been able to share and guide others to the wonderment of
the scenery and wildlife in this area. As I am only 56, I look forward
to sharing many more years with future clients who become new friends.
My guides and I have the experience and the know-how to get our
clients into game. This is evident by the fact that 80% to 90% of
our hunters have an opportunity to take a decent shot at a buck
mule deer or bull elk. I think the excitement must be a little too
much for some, because the actual kill ratio runs about 50-60%.
But, that is why we call it hunting and not killing.
We
offer you a hunting "experience". We have very comfortable
camps located in prime big-game areas with great food, well-mannered
mountain horses, and excellent guides who know the area and the
movements of the elk and deer! There is a guide for every two hunters,
and a full time "chef" in camp at all times. We have a
lot of fun, and hunt as hard or as little as you desire. Another
reason we do so well is that we are hunting one of the largest elk
herds in the world! There are over 12,000 elk in the Gunnison Valley
right now!
The
elk herd is in really great shape. Last year's bull kill was way
down and the Department of Wildlife says there is quite an excess
of bulls this year! Hunting should be fantastic, so any of you folks
riding the fence about going or not can call me for a contract.
I still have openings for archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons
and there are still some drop camps available.
The
license fees for non-residents are as follows for 2007:
Buck
mule deer $304.00
Youth mule deer $103.75
Bull elk $504.00
Cow elk $254.00
Youth elk $103.75
There
are a few changes now in Colorado. All buck mule deer tags must
be applied for and the 1st and 4th elk seasons are also a total
draw, as well as all muzzleloader and rifle cow elk licenses. I
think this is the DOW's way to get hunters used to the draw system,
because in the near future, I think all hunting in Colorado will
be on a draw system. The deadline for all applications this year
is April 3rd! To get the Colorado hunting brochure and applications,
you can call the Colorado Division of Wildlife at (303)297-1192.
Their website is www.wildlife.state.co.us.
If
you might be interested in a summer pack trip, I still have openings
in late June and early July and the last part of August.
I
strongly suggest to any of you contemplating a hunt in the future,
if not this year, to start applying for preference points each year,
so when you do want to come to Colorado, you will already have enough
points. There is a hunt code in the Colorado brochure to apply for
points only so you won't draw a tag in a year you don't want to
go hunting.
Archery
hunters give me a call. We only take a few each year in order to
give a high quality hunt. The same goes for muzzleloader season.
It is very unusual if we have a day when we do not find and get
into elk. There are lots of misses hunting with primitive weapons.
The majority of these hunts are in Unit 66 if you are lucky enough
to draw a tag there. If not, we have great hunting in Unit 55 where
you can buy a tag over the counter and you only need one or two
points to draw a muzzleloader tag. I have pack-in camps for archery
and muzzleloader hunts in Unit 55 and a camp in Unit 66 in the LaGuarita
Wilderness that is also very productive. All licenses for Unit 66
are by draw only with an April 3rd deadline. These hunts are all
in September when the elk are rutting and bugling, making this one
of our favorite times to be up in the high country.
I
have two comfortable pack-in rifle camps in Unit 55. Both of these
camps have resident elk and deer around, and both are on migration
routes of the elk. It is very unusual to hunt all day and not get
into some deer or elk! There are also a couple of drop camps available.
For
the past eight years, the Gunnison Valley has had a 90% reduction
in the amount of deer tags being issued. As a result, we have what
I would call the very best trophy mule deer population in the entire
west right now. We are seeing more really big bucks than ever. I
would suggest that all of you apply for one of these licenses! April
3rd is the deadline! The bucks we harvest are usually beauties!
We
are a four-point or better area on elk, and this has really increased
the quality of our bulls. Better than half of the bulls taken are
5x5's or 6x6's. Of these, about a third or more are large enough
to be mounted and put on clients' walls each year.
I
am also very experienced at guiding for big horn sheep in a half
dozen units in and around Gunnison should any of you be lucky enough
to draw a tag. There are no hidden costs in my price. The extra
expenses you would have once you got to Gunnison would be your license,
a night's lodging before and after the hunt, and any game processing
fees. We take care of all the rest!
I
am booking now for 2007 and 2008. Feel free to give me a call, or
drop me a line, if you are thinking about a hunt and would like
to look at a contract or get a little more information about the
hunting or the camps. There are also a few references on the back
of the rate sheet. You would not be disappointed booking a hunt
with me. I'll look forward to talking with you!
Sincerely,
Dave
Mapes
