Eligible hunters are encouraged to apply for a chance at a private land elk and mule deer hunts on the Collins Mountain Ranch or the Miller Creek Ranch in Rio Blanco County, two prime, private land hunting areas in northwest Colorado.

The unique opportunity developed through a perpetual wildlife conservation easement agreement between Colorado Parks and Wildlife and both ranches.

"We worked together with the landowners to protect and conserve critical habitat on these ranches, but at the same time allowing sportsmen's access to these areas," said District Wildlife Manager Bailey Franklin. "It's a fantastic opportunity and we encourage eligible hunters to apply."

Located within the White River mule deer and elk herd units, the 2,400 acre Collins Mountain Ranch and the 3,100 Miller Creek Ranch features two of the largest big game populations in the state of Colorado. Habitat varies between mountain shrub lands with some aspen up high, and sagebrush and pinyon-juniper woodland at the lower elevations.

Interested hunters must submit their written application by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 to the address listed in the applications.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications until the Oct. 6 deadline. The hunts are open to all eligible hunters; however, preference will be given to youth and military veterans.

• Go here to print the Collins Mountain Ranch application, or copy and paste this URL into your browser - http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/Collins-Ranch-Application.pdf
• Go here to print the Miller Creek Ranch application, or copy and paste this URL into your browser - http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/Miller-Creek-Ranch-Application.pdf

In the application, hunters should specify which of these opportunities they qualify for:

COLLINS MOUNTAIN RANCH HUNTS

The following hunts will be available and hunters should be specific about which of these hunting seasons/opportunities they are interested and eligible to apply for:

ONE UNGUIDED ANTLERED/BUCK DEER HUNT

• Second regular rifle season – October 21-29
• Applicants must have drawn a limited antlered deer license valid on private land in GMU 23, which includes the following eligible deer hunt codes:
  • DM012O2R
  • DE011P2R
• Applicant must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in the buck mule deer hunt.
• One hunter will be selected from a pool of eligible applicants to hunt a buck deer during the second regular rifle season.

ONE UNGUIDED ANTLERED/BULL ELK HUNT

• Fourth limited rifle season – November 15-19
• Only applicants that drew a limited, antlered elk hunting license for hunt code EM01204R are eligible to apply for this bull elk hunt, but would be restricted to the fourth, limited rifle season.
• Applicant must confirm that they have already drawn a fourth rifle limited elk license for hunt code EM01204R.
• Applicants must indicate interest in the bull elk hunt in application.
• One hunter from the pool of eligible applicants will be selected to hunt a bull elk during hunt dates specifically listed above.

3 UNGUIDED COW ELK HUNTS

• Latter portion of Late, private-land-only rifle season: Nov. 20-30 (EF011P5R)
  • Hunt 1 - Late rifle December PLO cow elk season: Dec. 1-6 (EF023P5R)
  • Hunt 2 - Late rifle December PLO cow elk season: Dec. 7-12 (EF023P5R)
  • Hunt 3 - Late rifle December PLO cow elk season: Dec. 13-18 (EF023P5R)
• To be eligible to apply for these hunts, the applicant must have drawn a limited antlerless elk license for one of the following PLO hunt codes:
  • EF011P5R
  • EF023P5R
• Applicant must confirm eligibility and must specify which of the antlerless/cow elk hunts listed above they are applying for.

MILLER CREEK RANCH HUNTS

The following hunts will be available and hunters should be specific about which of these hunting seasons/opportunities they are interested and eligible to apply for:

ONE UNGUIDED ANTLERED/BUCK DEER HUNT ON MILLER CREEK RANCH

• Third regular rifle season – Nov. 4-12 OR Fourth limited rifle season - Nov. 15-19
• To be eligible, applicants must have drawn a limited deer license in either:
  • DM012O3R
  • DM012O4R
  • DE011P3R
• Applicant must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in buck mule deer hunt in the application.
• One hunter will be selected from a pool of eligible applicants to hunt a buck deer during one of the two potential buck deer hunt dates specifically listed above for 2017.

ONE UNGUIDED ANTLERLESS/DOE DEER HUNT ON MILLER CREEK RANCH

• Third regular rifle season - Nov. 4-12
• To be eligible, applicants must have drawn a limited antlerless deer license in either:
  • DF012O3R
  • DE011P3R
• Applicants must confirm eligibility and indicate interest in doe mule deer hunt in the application.
• One hunter will be selected from a pool of eligible applicants to hunt a doe deer during the hunt dates specifically listed above for 2017.

ONE UNGUIDED ANTLERED/BULL ELK HUNT ON MILLER CREEK RANCH

• Third regular rifle season - Nov. 4-12 OR Fourth limited rifle season - Nov. 15-19
• All hunters are eligible to apply for this public bull elk hunt during the third rifle season.
• Applicants that have drawn a limited, either sex license for EM012O4R are also eligible to apply for this bull elk hunt but would be restricted to the fourth, limited rifle season.
• Applicant must confirm that they are planning to purchase an over-the-counter bull elk license for the third rifle elk season, or have already drawn a fourth rifle limited elk license for hunt code EM01204R.
• Applicants must indicate interest in the bull elk hunt in application.
• One hunter from the pool of eligible applicants will be selected to hunt a bull elk during only one of the two potential bull elk hunt dates specifically listed above for 2017.

7 UNGUIDED COW ELK HUNTS ON MILLER CREEK RANCH

• Third regular rifle season - Nov. 4-12 (EF01203R)
• Fourth limited rifle season - Nov. 15-19 (EF01104R)
• Latter portion of the late, private-land-only rifle season. Nov. 20-30 (EF011P5R) 
• Late rifle December PLO cow elk season - Hunt 1: Dec.1-6 (EF023P5R)
• Late rifle December PLO cow elk season - Hunt 2: Dec. 7-12 (EF023P5R)
• Late rifle December PLO cow elk season - Hunt 3: Dec. 13-18 (EF023P5R) 
• In order to be eligible to apply for one of the seven public cow elk hunts, applicant must have drawn a limited antlerless or either-sex elk license in either:
  • EF012O3R
  • EF011O4R
  • EF011P5R
  • EF023P5R
• Applicant must confirm eligibility and must specifically indicate which of the antlerless/cow elk hunts listed above that they are applying for in the application.

For more information or questions, call Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Meeker office at 970-878-6090.