Tag Availability
Mountain lion tags are available over-the-counter on a quota based system. Hunters must complete an online educational course prior to purchasing a tag. Generally, December and January dates are best to ensure good tracking conditions and an open quota.
Location
This hunt will occur on public lands administered by the United States Forest Service. It is a district-wide special use permit that encompasses hundreds of thousands of acres. We will base from the small town of Buena Vista in central Colorado. Lodging accommodations are not included and it will be the hunter’s responsibility to make arrangements. In the past, we’ve had good luck with Vista Courts & Lodge. See this LINK. There are also many AirBnB-style options available. Reach out for more information.
Pricing
Our current pricing for guided mountain lion hunts is $6,500 (without lodging.)
This includes an evening arrival day, a morning departure day, and 5 full hunting days. Guides will have scouted a day prior to your arrival. We provide dinners, guiding services, and fuel/transportation while hunting. Our price does not include breakfasts/lunches/snacks, gratuities, license fees, meat processing, or taxidermy. A 50% deposit is due at the time of booking. The remainder is due by August 15th before your hunt.
What to Expect – A Typical Day
Most hunting days begin several hours before dawn. Depending on conditions, we will search for tracks using 4x4 vehicles, side-by-sides, and/or snowmobiles. We will slowly cruise mountain roads, two-tracks, and trails on or adjacent to USFS land hoping to find where a lion has crossed.
When we've found a track worth pursuing, we will release the hounds! Our pack consists of bluetick, redtick, and Plott-bred hounds. Most cats are treed or bayed within 1-3 miles of a road. However, the hike to the tree is often rough, steep, and grueling. These cats live in some wild places! You should be well prepared for cold weather, long hours, physically challenging terrain, and deep snow.
In 5 days of hunting, with good snow, you can expect to have at least one opportunity at an adult cat. Multiple opportunities are possible, but uncommon. Although Colorado mountain lion populations are some of the most robust in the country, their landscape-level densities are relatively sparse. A mature tom can have a massive home range. To find and tree a cat, we’ll have to hunt hard! A typical adult tom in our area is 120-140lbs. A typical female is 90-110 lbs. However, each year we tree one or two toms in the 150-170lb class. Contact us to get on the books for next winter!
*These hunts do not occur in the White River National Forest. We guide under the permit of our sister outfit, Hornfork Guides.
BOOK YOUR TRIP NOW!
Hundreds of miles of horse trails and 25 wilderness camps in prime Elk, Mule Deer and Trout territory.
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF
Operating on the White River National Forest and the Flat Tops Wilderness under a special use permit from the US Forest Service. An Equal Opportunity Provider. Bonded and Insured.