Arrival
You are with us seven days and you hunt five days. Plan on arriving the day before your hunt starts, after 1 p.m., please. We'll fix you dinner and have a brief orientation session. If you arrive earlier than the day before your hunt, you will need to make hotel reservations. We can make recommendations if you wish.

Weather

Due to our remote location, we have a lack of current weather information. Therefore, we turn to the Internet to obtain the closest local weather reports. By entering the local zip codes into a weather based web site, (like www.weatherchannel.com), we get a semi-accurate idea of what the upcoming weather might be. Here are the zip codes we frequently enter:

Norwood - 81423, Telluride - 81435, Naturita- 81422,

Nucia - 81424 , Montrose - 81401.

Usually we take an average of several reports. The last few years we have had unusually warm and dry weather. 

Archery and Muzzleloader hunters can expect average low's in the 30's to 40's, with average high's in the 60's and 70's, and monsoonal flows bringing mid to late

day thunderstorms (which can include rain, hail, snow, and lightening). Rifle hunters can expect average low's in the 20's to 30's, and average high's in the 40's to 50's, with a greater chance of precipitation turning to snow. So come prepared for any temperature range.

Flying In

Guests flying into the area will be met at the Montrose or Telluride airports. There is no charge for pickup and return. Tie downs are available for private aircraft. Please check in advance with your Airline(s) to confirm your flights and to find out their policies regarding antlers, meat, guns, etc. Typically, there is a $75.00 charge from most Airlines for oversized, overweight, or unusually shaped items. Antlers need to have protective tips, like styrofoam, or rubber hose.

Licenses (ALL DEER BY DRAWING)
Bull elk licenses for archery and three rifle seasons are available over-the-counter, but must be purchased before the season opens. All other licenses are by drawing, and must be applied for by the first week of April, with applications available in early March. We would be happy to assist you in obtaining your license, if you let us know when you book your hunt. Plan early! All hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1949 must have hunter safety cards.

Bookings
Hunts are strictly limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. A 50% deposit with reservations is required, with a balance of 25% of the balance due by May 1 and the remaining 25% due by July 1. No refunds are made unless a substitute hunter can be found.

MEAT PROCESSING AND SHIPPING

Also, remember we have game processors - They will come to the lodge and pick up your animal for processing. There is a $35 transport fee per animal for this service. As stated before, the game processing is a separate transaction and the cost of the processing usually starts at $180.00 to $200.00, plus the additional cost of shipping your meat home. The processors can also help with shipping. Usually, they process the meat, flash freeze it, and then Federal Express it, on dry ice, to your location. The cost depends on the weight of your meat and your shipping zone. Shipping your meat on dry ice through Federal Express can be expensive, for an estimate please call Federal Express at 1-800-463-3339. The meat processor does NOT take credit cards.

GETTING YOUR TROPHY MOUNTED

We use Brumfield Taxidermy Studio, out of Clifton, Colorado. Greg Brumfield is the owner and can be reached at 970-434-9299. Greg's company will pick up your trophy at the lodge. This too is a separate transaction with the following starting costs (this does not include your final shipping cost):

• $465.00 for deer.

• $650.00 - $725.00 for elk (based on body size).

• $650.00 minimum for bear ($125.00 per foot).

All mounts require a 50 deposit made payable to the taxidermist. The taxidermist does accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard). Greg does outstanding work, but be prepared, the whole process can take a little more than a year.

Hunting guidelines
We insist upon absolute safety and adherence to ethical sportsmanship at Colorado Trophies. Consequently, we follow these guidelines:

• We hunt any animal from which you draw blood until the animal is down, or until we are confident that the animal will live. These decisions are made with the hunter and the guide. If you draw blood twice, the hunt is over.

•We provide an orientation session your first evening at the lodge, to address Colorado hunting and fishing regulations, and to answer any questions you may have.

•We require every hunter to demonstrate their shooting proficiency at the range prior to the hunt to determine their ethical shooting distance in the field.

•We require that all weapons are unloaded with the bolts open at all times when you are in the lodge and in the vehicles. Your guide will tell you when to load your gun.

•Try to get physically fit. The better condition you are in, the better and more successful your hunt will be.

Your safety is always our primary concern. However, any hunting activity is potentially hazardous and it is essential that all directions and advice of Colorado Trophies be followed. We cannot assume responsibility for any illness, accident or loss whatsoever incurred in the course of a hunt, nor for any expenses arising from such illness, accident or loss.

WHY WE HAVE TWO ADDRESSES

You may have noticed that our office is in Redvale, but the guest ranch is in Norwood . Our regular hunters know that we have an upper ranch and a lower ranch. We live and  work from our office at the lower ranch which is in Redvale , Colorado.  Wing Shadow Ranch is our upper ranch (south of Norwood ) and is where our guests stay.

SHIPPING YOUR GEAR, MEAT AND ANTLERS

Do NOT use the postal Service. If you would like to ship your gear to the lodge you may UPS it to yourself at the following address: Your Name, C/O WING SHADOW RANCH / COLORADO TROPHIES, 7000 Lone Cone Road,  

Norwood, CO. 81423.

TIPS

One of the most frequent questions we get is in regards to tips. Tips are greatly appreciated by your guide and the cooks. Customarily, tips start at 10 percent of the hunt for your guide, and the chefs tips usually start at $40.00 per chef and up.

What to bring

For a Packing Check List click here

We provide all transportation within the hunting area, meals and accommodations during your hunt. You are responsible only for your weapon, ammunition, hunting license, hunter safety card, clothing, personal effects, and game processing.