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What an incredible encounter this guest had last September 2020.
Joe was a non-hunting guest from Wisconsin, who had accompanied his cousin that was hunting out of a drop camp with us during muzzleloader season. He likes to poke around the mountains here, watching wildlife, looking for sheds and any other unique finds found on the pathless, forested slopes. Then when needed, he helps pack out the elk that his cousin, Dr Bob, almost without fail, harvests every year. While hiking a creek bed on this same excursion, he saw bear tracks of the size not commonly seen in these parts. Placing a dollar bill next to them, we can see just how much we would NOT want to walk up on such a bruin unexpectedly. To hear him tell the story of the bull he captured bugling, it’s the kind of stuff elk hunters dream of, but in this case, Joe did not have a tag in his pocket. Hearing the brute coming through the timber, he paused to see what would unfold. As you can see, the bull came straight on a string towards Joe. If you listen closely, you can hear Joe softly say “Whoa” to try to get the big guy to pause in his pursuit of an elusive cow and running over himself, the spectator.
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 How are you doing? Are you, like us, ready to see 2020 in the rear view mirror? Here on the Powderhorn it was easy to forget about what most of the rest of the world was faced with daily, the knowledge that life isn’t what it used to be. Living far from town, we escaped the drama most of the time, but, not all of it. Some of you were able to get away to this pristine valley and rest and rejuvenate. Some of you lived vicariously through our posts on social media and this website. Some dreamed of future hunts and some actually have made the plans. Now winter is here and the last evening of this unforgettable year is almost gone.  For many, the bull on the right is closer to how it feels to have survived this last year; broken.
And yet, it also symbolizes what is to come; a new opportunity to shed the old growth in anticipation of the new growth. something to look forward to in this brand new year. We might not be able to control the circumstances we find ourselves in, like these elk, but unlike the elk, we do have the ability to operate beyond the instinctual habits of animals. We are hopeful of a time of peace this next year. Praying for continued freedoms to work and worship and choose our recreation. Happy New Year from us at Mineral Mountain Outfitters.  Here’s a glimpse into a wall tent for a solo-hunter we set up third rifle season 2019. This is a 10x12 tent, smaller than our 12x14 for 2 or 3 hunters, but has all the amenities of our larger camps.    10 x12 Davis Wall Tent
Indoor/ Outddor green grass floor Wood stove, firewood, lighter fluid 5 gl propane for cooking 2 1/gl cylinders of propane for lantern Cot Foam Pads Chair Table Cooking dishes Cook Stove First-aid kit 5 gl bucket for Latrine (per Forest Service requirements!) Wash buckets Axe/saw Shovel Snow Shovel Drinking water ..... and the best opportunity to experience the wilderness. Harvesting an elk is an added bonus!  The Colorado Parks and Wildlife application for licensing and tags for 2020 is now OPEN!
It closes April 7, 2020. I got on their site this morning and went through the process to brush up on the details. I found it pretty straight forward. If you would like help applying, we would be glad to coach you on setting up your account if you don’t have one. Here’s a thought; we have had hunters hold out for the opportunity of buying land-owner vouchers and not start building preference points. Land-owner vouchers are becoming more difficult to come by. Building up preference points makes sense! Just read a story from a man whose father-in-law hunted OTC units and, unbeknownst to his family, kept putting in for points for mule deer all the while. He now has enough to draw a limited draw unit for mule deer and is looking forward to an awesome hunt this year! You do have to buy a “qualifying license” for 2020. A non-resident must purchase a small-game license even if you put in for points and are not planning to hunt this year. A resident has a few other options, I chose the small-game/annual fishing license and then added an extra-rod stamp! Getting it all done at once! The bull in the pack out is featured in the September 2019 issue of Petersen’s Bowhunting magazine. Really cool story of a solo-hunter on a public land archery hunt with us in 2018. This is his photo. Happy Sunday! Shannon Roy  Hello! Here we are with one month already gone of 2020! It’s February 1st, and the application process for big game hunting in Colorado opens March 1st! ! Before you know it, it will be the eve of the application deadline of April 7th and there’s no better time than NOW to figure out what you’d like to apply for! One really interesting publication to study is the Colorado Outdoors publication known as the Annual Preference Point Issue that comes out in January. We enjoy looking it over and I’ll bet you would, too! Let’s look at some of the statistics for deer for archery found in the publication for 2020; - GMU 66 had a quota of 45 tags with 144 first choice applicants. A resident could possibly draw with 2 pref points and a non-resident would need 8 pref points,. - GMU 67 had a quota of 45 tags with 93 applicants. A resident could possibly draw with 2 pref points and a non-resident would need 3 pref points. The buck below was taken by a non-resident client of ours last September in GMU 67. He hunted solo and harvested this stud on the second day of his hunt.  Now let’s look at some of the statistics for elk archery found in the 2020 publication; - GMU 66 had a quota of 150 tags with 465 first choice applicants. A resident hunter could possibly draw with 1 pref point, a non-resident hunter would need 6 pref points. - GMU 67 had a quota of 100 tags with 231 first choice applicants. A resident hunter could possibly draw with 1 point, a non-resident hunter would need 3 pref points. Below is a bull taken in GMU 66 by a non-resident bow hunter from Virginia. A solo hunt and this was his first bull!   Now let’s check out some of the statistics for bull elk rifle hunting In GMU 66 found in the 2020 publication; - GMU 66, 1st rifle, had a quota of 285 tags, with 505 first choice applicants, a resident could draw with 0 pref points, a non-res with 2 pref points. - GMU 66, 2nd rifle, had a quota of 235 tags, with 291 first choice applicants, a resident could draw with 0 pref points, a non-res with 0 pref points. Here’s the info for GMU 67; - GMU 67, 1st rifle, had a quota of 260 tags with 274 first choice applicants. A resident could draw with 0 pref points and a non resident with 0 pref points. - GMU 67, 2nd rifle, had a quota of 250 tags with 192 first choice applicants. Looks like to us, that a resident AND a non-resident is nearly guaranteed a tag as a second choice! Go figure! If you don’t want to lose your points (Saving them for a limited draw in GMU 66) , you’re desperate to hunt elk and willing to put in the work, this is a good choice! We do have a drop camp available in 67! Below is a picture of a 2019, 1st rifle season hunter and his FIRST BULL! All hunters in his party tagged out.   So, there’s some food for thought. Land owner tags are getting harder and harder to come by. Doing your work each year to accumulate preference points is becoming more and more important if you want to hunt a limited draw unit.
Keep us in mind! Making Memories at Mineral Mountain, Greg and Shannon Roy  Happy New Year 2020! What a fabulous year 2019 was for us here at Mineral Mountain Outfitters. From pack-outs, drop camps, fully guided, trail rides and just meeting new people; we loved it all! So thankful for safety for the hunters, guides and horses. Numbers were down a little from the previous year, not surprising, as the CPW had reduced available limited draw tags and also land owner vouchers, but over all, we were very happy with the hunts we were able to book. We are looking forward to a full year this 2020 and if you are interested in booking a hunt, do so ASAP! We are filling up fast!
Thank you for stopping by, may you be blessed with health and happiness in the year ahead. Making Memories at Mineral Mountain, Greg and Shannon Roy.  Together; to make it 24/7 is why we got married! Together is how we raised our family, how we get life done and it's how we enjoy spending down time. Together is how we take care of you, our guest, and how we provide the comfortable atmosphere in our home. And, yes, together is how we found this young 5x's antlers! Look us up if you'd like a trail ride with your family and or friends in the Powderhorn Wilderness. Maybe you just want to be alone in the Powderhorn Wilderness; well, together, Greg and I can make sure you have just that. Making Memories at Mineral Mountain, Greg and Shannon Roy Categories All  Hello and Howdy from Powderhorn, Colorado; or, as all of our hunting family knows, GMU 66 and 67! Now we're talkin'!
We are Greg and Shannon Roy, longtime lovers of the Powderhorn Valley and more recently, residents! Our story is an ordinary story turned extraordinary by the blessing of being neighbors with John and Bobbie Martin, the couple who began Mineral Mountain Outfitters way back in the mid '60's. Their story is an amazing lifelong venture of building a business on a dry-land, high-desert acreage, doing something Mr John loved; horses and Cattle. Over the last 50+ years, they've made friends coast to coast, hosting trailrides, hunters and just those of us who love the Mountains. Now in 2019, they are handing over their beloved livelihood to us. It is with much excitement and humbleness that we are transitioning into this role of owner of Mineral Mountain Outfitters. One thing that we heard over and over this last summer and fall, was appreciation for John and Bobbie's hospitality, their integrity and honesty. It's a tough act to follow, but we are ready to carry the torch high. Hunting has been an integral part of our family for generations, Greg's grandfather first traveled to the Powderhorn from Luther, OK with other Okies, to hunt the mule deer and elk with over the counter tags. Greg grew up hearing these stories and when we were newly married we traveled to Powderhorn to see what it was all about. By the time our third child arrived, we were making regular camping trips to the Valley to spend a couple weeks during the heat of Oklahoma summers. All of our children have good memories of these times. Even now, our three grandchildren have begun making their own memories. In 2018, Greg and I both filled our rifle tags for elk, he with a bull and myself, a cow. We have always been DIY hunters on public lands; processing our own meat and enjoy supporting others doing the same. Check back weekly to keep up with some of the changes happening on the Powderhorn, while we endeavor to grow the reputation for hospitality and hunting. If you would like to make your own memories at Mineral Mountain, check out our hunting, trail riding, pack trip and fishing pages to see what we offer. Making Memories at Mineral Mountain, Greg and Shannon Roy. |
AuthorShannon Roy, wife of Greg Roy, co-owner of Mineral Mountain Outfitters. Outdoor enthusiast who is a wife, mother, granna and friend, and most of all a Believer. Archives
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