The new place we recently learned about is called High Lonesome Ranch, and it sprawls across a valley on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains in western Colorado. Encompassing more than 150,000 acres of valley and mountain range, much of it is covered in pines, aspens, sage brush and oak brush. There are also about 4,000 acres planted with corn, wheat, alfalfa and other plants to attract and hold wildlife.
The elevations are 6,000 to 9,000 feet, and since these are mostly spot-and-stalk hunts on foot, hunters need to be in very good shape to tramp up and down the hillsides. Petrini says there are some opportunities near the roadways and lower elevations, but the best bet for good trophies is up in the rough country. Guides use 4wd vehicles to get into the hunting area, where they climb to a vantage point to glass for bulls and bucks. All of the guides on this property know the ranch well and where they should find animals.
Petrini has managed this herd closely to maintain age and trophy class. He has a ratio of about one bull to every 20 cow elk and one buck to every three mule deer does. The elk range from 260 to 320 B & C, and the deer average 170. Petrini says he has had a few clients take 190-class bucks in the past. He is able to produce these results because he insists........(continued)
