April 2009

WINTER AT BEAR MOUNTAIN RANCH BRINGS A BOUNTIFUL SPRING

Northwest Colorado winters are uniquely serene. However, on the Continental Divide, they can also be challenging with harsh weather and strong winds. This winter, while blessed with needed snowfall, the weather at Bear Mountain Ranch was unusually mild. February felt more like April and, with the melting snow, we are looking forward to summer. The fox, coyotes, rabbits, weasels, and other smaller critters never leave the ranch. However, in order to make a living, the big game animals must go to lower ground.

With the mild spring, we expect the free-range cow elk to make an earlier than normal trip back to their traditional calving grounds on Bear Mountain Ranch’s 10,000 acres. Arriving any day now, the elk will be shortly followed by female herds of mule deer and pronghorn, all to have their fawns. Where the girls are, the boys soon follow.

Our preserve elk and bison herd also came through the winter with flying colors. We are anticipating great calf crops beginning in May. It is truly a treat to see the young calves frolicking in early summer’s new grass. The bulls continue to thrive. With excellent body weight, ever-improving genetics and excellent nutrition, the bull’s antlers should be impressive—our older bulls will make fine trophies this fall.

Mule deer and pronghorn continue to flourish at the ranch, with stag herds increasing in number. Bear Mountain Ranch holds an important place in the distribution of pronghorn in northwestern Colorado, as it is one of the only places where the Continental Divide can be crossed below timberline. All large game animals stay at Bear Mountain Ranch through mating season, not migrating until early December.

Hunting season will be upon us before you know it! Surrounded by national forests, Bear Mountain Ranch offers excellent habitat not only for elk and bison, but also for mule deer, pronghorn, the elusive black bear, and an abundance of other species of wildlife. With free-range hunting strictly limited on Bear Mountain Ranch, the elk herds are particularly impressive.

Whether planning a fall hunting adventure or one-of-a-kind summer getaway, Bear Mountain Ranch offers an intimate and unique experience, where quiet comforts blend with Western fun. Catering to only one group (six to eight guests) at a time, guests can choose to stay at our beautiful Arapaho Lodge, offering stunning views of the national forest and the Never Summer mountain range, or the rustic Grizzly Cabin, built in 1890, which serves as a gathering and eating area for guests who comfortably sleep in three well-appointed cabins. Plan now for the ultimate experience of owning a ranch for a week!
 

ADVENTURE AWAITS

If hunting a true trophy animal is your dream, Bear Mountain Ranch offers an incredible experience! Hunting from ground blinds near game trails, it is not uncommon for our hunters to observe three to four trophy bulls in a single day. Numerous bulls scoring 375 to over 450 SCI call the Bear Mountain Preserve their home. Additionally, you can set your sights on free-range elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bison, bear and more. Whether you seek the challenge of an open-range stalk hunt or the lifetime satisfaction of a preserve ambush-style trophy hunt, Bear Mountain Ranch is a unique destination. 2009 hunts available include trophy bulls, bison and free-range elk, mule deer and pronghorn. BOOK BY JUNE 1 AND GET 10% OFF YOUR HUNT!

BISON IS BETTER

Did you know that bison meat is considerably lower in calories, fat and cholesterol than other types of meat—or even fish? It is! Tastes good, too. What more could you want? You can have Bear Mountain Ranch all-natural, grass-fed bison meat on your dinner table within days—we offer two-day air shipping of a wide variety of bison meat products, from T-bone steaks and prime rib to bratwurst and burgers. Order right off of our website: www.bearmountainranch.net/bisonmeat .

PLAN AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER

Go boating or fishing on a nearby lake… experience the thrill of whitewater rafting … go on a photo safari … or maybe take a jeep on a 4WD adventure up Diamond Mountain. Saddle up a horse and ride through our meadows and wooded trails with a cowboy, perhaps stopping here and there to check on the cattle, admire the wildlife, enjoy the views, or enjoy a delicious lunch of elk stew and homemade cornbread at our rustic Grizzly Cabin. These and more pleasures await when you plan a summer getaway to Bear Mountain Ranch. Imagine: an entire 16-square-mile ranch with a four-bedroom, fully equipped lodge—all to yourself for an entire week! Whether you’re looking for an action-packed vacation or one of quiet and secluded contemplation, you can find it at Bear Mountain Ranch. BOOK BY MAY 1 AND RECEIVE 20% OFF YOUR STAY!