The images of Colorado Hunter 2011
Rob Schmitzer, sportsman information specialist for the Craig Chamber of Commerce, stands July 21 outside the Chamber. Schmitzer cautions hunters to take in consideration weather and how it affects herds while planning their hunts this year.
Rick Sanny with his prize bear, which took first place from the Colorado Bow Hunter Association in 2010.
Gary Nichols, left, and daughter Tiana Nichols, 8, share a smile in a tree stand during the 2010 archery elk season in Moffat County. Although Tiana is too young to purchase an elk tag, she accompanies her father on nearly all of his hunts. Her first outing with her father was during bear season when she was four days old.
Tiana Nichols, 8, stands with her archery gear during the 2010 archery elk season in Moffat County. Tiana is too young to purchase an elk tag, but she accompanies her father on nearly all of his hunts. She said she can’t wait until she’s 12, so she can harvest her first elk.
Tiana Nichols, 8, peers upward from a tree stand during the 2010 archery elk season in Moffat County. Tiana accompanies her father on nearly all his hunts.
Craig taxidermist Scott Moore stands in June next to the prize-winning piece, “Can’t Kill the King,” which he created with local taxidermist Leland Reinier. The two men won first place for collective artist at the Colorado State Taxidermy Competition earlier in June in Salida. The piece, which features an African lion whose skin was purchased from eBay, is on display at Moore’s business, Mountain Man Taxidermy in Craig.
Leland Reinier, owner of Big Cat Taxidermy, works on a customer’s leopard in May 2010. Reinier worked with taxidermist Scott Moore to create the piece, “Can’t Kill the King,” which won first place for collective artist at the Colorado State Taxidermy Competition earlier in June in Salida.
This mounted turkey is an example of the work of Scott Moore, owner of Mountain Man Taxidermy in Craig. In June, Moore and collaborator Leland Reinier, owner of Big Cat Taxidermy in Craig, won first place honors at the Colorado State Taxidermy Competition in Salida.
Craig taxidermist Scott Moore stands in June next to the prize-winning piece “Can’t Kill the King,” which he created with taxidermist Leland Reinier. The two men won first place for collective artist at the Colorado State Taxidermy Competition in June in Salida. The piece, which features an African lion, is on display at Moore’s business, Mountain Man Taxidermy in Craig.
The Lawton family, who live in Craig and Grand Junction, and their families pose on Indian Run in Northwest Colorado. The Lawtons have had friends come from Arkansas and Virginia to hunt for more than 20 years.
Tony Lawton, of Grand Junction, poses last hunting season with an elk he shot on Indian Run in Northwest Colorado.
Craig resident Richard Kendall, left, stands with the 703-pound black bear he killed Nov. 20, 2010, by crawling into the mouth of a cave. The hunt has become a source of statewide controversy.
Kendall poses with his trophy black bear Nov. 20, 2010, in the Wilson Creek area of Moffat County. The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife determined Kendall did nothing wrong, but revised the rules to ban the hunting of bears within dens.
The bow is a popular weapon among Colorado’s hunters. Ben Rice, manager at Rocky Mountain Bow Strings in Meeker, said expandable broadheads are the best arrow for mule deer while a cut-on-contact broadhead is better for elk.
Mike Swaro, Craig district wildlife manager, said when hunters are deciding on a rifle, they should take into consideration their skill level and what game they are after. Even with a .243-caliber rifle, an accurate hunter can take down an elk, Swaro said.
Tony Lawton, of Grand Junction, poses last hunting season before heading out for a hunt on Indian Run in Northwest Colorado.
Craig resident Luke Schafer poses with a 4-by-4 buck, which he scored in the Marapos Creek area in western Moffat County.
Matt Hill, of Pennsylvania, poses with a bull elk he shot on the Three Springs Ranch in Uniot 10 near Elk Springs by Dinosaur in Moffat County.
Chris Jurney, left, of Craig, and Rick Callison, of Denver, are shown with a bull elk in Unit 201 west of Maybell in Moffat County.
Wayne Grishamber, of California, scored this buck last year in Unit 4 north of Craig in Moffat County.
"All of these shots were taken near Buffalo Pass at a heavily used water hole," says local hunter Bill Van Ness. "The bull moose was the boss of the woods and actually came by me at 10 years, tearing up every tree in his path. He had a pretty severe attitude. The elk was in front of my trail cameras daily. He was fun to monitor. One morning he passed through a camera, then four hours later he passed through another one two miles away. The bear is one of nine different bears I was able to catch on camera in the area. You couldn't set foot in the woods without coming across a bear up there."
"All of these shots were taken near Buffalo Pass at a heavily used water hole," says local hunter Bill Van Ness. "The bull moose was the boss of the woods and actually came by me at 10 years, tearing up every tree in his path. He had a pretty severe attitude. The elk was in front of my trail cameras daily. He was fun to monitor. One morning he passed through a camera, then four hours later he passed through another one two miles away. The bear is one of nine different bears I was able to catch on camera in the area. You couldn't set foot in the woods without coming across a bear up there."
"All of these shots were taken near Buffalo Pass at a heavily used water hole," says local hunter Bill Van Ness. "The bull moose was the boss of the woods and actually came by me at 10 years, tearing up every tree in his path. He had a pretty severe attitude. The elk was in front of my trail cameras daily. He was fun to monitor. One morning he passed through a camera, then four hours later he passed through another one two miles away. The bear is one of nine different bears I was able to catch on camera in the area. You couldn't set foot in the woods without coming across a bear up there."
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Question of the week
Would you support Secretary of the State Scott Gessler if he ran for Colorado governor?
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