Big Game Hunting:

Big Game Hunters
If you're on this page, then you're serious about your hunting and you make informed, quality decisions. We appreciate you taking the time to read about our philosophy and management practices that set us apart from other outfitters. If you haven't done so yet, remember to visit our photo gallery (below). This gives you a picture of every trophy taken from this ranch, and even gives you the stories of why two hunters did not go home with their animal. This is one of the best indications of what kind of animal you will find here, and the stories will clue you in on the various hunting techniques used. For even more information and to learn about our management practices, please read on.




Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, we center our management around sharing this 16,000-acre ranch with its wildlife and improving habitat.

As a working cattle ranch, we conduct our cattle operation in a manner that is beneficial to the wildlife by lightly, but completely grazing the entire ranch during the summer months to provide palatable and nutritious growth in the late summer and fall when elk need the nutrition to get through the rut and prepare for winter.

We implement timber harvesting practices to improve the forage base and remove diseased/bug infested trees to provide regenerated, healthy forests for future generations.

Our timber management treatments to aspen stands provide regenerated/new growth aspen creating tender shoots, providing a critical winter feed source.

We develop springs throughout the ranch to distribute cattle grazing to benefit their grazing range and provide ample water sources for wildlife.

Under no circumstances are employees or guests allowed to disturb critical elk calving areas -- ever. Trust me on this one. I've begged to ride quietly and carefully through these areas, and have been chastised repeatedly.

Our hunts focus on just exactly that -- the hunt. While everyone wants to get a nice animal, we don't overlook the various factors that make the experience truly unforgettable. We cater the hunt to your specific physical capabilities, your preferred method of hunting, the game movement patterns, weather, and other factors to ensure a quality experience.

We strictly limit the number of hunters taken each year to ensure you a quality experience. Our elk act more natural because they're not under constant hunting pressure -- you'll get to view elk feeding quietly in a meadow rather than running from cover to cover. You won't run into dozens of other hunters when you stalk the animal of your dreams. In short, you'll get an uninterrupted, real hunt.

Our guides work and live on the ranch year 'round and know the ranch and the animal patterns like no other -- we share our home with the wildlife and know what's going on.

Our three main guides have over 55 years of combined elk/deer hunting experience in the mountains of Colorado -- not bad considering the oldest one of those guides is just 43 years old. They love hunting and that enthusiasm will show when you hunt with them. We pride ourselves in not just helping a guest get their elk, but in helping them become better hunters and learn more about the game we pursue.

We offer fully enclosed, comfortable blinds located in key wildlife areas providing excellent shooting opportunities for those who enjoy stand hunting or have physical limitations.

The accomodations are provided in our new, luxurious lodge where hearty and delicious meals are provided. Although many prefer the mystique of a backcountry tent hunt, we find that hot showers, a comfortable bed, delicious meals and even a soak in the hot tub enables the hunter to hunt longer and harder the following day.

Non-hunting guests often join hunters and enjoy the comfort and beauty our ranch affords. Photographers also enjoy this time of year, because the guides can get them close to some serious animal action.


We've found through years of experience that in the mountains, it is difficult to guarantee the quality of the meat by sending it to "local" shops (and by local, I mean, you have to drive at least an hour to get there, remember where we are at . . . the middle of nowhere). Hunting season is too busy and the meat cutting shops are overworked. We've even discovered it's possible to go home with another hunters' meat. So, we did what we had to do to ensure that your meat is meticulously cared for. We installed our own coolers and meat cutting room, and we do it ourselves. This guarantees that your meat will go home when you do, it's really your meat, and it has been carefully prepared exactly how you prefer it.




Please don't hestitate to call us with any questions. Ask for John Ziegman: (970) 723-8311, or e-mail: John@buffalocreek.com.


We hope to add your photo to our 2006 Photo Gallery.


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The 2009 Hunt:  the stories and photos.

The 2005 Hunt: the stories and photos.

The 2004 Hunt: the stories and photos. still in progress

The 2003 Hunt: the stories and photos.

The 2002 Hunt: the stories and photos. For references, please call us or e-mail.

The 2001 Hunt: the stories and photos. For references, please call us or e-mail.

The 2000 Hunt: the stories and photos.

Additional Information:

We also offer hunts for Shiras Moose. Licenses by "lottery draw" only.*

A non-refundable, 50% deposit is required to reserve a hunt.

We prefer guests shoot a 5 point or better.

Colorado requires persons born after 1/1/49 to possess a hunters safety certificate to purchase a license. NO EXCEPTIONS-you must have this card to purchase a license.

Rifle hunters required by law to wear an orange vest/coat and hat.

Cost of hunt does not include licenses. (Non-resident Elk = $470.25, Deer = $270.25)

During the #3, #4 & #5 Rifle Hunts, bull elk licenses may be purchased upon arrival to Colorado at any sporting goods store.

Transportation conducted by 4wd vehicles (trucks, atv's and our retired swiss army vehicle) and on foot. No horseback riding by guests.

Private hunting land is primarily in game management unit 17 with some in unit 171.

All cabins and vehicles are non-smoking only.

*To apply for limited deer, cow elk, limited elk and moose licenses, contact Colorado D.O.W., 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 (303) 297-1192. Application deadline is usually around April 1st. You can also learn more from the Colorado Divison of Wildlife website: www.dnr.state.co.us/edu/wildlife.html