.

This is basically a 'help appeal' to US hunters and others with US experience.

My wife has a special birthday coming up and I have booked her a mountain lion hunt in Colorado for Feb 2017. Hunt agreed, deposit paid and all covered on that side and am very happy that things are going to be great. I am going along as an 'observer' and photographer.

Plan is that we fly in to Denver (flights are booked already on Lufthansa) and then have a couple of days to shop (see below) and get over the time difference and get my wife used to winter temperatures ! She's more of a summer character but she will get excited about this present and I will not mention the sub zero and snow part til we are on the plane!

We have arranged to get picked up in Grand Junction and then hunt for 5 days - using outfitters rifle - and then out of Grand Junction over to Vegas (must see it once), Grand Canyon etc and then out of Denver back to Europe and then Africa end of February.

Now living in Africa the temps tend to be warm to hot and we have NEVER EVER hunted in snow or even cold temperatures before. Heck we dont even own gloves! So we'll need to shop and I am thinking as follows - do we

a) stay a couple of nights in Denver or
b) get down to Grand Junction straight away

for the shopping ? And anyone got any suggestions on where to stay in either city.

If its down to Grand Junction I am looking at a bus - yes / no !? Dont want the trouble of a rental car on day 1.

Then

a) is it LL Beans or
b) Cabelas

for the shopping and then what do we really need for cold weather mountain lion hunting ?

a) jackets, head gear, gloves or mitts, what type of leg wear? Underlayers ?

We do have decent warm sheepskin lined boots that should work and that we can hike / run in so thats one box we can tick.

Outfitter has said that we need some local paperwork / licenses and that they will help get that sorted. Do not know of anything else that non US citizens need to hunt in the US.

Assuming that the hunt is a great success, we are hoping for a full mount which we will have done in the US and then shipped to Germany. Looking to see if mountain lion are Cites relevant at the moment.

Vegas and the Grand Canyon, I think we can manage ok on. Rental car with sat nav should work there to get out of Vegas.

Anyone have any great pointers for the Grand Canyon or an overnight there ?

And then as a final question that old hairy one - tipping ! A five day mountain lion hunt .... what would be a guideline. I know what to do in Europe and Africa but I once had a NY waiter ask me whether the service was not good enough when I tipped the standard European 10 % !

Guy and gals, any pointers, help, advice for what is going to be our first North American hunt would be greatly welcome ! We have lots of Africa experience from DG to wingshooting for sandgrouse but I must admit the a mountain lion in the US in snow is something totally new and very exciting !

Thanks in advance !!

Charlie

.

I live about 15 mins from downtown Denver and have lived in Colorado for 36 years.

For shopping, I think you would probably get a better selection and cheaper prices in the big city rather then Grand Junction.

Although I buy a lot of stuff from Cabelas, I think you could probably get a better deal at one of the Sportsman's Warehouses (there are two in Denver. I generally go to the one in Thornton (on 84th Street just west of I-25). They have lots of clothes at reasonable prices.

As for where to stay, I guess it depends upon how much you want to spend and where you plan to do your shopping. I would think one entire day in the Denver area would be enough to catch your breath and buy some winter clothes.

How were you going to get to Grand Junction? Its a fairly long drive from Denver, especially in the winter time. If you go by bus, you might not have a lot of time to shop in Denver. I would recommend getting on the internet and checking out bus schedules from Denver to Grand Junction, before making any hotel reservations. JMO.

Tipping is generally about 15-20% of the bill in restaurants.

Give me a PM if you want.

BH63

First thing.There are no guarantees you will get a mountain lion in one or five days if this is a free range hunt.I would plan on spending the full time you have hunting.Make sure you both are both in rugged terrain fitness.When the animal is treed or cornered you have to be able to get to him and it will be on foot.Get some good water proof,thinsulate lined hiking boots.Miendels or Danners are good.A good daypack for putting clothing in as you take it off while hiking or need to put on.Clothes i can`t advise you on as i buy whats on sale.Good luck with your hunt,OB

I can only offer suggestions on the temperature: before the hunt come up to Alaska and visit me for a few days. I'll show you around and you can shoot a few nice double rifles if you wish. Then, fly on to Colorado. After Alaska Colorado will seem like the tropics and you will be hunting in shorts and a tee shirt, wearing sun block.
Good luck and welcome to the US.
Cal

gee cal thats a hellova offer
for clothes think light weight because climbing mountains is something like work. taking highways down I25 etc. in the winter can be brutal so a buss isn't the worst idea in the world, besides that traffic in denver and through the springs can be miserable. although i'm probably a throwback to another century i sure do favor down for clothes. I don't know of any special paperwork you might need, but your outfitter should be able to tell you about that. for gear just think small and light. and don't forget a good little camera

.
Great start guys, thanks !

Just to clarify the hunt is 6 full days and we have vacation both sides for shopping, jet lag, sights etc

All in all nearly 3 weeks in the US !

Charlie

I've been to Wyoming a few times and went thru Colorado but it was always in October. The weather then was pretty wild. We were camped at 9,000 ft (about 2700 meters) and it went down into the 20's (-6C) at night and it got as warm as 80 (26C) in late afternoon.
In February Colorado is likely to be pretty chilly. You should have a long chat with your outfitter and go with what he recommends. He is, or should be, familiar with the territory and the expected weather conditions that time of year, and should be able to give you a good recommendation on what type of clothing you will need.

Have a great time, that is a beautiful part of the country..

as far as Vegas, I used to have to go there twice a month for work. It got old really fast. You can stay almost anywhere on the strip weekdays for $100 a night.. maybe less depending on what conventions are in town. I would stay away from "old Vegas" You can get a hotel there for $35 a night, but the accommodations are questionable. If you want higher end accommodations try the Bellagio, or the Venetian, or even the Flamingo. I'm sure there are new ones I'm not familiar with as I haven't been there in a couple years and they are constantly building. a Helicopter tour of the canyon is truly awe inspiring... and so is the mule ride down to the bottom of the canyon. Its on a narrow mule trail less than a half a meter wide in places and there is no guard rail! Both are unforgettable experiences.

Good luck on your hunt and enjoy your visit to the states!

Charlie - I too live in Colorado, have all my life.

There's also a Cabela's store in Grand Jct. too - just FYI.

If you need any help - feel free to ask at anytime.

Who are you hunting with, I likely know them?

Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. Live it up. Museum of Western American Art across the street. Take the tour, it's excellent. At the Grand Canyon, hike one of the trails into the canyon from the rim. It's a whole diffent world. You need not go all the way down by any stretch. But if you walk down in for an hour or so, you won't regret it.

Remember you will likely be a little higher above sea level than you are used to. May take as much adjustment for the altitude as it does for the temperature difference.

Are your boots rated for snow and rugged terrain.

Not sure but from Grand Junction you could be hunting in a lot of different conditions just by going a different directions.

Get the typical terrain and snow conditions for the area your guide plans to hunt from your outfitter.

Also it sounds like you may not have a license yet. Best check to be sure you can get one. A local will have to chime in on cat license, I have NO idea of how CO handles them.

There is a "famous" steakhouse in Denver you may want to take in.

Vegas is Kewl place to visit, it shows what builders can do when "money is no object".

Here's my take on the grand canyon.consider taking the helicopter tours that are provided.We did ours in late december 2015 out of Tusayan which is on the east side of the park about adays drive from Grand Junction.

I guided for an outfitter hunting mountain lions for 10 years near Meeker, Colorado. Here are a few suggestions based on the hunting we did.

The area we hunted was 7,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation, and we were almost always walking in snow. It can be a long walk from where you release the dogs until you find the cat, and there is no guarantee that you will catch that cat. Hike hills as much as possible before you go to get in shape. The better condition you are in, the more you will enjoy the hunt. Hunting mountain lions is by far the most physically demanding hunting I have ever done, due to the rough terrain they like plus the snow.

For clothing, I think the recommendations above to shop in Denver are good. I recommend dressing in layers with polypropolene underware, a wool shirt, and a coat with a removable liner (another layer). You can also substitute a sweater for the coat liner. Temperatures can vary from -25 or -30 degrees F to +40 or 50 F during the day. Humidity is generally very low so it does not feel so cold. It can also be windy which makes if feel worse. Remove layers and put in your pack BEFORE you get sweaty, as moisture will make you colder and can lead to hypothermia. For pants, wool is probably best, as cotton jeans don't hold in heat once they get wet. A good pair of lightweight gaiters are also a good idea. For boots, you want something waterproof, probably with lightweight thinsulate liners. Try to get boots before the trip if possible so you can get them broken in. Get boots with fairly aggressive soles as the rocks get slick with snow. A decent pair of thinsulate gloves should be good, and I also recommend you get some thin polypropolene glove liners. Ask you outfitter if you will be spending much time on a snowmobile. You might also want a face mask for riding early in the morning when it is cold.

If you drive from Grand Junction to the Grand Canyon, I recommend you consider visiting at Arches or Canyonlands National Parks in southeastern Utah. The weather can be pleasant during the day, even in the middle of winter, and there are few tourists then. There are also good places to visit prehistoric cliff dwellings and see nativerockart in the area. I live in east-central Utah and can give you more specific information if you are interested. Please feel free to PM me if I can help.

Charlie64,

After thinking about your trip, here is what I would do if I were you.

I would fly directly to Grand Junction. The weather in Colorado in Feb is subject to heavy snow storms. Even if Denver and Grand Junction are clear, some areas of the mountains could be getting hit pretty hard.

If a snow storm hits while you are stuck in Denver, or enroute via bus, it might shut down the major highways for a couple of days and that could eat into your hunting time.

It is a 4 hour drive in good conditions and driving through the mountains in the winter can be hazardous, or at least add a day or two to your travel time.

Once in Grand Junction, I would either rent a car, or book a hotel that has a free shuttle to pick you up at the airport.

If the weather is nice (in Colorado you never know- it might be sunny and 60 degrees F (yes even in Feb) or it might be -15 degrees F with blizzard conditions), I would rent a car of a day or so, just to travel to the stores and buy what I need.
It might be possible for the hotel shuttle to drop you off and pick you up at the major stores for a small fee, or there may be a taxi service available (I have only driven through Grand Junction, so I really don't know about the availability of taxis and bus service in Grand Junction.)

I would ask the outfitter about what to bring. When I go up into the mountains in the winter, I take snow pants, snow gaiters, and snow shoes. It is quite possible the outfitter will have gaiters and/or snow shoes available if needed, but it pays to ask.

There is a Sportsman's Warehouse in Grand Junction as well.

Good luck with your hunt. It should be exciting.

BH63

.
Thanks for all the sound and good advice so far.

We have LH Business Class flights into Denver from Frankfurt, and then I am starting to think that we need to get straight down to Grand Junction, where we have 2 days for shopping.

Faisal was great on advice and contact for hunting paperwork with CO State Wildlife - Anja, my wife, will need to do on online quarry identification course before she can hunt a mountain lion ..... like a leopard with without the spots right?!

All the pointers on clothing and packs are great. Thanks.

Equally the Grand Canyon tips - we'll certainly look into the heli trip, sounds like a blast.

Aaron, PM sent. Thanks to you too.

Our outfitter has been great on advice but the extra on Denver, Grand Junction and other sights is really appreciated!

Charlie

.

Check with your outfitter but I believe that Colorado requires a Hunter Safety Course before they will issue a license, no matter your age/experience. Could be a real PITA to try to get that done before your hunt.

Charlie - I responded to your PM, if you have any questions just let me know pal?

.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife very straight forward and good to deal with.

They acknowledge our German hunting licenses and Anja just needs to do the online Mountain Lion Education & Identification Course, pay the Usd 351,- license fee and then the paper work is complete !

.

Wow I stopped considering any Colorado hunting years ago because they would not acknowledge my Maine Hunting guides license or any past hunting license from Maine or Canadian provinces. Born one year too late I guess. 1951. Charlie- Have a great trip.

quote:

Originally posted by Dale:
I guided for an outfitter hunting mountain lions for 10 years near Meeker, Colorado. Here are a few suggestions based on the hunting we did.

The area we hunted was 7,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation, and we were almost always walking in snow. It can be a long walk from where you release the dogs until you find the cat, and there is no guarantee that you will catch that cat. Hike hills as much as possible before you go to get in shape. The better condition you are in, the more you will enjoy the hunt. Hunting mountain lions is by far the most physically demanding hunting I have ever done, due to the rough terrain they like plus the snow.

For clothing, I think the recommendations above to shop in Denver are good. I recommend dressing in layers with polypropolene underware, a wool shirt, and a coat with a removable liner (another layer). You can also substitute a sweater for the coat liner. Temperatures can vary from -25 or -30 degrees F to +40 or 50 F during the day. Humidity is generally very low so it does not feel so cold. It can also be windy which makes if feel worse. Remove layers and put in your pack BEFORE you get sweaty, as moisture will make you colder and can lead to hypothermia. For pants, wool is probably best, as cotton jeans don't hold in heat once they get wet. A good pair of lightweight gaiters are also a good idea. For boots, you want something waterproof, probably with lightweight thinsulate liners. Try to get boots before the trip if possible so you can get them broken in. Get boots with fairly aggressive soles as the rocks get slick with snow. A decent pair of thinsulate gloves should be good, and I also recommend you get some thin polypropolene glove liners. Ask you outfitter if you will be spending much time on a snowmobile. You might also want a face mask for riding early in the morning when it is cold.

If you drive from Grand Junction to the Grand Canyon, I recommend you consider visiting at Arches or Canyonlands National Parks in southeastern Utah. The weather can be pleasant during the day, even in the middle of winter, and there are few tourists then. There are also good places to visit prehistoric cliff dwellings and see nativerockart in the area. I live in east-central Utah and can give you more specific information if you are interested. Please feel free to PM me if I can help.

Top shelf advice right here!!

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:
.
..... like a leopard with without the spots right?!


Charlie

.

A mountain lion is no where near as dangerous as a leopard. Cowboys have been known to lasso them out of trees and hog tie them. Couldn't imagine anyone trying that with a wild leopard.

Occasionally a mountain lion (provided it is really hungry) will attack a child or a small adult.

Yesterday a young boy was attacked by a mountain lion near Aspen, but the mother beat the lion and it took off. If that had been a leopard, it would have been a blood bath.

The mountain lion is more like a mild-mannered cousin to a leopard.

Still it will make a great trophy.

BH63

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:
.
Thanks for all the sound and good advice so far.

We have LH Business Class flights into Denver from Frankfurt, and then I am starting to think that we need to get straight down to Grand Junction, where we have 2 days for shopping.

Faisal was great on advice and contact for hunting paperwork with CO State Wildlife - Anja, my wife, will need to do on online quarry identification course before she can hunt a mountain lion ..... like a leopard with without the spots right?!

All the pointers on clothing and packs are great. Thanks.

Equally the Grand Canyon tips - we'll certainly look into the heli trip, sounds like a blast.

Aaron, PM sent. Thanks to you too.

Our outfitter has been great on advice but the extra on Denver, Grand Junction and other sights is really appreciated!

Charlie

.

My advice is shoot a hippo for bait.

.

Andrew, I read the rules cover to cover - you are not allowed to bait ! Seriously. And no more than 8 hounds in the pack !

Good news - CO immediately recognized Anja's German license and her SA papers. So she has a CID. Now the Mountain Lion Identification exam, pay her fees and she's good to go!

Don't worry mate, we will hunt again soon! Just have to decide what and when !

.

.
Cannot wait to see my wife bundled up in winter gear and boots tromping thru the snow drifts chasing hounds an a cat !!!

Priceless !

.

^
Bustin through snowdrifts is not as much fun as it looks.

The Western Slope (that's what Coloradans call the area of Colorado on the west side of the Rocky Mountains) often has milder winter weather than the central mountains, so hopefully the snow won't be too deep where you will be hunting. A few inches of snow makes for easy tracking, but a few feet of snow makes for some worn out hunters (and dogs).

You will have a blast in either event.

Colorado is fairly stringent on hunting mountain lions and bears. No baiting and dogs aren't allowed for use on bears, and bears are no longer hunted in the spring. I think these regulations came about more as "feel good" rules for the anti-hunters than any sound game management science.

Deer herds in Colorado are struggling, and I'm sure too many mountain lions and bears have a lot to do with that.

Colorado actually has an asinine rule that you have to keep the meat of mountain lions (although I don't know anyone who would really want to eat it. Uggh!)

BH63

There is a Bass Pro shop in Denver just east on I-70 as well as the Cabelas north on I-25. You'll pass the Bass Pro store on the way in to Denver from the airport. Renting a 4-wheel drive in Denver is easier during ski season, but driving over Vail Pass on the way to Grand Junction can be a bugger in the winter. Its usually not closed for long if it closed though. Grand Junction usually has pretty moderate winters - 60 degrees is far from impossible - and if you are hunting the desert around Grand Junction it probably won't be too cold with too much snow. Some winters, though, are tough. If you are hunting upland from Grand Junction, it gets colder and snowier pretty fast. Your outfitter should know if you are hunting the desert or uplands and that will affect footwear and clothing.

Oh, and elevation. Getting here a couple of days early is wise so you have a chance to acclimatize. The elevation will affect you and it makes a big difference if you are hunting at 5,000 ft vs. 8000 or 8500.