Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Colorado 2014 Gathering

I would think Granby area would be good. Camping (Williams Fork/National Forest) , hotels,City Market, fishing and a large (free)shooting range are all nearby and in summer it's at 8,000 ft. average high in July is 75 with only 1.5 inches of rain.

ill come down ifi can make it work.....went all the way to New Mexico back in August so Colorado is prolly do able if it works around what i have going on....

Hey Lost highway -- I'm not as familiar with the Granby area. I have driven through there on motorcycles. I know pine beetles ravaged pretty hard north of I-70. Do you have a specific area for a group camp in mind to consider?

I haven't been to that range in a long time, but as I recall it's only 200 yards, unless it's been improved since I was last there.

There are several National Forest campgrounds off Hwy 125, which start about 10 miles up north toward Rand/Walden. I've driven Hwy 125 many times though never turned off any of the N.F. roads.
Williams Fork Reservoir (at Parshall) has free camping on the reservoir, fire rings, tables, pit toilets, and a boat ramp. During the week shouldn't be too many people. The area attracts lots of fishermen on weekends. Camped there a few times, can't remember if they have water or not. It's about 3 miles to the Colorado River and 21 miles to Granby. There is a large (free)DOW shooting range directly off Hwy 40, if I recall it is between the Williams Fork turn off and Granby. Nice area with lots of Cottonwoods along the river.

When are y'all wanting to have this get together? I would prefer the high country and would prefer late July/early Aug so I can go look for some big deer

NFS Campgrounds generally don't work for these kind of gatherings. We could have anywhere between 12-50 people and 10-25 rigs, so the area chosen needs to be big enough to handle the upper range, but still be a good set-up if it is on the lower end. Think elk hunting camp on a much bigger scale.

It will need to be scheduled over a weekend (or leading into one).

It needs to be somewhat remote to avoid crowds and a good shooting area needs to be close, ideally in the same vicinity. Even though shooting is completely legal on most federal lands, we are smarter if we choose areas less frequented unless we want unwarranted attention from local Sheriff's department or the NFS officer. Of course, it goes without saying that the shooting area needs to be open, somewhat level and a good backstop.

I think most people want it be in the mountains somewhere. If we go High country in the major ranges, it will have to be July/August due to 130%+ snowpack. If we choose a drier, lower elevation area like the Tarryalls, snow won't be an issue.

If we decide to do it in the same place as last year, I'm happy to help organize it - and KC probably would too, since we scouted this spot last year.

Here is a link to the page from past year's event that show's last year's location and some pictures of the area.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/7572182/14

hunstsonora - you suggested backside of Guanella Pass.

Does it have the elements listed above: (space, privacy, area for shooting, etc?)

I'm certainly up new country.

List of interested so far.

z1R
WyColoCowboy
KC
dogcatcher223
SuburbanHunter
CCCC
colodog
achadwick
Dogshooter
Tracks
northcountry
dennisinaz
The Yetti
huntsonora
superdave
LostHighway
rattler
antelope sniper

Cowboy, I'm interested as well.
I'm just not too picky.

Added.

I think so, I will get you some info on the area. Its Geneva creek road on the backside of Guanella Pass. There are some good camping spots there. When the snow melts we can go check it out. There is a lot of wildlife there. I have seen mountains goats, elk, deer and bear right there. Its a beautiful spot

Looked it up, like what I learned.

"When the snow melts" Call Al Gore. This year that could be labor day... lol

Yeah, I agree with huntsonora. I looked at it via Google Earth and the Geneva Creek Road (USFS 119), a few miles south of the old Geneva Basin Ski Area, looks good. I'm up for joining you guys on a scouting trip when the snow melts. This place is higher and wetter than last year. Looks like prettier country because the vegetation appears to be more montaine zone. Last year the vegetation was more foothills zone and drier.

KC

I'd love to explore as well. I have a place up in the Sawatch Range that might be good, but I need to research it before throwing it on the table.

Erik

Erik, I live near the Sawatch, where did you have in mind?

I was thinking maybe above Cottonwood Lake or somewhere off the West side of the Divide over Cottonwood Pass.

Another potentially good location is northwest of Kremmling off Hwy 134 over Gore Pass. The terrain there isn't super-extreme, lots of huge parks and not as well traveled in the summer. K_Salonek and I hunted that area for elk last fall.

I hope Kevin makes it to this year's get together.

KC