Location: Deakins Ranch is located 12 miles west of Craig on Hwy 40.

Acres: 26,502

CPW Maps:
Deakins 

Area Maps: USGS Quad: Round Bottom, Horse Gulch, Juniper Hot Springs, Pine Ridge, Lay SE

Moffat County USGS 1:50,000 – sheet 7

National Forest: None

BLM: Craig

Species Available: Elk, Deer, Pronghorn

Terrain and Access: Elevations vary from 6,000 ft. to 6,400 ft. The terrain is rolling hills covered with sage and mixed brush. Ranch roads provide access to parking areas that allow walk-in access to major areas of the ranch.

Average Success Rates: Please see Participating Ranches.

Check the Ranching for Wildlife main page for season dates.

There are no antler-point restrictions for any of the ranches. No over-the-counter licenses are offered on these properties. Ranching for Wildlife licenses are open to Colorado residents only. Licenses are only for the season and ranch on the license. For more information on season dates and application deadlines, see the Big Game Hunting Brochure.

Ranch rules from previous seasons are provided for a general perspective.  Ranch rules are negotiated annually and some rule changes may take affect this year.

DEAKINS RANCH
Ranch Hunting Rules

Below is a list of rules for the Deakins Ranch. These rules are set to ensure safety of everyone on the ranch.

1. Hunters must complete and submit the liability release before you can begin hunting. Guests must comply with this also. Submit releases at the time of check in.
2. Hunters must check in and out every day at the check point. Directions are mailed with other information to successful applicants. The Check in/out is staffed one hour before legal hunting hours and one hour after legal hunting hours (For pronghorn check in opens 30 minutes before legal hunting hours). Checking in and out every day is somewhat of a hassle but it is very important that we know who is on the ranch every day.
3. No pre-season scouting access is permitted in order to keep game from being disturbed.
4. No camping is allowed due to liability reasons. Deakins Ranch is near Craig so successful applicants will be provided with a list of lodging options in Craig with information mailed.
5. Each hunter is allowed to bring one firearm of legal caliber. Only the licensed hunter is granted hunting privileges on the Ranch. Also, you must have your rifle sighted in before you enter the Ranch. No unnecessary discharging of your firearm, and no handguns.
6. No littering with exception of animal entrails.
7. No pets. This is a working cattle and sheep ranch so cannot allow you to bring your pets.
8. Speed limit on all ranch roads is 15 mph. ATVs are not permitted. Vehicles must stay on the road or be parked beside the road at all times. There are plenty of roads on this Ranch so it should not be a problem getting around.
9. Hunters are allowed access to the entire ranch for hunting with the following exceptions: all areas around livestock facilities, areas of operating farm equipment and ranch activities, all pasture areas including hay meadows and areas of livestock. The Ranch is broken down into hunting areas and a maximum number of hunters will be allowed in each area for better safety and hunt quality. Each hunting area has access through a designated gate.
10. No vehicles are allowed in the walk-in hunting area.  This area is designed to allow elk movement into the property without facing high levels of vehicle disturbance.  We believe that the walk in area will enhance hunter success throughout the property.
11. No driving through the wheat fields since this damages the crop. This is watched and enforced.
12. No access to any of the buildings or blinds located on the Ranch.
13. BLM lands within or adjacent to the Ranch are not included in our RFW operation and it is not legal for you to hunt on them.
14. No rifle hunting off of water holes. Animals quit using a water source if you shoot at them when they are watering. This hurts our program and the time and effort we have put into providing water sources for wildlife.
15. Leave all gates as you found them, if in doubt please close the gate.
16. No illegal drugs or alcohol is permitted in possession or use.
17. All hunters must report their hunting results, forms will be provided at the check in area. The ranch has to report harvest information to CPW so please don’t skip the report.
18. Your stay on the Ranch will end after you have harvested your animal, or until the end of your season dates. In the event of a wounded/unrecovered animal you will have to the end of your season to find that animal – so make your shot count.
19. You may bring one non-hunting guest. The guest is not permitted to make game drives for you, and the guest may not have a firearm.
20. Harvested game may not be hung or stored on the Ranch. Information mailed to you will contain the names of meat processing services in Craig.
21. You may use the following Ranch phone number for an emergency contact number in case something happens at home and family needs to contact you (phone number provided to successful applicants).

General Information:

Deakins RFW is located in an area where elk are substantially over herd objective and the elk herd is migratory. The ranch is working with CPW to harvest antlerless elk to assist in achieving herd objectives. Since antlered elk do not always remain on the ranch and harvest levels off the ranch are high, the size of bulls available to hunters should not be considered "trophy" class.

Motels are located in Craig.

Retrieval of game is hunters' responsibility. Ranch will assist with retrieval of game as possible.