Snake River Ranch  Printer friendly version Printer friendly version

County: Routt, Moffat
GMU: 4, 5

Ranch Contact:
Nearest CPW Office:
Pat Grieve Meeker Office
P.O. Box 240 73485 Hwy 64
Baggs, Wyoming 82321 Meeker, CO 81641
307-383-7838 (office) 970-878-6090 (office); 970-878-6077 (fax)

Location: Ranch is located approximately 40 miles north, northeast of Craig.

Acres: 43,615

CPW Maps:
Snake River Overview map 
Snake River North map 
Snake River South map 

Area Maps: USGS Quads: Moffat County USGS 1:50,000: sheet 1, Routt County USGS 1:50,000: sheet 1

National Forest: None

BLM: Craig

Species Available: Elk, Deer, Pronghorn

Terrain and Access: The ranch ranges in elevation from 6,000 ft. to almost 10,000 ft. The vegetation varies from rolling sagebrush hills, rising through mountain shrub to aspen and mixed aspen/spruce-fir forest. Water courses drain to Slater Creek and onto the Snake River near the Colorado – Wyoming border which lies only 3 to 6 miles north. Access is by 4-wheel drive on existing ranch roads.

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.

SNAKE RIVER RFW COMPACT
Ranch Hunting Rules

We at Snake River Compact would like to congratulate successful applicants on drawing a license for our ranch. We want to assure you that we will attempt to make this opportunity as successful as possible.

The following ranch rules and information are provided to help insure a pleasant and successful hunting experience.

  1. HOW DO I FIND THE CHECK IN: From Baggs, Wyoming (38 miles north of Craig, Colorado on Hwy 13) travel east from Baggs on Hwy 70, 15.8 miles, turn right on County Road #1 and follow signs to the check in, which is 9.5 miles from Hwy 70. Maps will be provided to successful applicants.
  2. WHERE CAN I STAY: Several choices, the closest accommodations, are at the Whispering Pine Lodge 970-583-2976 which is about 10 minutes from the Check in. Or, The Drifters Inn at Baggs 307-383-2015 which is about 30 minutes from the Check in. There are also several motels in Craig, Colorado. However, these are about an hour and thirty minute drive to the Check in. It is very important that you take into consideration driving time to the check in. Check in times are at 5:30 am and at 12:00 noon. The Check out time is no later than one hour after shooting light. These check in times are very important and have been established to provide you with a reasonable expectation of privacy and access to the game in a timely fashion. We hope you understand that we have limited staff for manning the Check in. Hunters Checking in at these times will be distributed as evenly as possible to afford each hunter with as much room and privacy as possible for a quality hunting experience. Hunters that cannot arrive at the check in on time will need to wait until the next check in time. This is only fair to your fellow hunters.
  3. You must complete your release form and have it notarized before you arrive and turn it over to our staff when you arrive. This is due to liability concerns in today’s world – we cannot grant access to the ranch without a properly completed liability release.
  4. HOW MUCH WALKING SHOULD I EXPECT: This is directly tied to the weather, however it is our experience that those hunters who are able and willing to walk and get away from roads normally have a higher success rate and seem to have much more privacy. When weather becomes a factor, there are certain portions of the ranch that is absolutely necessary for hunters to walk or ride horses to. Even though there are roads that remain open during these times, if everyone hunts only these areas then overcrowding could become a factor.
  5. CAMPING: Routt National Forest and several BLM tracts offer exceptional camping opportunities within close proximity to the ranch and check in.
  6. DO I NEED A 4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE: Due to the timing of some hunts we feel that it is very important that you do have a 4x4. If you do not have a 4x4 there are areas of the ranch that are accessible from County Road #1. However, you must be aware that some of these areas will only get you in the proximity of game and may require further access by foot or horseback. For those of you that do have a 4x4, keep in mind that they are not invincible, and if weather conditions warrant it, we do have to close certain roads that have proven in the past to be safety hazards and liability risks. The ranch is remote and we cannot provide towing services. If you get stuck somewhere, arrangements will have to be made with commercial towing services and can be quite expensive.
  7. We cannot offer summer or pre-season scouting access to the ranch, however County Road #1 runs directly through the ranch and traveling it will give you an idea of the terrain and some beautiful scenery.
  8. All of the ranch is open for hunting, and if you have preference on areas to hunt please let us know and we will attempt to accommodate your wishes. Please keep in mind that if weather becomes a factor, or areas are already occupied by hunters we may not be able to immediately meet your request.
  9. ARE ATVs (4-wheelers) ALLOWED: Yes, and they are recommended especially for those not having a 4x4 available to them. However, all ATVs will be under the same rules as other vehicles, and will not be allowed off roads. In the interest of equality and quality of the hunt, where roads are shut off to other vehicles, they are also closed to ATVs. We know the frustration caused to someone who has spent all day walking to get within 50 feet of the top and have an ATV pass them.
  10. Pat Grieve is the contact person for Snake River and can be reached at 307-383-7838 during business hours. If calling after hours, please leave a message on the answering machine and a daytime phone number for a call back. Please only emergency calls to his residence.
  11. BLM LAND: There are several tracts of BLM within the ranch borders, but they are not included in our RFW operation, therefore your license is NOT valid on BLM. BLM land is yellow on the map you will be sent.
  12. Hunters must accept supervision by ranch personnel. Any hunter not in compliance with ranch rules, laws of Colorado, or displaying unethical hunting practices will suffer loss of hunting privileges. The decision of the ranch supervisor will be final. This rule is in force because we do not, nor should you, have to hunt around someone that is unethical or unsafe.
  13. Hunters must sign the liability waiver, have it notarized and agree to release all ranches of any liability associated with their access to the ranch and activities thereon.
  14. Hunters and companions must agree to the rules and regulation of the ranches and sign their acknowledgement to these conditions. Each hunter must check in at the established times each day.
  15. Hunters and companions must check out each day at the same location as the check in, no later than one hour after shooting light has expired. Any hunter not checking out daily will be denied further access to the ranch. We have to do this so that we can make sure that nobody is hurt or lost on the ranch.
  16. No camping is allowed on the ranch. There are nearby places to camp and our owners have liability concerns about camping.
  17. As protection against wildfires, no fires are allowed on the ranch.
  18. Alcoholic beverages or their consumption, or use of illegal substances is prohibited. Just say no.
  19. For those who couldn’t say no, at the ranches sole discretion, anyone determined to be unable to function normally, either mentally or physically, will suffer loss of hunting privileges for the remainder of the day. Further access will be determined on a case by case basis.
  20. Some roads may be closed due to weather, safety, property damage, or quality of hunt considerations.
  21. We feel hunting is enjoyed more when it is shared with a friend, and it sure helps to have them along when it comes to packing time. So we are happy to welcome one non-hunting companion with each hunter. Companions must also have a signed and notarized liability waiver submitted to the ranch.
  22. No dogs are allowed on the ranch.
  23. No target practice or non-hunting discharge of firearms.
  24. No littering, please help us keep the ranch clean by packing out anything you bring in and when possible please pack out any trash you find.
  25. Travel is restricted to existing ranch roads only – no cross-country motorized travel will be allowed. A few roads are closed to motor vehicle travel to both private and public hunters.
  26. There is a safety zone within a radius of 1 mile of the ranch headquarters in which no shooting is allowed, except by written permission of the ranch.

General Information:

Snake River RFW is located in an area where elk are substantially over herd objective and the elk herd is migratory. 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 available in Craig or Steamboat Springs.

Due to staff limitations and the volume of telephone inquiries, calls are returned a few hours each day in the order they are received.
        Last Updated: 3/21/2013 3:58 PM