Muzzleloader and Rifle Season

It’s our favorite time of year! October and November are some of the most beautiful months in Colorado with peak leaf season AND peak hunting season. Rifle hunts are our most popular choice at River’s Bend Outfitters. All rifle hunts are lead by our expert staff. Choose from fully-guided hunts or self-lead drop camps. We work with all experience levels.

 

Guided Wilderness Hunts

From the trailhead, you and all of your gear will be packed into camp via horseback. The guides provide all expert advice and knowledge needed during the process, and will hunt alongside you. When the animal is harvested, we will quarter it and arrange the meat to be packed out.

All campsites include:

  • Sleeping tent furnished with cots and pads.

  • Cook tent with cookware.

Wilderness Drop Camps

From the trailhead, you and all your gear will be packed into camp via horseback. Our team will ride in to check on you every couple of days. We will pack out your harvested animal and pack you out at the end of the season.  We will familiarize you to your camp and hunting areas, and show you where the hunting blinds locations are on a topo map.

We provide:

  • Sleeping tent furnished with cots, wood and propane stoves, cut wood and full bottle of propane.  

The hunter provides:

  • The hunter provides food, cooking utensils, sleeping bag, weapon, and any other personal items required.

Muzzleloader & Rifle Season dates 2022

​Muzzleloader season draw runs Sept. 10, 2022 - Sept. 18, 2022

Rifle season:

  • 1st season— Limited Elk —- Oct. 15 - Oct. 19

  • 2nd season—-Deer/Elk—Oct. 29 - Nov. 6

  • 3rd season—-Deer/Elk—-Nov. 12 - Nov. 18

  • 4th season—-Limited Deer/Elk—- Nov. 23 - Nov. 27

Moose​ —- Oct. 1 – Oct. 14​

​Bear September Rifle Limited (by draw)​ —- Sept. 2 – Sept. 30

*Bear (Muzzleloader) (over-the-counter and/or limited) ​—- Sept. 10 - Sept. 18

**Bear (Rifle) (over-the-counter and/or limited) ​​—- (see 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Deer/Elk rifle season dates above)

*Archery and Muzzleloader Add-On Bear licenses are available in unlimited numbers this year. Hunters can “add on” an over-the-counter bear license for archery and muzzleloader seasons if they hold a deer or elk license for the same method of take and least one unit overlaps. Look for the paw print in the regulation brochure.

**Hunters do not need to hold a deer/elk license to purchase an over-the-counter rifle bear license.

Please note:

  • Hunters Safety Card is required in the State of Colorado to purchase a hunting license for those born after January 1, 1949.  

  • The units that we will be hunting are in areas 24 (Flat Tops Wilderness) and 25 (Private Ranch). 

  • Topo maps that you will need are for Buford and Oyster Lake Quads.

  • Archery seasons, muzzleloader season, and first rifle season are all lottery drawing.  Also, all deer licenses are on a draw. 

  • The applications for the licenses can be obtained from DOW at their web site (www.wildlife.state.co.us) or phone: (303)-297-1192. 

  • Map needed (optional) - National Geographic Flat Tops North #150