Thanks to everyone at Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches for the opportunity to hunt Merriams in Colorado and familiarize myself with the ranches I will be hunting elk on this fall. Carl, Brad (aka Doodle) - thanks for letting me borrow and purchase the Doodle call), Shawn, Les and Joe all welcomed me and I felt comfortable with a bunch of strangers immediately - and I feel like by the time I left I had made 5 new friends for life. The accommodations, hostess and food were great (steak, baked potatoes, veggies and salad) 3 out of 4 nights - and I could have eaten it another 3 nights! Lol. The property I hunted was beautiful and calling in a big Tom over 800 yards and around a flock of hens over a 45 minute period made for a heck of a hunt. Seeing all of the mule deer and elk has me excited to be coming back in October!
R. Scott Summers
On my third evening out elk hunting with Colorado Twin Peaks, I set up on a rock ledge overlooking a canyon with a four wheeler trail in the bottom that lead up the mountain. As I was sitting there I let out a few calls from my Primos Hoochie Momma cow call. Within 45 minutes I heard two cows off in the distance, and followed back with two additional calls, and they responded back. At that time my heart started pounding. After two hours I spotted two cows down in the four wheeler trail making their way up the side of the mountain away from me. I grabbed my binoculars and started glancing at the cows. Behind the two cows was a 5x5. As the elk got higher on the ridge there was more elk following in the footsteps of the cows and bull. I took my rangefinder and ranged the distance. 250 yards away. I folded down my bipod on the end of my Browning 300 mag. Fired one shot behind the shoulder. After striking the bull behind the shoulder, he took a few steps forward. He only left me with a neck shot, so I took it. The second shot put him down in his tracks. As the rest of the heard moved on across the ridge, I packed up and started hiking my way down in the canyon. When I reached the bottom it was already dark. I marked off where I shot from and had to back out. As I left the elk lay over night, I could not sleep at all. After getting out there the next morning and finding my elk within 10 minutes. My dream had come true. A beautiful 5x5 Rocky Mountain Elk. Tom and his guides are such phenomenal people to hunt with and know the layout of the land and know where the elk will be. I had such a wonderful and exceptional first time hunting elk. Anette welcomed us in her home with open arms. I truly felt like a member of the family that whole week, either helping others out with cutting up their elk or keeping the fire going in the lodge. I definitely had such a wonderful week and would recommend Colorado Twin Peaks Outfitters.
Hunter K. - Virginia
I hunted the first rifle season for elk with Tom and his crew this year in Aguilar Colorado, had a blast! Our group had huge success with 6 out of 10 hunters taking bulls. I was able to take my first elk ever, a nice 6X5 bull elk on the afternoon of day two in about 3 inches of snow. Nic and I spotted a herd of 30-40 elk from on top of a ridge in the canyon below us about 600 yards away. Too far to take a shot in a snow storm, so we ran along the ridgetop for about 3/4 mile to get ahead of the herd that was moving through the canyon below, cut them off and took a shot from a rock ledge into the canyon at my bull. A memory that I will never forget. I also helped pack an elk out for the first time, Nic shot a nice 5X5 the morning of day 2 prior to me taking my bull and a group of us packed him out 3 miles. That was a workout to say the least, but what an authentic back country hunting experience. This is the first time I have hunted anywhere west of Ohio and was pleasantly surprised in the amount of game the ranches and neighboring properties held. I saw a couple hundred pronghorn in the plains of Aguilar on my drive to the ranch. I easily saw around 500 or more mule deer including dozens of bucks with racks you could sit down within. I must have seen around 600 elk, watched some absolute giants that were bugling, pushing their cows around and chasing off smaller shooter bulls. Some of the guys actually had the opportunity to watch a herd of 600 or 700 elk when I was out there! Turkeys, too many turkeys to even count! One of the hunters in camp had an unforgettable up close and personal encounter with a mountain lion which came to within 10 yards of him, he definitely walked away with quite a story. No shortage of game if you are looking for a good do-it-yourself hunt. The elk ranch/camp house had the entire setup for an elk hunt, from fully furnished lodging, the 2-ton game pole with chain-fall, the meat house with space to hang your meat for cooling and processing, freezers to store your meat and a very gracious ranch Owner named Annette that welcomed us all as family. Well worth the 30 hour drive from Vermont, going home with a nice bull elk rack made the drive home easier too! I am already looking to build up the vacation time and funds to setup a future mule deer and elk combination hunt. So glad I got to know Tom and his crew, what a great group of guys!
Justin B. - Vermont
Dear Tom, Thank you for a wonderful Elk hunting experience. Everything was well planned and executed. Your guides are knowledgeable and very helpful. Their hard work and scouting ensured my success. I took my Elk on the second day of the season with the guidance of master guide Carl Kimble. He had a “hunch” that the herds would be moving that morning and he was right! As we quietly positioned ourselves, daylight broke and sure enough, there they were. A small herd of perhaps 50-70 cows and bulls moving along -with pace-into the mountains. Not much time for hesitation but with clear guidance I was able to make the required shot. This bull was a “bruiser”. A beautiful 5x5 brawler with a few broken thynes from fighting. Within an hour I had part of the Twin Peaks’ crew helping me get it packed-up and back to the ranch. I was also guided and helped with butchering and properly packaging my meat. This is an outstanding outfit. Their combined experience produces success. The atmosphere and the camaraderie at the ranch is a true reflection of what it means to hunt with respect and have fun while doing it. Great fun, great time...
THANK YOU, John Fuller
For the three of us this was our first time booking with Twin Peaks Outfitters for a combination Elk Mule deer hunt. Tom and Carl set us up on a great ranch with lots of animals and we were able to score on some great Mule deer bucks in the first couple days. The weather was warm and the elk were just not moving we knew they were there just needed the weather to change on our final morning we got that change with a couple inches of snow and we found ourselves glassing nearly 100 elk in a hay field. We were able to bag a nice 5x5 Bull and great way to wrap up our hunt. We had great accommodations and excellent ranches. Can’t wait to come back thanks again.
- Bob Minnesota
"I have hunted with these guys twice now for turkey and will be hunting with them in the fall for deer and elk. This is the perfect setup for those individuals who are capable hunters but are unable to find quality property for turkey or big game hunting. While it is not a guided hunt in the traditional sense, and of the guys chip in and help out when needed. I have hunted in Colorado and around the world with outfitters from Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and Africa, and must admit, I have had as much or more fun with these guys as any I have hunted with in the past. it is not just the people though. Tom, Carl and the rest have found an area that is unbelievably rich in game. The properties I have hunted on had varied terrain, but nothing that is too challenging for the average hunter. In the last two turkey seasons, I have seen more turkeys than anywhere else I have hunted. What has surprised me the most is the amount of deer and elk I have seen. Carl and I took a road trip up the valley one day and saw nearly 600 elk in just one pasture. During my turkey hunt, I saw large numbers of mule deer every day, some less than 10 feet from my blind. See you there some day!" - Mike
"Tom, thanks to everyone at Colorado Twin Peaks for the opportunity to go out to Colorado and hunt Merriam's. Carl (the turkey hunting pro and a true friend to everyone he meets), Doodle (thanks to the Doodle calls for the success - we brought some back for the Eastern Turkeys that we hunt), Shawn (you couldn't meet a nicer guy), Les (the King of story-telling, we can't wait to hear more), and Joe (you never feel like a stranger when you are around Joe) all treated us like family from the time we arrived. The accommodations were great and all of the guys were more than willing to show us around and help us find the birds. We truly enjoyed all of the fellowship and stories.
The property we hunted was amazing. It was definitely nice to be able to hunt with view of the Twin Peaks in the background and with an abundance of birds to hunt. Seeing all of the mule deer and elk has us trying to find the time to come back in the fall.
We could not be happier with the trip. We all five were able to get a bird. Four out of five us tagged out on the first day and managed to get nice sized toms. The fifth bird was tagged on the third day. The toms that we killed were mature birds with all of the beautiful white feathers you would expect to see from a Merriam's. From day one, we had birds gobbling all over. We look forward to doing it again." - Jason
"I want to thank everyone at Colorado Twin Peaks for the great elk hunt and wonderful time in Colorado. I felt like I was part of the family from the very beginning and you never gave up on helping me get my cow elk. The accommodations were great and the home cooked meals were like eating at Grandma's house on Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to doing it all over again this year." - Greg Hulver
"Thank you Tom for the opportunity to go to Colorado with you all to turkey hunt this past spring of 2016. All though I did not know all of the guys there and it snowed 10" it was a great trip, great accommodations, great food, and a experience to remember and hopefully participate in again next year. The guys there were great and even with the snow I had a jake in my lap and in the scope. Next year I won't be looking for a monster of a bird but a good trophie to bring home. Still hoping for a big one though. I know they are there. It is a great memory all ready with the amount of elk and mule deer I saw and the cutting up at camp. Thanks again." - Derek Mowbray
"I had a great time hunting late season Elk. I saw plenty of Elk. I did a DIY hunt. I was able to get my cow elk on the ground on December 23, 2015. When I did, I had guide Jason help with getting it loaded into the truck. Jason was great. Tom from Colorado Twin Peaks done everything he said he would do. Had a great place to stay. I will go back again." - Bruce
"This was my first Elk Hunt and first time at the Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches. The guide Jason did a perfect job setting me up on two Bulls. Despite the near record heat we received all week. Jason was very knowledgeable of the area, and I was able to see or hear elk every day of the hunt. Which made even the hot slow days exciting. Although I was the only one to get an Elk from our group we all enjoyed our time at the Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches. Thanks again Tom and Jason" - Jim Deschler
Dear Tom & Carl,
"I want to thank you & let you know how much i enjoyed my hunts with the folks of Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches this past year. (2015). After booking my turkey hunt i was exited yet a little nervous considering i had booked hunts with other outfitters in the past & well... i didn't know what to expect. All the nervousness & unknowns went away upon arrival at camp. Your professionalism , knowledge of the game& area was top notch.(as was the lodging & food). Your dedication to your hunters success is unparrel to anyplace i'd been before. That week the camp had 100 percent success rate! Including my first merium turkey thanks to master guide carl!! There was also a first time bow kill (WOW). I enjoyed my turkey hunt & the camaraderie at camp with you & fellow hunters joe, brad (love the two faced doodle call),les & cody so much that i booked my turkey hunt for next year. But i didn't stop there , i also booked a 2nd season rifle hunt for bull elk for this year. Once again upon arrival at camp for my elk hunt , the atmosphere,professionalism, knowledge & dedication was of the highest standard. After being on elk & hunting hard all week , i harvested my first bull elk (5x5) on friday morning!! That happened only one day after new hunting buddy nick harvested a 6x6 bull on the same ranch. What a blast nick thanks for everything!! I was on two hunts with Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches this year - successful on both because of your knowledge & dedication. I cant wait to get back out next year & reminisce in camp about the great hunts & the great times and to make ones. Thanks again for everything."- Shawn Beckner
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"This was my second hunt booked with Tom. In 2013 I had a successful rifle hunt with a cow elk & a beautiful mulie. This time we muzzleloaded & I got a nice 6x6 bull. The accommodations met our needs perfectly. Will definitely book again with Tom." - Bob O'Brien
"This was my fifth hunt with Colorado Twin Peaks. While I didn't kill something every year, I have killed two bull elk, a cow and two mule deer. Tom has some very good ranches to hunt on.This is my first elk with a muzzleloader and we are already planning our next hunt with him. This is still the least expensive elk hunt I can find. Thanks Tom for keeping it affordable." - Jim Kesner
"For my first elk hunt couldn't ask for a better place to take an elk. Thanks" - Tom.
"We booked a hunt with my best friend and son in the muzzleloader season. There was a cold snap and the elk were talking. The first day we heard some bugling but could not locate them. The second day I was walking along a fence line and heard some bugles. I went straight to them though the scrub oaks towards a ridge. Coming down that ridge I saw 10-11 cows and 4 bulls. The largest stopped half-way down the ridge and gave a textbook herd bull bugle. I crawled into range and shot him at 100 yards. He was a 1000 lb. 10 X8 non-typical that rough scored at about 331. It had a moose-like branch we had trouble scoring. All three of us had chances at elk and saw more animals in a day than we have seen in 8 years of elk hunting. Great experience! Thanks" - Ken
Dear Tom and Carl,
"I just want to drop you all a line to thank you for the hunt of a lifetime!! I wouldn’t have had this chance if it wasn’t for you all. From the start of the trip and the hunt I was treated like family!! On this hunt I meant new friends that I will never forget also can’t forget the logging and the food they were also great!! To be part of a hunt that had 9 kills which was a kill rate of 100% is unreal!! Another great thing about this hunt was to be able to show off the turkey calls that I make!! Can’t wait for next spring turkey hunt at Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches!!! Thanks Again" - Doodle Calls/Brad Mauzy
Dear Carl and Tom,
"Thank you kindly for a most incredible and memorable hunt on your ranches in Colorado. Both my son Edward and I enjoyed your hospitality and felt at home with old friends. The hunts we participated in where one hundred percent successful thanks to your dedication, professionalism and expertise. All I can say is them Colorado turkeys sure liked them mountaineer hens!! We are impressed and we are hooked!! Can hardly wait for next year. Thanks again and all the best. "- John & Edward Fuller - San Diego, CA
"My buddy and I set out for the 2nd leg of our grand slam quest this year when we decided to chase Merriams with you guys. I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into when we booked our hunt. I can honestly say I cannot imagine any part of our hunt being more enjoyable that it turned out to be. The country was gorgeous. The accommodations were great. The food was fantastic. The turkeys were stubborn yet plentiful. The friendships we made with the guys in camp were worth the trip in itself. I can truly say that Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches is a first class operation and I look forward to hunting with you again in the future. God bless and Go Mountaineers!" - Joe Vance, Logan, WV
"Tom, Since I’ve been turkey hunting, I’ve always dreamt of completing the Grand Slam. After harvesting many Eastern’s in WV, I decided it was time to chase the Merriam’s. I was reluctant to using an outfitter that provided lodging because sometimes you’re not sure of the people you’ll be staying with. After arrival in camp and meeting everyone, I could tell I made the right decision. I wasn’t just treated as “another hunter” but was treated like family. My buddy and I harvested our Merriam’s on the first morning and spent the rest of the time helping others scout and harvest a turkey as well. I don’t believe I’ve ever laughed as hard as I did during the nightly campfire stories that was provided by one of your master guides. It was truly an enjoyable experience and I look forward to going back and chasing some more Merriams. Thanks again." - Bill M.
"Tom thanks for a real dream come true hunt when I bagged my second bull elk ever while hunting with Colorado Twin Peaks in southern Colorado. A great first season unguided rifle ranch hunt in 2013!" - Mike from PA
"Hunting Colorado’s 2013 First Elk Rifle Season with Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches was a regal experience. Other than the weather, which was so nice that I got a sunburned nose, the experience of hunting the southern Colorado area, near the Spanish Peaks, was awesome but much different from hunting other parts of the state. Very importantly for an old, out-of-shape “dude” like me, the altitude and terrain were just right, ranging from 6,000 to 7,000 feet of rolling, but sometimes steep hills, and open valleys. I really enjoyed the fact that my buddy and I were able to hunt the way we wanted to hunt; Tom and his crew gave us a tour of the area, some astute advise and a couple of ATVs then let us loose with the flexibility to hunt elk the way we wanted. Lodging, food and comradery were exceptional – a group of good, ole Mountaineers enjoying the outdoors, the hunt and, of course, swapping “tall tales of hunts from long ago” – yesterday or the day before – especially after the group harvested four big bulls in one day. It was a five star hunt – altitude, terrain, elk, comradery and food. My buddy and I are already planning to bring a third buddy with us on the 2014 hunt with Tom and his folks. You should join us!" - R. Ivan Pinnell, Ph.D.
Tom,
"2013 was my second year hunting the T ranch. I really enjoyed exploring the ranch this year and becoming more familiar with the layout without the worry of crowding from other hunters. Our guide, Jason was a big help for me in learning the terrain and figuring out where the elk may be. Armed with my typical gusto and new knowledge of the area I set out and I hunted my tail off. It was well worth it. Five days of hard hunting without a sign then, Boom! On the sixth day of the hunt we had a cold spell and that evening I suddenly found myself in position to see a herd of about forty head passing through the ranch. I was drawn in their direction by the bugling of some of the bulls. Imagine, bugling in November during the third season! I set my aim on my bull, a decent 6x6 at 225 yards. My tag filled, not to mention my freezer, and I finished my hunt with a feeling of satisfaction that my efforts were rewarded. Thanks Tom!" - Joe B
"Tom: This is the second time to do a non guided hunt with Twin Peaks . I have enjoyed the hunting as I have harvested an elk both years. Thanks again." - Bobby Greenwood
"Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our trip/hunt with Colorado Twin Peaks during the 2012 Archery Season. Upon arrival to the Ranch we set up camp and was eager to get our hunt started. On day #2 we scouted the area and was amazed by the beauty of the Ranch with all the rock formations, canyons and having the Spanish Peaks as a backdrop. Day #3 got real exciting when we started seeing lots of fresh elk sign in the morning and planned an evening hunt in an area that had multiple game trails and rubs on the edge of a meadow. It was that evening that I spotted a satellite bull entering the meadow about 400 yards from where we had set up and watched with amazement as he majestically walked across the meadow towards me and presented me with a 20 yard broadside shot. Once I released my arrow, I knew that I had just harvested my first big game animal on my first trip out west The shot was a complete pass thru hitting both lungs. Needless to say, he didn’t go very far. Although the bull was a young 5x5, he was definitely a trophy in my eyes and will provide many delicious meals at the dinner table. Although my uncle didn’t get to harvest his own Elk on this trip, he definitely enjoyed the experience and enthusiasm with me. In total we saw five color phase Black Bear, tons of Merriam Turkey, a few Mule Deer and of course Elk. The Ranch was full of game and we felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. Can’t wait to return to the Ranch and experience another big game hunt with Colorado Twin Peaks." - John
"This was my first elk/mule deer hunt in Colorado. My dad and I had an unguided hunt with Colorado Twin Peaks. Tom helped us find a fantastic cabin to stay in for the second season in 2011. We were provided great scouting tips at the ranch before the hunt. We saw plenty of signs of mulies and elk daily. When our hunt began it was unseasonably warm, but about five days into our hunt the weather turned and we had a good snowfall. The morning after the snowfall, I harvested my first elk ever – an awesome 6 X 6! The experience and memories of skinning, quartering and packing out an elk on a four-wheeler with my dad is something I will always cherish. Thanks for a great hunt! Thanks" - Scott
"The 1st time we hunted in Colorado was with Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches and we were chasing Meriam turkeys with Tom and his guides! We saw multiple gobblers every day as we hunted and had many shot opportunities. It was on the last day of our hunt that we were both able to pull the trigger and we ended with 1 dead turkey and a miss. Tom, and his guides are professionals and clearly know what they are doing. We would recommend them as a qualified outfitter." - Stephen and April Robbins
MVP-Outdoors
www.mvp-outdoors.com
540-742-1291
Dear Tom:
"Many thanks for a successful 2011 Colorado elk hunt. As you know, Bobby Greenwood and I booked an unguided hunt the 1st (draw only) season. The 1st three days of the hunt were unusually warm. We saw a lot of sign, but the elk movement appeared to be primarily confined to the night. The 4th day the weather cooled considerably. The temperature at the ranch was 23 degrees when, just after sunrise, I shot a very large bodied 6 X 5 bull . The personnel at the game processing facility estimated the live weight at around 1000 lb. We couldn't' get a hanging weight because the equipment wouldn't lift the animal high enough to get the head and neck off the floor! I've hunted elk in Colorado the past 25 seasons and this was by far the largest animal I've taken. The next morning was pretty much a carbon copy. Bobby shot a really nice "non-typical" (we're talking really crazy looking horns) 1st thing that morning. We had a great time and obviously had a great hunt. I have attached a picture of my animal. I would highly recommend your services to others. Best regards" - John Hastings
"I had always dreamed of being able to go on an elk hunt, but could never afford it. Colorado Twin Peaks allowed my dreams to come true. These are the most affordable hunts I have found. I have been on three trips now and have finally added a nice elk and mulie to my collection of taxidermy. I hope to keep hunting at least every other year. Thank you!" - Jim Kesner
"Hunting with Colorado Twins Peaks is great. The hunting is truly world class. The quality of elk and mule deer is unreal, and the hunting pressure in so low. In fact, I have been hunting with Colorado Twins Peaks for 5 years and I have yet to run into another hunter. This is the only outfit that I will hunt with. Many thanks" --Bobby Keesecker
Ek Hunting with Colorado Twin Peaks
"Tom, I just wanted to drop a line and thank you for the great hunting experience you provided me. If anyone else is a first timer, like I was, I would highly suggest they choose Colorado Twin Peaks Private Ranches to make their experience one to remember. Not only do you provide excellent opportunities for trophy elk and mulies you are very professional and knowledgeable of the area. I hear a lot of stories from other hunters about trekking through the high mountain snows and packing out quarry for days and I must say the service, opportunity, and areas you provide have me spoiled. I could not imagine having a better experience anywhere else in Colorado." - Tim S. West Virginia
"This was my first Hunting Trip to Colorado. I made the perfect choice going with the guys at Colorado Twin Peaks. Master Guide Carl took me to the Spring Gobblers immediately. Carl, Joe, Tom and Les were great guides and Hunting Companions. They showed me all kinds of Wildlife, Including Herds of Elk. They know each Beautiful Ranch very well and will show you the time of your Life. Looking forward to going again. Thanks Tom." - Alan Yokum