Oak Creek Ranch

Oak Creek Ranch offers a compelling opportunity to own one of the most unique big game hunting properties in Western Colorado. Perched upon the south flank of the Grand Mesa bordering National Forest and BLM land, the property offers incredible mountain views, great elk and mule deer hunting, year-round access, end-of-the-road privacy, and great proximity to amenities. There is also a newly constructed cabin within walking distance from a grass airstrip for the backcountry aviation enthusiast!

Located on the Grand Mesa west of Cedaredge, Colorado, this 1,387-acre big game hunting property offers excellent seclusion, a year-round creek, great hunting, and exclusive access to thousands of acres of public lands. The upper portion of the property is virtually surrounded by BLM and borders the Grand Mesa National Forest with excellent private access.

Oak Creek flows through the ranch and good water rights irrigate several food plots, which are a big draw for the elk and mule deer. There is a good road system throughout the property as well as a few ponds. A new cabin, corrals, and a high-fenced orchard containing 80 fruit trees have recently been constructed. The county provides winter access within a half-mile from the ranch boundary and there is a grass airstrip at the top of the ranch near the cabin. Elevations range from 5,600 to 7,900 feet.

Improvements

A newly constructed 2,000-square-foot off-grid cabin is perched atop a knoll on the upper portion of the property that overlooks the entire ranch. Panoramic views from the cabin include the San Juan and West Elk Mountain Ranges, as well as the Black Canyon, Uncompahgre Plateau, and the Ragged Wilderness. A nice set of corrals for mules and pack horses, as well as a high-fenced 80 fruit tree orchard have recently been constructed. There is also a 500-foot grass airstrip within walking distance from the cabin for the backcountry aviation enthusiast.

Location

Oak Creek Ranch is located on the south face of the majestic Grand Mesa, just a few miles west of the historic small town of Cedaredge and its beautiful fruit orchards. Great amenities and health care are only 12 miles away in the quaint agricultural town of Delta. The eclectic North Fork Valley, with its growing art and winery scene, is only a short drive up the Gunnison River Valley. Grand Junction and Montrose are under an hour away and offer even more amenities, including great non-stop commercial air service to numerous destinations. The Oak Creek Ranch is close enough to great amenities when desired, yet distant enough to feel like a true rural retreat with unmatched privacy and fantastic big game hunting.

Hunting

Oak Creek ranch is in GMU 411, which offers over the counter elk tags for second and third rifle seasons, as well as archery season. Tags for first and fourth rifle seasons, as well as muzzleloader season, are not difficult to draw. However, mule deer tags in a quality unit like this are hard to come by, and this property typically draws several landowner tags through the Landowner Preference Program.

This property, combined with the adjacent public lands, has consistently produced quality bull elk scoring over 300 B&C, with the capability of harvesting 4-6 nice bulls per year. Hunting for mule deer can also be excellent in this unit, and the current property owner is actively reclaiming and improving wildlife habitat.

Recreation

Summer recreation on Oak Creek Ranch includes trail riding, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing the high-country lakes on the adjacent national forest. Big game hunting is the main highlight in the fall, aided by the fact that the property is adjacent to BLM and National Forest. Winter recreation shifts to snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ski touring, ice fishing on the Grand Mesa, and downhill skiing at Powderhorn Mountain Resort on the north side of the Grand Mesa. The much larger world-class ski areas of Aspen, Telluride, and Crested Butte all lie about two hours away from the ranch.