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Hunting With Us On The V7 Ranch

Why We Do This

Besides generally enjoying meeting new people from so many places, we also get a kick out of seeing the “wild west” through the eyes of others. After living on the ranch our whole lives, it brings us a new perspective and appreciation of what we may have taken for granted from time to time. We love sharing our lifestyle with others, too.

The cattle market has not kept up with inflation because in the US, we have a cheap food policy. Thirty years ago 10 beef calves would buy a brand new car. Today it takes 75 beef calves to buy a brand new car. We are receiving the same price today for our commodity as we were thirty years ago.

Thirty years ago we were paying 45 cents a gallon for diesel. Obviously our operating expenses have all gone up. Had cattle kept up with inflation, instead of costing $1500, a mother cow would cost $3500. Thus, one has to diversify in order to survive and that has brought us into the fee hunting arena.

Guns to Use

Nothing smaller than 270 and preferably larger. Don’t go out and buy a gun you are scared of. Shot placement is far much more important than caliber. We have found that the new controlled expansion bullets (like the jacketed hollow point) are no good. Plenty of penetration, but not enough expansion. On the other hand, the new ballistic tip bullets are worse. Too much expansion on the surface and zero penetration.

The absolute best bullet for elk is a partition bullet. Nosler partition bullets are what we recommend. Barnes bullets are also good. Upon arrival, a trip to the shooting range to check your gun is mandatory. Many things can happen to a gun during travel and it is only smart to check it out upon arrival.

The only shot we recommend on an elk is the bread basket, or engine room, if you please. Never shoot an elk in the neck or shoulder. There is so much meat in the neck that unless spined, the elk will most likely get away. There is so much bone as well as meat on the shoulder that this shot could just cripple the animal and it might escape. Shoot for the “tickle spot” (as our 12 year old niece would say), 1/3 of the way up the chest behind the shoulder.

Meat Handling

We take pride in our carcass handling. We bring the animal in whole and hang it, where we then remove the entrails so as to keep the area where the animal was harvested, free of predators and maintain a low impact to that area. We then remove the hide and take the carcass to the local processor like a whole skinned beef. Once at the processor, you have a host of options. Most hunters prefer the standard cuts off their carcass, but one could have the entire animal ground for hamburger or sausage, or else thin sliced for jerky, depending on what one is willing to spend. The standard cut carcass is the most economical way to go.

The processor also offers to bone and freeze solid your game meat for much less. If that is your choice and you have your own vehicle, then dry ice may be purchased at the Wal-Mart in Trinidad (17 miles north of Raton), or at the local Super Save grocery store in Raton. Many of our hunters fly into one of the major cities like Albuquerque, Denver, or Colorado Springs and rent a car. Note that airlines do not allow dry ice on board so if you fly, we can have the meat frozen solid and it will make the trip, or it can be shipped. We can also make heads and capes airline ready if needed. We have a local taxidermist that does a terrific job. It also helps support our local economy and we appreciate it.