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County: Las Animas
GMU: 136, 143, 147

Ranch Contact:	Nearest CPW Office:
Steve Wooten	Lamar Office
38700 County Road 165.4	1204 East Olive
Kim, CO 81049	Lamar, CO 81052
719-384-5813 (office); 719-384-4607 (fax)	719-336-6600 (office); 719-336-6623 (fax)

Location: Ranch headquarters is located about 23 miles south of La Junta on Hwy 109, then west about 13.5 miles to County Road 165.4, then about 7 miles further to the HQ. Ranch tracts are located along the Purgatorie River and Carrizo Creek. Maps and directions will be provided to successful license applicants.

Acres: 93,350

CPW Maps:
Purgatoire Overview map 
Purgatoire East map 
Purgatoire North map 
Purgatoire South map 
Purgatoire West map 

Area Maps: USGS Quads: Kim South, Pintada Creek, Dennis Canyon, Furnish Canyon West

National Forest: None

BLM: Kim

Species Available: Deer, Pronghorn, Turkey, Bighorn Sheep

Terrain and Access: Elevation on the ranch varies from 4,300 to 5,300 feet. The ranch is located primarily along the south side of the Purgatory River in Las Animas County and Carrizo Canyon in Las Animas and Baca County. Topography is comprised of mesa tops bisected b numerous steep, rough canyons. Vegetation varies depending upon site. Cottonwood, willow, tamarisk, and boxelder are dominant in riparian areas. Mesa tops are mainly juniper and shortgrass prairie. Depending upon aspect, canyon sides contain juniper, sumac, and mountain mahogany. Hunting areas may be accessed by ranch roads and a few county roads. Some roads are very rough and 4-WD vehicles are needed for best access. The ranch will allow camping in specified locations in self-contained camper units with written permission. Hunters will be distributed across ranch hunt zones to assure quality hunting experience and to distribute harvest for sound herd management. Bighorn sheep hunters should contact the ranch to make scouting arrangements prior to the season.

Average Success Rates:

	DEER	PRONGHORN	BIGHORN SHEEP
Male:	67%	100%	100%
Either Sex:	-	-	-
Female:	50%	67%	-
TURKEY
Spring (Tom only)				50%
Fall (Either Sex)				100%

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.

PURGATOIRE WILDLIFE RANCH
Ranch Hunting Rules

1. The ranch may be divided into hunting areas. Each area will have access through a designated gate or at a designated parking area. A maximum number of hunters will be allowed in each hunting area to assure quality hunting. Hunt areas are planned to allow you large acreage and habitat without crowding from other hunters. Hunt areas may be changed but only after permission from the ranch hunt manager to prevent conflicts with other hunters and to assure distribution of harvest.
2. You must check in and out with your assigned hunt host at the site designated by the host.
3. You are allowed one non-hunting guest to accompany you.  Your guest is your responsibility and is subject to all ranch rules.
4. Stay on established roads and trails. The vegetation is very fragile and we depend upon the forage for livestock and wildlife.  Under wet or snow conditions the landowner will have the final decision in regards to any vehicle traffic upon the hunt area. The use of ATV’s is an individual landowner/host decision.  Check with the hunt manager first before arriving with your ATV.
5. Follow boundary limits described in maps provided to successful applicants. Observe and obey no hunting zones – these are for the safety of homes, residents, and livestock.
6. No camping is allowed without prior permission of the RFW manager. No open fires, no littering, and no dogs or other pets are allowed.
7. Gates should be left at you find them, when in doubt please close it and report it.
8. No consumption of alcoholic beverages while hunting.
9. No gutting of animals in or near water sources including streams, ponds, windmills and tanks. You may obtain water from these sources for cleaning purposes.
10. No fires, littering, or target shooting is allowed. Sighting of rifles may be allowed by permission of the ranch manager at designated locations.
11. Look before you shoot – some of our cattle and horses are the same color as the game.
12. Some hunts are guided free of charge. Decisions regarding safety for the ranch or hunter made by guides are final. Their job is to assist you in having a successful, high quality hunting experience. You are encouraged to take full advantage of their knowledge and experience.
13. If an animal is wounded but not recovered after significant effort is made to locate and recover the animal, then the hunt is over. If ranch staff later recover the animal the hunter will be contacted and may receive any remains desired.
14. Special provisions for pre-season scouting access and spike camps (if needed) are afforded to bighorn sheep hunters – in compliance with RFW regulations and guidelines. Successful applicants for bighorn sheep licenses will be provided additional information and telephone numbers for making hunting arrangements. Purgatoire Wildlife Ranch is committed to assuring one of the best bighorn sheep hunts ever experienced by hunters.
    Purgatoire Wildlife Ranching Area is being managed for long-term propagation and improvement of the naturally occurring big game species. Our goal is to provide the hunter an opportunity to harvest a better than average to trophy class animal, while maintaining a healthy and expanding base population. To help us achieve these goals, and provide future hunters with quality animals, you are asked to assist with the following:
15. Harvest antelope bucks with a horn length greater than 13 inches.
16. Harvest mule deer bucks with 4 or more points on one side.
17. Try to identify non-producing mature does (those that do not have fawns or yearlings in attendance – this may not assure that she was a dry doe but there is at least a better chance that she may be). 
18.  Shooting of fawns and producing does is strongly discouraged and makes it difficult for us to achieve our management goals.
19. Hunters must report their hunt results – both successful and unsuccessful - at the check in. This is required in order for us to report harvest to CPW and to monitor our management activities. We also want to know how many and what kind of animals (bucks, does, fawns) that you observed while hunting – also for helping us and CPW monitor management.

General Information:

Camping is available at designated sites on the ranch in self contained units, arrangements for electrical hook-up, meals, or other lodging can be made with the ranch for additional fees.

The nearest motels are in La Junta or Trinidad. Gas is available in Kim during normal business hours, while La Junta has several 24 hour sites.

Some areas of the ranch may be closed for safety reasons.

Hunters should be aware that the density of deer on the eastern plains is much lower than they might find in mountainous areas of Colorado. However, herd composition is of very good quality with a greater proportion of deer herds made up of mature bucks. Hunters should expect that locating a good quality buck may entail hunting over large geographic areas in rugged canyon country. Likewise, doe hunting, while less rigorous will still require good effort. Due to the lower densities of deer, license numbers are conservative even on very large ranches.