Uncompahgre Elk 180

Your adventure destination awaits along western Colorado's Uncompagre Plateau, known for its stunning San Juan Mountain views, diverse landscapes, and giant mule deer and quality elk. Enjoy year-round access to your own backcountry retreat offering hunting, hiking, backpacking, biking, snowmobiling and nearby fishing opportunities while conveniently situated just over 30 minutes from Montrose and the Montrose/Telluride Regional Airport. Land Location is key when seeking a pristine and secluded mountain property and investment opportunity that meets all your big-game hunting and recreational needs, is accessible year-round and is situated only a half hour from the conveniences of town. Immerse yourself in nature and stellar San Juan Mountain views on this special parcel that evokes a sense of awe and wonder. Whether hunting with a camera or a gun or bow, enjoy the elk, mule deer, turkey, black bear and other wildlife species that make the property home. Explore atop your ATV or spend the day hunting, hiking, backpacking or horseback riding, or visit nearby Gold Medal trout fishing waters and area lakes and reservoirs. For more options, the property is right across the street from Elk Mountain Resort and minutes from the Cornerstone Golf Club. Enjoy all the property offers while accessing the added outdoor opportunities, tourist attractions, shops, restaurants and other amenities of the region's historic towns of Montrose, Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride. Being located in the heart of Colorado's renowned Western Slope means recreational opportunities are endless all year long. The added bonus: Out of-towners hit the ground running when they land in Montrose, thanks to the property being just over a half hour from the airport. Currently leased for cattle grazing, the property is ag exempt and borders the Uncompagre National Forest along portions of all four sides. While much of the Uncompagre Plateau's flat mesas feature deep canyons and gulches, this property offers a more gradual slope from the front gate to the back boundary, making it easier for less seasoned or older outdoor enthusiasts to navigate and for you to build on while enjoying the region's unique beauty and panoramic views. Improvements A 40' X 50' steel shop provides storage for your hunting and outdoor equipment and supplies and a place to prepare for your hunts. It serves as a functional base camp that stands ready to be converted into a barndominium with good road access year-round. Recreation Escape outdoors where one of Colorado's most picturesque landscapes supports every recreational activity you can imagine. Excellent hunting opportunities stem from the fact this 180-acre parcel is in Game Management Unit (GMU) 62less than 2 miles from coveted draw- only GMU 61 that produces giant bucks and bulls every year but where hunters wait 20-plus years to draw the highly sought-after elk tag. Not only does GMU 62 produce GMU 61-quality bucks and bulls, but you can get most elk tags over the counterand the property is eligible for the landowner draw for mule deer hunting vouchers. The property's two spring-fed ponds provide clear, clean water for elk, mule deer, bear, turkey and other wildlife, nestled in navigable terrain that onX maps shows as an elk migration corridor. Enjoy looking for tracks, trails and other sign on a property that features ideal habitat including dark timber, aspen groves and grassy ridges that hold elk and mule deer all season long. I've rarely seen a property of this size with this ease of access and relatively easy terrain with such fantastic quality elk hunting potential both during archery and rifle season. This is a property where if you are healthy enough to spend time at 9,000 feet in elevation and can get in and out of your side-by-side and walk a few yards to a hunting blind, you'll have opportunities at quality elk and mule deer in one of the most scenic regions of the state. Based on this listing's wildlife photos alone, the property is a must-see for hunters. Walk across the street to Elk Mountain Resort for five-star Sunday morning brunch, then hunt elk, mule deer, black bear, turkey or small game in the afternoon without ever having to get in a vehicle. Take advantage of access to the property throughout the seasons, hunting shed antlers in the spring, hiking and camping in the summer, hunting in the fall and snowmobiling in the winter. Top it all off with a visit to Ouray just under an hour away where soothing hot springs await after your day of grand adventure. Region & Climate A premier segment of the southern Rockies, the high and rugged San Juan Mountains are often considered America's grandest mountain range. Drawing outdoor enthusiasts and photographers worldwide, the range features 28 peaks above 9,000 feet and 13 14-footers with the highest being Uncompahgre Peak, measuring 14,309 feet in elevation. Nearby towns include Ouray, known as the Switzerland of America for its majestic alpine setting and natural hot springs; Telluride, made famous by its ski resort and historic mining-town roots; Ridgway, home of the True Grit restaurant where John Wayne filmed scenes from the movie True Grit; and centrally-located Montrose, the gateway to the Western Slope's recreation areas and home of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Parkthe world's deepest canyon for its narrow width. In addition to hunting, hiking, biking and rock-climbing adventures, anglers will enjoy the Gunnison River's Gold Medal trout fishing opportunities and the Blue Mesa Reservoir, which holds the state's lake trout record. The typically mild, semi-arid climate of the San Juan Mountains and Uncompagre Plateau is ideal for both warm- and cold-weather excursions. Summers are warm and sunny, with annual precipitation averaging about 12 inches per year. Winters are cold and dry, with up to 3 feet of snowfall at higher elevations where precipitation increases. For more good news, the region delivers sunshine most days of the year, delivering a prized setting for your next adventure.