R & R Ranch of Colorado, Inc.
Outfitting # 2505
SAFETY RULES & REGULATIONS
The guides at R & R Ranch of Colorado, Inc. want your Colorado hunting trip to be a memorable experience, but with that, are safety rules that we please ask you to abide by during the hunt. Our hunting guides are flexible, but want everyone to have a safe hunt.
IF EVERYONE FOLLOWS THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS, WE CAN ALL EXPECT A SAFE AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE.
R & R Ranch of Colorado, Inc. is Licensed, Bonded & Insured.
1. HUNTER EDUCATION
Safe Hunting Begins with Hunter Education
Hunting is safe in Colorado due to the effectiveness of hunter education.
Hunting is a wildlife management tool used by CPW in fulfilling its mission. The Hunter Education Program furthers that mission by educating hunters to be safe, responsible, and legal hunters.
According to the hunting regulations in Colorado, all hunters who were born on or after January 1, 1949, must complete the hunter education certification in order to apply for a hunting license within the state. In the late 90s, the International Hunter Education Association set forth guidelines for basic hunter education courses. There are various courses that you can take.
In order for get certified in hunter safety, the course must be approved by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
You must have a valid certification to obtain a hunting license in the state of Colorado unless the state of Colorado has previously verified you. Colorado will also accept other hunter education certifications that are provided by other states and associations that meet official International Hunter Education Association regulations. Also, if you obtain your official hunter education certification within Colorado, this will also be accepted in other states. Hunters must also carry this card with their license. Many non-residents bring a state hunting license from another state to prove they had hunted before and had sufficient experience.
2. TRANSPORTING FIREARMS
Many of our clients come in from out of state and need to travel with their firearms. If you are flying, you may transport unloaded firearms and ammunition in a locked hard sided container only as checked baggage. Ammunition must be kept separate from your weapon. The case in which you transport your firearms in must be completely secure and should not be able to be easily opened for security reasons. Sometimes even the case that comes with your gun may not be deemed secure enough by the TSA for transport in checked luggage. You must also declare your firearms at security and only you should have the key or lock combination unless security personnel request you to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with regulations. You can check with TSA for tips on travelling with firearms before your trip.
3. When handling firearms please be knowledgeable with the firearm you bring. Know the rules and regulations of carrying a firearm.
4. There will be absolutely no alcohol of any form used while out in the hunting field. When you return to the lodge each night, you certainly may have an evening night cap. This is not only for the safety of our clients, but also for our guides as well. If you decide you need or want a drink during the day that is fine, but you will be done hunting for that day. NO EXCEPTIONS. Also, if a guide thinks you may be unfit enough to hunt the next day due to your evening nightcap you will not be engaging in any hunting activities and will be asked to stay at the lodge until our guides see fit that you are once again capable of hunting in a responsible manner.
5. Please be thoughtful when bringing valuables. We do not have a safe of any sort to store items so please consider this when packing for your hunting trip. We are not responsible for any stolen or missing property.
6. All of our guides have had training in First Aid and/or AED, CPR training and hold a first aid certification card issued by the American Red Cross and/or other health care training provider such as the American Heart Association etc.
7. The Lodge has safety equipment such as first-aid kits, a defibrillator, tourniquets, portable carry out stretchers, oxygen and over the counter medications as well as cell phone communications for emergencies.
8. In the event of inclement weather plan guides may ask clients to return to the lodge until it is safe to return to hunting activities.
9. When you arrive at the lodge the day before your hunt there will be a mandatory hunting and safety meeting after dinner.
10. Be sure to locate all exits and fire extinguisher locations.
11. Smoking or vaping in the Lodge or in any buildings on the property is strictly prohibited. If you must smoke only do so in the designated areas and be sure to extinguish your butts in the designated containers.
12. Be sure that you are physically fit to hunt in Colorado as the terrain can go from flat lands, cliffs, ravines and straight up mountain trails. You will be hunting in elevation of 6000 – 9000 feet. The level of your physical fitness will have an impact of the type of hunt you will be able to perform. The more physically fit you are the greater chance of you harvesting an animal will be.
13. If you are not prepared to follow our rules of safety, we will have to ask you not to hunt. All fees, deposits and payments will be non-refundable.
14. All R & R Ranch of Colorado, Inc. clients are expected to follow and respect the Code of Ethics when hunting.
Respect Natural Resources:
- Leave the land better than you found it.
- Adhere to fair chase rules.
- Know your capabilities and limitations as a marksman, and stay within your effective range.
- Strive for a quick, clean kill.
- Ensure that meat and usable parts are not wasted.
- Treat both game and non-game animals ethically.
- Abide by game laws and regulations.
- Cooperate with conservation officers.
- Report game violations.
Respect Other Hunters:
- Follow safe firearm handling practices, and insist your companions do the same.
- Refrain from interfering with another’s hunt.
- Avoid consuming alcohol, which can impair you to the point of endangering others.
- Share your knowledge and skills with others.
Respect Landowners:
- Ask landowners for permission to hunt.
- Follow their restrictions on when and where you may hunt.
- Treat livestock and crops as your own.
- Offer to share a part of your harvest with the owner.
- Leave all gates the way you found them.
- If you notice something wrong or out of place, notify the landowner immediately.
- Never enter private land that is cultivated or posted, unless you have obtained permission first.
Respect Non-Hunters:
- Transport animals discreetly—don’t display them.
- Keep firearms out of sight.
- Refrain from taking graphic photographs of the kill and from vividly describing the kill while within earshot of non-hunters.
- Maintain a presentable appearance while on the street—no bloody or dirty clothing.
Hunting in Colorado is not just about the kill. Where licensing regulates most game hunting, there’s a code of ethics that goes along with it.
In what is known as “fair chase” as stated by the Boone and Crockett Club, no hunter shall take unfair advantage or pursuit over the animals being hunted. This means having adequate knowledge of both the environment and the animal so that a kill can be made quickly. It also includes respecting the customs of the land so that the practice can remain sustainable. Baiting an animal or promoting distress in order to kill is looked down upon among hunters, including Theodore Roosevelt who famously declined to shoot a bear tied to a tree. Such admiration earned him the honor of having a stuffed bear named after him — the Teddy Bear.
Another important tenet to remember is to identify and confirm your target. Take caution to look at the surroundings and make sure there is not another animal behind your target. Mistakes happen with even the most experienced hunter, so it is important to know what to do in this situation. Colorado Parks and Wildlife separate mistaken kills into three categories: accidental harvest, careless and negligent. Remember the acronym STOP (sit, think, observe, plan) if you ever find yourself in this situation. Report the incident to an officer and take accountability for the action. Steps like this contribute to conservation and sustainability practices amongst hunters.
HAPPY HUNTING!
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