Where do I find what I need for the best hunt?

As the days get shorter and the weather begins to get colder, fresh skiffs of snow on the mountainsides and long chilly nights bring in the sportsmen from all around. October is the heart of hunting season and one of the best times to visit North Park if hunting and fishing is your thing. Reports have shown that hunters in North Park have a 22% success rate in bagging their tag limit. 

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Jackson County is home to the largest herd of elk in Colorado, countless pronghorn, a healthy population of mule deer, and even white tails. Among other big game in North Park, you’ll find bighorn sheep, black bear, and plenty of moose.

September through November, the forests of North Park are bursting with color and not just from the changing foliage. Blaze orange from all the hunters stalking game with bows, blackpowder, and rifle season descend on Walden and surrounding areas. This time of year, the lakes, rivers, and streams of Jackson County are still teeming with sportfishing trout; perfect for bait fishing as well as flies and lures.

Once you get here, you’re going to want to know where you can go to resupply or just try out some new gear, find a guide, or where to process your animal if you are among the lucky 22%.

Where to Find Outdoor Sporting Goods and Supplies

Newcomers to North Park need to know what is available on their trip. Walden is one of the more remote towns in Colorado, with the nearest hunting resources at least an hour away by car in any direction. Unless you are one of the ones fortunate enough to have access to an aircraft to come into North Park via our newly renovated airport, you had better come prepared.

Hunting and Fishing Services in Walden

The hub of Jackson County, serving as the epicenter of all major highways, Walden also provides easy access to hotel/motel accommodations,  VRBO or AirBnB rentals, and even RV spots with full hookups.

In Walden you’ll also find most of the places that sell gear and provide other services to sportsmen, whether it’s hunting or fishing.

North Park Super’s

A mile north of Walden on HWY 125, you’ll find the largest grocery store in Jackson County. Not only does North Park Super’s have a large selection of canned goods, snacks, meat, dairy, and even rotisserie chickens, it also has a selection of camping and outdoor equipment. 

Resupply with flies and lures, fishing nets, poles, reels, and other gear for anglers. Hunters can find an assortment of ammunition in common hunting shell calibers, from shot shells to larger caliber rifle ammunition. Super’s is also a good place to purchase hunting and fishing licenses over the counter.

Timberline Builder’s Supply

Walden’s local Do It Best hardware store also provides some ammunition as well as hunting, camping, and fishing equipment within walking distance to most places in Walden, CO.  It’s also a good place to find rope, fasteners, buckets, chairs, and other items you might have forgotten to pack.

Corkle’s Mini Mart and Sinclair Gas Station

Located across from each other on the corner of Main Street and 6th Street in Walden, these two convenience stores not only provide fuel for travelers but also hunting and fishing licenses, and a variety of fishing flies, lures, and other equipment. 

North Park Anglers

For over 25 years, the folks at North Park Anglers have been providing fishing equipment, outdoor wear, and guided outfitter services for the Jackson County area. From flies and lures to high-quality rods, reels, and waders, to the latest information on fishing conditions, local knowledge of where the fish are biting and the best way to bring them in. Even now, they would tell you that Fall is still a great time of year for fly fishing, lake fishing, and dropping a line at some of the best fishing places in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Often considered North Park’s second chamber of commerce, it’s a great place to stop to help get the lay of the land, whether you are hunting or fishing. Winner of the 2015 Orvis Outfitter of the Year award, North Park Anglers is open during peak season May-September seven days a week 7am to 5pm and Tuesday through Saturday on the shoulder seasons. 

Lake John Resort

You might be familiar with Lake John Resort as being the home of the annual ice fishing contest on Lake John, but its general store has a fine selection of hunting and fishing supplies as well as RV hookups year round! Drop in and pick up some snacks, bait, lures, or other essentials when visiting the west side of North Park.

Guides and Outfitters

North Park Anglers also works closely with the Buffalo Creek Ranch south of Walden, near Rand, CO. Exclusive to some of the best private land hunting in Colorado, these outfitters stand by a 95% success in opportunity rate. 

Hiring an outfitter is a great way to improve your success in harvesting your animal, but also one of the best ways to improve your hunting skills. You will be working with a professional hunter, learning all the tips and tricks during your hunt that will improve your chances of bringing home that trophy animal this year. 

Do guides and outfitters cost money to hire? Yes, because they are worth it! North Park hunting means stalking game used to evading predators and surviving harsh conditions. This isn’t the type of hunt where you sit in a tree stand all day waiting for a deer to wander in for a free meal. This is Rocky Mountain style hunting at its best. And a great way to make connections with other big game hunters in the process.

Other outfitters in the North Park area include:

• Redfeather Guides and Outfitters
• Medicine Bow Outfitters
• Ivory and Antler Outfitters

Taxidermy

Once you’ve harvested your animal for the season, you might consider having a mount made to add to your trophy collection. Tate Follett operates Owl Ridge Taxidermy and provides the kind of attention to detail and experience to his work your game animal deserves. Tate’s shop is located in Laramie, WY, but he works closely with local outfitters and game processors for your taxidermy needs. 

Wild Game Processing

North Park Meats has been your one-stop game processing shop in North Park for years. From ground meat and sausages to choice cuts, they will work with you to get the most out of your big game payday. Family owned and operated, inquire about discounts, shipping, and taxidermy when you fill your tag.

Gunsmithing

Manville Custom Arms and Gunsmithing LLC is the best game in town when it comes to a licensed FFL gunsmith in Walden, CO. Services include cleaning, repairs, machining, and firearms sales/transfers. Owner and operator, Danny Manville, offers you the dedication to the craft and expertise you won’t find anywhere else. Don’t go off half-cocked this hunting season! Contact Manville Custom Arms to make sure your rifle is ready to go this fall.

Shooting Range

Getting your rifle zeroed in can be a frustrating experience, especially if you have traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach your hunting spot. Rather than plink away in the field and miss opportunities to fill your tag, get your scope zeroed in at the Jackson County Shooting Range four miles east of Walden, CO. With benches, a windbreak structure at the firing line, and recycled rubber backstops at various ranges, you’ll have your sights set right and get some trigger time in the process.

Places to Stay on Your Visit

This hunting season book your stay in any number of hotels, motels,  VRBO or AirBnB, cabins, or RV parks in the area. We are used to hunters and many of these spots provide access to areas where you can keep your field-dressed animal, and even places to gather and swap hunting stories with other visitors.

The Powderhorn Cabins in Gould, CO are a big draw to the area, providing a place to sit around the fire, hunter-friendly facilities, and comfortable rustic cabins and RV hookups. The Old Homestead was once a destination camp for hunters and anglers. After a few decades of shut down, it is back! New ownership also means renovations on this iconic part of the North Park landscape.

Check out these links on where to find RV parking as well as vacation rentals near Walden CO. Remember to book your stay wherever you choose to hang your hat as early as possible as space is limited and locations quickly sell out the deeper we get into the season.

Come Check Us Out!

For generations, North Park has been one of the best kept secrets for hunts in Colorado. With nearly 75% of our million acre valley being public land and even more accessible by private outfitters, North Park is home to the best big game hunts in Colorado, as well as a variety of terrain that will challenge even the most seasoned hunter.

This year come to North Park and see what we have to offer. On par with the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming and hunting and fishing in Montana, North Park is in your back yard. With a friendly atmosphere and plenty of breathtaking scenery, it’s like a whole other world compared to the rest of Colorado. A sportsman’s paradise, tucked away in a remote mountain valley that you can’t wait to get back to once you experience it.