Alaska Trip

The goal of most guide services is to “get you in and get you out” . Sunn Ranch is more about the entire experience which means going as early and staying as late as you like with this caveat. Alaska summers trick you because of the midnight sun and fishing can be exhausting, so pacing yourself in order to enjoy each day to the fullest is important. I recommend a 6 or 7 night trip, (4 or 5) fishing days, with a rest day in the middle. Of course, if you want to exhaust yourself, I can accommodate!

Travel: You may choose to fly into Homer or rent a car in Anchorage and drive to Homer. (4 hour scenic drive). Advantage of driving is you have a rental car available in Homer. If you fly into Homer, I can pick you up at the airport and I have a beater Ford F-150 that you’re welcome to use. Aleutian Air is the best option for flying into Homer from Anchorage.

Accommodations: 41488 Gladys Court Four bedrooms (1 King, 3 queens) 3 Full baths, laundry on 2 levels, game and TV room, deck with stunning views, propane grill and Blackstone griddle, fire pit in the yard.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the price of the trip. I provide a delicious dinner the first night because travel can be unpredictable. Otherwise, a 5 star chef cooks and serves gourmet meals in the evening (7pm) with the exception of one evening when you eat out at a restaurant of your choosing (price not included).

Fishing: Offshore. “Ole Missy”-31 ft Cook Inlet Orca, bathroom, heaters, all fishing gear provided. Drift boat (accommodates 2 fisher persons) Wade fishing (fly rods, waders and boots provided). No retention of Halibut from charter vessels on Tuesdays or Wednesdays so plan your trip accordingly!

Sightseeing: You may choose to take a day exploring the wonders of Kachemak Bay in Ole Missy. Whales, puffins, pristine bays and mountains. Hiking.

Fish Processing: I use Coal Point Fish processing (welovefish.com) They pick up your fish on the dock, process them, and keep them frozen until you depart. They provide fish boxes, etc. It’s expensive to have your fish shipped, so I recommend picking them up the day of your departure and checking them with your airlines. Much cheaper that way. The cutoff at Coal’s is 7:30pm each day.

If necessary, I can also clean, vacuum seal, and freeze your fish for $5/lb. I also provide Custom Smoking $9/lb. Note: I need 2 days before your departure to clean, brine, smoke, and freeze your fish.

Remember ordained pastors fish free on Mondays. You can also gift your pastor an entire trip. Check out the Pastors Monday tab on the home screen. No, I don’t accept online ordination certificates that you purchase a month before the trip :) !

Which Rifle Season to Choose/Game Tags

The Colorado 2026 Big Game Rifle season is divided into Archery (Sept. 2-30), Muzzeloader (Sept. 12-20), 1 st Rifle (Oct. 14-18), 2 nd Rifle (Oct. 24-Nov. 1), 3rd Rifle (Nov. 7-15), 4th Rifle (Nov. 18-22). OTC (Over-the-Counter) bull elk tags are no longer available for non-residents. However, more tags are awarded non-residents in the primary draw compared to previous years. Sunn Ranch is in CO Game Unit 441. All deer tags are draw only for every rifle season. Applications for the draw begin March 1, 2023 and ends April 4 at 8pm Mountain time. YOU MUST PAY A DEPOSIT TO RESERVE! IF YOU ARE UNSUCCESSFUL IN THE DRAW, I REFUND YOUR MONEY. I’m also available to help you negotiate the CDOW when applying for tags. ALL TRIPS TO SUNNRANCH ARE RESERVED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS. I’m able to accommodate up to 4 hunters per season. If you have any additional questions, please fill out form below.

We typically see a 60% success rate in the Second Rifle draw and 80% in the Third Rifle draw. The Colorado Dept. of Wildlife changes quotas year to year, so these percentages can vary. Application deadline for the Primary draw is April 4th at 8pm. Draw results for the primary draw are posted May 30-June 2. Archery tags in Game Unit 441can be hard to get without a preference point. Therefore we typically guide archery trips in the Game Unit 214 just to our east. We access Unit 214 by UTV, hike to base camp and/or use one man tents to get as close as we can to the elk herd. 2022 Archery dates are: September 2-30.

Yurt Availability and Hunting Explanation

The Sunn Ranch sits on 48 acres adjacent to the dry fork of Elkhead Creek on CR 56 in Routt County, Colorado. The area is untamed and off the beaten path. Its main feature is astounding natural beauty, uncanny quietness, and an abundance of wildlife. Immediately adjoining the ranch are an additional 700 acres of accessible BLM land. The Routt National Forest is only a short drive north. The property boasts a well-appointed yurt that can serve as basecamp for almost any adventure. Recreational activities include: hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, photography, wildlife viewing, horse-back riding, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snow-mobiling.

The yurt is available year-round and may be reserved by calling (970) 405-6281. The only exceptions are during hunting seasons which extend from September through mid-November. Reservations during this time must be combined with a guided hunting trip. Note: Access to the property is difficult during “mud-season” and late winter. Heavy or melting snow can make CR 56 impassible without proper equipment. You may contact me to inquire about road conditions.

Hunting Packages: All hunters must obtain their own valid Colorado Big Game tags for the corresponding season. The Sunn Ranch is in Colorado Big Game Management Unit #441. Most of the accessible hunting in the Routt National Forest near the ranch is also in GU 441. Guided trips aren’t limited exact date breakdowns but you must inquire to see if I am able to accommodate different combinations of dates. The ranch and surrounding BLM best accommodates 4 hunters at a time. Tripod shooting stands and ground blinds are provided. Depending upon exact weather patterns and elk heard movement all the rifle seasons can be very good on the ranch. Earlier bow seasons tend to be better in the National Forest. The reason for this is elk and deer at higher elevations in late summer and early fall but move lower as winter approaches. In the earlier seasons I am able to provide a basecamp (Cabela’s outfitter wall-tent) in the National Forest in order to get as close to the herds as possible. From this basecamp, you can also elect to overnight in a bivy tent that gets you even closer to the elk heard. Again, the best choice depends on season and herd location and movement. You want to arrive early the day before your hunt trip begins in order to set up and be ready. Call or book your trip on the website.