Colorado Mountain Lion Hunting · November – March

The Ghost of the Rockies

A true wilderness pursuit across 150,000 private acres. Smith Rancho has been running mountain lion hunts with trained hounds since 1981 — this is old-school, authentic Western hunting at its finest.

Hunter with mountain lion harvested at Smith Rancho

45+Years of lion hunting

150KPrivate acres

HoundHunting method

Nov–MarSeason window

ZeroDraw required

The Hunt

A pursuit that demands everything you've got

Mountain lion hunting at Smith Rancho is done the traditional way — with trained hounds. When the dogs strike a fresh track in the snow and the race is on, there's nothing quite like it in all of hunting. You'll cover rugged country in pursuit of one of the most elusive predators in North America.

Brad Smith has been guiding lion hunts on these mountains since 1981. The ranch's 150,000 private acres provide exceptional habitat — deep canyon country and pinyon-juniper ridges where big cats have always thrived. Our hounds are seasoned and proven, and our guides know every drainage on the property.

Colorado's lion population on the ranch is healthy and stable. When conditions come together — fresh snow and a cold nose on the dogs — mountain lion hunting here is as good as it gets anywhere in the West.

1981

Guiding since

The Method · Hound Hunting

Let the hounds do the talking

Fresh snow is everything in lion hunting. A cold morning after a storm puts tracks on the ground and gives the dogs something to work. Your guide will glass the country at first light, and once the hounds strike a track, the real work begins — following the dogs through deep canyon country until they tree the cat.

This is physical hunting. You may cover miles of steep terrain in a single morning. But when you finally hear those hounds sounding off above you and push through the timber to find a big tom in the tree, it's a moment you'll never forget.

The Country · 150,000 Private Acres

Private land, no competition

Every inch of this hunt takes place on Smith Rancho's private ground. You won't share the mountain with other hunters or public land pressure. The lion country here — deep draws, rocky ledges, and pine-covered ridges — is exactly the terrain these cats favor, and we know it intimately after more than four decades of guiding.

Northwest Colorado's rugged terrain between Hayden and Steamboat Springs is prime lion habitat. Our cats are healthy, mature animals — the result of careful stewardship of both predator and prey populations across the ranch.

Fully Outfitted

Everything's handled

Lodging

Comfortable accommodations at the ranch headquarters. Arrive the evening before your hunt — no long drives to camp each cold morning.

All Meals

Home-cooked meals throughout your stay. Early starts and long days in the field demand real food.

Trained Hounds

Experienced, proven hounds managed by guides who have run them for years on this exact terrain. The dogs make the hunt possible.

Expert Guides

Your guide has lived and hunted this country. They know where the cats travel, where they den, and how to read conditions for a successful strike.

Transportation

4WD access across the ranch from the first light glassing session to the recovery after the hunt. You focus on keeping up with the dogs.

Game Care

Proper handling and care of your lion after the harvest, preserving the cape and hide for the taxidermist.

Hunt Details

What to expect

SeasonNovember – March

MethodHound hunting (traditional)

Hunt LengthContact us for packages

TerrainSteep canyons, ridges, timber

Physical DemandHigh — expect rugged miles

Best ConditionsFresh snow after a storm

LicenseOver-the-counter (no draw)

Location10 mi N of Hayden · 22 mi W of Steamboat

Ready to book your mountain lion hunt?

Availability is limited and conditions drive the calendar. Call Brad directly to talk through timing, packages, and what to expect on the mountain.

602.369.3522