Leave No Trace Tips for Hunting

Hunters, while you are enjoying the Royal Gorge Region’s great outdoors, we kindly ask you to consider what you leave behind—preferably, footsteps only. To best do so, follow these tips to Leave No Trace while hunting in the Royal Gorge Region.

Leave No Trace Tips for Hunters

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Gather information about the area you’re hunting in from the local land manager. Read and follow all hunting regulations.
Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies. Always carry extra food clothing and first aid kit.

Travel and Camp on Durable surfaces

Durable surfaces include established roads, trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
Good Campsites are found not made. Site alterations are not necessary.

Dispose of Waste Properly

Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite for trash or spilled food. Pack out all trash, leftover food, spent brass, shotgun shells, etc.
Gut piles are unsightly and attract bears. Drag piles away from trails, water sources and highly visited areas.

Leave What You Find

Do not use rocks, signs, trees or non-game animals for target practice.
Use manufactured blinds rather than constructing them out of tree branches or other native vegetation. Do not build structures or furniture, or dig trenches.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can’t be broken by hand or locally purchased firewood. Do not break branches off living or standing dead trees.
Trash does not belong in the fire pit and usually doesn’t burn completely.

Respect Wildlife

Show respect for wildlife by taking only clean, killing shots, then retrieving and properly handling your game.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Be aware of your “field of fire”. Do not shoot near developed areas, campsites or roads.
Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail. Be aware of your firearm around others.

Created in Partnership with Leave No Trace and the Colorado Office of Tourism / Care for Colorado program.