........I am three weeks into working at _____ Ranch in Meeker, CO. I was hired on as a guide for the 2016 CO deer and elk seasons and have clients booked beginning in archery season (AUG 27) and going through 4th rifle (NOV 20). Part of my deal to solidify my housing situation was to work as a cowboy and ranch hand here on the ranch until the hunting season begins. What an experience! I am learning so much!  My first week here was haying season, so we harvested 285 ea of 1000 lb. bales from our certified weed free field (which is irrigated) and 619 ea of 80 lb. bales of hay and alfalfa off a 20 acre dry field here on the ranch. Lots of physical labor!  I have taken on some responsibilities by myself such as predator control and baiting cage traps on the ranch as I have a massive badger and coyote problem (I get the $$$ from the pelts as well!). My day starts by 5 AM where i go and check my cages and predator hunt till around 8AM.  Then I feed and water the horses and the few cattle we have on the ranch. The other cattle (180 head total) are on a pasture 16 miles from here, so putting out salt blocks and checking them every week is about all that is needed. Ranch hand labor includes cutting firewood, cleaning up shop, constant maintenance, irrigation on our hay fields, fence building/fixing etc. 

The ranch is approximately 3500 acres that backs up to 17,000 acres Wilderness Study Area/BLM land. There is no water access on the BLM so our ranch is the main source of water for this herd of elk that are part of the 280,000 head of elk in this corner of the state. Hunters are at the ranch for approx. 1 week, arriving at the ranch the day before - hunting for 5 days, and leaving the day after. It's 2 clients to 1 guide and we provide horses to get into the BLM if wanted by the client. We then pack out the harvested game on pack horses and bring it to a local processor down the road. 

Thank you again for all that you do to get us employed. I really appreciate the knowledge that school gave me and the practical nature of that knowledge. From land navigation to expectations for this profession, PHGS definitely provided me with the base knowledge needed to have a successful beginning as a hunting guide.  I hope you are doing well and that this letter finds you and your family in good health. Take care and we'll speak soon. 

Regards, 

Jonathan O'Leary