SEPTEMBER 17 - 24, 2025
THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS SINCE 1994
Drought deepens challenges for outfitters Brandon Leuallen
A
The Business Times
cross Western Colorado, the 2025 hunting season began under the weight of an intense drought, yet a few timely rainstorms brought at least some temporary relief. Local guide and outfitter Rod Cogburn said it is one of the worst years of drought he has ever seen during his lifetime of hunting and guiding in Western Colorado. A drought of exceptional severity Colorado State University’s August drought assessment provides sobering context. The U.S. Drought Monitor marked the return of exceptional drought (D4) across Western Colorado for the first time since early 2023. D4 is the highest level of drought intensity, signifying widespread water emergencies and long-term damage to crops, rangeland and ecosystems. Those conditions now span about 7 percent of the state, covering parts of Mesa, Delta, Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, Routt, Gunnison and Rio Blanco counties. That includes ground where Cogburn guides hunts on Grand Mesa and north of De Beque, placing much of his operating area inside the most extreme drought category. See story on Page 2
VOLUME 32, ISSUE 36
THEBUSINESSTIMES.COM
Will drought leave hunters high and dry? Drought conditions this fall pose challenges for outfitters, hunters.
Co-owner of Roosters Guide and Outfitting Services Ray Cogburn, on the right, and a hunter named Rick (no last name provided) celebrate a successful elk harvest on the rugged slopes near De Beque. Photo courtesy of Roosters Guide and Outfitting Adventures.
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