Elk and Elk Properties

As of 10/10/11-- a friend in Unit X, SDCR says he has seen mountain lion tracks on his deck, with a cub-- a female who squatted; and also Bear paw tracks behind his place. The recent snow in SLV enabled him to do a bit of tracking.

Reminder: It is not allowed to hunt from a vehicle in Colorado.

Elk Hunting Information

From the Costilla Free Press Newspaper

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Photo courtesty of Bruce McElmurray in Forbes Park, CO.
Although there is no hunting allowed in FP, the south end of FP consists of the San Isabel National Forest which is open for hunting, ATV's and other recreation. Properties at the back of the park are going to have some accessibility to this area, even though in the past, you have to be a land-owner to gain that access.

They are apart after a little human intervention

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From Costilla Free Press Newspaper- Fall 2011

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2011 Elk News from Costilla County.- Our County with only 3,600 residents has one of the largest elk herds in Colorado. Opening day for the combined mule deer and elk rifle season was October 15 this year and the following weeks our local paper, the Costilla County Free Press featured photos of three local hunters that took big bull elk on opening day.
Two out of the three bulls were taken in the Sangre de Cristo area

November buck

Taken on Unit X parcel - sold

Used with PERMISSION from "La Sierra" Newspaper, 10-15-2004 edition

The Caption read: "Monster" Bull taken in first day of hunt ---

From the La Sierra newspaper out of San Luis, CO, October 15, 2004

Three Colorado Springs men, all with San Luis roots, shared the credit in what will be one of the biggest kills of the year. John Hettich, Danny Garcia and Robert Maestas, shown here wth Rich Garcia, shot their seven-by-seven bull elk at dusk last Saturday, the first day of the first season, at the Maestas Ranch in the Ventero.

They planned to take the bull elk's head and antlers to a taxidermist for mounting. "The rest goes into carne seca, " said Robert Maestas, with a hearty laugh. "Look at it. It's as big as a horse." All agreed it was great to be in the Valley for hunting season. "We had to go to the big city to make a living, " said John Hettich, "but our hearts will always be here. This is still home."

The 2005 archery season is underway, as I write this, and I have seen several hunters in camouflage up in the high country. Muzzle Loaders will be hunting this coming weekend and the first regular rifle season opens October 15.

With the full moon in Mid September, and cloudless skies, the elk are feeding at night and have to be kicked "out of bed" by energetic hunters. There has been no snow, sofar and the bulls are still above 11,000'.

Elk in Forbes Park

Part of the 6000 head Sangre De Cristo Herd

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Small Bull

A big buck popped up his head on Dec. 1 - Unit X,

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Herd at dusk getting ready to bed down

Deer on Unit 14 - January 13, 2005

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FOR SALE BY OTHERS ---