In fact, about the only concern that elk hunters should have is whether full-scale drought grips the region over this summer. Even if such dry conditions persist, Wait says that drought may affect hunters more the than it does the elk, at least in the short term.

"I personally have not seen as much of an impact of drought on elk as I have on nearly all other species of wildlife," Wait said. "That could be my own limited vision. But over the last six years, I have learned a lot about how wildlife is impacted by drought. After a hot, dry summer, the effect on elk is more on distribution rather than numbers or antler quality or anything like that."

Wait says hunters may have to adjust their tactics and hunting locations this fall, particularly early on, if 2006 weather conditions remain parched.

"With drought and higher temperatures, elk head more and more onto the north-facing slopes for shade and cooler temperatures," Wait said. "They're predictably going to be in the thickest forest that they can find, and that means really ugly stuff for us to hunt in."

How do you hunt such nasty dark timber?

"Find an observation spot, stay put, glass, and if you haven't told them that you're there, then you can find them," Wait said. "Now, getting to them -- that's another matter."

Once you do get to them, however, given the light harvest tally last year in this part of Colorado -- not to mention the rugged nature of some of the region's units -- don't be surprised to find a few quality bulls roaming around.

While Wait indicates that many units in his part of the state manage for 4-point bulls, almost every year he hears of a 300-inch or better wapiti coming out of some of these units.

Where do you find such a bull in southwest Colorado? In addition to the better-known quality management units 61 and 76, Wait says to scout and locate thick, nasty and unpressured big-bull haunts in units 74, 751, 54, 55, 551, 64 and 65.

"To grow a bull like that, you've got to have them on the ground for six or seven years. So somewhere in that unit, there has to be a place for them to escape the annual hunting season and to live long enough to do that." Wait noted that such an area could be a vast, rugged wilderness area or just a single gnarly canyon. "It really doesn't have to be a really big area, just secure."

SOUTHEAST COLORADO
One area of the state where elk hunting prospects aren't quite as rosy and secure is in the southeastern portion of Colorado, south of I-70 and east of the Continental Divide.

That's where CDOW senior biologist Bob Davies is concerned about dry weather conditions experienced in recent years in and around the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the San Luis Valley. "The whole southeastern corner has been dry," Davies said.

Such conditions may have long-term implications on the valley's already low calf-to-cow ratio. But the dry weather here could also impact short-term antler development for this fall.