HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS
Hunters heading to this north-central region have a lot to look forward to. Elk numbers are strong, and the bull-to-cow ratio is increasing.

Biologist Justin Martin said because of last fall's poor weather patterns, hunter success was less than expected. More bulls survived the hunting season, and that means more bulls to chase this year. During his winter flights, Martin reported seeing not only good numbers of bulls, but more mature bulls as well.

Population estimates are above objective, and the bull-to-cow ratio is in the 23-to-100 range. The adult bull ratio is about 6-to-100, which is up from previous years.

Martin said the abundance of moisture actually had a positive impact on the range conditions. Couple this with the pine beetles that have opened up massive amounts of the once thick pine canopy, and there's a lot of quality elk forage.

With all the elk and the better visibility created by the beetle kill, it shouldn't be hard to find elk. Martin said early-season hunters usually find good numbers of elk on the west side of Grand County in units 28 and 37.

Look for bulls to be hanging around pine stands that have been denuded by the beetle kill. As the season progresses, elk start moving from east to west towards the lower BLM land.

EASTERN SLOPE, FRONT RANGE
It's true that most of Colorado's 270,000 elk live west of the Continental Divide. But you can also find good elk hunting along the Eastern Slope and Front Range. Because elk density is lower in this region, most of the GMUs located here offer limited tags, but it takes only a few years to draw one. For those who have been patient and have a tag for this season, the elk are in great shape -- and their numbers seem to be increasing.

Biologist Jack Vayhinger, of the CDOW's Salida office, said that hunters who have a tag for the units around the Arkansas Drainage should enjoy a good hunt this fall.

During winter survey flights, he saw lots of bulls, many of which were carrying some hefty headbone. Vayhinger reports that on average, the bull-to-cow ratio is 35-to-100.

Farther south, Pueblo-based biologist Allen Vit also reports elk herd numbers are steady to increasing. With the prime range conditions that added moisture produced this year, he expects that trend to continue.

Bull-to-cow ratios are also doing well, with the latest survey averaging 25-to-100 across the region. He feels that hunters who work the hardest are the ones who find the bulls.

He suggests for best public access and success, hunters look to the Wet and Sangre de Cristo mountains. The Trinidad area is also prime, but it's mainly private ground.

Farther north, Front Range hunters who hold a tag for units 20 and 39 should also fairly well. Elk numbers are good in these units, and the bull-to-cow ratio is upwards of 35-to-100.

Needless to say, with numbers like that, hunters willing to play the waiting game for the chance to hunt elk in these units just might be rewarded with a rack for the wall.