Also, Unit 66 is home to the 61,000-acre Powderhorn Wilderness, and parts of the Uncompahgre and La Garita wilderness areas. So for hunters looking for less disturbed elk and a little more solitude, these areas should be considered.

GMU 55
"The elk herd in 55 is doing quite well," says Chris Parmeter, CDOW district wildlife manager. "Currently, there are about 3,500 elk in there, which is slightly above our objective." The bull-to-cow ratio is also high, with about 30 bulls to every 100 cows, and according to Parmeter, that's good news for hunters this fall. "There are lots of bulls in this unit, and if hunters are willing to hunt the remote areas, they'll get into them."

This unit is one of the over-the-counter units in the region, and according to Parmeter it's an average to above average unit in which to hunt elk. He says the main reason for this are the different types of country from which a hunter can choose.

For hunters seeking solitude and above-average bulls, there's the Fossil Ridge Wilderness. "It sits directly between the elk's summer and winter ranges, so there's always good numbers of elk there," says Parmeter. He suggests hunting around the Crystal Creek drainage.

Unit 55 also encompasses part of two other wilderness areas, the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness and the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness. The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness sits on the Continental Divide and older-class bulls often cross the divide into Unit 55 from limited Units 48 and 481. The Maroon Bells Wilderness sits on the northern tip of the unit, and although it is not known for huge bulls, there are lots of 4- and 5-point bulls there.

If wilderness areas aren't your forte then Parmeter suggests areas with slightly better access. These areas are not as rugged as the wilderness areas but offer hunters a chance to get away from most hunters, if they're willing to hike in a couple of miles. The areas that come to mind are the Boston Peak and Horse Basin areas. I have personally hunted elk in these areas and have come away with a truck full of protein-rich meat on more then one occasion.

Parmeter says hunters should keep in mind that, "After the first shot elk start moving into the thick, dark timber on the cooler north slopes. If hunters want to be successful, they should find those areas away from the roads."

GMU 54
The last in this foursome is GMU 54, which is northwest of Gunnison. This unit encompasses most of the West Elk Wilderness, which is 176,172 acres and has elevations ranging from 7,500 to more than 13,000 feet. "For hunters wanting a wilderness experience it's a good unit to hunt elk in," says CDOW district wildlife manager Jeff Oulton.

The Sapinero herd calls Unit 54 home, and Oulton reports it's about 5,500 strong, with a bull-to-cow ratio of 23-to-100. These population levels are slightly above objective, and should give the willing hunter excellent opportunities to fill their freezer with some succulent elk steaks.

Last fall 3,952 hunters killed 421 bulls and 284 cows/calves for a success rate of only 18 percent (all methods of take). This can be blamed on the ruggedness of the unit and less then ideal elk hunting weather. But for the hunters willing to push themselves a little harder, this can be a blessing in disguise. A lower than expected harvest means more elk to chase this fall as well as older class bulls. Oulton concurs, saying, "Our spring surveys showed good numbers of elk and mature bulls."

Oulton says the elk herd is well dispersed throughout the unit so just about any area that has good habitat should be good. He stresses the key to being successful in this rugged unit is to get back into the wilderness and be patient. "Too many hunters hike in and out of the wilderness during prime hunting hours, morning and evening." He suggests camping in the wilderness.

Brandon Diamond, terrestrial biologist out of the Gunnison office, suggests hunting around Rainbow Lakes, and the Red Creek, Castle Creek and Mill Creek drainages. "During early seasons hunt the high, dark timber on the north/northeast-facing slopes," Diamond suggests. "It's these cool hidey-holes elk like to be in then." When the snow starts to fall, work down the same drainages toward lower elevations.