Indeed they did. Last fall, some 9,616 rifle hunters hit the woods across these five GMUs and boasted a success rate of nearly 31 percent. That's well above the 27 percent statewide average. Of the elk harvested, 1,299 were bulls, and 1,579 were cows and calves.

If you break that down further and look at just the second and third rifle seasons (the only seasons offering over-the-counter tags), you'll find that hunters exceeded the statewide average then too. Second-season hunters boasted a success rate of nearly 29 percent and third-season elk junkies had a 20 percent success rate.

Don't think, however, that just because last year's elk harvest was high that there's any shortage of elk. Post-hunt population surveys show more than 17,000 wapiti still roaming the hills there. And if you add this year's calf crop, well over 21,000 will be taking up residence across these five GMUs. "With our cow-calf ratio right at 40:100, and the pretty mild winter we had, our numbers will be good going into the fall," said Holland.

Bull-cow ratios aren't too shabby either, with an average of about 17 bulls to every 100 cows. "During our winter flights, we saw good numbers of bulls, especially lots of young spikes," said Holland.

"Those spikes will be legal 4x4s this year, so hunters will still have pretty good opportunities at a bull -- that is, if the right weather comes."

It wasn't always this way. Before the DOW introduced 4-point restrictions to the region in the early 1990s, bull-cow ratios hovered around 6:100. Those restrictions have let 1 1/2-year-old spikes get an extra year of growth -- and inevitably, some of those 2 1/2-year-old 4-pointers slipped through the cracks and grew.

Today, that ratio floats around 15 to 18 bulls per 100 cows. Not only have overall bull numbers increased, but their quality skyrocketed as well.

However, because last year's harvest was so good, there will be fewer older-class bulls to chase this fall. Holland indicated there would be about four adult bulls (3 1/2 years and older) to every 100 cows. But because of their reclusive nature, adult bulls are harder to find during aerial surveys. Therefore, that estimate might be a little conservative.

Don't let that discourage you, though. There are still some old guys hanging out there.

In fact, despite this region's over-the-counter status, it has produced some noteworthy bulls over the years:

• Val Koeberlein's 1989 Archuleta County stud scored 345 0/8 Pope and Young Club inches.
• M. R. James nailed a 342 4/8 Archuleta County brute.
• Lester Hawkins got a 336 1/8 Mineral County bull.
• Kenneth Ryan got a 342 0/8 head-turner.

Though your chances of seeing bulls of this caliber on every ridge are slim, a handful do roam the rugged hills here. So don't get too shaken if one steps in front of your scope.

Now that I've got you dreaming of some tender, seasoned and bacon-wrapped elk backstrap sizzling over hot coals, and a possible rack for the wall, let's take a closer look at each game management unit to see which one might be best for you.

GMU 75
Unit 75 is located just east of the town of Durango and stretches across the whole western side of this prime elk region. This unit of extremes offers rugged, hard-to-reach wilderness areas to the north, to drive-up access to the south.

Drayton Harrison, district wildlife manager, has spent many years getting to know this unit. He has mixed emotions about its elk hunting potential as far as quality goes.

He said there are good numbers of elk living there, and if hunters do a little legwork, they will get into them. But quality is low. Last year, numerous 325-inch bulls did come from the unit, although Harrison stresses that is not the norm.

One of the more popular areas is Missionary Ridge, located just northeast of Durango. In 2002, it was ravished by a massive 70,000-acre wildfire. As it regenerated, elk took up residence there. However, Harrison feels the hunting pressure that the burn has received over the past few years is starting to push out the elk. He suggests hunters might want to check out other areas in the unit.

If snow hasn't begun to pile up in the upper reaches, the areas around the Needle, West Needle and Grenadier Mountain ranges to the north hold elk. Because of their remoteness, roads are few, so expect to work hard. Once the snow flies, however, elk tend to head south towards the Missionary Ridge area and beyond.