Four of just got back yesterday from the Craig/Walden area, GMU’s 3 and 301. With the warm weather, and the fact the Elk had yet to migrate west of Highway 13, the only elk we saw where the ones sun tanning on private land east of 13. As if that wasn’t disappointing enough, we found out the State had leased ALL of the good hunting area in area 301 to either ranchers or private hunt clubs, so that area was off limits to everyone, unless of course you would like to pay upwards of 5k to shoot an elk. To make matters worse, most BLM that was available was un-reachable because the only way to get to it was through private land / roads, and there is no way you will get permission.
This was very disappointing and upsetting to a majority of hunters we spoke with, lots of pissed of people last week., the local DOW was getting its number of complaints about this also. I’m going to make some calls and see how this whole lease process works. Although, after watching the State Land Board over the years sell off most of the South Platte River to special interest groups, I doubt there is anything that can be done. What we need is a NRA action group for hunters.