Yes, ruffneck, been meaning to get back to you. I've hunted Blackhawk for small game and yotes more then a couple times. Their are elk in there but it's very thick country and you can get turned around if you get deep into it.

A couple years ago me and my dad tried to fill his muzzleloader deer tag in there for a day hunt. I saw one of those I think Mossback or other show trucks in the area. You know painted in camo with all the other advertisements and stickers on it. A bowhunter I ran into there said those guys had killed a big bull back between Blackhawk and the surrounding private land which they had permission to hunt.

Again, plenty of elk in there but they are transient and you will catch them moving thru at different times rather then a resident herd you will always find in there. You will see elk often on the surrounding private land. Maybe a big bull handing in that deep thick stuff though.

Also, you asked "how do you feel about hunting state trust lands?,". If there's game on em I feel 100% comfortable hunting them. There public land or the same as. They just tend to be smaller areas then BLM or National Forrest land.

Hey thanks I hunted in there last october and didnt see anything and then we had cow tags in january and didnt see anything! your right though it is thick in there i knew the elk were in there at some point cause i had found a shed. i know storie creek outfitters has the land that borders black hawk and i think the guys that hunt down there are sportmans something or other they have yellow trucks with all the advertisement on it

You have an upcoming tag for 85? Have you considered trying up above bear lake on the Hwy between La Veta and Trinidad? Some good country up there if you're willing to hoof it in there a distance. I've heard Trinidad Peak is a good area also.

And yes, it must have been those outfitters as you described the vehicle to a T. Last time I hunted Blackhawk last Mar or Apr for yotes I ran into a lot of elk track not far in but it was old. I've seen em on the surrounding private party while driving there and glassing from Blackhawk towards the Spanish Peaks.

Well i have a otc tag. im very familiar with all that area and know the elk are there just seems like i never have any luck there in 85 yet i keep going back cuz of the bigger bulls

Yeah, it's a tough unit due to not having immense areas of public land. The public land available gets a lot of pressure and or is tough to get to.

That year we hunted Blackhawk for a day for my dads buck tag we walked in from the Rouse road south side of it. I remember we saw quite a bit of elk track and a really big bulls tracks. But, it was thicker then hell in there.

I've been interested in it as it seems like it has potential, but you'd really have to explore it well and get a good game plan going if you found an area they consistently moved in.

yeah i think i does have the potential i didnt seem like to many people hunt it. and yeah i think i need to spend more time in there because ive only really hunted it twice. have you ever hunted in the spanish peaks swa's?

It's been quite a few years since we scouted that area, Spanish Peak SWA, in search of a good hunting area. From what I remember it's pretty steep with a lot of rock and pines. Not a lot of parks and meadows are areas you can glass and find game. In a word rugged and not hunter friendly.

But, that was quite a few years ago. It's another area where if you put in the time to explore it you might find a worthy honey hole. We have our area know which is working for us, but if it ever goes dry might have to look more into these areas were talking about here.

yeah we hunted it for the first time in january but i dont think i will go back there but ya never know