I suggest calling the Durango field office of the Colorado Department of Wildlife, ask to talk to a field biologist, tell him your trouble (planned to hunt old familiar area but find that road access is closed due fires), and ask him to help out by pointing you to a good spot. Make it clear you are a "do your own homework" kind of guy, but under these circumstances you are up against the wall. I think there is a chance the biologist can help you out.

Great...

Thanks I will see what info I can get.

A good contact isthe owner of "The Buck Stops Here" an animal processer he is originally from Hamburg Pa. and now lives outside of Pagosa Springs tel # 970-731-3535. We normally hunt around Williams Lake and yellow jacket and grassey mountain but they are all out of your district now. That is all the help I can give you.....jk

JeremyC

I have an either tag for the first hunt in 75, 751, 77, 771 & 78. I contacted the DOW office in Durango and received a limited amount of info about the area. I was not forward enough to ask "where's the elk?" so my questions were more about hunter concentration and possible camp sites.

I have thought about north of Lemon Res. and on Missionary Ridge to hike into the wilderness area. Have you learned any more about the area since your last post? Do you have any idea about where the majority of the hunters locate in the area? I want to stay away from as many as possible and I am willing walk a lot to do it.

I will try to post the results and findings of my hunt as soon as I return (Oct 18th or 19th) so if you have not left for your 2nd hunt by then, I may have some information you can use.

I havent really learned anything new yet.

Work has been crazy so I havent had a chance to call DOW yet. I will try this week or next. I am trying to get everything wrapped up at work so I can enjoy my hunting.

I think we will be down in the same area as you for second season. My group wants to stay near Missionary Ridge.

I am really not sure where others hunt this area.

I did just get a new eTrex Legend so if I need to breakaway for a hunt or 2 I will feel more comfortable. I need to find out about the topos you can download to the GPS.

Jeremy, I sent you a PM. Let me kow if you have any questions.

Centennial

Thanks for the pm!

BTW where are you on the front range? I am working out of the Springs now.

I am, I live on the north side of the Springs. I left Durango in 1991 but still have friends there. Like I said, it's a special place so I go back often even if I cant hunt.