San Isabel National Forest

[rowdycwby1]

Can any one give me any info on San Isabel national forest near Westcliff Co. for elk hunting. I'm trying to get plan B started incase we dont get drawn out in New Mexico.What GMU is it in and where can I find how the elk population is.

[Trophyhill]

I'm thinking that's the unit 82 or 85 area. if you think Taos has a lot of up, go into 82. there are elk in there and you might not see any other hunters. but you'll learn the meaning of steep.

[rowdycwby1]

Thanks Trophyhill that helped I found I'm looking at gmu 69. It took looking at three different maps a laptop desktop and my phone to pinpoint where we plan on staying and where we want to hunt but now I can realy start researching. It looks to be 8 hrs north of me so mybe I can get out and put my boots on the ground and check it out.

[cohunter14]

Just a heads-up, but you probably won't draw a tag in Unit 69 unless you have preference points. Draw results are very low for that area.

[rowdycwby1]

Ok does this unit have OTC es archery tags....I'm been trying to find it on tge GAME and Fish website buy can't.

[rowdycwby1]

Thanks cohunter for the heads up I did find the answer to my previous question. So now my new question is what about unit 82 or 86 or can yall suggest any other good unit. Im also looking mybe to rent a cabin or something one of my buddies has a bad back and camping for10 days seems to be out.

[cohunter14]

I have never hunted it, but I know of people who have had success in 86 hunting the east side of that major ridge running down the west side of the unit. I think access is somewhat limited over there as there is a lot of private land that runs right up to that range, but there are definitely places for you to get into the Nat'l Forest. You could probably also find somewhere in town to stay and not be that far from hunting (maybe in Westcliffe?).