[petey]

Brithunter,

You most certainly can kill elk without usign a horse. I hunted with one of our sponsors this year, DAL Outfitters and one several occasions had elk within sight of a paved road!

The neat thing about DAL is that you're hunting National Forest/Wilderness Areas/Local Ranch directly from a Housing Development. So you're no more than driving past $1,000,000 homes and your hunting elk. On the first day we had 3 bulls bugling not more than 250 yards from where we left the truck!

Herds of local elk that come down into town are basically what you're hunting and since DAL is the only Outfitter in the area and is the only one that has the private access via a ranch you're hunting elk that people would have to hike 10 miles to get to otherwise.

I hunted the early rifle season which is a draw elk "only" season. The unit is mostly private land so there are always extra tags left over. Once Ol-Spark and I drew our bull tags we got leftover-leftover cow tags after 2 other drawings. The bulls are still bugling during this time, but the deer season does not start until the 2nd season. I saw a HUGE 30" muley buck on the 3rd day that just stood there and watched me at 30 yards. Kind of made me wish I was hunting a week later. This was the ONLY season you have to draw for in this unit, all others are over the counter including the deer tags so you don't have to apply for any tags.
Seeing as how this is what DAL called their "hardest" season we had 5 guys with 7 tags and should have came home with 7 elk.

We didn't have snow until the last day (which is why they call it the hard season). ALthough I killed my bull on the 2nd morning, and had an opportunity to kill my cow on the 3rd letting a herd of 50 or more elk pass by at 225 yards.

DAL calls it a "Gentleman's Hunt" funny like. Meaning they have elk you can kill not more than 70 yards from where you park your truck (much like my 3rd morning) I was sitting 50 yards from the truck when that herd walked by me. They also provide the deep pack in hunts. They have the ability to pack you in deep if you want or need too, but why bother if the elk are right there?

Some people do it for the reason just to get out of town. There are elk everywhere and I'd say one's chances of killing an elk are better than that of any place I've ever hunted elk. I've hunted elk for over 12 years now. I rank DAL as probably in the top 5 of Outfitters I've ever hunted with.

Mountains are unreal, around the 12-14,000ft level. It is a resort community, with 4 major ski resorts within 15 miles. Denver, CO not more than an hour away. Siverthorne itself is a resort community with outlet malls, so it's a perfect place to bring the wife and kids to shop and have fun while you hunt.

If you want more details, I'd be more than happy to give them. I could talk about my elk hunt for days and how DAL treated us.