The Caption read: "Monster" Bull taken in first day of hunt ---
From the La Sierra newspaper out of San Luis, CO, October 15, 2004
Three Colorado Springs men, all with San Luis roots, shared the credit in what will be one of the biggest
kills of the year. John Hettich, Danny Garcia and Robert Maestas, shown here wth Rich Garcia, shot their seven-by-seven
bull elk at dusk last Saturday, the first day of the first season, at the Maestas Ranch in the Ventero.
They planned to take the bull elk's head and antlers to a taxidermist for mounting. "The rest goes
into carne seca, " said Robert Maestas, with a hearty laugh. "Look at it. It's as big as a horse." All
agreed it was great to be in the Valley for hunting season. "We had to go to the big city to make a living, " said John
Hettich, "but our hearts will always be here. This is still home."
The 2005 archery season is underway, as I write this, and I have seen several hunters in camouflage up in
the high country. Muzzle Loaders will be hunting this coming weekend and the first regular rifle season opens October 15.
With the full moon in Mid September, and cloudless skies, the elk are feeding at night and have to be kicked
"out of bed" by energetic hunters. There has been no snow, sofar and the bulls are still above 11,000'.
