GMU 83- Costilla County, Colorado
The Trinchera Elk Herd in our Game Management Unit 83 is one of the largest in Colorado with an estimated
Population of 16,000 elk. The Sangre De Cristo Ranches Area covers about 60,000 acres south of US160
and east of CO Hwy 159, and all of that area is located in GMU 83. About 5000 acres are common land that can be used by the
owners for hunting. There are about 400 miles of good roads in the SDCR Area, reaching close to 12,000' in several areas.
With ownership or permission, hunting is allowed .
Colorado Law prohibits shooting within 1/4 mile of occupied residences and shooting across roads.
Attached are elk hunting statistics for GMU 83 for the four rifle seasons from 2000-2006. Elk are usually above 10,000' during the first and 2nd season and they move down after a heavy snow ( more that 8").
Cows and doe deer start moving down in late October or early November.
GMU 83 also has an Archery and a Muzzle-Loading Season in September of each year, with great success when
calling in big bulls with an elk bugle.
GMU 82 and GMU 861
These Game Management Units encompass the western portion of the Blanca Massif with lots of public land
available for hunting. There are large areas of BLM land in the western foothills , access to the San Isabel and Rio Grande
National Forest and lots of Wilderness Area up in the high country. This area has the Sand Dunes Elk Herd
with an estimated population of 5600 animals and a good bull to cow ratio. This area is close to
San Luis Valley Ranches Units 11,12, 13 and 14. Most of these units have some access within walking distance to BLM
and National Forest land.
These statistics and statistics for other Rocky Mountain hunts can be found from the link below:
