About five years ago elk began migrating onto the refuge. The elk use the refuge both as full-time residents and seasonal visitors during the fall and winter to escape hunting pressure and winter conditions at higher elevations on BLM and U.S. Forest Service property.

The elk are creating trails through vegetation that is key to waterfowl nesting success. These trails allow easy access to waterfowl and their nests to coyotes, skunks, raccoons and other predators that prey on adult birds, eggs and juveniles.

The goal of the hunt is to pressure the elk off the refuge and back onto their traditional ranges to the west on Greenie Mountain and surrounding areas.

Persons interested in hunting elk on the refuge must submit an application to the Monte Vista DOW office by 4 p.m., July 26, 2000. Applications are available at the Monte Vista DOW office. Hunter priority is determined by a public drawing held 8:30 a.m., Thursday, July 27. Successful applicants will be notified by phone after the drawing.

Those hunters picked through the drawing process must demonstrate shooting skills and safe gun handling by pre-qualifying with the hunt coordinator.

Hunters who successfully complete the pre-qualification are placed on a list in the order their names were drawn. Hunters are called as needed, with notice usually given within two days of the hunt.

All hunters participating in the dispersal hunt will be accompanied by the hunt coordinator, DOW personnel, or USFWS personnel during the hunt. Hunters can only shoot when instructed to do so. This hunt is for antlerless elk only. Licenses awarded for the dispersal hunt are considered as "additional" to regular season elk licenses. In addition to the above stipulations, all other big game laws and regulations will apply for this hunt.

This hunt is extremely demanding both physically and mentally so all applicants should be mature and in excellent physical condition.

Persons interested in participating in this hunt must return a completed application to the DOW office in Monte Vista. An application for this hunt may be found on the Division of Wildlife WEB site at http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/hunt/BigGame/Monte_Vista_huntapp.htm. You may also call (719) 587-6900, and we'll send you a copy of the application in the mail.