Anybody elk hunted zone 85 colorado

Have an opportunity to hunt zone 85 just west of aguliar. it would be on a thousand plus acres of private ground during first rifle season. looking at the Google earth images I'm not real sold on the place appears to have more cedars an brush then Ag fields. what scares me is there appears to be a lot better looking crop grounds few miles north and west that I would think would hold elk better. It also looks to be towards what I would think is the tail end of migration routes so Im wondering how mid October would be there for elk movement and rut stages? Never been on an elk hunt before and I'm not one to spend that kind of money without some knowledge of the area.

Anyone?

I have not hunted Colorado much and never in 85 but I have hunted Elk quite a bit so I’ll try to give you some input.
If I was looking at an area to hunt I would want there to be more cover pinion and juniper that ag fields. Elk beef three things, food, water, and cover. They will travel a long way to feed and water and then back to their bedding areas in a day. The area your looking at might be a great area to hunt elk. If they are feeding at the hay fields at night and your hunting spot is a transition area between feeding and bedding it would be perfect. Chances are they are not going to be on the ag fields during legal shooting hours. Maybe the first and last 15 minutes of daylight but usually they’re in a transition area.

When I’m hunting elk I try to find feed and water and then try to find the steepest, nastiest stuff where nobody else wants to go and that’s where the elk will be. They like to bed on north facing slopes. Look at topo maps and find benches on north facing slopes, find narrow isolated canyons and you’ll find elk. Private land is hard sometimes and honestly 1000 acres is nothing when you’re talking about elk country. If they’re pressured off that 1000 acres they’ll be gone in the first day or two of the hunt.

Feel free to PM me if you want more info. I’ve been elk hunting and guiding for quite a while and spend a lot of time in elk country.

It would have to be a pretty special 1000 acres for me to pay to hunt elk on. Sounds fishy to me. I have no clue about that area though. If I was paying to elk hunt private ground I'd want it to be a bigger chunk of land.

I hunted Just west of Aguilar in that unit on some private land that butted up to the Spanish peaks. My experience
Was not a good one. Never seen an elk. The mule deer hunting would have been good though. It was the first season and they were not bugeling and it was warm out. Not much to make them move besides them hitting some water holes after dark. We had the Trujillo creek running through property and was one of the only water Sources in the area but it still didn’t help lol
The areas was very ugly and dry with mostly cedars and some Popple and aspen in the higher elevations.
It literally felt like I was in Mexico when in the town. Kind of a odd place imo

I’d want more land too.
I hunted and guided in Idaho back in the 80’s.
If it was me, I’d ask the hundreds of experts at Eastman’s elk hunting forum.

Spanish speaking people have lived in that area since the 1600's. By the time the first rifle season opens rut is pretty much over for elk and hasn't got going for deer.

Yeah when I look at this place on google maps it looks like cedars, rocks, and a few fields of grass. Was told there would be alfalfa fields but when I see rocks in a field I know it ain't no alfalfa. There is a little bit of street view available on the one road and the ground looks to thick to see for very long shots. It also concerns me that the outfitter supposedly didn't want it this year cause his client bookings were down. The more I look at it the more uncertainty I see. Also concerns me that pretty much any fields or opening are along stream bottoms with road access that I would think would deter many from showing themselves.

With the drought we are in here, If there is no ponds or good water source I'd pass for sure.

the elk will be feeding in those parks if they are there

https://forum.eastmans.com/

I raise cattle west and east of aguilar. we are in a severe drought down here. 1st rifle season is a hard season to hunt in 85. have to get as high as you can in spanish peaks wilderness to get into any real amount of elk. if there is snow on the peaks the elk will be down low. no snow usually means no elk low. the elk that stay low year around are on ranches that dont hunt or stay on tiny ranches and raid hay fields and then disappear in the hills during day. dont respond to calls. hard to pattern.
2nd and 3rd season are fun in 85 if have access to private ground and snow on the peaks. elk are getting shot at constantly so always moving. when i take kids hunting we just sit all day in a good elk corridor area. the bulls will come sneaking in hugging the terrain and the cows come running like cattle to feed.
if the ranch you have access to has good water and canyon they feel comfortable and safe in. it might hold a small group bachelor bulls. down low there are a few good bulls. but in 85 down low if a legal bull comes in, shoot it. if you dont he will jump a fence and get shot by someone in neighboring ranch.
85 is broken up ranches. lots of 40, 60, 80, 100 acre ranches.
the good hayfields are usually all leased out by outfitters. and they protect and patrol ground religiously. been known to harass the elk to keep them from leaving land they hunt.
unit 85 is great unit for youth. my kids all kill cows, get a great long season and able to get them on alfalfa fields when every one else is done chasing them.

Thanks for the insight. I noticed that when i pulled up the On x maps the properties where broke up into pretty small tracks and that also concerns me. I think from what i have seen from google earth maps and your alls info I'm going to turn down the offer. While i would love to go on an elk hunt i think ill sit this one out.

If I was going to bring out of state hunter in i would want 3rd rifle season it is long enough to get chance at critter.
elk are migrating lower and hunters are keeping the elk moving.
if 4th season was longer i would recommend that season.

Most of what I hunt elk in is cedar, rocks, with very little grass and no hay fields for miles and miles

Rframe sent you a pm