As far as Craig itself goesthere is nothing there elk-wise during hunting season, maybe during migration in the post season. Antelope and mule deer are right up to theedges of town. This is big country.... so which way from Craig are you talking.... and how far? 10, 25, 50, 75miles? .... Big country.

Towards Wyoming out in the sage brush, or up inthe Elkheadsor towards Utahin the deserty breaksor towards Steamboat and Zirkel Wildernessor towards the Flat Tops.... all different... which direction from Craig are you talking.... you got a map right? you've talked to CDOW right? they know the hunter concentrations and the land and the best places and the pressure patterns and they'll tell you.... evidence of that kind of diligence is what I was aluding to.... talking to anyone without a mapin front of you is a waste of fur, IMO. BTW, maps will tell you the elevations you speak of. CDOW website addresses CWD.

Pretty much anywhere in Colorado on public land within a mile of theroadis going to be "crawling with hunters" by private land standards, your mission is to get 3,4,5 miles back in and even then you will run across hard core hunters. No big deal, you just shoot the elk anyway.