Just beyond the houses, the schools and churches of Highlands Ranch sits the Backcountry Wilderness Area where hikers, bikers, trail runners and hunters converge on scenic space right beside the city. via RussellHaythorn
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — In the open space just south of Highlands Ranch, you never know what you may encounter.
Giebel knows these windy trails and dirt roads better than anyone, and he has seen almost all there is to see here.And while Giebel appreciates all the wildlife here, his favorite just might be the herd of elk.Giebel and his team guide every elk hunt on this land.That’s for good reason. Because while the hunts may not surprise you, the location — well, that’s a different story.“It’s 13 square miles, 8,000 acres. And it’s right in the middle of suburbia,” Olson said.
“Hunting is a very important management tool for us,” Olson said. “It’s an important form of conservation. It keeps wildlife populations very healthy.”“Hunting is beneficial in many ways,” Giebel said. “It helps keep the elk wild. It helps with the population and resource destruction. It keeps them moving so they’re not just parking in one area.”“Allowing hunting to occur in a very safe and controlled manner, these animal populations are kept at a very healthy levels,” Olson said.
“There’s kids. There’s people biking, hiking, dogs,” said Karen Hunter of Littleton. “Somebody might accidentally shoot a dog instead of an elk.” “Mark Giebel is one of the most passionate individuals that you’ll ever meet,” Bailey said. “And that’s truly the success of our backcountry. Mark has over 30 years experience with HRCA. That’s one of the reasons we guide because we are close to homes and trails and stuff like that.”