Hunting/Fishing: soldiers look forward to elk hunt in Southwest Colorado after service in Iraq

On Jan. 17, Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Farnsworth and five of his fellow soldiers will travel from all over the country to Southwest Colorado. Due to the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s late-season cow elk tags, they’ll have the opportunity to do something many of them have not done in years: hunt.

Several local businesses and hunting groups — including Colorado Hunting Expeditions, Mesa Verde Elk Ranch and the Four Corners Chapter of Safari Club International — are determined to make it a trip none of them will forget.

Colorado Hunting Expedition’s Bob and Terri Luna have offered to host the soldiers, along with their families, for an entire weekend of fun-filled activities. All told, more than 15 people are expected to descend on the Lunas’ Dolores hunting lodge Jan. 17-21.