Jason, I live about 30 miles from the valles caldera. I have an outfitting business in the units around the preserve and am real familiar with the area. I have hunted and guided several times on the preserve. Everything from archery to the last rifle hunts. You are truly a luck man. As for that monster bull that fills your dreams, maybe not running around on the valle. That is if you want a 350+ wallhanger. There are elk to spare on the valle, there are a ton of bulls that are in the 280 to 320 range. Last year I tagged along on one of the first muzzleloader hunts, Oct 2-6. The hunter, one of my best friends, was the #1 requested guide on the Baca Ranch which is now the Valles Caldera, we knew all of the honey holes and killed a 334 bull on the last day. Most of the really big bulls are killed by the archery hunters and the bid hunters. You will see tons of elk and will have the hunt of a lifetime, and maybe you will get lucky and find one of the big boys. There are a few 380's roaming those dark timbered canyons. Keep us posted.