Bitis - I live not too far from the Salida area. I'd say it is just about as good of a place to hunt elk as anywhere else in CO. "Hot Spots" in Colorado are more a function of getting into a limited draw unit that takes 1+ points to draw, or getting onto a large section of private property that isn't hunted too much. However, even over-the-counter units open to everyone have some nice bulls, you typically just have to know the area well and work a little harder.
I've got a neighbor that has taken 370 class public land bulls around Salida the last two years, in areas that take either no points or one point to draw. There are definitely 300+ bulls around, however, 250 would be more common. Most of it depends on which hunting unit you will be in, and what your guide has for property or knowledge. Success in nearby over-the-counter tag units can be 10% or lower. It goes up some in the units you have to draw for. Nevertheless, the whole point of paying a guide is so he could hopefully bump your odds up closer to 40, 50, 60% or better.
Sounds like you need to ask some of this to your guide - what unit he hunts, what his success rate is, what size bulls are typical, if it is public or private land he's taking you too etc.
No matter what, if you've never hunted elk, anything 250+ will feel huge and you'll probably really enjoy the hunt and have a good time just getting into the Rockies (enjoyment will be a little related to what where the guide is having you stay and hunt - but it should be good fun). My guess is you won't really care if it's a 250 or 300 bull, as long as you have some good hunting, see some elk and hopefully get a shot or two.
