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    <div>&#160;</div>
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    <div><br>&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2008</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Securities
Act Registration No. 333-_______</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Exchange
Act File No. 001-31539</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">==============================================================================================================================================</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">UNITED
STATES</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Washington,
D.C.&#160;&#160;20549</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">FORM
S-8</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">St.
Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br></div>
    <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="65%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <tr style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;">
            <td valign="top" width="32%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Delaware</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="22%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="26%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">41-0518430</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="32%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(State
      or other jurisdiction of</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="22%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="26%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(IRS
      Employer</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="32%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">incorporation
      or organization)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="22%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="26%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Identification
      No.)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">1776
Lincoln Street, Suite 700</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Denver,
Colorado 80203</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Address
of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">St.
Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation
Plan</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Full
title of the plan)</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Anthony
J. Best</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">President
and Chief Executive Officer</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">St.
Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">1776
Lincoln Street, Suite 700</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Denver,
Colorado 80203</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Name and
address of agent for service)</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(303)
861-8140</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company.&#160;&#160;See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221;
&#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
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            <td align="left" valign="top" width="55%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Large
      accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">&#254;</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="25%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Accelerated
      filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="55%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Non-accelerated
      filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font> (Do
      not check if a smaller reporting company)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="25%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Smaller
      reporting company <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div><br>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
      </div>
    </div><br>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div align="center">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="19%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Title
      of securities</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">to be
      registered</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="21%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Amount
      to be </font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">registered</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="22%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Proposed
      maximum </font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">offering
      price</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">per
      share</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="21%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Proposed
      maximum </font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">aggregate
      offering</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">price</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="18%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -4.5pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="TEXT-DECORATION: none">Amount of </font></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -4.5pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">registration
      fee</font></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="19%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Common
      stock,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$.01
      par value <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(1)</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="21%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2,001,194
      shares<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(2)</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="22%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$59.89<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(3)</font></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="21%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$119,851,508.66</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="18%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$4,710.16<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(4)(5)</font></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">_______________</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(1)</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Includes
      associated stock purchase rights under the registrant&#8217;s shareholder rights
      plan adopted on July 15, 1999, as amended, that are deemed to be delivered
      with each share of common stock issued by the registrant and currently are
      not separately transferable apart from the common
  stock.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(2)</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement
      shall be deemed to cover any additional shares which become issuable as a
      result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar
      transaction.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(3)</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Solely
      for the purpose of computing the registration fee in accordance with Rule
      457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, the price shown is based upon the
      price of $59.89 per share, which is the average of the high and low
      selling prices for the registrant&#8217;s common stock as reported on the New
      York Stock Exchange on June 16,
2008.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(4)</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Calculated
      under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 as 0.00003930 of
      $119,851,508.66.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(5)</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Of
      the total of 2,001,194 shares registered under this registration
      statement, a total of 205,191 shares were previously registered under a
      Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-106438) of St. Mary Land
      &amp; Exploration Company filed on June 25, 2003 (the &#8220;Prior S-8
      Registration Statement&#8221;), and the balance of the shares are newly
      registered shares.&#160;&#160;Such 205,191 shares (the &#8220;Previously
      Registered Shares&#8221;) have not been offered or sold pursuant to the Prior
      S-8 Registration Statement.&#160;&#160;Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the
      Securities Act of 1933, the registration fee of $4,710.16 for this
      registration statement is offset by a registration fee of $449.36
      previously paid by St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company for the Prior
      S-8 Registration Statement with respect to the Previously Registered
      Shares.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 13.7pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">EXPLANATORY
      NOTE</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">This
registration statement relates to the previously filed registration statement
discussed below and is being filed under General Instruction E. of Form S-8 in
order to register additional shares of the same class as other securities for
which a registration statement filed on this form relating to the same employee
benefit plan is effective.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On May
17, 2006, the registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No.
333-134221) to register 2,600,225 shares of common stock issuable under the St.
Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the
&#8220;Plan&#8221;).&#160;&#160;The contents of that registration statement are incorporated
by reference into this registration statement.&#160;&#160;The registrant is now
filing this separate registration statement to register an additional 2,001,194
shares of common stock which may be issued under the Plan.&#160;&#160;Of the
additional 2,001,194 shares of common stock being registered under this
registration statement, (i) 1,500,000 shares are attributable to an amendment to
the Plan approved by the stockholders of the registrant on May 21, 2008; (ii)
205,191 shares are attributable to forfeited awards under predecessor plans,
which pursuant to the terms of the Plan are added to the number of shares
issuable under the Plan; and (iii) 296,003 shares are attributable to shares
withheld or delivered for tax withholding purposes in connection with the
settlement of awards prior to May 21, 2008, which pursuant to the terms of the
Plan are not deducted from the number of shares issuable under the
Plan.</font></div><br>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
      </div>
    </div><br>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
8.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Exhibits.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
following exhibits are filed as part of this registration
statement:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
          <tr>
            <td valign="bottom" width="8%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Exhibit</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">No.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="70%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Description</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="8%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="70%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="8%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">5.1*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="70%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Opinion
      of Ballard Spahr Andrews &amp; Ingersoll, LLP</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="8%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">23.1*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="70%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent
      of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="8%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">23.2*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="70%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent
      of Ballard Spahr Andrews &amp; Ingersoll, LLP (included in Exhibit
      5.1)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="8%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">23.3*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="70%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent
      of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="8%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">23.4*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="70%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent
      of Netherland, Sewell &amp; Associates, Inc.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="8%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">24.1*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="70%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Power
      of Attorney (included in signature page hereof)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="8%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">99.1</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="70%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">St.
      Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation
      Plan, As Amended and Restated as of March&#160;28, 2008 (filed on May 27,
      2008 as Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K and
      incorporated herein by reference)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">____________________________</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">* Filed
herewith.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div><br>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
      </div>
    </div><br>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SIGNATURES</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The
Registrant.</font>&#160;&#160;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act
of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on June 19,
2008.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 180pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;ST. MARY LAND &amp;
EXPLORATION COMPANY</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 180pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;By:&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">/s/ ANTHONY J.
BEST</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 180pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 22.5pt"></font><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;Anthony J.
Best,</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 180pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 22.5pt"></font><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;President and Chief
Executive Officer</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">POWER OF
ATTORNEY</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">KNOW ALL
PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby
authorizes, constitutes and appoints Anthony J. Best and Mark T. Solomon his or
her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, and each with full power to act alone, for the undersigned
and in his or her own name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign
any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and other amendments
thereto) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing as the undersigned could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by&#160;&#160;virtue
hereof.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="35%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Signature</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="39%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Title</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="20%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Date</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="35%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "form_s8.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 64132}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ST MARY LAND & EXPLORATION CO", "cik": "0000893538", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "410518430", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-151779", "film-number": "08908221"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1776 LINCOLN ST STE 700", "city": "DENVER", "state": "CO", "zip": "80203", "phone": "303-861-8140"}}
form_s8.htm
As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2008
Securities
Act Registration No. 333-_______
Exchange
Act File No. 001-31539
==============================================================================================================================================
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C.  20549
FORM
S-8
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
St.
Mary Land & Exploration Company
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
41-0518430
(State
      or other jurisdiction of
(IRS
      Employer
incorporation
      or organization)
Identification
      No.)
1776
Lincoln Street, Suite 700
Denver,
Colorado 80203
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
St.
Mary Land & Exploration Company 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation
Plan
(Full
title of the plan)
Anthony
J. Best
President
and Chief Executive Officer
St.
Mary Land & Exploration Company
1776
Lincoln Street, Suite 700
Denver,
Colorado 80203
(Name and
address of agent for service)
(303)
861-8140
(Telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer,"
"accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
Large
      accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated
      filer
o
Non-accelerated
      filer
o
(Do
      not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller
      reporting company
o
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
      of securities
to be
      registered
Amount
      to be
registered
Proposed
      maximum
offering
      price
per
      share
Proposed
      maximum
aggregate
      offering
price
Amount of
registration
      fee
Common
      stock,
$.01
      par value
(1)
2,001,194
      shares
(2)
$59.89
(3)
$119,851,508.66
$4,710.16
(4)(5)
_______________
(1)
Includes
      associated stock purchase rights under the registrant's shareholder rights
      plan adopted on July 15, 1999, as amended, that are deemed to be delivered
      with each share of common stock issued by the registrant and currently are
      not separately transferable apart from the common
  stock.
(2)
Pursuant
      to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement
      shall be deemed to cover any additional shares which become issuable as a
      result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar
      transaction.
(3)
Solely
      for the purpose of computing the registration fee in accordance with Rule
      457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, the price shown is based upon the
      price of $59.89 per share, which is the average of the high and low
      selling prices for the registrant's common stock as reported on the New
      York Stock Exchange on June 16,
2008.
(4)
Calculated
      under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 as 0.00003930 of
      $119,851,508.66.
(5)
Of
      the total of 2,001,194 shares registered under this registration
      statement, a total of 205,191 shares were previously registered under a
      Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-106438) of St. Mary Land
      & Exploration Company filed on June 25, 2003 (the "Prior S-8
      Registration Statement"), and the balance of the shares are newly
      registered shares.  Such 205,191 shares (the "Previously
      Registered Shares") have not been offered or sold pursuant to the Prior
      S-8 Registration Statement.  Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the
      Securities Act of 1933, the registration fee of $4,710.16 for this
      registration statement is offset by a registration fee of $449.36
      previously paid by St. Mary Land & Exploration Company for the Prior
      S-8 Registration Statement with respect to the Previously Registered
      Shares.
EXPLANATORY
      NOTE
This
registration statement relates to the previously filed registration statement
discussed below and is being filed under General Instruction E. of Form S-8 in
order to register additional shares of the same class as other securities for
which a registration statement filed on this form relating to the same employee
benefit plan is effective.
On May
17, 2006, the registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No.
333-134221) to register 2,600,225 shares of common stock issuable under the St.
Mary Land & Exploration Company 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the
"Plan").  The contents of that registration statement are incorporated
by reference into this registration statement.  The registrant is now
filing this separate registration statement to register an additional 2,001,194
shares of common stock which may be issued under the Plan.  Of the
additional 2,001,194 shares of common stock being registered under this
registration statement, (i) 1,500,000 shares are attributable to an amendment to
the Plan approved by the stockholders of the registrant on May 21, 2008; (ii)
205,191 shares are attributable to forfeited awards under predecessor plans,
which pursuant to the terms of the Plan are added to the number of shares
issuable under the Plan; and (iii) 296,003 shares are attributable to shares
withheld or delivered for tax withholding purposes in connection with the
settlement of awards prior to May 21, 2008, which pursuant to the terms of the
Plan are not deducted from the number of shares issuable under the
Plan.
Item
8.                        Exhibits.
The
following exhibits are filed as part of this registration
statement:
Exhibit
No.
Description
5.1*
Opinion
      of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
23.1*
Consent
      of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2*
Consent
      of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP (included in Exhibit
      5.1)
23.3*
Consent
      of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.
23.4*
Consent
      of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
24.1*
Power
      of Attorney (included in signature page hereof)
99.1
St.
      Mary Land & Exploration Company 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation
      Plan, As Amended and Restated as of March 28, 2008 (filed on May 27,
      2008 as Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K and
      incorporated herein by reference)
____________________________
* Filed
herewith.
SIGNATURES
The
Registrant.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act
of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on June 19,
2008.
ST. MARY LAND &
EXPLORATION COMPANY
By:
/s/ ANTHONY J.
BEST
Anthony J.
Best,
President and Chief
Executive Officer
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL
PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby
authorizes, constitutes and appoints Anthony J. Best and Mark T. Solomon his or
her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, and each with full power to act alone, for the undersigned
and in his or her own name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign
any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and other amendments
thereto) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing as the undersigned could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by  virtue
hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ ANTHONY J.
      BEST
Anthony
      J. Best
President
      and Chief Executive
Officer,
      and Director
June
      19, 2008
/s/ MARK T.
      SOLOMON
Mark
      T. Solomon
Controller
      and Acting Principal Financial Officer
June
      19, 2008
/s/ MARK A.
      HELLERSTEIN
Mark
      A. Hellerstein
Chairman
      of the Board of Directors
June
      12, 2008
/s/ BARBARA M.
      BAUMANN
Barbara
      M. Baumann
Director
June
      19, 2008
/
s/ LARRY W.
      BICKLE
Larry
      W. Bickle
Director
June
      19, 2008
/s/ WILLIAM J.
      GARDINER
William
      J. Gardiner
Director
June
      13, 2008
/s/ JULIO M.
      QUINTANA
Julio
      M. Quintana
Director
June
      19, 2008
/s/ JOHN M.
      SEIDL
John
      M. Seidl
Director
June
      19, 2008
/s/ WILLIAM D.
      SULLIVAN
William
      D. Sullivan
Director
June
      19, 2008