Durango – Colorado Division of Wildlife officials are proposing a limited season for antler hunting, April 1 through Dec. 31.
Wildlife managers such as J Wenum in Gunnison say that antler collectors so intensely scour ranges for the shed horns, with many beginning as early as late January, that the increasingly popular pursuit has become harmful to wildlife already stressed by winter conditions.
DOW officials are preparing a regulation paper on a proposed antler-hunting season that will be reviewed by the Wildlife Commission, perhaps as early as its March 9 meeting in Denver, agency spokesman Joe Lewandowski said. If approved, the new rules could take effect April 1, 2007.
Lewandowski said the Gunnison area in particular is seeing more winter visitors again this year searching for antlers from a herd of mule deer estimated at 25,000.
“In the hunting community, the Gunnison herd is considered to be among the top three in the nation,” he said. “There are all kinds of people chasing deer around. The deer are just getting by in winter. They should be disturbed as little as possible.”
The antler season, if approved, would be adopted statewide. Wildlife harassment by antler hunters has been reported in other parts of the state, Lewandowski said.
Antlers can bring $18 a pound, or even $1,200 a pair if an impressive matched set is found. Deer and elk begin shedding their antlers several weeks after the mating season in late fall.
Staff writer Electa Draper can be reached at 970-385-0917 or edraper@denverpost.com.
