With the deadline to apply for 2006 limited big game licenses barely 10 days away, hunters are left to ponder prospects for what may be better than average odds to draw. While wildlife officials haven’t established the baseline for draw licenses pending final accumulation of harvest and survival data, there’s a good chance for an elk tag in your future. Unfavorable weather conditions generally are cited for a profound drop in elk hunting success last season. Hunters bagged 56,462 elk, well down from the record 63,336 in 2004. This suggests a likelihood that large numbers of licenses, particularly for antlerless animals, will be issued.
Deer hunters fared considerably better, with a harvest and success ratio virtually equal to 2004. Hunters should be aware of several changes in the application process as they approach the midnight April 4 deadline. Many involve changes to the preference point system. Hunters will be charged $25 to obtain a preference if an annual license or a big game license hasn’t been purchased in the previous year. Also, hunters will be able to spend part of a surplus of preference points while “banking” the rest. Hunters who obtain licenses through the draw generally won’t be able to regain expended preference points if they return the tags later.
A number of errors regarding hunt codes appear in the 2006 Division of Wildlife Big Game Brochure. Hunters are urged to check for clarification or apply online, a process that guides them past some of the more common errors that occur on paper. In addition to special licenses for deer and elk, application is essential for pronghorn, moose and bear. Residents of the Glenwood Springs area will get a boost in the process through a special assistance night March 30. The 5:30-8:30 p.m. session will be at the DOW office in West Glenwood.
