As if the mounting collection of hatracks decorating the walls of hunters’ dens didn’t tell the story plainly enough, a recent study by the state Division of Wildlife illuminates the happy mood of Colorado deer hunters on the eve of the 2006 season.
Fifty percent of all rifle hunters bagged a deer last season, a figure that might have boggled the imagination just half a decade ago. It must be noted that license restrictions have reduced the numbers of deer hunters by more than half. But those who do draw these prized permits have produced the best results since the glory days of the mid- 20th century.
The real import of the DOW finding is that hunters have been doing progressively better since the state initiated its limited-license experiment in 1999. Deer enthusiasts have been finding more and bigger bucks while overall herd numbers have stabilized, even grown a bit.
Of course, the spirit of optimism that beats in every hunter’s breast tells us that even grander success awaits when the first deer hunt begins Oct. 21.
Wildlife science bears this out.
“The increase in deer numbers largely has been a function of more bucks,” Tom Remington, DOW’s terrestrial wildlife manager, said of a five-year population boost of about 40,000 animals to a current level of 462,000.
Oddly, Remington noted, does and fawns have not kept the same pace. Nor did the increase in mature bucks have a discernible impact on the birth rate.
Bottom line: Hunters lucky enough to draw a buck tag stand a great chance of putting a fat four-pointer in their sights, particularly in deer- rich western Colorado.
Further, those who hunt the northwest still can add a doe to their larder in most game management units. Doe licenses also remain for certain units in the Gunnison Basin.
Brandon Diamond, the biologist who watches over the Gunnison country, sings a song that’s music to a trophy hunter’s ears.
“Deer hunting will be really great,” he said. “We still have a lot of bucks in our population.”
This assessment holds true throughout the southwest, where principal biologist Scott Wait links good numbers of mature animals to a welcome weather shift. He, too, projects a banner hunt.
“It looks as if we’re in a good pattern this year,” Wait said of a trend that has soaked the southwest for three months.
Wait expects good results in nearly every part of the region: All of the San Juan Basin, the Uncompahgre Plateau, the Cimarron country, Gunnison Basin – everywhere except the San Luis Valley.
“The San Luis Valley still is lagging. Bucks are having a hard time coming back. But the other three-fourths of the region is looking beautiful.”
Brad Banulis expects the recent snow and cold in the Montrose area to get deer moving, especially if more storms move through the area during the next three weeks.
“Snow will push them down. There’s more quality forage available down low,” the biologist said.
In Steamboat Springs, biologist Jeff Yost laments an abundance of deer that has caused considerable carnage on local roadways.
“We just have so many deer right now,” said Yost, who added that some management units in the northwest have 500 to 1,000 leftover doe licenses waiting to be claimed by holders of buck permits who might want to put some extra meat on the table.
Bob Davies, lead biologist for the Southeast Region, touts the recent moisture as a boon to vegetation for both mountain and plain, a situation that bodes well for winter survival and, of course, better prospects for the following year.
When it comes to Colorado deer hunting, it seems as if the good times might keep on coming.
