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GUNNISON, Colo.—State officials have banned the collection of deer antlers, big horn sheep horns or skulls in the Gunnison Basin where thousands of wildlife face starvation because of deep snow and subzero temperatures.
The emergency closure of wildlife-related recreational activities in the area below 9,500 feet will remain through May 15.
Despite the feeding program that started Jan. 13, wildlife managers expected higher than average mortality among wildlife. In a normal winter, between 12 percent to 18 percent of the deer population dies off. Most are fawns or older bucks.
J Wenum, area wildlife manager for the Gunnison area, said the feeding program isn’t meant to save every animal but to avoid a catastrophic die off.
