With Colorado’s big game season just around the corner, it’s time to think about . . . season after next.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife has begun its public process to establish the next five-year framework for hunting large animals such as deer, elk, bear, moose and pronghorn.
A progression that ends next September will determine how we hunt during the period 2010-14. If that seems a long way away, consider what you were doing just two years ago. Time flies between elk bugles.
While most of the decision will be based on biologists’ surveys and historic data, the agency wants to know what you think. To that end, it will employ a blend of Internet hookups and public forums to gather opinions from a broad spectrum of interest groups: hunters, landowners, outfitters and small business.
The discussion begins cooking in December when DOW produces some provisional alternative season structures and announces a series of public meetings to kick them around.
“We’re fairly early in the process, but one issue we may address is the overlap of early seasons,” said Janet George, co-chair of the procedure with fellow DOW managers Mary Lloyd and Bruce Watkins.
Bowhunters for years have complained about the commotion from nine days of muzzleloaders, along with certain high-country rifle hunts for buck deer and a few restricted cow elk tags scattered across several units. At the same time, rifle hunters are chafing for an opportunity to target large bull elk during the late September and early October rut.
“We don’t have any alternatives yet. We’re awaiting the options and data,” George said.
aps seem as varied as the number of hunting licenses. Some hunters and not a few wildlife enthusiasts are against late deer hunting when bucks are in rut. There’s also a thrust for more totally limited elk units, a move that sends a shudder through an agency that banks heavily on over-the-counter bull opportunity for nonresident hunters whose licenses pay a bulk of the bills.
“We have to be careful with this,” state big game manager Rick Kahn said. “If we go too far with this, we reach a point of no return. We place so much pressure on the unlimited units, we’ll have to go limited statewide.”
Discussions also will focus on maintaining “recess” periods between the four major hunt phases to allow a rest time for animals as well as time for campgrounds and hostelries to clear.
A proposal by wildlife commissioner Brad Coors that might gain traction would allow hunters who failed to fill their elk allotment during the draw or the leftover process to purchase remaining leftovers.
“It would provide meat and an opportunity to hunt to those who really want to do it and help meet management objectives. I think it will make people happy,” Coors said.
Kahn noted this opportunity would be available only in select units in the northwest, since herd objectives are being met nearly everywhere across the state.
Information about meetings, agendas and e-mail connections may be found on the DOW website by following links off the big game page.
“We’re very open and want to hear comments,” George said. “We want to hear from you even if you like the current structure. We want to hear what you like about it.”
Charlie Meyers: 303-954-1069 or cmeyers@denverpost.com
