FILING - 01/25/2011

Basis and Purpose

Chapter 2 - Big Game

Basis and Purpose:

These regulations amend Chapter 2 – Big Game – of the Wildlife Commission Regulations. These regulations are designed to manage statewide big game herds at the herd objective levels and provide a diversity of hunting recreation opportunities for resident and nonresident hunters throughout Colorado; to minimize or control local game damage situations; and to provide opportunity for landowners to cooperatively manage wildlife with the Division.

The attached Wildlife Commission regulations are the result of extensive public involvement and application of biological information on deer, elk, pronghorn, bear and moose. All regulation changes are based on the best available biological information and are designed to manage big game herds towards stated objectives and to ensure long-term viability.

In addition to those changes addressed above, the following specific modifications were made to Chapter 2:

Removal of Hunt Codes and Regulations Associated with the Chancellor Ranch State Trust Land (STL)

Previously, hunt code SFS61K1R was valid for youth hunters on Chancellor Ranch State Trust Land. The Division no longer leases the Chancellor Ranch STL from the State Land Board. This results in no guarantee of public access for the youth ewe hunter. Therefore, the hunt code has been eliminated along with all other regulations associated with the lease access hunting program on Chancellor Ranch.

Auction and Raffle License Hunting in Special Management Areas

These regulations allow hunters holding an Auction and Raffle (A&R) license to hunt in Special Management License (SML) areas upon approval by the Division. Recently, an A&R hunter was recently interested in hunting mountain goats in an area open for Regulation Special Management Licenses. Previously existing regulations did not allow this practice. The intent of restrictions on A&R licenses, is to limit A&R hunters to areas open for harvest with other licenses. SML areas are areas where the Division is encouraging harvest to prevent unplanned expansion or exposure to disease. Manner of take, mandatory check, and licenses not using or generating preference points are the similar for A&R and SML licenses. A&R license holders hunting in a SML area is not likely to happen frequently given the considerable opportunity already allowed by the A&R license. For that rare case; however, this change is intended to increase opportunity for A&R hunters and meet Division goals.

BIGHORN SHEEP

Ewe Hunting in S73

In 2005 40 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep were reintroduced to historic range on the west side of North Park to an area known as Red Canyon. Since the reintroduction the population has been highly productive with 61 lambs per 100 ewes observed in January of 2010. Many transplanted herds of bighorn sheep exhibit high rates of reproduction and growth during the years immediately after the transplant; however, the populations then often reach a level where the range cannot support more sheep, reproduction slows and the populations drop down from their peak and don’t regain the vigor they experienced for the first years post transplant. During January classification flights nearly all bighorn sheep are observed on a single south facing ridge in Red Canyon. Early spring habitat surveys of this ridge show extensive utilization of all browse species along this ridge but almost no use of the same plant species in areas within even a few hundred yards of this area. A ewe season is intended to allow limited hunting pressure to help spread the herd of sheep out into adjacent acceptable winter range which is currently lightly used, and reduce the density and concentration of bighorns on heavily used winter range.

BEAR

Modification of Hunt Codes Within B2

Bear DAU, B-2, is comprised of GMUs 50, 58, 59, 500, 501, 511, 512, 581, and 591. The eastern most GMUs (59, 511, 512, and 591) in B2 are adjacent to the Colorado Springs metro area, which, like many cities in the state, has recently experienced an increase in bear/human conflicts. Additionally, Pueblo and Canon City, on the southern boundary of GMU 59, have also seen an increase in bear/human conflicts. In all of these cities, Division staff have responded to the bear/human conflicts through public education campaigns, translocations, and euthanasia in cases were bears have either received a 2nd strike or the bear’s behavior presented a threat to human safety. Despite these measures, bear/human conflicts have continued. Previously, the bear hunting licenses for B-2 were valid for the entire DAU, which limited flexibility to target hunter harvest through license allocation in conflict areas. These regulations are intended to more accurately focus hunter harvest where needed.

Creation of a Bear Management Area in GMU 84

Over the past several years human/bear conflicts have been on the rise in GMU 84. The towns of Rye, Colorado City, Beulah and Wetmore have been impacted by an increasing number of complaints of bears in town and breaking into vehicles and buildings. The number of game damage complaints from the ranching community is also increasing. These regulations create a bear management area in GMU 84 with the intent to reduce the bear population in the areas immediately adjacent to the communities that are being affected, and consequently reduce human/bear conflicts.

Reallocation of GMUs 133, 134, 136, 141, 142, 143 and 147 into the Plains Regular Rifle Hunt Code for Bear (BE000U5R)

The majority of the GMUs east of Interstate 25, with the exception of GMU 140, are included in the plains regular rifle hunt code (BE000U5R) with season dates of September 2 – November 21, 2010. Previously, GMUs 133, 134, 136, 141, 142, 143, and 147 were in DAU B-9 and include a limited September rifle season, and over the counter with cap licenses for the archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons. These GMUs were also included in the BE000U6R which has season dates beginning the first day of the First Combined Season through the Fourth Combined Season. The CDOW recently began a DAU plan revision of B-9 and as a result reallocated GMUs to B99. This change is intended to allow increased hunter opportunity and flexibility to harvest a bear in these eastern plains units and remove some of the complexity within the regulations by removing duplicate hunt codes.

Establishment of Private Land Only (PLO) Hunts for Bear in GMUs 31 and 32

Over the past three years, complaints of bear/ human conflicts on private land in GMUs 31 and 32 have increased dramatically. The majority of quality bear habitat within GMUs 31 and 32 is located on private land. The establishment of PLO bear licenses in GMUs 31 and 32 is intended to address bears causing conflicts with hunter pressure rather than Division control methods, and provide an opportunity for increased bear harvest and decrease of bear/ human conflicts within the GMUs.

Distributing PLO Bear Licenses in GMUs 83, 85, 140 and 851 as Over-The-Counter (OTC) with Caps

Game management units (GMUs) 83, 85, 140, and 851 are located in south central Colorado and made up of portions of Costilla, Las Animas and Huerfano counties. They contain excellent bear habitat. Recent population density estimates suggest that portions of these GMUs could have 1.2-2.2 bears per square mile (Apker et al. 2010). Previously, GMUs 83, 85, 140 and 851 are grouped together with a private land only (PLO) September season because major portions of these GMUs are private property. The history of bear hunting in GMUs 83, 85, 140 and 851 mirrors many other DAUs in the area where the bear populations were lowered during the mast crop failure and drought years of 2001 and 2002, as a result of increased hunter harvest and other mortality factors. Since that time the bear population has recovered and is nearing population levels observed prior to the decline, which has also led to an increase in human/bear conflict within these GMUs. With the decline in population, hunting licenses were reduced for several years and as the population has recovered hunting licenses numbers have just recently been approaching past levels. What has resulted from this reduction in license numbers is a substantial number of applicants with more than two preference points applying for the limited number of licenses. Under the previous system, with the current number of licenses, a landowner has to apply for a license in April and have preference points. This did not provide flexibility for a landowner to address a conflict animal on their property. These regulations are intended to increase hunter opportunity by providing landowners an opportunity to allow hunters to help address bears causing conflicts.

DEER

Elimination of PLO Antlered Deer Hunt Codes for GMUs 54, 55 and 551

PLO buck licenses were previously available in GMUs 54, 55, & 551, which typically have a small number of 1st choice applicants. This contrasts markedly with public land licenses that are highly sought after and require multiple preference points. Many private landowners in the Gunnison Basin participate in the landowner preference program and are eligible to draw from the 15% of the limited buck licenses set aside by GMU. In addition to this program, they may apply for the regular drawing, or opt to apply for PLO buck licenses. Because the limited buck licenses are so highly sought after in the Gunnison area, and to provide more public land hunting opportunity in public land dominated DAU’s, these regulations eliminate PLO buck hunt codes for the northern Gunnison Basin, allowing for a small, but desirable increase in the number of non-PLO licenses issued.

Extension of the Season Choice PLO Deer Season in GMUs 91, 92 and 96

Game Management Units (GMUs) 91, 92, and 96 are part of the South Platte River Data Analysis Unit (DAU) D-44 in northeast Colorado. In an effort to encourage more doe harvest on private lands where deer routinely congregate after the opening of the deer, waterfowl, and small game seasons, Private-Land-Only (PLO) Season Choice antlerless licenses were established in 2009. Season Choice licenses provide hunters of all methods-of-take the opportunity to obtain an additional license to harvest a doe on private land in D-44. With a Season Choice license, hunters are allowed to hunt any or all of the 4 plains deer seasons on private land until the license is filled. Hunters are only restricted by the method(s)-of-take that is valid during each season. Although these licenses have been successful in increasing doe harvest by 41%, more doe harvest is needed on private land to adequately maintain this DAU at or below population objective. Extension of this season is intended to provide additional harvest during the most effective harvest period without adding new seasons and increasing the complexity of the regulations.

Separation of Whitetail Deer Only Hunts in GMUs 116 and 117 from GMU 109

Previously, GMUs 116 and 117 were combined with GMU 109 for the muzzleloader and rifle whitetail only (WTO) seasons (Huntcodes: DE109O2R, DF109O2R, DE109O3M, & DF109O3M). However, separate licenses were offered for both the regular and WTO deer archery seasons and for the regular deer muzzleloader and rifle seasons. There is also a late plains rifle season offered in GMU 109 for both WTO licenses and regular deer licenses but not for GMUs 116 and 117. Data from postseason classification surveys conducted in 2009 suggest that deer numbers and distribution differ substantially between GMU 109 and GMUs 116-117. The buck to doe ratio is much higher in 116 and 117 compared to 109. For whitetails, the buck to doe ratio was 20.9 bucks per 100 does in 109 compared to 114.3 and 168.0 bucks per 100 does in GMUs 116 and 117, respectively. Additionally the majority of deer, especially whitetails, in GMU 109 are found along the South Republican River while deer are distributed widely throughout GMUs 116 and 117. These data suggest that deer should be managed differently north and south of I-70. Additionally, field personnel have been hesitant to recommend increasing WTO licenses in the combined 109, 116, and 117 units due to the potential for overcrowding on the limited pieces of property open to public hunting in 109 (e.g., newly acquired conservation easements). Given the high buck to doe ratios, especially for whitetails, in GMUs 116 and 117, additional hunter opportunity is available in these units. These regulations intended to increase opportunity through allowing an increase in WTO licenses along with the addition of a late rifle season.

Creation of a Deer Management Hunt in Buena Vista

The D-15 (Cottonwood Creek) deer herd includes GMUs 48, 56, 481, and 561, west of the towns of Salida, Buena Vista, and Leadville along the Collegiate Range and east of the Continental Divide. This population has stabilized at approximately 6,000 animals after rebounding from a population crash in the early-mid 1990s. However, year-round deer densities in the urban interface surrounding the town of Buena Vista have increased in recent years. These regulations create a new hunt code designed to target urban deer and alleviate damage complaints related to high densities in these specific areas. Radio collar data from the adjacent D-16 (Cripple Creek) deer herd indicates most migratory deer arrive on winter ranges in the Arkansas River Valley by mid-November and don’t generally congregate in and around Buena Vista until snow levels increase later in the winter during years of heavy snow accumulation. Thus, this hunt is intended to allow hunters to target deer residing on a year-round basis in and around the town of Buena Vista and the adjacent urban interface without targeting migratory deer or affecting the overall population size of the herd.