Eagle Valley Elk herd drops 40%

[Roboz]

This is an interesting read for those of you considering elk hunting in the Eagle Valley of Colorado.



https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/parks-and-wildlife-officials-eagle-valley-elk-population-sees-significant-declines/

 

[Prerylyon]

Thanks for sharing!

I found the observation about all the non-hunting recreational activity, as a stressor on the elk, interesting.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[JimP]

I live here in that unit 44. A lot can be attributed to no closed area during elk caving to keep the shed hunters and those riding off road vehicles all over the hills. That along with the number of bears in the unit now.

This last muzzle loader season I saw no less than 15 bears in a weeks time, and I would say that well over half of them were different bears.

 

[Slugz]

Our bear hunting structure at some point is going to have to change and I think the only solution is baiting like many other states.
Not having a dedicated area closed off for calving is a tough one also to overcome.

 

[mallardsx2]

"Before 2007, there would be 2,000 or more cow elk permits available for the fall hunting license draw. This year, there will be fewer than 200"

Shouldn't the biologist have caught this issue much sooner? I would think when the elk herd drops below 10% of the target goal they would reduce the number of cow tags accordingly to balance this? If it was up to me I would be giving the bear tags away free with an OTC elk license. If the herd is in that big of trouble why even have the 200 tags?! I mean seriously. Close the freaking season down on cows.

In the end, Its all about money. The DOW got to ride the wave and Sell those tags until the resource is now gone.

Then throw their hands up and scratch their heads, then go on to blame hikers and predation (Which I am sure are part of the problem).

 

[Prerylyon]

I live here in that unit 44. A lot can be attributed to no closed area during elk caving to keep the shed hunters and those riding off road vehicles all over the hills. That along with the number of bears in the unit now.

This last muzzle loader season I saw no less than 15 bears in a weeks time, and I would say that well over half of them were different bears.

Maybe its time I try for that bear skin rug?

[emoji38]

[emoji199]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[BKC]

I went to a discussion last night with CPW and the Colorado Bowhunters Association. CPW recognizes they have a problem with bears. One audience member brought up bringing back spring bear hunts, which is the most logical solution. CPW floated dedicated bear seasons but there is really a not enough days during the fall to hunt these and not infringe on other seasons.

 

[Slugz]

I'm all for spring bear hunting!

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

I live here in that unit 44. A lot can be attributed to no closed area during elk caving to keep the shed hunters and those riding off road vehicles all over the hills. That along with the number of bears in the unit now.

This last muzzle loader season I saw no less than 15 bears in a weeks time, and I would say that well over half of them were different bears.

Seems that part about bears may be getting missed.

From the article
Likewise, the region has seen an increase in predators, including mountain lions, but that is a contributing factor at most.

No mention of bears.

I do agree. I have family who live in Rist Canyon NW of FT Collins and they have all sorts of bear problems over there.

 

[JimP]

The CP&W is working on getting rid of a lot of bears and lions north of the Rifle area in units 33 and 34 I believe, they started to do this last year. The problem is that I haven't heard of how it is going. They were doing this to help improve the deer herds in that area.

 

[taskswap]

I'm all for spring bear hunting too (and have some preference points burning a hole in my "account") but wouldn't that put hunters out in the field pressuring elk as much as shed hunters?

This might be an unpopular opinion (who loves Johnny Law breathing down their necks?) but I'd love to see more enforcement of the shed hunting laws. When I go out on general hikes I NEVER see CPW officers around outside hunting season. I got tag-checked twice this past fall (all in order thank you very much) but almost never see an officer any other time. Even a few random parking-lot drive-by's in high-risk areas (like Eagle Valley) around the state might help - it wouldn't "fix" it, but it might make some people think twice...

 

[Slugz]

Calving areas would still be closed....and should stay closed. If that herd is in that bad a shape and the known ( if there is) calving area is not closed....then that's a shame.

You could do the spring bear hunt like June 20 start for a 10 day season.

 

[JimP]

The problem with getting a spring bear hunt or allowing baiting is that I believe that it was a Colorado constitutional amendment that stopped the spring hunts and running them with dogs in the first place years ago. I remember that it was on the election ballot back when it happened.

So it is not just a game and fish decision to reopen it.

 

[hunter25]

Yup, over 25 years ago already.
Voters approved it. I think dogs were already gone but not sure.
People voted on emotion claiming too many females with Cubs being killed.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[taskswap]

And now they have monthly seminars in Boulder on how to deal with "problem bears".

 

[sheephunter]

Both trapping and spring bear hunting were voted on; with the Front Range carrying every election these 2 things have gone the way of the Dodo Bird and will never come back.

 

[RICMIC]

Yup, over 25 years ago already.
Voters approved it. I think dogs were already gone but not sure.
People voted on emotion claiming too many females with Cubs being killed.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Ontario banned spring bear hunting a few years ago and biologists found that this caused even more deaths of cubs due to increased predation by boar bears.

 

[BKC]

I remember the t.v ads in 1992 when the vote happened. it was way over the top with hunters shooting cubs and dogs in predator traps. I don't think we could ever get that amendment overturned by the public vote. I bet you couldn't find any politician to sponsor the bill.

 

[mallardsx2]

Ontario banned spring bear hunting a few years ago and biologists found that this caused even more deaths of cubs due to increased predation by boar bears.

They also found in Ontario that by people targeting large boars (As most hunters do) that it was causing the bear population to explode because the Big boars actually control the population by killing the cubs. Small boars rarely kill cubs because they mother can defend them.

Maybe thats what happening in Colorado?

Too many big boars being killed allowing the population to get out of control?

Only FACTUAL studies can prove this theory. Ontario has those studies. I read them.

 

[mallardsx2]

This is an interesting read and it covers a vast array of other information.

You cant always relate one area to another due to human density but it provides some ideas.

https://www.bearbiology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Kolenosky_Vol_6.pdf