ATTENTION anyone hunting Unit 22 for archery & M/L seasons

Colorado Cowboy

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Jun 8, 2011
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Dolores, Colorado
I just got a press release from Parks & Wildlife alerting hunter who plan on elk hunting Unit 22 for Archery or M/L concerning disruptions by the BLM caused by a wildhorse roundup. The roundup starts Sept 14th.

"The BLM says they will focus on gathering 167 horses in West Douglas Horse Area first, but if they are unable to gather the required number of horses there, they may move operations east into GMU 22. The BLM estimates that the operations may run a week to ten days. The gather operations will include helicopters, support vehicles and personnel on the ground. Until the operations have concluded, the BLM is asking everyone to avoid the area. Hunters are advised to seek alternative hunting areas within the GMUs
."

"We prefer that this take place at a time that does not effect hunters, but that is not our decision," said Northwest Regional Manager Ron Velarde of P & W. "All we can do is alert hunters that they need to take the horse gather into consideration when making plans."

This really crazy IMHO, as they have had all summer to do this operation. Sounds like someone at the BLM wants to cause hunters problems. Wonder if there is a little anti hunting sentiment there!
 

Umpqua Hunter

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May 26, 2011
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North Umpqua, Oregon
They may also not want to run the horse in the middle of the summer heat. The horse roundups I have been aware of in NW Nevada (Sheldon) I believe have normally been in September as well. That is a pain for the hunters though.
 

RICMIC

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Feb 21, 2012
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Two Harbors, Minnesota
I'm all set to go for a freezer full of organically raised horse. Just one would feed my whole family for a year. The feds could just issue a "by-catch" tag to anyone who has a hunting license. Just think of all the money they could save.
 

Musket Man

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Jul 20, 2011
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colfax, wa
I would guess they just cant plan any better. They have all year here and there is always some major road construction in the middle of harvest on a main road everyone uses.
 

velvetfvr

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May 6, 2012
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They may also not want to run the horse in the middle of the summer heat. The horse roundups I have been aware of in NW Nevada (Sheldon) I believe have normally been in September as well. That is a pain for the hunters though.
August to as they shut down half the unit last year, or that's what the note said with the tag.
 

Kevin Root

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Jun 22, 2011
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San Jose, California
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I'll be hunting in a zone for the first time next to 22 for archery this year for deer in Colorado. That's challenging enough. I leave next week. But my hunt starts 8/29 and I'll be done they by the time they start the round up. Sure would make things a lot different to get out there and have a drive of horses taking place during the hunt. What a mess. It is challenging enough without adding more than the regular challenges to the hunt.