Winter Kill Status in Southern Colorado? Any Information?

[ELKFEVER]

I'm planning to put in for the Unit 76 Archery hunt and I'm hearing that the winter kill in Colorado might be severe this year. I think the 76 elk head down low enough that they should have decent winter forage, but wondering if anyone in the S. Colorado area can provide feedback on the level of winter kill with this extreme winter?

Thanks for the help.

 

[ELKFEVER]

Anybody in S. Colorado have information on the winter's impact on the herds that make Unit 76 home? If you don't want to post publicly, please send me a direct message if you would.

Thanks.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I live west of 76, but their snow is pretty much like what we have. Right now...runoff has not really started, but lots of snow 10K and higher. We have between 150 & 200% of normal. But here the elk have already started moving higher. We have a couple of hundred that winter here and they disappeared a couple of weeks ago.

 

[JimP]

You won't know the impact until after the range rides or the counts that they do in April or May. You also have to figure that no elk or deer is going to winter up in the deep snow unless they have to and even then they will live on the ridges where the snow isn't as deep where they can get food.

 

[COLOelkman]

I'm also considering 76 this year and I'm also concerned about the winter impacts. From what I've seen in articles, they expect some significant impacts but I'm just not familiar with 76 to know specifically. I'm planning to call the biologist in that area to see what they think but we only have about 3 weeks to decide. It's very tempting this year cause the moon phases look really good for Sept. I could draw the archery and on the bubble for a muzzy hunt which would be great this year. Another "dilema" is that I may end up solo which I don't prefer especially since I'm expecting to be backpacking in which also limits the extent of how far back I can reasonably go??? A buddy has the same points and may want to go but he's not physically prepared to do this kind of hunt so I'm really up in the air at this point. I'll try to remember to check back in after I get a hold of a biologist to see if I can provide any more insight on the winter situation.

 

[Bonecollector]

Snow impact seems to be sporadic. My hunch is 76 faired 'ok'.

 

[xtreme]

My house/cabin is located in unit 81 and our snow at 10200 was 125 inches. I have always found elk wintering there but they don't have to. I would expect they all got to better wintering grounds at lower altitude. We had lots of snow but not many animals try to stay the winter there.

 

[COLOelkman]

I talked to the CPW office today asking about the winter in 76 and she said they've actually been milder than most years relative to the temps. Have lots of snow but she said the elk shouldn't be impacted by winter this year so I'm likely gonna apply and draw the archery also.

 

[kidoggy]

even if they are impacted by the winter ,it ain't gonna kill em all.might make it a wee tougher but put out the effort and it will still be doable.

 

[MountainHigh]

Elk can come out of the high country in 76 and down into the valleys where they will be fine. I would apply for your hunt and not worry about winter kill on elk.

 

[hoshour]

I wouldn't worry about elk but I would worry about deer and antelope in that area.

 

[ELKFEVER]

Thanks for all the feedback. I did put in for 76 archery a couple weeks ago, so now just need to wait and see if I get drawn. It should be likely as I have 13 pp, which seems to be the threshold for 100% draw for non residents for the past few years. PP creep is alive and well though, so not getting too excited until I receive confirmation of a successful draw.