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A complete guide for Western Colorado.
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2014 EDITION | A COMPLETE HUNTING GUIDE FOR WESTERN COLORADO | FREE
WESTERN COLORADO:A SPORTSMANS PARADISE
ARCHERY AND RIFLE SKILLS
PLUS:Everything you
need to know: Business Directory,
Maps, Fees, Dates and More!
Hunting Tales From Across The RegionHerd Updates
WHATS NEW FOR 2014
2 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
2014 | colorado hunter | 3
OPEN
SUNDAY
S
9 -5
607 24 RoadGrand Junction, CO 81505
970-243-4025
Monday thru Saturday 7:00 am 7:00 pm Sunday 9:00 am 5:00 pmwww.FirestoneCompleteAutoCare.com
All Tire Services Wheel Alignments Shocks & StrutsBrake Services Batteries Diagnostic Services
Factory Scheduled Maintenance Services Tune-upsOil Changes and Heating/Cooling System Service
Destination MTTires
10% offSavings off current in-store regular point-of-sale price. In-store installation required. Not to be combined with another offer on same product and not to
be used to reduce outstanding debt. No cash value. Offer good at participating Firestone Complete Auto Care stores. See store for full details.
Expires 12/31/14
Complete Vehicle Inspection$999
In-depth analysis of tires, brakes, suspension, lights, fluid levels, wiper blades, belts, battery, hoses and more.
Expires 12/31/14
Get Ready for the Hunt!
and get 10% off your total purchase (up to $50), and no interest if paid in full within 6 months! ($299 minimum purchase required)
Charge this to your NEW Firestone Card
4 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
2014 | colorado hunter | 5
Emergency & Trauma ServicesWith a strong team of emergency medicine professionals and advanced equipment and technology, St. Marys Hospital Emergency Department is ready 24/7 for patients with minor illness and accidents to major trauma and cardiac arrest.
Level II Trauma Center*Designated a Level II Trauma Center, St. Marys provides the highest level of trauma care between Denver and Salt Lake City. The survival of accident victims depends on the strength of an areas trauma system. Our trauma system is the combined efforts of local law enforcement, emergency medical services, St. Marys CareFlight air transport, emergency department personnel, surgeons, surgical personnel, and intensive care specialists.
*Trauma centers are designated Level, I, II, III, or IV depending on the level and types of resources available and the number of trauma cases handled each year. Level I trauma centers must include research and education programs.
CareFlight Medical Transport ServicesSt. Marys CareFlight is a team of critical care trained professionals using air transport to deliver patients to the appropriate destination as safely as possible. The service is available 24 hours a day, serving the western and Midwestern states and southwestern Canada. Crews provide advanced interventions and medication therapies under the direction of emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, and other specialty physicians. An integral part of the team, communications center personnel work with a state-of-the-art telecommunications system.
Stroke CareSt. Marys is certified by the Joint Commission, the largest healthcare accrediting organization in the U.S., as a Primary Stroke Center, meeting the standards of the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for caring for stroke patients. With a stroke-trained neurologist on staff and a telemedicine relationship with the stroke center at Swedish Medical Center in Denver, a stroke expert is always available.
Heart and Vascular ServicesSt. Marys offers the only comprehensive heart and vascular program in western Colorado. Experienced cardiologists, three cardiovascular surgeons, and cardiac-trained staff provide the full range of care including cardiodiagnostics, electrophysiology studies, catheterizations, angioplasty, stent placement, open heart and vascular surgery, coronary intensive care, a cardiac rehabilitation program, and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
HuntersKeep St. Marys in your sights
air transport to deliver patients to the appropriate destination as safely as possible. The service is available 24 hours a day, serving the western and Midwestern states
Crews provide advanced interventions and medication therapies under the direction of emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, and other specialty physicians. An integral part of the team, communications center personnel work with a state-of-the-art telecommunications system.
St. Marys is certified by the Joint Commission, the largest healthcare accrediting organization in the U.S., as a Primary Stroke Center, meeting the standards of the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for caring for stroke patients. With a stroke-trained neurologist on staff and a telemedicine relationship with the stroke center at Swedish Medical Center in Denver, a stroke expert is always available.
program in western Colorado. Experienced cardiologists, three cardiovascular surgeons, and cardiac-trained staff provide the full range of care including cardiodiagnostics, electrophysiology studies, catheterizations, angioplasty, stent placement, open heart and vascular surgery, coronary intensive care, a cardiac rehabilitation program, and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
970-298-CARE 800-458-38882635 N. 7th Street, Grand Junction, CO
Visit us online at www.stmarygj.orgAn Affiliate of the SCL Health System
Were here if the unthinkable happens.
Were here for life.
6 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
2607 E US 40 Craig, CO 81625 970-826-0060 www.craigpowersports.com8:30am to 5:30pm Tuesday Friday & 8:30am to 3:00pm Saturday
2014 | colorado hunter | 7
Your Local Grocery StoreIs Also Your
Hunting Headquarters!Hunting Headquarters!
Hunting Licenses Ice and Dry Ice Food, Beer, Soda, and Candy Batteries, Charcoal, and Hand Warmers Fishing Supplies Miscellaneous Camping Supplies Fuel Center at Select Locations* Full Service Pharmacy for all your
health care needs
Your Locations:Avon0072 Beaver Creek Pl 970-949-5409
Delta122 Gunnison River Drive 970-874-9710*
Fruita135 S. Plum 970-858-9506
Grand Junction2770 Hwy 50 South 970-245-1411*569 32 Road 970-434-9603*200 Rood Ave 970-241-2278630 24 Road 970-244-8100*
Breckenridge400 North Park Ave 970-453-0818
Dillon300 Dillon Ridge Road 970-468-2363*
Glenwood Springs1410 S Grand Ave. 970-945-8207 (No Pharmacy)
Montrose128 S Townsend 970-249-3405*16400 S Townsend 970-240-3236*
Steamboat Springs1825 Central Park Plz. 970-879-3290
Craig505 W. Victory Way 970-824-6515
Eagle0103 Market Street 970-328-1302
Granby1001 Thompson Road 970-887-7140*
Rifle1320 Railroad Ave 970-625-3080
Vail2109 N. Frontage Road West 970-476-1017
8 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
2014 | colorado hunter | 9
A Hunting We Will Go... We make custom
chainsaw chains and
keys!
1 block East of Hwy 13 on 1st Street in Craig
(970) 824-65812315 W. 1St StrEEt Craig, CO 81625
Mon-Sat 7am-6pm | Sun 9am-5pm
ChainSawSCorral PanelShunting KniveSCaMPing StoveS
heaterSwood PelletSYeti CoolerS
tarPS & tow StraPSFenCing MaterialS
Solar eleCtriC FenCe
hardwarePluMbingeleCtriCalSePtiC tanKSwater tanKSCulvertS
autoMotivebooSter CableSoutdoor aPParel
giFtwareand
a whole lot More!
PaCK SaddleS & equiPMentPet Food & SuPPlieStaCK & vet SuPPlieS
liveStoCK Feed & grainCertiFied haY & Straw
PaCK horSe CubeS & More
Purchase these items at our290 ranney Street Store:
(970) 824-6582
ProPane Filling Station
the Helpful hardWare FolkS
PSS
boutdoor PaCK SaddleCK SaddleCK S & equiPMent
We Sell Hunting licenSeS!
Eagle Springs Meats 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday 0r By Appointment
Call Mark Montgomery 970.618.4640 (Formally of Out West Meats)
BASIC FEES FOR WILD GAME: Elk..................................... $275.00 Deer................................... $175.00 Antelope............................. $150.00 Bear................................... $250.00 Mt. Lion.............................. $200.00
We Can Pack And Ship To Any DestinationComing Soon: USDA Meat and Poultry Processing Plant at Eagle Springs
Wild Game ProcessingOur experienced butchers can process your wild game.
Cutting Grinding Smoking Sausage Patty Making Vacuum Packing Call for Seasonal HoursMark Montgomery 970.618.4640
1733 Railroad Avenue / Rifle, Colorado (Next to the Dollar Store) 970.625.524979655
10 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
2014 | colorado hunter | 112014 | colorado hunter | 11
12 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
Publishers/General ManagersSuzanneSchlicht(SteamboatPilot&Today)
ReneeCampbell(CraigDailyPress)JaySeaton(TheDailySentinel,GrandJunction)
editorEugeneBuchanan
WritersAndyBockelman,DaveBuchanan,DanOlsen,JoelReichenberger,NoelleLeavittRiley,
NateWaggenspack
PhotographersLaurenBlair,AndyBockelman,DaveBuchanan,John
DePalma,DaveDietrich,Jeff Draper,DeanHumphrey,JoelReichenberger,JohnF.Russell,BillVanNess
Creative services supervisorLindsayPorter
Circulation ManagersSteveBalgenorth/AmyFontenot
Advertising salesCraigregion:SheliSteele,LaurenMurray,
EmilyPadillaGrandJunctionregion:GrandJunctionMediaDougFreed,LoriHenricksen,DennisMitchell
SteamboatSpringsregion:JenniDeFouw
Advertising Design and Production Craigregion:LauraSigmund,KelseyDay
SteamboatSpringsregion:MackMaschmeier,ChrisMcGaw
GrandJunctionregion:GrandJunctionMedia
ColoradoHunterispublishedonceperyearbytheSteamboatPilot&Todayanddistributedfree
throughoutwesternColorado.
For advertising information, call970-875-1785(Craigregion);
970-871-4215(SteamboatSpringsregion);970-256-4289(GrandJunctionregion).
To get a copy mailed to your home, callSteveBalgenorthat970-871-4232orAmyFontenotat970-875-1785.
On the cover:JohnDePalmacapturesanarcheryhunterpreparingtoheadoutforabullinWesternColorado.Viewmoreofhisworkatwww.johndepalmaphotography.com.
Locally Owned - Open 7 Days a week (970) 824-2844 - email: [email protected]
Gifts & SouvenirsGifts & SouvenirsGifts & Souvenirs
Voted Best Gift Shop in 2014
25% off regularly
priced items
In the Centennial Mall(west entrance)
1111 W. Victory Way Craig, Colorado
2014 | colorado hunter | 13
InsIdeFeatures14 WelcomeMessage
15 LetterfromColoradoParks&Wildlife
16 ShortShotsWhatsnewfor2014,localtaxidermists,thebanondrones,philanthropichunts,shedantlers,anewraffleinWyoming,thefusswithelkfences,feesandseasonsandmore
32 AnglinginWesternColorado
35 HotSpotsGrandJunction,Meeker,Craig,SteamboatSprings,Kremmling,Granbyandmore
42 TheHerdWordHerdnumbersfor2014(elk,bear,mooseandmore),thedeerdecline,aroundupof2013andmore
52 SkillSetsSafetytips,survivalhints,howtohunt(deer,pronghornandelk),avoidingviolations,savingyourmeat,gamecalls,archerypointersandmore
73 Outfitters
76 HuntingTales
82 ReaderPhotos
94 GameManagementUnitInformation
104 HuntingDirectory
14 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
Welcome to the 2014 edition of ColoradoHunter, the premier guide to big-gamehuntinginWesternColorado.Youcouldnthavepickedabetterplacetoplanyour
trip. The region offers some of the best deer and elkhunting in the world, whether youre pulling back abow,packingyourmuzzleorsightinginyourscope.
Whateveryourbiggamefancy,whetheritselkatopGrandMesaormoosenearWalden,wehopeyoumaketheregionyourhuntingdestinationforyearstocome.
While the area offers countless, year-round
recreational opportunitiesaswell as outstandingscenery, friendly locals and Old West charm forhunterstheactionkicksoff everyautumnwhengamemigrates from the high country to its winter range.Thatswhen thousands of huntersmigrate here also,flocking to the hunting hotbeds of Grand Junction,Meeker, Rangely, Craig, Hayden, Steamboat Springs,Walden,Kremmling,Granby,Yampaandmoretohuntsomeof the largest elk herds in thenation.Whetheryoufill your tagornot, the real reward comes in theexperience of hunting in one of the most beautiful
locationsinColorado.Thismagazine isdesignedtomakethehunteasier
foreveryone fromnoviceshearingtheirfirstbugle toseasoned veterans looking for a record trophy. Insideyoull find tips on what to bring and where to go,information on herd updates, tales from local huntsand a directory listing everything you need for yourstay, from outfitters and guides to meat processorsandmore.
WehopeyouhaveagreathuntthisyearandtipourcollectivehatstoyouforvisitingwesternColorado.
WelCOMeHunters
From left: Renee Campbell, general manager, Craig Daily Press; Suzanne Schlicht, publisher Steamboat Pilot & Today; Jay Seaton, publisher, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
WIldlIFeuPdatea letter FroM colorado ParKs and wildliFe
If youre STALKING If youre STALKING then youre WALKINGthen youre WALKINGIf youre STALKING then youre WALKINGIf youre STALKING If youre STALKING then youre WALKINGIf youre STALKING
Hunting with an OHV increases your responsibilities in the backcountry. Know the rules and regulations before you go off-highway and always Keep Your Wheels Where They Belong.
More information at STAYTHETRAIL.ORG
And when youre on an OHV
Always Stay The Trail.Always Stay
Hunting with an OHV increases your responsibilities in the backcountry. Know the rules and
then youre WALKINGthen youre WALKINGthen youre WALKINGthen youre WALKING
2014 | colorado hunter | 15
By Bill de Vergie, CPW area wildlife manager, Meeker
The 2014 hunting seasons should provide good opportunities for sportsmenacross Colorado. Although dependent upon constantly variable weatherconditions,theseseasonsshouldbeafunchallengeforallhunters.The elk population in Northwest Colorado has been stable for the past several
years and license allocations have not changed noticeably. With over-the-counterbull licenses available during the second and third rifle seasons, there is alwaysan opportunity for a sportsman to hunt elk in Colorado. Overall, elk numbers lookgood, as thispastwinterdidnot significantly affect theirpopulation. Thenumbersofbullelkhavebeenslightlyhigherthepastfewyears,sotherearereasonablygoodopportunitiesforahuntertoseeabull.DeerpopulationsinNorthwestColoradohavebeen lower than desired for several years because of past winter conditions, lossof habitat, predation, development and other issues. With this decrease, licensesallocatedalsohavedecreased;however,withsomeextraeffortinscoutingandalittlegoodluck,therearestillplentyofnicebucks,andhunterswhosuccessfullydrewadeerlicenseformostGMUsshouldhavegoodopportunities.
Antelopeherdsalsoaredoingwell,andhunterswhohavedrawnalicenseshouldfindplentyofopportunitiesandbesuccessful.NorthwestColoradohassomeofthehighestantelopenumbersinthestate.
Bearseasonsalsoshouldbegood.Ourbearpopulationshavebeengrowing,andthere aremore license opportunities now than ever before. Just keep inmind thathuntingbearstakesplentyofpatienceandsomeluck.
Huntingsuccessdependsuponmanyvariables, includingputtingsometimeintoresearchinganarea,usingcurrentmaps,computersorothermethods.Early,on-the-groundscoutingtripscanbebeneficial,eventhoughtheanimalsmaynotbeinthatparticularareaatthetime.Becomingfamiliarwiththeroad,privatelandboundaries,terrain and habitat type before the hunt also can help immensely. Understandingthegeneralmovementormigrationpatternsoftheanimalscanincreasetheoddsofsuccess.Weatheralwaysplaysa role in tracking, locatingandmovinganimals fromhigherelevationrangesintolowerwinterranges.Sokeepaneyeontheforecast.
There is also a significant amount of public land in Northwest Colorado, allowingsportsmen plenty of hunting opportunities.With a good set of maps such as thoseatwww.bit.ly/cohuntingatlas,aGPSunitorevenGoogleEarth, sportsmencanfindavarietyofhuntingareas thatwillfit theirneeds.Remember that its the sportsmansresponsibilitytoknowinwhichlandprivateorpublicthattheyarehunting.Othersourcesofmapsincludeswww.huntdata.comorwww.coloradohuntingmaps.com.
Sportsmenalwaysshouldbesafeandlawabiding.Duringtherifleseasons,wearingadaylightfluorescentorangegarmentiscritical.InColorado,youarerequiredtowear500squareinchesofvisiblefluorescentorangegarments,includinganyheadcovering,thatisvisiblein360degrees.Placingacamouflagebackpackoveranorangevestorcoatcanminimizethevisibleorangeandthusreducesyourvisibility.Visibilityequalssafety in thewoods. In addition, being 100 percent sure of your target before youshootiscriticalandcanhelpyouavoidseriousaccidentssuchasshootingthewronganimal.Alwaysknowthe lawsassociatedwithhunting, includingHunterEducationrequirements,taggingproceduresforaharvestedanimalandthepropermethodsoftake.Avarietyofregulationbrochurescanbefoundatwww.bit.ly/yourbrochurescpw.Ifyouseeawildlifeviolationoccur,callyournearestColoradoParksandWildlifeoce,orifyouwishtoremainanonymous,callOperationGameThief,atiplineforwildlifeviolations,at1-877-265-6648.
Youcanfindharveststats,populationobjectivesandgeneralinformationinourNWRegionHuntGuide.PickoneupatalocalCPWoce,ordownloadaPDFcopyfromourwebsiteatwww.bit.ly/cpwhuntguides.KeepinmindthateveryGMUismanagedbyaprofessionalandfriendlydistrictwildlifemanager.Theyaretheexpertsandagreatsourceofinformation.Feelfreetoaskthemquestionsabouttheareayouarehunting,regulationsoranythingelsethatcanhelpmakeyourhuntmoreenjoyable.
YoucanalwayscallorcomebyalocalCPWoceanytimetoaskaquestion,pickupabrochureorevenpurchaseanover-the-counterbullelklicenseorafishinglicense.Fortheocenearestyou,visitwww.bit.ly/contactcpw.Finally,remembertohavefunduringyourhunt.Enjoyingtheoutdoorscanbeagreatexperienceforanindividualoragroup,andspendingtimewithfriendsandfamilycanprovidememoriesthatwilllastalifetime.NorthwestColoradoprovidessomeofthemostspectacularviewsandsceneryanywhere in thecountry,andwewishyou luckandhopeyouhaveagreathuntthisyear.
WIldlIFeuPdatea letter FroM colorado ParKs and wildliFea letter FroM colorado ParKs and wildliFe
Colorado Parks & Wildlife manager bill de Vergie stands near a moose sign in snowy northwest Colorado.
PhoTo CouRTeSY oF bIll De VeRGIe
16 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
sHORTsHotswHats new in 2014
Non-residents get bonus annual fi shing licenseAll non-residentswho purchase a big game license
in Colorado nowwill receive a combination big gamelicense/fishinglicense,gooduntilMarch31,2015.Drone use illegal
Theuseofunmanned,remotecontrolaircrafttolookforwildlifeoraidinhuntingisnowillegal.New auction/ra e dates
The new closing date for the mule deer seasonauctionandrafflelicensesistheendofNovember,ortheendof the last antleredor either-sex season in a unit,whichevercomeslater.Ammunition restrictions
In state lands and state wildlife areas, a regulationprohibitsthepossessionofthefollowingammunitionand/orfirearms:tracerrounds,armorpiercingrounds,militaryhardenedroundwithexplosiveorradioactivesubstances,.50-caliberBMGroundsorfullyautomaticfirearms.Preference point fee increase
Hunters will pay $40 for preference point fees ifthey did not purchase a license the previous year andotherwisearenotexempt.Residentdeerandpronghornpointfeeshavebeenraisedto$30.Forest service closures
TherewillbeclosuresinGMU19westofFortCollinsintheCanyonLakesRangerDistrict,aswellas inareaswhereroadsandtrailsweredamagedbythe2013floodinGMUs8,19,20andportionsof29,38and191. Info:www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r2/huntnfs-co.Landowner elk pilot program
The landowner elk pilot program has beendiscontinued.Bear
A new private-land-only rifle hunt in GMUs 48, 49,56,57,481and561 isavailable.Licensesareover-the-
counter with caps, limited in number. Applicationssubmitted for hunters who dont already have a 2014HabitatStampwillbedisqualified.Disqualifi cation
Customers no longer will be contacted if there areerrors on applications, including thosewithout correctfees,nohuntereducationchecked,incorrecthuntcodesorthoselackinga2014HabitatStamp.elk
ListA/B/CChanges inGunnison, San LuisValleyLicensesforelkhuntsintheSanLuisValleyarechangingfrom List C to List B. Also, in GMU54 in the GunnisonBasin, List C licenses are now List B to help maintainthe elk population at current numbers. Hunters maypurchaseonlytwoListBtagsperyear.Deer
Over-the-counter tags now available To helpmanage the spread of whitetail deer, this year marksthefirstavailabilityofover-the-counter,white-tail-onlydeertagsforsouth-centralGMUswestofInterstate25.
YouthhuntsaddedYouth-onlymuzzleloaderandriflehuntsforantlerlessdeerhavebeenaddedtoGMUs43,47and471.HabitatstamprequiredbeforedrawIfyouhaventalreadypurchaseda2014HabitatStampandarebetweenages18and64whenyoubuyorapplyfora license,youmustbuyaHabitatStamporsubmit thepaymentwithyourbig-gameapplication.Moose
Successfulmoose populationsmean numerous newhunts are available across the state. In the northwest,cow hunts are available in GMUs 15 and 27, and bulllicenses are also available for the first time in 15 and27. For the first time, either-sex licenses are availableforGMUs1and201neartheUtahborder(hunterswhoalreadyhaveharvestedabullmaynotapply).
HUNTiNG seAsONsArchery Deer/ElkAug.30toSept.28 Pronghorn;bucksonlyAug.15to31Pronghorn;eithersexSept.1to20BlackBear(over-the-counterwithcaps)Sept.2to28MooseSept.6to28
Muzzleloading Deer/Elk/MooseSept.13to21BlackBear(over-the-counterwithcaps)Sept.13to21PronghornOct.21to29
Rifl e BlackBear;limited(bydraw)Sept.2to30 MooseOct.1to14
Pronghorn;drawOct.4to10 LimitedElk;firstseasonOct.11to1 Deer/Elk;secondseasonOct.18to26 Deer/Elk;thirdseasonNov.1to9 Deer/Elk;fourthseasonNov.12to16BlackBear(over-the-counterwithcaps)concurrent
withdeer/elkrifleseasons
Fees ($102014HabitatStamprequired)Subtract$3forover-the-counter
Deer Draw (limited) Resident$34Youthresident$13.75Non-resident(withfishing)$364Youthnon-resident(withfishing)$103.75
elk Draw (limited) Resident$49Youthresident$13.75Non-residentbull/eithersex(withfishing)$601Non-residentcow(withfishing)$451Non-residenteithersex$589 Youthnon-resident(withfishing)$100.75
Pronghorn Draw (limited) Resident$34Youthresident$13.75Non-resident$364Youthnon-resident$103.75
Bear Draw (limited) Resident$44 Non-resident$354
Moose Draw (limited) Resident$254Non-resident$2,009
*Non-resident fishing licenses are good throughMarch 31, 2015. Prices include a $0.25 search-and-rescue fee, a $0.75 surcharge for the WildlifeManagement Education Fund and a $3 applicationfeeforlimitedlicensesappliedforinthedraw.
2014 | colorado hunter | 17
sHORTsHots
wYoMinG initiates raFFle By Nate Waggenspack
Thirteen lucky hunters are counting their lucky stars for Wyomings newlottery. InMay, theywon the right to bypass the conventional preferencepointsystemandhuntcovetedbiggameinWyoming.Forthefirsttime,thestateraffledoff 13biggamehuntingtagstogivehuntersa
shotatharvestingtrophieswithoutwaitingyearsorbreakingthebank.
Like Northwest Colorado, Wyoming is known for its big game and hunting
demand.Itsalsohistoricallyusedalimiteddrawandpreferencepointstodetermine
allocation meaning a wait of nearly two decades and/or buying expensive
auctiontagstohuntprimelocations(lastyear,abighornsheeptagsoldfor$80,000).
Sothisyear,WyomingGameandFishofferedtheSuperTagandSuperTagTrifecta
licenserafflestoopenthosespeciesup.Ourpreferencepointsystemhelpsaddress
theopportunity tohuntbiggame,but it can still takeup to18years,Wyoming
GameandFishsGlennPauleysays.Thisraffleprovidesthattoabroaderaudience.
TheSuperTagraffleselected10winners,oneforeachofWyomings10premier
biggamespecies:antelope,bighornsheep,bison,blackbear,deer,elk,graywolf,
mountaingoat,mountain lionandShirasmoose.TheSuperTagTrifectaawarded
onehunter thechance to select three tagsofhisorher choice.Theareas for the
moosetagwinnerarelimitedtounitswithat least10tagsavailable;forbighorn
sheepatleasteightmustbeavailable.
Allmoneygoestowardconservationefforts,Pauleyadds,withhuntersableto
purchaseasmany ticketsas theychoose.Andwinningdoesntnegatepreviously
accruedpreferencepoints,withthefive-yearwaitingperiodsformooseandsheep,
andonce-in-a-lifetimerestrictionsonbisonandmountaingoats,waived.
bighorn sheep is one of 10 species included in Wyomings new Super Tag hunting license Ra e, giving hunters a chance to hunt premier big game species without a decade-long wait.
PhoT
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www.coloradoelkoutfitter.comUnit 17 Rand, Colorado Rifle & Archery Elk & Moose Hunts
Doug Spencer
1105 Westridge DriveLoveland, CO 80537
970-481-4354
Colorado Elk Outfitter, LLC is proud to provide Colorado elk hunts for all levels of physical fitness. Specializing in the elderly and or less fit hunters who for various reasons cannot handle the rigorous physical stress of hunting at high altitudes.
Archery Is Our Passion
Doug Spencer
18 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
Kremmling Merchants
Allington Inn215 W. Central Avenue970-724-9800 | 1-800-981-4091www.allingtoninn.com
Comfortable lodging at an affordable price. Deluxe continental breakfast and high-speed wireless. Indoor pool, hot tub and fitness center.
Alpine Motor Sports115 W. Central Ave.970-724-9655www.alpinemotorsportsinc.com
ATV & Snowmobile Sales, Service and Accessories.
Kremmling Area Chamber of Commerce203 Park Avenue | 970-724-3472www.kremmlingchamber.com
Stop in and see us or visit our website for maps and information on where to eat play and stay while in the Kremmling area.
Kremmling Mercantile101 Martin Way | 970-724-8979
At the west end of town. Just past the Moose Caf. One-stop-shopping for Hunting & Fishing Licenses, liquor, groceries, gifts, pharmacy, bakery, deli, gas, diesel and car wash. (See ad on page 130)
Muddy Creek CabinsLocated at the base of the Kremmling Cliffs | 970-724-9559MuddyCreekCabins.com
Picturesque fully furnished log cabins.
Red Mountain RV Park1-877-375-9593 redmtnrvpark.com
Propane, showers, WiFi, laundry, dump station & playground.
The Moose Caf Located at the West end of town across from the Mercantile970-724-9987
Home style cooking in a family atmosphere. Open 7 days a week from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. (See ad on page 130)
Tri-River Ace Hardware720 Tyler Avenue | 970-724-9325
Hunting & Fishing Licenses, Propane, Hay, Shoes & Apparel, CARQUEST Auto Parts, Sporting Goods & More!
Wolford Campground1-866-472-4943 wolfordcampground.com
Colorados Newest Reservoir. Camping, fishing, boating, water sports & picnic areas. Marina boat rentals available.
Sporting
KremmlingWelcomes Hunters
Miles:To Denver (via Hwy 9 to I-70) 100 milesTo Denver (via Hwy 40) 115 milesTo Silverthorne 37milesTo Steamboat Springs 53milesTo Winter Park 48 milesTo Grand Lake 42 miles
2014 | colorado hunter | 19
Kremmling Merchants
Allington Inn215 W. Central Avenue970-724-9800 | 1-800-981-4091www.allingtoninn.com
Comfortable lodging at an affordable price. Deluxe continental breakfast and high-speed wireless. Indoor pool, hot tub and fitness center.
Alpine Motor Sports115 W. Central Ave.970-724-9655www.alpinemotorsportsinc.com
ATV & Snowmobile Sales, Service and Accessories.
Kremmling Area Chamber of Commerce203 Park Avenue | 970-724-3472www.kremmlingchamber.com
Stop in and see us or visit our website for maps and information on where to eat play and stay while in the Kremmling area.
Kremmling Mercantile101 Martin Way | 970-724-8979
At the west end of town. Just past the Moose Caf. One-stop-shopping for Hunting & Fishing Licenses, liquor, groceries, gifts, pharmacy, bakery, deli, gas, diesel and car wash. (See ad on page 130)
Muddy Creek CabinsLocated at the base of the Kremmling Cliffs | 970-724-9559MuddyCreekCabins.com
Picturesque fully furnished log cabins.
Red Mountain RV Park1-877-375-9593 redmtnrvpark.com
Propane, showers, WiFi, laundry, dump station & playground.
The Moose Caf Located at the West end of town across from the Mercantile970-724-9987
Home style cooking in a family atmosphere. Open 7 days a week from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. (See ad on page 130)
Tri-River Ace Hardware720 Tyler Avenue | 970-724-9325
Hunting & Fishing Licenses, Propane, Hay, Shoes & Apparel, CARQUEST Auto Parts, Sporting Goods & More!
Wolford Campground1-866-472-4943 wolfordcampground.com
Colorados Newest Reservoir. Camping, fishing, boating, water sports & picnic areas. Marina boat rentals available.
KremmlingWelcomes Hunters
Miles:To Denver (via Hwy 9 to I-70) 100 milesTo Denver (via Hwy 40) 115 milesTo Silverthorne 37milesTo Steamboat Springs 53milesTo Winter Park 48 milesTo Grand Lake 42 miles
20 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
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tHe drone deBateBy Matt Meyer
Early in the morning, a buck grazes on a grassyhillside,dewgatheringonhisantlers.Itsasceneso picturesque, you almost can hear softmusicswellingbehindit.Then,thesoftbuzzingnoiseoffans.Asmalldrone,mountedwithaGoProcamera,zipshighabovethehillside.Momentslater,ashortwhineoftruckbrakes sounds in the distance, and a hunter dutifullydawdlesintoview.Hetakesashotfrom100yards,tagsandgutsandisdoneinlessthananhour.
This scene had becomemore andmore commonas, before this year, hunters increasingly turned toaffordabledronestoaidtheirhuntingefforts.But inJanuary,Coloradomovedtobandrone-aidedhunting.The Centennial State was the first in the nation toban the flying cameras, citing a desire of fair-chasehunting,especiallyonpubliclands.
Wetooktheactiontoeliminatehuntingbehaviorthat could be deemed unsporting or unethical,saysMikePorras, ColoradoParks andWildlifepublicinformationocer.Thethreethingswealwayslook
into is the safety of the hunter, the preservation ofwildlife and the tenants of fair chase. Theres thepotentialfordronestoviolateallthree.
Mosthuntingregulationisreactionary.Everythingislegaluntilitisnt.Porrascitesanincidentofahunterkilling a bear in its den as an unethical situation towhich the state had to react. It was the samewithdrones, where the technology quickly revealed theneedforregulation.MonthsafterColoradobannedthedevices,afewstatesfollowedsuit.Alaska,Montana,IdahoandWisconsinhavebanned theuseofdronesand other small aircraft while hunting. Huntinggroups inWyoming, NewMexico and Vermont alsohave pushed to prohibit the use of drones. Its amovementthatisspreadingquickly.
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is an advocacygroupfortheresponsibleuseofpubliclands.Itsocialstanceondronehunting reads: BackcountryHuntersand Anglers believes this technology represents awidespreadopportunityforabuse,andifnotregulatedearlyposesasignificantthreattofairchasehuntingandfairdistributionofhuntingopportunity.
TherealsoarequestionsaboutwhethertheFederalAviationAdministrationwill instituteabanonprivatedroneuse,regardlessofapplication.Currently,theFAAdoesnotclassifypersonaldronesoperatedlowerthan500feetasaircraft,andassuch,theresnowidespreadban or heavy regulation on their use. There also areconcerns, asdrone technology improves, thathunterswillattempttomountsmallfirearmsonadrone.
Technology isadvancingataratewherehunterscould takeanumberofunfairadvantages thatcrossthatlineoffairchance,hesays.
colorado First state to Ban drones For HuntinG
Deputy Danny norris of Mesa County, launches a Falcon drone.
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By Dan Olsen
Elk,deer,moose,bear,antelopeandmountainlionarenttheonlygameintown.OftenovershadowedbythebiggamehuntsthatdominatewesternColoradoare the autumn hunts that involve birds, shotgunsand often on-water locations. Grouse, ducks, geeseand even turkeys can all be found in this corner ofColorado,fromGrandJunctiontotheGreenRiver.
EricHamiltonhaslivedinCraigforallofhis46yearsandiftheresahunthelooksforwardtoeachfall,itsblue grouse season. We bird hunt quite a bit, hesays, touting blue grouse and sharptail as favorites.Itsalotoffun.
Hamiltonisabig-gameoutfitter,butevenduringhisarcheryhuntshekeepsalookoutforbirds.Wellhunt them in some spots where we know theyrefeeding, he says. We look for themwhile archeryhunting,andwellcookthemuprightthereandhavethemforlunch.
Sage grouse season runs from Sept. 14 to 20 inGMUs north and west of Craig. Sharp-tailed grousecanbetakenSept.1to15inGMU4northofCraig,anddusky(blue)grousefromSept.1throughNov.17.
MiGRATORY BiRDsWaterfowl hunting in the Pacific Flyway (west of
theContinentalDivide)canbechallengingjustforthestruggleoffindingaccesstowaterways,buttheeffortsoftenare rewardedashuntersoften return from theYampaRiverorElkheadReservoirwiththeirlimits.
Ducks and geese gather at the very north end ofElkhead Reservoir,making a boat nearlymandatoryforaccessasthatareaissurroundedbyprivateland.The Yampa River also presents access diculties, asmost bottomlandwas homesteadedmore than 100years ago and is private. Some areas such as DuffyMountainhavepublicBLMlandthataccessestheriverandmaybehunted.
InBrownsParkNationalWildlifeRefuge,waterfowlmaybehuntedonlyatButchCassidyLake,HogLakeand the Green River corridor. The use of dogs forhuntingandsmallgameretrievingisencouraged.
A great deal of waterfowl hunting in northwestColoradoisdoneonprivatepondsorwateringholes.RogerSimonesrunsacementplantinCraig,andthewaterpondstheremakeforgoodhuntinginthefall.Ducksaregettingbetterandbetter,hesays.Lastyearwasphenomenal,witheverykindofduck,frommallardstoevenwoodducks.
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Bird oPtions aBoundsMALL GAMe LiCeNsesResident$21Non-resident$56Plus$10HabitatStampPlus$5ColoradoWaterfowlStampPlus$15FederalDuckStamp
hunter Smilanich and his black labrador pose with ducks Smilanich shot on a hunting trip with his family.
PhoTo CouRTeSY oF The SMIlAnICh FAMIlY
22 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
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BiG GaMe crossinGsBy Dave Buchanan
Oneday last July,motoristsalongColoradoHighway13northofRioBlancosawwhatsbecomea familiar sight:aherdof cowelk, fresh fromcalvinggroundsinthePiceanceBasin,crossingthehighwayonitswaytosummerrangetotheeast.Thistime,however,itwasdifferent.
Twocowshadmadeitacrossthefenceliningthewestsideofthenewlyrebuiltsectionofhighwaybuthadleftbehindtheirtwo,1-month-oldcalves,whoweretoosmalltojumpthetight-strungfence.
Everyyear,cowswiththeiryoungcalvesmovedownfromthecalvinggroundsandhitthatwovenwirefence,butthecalvescantgetacross,saysBilldeVergie,MeekerareawildlifemanagerforColoradoParksandWildlife.Itwasntlongbeforebothcows,whorefusedtoleavetheircalves,werekilledbytrac.
Thetwocalveswerestillnursing,andtherewasntanothercowtopickthemup,hesays.SoIguesstheydied,too.
That particular trouble spot is just north of Rio Blanco, where the ColoradoDepartmentofTransportationisimprovingColo.13fromtheWyominglinesouth.A2.6-milestretchofroadstartingabout20milesnorthofRiflenowisbeingworkedon,andpartoftheworkinvolvesreplacingagedfence.
Fences, eitherwovenwirewith two overtopping strands of barbedwire or aregularfour-strandbarbed,arereplacedattherequestoftheadjacentlandowner,deVergiesays.CDOToftenbuildsescaperampsalongsimilartroublespots,suchasthestretchofColo.13nearRidgwayStatePark.Butsofar,norampshavebeenbuiltalongthenewestsectionofColo.13.
Inthiscase,therancherwantedwovenwirebecauseofhissheepandcooperatedwithCPWbyleavinghisgateopentoallowelkpassage.Butthepropertybelowhisdoesntopenhisgates,sowerunintotheseplaceswheretheelkdontcross,deVergiesays.Ifwecouldmakeadealwiththatlandowner,wecouldalleviate80percentofourproblems.
RobRaley,ofMeeker,regularlydrivesColo.13.Everyday, Iseethoseelk,andpartofthecowsareleavingandthecalvesarestaying,hesays.Thismorningtherewasayearling(cow)andcalfrunningbackandforth.Itsamess.
Theproblemhasdeveloped in the four years since roadworkbegan, probablybecausethenewfencesblockanimalsmorethantheolder,less-maintainedfences.Thenewfencesaretightanddonthavethegiveoftheoldones.
Youllseeacow(elk)walkuptothenewfence,hititwithitsheadorrubagainstittoseeif ithasanygive,andthentaketwoorthreestepsbackandjumpover,
deVergiesays.Amonth-oldcalfcantdothat.ElkneedthecooperationofCPW,CDOTandlandowners,saysRaley,whoformerly
raisedelkonaranchnearYampa.Leavinggatesopenononlyonesideoftheroadconfusesthem,hesays.Oncetheygothroughthegateandhittheotherfence,theydontknowwhichwaytogo,hesays,addingthatitleavesthemwithoutanescaperoute,trappedbetweenthefenceandtrac.
Oncetheelkmovethroughtotheirsummerrange,theproblempasses.Andinthefall,thecalvesarebigenoughtojump.Thegoal,saysDeVergie,istofigureouthowtopreventsimilarproblemsfromoccurringelsewhere.
WerecommunicatingalotbetterwithCDOTnow,hesays.Butwerehavingthe same problem every year since they built that fence.My first concern is thesafetyforpeople.Ifwecansaveanelkortwo,thatsevenbetter.
FeNCe FACTsResearchers atUtah StateUniversity recently completed a study ofwildlife
mortalityalongmorethan600milesoffencesintherangelandsofnortheasternUtah and Northwest Colorado. By repeatedly driving and walking fence linesthroughouttwoseasons,theytalliedthenumberofmuledeer,pronghornandelkcarcassestheyfoundcaughtinandlyingnexttofences,aswellasthefencetypescausedthemostproblems.Amongtheirfindings:Onaverage,oneungulateperyearwas found tangled forevery2.5milesof
fence.Mostanimals(69percentofjuvenilesand77percentofadults)diedbygetting
caughtinthetoptwowireswhiletryingtojump.Juvenilesareeighttimesmorelikelytodieinfencesthanadults.MortalitiespeakedduringAugust,whenfawnsareweaned.Woven-wire fence toppedwitha singlestrandofbarbedwirewas themost
lethalfencetype;ungulateslegsareeasilysnaredandtangledbetweenthebarbedwireandrigidwovenwire.
70percentofallmortalitieswereonfencestallerthan40inches.Onaverage,oneungulatewasfounddeadnextto,butnotin,fencesevery1.2
milesoffence;mostwerefoundnexttowoven-wirefence.90percentofcarcassesfoundnearfenceswerefawnsseparatedfromtheir
mothersandunabletocross. Colorado Parks and Wildlife
There are about 100 miles of speed-restricted wildlife zones along Colorado highways, mostly on the Western Slope. Wildlife collisions in these areas have decreased by about 9 percent in the two years of study, according to two years of study released by the Colorado Department of Transportation.
PhoTo CouRTeSY oF GRAnD JunCTIon SenTInAl
2014 | colorado hunter | 23
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By Nate Waggenspack
TwogroupsinCraigareensuringthathunterswithdisabilitieshaveachancetotargettrophies,too.Partnering with nonprofit Outdoor Buddiesfor the sixth year, Trapper Mining last fall broughtmobility-impaired sportsmen on hunting trips nearCraig,withthreeoutdoorsmenreturningfromGMU13withcowsintow.
Outdoor Buddies began in 1984 as a therapeuticprogram for hospital patients with spinal cordinjuries.Itsnowexpandedtoassistotherpeoplewithdisabilities,withmembers in39states. Itguided130one-on-onehuntsin2013.
While executive director Dwaine Robey has takenpeople bull hunting, last year he decided to go forcows.Withtheswitch,fillingtagswasnoproblem,hesays,creditingTrapperMineemployeesRobSovine,Shawn and Cutter Polly, Jim and Jesse Hill and TonyGilroy. The group assisted Jack Fischer, of ColoradoSprings, a 90-year-old,wheelchair-boundWorldWarIIveteran;ButchMartin,ofFishers,Indiana,boundtoawheelchairasaresultofanindustrialaccident;andWestminstersErnestTeterJr.,whoislegallyblind.
Robey has taken Fischer on hunts for six years andsaystheyreahighlighteveryyear.Hebasicallylivestogetintheoutdoorseventhoughheswheelchairbound,andthisisagreatwayforhimtodoit,"Robeysays.
PHilantHroPic HuntinGsAFARi CLUB iNTeRNATiONAL HONOReD FOR veTeRAN WORK
Veterans have a great helping hand forhunting in Craig. This spring, after six years ofdedicationtoveterans,theYampaValleyChapterof Safari Club International was recognized forOustanding Chapter Leadership in support ofveterans.
The local chapter has worked with theGrand Junction Veterans AffairsMedical Centerfor several years to host disabled veterans onantelope hunts. We bring wounded veteransup and take them on an antelope hunt, VicePresident Craig Rummel says. We take careof theguiding andmeat processing. The key isgettingthembackintotheoutdoors.
Theeffortsdontgounnoticed.Theygetvetsbackoutintothefield,whichisexcellentwork,saysWayneClark,ofDenversSCIchapter.AddshuntingcoordinatorMattLucas:Youget themoutdoorsandintoapositiveenvironment.
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Stagecoach Reservoir
Lake Catamount
Dunkley Pass
Oak Creek
Phippsburg
Milner Steamboat Springs
Hayden
Steamboat Springs Airport
Yampa Valley Regional Airport
U.S. Highway 4051B
51C
51D
51
29
29A
19
97
1551B
11
7
Yampa
25
14B
14C
14 14E
18200
14A
14D
Colorado H
ighway 131
22
24
819
212A
212B
Its ALL right here
Toponas HWY
1343
5
6
Dunkley Pass
819
South Routt Facts The population of the Oak Creek area in the early to mid-1900s was larger than it is today,
with about 2,000 to 3,000 people in South Routt.
Since at least 1913, Oak Creek has attracted throngs of people, residents and visitors, for the annual Labor Day festivities along the streets of the town. What began as a literal celebration of the holiday brought organizers from each of the local mine unions to speak in the town center.
Since the 1920s there have been seven different newspapers in South Routt.
The Flat Tops Wilderness is the second largest wilderness area in Colorado.
The Boor-Redmond Ranch near Yampa played a significant role in the devel-opment of farming and ranching in Routt County. It is an intact agricultural complex in continuous use since circa 1890 whose buildings have been adapted to meet changing ranch needs. The Redmond Ranch, more than any other ranch in the community, tells the story of agriculture in southern Routt County.
Flat Tops Wilderness Area Facts: Size:235,035 acres Elevation: 7,600 to 12,994 feet Miles of trails: 160 Year designated: 1975 Hunting areas: 24, 25, 12, 26, 33, 34
Bonfiglio Drug and Liquor Natural Preventative healthcare, gifts, cards and sundries. 970-736-2377, 877-Bonfiglio, 118 Main St.
Oak Creek Motel Clean, affordable, friendly hospitality year round. Drive a little - Save a lot! 970-736-2343, 408 Willow Bend just off Main St., www.oakcreekmotel.com
Select Super Market Local super market carrying groceries and produce. In-store deli serving fresh sandwiches and soups. 970-736-2455, 103 West Main St.
Space Station Gas and convenience store located in downtown Oak Creek.970-736-8319, 312 Myers St.
Flat Tops Ranch Supply Farm supplies, animal feed, tack, tools, propane, sporting goods and gifts. 970-736-2450, 21475 Colorado Highway 131
Montgomerys General Merchandise Groceries, ammo, licenses, hardware, maps, gifts, sporting goods. 970-638-4531, 24 Main St., Yampa
Oak Tree Inn & Pennys Diner Our rooms are clean, dark and quiet. HBO, 100% non-smoking, free Wi-Fi. Were the only Hotel/Diner open 24/7 in South Routt. Come on over & visit. 970-638-1000, 98 Moffat Ave., Yampa
Royal Hotel - Historic building & great nightly rates. Just minutes away from hunting, fishing, hiking and more! 970-638-4538, 201 Moffat St.
Oak Creek Merchants
SOuTH ROuTT Welcomes hunters!
Want to learn more?
Spend a day in South Routt! Just 20 minutes from Steamboat. Happy Trails!
Yampa Merchants
Phippsburg Merchants
2014 | colorado hunter | 25
Stagecoach Reservoir
Lake Catamount
Dunkley Pass
Oak Creek
Phippsburg
Milner Steamboat Springs
Hayden
Steamboat Springs Airport
Yampa Valley Regional Airport
U.S. Highway 4051B
51C
51D
51
29
29A
19
97
1551B
11
7
Yampa
25
14B
14C
14 14E
18200
14A
14D
Colorado H
ighway 131
22
24
819
212A
212B
Its ALL right here
Toponas HWY
1343
5
6
South Routt Facts The population of the Oak Creek area in the early to mid-1900s was larger than it is today,
with about 2,000 to 3,000 people in South Routt.
Since at least 1913, Oak Creek has attracted throngs of people, residents and visitors, for the annual Labor Day festivities along the streets of the town. What began as a literal celebration of the holiday brought organizers from each of the local mine unions to speak in the town center.
Since the 1920s there have been seven different newspapers in South Routt.
The Flat Tops Wilderness is the second largest wilderness area in Colorado.
The Boor-Redmond Ranch near Yampa played a significant role in the devel-opment of farming and ranching in Routt County. It is an intact agricultural complex in continuous use since circa 1890 whose buildings have been adapted to meet changing ranch needs. The Redmond Ranch, more than any other ranch in the community, tells the story of agriculture in southern Routt County.
Flat Tops Wilderness Area Facts: Size:235,035 acres Elevation: 7,600 to 12,994 feet Miles of trails: 160 Year designated: 1975 Hunting areas: 24, 25, 12, 26, 33, 34
Bonfiglio Drug and Liquor Natural Preventative healthcare, gifts, cards and sundries. 970-736-2377, 877-Bonfiglio, 118 Main St.
Oak Creek Motel Clean, affordable, friendly hospitality year round. Drive a little - Save a lot! 970-736-2343, 408 Willow Bend just off Main St., www.oakcreekmotel.com
Select Super Market Local super market carrying groceries and produce. In-store deli serving fresh sandwiches and soups. 970-736-2455, 103 West Main St.
Space Station Gas and convenience store located in downtown Oak Creek.970-736-8319, 312 Myers St.
Flat Tops Ranch Supply Farm supplies, animal feed, tack, tools, propane, sporting goods and gifts. 970-736-2450, 21475 Colorado Highway 131
Montgomerys General Merchandise Groceries, ammo, licenses, hardware, maps, gifts, sporting goods. 970-638-4531, 24 Main St., Yampa
Oak Tree Inn & Pennys Diner Our rooms are clean, dark and quiet. HBO, 100% non-smoking, free Wi-Fi. Were the only Hotel/Diner open 24/7 in South Routt. Come on over & visit. 970-638-1000, 98 Moffat Ave., Yampa
Royal Hotel - Historic building & great nightly rates. Just minutes away from hunting, fishing, hiking and more! 970-638-4538, 201 Moffat St.
Oak Creek Merchants
SOuTH ROuTT Welcomes hunters!
Want to learn more?
Spend a day in South Routt! Just 20 minutes from Steamboat. Happy Trails!
Yampa Merchants
Phippsburg Merchants
26 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
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taXiderMists toP in classBy Nate Waggenspack
I fyouwantyourtrophymounted,CraighasagreatcallingcardFor the second straight year, Craig hosted the Colorado State TaxidermyChampionships at theMoffat County Fairgrounds Pavilion,with several localshopstakingtophonors.
Mark Zimmerman, of Bullseye Taxidermy, took three first-place finishes intheMastersdivision,while ScottMoore, ofMountainManTaxidermy,had threesecond-placefinishesintheProfessionaldivision.
While thecategories in theshowcoveranimalsofall sizes, includingfishandbirds, itwas no big surprise that Zimmerman andMooremade theirmarkwithshouldermountsofMoffatCountyelk.Wedefinitelygetalotofpracticeonthem,Mooresays.
Zimmermans first-place finishes came in the Masters division gameheadcategoriesforelk,antelopeandmuledeer.Moorealsohadanelkandmuledeerplace,andasecondpedestalelkearnedhimanothersecond.ImhappywithhowIdid,Mooresays.Ilearnedalot,whichisalwaysthemainthing.
Withbeautifultaxidermyworkondisplay,includingalife-sizebrownbearandspringbok(anAfricanantelopegazelle),alongwithsuchColoradomountsasbobcatsandmountainlions,theshowofferedaglimpseatsomeofthebesttaxidermyworkbeingdonetoday,withmanyofitsstarshailingfromMoffatCounty.
With four local taxidermists, as well as great ones nearby in Steamboat,Montroseandotherareas,Craigisaboutasgoodalocationfortheshowasyoucanget,Mooresays.
This life-sized brown bear from taxidermist Josh Gustad won rst place in the Masters division for life-size in the Colorado State Taxidermy Championships in Craig.
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2014 | colorado hunter | 27
28 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
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tHe Value oF VelVetBy Dave Buchanan
Shedantlersarebigbusiness.Discardedbyelkanddeer in thewinterandearly springand then regrown,antlersarepopulartreasurehuntspoilsforthosewillingtosearchthemout.Itsbecomesopopularthatkennelseventraindogstofindthem.
Forgoodreason.Top-gradeantlerssellforasmuchas$10perpound,worthwhileif
ashedclocksinat15pounds.Still,thedemandfordryshedsremainssmall.
Mostof thedry,hardantlersaregoing fordogtreats,saysDaveWhittlesey,of
HighWireRanchonRedlandsMesa.
Whittleseyandhiswife,Sue,pioneersofColoradosonce-livelydomesticelktrade,
raise commercial elk and buffalo, supplying high-quality meat along with antler
productsfornutritionandboneandjointhealth.
Asdeerandelkantlersgrow,theyrecoveredwithasoft fuzz,orvelvet,which
providesnutrientstothegrowingantler.Thisvelvetskineventuallyisdiscardedwhen
theantlermatures.
Whittleseysayselkantlersareharvestedwhilestillinvelvet,afterabout75daysof
growth.ThefrozenantlersareshippedtoacertifiedlabinWisconsinthatproducesthe
capsulatedElkVelvetAntlertheranchsells.
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In North America, the main use is as a diet supplement, he says. It has
glucosamine, chondroitin, collagenandotherminerals.Weprimarily sell it for sore
jointsandinflammation.Mostofourcustomersareolderpeoplewitharthritis.
DonSchaufler,ofAntlersUnlimited inEnnis,Montana, theself-describedworlds
largest dealer of antlers, reported last year selling more than 100 tons of antlers
worldwide.SchauflersayshislargestmarketisAsia,wheredeervelvethasmedicinal
properties. Theymake a teawith it, Dave says. The biggest use in Asia is for a
childrenstonic,aswellasforarthritisandheartissues.
Headds thatKoreaandChinahavebanned the importof antler velvet from the
U.S.becauseofconcernaboutchronicwastingdisease.Butantlervelvetremainsabig
businessinNewZealand,whereabout1.1milliondeerareraisedcommercially.
NationalGeographicrecentlyreportedthatantlervelvetalsonowisbeingusedby
athletestospeedthehealingofcartilageandtendoninjuriesandbooststrengthand
endurance.
Elkantlervelvetalsoisavailableinchewablestripsfordogsandissaidtobenefit
dogswitharthritisand jointpain.But there remainsenoughcontroversy regarding
powdered antler velvet that it has yet to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
AdministrationandcurrentlyisbannedbytheNationalFootballLeague.
COME AND SEE US IN OUR NEW LOCATIONB&L Quality Taxidermy2101 Snow Bowl Plaza Steamboat Springs, CO 80487970.879.1316 or 970.276.2193
We Accept Major Credit Cards
Helpful tips for your Trophy Dont short cape your animal Call for information on where to cap Dont drag your animal Keep your hide clean Do not salt your hide unless it has been properly fl eshed If you are not sure, call or bring you animal to B&L Taxidermy
Operation Game Thief is a Colorado Parks and Wildlife sponsored wildlife crime stoppers program which pays
rewards to citizens who turn in poachers.You can call us toll-free at
1-877-265-6648 or 1-877-COLO OGT.Verizon cell phone users can dial #OGT, or contact us via e-mail at [email protected]. Callers do not
have to reveal their names or testify in court.A REWARD OF $500 is offered for information on cases involving big game or endangered species: a $100 REWARD is offered for information on other
wildlife violations. A citizens committee administers the reward fund, which is maintained by private
contributions. The Board may approve REWARDS OF UP TO $1,000 for flagrant cases.
Rewards are paid for information which leads to an arrest or a citation being issued.
Wildlife belongs to everyone.Poachers steal from us all.
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staMPs Fund wetlandsBy Allen Gemaehlich
TheColoradoWaterfowlStampProgramcontinuestogeneraterevenuetofundwetlandprojectsthroughoutthestate.Morethan$6.7millionhasbeenraisedfor19,500acreswiththeWaterfowlStampfund,accordingtoColoradoParksandWildlife.
Avarietyofsourceshavefundedtheproject,includingColoradoWildlifeHeritageFoundation,DucksUnlimited,TheNatureConservancy,Partners for FishWildlife,GreatOutdoorsColorado,CPW,huntersandnon-hunters.
Theprojectisdesignedtoimprovethehabitatforducks,geeseandmorethan500 other species of shorebirds, songbirds, amphibians and reptiles. Stamps are$5forhuntingwaterfowlandcanbepurchasedbypeopleages16andolder.Theproceedsarestrictlyfortheuseofwetlands-conservationprojects.
TheColoradoWaterfowlStampwasauthorizedin1989bythepassageofSenateBill 102, sponsored by former state Sen. Tillman Bishop, of Grand Junction. ThebillauthorizedtheproductionofastampfromoriginalartworkwiththeColoradoDivisionofWildlifetosolicitandmarkettheartwork.
Thefirststamp,apairofCanadageeseovertheSouthPlatteRiver,wasproducedin 1990. Initially, Ducks Unlimited managed the artwork production, but morerecently,theColoradoWildlifeHeritageFoundationhasassumedthisrole.
ColoradorequiresallwaterfowlhunterstobuyaColoradohuntinglicense(eitherasmallgameoracombinationlicense)withaColoradoduckstampverification,inadditiontothefederalduckstamp.Anactualstampcanberequestedatthetimethehuntinglicenseispurchasedandwillbemailedtothepurchaser.
VisittheWetlandsProgrampageonlinetofindinformationontypesofwetlands,
listsofwetland-dependentspecies,projectreportsonwetlandprojectsinColorado,andadescriptionofhowtheWaterfowlStampProgramfits inColoradosoverallwetlands-conservation effort. Collector Waterfowl Stamps (which do not affordhuntingprivileges)areavailableat theColoradoWildlifeHeritageFoundation,aswellaspreviousyearsstamps.
The 2014 Colorado Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest winner "Sunset Marsh" depicts two Canada geese during sunset. The artist, Richard Clifton, was a self-taught painter who has gone on to paint 38 Duck Stamps from various states, including the 2007-08 Federal Duck Stamp.
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2014 | colorado hunter | 31
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By Eugene Buchanan
Whenyourenotcastingyoureyestowardridgesorgrassyparksforbiggame,theresplentyofothercastingyoucandoinWesternColorado,aswell.Rifleorrod,world-classoptionsaboundforbothpastimes.Whetheryouvefilledyourtagorsimplywantabreakfromhittingthetrail,western
Coloradooffershotspotsfortroutaswellastrophies.FromtheboundlesslakesatopGrandMesaandtheColoradoandGunnisonrivers
nearGrandJunction,totheWhiteRiverandlakesoftheFlatTopsWildernessAreanearMeeker,totheYampaandElkriversnearCraigandSteamboatSprings,totheupperColorado andWilliams Fork outsideKremmling, the regionhas enoughworld-classanglingoptionstokeepyoucastingforyears.Andwettingalinecanbetheperfecttonictocomplementtimechasingdeerandelk.
Its the perfect companion activity to hunting,maintains Brett Lee, a veteranhunter,fly-fishermanandco-ownerofStraightlineSportsinSteamboatSprings.ThewholeNorthwestColoradoregionofferssomeofthebestfishinginthecountry,fromhighAlpinelakestocool,clearrivers.
Theheart ofhunting season is alsowhenfishing is at its best,withaquatic andinsectlifeteeming.Thetroutsensetheonsetofwinter,meaningfliesandluresdontgounnoticed.Fallisoneofthebesttimestofishhere,Leeadds.Fishknowwinterscomingandstartfeeding.
Followingisaprimeronwheretocastyourrod.
RiveRsCoursingfromtheFlatTopsWildernessAreawesttoitsconfluencewiththeGreen
River,theYampaRiveroffersmorethan100milesofprimefishing,especiallyduringthecoolerhuntingmonthsofautumn.
PrimepublicareasincludetheStagecoachtailwatersjustbelowStagecoachLake;the Chuck Lewis StateWildlife Area 3 miles south of Steamboat Springs on RouttCountyRoad14;andthe6-miletownstretch,whichcarriesasmanyas2,000troutpermile.Forflies,tryelkhaircaddis,brightgreencaddisemergersorweightedstreamers.
TheElkRiverofferspublicaccessupstreamofHinmanParkBridgealongSeedhouseRoad,orattheChristinaWildlifeAreaalongitslowerportiononC.R.129northwestoftown.
In Jackson County, try the blue ribbon trout waters of the North Platt River, orthecountlessmeanderingstreamsnearWalden.FarthersouthinGrandCountynearKremmling, the upper Colorado lures anglers the world over, as does the hiddentreasureWilliamsFork.
ThosehuntingnearCraigcanfishforsmallmouthbassandnorthernpikeinElkheadReservoirandtheYampa(trywhite/chartreusestreamersandluresforsmallies),andalso troll thesespots for trout.Anotherworld-classoption:Headwest to theGreenRiver in Browns Park, offering blue-ribbon trout fishing on three great sections ofwater(A,BandC).Theareaisknownforitslargebrowntroutandclear,coldwaterreleasedfromtheFlamingGorgeReservoir.
TheWhiteRiver,whichflowsthroughMeekerandRangely,drainstheFlatTopsand
AnglIngin western colorado
The whole Northwest Colorado region offers some of the best fishing
in the country. Brett Lee, co-owner of Straightline Sports in Steamboat Springs
Gabe Dreuhl, of Austin, Texas, takes on the blue waters of the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs looking to land a trout.
PhoTo bY John. F. RuSSell
2014 | colorado hunter | 33
AnglIngin western colorado teemswith trout in the fall.Headupstream fromMeekeronMoffatCountyRoad8
towardBuford,whereyoucanbranchupthesouthornorthfork,ortrytheMeekertownstretch,thesectionbetweenMeekerandRangely,ortheRangelyreach.
NearGrandJunction,hittheblue-ribbonGunnisonRiverGorgebelowBlackCanyonoftheGunnisonNationalPark,whichattractsanglersallseason.WadefishnearthetakeoutatGunnisonForksattheconfluenceoftheriversnorthfork,orbookafloattripthroughthegorge.
LAKes AND ReseRvOiRsForlakefishing,hitanynumberofreservoirsnearCraigandSteamboat(Stagecoach
Lake,SteamboatLakeandElkheadReservoir).RecentexpansionshaveincreasedthesizesofStagecoachandElkhead.ColoradoParksandWildlifehasbeenstockingthemwith bigger fish than normal to give them a chance to survive the northern pike,StraightlinesLeesays.
Octoberiswhenthefishchargeoutofthedepthstofeedbeforewintersetsin.Coolertemperaturesalsobringrainbowsbackintoshallowerwater.Goearlyandgetyourflydown10to11feet.BoatrentalsareavailableatthemarinasofStagecoachandSteamboatLake.Forflypatterns,trywoollybuggersinolive,blackandbrowntoimitateminnows.Aswatertemperaturesdrop,slowyourreelingmotion,Leeadds.Autumnscoldwaterdictatesaslowerretrieve,saysLee,toutingcrayfishpatternsasagoodbet.
Countlesssmallerlakesalsoexistfordippingaline.OntheothersideoftheParkRangefromSteamboat,inJacksonCounty,lieDelaneyButteslakes,whichofferfreecamping,aswellasBigCreekLakeandLakeJohn.IntheFlatTopsWildernessArea,TrappersLakewhereyoucanrentcanoes,rowboatsandrusticaccommodationsaswellasChapman,Sheriff andStillwaterreservoirsandthesmallerRainbowandMosquitolakesalsooffergreatfishingoptions.
NorthofSteamboat,HahnsPeakandPearllakes,aswellastheAlpinelakesoftheMountZirkelWildernessArea,serveupprimeangling,asdothemorethan200stockedlakes atop10,000-foot-highGrandMesanearGrand Junction (favorites include theGoldMedalwatersofMesaLakes,aswellasCottonwoodLakesandVegaReservoir).SeveralfishinglodgesonGrandMesastayopenthroughthefall.
GeT A GUiDeAswithhunting,hiringatrusted,localguideiswellworthit.Notonlycanthey
provideaccesstotrophy-filledprivatewaters,buttheyllhelpyourtechniqueandflyselection.Also,donthesitatetoasklocalflyshopexpertsforadvice.Asamplingofguidedoptions include:SteamboatSprings:StraightlineSports(970-879-7568),BuckingRainbowOutfitters (970-879-8747), Steamboat Flyfisher (970-879-6552).Walden:NorthParkAnglers(970-723-4215).Rifle:HighFliesAngler(970-274-2669).GrandJunction:WesternAnglers(970-244-8658).
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Doug and Janet Camilletti Colorado License # 1479 41380 North Highway 13 Craig, Colorado 81625 Phone: (970) 824-8935 Winter phone: (970) 629-5644 December-Middle March
Meet your guides and staff at www.frostyacres-craig.com
Unit 4 & 301. All on private land. Trespass or semi-guided hunts in Black Mountain and Bears Ears Drainage.Rifle, Archery & Muzzle Loading Hunts on private ground.
2014 | colorado hunter | 35
HOTsPots
By Darian Warden
I fyoudidntknowitbefore,youdonow:CraigisnowtheocialElkHuntingCapitaloftheWorld.Whilethetownhasrankedashighas20thinOutdoorLifemagazinesBestTownsforSportsmen listthroughouttheyears, itnowhastheelkcapitaltaglinenotchedintoitsriflebutt,aswell.Afterfiveyearsbuildingthebrand,localbusinessmanJohnPonikvartrademarkedthephraselastyear,muchtothedelightoftourismocials.
Its fantastic, says Christina Oxley, of the Craig Chamber of Commerce, addingthatthetrademarkedphrasealreadyhasresultedinpositivefeedbackfromvisitors.Itgivesusgreatvisibilityandsearchabilityonline.Everytimesomebodyinputselkhunting,thatbranddrawspeople.
Ponikvarsayshetrademarkedthephrasetogivethecommunitysomeidentification.WeweresimplytryingtobrandCraig,hesays.Hopefully,itsasourceofprideforCraigandMoffatCounty.
Thenewly trademarked logoalreadyhasappearedonbumper stickers,banners,
hats, T-shirts andmore. Ponikvar adds that a hunting showfilmmaker even saw ahatadornedwiththephraseataGeorgiagolfcourseandfilmedanelkhuntinCraigbecauseofit.IvebeentakingT-shirtsandhatswithmewheneverIhuntoutofstate,hesays.Everyonelovesthem.Itsstartingtogetaroundtheworld.
craiG: elK HuntinG caPital
Doug and Janet Camilletti Colorado License # 1479 41380 North Highway 13 Craig, Colorado 81625 Phone: (970) 824-8935 Winter phone: (970) 629-5644 December-Middle March
Meet your guides and staff at www.frostyacres-craig.com
Unit 4 & 301. All on private land. Trespass or semi-guided hunts in Black Mountain and Bears Ears Drainage.Rifle, Archery & Muzzle Loading Hunts on private ground.
970-620-4370 [email protected] www.CMEDP.com www.CraigBusiness.com
Strong business environment Low taxes Great community World class recreation New hospital New college & schools
36 | visit www.cohunter.com for more
HOTs
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western colorado:a HuntinG snaPsHot
By Eugene Buchanan
I f youve picked western Colorado as your hunting grounds this season, youcouldnthavechosenabetterspottosetyoursights.ThePacific-mostportionoftheCentennialStateharborsthetwokeyingredientsall hunters look for: some of the largest elk herds in the country, and extensivepubliclands.Thisequatestooneofthebestchancesoffillingyourtagofanywhereinthecountry.
ThescaleoftheelkherdsinwesternColoradoisunprecedentedcomparedtotherestofthecountry,saysBradPetch,ColoradoParksandWildlifesseniorbiologistforNorthwestColorado.ThereareveryfewplacesintheWestwhereyoucanpickupalicenseatthecounterandhaveadecentshotatgettingafour-pointbull.
Petchestimatesthat thereareabout280,000elk inColorado, themostofanystate,withmore than15percent of thoseharvestedevery year.Otherbiggamepopulations are also strong, including mule deer, moose, pronghorn, bear andmountainlion.
FromGrandJunction,headoutontoGrandMesa(Units41,42,411,421,52and521 forover-the-counterelk)and theUncompahgrePlateau (Units61and62 forelk),aswellas theGunnisonBasin (Units76and77 limitedelk).Afterward, tourthroughGrandMesaorColoradoNationalMonument.
Farthernorthwest,DinosaurNationalMonumentoffersaglimpseoftheregionsprehistoric past amidst world-class pronghorn options. The region also contains
Browns Park on the Green River, featuring premier trout fishing below FlamingGorgeReservoir.
Just off U.S. Highway 40, Rangely is another sportsmens hotspotwhose hillylandscapesarepopulatedwithdeer,pronghorn,elkandsmallgame.Craig,theseatofMoffatCounty,continuestoberankedasoneofthetophuntingdestinationsinthecountryforitsvastpubliclands,privateranchesandherds.
From Craig, Colorado Highway 13 heads north toward Wyoming and south tohunter-friendlytownssuchasMeeker.Everywhereyougoisprimehuntinghabitat.East of CraigonU.S. 40 isHayden, also rich in ranchingandhuntingheritage, andanother30minuteseastisSteamboatSprings,theseatofRouttCounty.Knownforitsinternationallyrenownedskiarea,Steamboatalsoishometofifth-generationranchesandsomeofthebesttroutfishingandelk,deerandmoosehuntinginthestate.
South of Steamboat on Colo. 131 lie Oak Creek, Phippsburg and Yampa, theGatewaytotheFlatTopsandthewildernessareasprimehuntinghabitat.
AcrosstheContinentalDivide,NorthParkalsoisknownforitsmooseandfishing.LocatedanhourdriveonColo. 14 frombothSteamboat and Laramie,Wyoming,Waldenistheregionslargestcityandsurroundedbyextensivepubliclands.Farthersouth are the hunting hotbeds of Kremmling, Hot Sulphur Springs and Granby,whichalsocarryvastherdsofelkanddeer.
SonomatterwhereyourcrosshairsaresetinwesternColorado,youreaheadofthegamewhenitcomestohunting.
2014 | colorado hunter | 37
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MeeKer:sMall town, BiG access
By Andy Bockelman
TheonlythingmeekaboutMeekerwhenitcomestohuntingisthatitsquietlyofftheradar.Butoncepeoplegetatasteofwhatitoffersinsmall-townfriendlinessandaccesstobiggame,theycomebackagainandagain.Wegetalotofrepeatcustomers,saysStanWyatt,ownerofWyattsSportsCenter,
nowenteringits20thyearasahuntingsupplycompany.Mostofourbusinessisnon-residents.Weseesomanypeopleyearafteryearthatitshardtorememberthemall.
Wyattestimatesheshadacustomerfromeverystateinthecountryandbeyond.Weve had them from Alaska, Hawaii and Canada, and even England, he says.Peoplealwayssayhowbeautifulitisaroundhere,whatagreatlittletownitisandhowfriendlythepeopleare.Ithasagreatreputation.
Thisreputationaswellasthebountifulfillingofhuntingtagsiswhathasledtosomuchrepeatbusiness,bothforlocalguidesandoutfittersaswellasarealodgesandhotels.Itsusuallythesamegroupscomingbackyearafteryear,anditsalwaysnice to see them, saysBlueSpruceHotelmanagerBeckeyDowker,whoalsohuntseveryfall.Itslikefamilycomingbackeveryyear.Mostpeoplelikethatwerejustaquietlittlemountaintown.
Further illustrating Meekers charm is the fact that many of its well-traveledresidentsaremorethanhappytocallithome.JustaskBillWille,theownerofAntlersTaxidermywhohashuntedaroundtheglobe.WillefirstcametotowndecadesagoforthehuntingandhasoperatedhisserviceoutofMeekerforthepast35years.ThehuntingiswhyIcameouthere,andthatswhatIstillloveaboutit,saysWille,whoseworkshopisaveritablemenageriewithmorethan200mountsof largecats,bears,rodents,fowlandotheranimalsfromallovertheworldincludingarareibexfromTurkey.
Despitehisworldtravels,MeekeralwayswillremainclosetoWillesheart.Anditsthosesamereasonsthatkeepvisitinghunterscomingbackformoreyearafteryear.
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2014 | colorado hunter | 39
HOTsPots
By Dan Olsen
While most every hunter hopes to bag atrophy,thechancetoactuallygetamonsterbull begins with research, preparationand patience. It also helps if youre hunting GameManagementUnit2.
Western Colorado boasts some of the finest bullsinthecountryinthefarreachesofthisareaofMoffatCounty,withmore than200 locatednear theborderwithUtahandWyoming.Theopportunity tohunt indesignatedtrophyareaisdeterminedbyadrawandpointsystemthatallowshunterstoaccumulatepointseachhuntingseason.
Thesepreferencepointsarespeciesspecific;hunterswantingtoharvestatrophybullelkwillaccruepointsfor many years in the elk category before drawinga license. Currently, it takes 18 points for a Coloradoresident to draw a license in Unit 2. A non-residentwillwait22yearsfortheopportunity,butpointsalonedontguaranteealicensethroughthedraw.
The 2014 quota for Unit 2 is 33 hunters, out ofits 1,293 applicants. Twenty-four licenses went toColoradoresidents,fivewenttonon-residentsandfour
tounitlandowners.TonyEricksonhuntedUnit2twoyearsagoandhas
no problemwith the longwait. The huntwaswellworththewait,hesays.Wesawbigbullseveryday.Imean340-point(Boone&Crockett)bullseverydayinshootingrange,lessthan300yards.
Hunters dont need to hunt each year to gatherpreference points. However, non-hunter preferencepoints which were once a minimal $3 fee jumpedto$40in2014forthosewhodidnthuntlastyear. Mike Swaro, with Colorado Parks and Wildlife,says the fee increase is in part to encourage morehunterstoparticipateinyearlyhunts.
Theyneedtohaveatleastanannualfishinglicensetoavoidthatcharge,hesays.Itraisesadditionalfeesforwildlifemanagement.
Anotherway to draw a trophy unit hunt is foundin the Hybrid Drawing. A hunter with at least fivepreference points entering the draw with a correcthunt code automatically will be entered into theHybridDrawforachancetoberandomlyselectedfor20percentofthelicensesissued.
Throughout the years, the number of preferencepointsrequiredhasclimbedsteadilyasmorehunters
reachhighertotalswiththeirstockpiledpoints.Todays18-year-old applying for his first Unit 2 preferencepointmayverywellneed22pointsormorewhenhisnumberiscalledintheyear2036.
ForErickson,his21-yearwait resulted in thehuntofa lifetime. Wecalledhim into rangeandgothimaboutahalf-hourafterdaylight,hesays.Therewerefourbullsintheherd,andthiswasthebiggest.WhatcanIsay?Hewasinthemeatplantbynoon.
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HOTs
Pots By Eugene Buchanan
Thanks tovast tractsofpublic landandsizableanimalherds,GrandCounty,whichencompassesKremmling,HotSulphurSprings,GranbyandGrandLake,isgrandforhunting.The hunting opportunities there are excellent, especially for mule deer,
maintains Colorado Parks and Wildlifes Mike Porras. It has its own uniqueopportunitiesandtonsofhuntingacreage.
The Middle Park deer herd is modeled at more than 15,350, with a targetobjective of 11,500, making deer a primary target. Historically, this region hasalwaysbeenknownforitsdeerhunting,saysLyleSidener,CPWGrandCountyareawildlifemanager.Low-lyingcentralsagebrushgetsdeerthroughwinter.Theresalsoalonghistoryofdeerresearchhere,fromhabitatusetonutrition.Deerherehaveprobablybeenstudiedmorethantheyhaveanywhereelse.
Addingtotheregionshuntingopportunitiesisitsvastacreage,comprisingUnits15,18,27,28,37,181and371,themajorityofitopentothepublic.Theresahighpercentageofpubliclandheretohunt,Sideneradds.Thatslargelywhatmakesitsuchaprimehuntingdestination.
Every fall,hundredsofout-of-townhuntersflock to thearea, joininga strongpopulationoflocalhunters.Theregionalsoharborsarobustoutfitterbusiness,withseveralofthestatesbusiestguidesandoutfittingservicescallingtheareahome.
Drivingthisdemandaretheareaselkandmoose,Sidenersays.MoosehavemigratedfromNorthParktoMiddlePark,andelkherdsalsoareblossoming.TheregionsthreeelkherdsGorePass,TroublesomeCreekandWilliamsForktotalnearly15,000.
HotspotsincludeGorePass,WilliamPeak,WillowCreekPassandParkview,Elk
andGrousemountains.BigbullsalsocanbefoundsouthoftheboundaryforRockyMountain National Park in the Meadow Creek area, Sidener adds. That area isprettyunderutilizedbecauseitshardtogetto,hesays.Whiletheresnohuntinginthepark,elkdontnecessarilyunderstandthatboundary.
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2014 | colorado hunter | 41
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tHeHeRdworddeer down, elK uP
By Eugene Buchanan
Thanksinparttoaspringwarmspellmeltingthiswinterscopioussnow,mostofthe17,000orsoelkthatwinternorthofU.S.Highway40betweenSteamboatSprings and Craig ended the winter in good condition, including last yearscalves.
Theelkcameoutwelldespitetheamountofsnowwehad,saysColoradoParks
andWildlifeAreaWildlifeManagerJimHaskins.Theygotthroughthewinteringood
shape.
Ingeneral,addsBradPetch,CPWsnorthwestseniorwildlifebiologist,gamewildlife
inNorthwestColoradofaredwelllastwinter.Althoughweexperiencedheavysnows
in the high country, particularly late in the year,wintermortality remainedwithin
expectedlimits,hesays.ExceptionsincludeareassouthofI-70intheGypsum,Eagle
andVailareas,whichreceivedheavyFebruarysnows.Headdsthatwhileadditional
mortality, particularly of fawn deer, occurred in these areas, the snows coming in
FebruaryinsteadofDecembermeamstheyclearedrelativelyquickly.
desPite BiG snows, BiG GaMe Fare well tHrouGH winter
2014 | colorado hunter | 43
Animals appeared to go into thewinter in good condition and calf-to-cow andfawn-to-doeratiosindicateaproductiveyearinmostelkanddeerunits,Petchsays.Soilmoistureandforageconditionsweregoodintheearlyspring,althoughrangesinthefarnorthwestreceivedlessprecipitationthantherestoftheregion.HeaddsthatalackofmoistureinJunedriedoutforagequicklyduringearlysummer.
eLKMostelkherds,Petchsays,especiallythoseintheYampaandWhiteriverdrainages,
have been reduced to reach their long-term management objectives. Parks andWildlifeterrestrialbiologistJeff Yostsaysthenumberofelkintheregionisdowntoabouthalfofwhat itwaseightyearsago,butbydesign.Currentnumbers,hesays,are rightonCPWspopulation target aspart of their efforts to cull herds to reducecrowdinginkeyhabitatareas.
Region-wide, licenses for 2014 are about the same those available in 2013, saysPetch.Thenumberofbulltags(includingthoseforunlimitedsecondandthirdseasonover-the-counterhunts)availableexceeds28,000acrosstheregion,withcowlicensesatjustunder51,500.
MULe DeeRMuledeer,Petchadds,areanotherstory,withocialsremainingconcernedabout
thedownwardtrendinpopulationsizeontheWestSlope.AspartofitsWestSlopeMuleDeerInitiative,CPWishostingpublicoutreachmeetingstoaddresstheissue.Butsomepartsoftheregionarefaringwell.Whileconcernremainsforanumberofmuledeer populations that are below objective, including theWhite River herd, severalherds innorthwesternColoradoareperformingquitewell,Petchsays,addingthatdeerinMiddlePark,theupperColoradoandCraig(theBearsEarsherdspecifically)arenearlong-termobjectives.Intheseunitsandmanyothers,buckratiosremainquitehigh,evenwhenthetotalnumberofdeerislessthandesired.Morethan26,000buckand6,800doelicenseswereissuedintheregionin2014.
MOOseWhileonamuchsmallerscale,moose,hesays,aredoingwell.Populationsinmost
ofthenorthwestherdscontinuetoincrease,hesays,addingthat88bulland112cowlicenseswereissuedin2014,upby19from2013.Inaddition,moosehuntinginGMUs15and27andinBrownsParkhasbeenopenedforthefirsttimethisyear.
PRONGHORNExceptforMiddlePark,whereobjectivesareabout50animalshigher,pronghorn
populationsremainsomewhatbelowobjectiveinmostherdunitsinthenorthwest,says Petch. Pronghorn are among themost sensitive of the big game animals toweather conditions, characterized by poor reproduction during both drought yearsandhardwinters,hesays.Populationsdeclinedsubstantiallyduringtheextendeddroughtfrom2001through2007andarestillrebuilding,particularlyinlowerelevationrangesinwesternMoffatCounty.Thesedeclines,headds,haveresultedinreducedbuck and doe license availability. This year, 1,780 buck and 1,100 doe pronghornlicenseswereavailable,aslightdecreasefrom2013.Butheaddsthathuntingshouldremainstrong.Pronghornhunterssuccessfulindrawinga2014licenseshouldbeabletofindabundantantelopeinmostunits,hesays.
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tHeHeR
dword
2013 HuntinG round-uPBy Nate Waggenspack
Whilequicklychangingweathercharacterizedmuchoflastyearshuntingseason,MotherNaturedidntdampenresults.Numbersshowanincreaseinbiggameharvesting,withColoradoParksandWildlife reportingelkandmuledeersuccessratesclimbingslightlyover2012.
Iwouldntcharacterizeitasabigyear,butitwasalittlebetterthantheyearbefore, says Bill de Vergie, Parks andWildlife areawildlifemanager for Area 6,whichincludesMoffat,RioBlancoandpartsofRouttandGrandcounties.Alotofit
hadtodowiththedrasticchangesintheweather.Northwest Colorado saw wet months in September and October, including
significant snowfall followed by prolongedwarmweather,which keptmany elkfrommigratingearlierintheseason.InMoffatCounty,alotofthesuccesshappenswhenelkherdsmigratewestofColoradoHighway13outintotheopen.Butthattimenevercameinthethirdandfourthrifleseasons,deVergiesays.
Normally,wellgetagoodsnowstormfollowedbycold,hesays.Thistimewehadthesnow,butthenitgotwarmagain.
Alatermigrationdidspellopportunityforhuntersinthehighcountryandfarthereast.RickMyers,ofBuckMountainOutfitters,whichhuntsnorthwestofSteamboatinGMU214, says elkwereabundantevery season. WereeastofHayden, andalotofthoseelkstayedinthetreeswhichstillhadleaves,saysMyers,callingitanexcellentyear.Thesnowcameandwentfast.Wevesawbigherdsofupto300thatwerentinahurrytogoanywhere.
PinnaclePeakAdventureshuntsprivate land inGMU4northeastofCraig,andmanagerBillGreen says theyhadgoodopportunities aswell. Wehadmoreelkthannormal,hesays.Thoseearlysnowsgotthemmoving,andthenlatemoisturegavethemplentyoffeed.
Muledeerhuntersalsohadahighrateofsuccess,continuingatrendfromthelastcoupleofyears,withfewhuntersreceivinglicensesaspartofParksandWildlifeefforts togrowtheherdpopulations. In2012,everyGMU in theGreenRiverandYamparegionshadahighersuccessratethanthefive-yearaverage.
Weresolimitedonourmuledeerlicensesthatthefolksthathadthemhadnoproblemwithsuccess,saysdeVergie.Thedeerhuntingwasactuallyprettygood.
2014 | colorado hunter | 45
Bear licenses on tHe riseBy Tim Harty
I fyouwanthunterstokillmorebears,youhavetoissuemorehuntinglicenses.Thatsthetake-homefrom Colorado Parks a