The numbers have come out, 80% of our Deer and Antelope, and posibly as high as 70% of our Elk have succumbed to this harsh winter. Wyoming is ready to shut off all cow and doe licenses and some units for elk and deer. Colorado is considering it but they still want people (mostly non-residents) to come and spend dollars, we need to shut down all antlerless seasons and severely restrict most bull elk, buck deer and antelope. On top of the worst winter kill since the 40's the state wildlife agency now has to begin introducing wolves this year. This may be the end of big game hunting in Colorado.

Colorado increased their cow license to $750 for non-residents. That will help reduce the number of non-residents.

We NEED to quit killing cows and does altogether, it's that bad. The state has to many special interest groups feeding at the trough of wildlife. The restaurant lobby, the hotel lobby, the liquor lobby, the outfitters lobby, the retailing lobby, it's become all about money in Colorado. CPW has become "Toys R Us" with all the fancy equipment, new trucks, our Governor pandering to animal rights activists and environmentalists by promoting a ballot initiative to divert millions of dollars to wolf reintroduction when they are already coming back organically and for free. They throw away money on this when they shouldn't be diverting needed funds for other critical wildlife programs.

Ooooooooh that wascawy global warming!

Osky

That's a shame to hear this was planning on trying to hunt next year, seemed like game populations were down out there last year.
You got a link to the winter kill story?

Just begin Googleing it's all over about how bad the deep snow winter kill is. Wyoming Game and Fish provides a hunting update about reducing licenses significantly to allow the herds to begin to rebound. The adult males and the fawns took the hit the worst.

Most DNR'S now, have an agenda. Y'all have a struggle ahead of you and think about it. Ya wouldn't if your DNR was in your camp.

I have been talking to ranchers all over the state and we have been pondering shutting down are properties and access to all hunting regardless of what the state wants.

don't know your particulars --maybe a smart move -- the state (ours anyway) doesn't have a clue or care about any of the critters -- just the politicians and the greenies.

Double wammy this year, tough winter after several years of drought. Even lost a lot of calves this year could not get them out of the weather fast enough. At least we should get some good forage this year with the moisture.

The spring fly over elk count in Northwest Colorado that occurs every year is now supposed to be done again. The results were determined to be incorrect, there can't possibly be that few elk in the Northwest herd that survived the winter. Boots on the ground and observing tracks tell a tale of not many survivors up here. Western Wyoming is really bad to.

One year we were staying in Maybell, CO. The hotel owner said the previous winter elk were walking down main street because the snow was so deep in the hills. Many of them died that winter from starvation and a harsh winter.

What's in it for CPW? Are the doe and cow hunts lotteries $$$$$$$?

Remember when they raised it to $450 or 500, then complained about not enough cows being taken, then dropped it to $250?

I think in some areas that may be a good idea.

We lucked out this winter.
Our mule deer look great for what we have right now.
Been seeing good fawn survival.
Even pronghorn look good so far, nice bucks coming right along with horn growth.
Elk are still over objective too.

Parts of the state are dismal and some are fine, go figure.
We could use some moisture actually.

One small piece of the pie. State wide its bad

Across the counter license sales, come, show up and buy a tag. That will probably end soon. Who wants to spend big money to hunt where there used to be big game, but it all died. The state will still sell you a tag, even if there is nothing left to hunt in that unit. Been doing that for years, 3rd and fourth season high country deer tags, to hunt after they have migrated to lower country, after the first snow.

I tried to comprehend Colorado Big Game Regulations. Tomorrow I will see if my lawyer can explain them to me. Something about preference points and collecting them and not getting money back, and special hunts, for special people, using special weapons all at special times.

this winter there will be a problem with hungry predators

Well we have closed close to 200,000 acres to private and road access to blm and forest so far and just starting. If the state wont protect the wildlife we will and winter feed most of it.