Second big game season should be good

Second big game season should be good

Oct 20, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Hunting seasons moved into full swing on today, Oct. 20, when rifle hunters take to the field for the second of four regular rifle hunting seasons for big game. Before the end of the last special season in February, more than a quarter million hunters will have pursued deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, moose, black bear and a host of other species.

Hunters took to the field last weekend for a special elk-only hunt which ended a sundown Wednesday, Oct. 17.

Despite the fact that big game hunters killed 60,120 elk last year, the largest elk harvest since Colorado Division of Wildlife officers have been keeping track of statistics, the DOW is predicting another big year for hunter success. And that’s good because the number of elk are still more than DOW manageable numbers.

This was the first year of the special elk-only season.

Today’s hunt is actually the first regular combined rifle deer-elk hunt which will run today through next Friday, Oct. 20-26, the second hunt is slated for Nov. 3-9 and the third hunt Nov. 10-14.

Hunters in the western Colorado can look forward to another successful hunting season this fall. A relatively mild winter has ensured that there will be plenty of both deer and elk on the Western Slope.

Those who plan to hunt the Southwestern Colorado should be just as positive about the potential for their hunt. According to Scott Wait, terrestrial biologist for the DOW in Durango, reported recently that both elk and deer numbers are both high going into the season.

"Their both healthy," Wait said. "Deer populations are at objectives and elk populations are above objectives.

Again, hunters after bulls may have to put in a little more effort.

"Bull populations aren’t quite as good as last year because of the successful season," Wait said.

Deer hunters can expect good opportunity. This may be the year for those who are after a trophy buck.

"Buck populations are excellent and the quality of the bucks is good and getting better," Wait said.

When it comes to hunting strategy for the southwest, plans should depend on what Mother Nature does this fall.

"The weather is always the unknown," Wait noted. "The San Juans are always susceptible to sudden and sever storms. Hunters need to be aware of that. Hunters should concentrate on rugged north faces and places where it is cool during the early seasons while the weather is warm."

The weather was mostly dry for the first hunt. Mother Nature again is cooperating as the National Weather Service is calling for mostly sunny skies through the period as a high pressure system has parked over the Four Corners area. Temperatures should be cool but not real cold, even over the higher terrain.

Big game hunters in Colorado actually have in the fields since late August with the opening of archery and muzzle-loader seasons. With primitive seasons complete and the second rifle season well under way, Colorado’s deer and elk hunters across the state are reporting moderate success.

The DOW is reporting hunting pressure during the primitive seasons was down, in part because fewer licenses were sold. But fewer numbers of hunters can be both a blessing and a curse to hunters; less pressure means the animals will be more likely to follow their normal patterns, but it also means the animals will be less likely to be pushed by other hunters.

Field officers reported low pressure during the first special elk only limited season. The harvest is high in areas where most hunters report at least seeing elk.

Wait reported hunters did well in Southwestern Colorado during the first rifle season.

"There have been good elk harvests in both the Dolores and San Juan basins, a few more bulls than cows, but good cow harvests for people with either-sex licenses," Wait said. "Elk are mostly in the 9,500-10,500 elevation range, in thick cover, small groups and they are not moving voluntarily."

Cortez area hunters can sight in their rifle(s) for $5 each 9 a.m.-5 p.m. this Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 24-26, at the Four Corners Pistol and Rifle Club’s range, located across from the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. The range is normally closed to non-members the remainder of the year. It will again be open to the public the Wednesday before the final two hunts.

The San Juan Mountain Association, in partnership with local public land managers and business community members, has placed dumpsters throughout the San Juan National Forest as part of their "Clean Forest Initiative" program. Dumpster locations will be: Upper and Lower Hermosa Creek, Missionary Ridge, Beaver Meadows, Pine River Trailhead at Vallecito in the Durango area; Piedra Store on U.S. Highway 160, Mill Creek, Blanco Basin and Kenny Flats roads near Pagosa Springs; and Dolores Food Market, Wagons West, Dolores Liquors and the Sportsman in Dolores. The dumpsters are for hunters only with no household trash to be dumped.