Gunnison Tags slashed

cmbbulldog · Apr 4, 2017

Alert! If you applied for deer in the Gunnison area, GMUs 54, 55, 551, 66 or 67 ? listen up. The Gunnison office of Colorado Parks and Wildlife Dept. (CPW) just announced the following mule deer tag reductions:
GMU 54 ? 54%
GMU 55 ? 85%
GMU 551 ? 65%
GMUs 66, 67 ? low to mid 60%s

Got an email alert from Eastmans... so crediting them with the info.

Thoughts folk who applied in the Basin would be interested. I assume Brad (Tomichi) approves?

tx_packmule · Apr 4, 2017

I'd kind of prefer the 55 cut Basin-wide.

Tomichi · Apr 4, 2017

Words can not describe How I feel about these needed tag cuts. Lets go with ECSTATIC!!! Thank you Area 16 STAFF!
D-21 GMU 54 470 Total Buck tags in 2016 215 for 2017
D-22 GMU 55 AND 551 620 in 2016 170 for 2017.
D-25 66 and 67 510 down to 260.....

But lets not forget what really matters here...fawn recruitment and survival. in 07/08 we knew we were losing both years. Then 09 was low also??? 10 through 13 were better/normal but 14 and 15 were down?? Post hunt 16 had us in the high 50's fawns per 100 does but then...JANUARY...
We lost fawns..we are still losing fawns...If we have learned any thing we know fawn production is low following harsh winters...I expect LOW fawn per doe ratios post hunt 2017.. These decisions weren't made just for winter 2017 they are accumulative of the past few and projected few.
Bottom line is we need to figure out how to get deer past 12 months of age.. The total deer numbers have not recovered from 07-08...Buck to doe ratios are not the classification to judge management ..or herd health..PRODUCTION is. WE don't have it.. Again I applaud local staff for these cuts. The RECRUTMENT puzzle piece is the one we need to find...State wide and West wide.

alinrut · Apr 5, 2017

I am one of those who gets to hunt the area almost every year, as my grouo is on different point levels and one of us draws....and the rest come along to have fun and help...

We have hunted the area since 2012 and I have seen the numbers of deer drop and the numbers of hunters increase... or so it seems

We are not a group of dudes who whack the first thing with horns...

I put in for this year as did my friends...
Our feelings with this announcement is that it is awesome!!

It will mean fewer hunters, and a better oppprtunity for the young 2x3s and smaller 4x4s to grow a few years...

I dont mind this at all
Good luck out there and be safe in all your adventures

tx_packmule · Apr 9, 2017

If it's not to much to ask, coach up the folks supporting the cuts to push for the proposed 02R hunts in 66/67 to get cut in half.

Tomichi · Apr 9, 2017

TX Packmule I would love to half them again. But I will take what we got with a smile.
66 2nd 2016 120 buck tags 2017 60.
67 exact same #'s.

Still losing fawns..More fence hangers every day.. Down to one road kill a day in my 10 miles to town.
Classified a herd in the neighbors meadow today... 42 adult deer...2 fawns.... I had 7 white faced bucks in my willows out of the wind today.. I liked that!

YBO · Apr 10, 2017

Did they cut tags in 44 and 43?

Coloradoboy · Apr 10, 2017

Not to my knowledge. Winter wasn't nearly as bad in eagle, garfield and pitkin counties.

ColoradoOak · Apr 10, 2017

I would expect cuts in 43.

schoolhousegrizz · Apr 10, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Apr-10-17 AT 05:14PM (MST)[p]I heard they're going to try to euthanize bears and lions to boost the deer population. That is ridiculous that they don't just give more bear and lion tags to Hunters. That way they can make money instead of spend money. I guess if you are having fun doing it though it's not okay.

DW · Apr 10, 2017

They're just doing that in a couple small study areas grizz, but I agree. I see the same solution to the national parks constant bellyachein bout bein broke. They could get 2-3 hundred grand for a few bull tags in RMNP then let a bunch of kids and disabled folks shoot cows for pr. Instead they hire sharpshooter and leave some lay to rot. You can't fix stupid.

schoolhousegrizz · Apr 10, 2017

So true DW

nripepi · Apr 10, 2017

I don't know much about it, but I thought it was to do a very specific small study in one area and they were going to shoot the bears and lions in the spring, right before the does drop the fawns. That way they can prove that the bears and lions and I guess coyotes are one of the main reasons that not many fawns survive by comparing that area to other areas where they did not shoot the predators. If what I am thinking is what does occur, I think it is a pretty darn good study. If it proves that predators are the main reason, then it will likely lead to more bear and lion licenses.

schoolhousegrizz · Apr 11, 2017

There is no spring bear season in Colorado, because of the antis. That's why they can't have hunters harvest any animals. It's a joke, they have thrown common sense out the window.