I've been thinking about Colorado deer, and how most say it used to be such a great place to hunt bigger bucks. Now we know the winter nearly ten years ago killed a lot of deer, but doesn't seem to be recovering very quick..or do you believe it is? Since that bad winter it seems that every winter is a risk for the deer herd up there. Where from 1980's-2008 it seemed to be ok even with bad winters, big deer to be found, much easier drawable/otc units with big bucks to be found. Now it seems like there's one unit that's really considered great in Colorado, and we all know what unit that is. Is Colorado deer really getting that bad, compared to the past? This isn't intended to bash Colorado deer/management in anyway, and the same thing can be said about other States nearby with the good/bad. I'm just trying to see what you think is going on with the Colorado deer, and it's future?
Colorado Deer Compares To??
- Thread starter mike111
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elks96
Long Time Member
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Compared to what? Colorado compared to other states or to itself?
Compared to other states I still feel it is the best over all mule deer state. There are monster bucks taken out of all units every year. Even the easiest to draw units can produce a big buck. The state in general is below population objectives and is having a hard time recovering. Just like every other state in the west Colorado has habitat issues, fragmentation issues, traffic, etc.
The one thing that Colorado has that most other states does not is a massive bear population. I honestly feel that bear are a huge factor in our states deer population. Prior to the bear hunting bans a hard winter dropped the populations for 1 to 2 years. Since 1996, a hard winter appears to make fawn recruitment a lot harder. I am very interested in the study on the Roan right now. I feel that the massive bear population is a primary limiting factor on fawn recruitment. I am willing to bet the research on the Roan will have many people shocked at how much depredation on fawns occurs in Colorado in the first month of life.
Ultimately all states are struggling, there are massive bucks in every unit in Colorado and most units have a healthy balance of bucks to doe etc.
Ultimately we all know hunting is never going to be what it once was and we will never see herd sizes like they once were, on the flip side I would say that Colorado is still really good considering all the pressures and issues we have in this state.
To keep things going the right direction, Predator Control, Habitat Conservation and human animal conflict mitigation are the 3 most important issues.
Compared to other states I still feel it is the best over all mule deer state. There are monster bucks taken out of all units every year. Even the easiest to draw units can produce a big buck. The state in general is below population objectives and is having a hard time recovering. Just like every other state in the west Colorado has habitat issues, fragmentation issues, traffic, etc.
The one thing that Colorado has that most other states does not is a massive bear population. I honestly feel that bear are a huge factor in our states deer population. Prior to the bear hunting bans a hard winter dropped the populations for 1 to 2 years. Since 1996, a hard winter appears to make fawn recruitment a lot harder. I am very interested in the study on the Roan right now. I feel that the massive bear population is a primary limiting factor on fawn recruitment. I am willing to bet the research on the Roan will have many people shocked at how much depredation on fawns occurs in Colorado in the first month of life.
Ultimately all states are struggling, there are massive bucks in every unit in Colorado and most units have a healthy balance of bucks to doe etc.
Ultimately we all know hunting is never going to be what it once was and we will never see herd sizes like they once were, on the flip side I would say that Colorado is still really good considering all the pressures and issues we have in this state.
To keep things going the right direction, Predator Control, Habitat Conservation and human animal conflict mitigation are the 3 most important issues.
fullthrottle
Very Active Member
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- 1,361
I agree with everything said. The mule deer have a lot stacked against them. A lot of things we can't control, but there are many things we can. Way too many predators is one of them. Bears, cats, dogs, eagles, cars, all put a hurt on the deer. Seeing way more bears, coyotes, and cougars than ever the last few years. I think Colorado does a great job with the hand they are dealt. I believe there will be highs and lows. Colorado seems to be climbing out of a low relatively speaking. Still one of the best shows in town for overall big bucks.
So far the opinions on Colorado has me thinking it's going to be ok in Colorado. Sounds like it's the good and bad that all Western States deal with at times due to predators, population increase, bad winters etc. I'm assuming the responses so far are from Colorado residents that see what goes on with the States tag numbers, deer seen in each unit year to year, and what units are on the increase/decrease for number of larger bucks. I had no idea Bears would be a major problem in Colorado for deer numbers, but hoping if this is an issue does CDOW making any effort to control their population? Being an Arizona resident, I can tell you the top two things that I think effect our big bucks/deer population in a negative way. It would be the tag numbers being too high in any given unit, and predators. In AZ it's not bears, bad winters, or human population although all three can factor in somewhat. I would like to see how Colorado deer compares to the rest of the Western States? I still think of Colorado deer as being the top State with trophy potential, but somewhat concerned with what's going on with the deer herd there lately. So is it still the top, or are other States catching up?
