Too many elk in CO

sremim

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CRAIG (AP) - A northwest Colorado elk herd is two to three times larger than originally believed, state wildlife officials say.


The Bears Ears herd is now estimated at 23,000 to 45,000, state Division of Wildlife officials said. Previous estimates put the herd at 11,000 to 15,000 animals.

The new count is based on a spring survey of elk herd ranges using three helicopters and one airplane.

"We used a grid system to count the elk on the ground," DOW wildlife biologist Darby Finley said. "We flew over 1,754 miles of winter range and counted 4,119 elk."

Some northwest Colorado landowners had complained for years that the DOW elk estimates were faulty.

"There's way too many elk in some places," rancher John Smith said. "They move into these meadows too early and rub out the growth. They kill the edible brush."

At a meeting last week, rancher T. Wright Dickinson told wildlife officers they have an obligation to make sure elk range is protected, just as ranchers are expected to make sure cattle range isn't overused.

"You need to survey for the health of the range. It can't handle the numbers (of elk) it has now," he said.








It's Bush's fault!!!
 
I wish the herd in unit 70 was 2 to 3 times to big. Because I have a first season bull tag there this October.
 
>"There's way too many elk in
>some places," rancher John Smith
>said. "They move into these
>meadows too early and rub
>out the growth. They kill
>the edible brush."


John Smith and his brother Brad could go a long way towards helping fix the problem if they'd be a little more accommodating to hunters.
 
Yeah, and I think T. Wright Dickinson could do his part to help out too rather than ragging about the condition of the range.
 
Interesting article...

ColoradoOak / toughshed, these Ranchers you speak of, do you mind explaining just where these guys are located in relation to Craig and or the Routt NF north of Craig? I have hunted up there a couple of times and am just curious.

Thanks,
Mark
 
> The Bears Ears herd is
>now estimated at 23,000 to
>45,000, state Division of Wildlife
>officials said. Previous estimates put
>the herd at 11,000 to
>15,000 animals.

23,000 to 45,000? That's a difference of 22,00!
 
Herds every where are getting too big because 2-3 weeks after archery starts they are all sitting down in the valleys on private land where dickheads don't allow hunting.
then they go ##### to the DOW to do something about it because they are tearing their fields and fences up and getting into hay barns and wiping those out as well.
While at the same time, whiny ass hunters, like myself at the moment ##### about all the elk being on private land when hunting season comes! haha....
dutch
" Man who excels at putting worm on hook is Master Baiter"
 
23000 to 45000 elk...
I'd take a stab and say they really don't know how many elk they have for sure if that is as close as they could count....

That is like telling the bank "I make $23000 to $45000 per year" when applying for a loan.....
 
From what I have observed, the Landowners just want more Tags to sell. It's all about money!
If there is honest concern about the size of the herd, just issue more available Tags in the areas of concern to the general public. Then watch the landowners scream!

TM
 
I agree it is always about the $. Colorado could reduce the herd if they wanted to by issuing more tags during late winter or other times like New Mexico. I don' t think they have a handle on the numbers and are making a best guess.
 
I hunted around Craid last year and witnessed the most repugnant behavior on the part of land owners I have ever witnessed. They were actually herding the elk back on to thier land with 4 wheelers after the clients had shot and missed. I'm sure not all landowners act this way, but a little cr*p ruins a lot of ice cream.
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-06-07 AT 10:11PM (MST)[p]I have witnessed the same thing around Craig and called DOW they say if they(DOW) don't see it happen they can not do anything?I usualy hunt 3 rd season & never see all the elk DOW claims are there!
 
I agree,anything the DOW has to say revolves arround the dollar ! too many ELK ? I don't think so.Generate more license sales in an over crowded hunting area ?
 
Guys, the elk are there (around Craig), they just aren't on the public land. WHy? Cause after the hord of public hunters hit the brush and the lead starts to fly, the elk head for the private land and the coal mine reclamation.

Selling more tags will do very little to knock down the population. They already have liberal tag limits and tags that go unsold each year.

It's all about location, just like real estate.

Tip of the week: Go find steep, brushy draws on public land near water, preferable a running stream. Patches of brush don't even have to be very big. Hunt those like you were bird hunting. You'll be surprised how many times a bull comes busting out of those areas. They have to hide somewhere during the day, right?

CDOW once radio collared bull elk to see what the did during the hunting season. Guess what? They found some steep nasty drainage and basically hide there the whole season. Only came out at night for water and feed close by.

Last tip: Get your carcass up on a ridge before first light, then glass and wait. You'll be surprised how many elk you catch heading for cover.
 
I agree 100% toughshed. Elk are in tough country when the pressure is on. Or private land. I don't see how this gives the rancher's the priviledge to play rodeo with the herd until clients fill tags. I've no problem with private land owners leasing out thier land for some cash. But corralling public herds of elk like it was a high fence operation is something else.
 

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