COLORADO LICENSE AND SEASON CHANGES

ICMDEER · Apr 13, 2005

I'm just curious how those of you that live in Colorado, and maybe others that hunt mule deer there very year feel about the changes in the licensing system. What's it been, about 7 years now since the change was made to no "over-the-counter" deer licenses?

There's a flurry of activity in Wyoming about going to more limited quota areas for deer. Since Colorado has more experience, I'd like to know how you feel about the changes. Has it been good or bad? Do you still have an opportunity to hunt? Is the quality better or worse, and do you see more or less deer, more or fewer hunters?

I feel like I know what you'll say, but I'd like to hear from the MM hunters who live in and hunt Colorado. Your help is appreciated.

COHunter · Apr 13, 2005

I like that they went limited for Deer, and I wish they'd do it for Bull Elk.

sneakem · Apr 13, 2005

I believe the number are ever increasing and quality is better. You don't get to hunt every year but there are opportunities. As a resident I cannot honestly say that I wouldn't like to see more resident tags...as you can see the number of non-residents is increasing drastically, just look at the posts on the site. Everyone and their dog wants to hunt deer in Colorado. If there was no qouta on non res tags, we'd never get the chance to hunt. Right now about 51% of the total tags go to residents. Its a 60-40 split right now but a majority of landowner tags get sold to non res which brings the total back closer to 50-50. I think that overall it has been good for the deer herd.

DeerKing · Apr 13, 2005

I miss the old days when the rifle deer and elk seasons were separate. Only people in the field during deer season were deer hunters. It was also nice to be able to hunt deer in many different units. If one area wasnt producing you could drive and hour or two to your other area. I understand why the changes have been over the years and agree with most of them. Limited deer licenses has been a good thing and I to would like to see more units limited for elk. We have many good units with big bull potential but when the areas are opened to unlimited hunting very few reach their max potential.

AntlerQuest Hunt Consulting

BeanMan · Apr 13, 2005

I think it has been a good thing for Colorado. I can still hunt almost every year if I put time into looking for a 2nd choice license. I'd like to see elk go the same way. Maybe we couldn't hunt a bull every year but there are a lot of cow elk out there that are tasty.

BeanMan

idhunters · Apr 13, 2005

There are similiar initiatives (more controlled hunts) being put out here in Idaho. The info given about CO is great, but my question is how does CO handle youth hunters? I know in NV there is significant opportunity (something like 85% draw) for junior hunters. Giving youth the opportunity to hunt as much as possible is so important...so what is the procedure in CO?

Thanks

ColoradoOak · Apr 13, 2005

Drastically limiting deer licenses was the best thing to happen here in the last 20 years. As far as I'm concerned, these are the "good ol' days", with slightly lower overall numbers of deer. There are buck licenses that go unsold every year, so evidently nobody that wants to hunt is being left out.

I hope the later dates of the rifle seasons this year don't undo what's been accomplished since licenses have been limited.

Oak

COHunter · Apr 13, 2005

Youth hunters are given 15% of the Antlerless Tags. They are also allowed to hunt Cow Elk in any open late season. Unfortunatly for the Male Licenses, they are treated just like everyone else with the exception of "1" either-sex tag good in GMU 851 for Elk.

BUCKSPY · Apr 13, 2005

You absolutely have to limit the harvest of bucks by hunters in order to have good older age class buck representation. The DOW's mantra for years has been that you can't stockpile bucks in that there are too many other contributing mortality factors.

Well, guess what? We have big bucks because we have limited the harvest for a few years.

It can't be a free for all anymore and still have big bucks.
Look what has happened to G and H in Wyoming.

Waygoner · Apr 13, 2005

I also believe limiting deer licenses has been a good thing. I'd like to see elk go completely limited too. I doubt it will ever happen though, money seems to be the DOW's highest priority and limited elk licenses could mean a drop in revenue. Even with totally limited licenses I think you could hunt both species every year if you do your homework and put in a 3rd or 4th choice.

DougW · Apr 13, 2005

Limiting buck licenses has been one of the best things the CO DOW has done. I have to wait a few years for the great tags, but each one has been like the hunt of a lifetime for me...ie. they keep getting better and better. The in-between years can be filled with out-of-state hunts, elk hunts, antelope hunts, doe hunts, etc.

We can't all expect a good buck every year. There is just not enough of the resource to go around anymore.

ICMDEER · Apr 13, 2005

Thanks for all of the comments, guys. I hope the rest of you also take the time to speak your peace. And I hope the folks in Wyoming are taking the time to read this thread. We can learn something if we only pay attention.

cohntr6 · Apr 13, 2005

My expirence is not dated too many years here in Colorado but like others said you cant grow big bucks if they are getting hammered by OTC tag holders. Limitations on tags is the way to go. As I have hunted a few areas of the state I am enjoying seeing more bucks as well as getting the opportunity to see a great mature buck or two(I think the odds increase as I do some homework!) And again it would be nice to see some more bulls get past 2 1/2 years old. Hopefully you can ask that question about elk in the future.
Jeff

rocketman · Apr 14, 2005

I totally support limited buck tags that we
in Colo started 6 years ago. Colo will never
go back to OTC tags for deer again. Why would we?
After 6 years now we are becoming the best
deer state in the west. Gunnison with huge
tag reductions may be soon the best place in
the west for trophy bucks on public land.
Now if we would only do the same for elk as we
did for deer, Oh just dreaming. Roy in Montrose

dutch · Apr 14, 2005

I personally have noticed more and more bucks each year, however it seems like they are all little ones. Maybe a few more years will start producing more and bigger bucks as the point restriction they did have weed out all the bigger boys. That is what I have witnessed in SW colorado, I do think it has been a good thing though.

chambero · Apr 14, 2005

I echo the same thoughts already posted. As a nonresident, I could still hunt deer somewhere in CO pretty much every year. The cutback in tags wasn't so bad that it totally eliminated year to year hunting. It seems that you can get into really good hunts every 3-5 years. This is a definite succes story.

Prism · Apr 14, 2005

I hope that some of the other states will take a look at this post.

Colorado is by far the leader in mule deer right now. I don't recall what public opinion was like the first year of limited hunting, but I bet there were far more against it than for it. I imagine a lot of those against are singing a different tune today.

And to think, Colorado did it without the all important conservation group (no names) and huge numbers of conservation tags (no numbers). I hope Colorado keeps it up and maybe its neighbor to the west will pull its head out!!!

COHunter · Apr 15, 2005

Rumor has it that the DOW is going to start managing our Buck/Doe ratio for 15-20/100, down from 25/100

OSOK · Apr 15, 2005

I think it pretty obvious that the majority of Colorado is on the up and up right now. Seeing what "They've" been capable of in the past, I'm not going to hold my breath though...

sneakem · Apr 18, 2005

Yeah no kidding man....I remember a certain agency once pulling the point restriction off because the number of mature bucks was going down. Hey if we make it legal to shoot spikes maybe everyone will leave the big bucks alone and opt to shoot a lesser buck...ha ha. The numbers went to an all time low because all the bucks were getting hammered, young and old. Thank god they pulled their heads out and made it a limited quota. I wouldn't give them a high five yet, only time will really tell the truth....Money has a way......

BigDeerHunterDillon · Apr 18, 2005

I think it has been a change for the best. Every year since that change happened i have got a tag and had achancw to shoot a deer. Where I hunt there aren't many hunters and I usually only see my buddies.

walltenthunter · May 18, 2005

Limiting licenses for deer was the transfusion of quality into deer hunting. One year prior to the state going limited while hunting elk I saw one 2-pt buck. This was in country 25 years previously was major league big buck country. This past year hunting elk I saw 20 or so 4 pt. bucks. Enough said. Thank the Colorado Division of Wildlife for inserting the 'good old days' back into these year's deer hunting. Limiting hunters prevents massive overkills when hunting conditions grossly favor hunters. Knowing they are there doing so well makes us believers in limiting licenses per unit. Law enforcement is also easier.

Oats · May 18, 2005

Public opinion on the deer draw has been very positive, for the majority. In many areas before the draw including Gunnison, finding a two or three point during the rifle season wasn't easy. Wyoming definatly would be better off with a point system. Myself and two others have been putting in for elk and antelope tags for 7 years and haven't drawn. Does anyone know when the draw results will be available on line?