2018 Estimated Harvest Stats Posted

FrontRange · Mar 25, 2019

https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Statistics.aspx

I think the estimated harvest was posted early this year, seems like it's posted after the draw deadline in most years.

Not sure how much I trust the data as I never seem to get contacted (would definately lower the success rates).

ORIONTHEHUNTER · Mar 25, 2019

Without mandatory harvest reporting its all a WAG theory. They don't even know how many people hunt in an OTC unit let alone how many elk are actually getting killed.

BeanMan · Mar 25, 2019

In this computer age I see no reason for not having 100% mandatory reporting of hunting results. CPW is behind the eight ball in a lot of ways.

Hasbean

plumdog · Mar 26, 2019

They have been known to issue hundreds if not thousands of tags for game animals that were basically eradicated from a unit several years past. Time to quit relying heavily on computer "models" to assess populations.

GunSlinger · Mar 26, 2019

I called in to report my harvest, per an email I received, and was told sorry we can't take your information. SMH, I'm all for mandatory reporting as long as they do not ask for exact GPS coordinates.

plumdog · Mar 26, 2019

Look at how well moose are doing in the state, with very exacting hunter surveys and mandatory reporting. I think reports like that are needed for some of the deer and elk hunts that have taken a big dive in quality in recent decades. How about replacing the question "did you hunt in any other units other than?..." with "did you see any legal game in your unit?"

COLOelkman · Mar 28, 2019

I submitted the suggestion to have mandatory surveys when they were soliciting comments for the next 5-year plan and noted many people do not believe the data due to their random sampling method. Not sure they'll change but I'm of the same opinion that I don't really trust the data they show. Case in point, the unit we've typically hunted has virtually the same success rate per their data. However the last few years we'd been seeing much less game and recently they've had articles written of the significant decline of the herd in that general area (Vail to Aspen) and have significantly cut tags. Their data also shows the herd estimate has dropped 30% from 2016 to 2017 (18 data not there yet). So, if the herd is way smaller and they claim the same success rate for 2015 thru 2018, it just doesn't add up?

nripepi · Mar 28, 2019

If the buck to doe ratio decreased at the same time, then it is possible! They need to go to 100% required reporting in order to be eligible for a tag the following year. That would solve all of the issues. When there are 100s of people hunting one unit and they sample 10% of the hunters then their data is likely close to correct, if there are 10 hunters hunting a unit and they sample 10% then have a statistical problem.

COLOelkman · Mar 28, 2019

Sorry. I was posting for elk and the b/c ratio has declined from 29,27,22. Plus they cut cow tags significantly last year but success hasn't changed much. Bounced around between 12-15% last 4 years.