Hunt looks good for 2002

March 18, 2002

By Jennifer Reeder
Special to the Herald

Hunters disappointed with last year’s dismal season can take heart: Wildlife officials are predicting a "fantastic" season in 2002.

"Because of the poor harvest last year, there’s a tremendous amount of elk," said Scott Wait, a terrestrial biologist for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. "It should be a fantastic elk season and an excellent deer season."

Wait said last season was disappointing because the harvest numbers, or amount of killed animals, were significantly lower than expected. The elk harvest was "a third to a half" of projections, and the deer harvest was 60 percent to 80 percent of expectations.

"The elk stayed bedded up because of the hot, dry weather. They weren’t moving," said Kevin Mallow, a 36-year-old Hesperus resident and a La Plata County extension agent for Colorado State University.

Fewer hunters participated in last year’s season, which also contributed to the smaller harvest. The poor economy, the events of Sept. 11 and a rise in the cost of nonresident elk licenses from $250 to $450 kept the number of hunters down, Wait said.

In preparation for the 2002 hunting season, which starts in September, Wait gave a presentation Thursday night to help big-game hunters properly apply for limited hunting licenses.

The deadline for limited hunting license applications – hunters’ first shot at getting specific licenses through a random drawing – is April 2.

Wait’s tips for license applicants ranged from deciphering complicated hunting codes to remembering to sign the application.

Another common application error occurs in the "date of birth" section. Many hunters supply the correct day and month, but then write the current year as their birthday. This mistake causes disqualification in the computer-selected lottery.

Wait also discussed changes in the upcoming hunting season. For instance, buck deer licenses will be available for the fourth season, one of the last time frames in the overall season. This should benefit hunters eager for trophy antlers because it corresponds with mating season, when the bucks "are more aware of does and less aware of hunters," Wait said.

But Durango resident Robbie Davis, 46, was worried about the timing of the buck deer season. "I’m worried it will harvest too many mature, breeding bucks," he said.

Wait said the division is being conservative with the number of licenses offered because of that concern.

License numbers are established to manage populations in terms of numbers and male-to-female ratios, Wait said.

Current male-to-female ratios of elk and deer are another reason for hunters to foster high hopes this year.

"Our counts showed really high bull-to-cow rations, and really high buck-to-doe ratios," said Tony Gurzick, area wildlife manager for the division.

Hunters should receive licenses or refunds from the drawing after June 21. Hunters can call around July 13 to see if there are leftover licenses, which are available for purchase starting Aug. 13, said Amy Johnston, administrative assistant for the division’s Durango office. But she said the dates are tentative.

Deer season runs from September to November; elk season is from September to mid-January; and bear season is from September to mid-November, Wait said. Other, less-common quarry includes bighorn sheep and the Rocky Mountain goat, Wait said. Each season runs in short intervals during these time periods.

Thousands of hunting licenses are issued each year to deer and elk hunters, while only a few hundred are available for bears.

Officials expect the number of out-of-state hunters to return to normal levels this season.

"We’re still the cheapest place in town," said Melody Miller, district wildlife manager for the Division of Wildlife. "If people are serious about coming here and hunting, they will."

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