wildlife in bad shape in Northwest Corner!

M

Marklaroif

Member
Messages
19
With a couple more feet of snow forecasted this next week for the Craig area i have noticed the situation for the wildlife this last week has become dire! The Elk are starting to literally starve to death and there is still a lot of winter left! Let’s hope the CPW does the right thing this year and drastically cuts tag numbers in this part of the state! I think it will be awhile before the herds recover from this winter!
 
Marklaroif said:
With a couple more feet of snow forecasted this next week for the Craig area i have noticed the situation for the wildlife this last week has become dire! The Elk are starting to literally starve to death and there is still a lot of winter left! Let’s hope the CPW does the right thing this year and drastically cuts tag numbers in this part of the state! I think it will be awhile before the herds recover from this winter!
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You mean manage the herd and not the CPW bank statement… I wish that was the case
 
CDOT was dragging 15 antelope off hwy 40 last week that got mowed over by an 18 wheeler. They got stuck on the hwy due to snow depth. Elk are similar. Unprecedented winterkill this. Starvation and exposure is taking a heavy toll. Very sad witnessing this. I'd be surprised if half the elk, any antelope, and a handful of deer survive in the areas.
 
ORIONTHEHUNTER said:
Oh don't worry they won't cut tags, the extermination of our deer herd and few remaining mature bucks is full steam ahead.
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It sure seems cpw is doing more bad for the deer herd the cwd has done in my entires adult life. I remember when I started deer hunting is 2002 it was an issue, now we are 21 years later and the world hasn’t fallen apart. I may be an ignorant ass hat but dang I’ve seen a few seasons come and go.
 
1989Cohunter said:
It sure seems cpw is doing more bad for the deer herd the cwd has done in my entires adult life. I remember when I started deer hunting is 2002 it was an issue, now we are 21 years later and the world hasn’t fallen apart. I may be an ignorant ass hat but dang I’ve seen a few seasons come and go.
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You’re in denial if you don’t see the ugly end that’s coming to Colorados deer herds…
The hand of man, the advances in technology and the amount of hunting pressure is something the already weak resource can’t handle. I used to believe that things come in cycles and the mule deer would be like rabbits and coyotes, some years they are everywhere and some years they are no where to be found and you can never kill them extinct. As I’ve grown older my perspectives have changed.
 
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Sad to see mule deer in their current death spiral. They are my favorite critters to chase but as numbers have dropped so has opportunity. I used to hunt them as often as I could but I have cut way back on them for the most part in favor of whitetail and elk hunts. I feel like I wait twice the time for half the hunt. I saw bigger bucks on the Grand Mesa my first few years hunting elk than I've seen on anything I burned points on and that was a leftover tag. My first year was in '99 and we only had bull tags ($250) and the bucks we saw....................
 
Folks, I've said it a few times already. This is no joke. The deer are already practically gone.
I live and work in Northwest Colorado. Have since 2017.
My job is outside, I travel a lot between Meeker, Craig and Rangley.
The deer are just not there anymore.
Snow is deep. Very deep!
Every year I've witnessed a decline in numbers and quality.
CPW is the enemy.
In my opinion there really shouldn't be any buck hunting in November, let alone hundreds and hundreds of tags.
I see in the new regulations that they will offer doe tags again this year in 11 & 211.
WOW!
I kinda feel bad for those non residents that dream about a big Colorado Muley and save their points and money to travel out here.
Such is the way of everything in this world now. RUINED
 
Check this out.

<snip>“If it’s not recreation, it’s DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion.) And if it’s not DEI, it’s wolves. And there is nothing else,” said Dan Gates, a founding member of the partnership and longtime volunteer in Colorado’s wildlife community representing the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management and Colorado Trapper and Predator Hunters Association. “There’s no room for any conversations around wildlife and habitat management. Nothing can be done for wildlife and habitat because there are all these other distractions on this landscape. It’s so frustrating for the sportsmen community.”</snip>

www.durangoherald.com

Hunting groups quit Colorado Outdoor Partnership, cite lack of focus on wildlife

Three hunting groups resigned from the Colorado Outdoor Partnership this week, citing “serious concerns” about the group’s direction and the ability of Colorado Parks and Wildlife to lead the collabor...
www.durangoherald.com www.durangoherald.com
 
tailchasers said:
CDOT was dragging 15 antelope off hwy 40 last week that got mowed over by an 18 wheeler. They got stuck on the hwy due to snow depth. Elk are similar. Unprecedented winterkill this. Starvation and exposure is taking a heavy toll. Very sad witnessing this. I'd be surprised if half the elk, any antelope, and a handful of deer survive in the areas.
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ITS THE SHED HUNTERS TRYING TO GET ANTELOPE SHEATHS.

WHEN WILL THE MADNESS STOP?
 
Sadoldman said:
Folks, I've said it a few times already. This is no joke. The deer are already practically gone.
I live and work in Northwest Colorado. Have since 2017.
My job is outside, I travel a lot between Meeker, Craig and Rangley.
The deer are just not there anymore.
Snow is deep. Very deep!
Every year I've witnessed a decline in numbers and quality.
CPW is the enemy.
In my opinion there really shouldn't be any buck hunting in November, let alone hundreds and hundreds of tags.
I see in the new regulations that they will offer doe tags again this year in 11 & 211.
WOW!
I kinda feel bad for those non residents that dream about a big Colorado Muley and save their points and money to travel out here.
Such is the way of everything in this world now. RUINED
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Ya it’s been my observation over the years in order to meet the objectives for buck to doe ratios, they just offer doe tags instead of cutting back on buck tags! It’s really sad to see how management has sucked in so many states! Just a money grab anymore.
 
jims said:
Everyone join together and pray for change in the next 5 year season structure! CWD is a lame excuse for increase in tag quotas and rut rifle season dates. Maybe this year's winterkill will be an eye opener?
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Public comments for said 5-year season structure can be made here:

Big Game Season Structure

The final 2025-2029 Big Game Season Structure was approved by the Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) at the June 12-13, 2024 PWC meeting. More information about the 2025-2029 BGSS planning process is available on this page. CPW values the input received from members of
engagecpw.org engagecpw.org

I believe March 15th is the deadline. I also believe it will take more than prayer.
 
The game management situation Colorado is in was created by Democrat Governor John Hickenlooper. He saw the Division of Wildlife as a cash cow that could be used to support the Parks Department, that operated in the red and could not support itself. The CPW is now run by liberal bureaucrats that don’t care about wildlife or sportsmen. It’s just another example of liberal Dems ruining everything they touch. Liberals on this site, tell me how I am wrong.
 
Don’t worry he is angling for the POTUS spot… whole country can get a taste of his stupid turtle necks and sneakers lol
 
Gunnihunter said:
The game management situation Colorado is in was created by Democrat Governor John Hickenlooper. He saw the Division of Wildlife as a cash cow that could be used to support the Parks Department, that operated in the red and could not support itself. The CPW is now run by liberal bureaucrats that don’t care about wildlife or sportsmen. It’s just another example of liberal Dems ruining everything they touch. Liberals on this site, tell me how I am wrong.
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Spot on… I still remember she cdow joined with CPW, and there was an accounting mistake on the parks side where they were somewhere in the millions of dollars in debt, whoops ?
 
it’s going to take a few years to rebound from the last few years. If it even will, at this point I’m not sure that it can even happen. Maybe it’s not all doom and gloom but from what I see it doesn’t look good.
 
As long as there is one deer to run around and make tracks, the CPW will sell thousands of licenses….
until we quit buying those licenses they will never change their practices… which is greed at the cost of the wildlife!!!!
 
Bluehair said:
Check this out.

<snip>“If it’s not recreation, it’s DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion.) And if it’s not DEI, it’s wolves. And there is nothing else,” said Dan Gates, a founding member of the partnership and longtime volunteer in Colorado’s wildlife community representing the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management and Colorado Trapper and Predator Hunters Association. “There’s no room for any conversations around wildlife and habitat management. Nothing can be done for wildlife and habitat because there are all these other distractions on this landscape. It’s so frustrating for the sportsmen community.”</snip>

www.durangoherald.com

Hunting groups quit Colorado Outdoor Partnership, cite lack of focus on wildlife

Three hunting groups resigned from the Colorado Outdoor Partnership this week, citing “serious concerns” about the group’s direction and the ability of Colorado Parks and Wildlife to lead the collabor...
www.durangoherald.com www.durangoherald.com
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Ugh. Just read the article. From a public affairs perspective, the statement from DNR and Gibbs was an big FU to those orgs who resigned and a reiteration of a new direction/focus. NOT GOOD.
 
Wild787 said:
As long as there is one deer to run around and make tracks, the CPW will sell thousands of licenses….
until we quit buying those licenses they will never change their practices… which is greed at the cost of the wildlife!!!!
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You’re not wrong. My late grandpa used to always say “If there was one elk left in the state, Colorado would sell a license for it” Might as well say the same for mule deer at this point. I’m no more holy than the next, but I personally haven’t killed a mule deer in Colorado since 2018. Ate the last 2 tags I’ve had. I can’t bring myself to kill one at this point, definitely won’t be guiding any this year that’s for sure. Learning to love hunting whitetails at this point in my life, thankful that i at-least got experience some decent mule deer hunting in my 31 years of life if it doesn’t ever recover. I just don’t see it happening with the massive influx of population flooding into Colorado, the loss of habitat, hunting pressure and poor management over the years.
 
Snoopdogg said:
Ugh. Just read the article. From a public affairs perspective, the statement from DNR and Gibbs was an big FU to those orgs who resigned and a reiteration of a new direction/focus. NOT GOOD.
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I have experience with a couple of other state agencies. They are udderly incompetent, and in some cases corrupt*. The people running them are blinded by ideology and don’t see it.

* I have the letter from the AG acknowledging it. Of course I also have one from Utah, so maybe it’s me who’s out of step.
 
The_Coloradoboy said:
You’re not wrong. My late grandpa used to always say “If there was one elk left in the state, Colorado would sell a license for it” Might as well say the same for mule deer at this point. I’m no more holy than the next, but I personally haven’t killed a mule deer in Colorado since 2018. Ate the last 2 tags I’ve had. I can’t bring myself to kill one at this point, definitely won’t be guiding any this year that’s for sure. Learning to love hunting whitetails at this point in my life, thankful that i at-least got experience some decent mule deer hunting in my 31 years of life if it doesn’t ever recover. I just don’t see it happening with the massive influx of population flooding into Colorado, the loss of habitat, hunting pressure and poor management over the years.
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Agree 100% and it’s not just Colorado…. Wyoming is as bad or probably worse…..

we should hand over mosquito and tick control to the fish and game, then we would have none of them either…
 
Bluehair said:
I have experience with a couple of other state agencies. They are udderly incompetent, and in some cases corrupt*. The people running them are blinded by ideology and don’t see it.

* I have the letter from the AG acknowledging it. Of course I also have one from Utah, so maybe it’s me who’s out of step.
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Yuck. That's what comes to mind.

I love hunting Colorado, but hell. Not feeling good about the immediate direction of the deptartment and the farce that is Polis!

When can Denver, I mean Colorado, pick a new leader?
 
Wild787 said:
My brother pumps wells in the great divide and west of Baggs country, says there are dead antelope in every fence corner.
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And they are getting pounded again- 8+" looks likely through a lot of that country with the current storm.
1676999352506.png
 
Snoopdogg said:
Yuck. That's what comes to mind.

I love hunting Colorado, but hell. Not feeling good about the immediate direction of the deptartment and the farce that is Polis!

When can Denver, I mean Colorado, pick a new leader?
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Shoot I don’t think there are enough brain cells in Denver to see the the light, we will get more of the same, and then wonder why things are so bad…
 
You will see the end of hunting in Colorado within a few years but it won't be because game populations are crashing. It will be because they vote it out. The wolf vote showed them they have the numbers they need.
 
marburg said:
You will see the end of hunting in Colorado within a few years but it won't be because game populations are crashing. It will be because they vote it out. The wolf vote showed them they have the numbers they need.
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I disagree. There are still enough rednecks hiding out here to make some noise. See: Boebert, Lauren.

We’re full steam ahead with wiping out the species that have any commercial value, and I’m in the camp that believes there’s a deliberate effort underway to “restore a balanced ecosystem” that doesn’t require humans using lethal methods.
 
Bluehair said:
I disagree. There are still enough rednecks hiding out here to make some noise. See: Boebert, Lauren.

We’re full steam ahead with wiping out the species that have any commercial value, and I’m in the camp that believes there’s a deliberate effort underway to “restore a balanced ecosystem” that doesn’t require humans using lethal methods.
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it sure seems to be the plan. I would almost dare to say if you think differently then your eyes are closed.
 
Bluehair said:
I disagree. There are still enough rednecks hiding out here to make some noise. See: Boebert, Lauren.

We’re full steam ahead with wiping out the species that have any commercial value, and I’m in the camp that believes there’s a deliberate effort underway to “restore a balanced ecosystem” that doesn’t require humans using lethal methods.
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I get that it is hearsay, but I have a very reliable source who heard the “1st man” in person at a stakeholder meeting say that was the goal, is to have wolves, replace the need for human hunters… this should be a no brainer
 
There is a point we almost have to get to where we regulate ourselves. Last deer season I ate my tag because I couldn’t find anything I liked. It’s a tricky situation to be In. But if we are going to wait for our state to do it for us it’s going to be way to late. I’m sure this isn’t a popular opinion and by no means am I an expert.
 
1989Cohunter said:
There is a point we almost have to get to where we regulate ourselves. Last deer season I ate my tag because I couldn’t find anything I liked. It’s a tricky situation to be In. But if we are going to wait for our state to do it for us it’s going to be way to late. I’m sure this isn’t a popular opinion and by no means am I an expert.
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Brother the problem is as long as there are tags for sale they get sold… heck the leftover list seems to disappear pretty dang quick every week
 
The_Coloradoboy said:
You’re not wrong. My late grandpa used to always say “If there was one elk left in the state, Colorado would sell a license for it” Might as well say the same for mule deer at this point. I’m no more holy than the next, but I personally haven’t killed a mule deer in Colorado since 2018. Ate the last 2 tags I’ve had. I can’t bring myself to kill one at this point, definitely won’t be guiding any this year that’s for sure. Learning to love hunting whitetails at this point in my life, thankful that i at-least got experience some decent mule deer hunting in my 31 years of life if it doesn’t ever recover. I just don’t see it happening with the massive influx of population flooding into Colorado, the loss of habitat, hunting pressure and poor management over the years.
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Spot on. Tag soup sucks but sometimes worth it.
 
It’s sad when so-called “wildlife managers” switch gears and become “wildlife exploitators….all for the sake of the almighty $!

Yep, it’s getting to the point that wildlife management has nothing to to do with the actual critters and habitat.

It’s a sad day when the RMEF and others that support conservation efforts across the West are shamed in Colorado by the CPW and treated like dirt!

Someone needs a wake-up call? How do we as hunters and conservationists change this horrid trend?
 
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jims said:
It’s sad when so-called “wildlife managers” switch gears and become “wildlife exploitators….all for the sake of the almighty $!

Yep, it’s getting to the point that wildlife management has nothing to to do with the actual critters and habitat.

It’s a sad day when the RMEF and others that support conservation efforts across the West are shamed in Colorado by the CPW and treated like dirt!

Someone needs a wake-up call? How do we as hunters and conservationists change this horrid trend?
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We need to teach the politics of hunting. A 5 year old understands the politics of guns and the romanticism of hunting, but we have grown ass men who refuse to acknowledge the role politics plays.

We need to find some state legislators who will rip the CPW out of the hands of political activists and put it back in the hands of wildlife managers.

And if the cartels ran the place, there would be some woofs hanging from bridges.
 
Not that it will change anything for the better but I’ll make another conspiracy prediction……. based on Utah’s historic decline in mule deer. Compared to the previous three decades, Colorados mule deer population has been in serious decline, primarily from mismanagement and over hunting/harvest, and a couple tough winters along the way. Now…….. when this pending winter kill happens, from here on out, your Fish and Game will claim everything was great before the spring of 2023, when winter kill took all your big game. It was the weather that took your mule deer, there was nothing we could do about it. You can’t control the weather! Finished, done…… you can never blame them again and get any traction. What’s worse….. when you do, the next generation will believe them, not you…… and tell you old men to shut up and quite lying to everybody about how it used to be.

Wyoming will do the same.

The ones that have control will never take responsibility.

Sorry to be sour but it’s pissed me off for so long, watching this crap roll out I can’t help my self.

I yield the floor back to blue and jims…….
 
marburg said:
You will see the end of hunting in Colorado within a few years but it won't be because game populations are crashing. It will be because they vote it out. The wolf vote showed them they have the numbers they need.
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?
 
jims said:
It’s sad when so-called “wildlife managers” switch gears and become “wildlife exploitators….all for the sake of the almighty $!

Yep, it’s getting to the point that wildlife management has nothing to to do with the actual critters and habitat.

It’s a sad day when the RMEF and others that support conservation efforts across the West are shamed in Colorado by the CPW and treated like dirt!

Someone needs a wake-up call? How do we as hunters and conservationists change this horrid trend?
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You always claim its about smiling faces and local economies.

You reap what you sow...and I'll be the first to tell you, "I told you so"...
 
jims said:
What the heck are you barking about Buzz?
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When a business relies on funding from wildlife assets it becomes all about the "almighty $!" as you put it.

How do you expect smiling faces and local economies to survive without the CPW issuing tags?

That's what happens, pressure is applied by the "local economies" to produce tags so they can make money. No longer is about wildlife management, its about business, and businesses need to make money.

YOU push that crap all the time, that wildlife needs to be exploited by those that profit from it...

You asked for it, you got it...stop complaining.
 
I don't know how many of you guys saw the wolf meeting today, but the wolfies successfully got the lethal management of wolves eliminated from the plan. They also got wolves being listed as game species eliminated as well
 
Buzz, the same problems are headed your way in Wyo! There are a heck of a lot of changes happening in both Wyo and Colo. Sometime status quo is great.....sometimes not. Hopefully Wyo can learn from Colo and other state's mistakes.

By the way, I'm all in favor of nonres hunters bringing smiling faces to local economies!
 
ORIONTHEHUNTER said:
I don't know how many of you guys saw the wolf meeting today, but the wolfies successfully got the lethal management of wolves eliminated from the plan. They also got wolves being listed as game species eliminated as well
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You gotta be kidding me… not really surprised though this state is such a joke now, don’t even recognize it hardly anymore
 
Right On Lumpy!

2lumpy said:
Not that it will change anything for the better but I’ll make another conspiracy prediction……. based on Utah’s historic decline in mule deer. Compared to the previous three decades, Colorados mule deer population has been in serious decline, primarily from mismanagement and over hunting/harvest, and a couple tough winters along the way. Now…….. when this pending winter kill happens, from here on out, your Fish and Game will claim everything was great before the spring of 2023, when winter kill took all your big game. It was the weather that took your mule deer, there was nothing we could do about it. You can’t control the weather! Finished, done…… you can never blame them again and get any traction. What’s worse….. when you do, the next generation will believe them, not you…… and tell you old men to shut up and quite lying to everybody about how it used to be.

Wyoming will do the same.

The ones that have control will never take responsibility.

Sorry to be sour but it’s pissed me off for so long, watching this crap roll out I can’t help my self.

I yield the floor back to blue and jims…….
Click to expand...
 
ORIONTHEHUNTER said:
I don't know how many of you guys saw the wolf meeting today, but the wolfies successfully got the lethal management of wolves eliminated from the plan. They also got wolves being listed as game species eliminated as well
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Is there a link to the meeting or a transcript. That news is beyond bad. Is it a done deal or can we still fight that?
 
txhunter58 said:
Is there a link to the meeting or a transcript. That news is beyond bad. Is it a done deal or can we still fight that?
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I don’t know the answer to your question, but I signed up for something along the way that sends me frequent CPW wolf communications. There are so many that I don’t even post them anymore.

I went to the CPW website to see if I could locate the source. For some reason CPW has made it very difficult to find their woof info. It’s almost like they’re hiding it.

Start here:

cpw.state.co.us

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. CPW issues hunting and fishing...
cpw.state.co.us

BTW, I’m pretty sure the lake will fill this year. :oops:
 
I talked with my brother today in western Wyoming and he's saying the same thing. The weather is brutal and dot is driving by picking antelope and deer from the highways and the elk are starving as well. I really hope we can get an early warm spring quickly.
 
Drove from Vernal to Hayden last week. Snow to the top wire most of the way and not many blown off places for them. Cow elk were eating bushes on the shoulder of hwy 40.
 
Togwotee said:
Wow, what is going to be the expected damage to the game herds ?
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I haven’t seen anything official, but it would have been hard to make it if they didn’t get out of the high country. But I’m always surprised by the resiliency of the critters, so keeping my fingers crossed.

But it just keeps coming. Here’s today’s winter storm warning of accumulations of 1-4 feet this week. I hate that f’n snow shovel this year. :(

local.nixle.com

Winter Storm Warning until 12:00AM Thursday from Montezuma County Emergency Alert System : Nixle

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 feet with locally higher amounts up to 4 feet possible. Winds gusting as high as 65 mph. * WHERE...Southwest San Juan Mountains. ...
local.nixle.com local.nixle.com
 
I took a drive yesterday over through dinosaur. Most of the older Bulls looked in good shape, some of the younger spikes, cows and rags looked any where from really rough to not bad.

This guy was in the worst shape out of all I seen.
20230319_082246.jpg

He is alive and had been standing 30 minutes before when I drove by the first time.

I didn't see many deer but what I seen we're looking ok.
 
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Bluehair said:
I haven’t seen anything official, but it would have been hard to make it if they didn’t get out of the high country. But I’m always surprised by the resiliency of the critters, so keeping my fingers crossed.

But it just keeps coming. Here’s today’s winter storm warning of accumulations of 1-4 feet this week. I hate that f’n snow shovel this year. :(

local.nixle.com

Winter Storm Warning until 12:00AM Thursday from Montezuma County Emergency Alert System : Nixle

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 feet with locally higher amounts up to 4 feet possible. Winds gusting as high as 65 mph. * WHERE...Southwest San Juan Mountains. ...
local.nixle.com local.nixle.com
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Same crap up in Routt County. Snow for the next 4 days and possible major winds Tue/Weds.
Winter will just not leave peacefully, and being 15-20 degrees each day below the normal high- SUCKSSSSS!!!
 
JakeH said:
I took a drive yesterday over through dinosaur. Most of the older Bulls looked in good shape, some of the younger spikes, cows and rags looked any where from really rough to not bad.

This guy was in the worst shape out of all I seen.
View attachment 106165
He is alive and had been standing 30 minutes before when I drove by the first time.

I didn't see many deer but what I seen we're looking ok.
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That gives us some hope for the Extreme west buffer of the NW corner.
 
I've seen several elk lay down and die this winter. Several antelope curled up too and just never got back to there feet. Most look like they went to sleep. Antelope in NW Colorado looks to be 50%+ winter kill, elk are hard to say but 25-35% does not seem out of line, deer? What deer. We are seeing very very few. A few deer in small concentrated tracts. More will be found when the snow melts.

This is no more than my observations.
 
Well, we just set new record (30 years data) snowpack levels in my local river basin.

Hey tailchaser, have the water managers moved off the 60% projections yet? :ROFLMAO:
D4E55E6F-0800-41A3-9644-9C95A0A1C5A4.png
 
Pretty rough, I know SW WY was awful when I was there last month. feel sorry for the animals it's brutal in times like this.

How is the Uncompahgre and the Gunnison basin down south doing? traffic cameras show some bare hills.
 
Togwotee said:
Pretty rough, I know SW WY was awful when I was there last month. feel sorry for the animals it's brutal in times like this.

How is the Uncompahgre and the Gunnison basin down south doing? traffic cameras show some bare hills.
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I don’t know about the Gunnison but I talked to the Biologist yesterday about the Elk in the Uncompahgre. He said he didn’t think there would be any issue with the elk population do to the snow. He said that there was plenty of low country for them to migrate down to.
 
Gunnihunter said:
The game management situation Colorado is in was created by Democrat Governor John Hickenlooper. He saw the Division of Wildlife as a cash cow that could be used to support the Parks Department, that operated in the red and could not support itself. The CPW is now run by liberal bureaucrats that don’t care about wildlife or sportsmen. It’s just another example of liberal Dems ruining everything they touch. Liberals on this site, tell me how I am wrong.
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You don't read, just quote admitted liars who ridicule you behind your back. Where is your credibility when you simply quote someone has admitted lying to you everyday.
 
Met with one of the biologists last week about my sheep tag and he told me they have "Good/Bad/Ugly" analysis on the elk situation in the area East of Rabbit Ears pass to Craig - this would be the area where the animals would have normally migrated North to Wyoming if not continuing NW past Craig.

The good news is the cow elk are starting to drop calves, and may not have aborted this years crops as some had indicated would happen.

The bad news is the calves should be in the 20-25lb range, but this crop is 1/3 to 1/2 weight wise smaller - ouch.

The ugly is scary - based on the small sample they gathered so far from one day of tagging the the calves, they found several calves had deformities.

The biologist said the truth should be clear in another few weeks as the smaller the calf the greater the likelyhood it will not survive.

In the last few days in my turf, I have had a group of around 15 cows with at least 6 calves running around this am. I am happy to see this, but normally I would see a 100+ elk most mornings in my pasture or neighbors pastures.

Deer are a joke - I have seen a couple of bucks and the few does I have seen I am certain did not have fawns as they looked lean and scary. The thought crossed my mind that they might have CWD as they did not look healthy at all.

I have around 9 antelope hanging around which blew me away, except they are all does none have had any fawns that I seen and have several people I know that said there are quite a few fawns around Craig right now.

The grass and vegetation is unreal right now and has been for the last month as the snow left.

I gotta believe it is going to be rough year for those with tags in this region- pressure aside,. A lot of animals did not make it or return to their normal summer grounds as of mid June.
 
Thill said:
Met with one of the biologists last week about my sheep tag and he told me they have "Good/Bad/Ugly" analysis on the elk situation in the area East of Rabbit Ears pass to Craig - this would be the area where the animals would have normally migrated North to Wyoming if not continuing NW past Craig.

The good news is the cow elk are starting to drop calves, and may not have aborted this years crops as some had indicated would happen.

The bad news is the calves should be in the 20-25lb range, but this crop is 1/3 to 1/2 weight wise smaller - ouch.

The ugly is scary - based on the small sample they gathered so far from one day of tagging the the calves, they found several calves had deformities.

The biologist said the truth should be clear in another few weeks as the smaller the calf the greater the likelyhood it will not survive.

In the last few days in my turf, I have had a group of around 15 cows with at least 6 calves running around this am. I am happy to see this, but normally I would see a 100+ elk most mornings in my pasture or neighbors pastures.

Deer are a joke - I have seen a couple of bucks and the few does I have seen I am certain did not have fawns as they looked lean and scary. The thought crossed my mind that they might have CWD as they did not look healthy at all.

I have around 9 antelope hanging around which blew me away, except they are all does none have had any fawns that I seen and have several people I know that said there are quite a few fawns around Craig right now.

The grass and vegetation is unreal right now and has been for the last month as the snow left.

I gotta believe it is going to be rough year for those with tags in this region- pressure aside,. A lot of animals did not make it or return to their normal summer grounds as of mid June.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the report. Definitely not good, I guess we can hope that some of the waist tall grass can hide the calves and fawns till they can get some weight on and keep up with mom.
 
Thill said:
Met with one of the biologists last week about my sheep tag and he told me they have "Good/Bad/Ugly" analysis on the elk situation in the area East of Rabbit Ears pass to Craig - this would be the area where the animals would have normally migrated North to Wyoming if not continuing NW past Craig.

The good news is the cow elk are starting to drop calves, and may not have aborted this years crops as some had indicated would happen.

The bad news is the calves should be in the 20-25lb range, but this crop is 1/3 to 1/2 weight wise smaller - ouch.

The ugly is scary - based on the small sample they gathered so far from one day of tagging the the calves, they found several calves had deformities.

The biologist said the truth should be clear in another few weeks as the smaller the calf the greater the likelyhood it will not survive.

In the last few days in my turf, I have had a group of around 15 cows with at least 6 calves running around this am. I am happy to see this, but normally I would see a 100+ elk most mornings in my pasture or neighbors pastures.

Deer are a joke - I have seen a couple of bucks and the few does I have seen I am certain did not have fawns as they looked lean and scary. The thought crossed my mind that they might have CWD as they did not look healthy at all.

I have around 9 antelope hanging around which blew me away, except they are all does none have had any fawns that I seen and have several people I know that said there are quite a few fawns around Craig right now.

The grass and vegetation is unreal right now and has been for the last month as the snow left.

I gotta believe it is going to be rough year for those with tags in this region- pressure aside,. A lot of animals did not make it or return to their normal summer grounds as of mid June.
Click to expand...

These two looked plenty healthy tonight while out scouting for my archery deer hunt.
20230621_213716.jpg


Seen quite a few of them. But I was a little bit south and west.
 
Thill said:
Met with one of the biologists last week about my sheep tag and he told me they have "Good/Bad/Ugly" analysis on the elk situation in the area East of Rabbit Ears pass to Craig - this would be the area where the animals would have normally migrated North to Wyoming if not continuing NW past Craig.
Click to expand...
I did it again - I meant to say the area "West of Rabbit Ears Pass"
 
I just got back from spending five days north of Craig. In the areas where I usually see dozens of deer and pronghorns in the past. It’s not looking good at all !! The fewest animals I’ve seen since I’ve been going out there in 20+ years. It’s gonna take a while to rebound. I do have a deer tag. But I’m going to feel guilty about shooting something if there aren’t very many around.?
 
Went and did a little blue grouse hunting yesterday. I got to admit, I was blown away at all of the out of state archery hunters in the OTC areas N of Steamboat. Definitely more hunters than I have seen in decades. I am usually kinda social and stop and visit a few of the camps and exchange pleasantries with some of the repeaters from the past. I asked some of the camps if they were aware of the winterkill and all but one said they had just heard about and wanted to know how bad it was. One group from Florida said they had heard about it, but they hunted this same area a few years ago and were into elk most days. This group came up early in the week to adjust to the altitude and said they had only seen a group of 3 elk so far this week.

I will check back later this week with some of the camps, and tried to not be a Debbie Downer and shared my insight to only those that specifically asked about where and when I usually see deer and elk.

It is hard to tell a group of a fellow hunters that I live a mile or two from where they are hunting and historically would see 50-100+ elk every morning grazing in my pasture or neighbors pasture and to date have only watched elk two or three times this summer. These elk I normally see are would be the same ones drifting back and forth to the NF they would see if they existed.

What are you guys seeing in the Flattops or around the Hayden/Craig areas?
 
I have friends heading to the Steamboat area on Monday. They know it's bad but want to get out of the house and in the MNTs. I can't blame them.
 
Anyone elk hunt around Steamboat yet this year? Any elk seen? How has it compared to last year?

We're heading out tomorrow with low expectations.
 
Just talked to a friend that has been in that area for the last 7 days. Only elk they saw was a bull and a couple elk that walked by camp at 1030 at night. He said other guys in the area have had similar results.
 
Just got back from hunting around Steamboat. Pretty bad. 3 cows were seen. One sanctuary ranch (no hunting allowed) that we normally can glass up 50-70 head of elk every day had about 20 head. We only saw 3 deer when we normally see well over 100. Bears were there as usual.
 

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