COLORADO TO IMPROVE ELK HERDS – We recently published an article that discussed elk tags in Southwest Colorado. The article stated that the CPW would limit archery elk tags in that area. The reason for this new limitation is part of an effort to improve the elk herds in Southern Colorado.
Diminishing Elk Herds
The elk herds that occupy Colorado’s wilderness from Trinidad to the Utah border have diminished significantly over the past several years. To determine this decline, the CPW has been looking at calf ratios across the state. Usually calf ratios run at about 40 calves per 100 cows. However, in this area, the calf to cow ratio is 18 calves for every 100 cows.
This decline has officials troubled with the diminishing herd, and they are looking for ways to improve the herd. As stated above, one way is limiting the tags in this area. The CPW is also eliminating cow tags in this area, and limiting all tags to bull tags. Joe Lewendowski, a CPW spokesperson, stated that they’ve been watching this decline over that last 15 years. He also stated the following:
“This is all a long-term process. It’s taken a decade or more to get to this level,” Lewandowski said. “We’ve tried a lot of things over the years and we have to just keep trying what we think will help.”
Colorado Elk Herds
The elk herds across the entire state of Colorado are doing fantastic. We recently recorded a podcast with J.T. Romatzke, a Wildlife Regional Manager, who stated the elk numbers are doing well across the state. However, there are still areas of improvement. Southwest Colorado is one of those areas. With the plans put in place by the CPW and other agencies, there are hopes that we will see improvement very quickly.
Have you hunted elk in Southwest Colorado? Have you seen a decline in the elk herds?
