Can Colorado OTC Elk Last Forever?

[trophyhill]

Why not?

It’s not sustainable with the current # of hunters........

 

[Phishintrip007]

I really don't see how any of the OTC hunts will stick around long term unless people just quit hunting en masse.

 

[Ultraheight]

A word of caution, any capping of NRs (I am NR (former Res) and in favor of caps) will almost certainly spike the cost of Res OTC tags

 

[Highvoltage1]

Otc units are managed for opportunities not quality (from cpw). They have biologist who fly every season during the migration and manage herd levels. Most areas are above the threshold at this point. Wolves will have an impact but hunter numbers will not. Only thing impacting tags at this point are herd numbers, so as long as numbers are up, no worries. If you look at the elk stats, hunters are not crushing it by all means. Btw someone posted about crossbows in an earlier post…. MD, WV, PA OH allows crossbows and we thought that was the end of the deer population, but it had zero impact, so no worries there. Most compound archery hunters are just as proficient as crossbow hunters at 60 yds. Best wishes

 

[Phishintrip007]

As if most resident tags are ridiculously overpriced? It seems like several of these states could stand to benefit from increasing resident tags.

 

[D_Dubya]

I would like to see current OTC units go to limited draw with a 10% reduction in tags from current estimated # of hunters; 35% NR cap. Leftovers in the secondary draw again w/35% cap that uses preference points; then a 2nd leftover draw early August 100% random R/NR with a preference for kids. Then they could work on the show leftover list.

 

[Laramie]

It’s not sustainable with the current # of hunters........

That is your opinion not based on biology. The elk herd can sustain more hunters because the success rate will continue to drop. People will be upset, but the elk herd will be fine.

 

[Ross]

I think the reintroduction of wolves will have a larger effect than the increase of elk hunters in the next 10-20 years.

This right here will dictate things for Colorado in a decade

 

[Betta1208]

Otc units are managed for opportunities not quality (from cpw). They have biologist who fly every season during the migration and manage herd levels. Most areas are above the threshold at this point. Wolves will have an impact but hunter numbers will not. Only thing impacting tags at this point are herd numbers, so as long as numbers are up, no worries. If you look at the elk stats, hunters are not crushing it by all means. Btw someone posted about crossbows in an earlier post…. MD, WV, PA OH allows crossbows and we thought that was the end of the deer population, but it had zero impact, so no worries there. Most compound archery hunters are just as proficient as crossbow hunters at 60 yds. Best wishes

Not to change thread or bash xbows but they have no place to be mixed in with an archery season. I live in PA and wish they would limit crossbow use to a specific season. Xbow technology hasn't even peaked yet. 60yds is a chip shot for the newest 500fps xbow. And it looks like a toy. I understand compound technology and know that yes it's very good equipment but I think we've hit the peak of advancements. And you still have to draw it. Can you imagine sitting on the ground calling in an elk under pine tree. And if you really want to see OTC numbers explode allow xbows. Sorry for the rant.

 

[msalm]

The biggest change I’ve seen in the last 10 years is with more hunting pressure there are more elk holed up on private land (and harder access areas). IMO that is the savior of the CO elk population, at least for the rifle seasons.

 

[Betta1208]

Agree there. Elk are gonna survive and hunters aren't gonna swing herd numbers. I'm sure everyone wants to show up to a trailhead with 2 or 3 trucks go into the back country and not see anyone. That's my goal. But very hard to do in Colorado.

 

[trophyhill]

That is your opinion not based on biology. The elk herd can sustain more hunters because the success rate will continue to drop. People will be upset, but the elk herd will be fine.

That’s right. It is my opinion. And I trust my opinion over yours neither is yours based on biology. But my hypothesis is the elk herd numbers are a lot less today than when I first started hunting elk in CO otc units The success rates decline because the herd numbers decline. Imo of course

 

[Laramie]

That’s right. It is my opinion. And I trust my opinion over yours neither is yours based on biology. But my hypothesis is the elk herd numbers are a lot less today than when I first started hunting elk in CO otc units The success rates decline because the herd numbers decline. Imo of course

My opinion is 100% biology based. I was a wildlife and fisheries biology major and have studied big game herds for half my life.

As hunting pressure increases, the elk become much more elusive. They are quicker to flee to private or to areas difficult to reach. Hunters first opinion is the herd population must be lower but that just isn't true. They have maintained healthy populations for many years, regardless of the amount of pressure.

 

[sneaky]

This right here will dictate things for Colorado in a decade

Yet, it's been glossed over repeatedly in this entire discussion. Wolves don't care if elk are on public or private, there's no season or limit restrictions for what they kill, and wilderness areas are their favorite haunts. You CO guys will be wishing that NR numbers will be the root cause of declining elk numbers, but wolves are going to have a freaking field day in that environment. It's going to be like an all you can eat buffet for them. Feel free to keep discussing DAUs and caps, and draws, and license prices, but once the land sharks get turned loose is when herd numbers and behavior take a hit.

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[sneaky]

Not to change thread or bash xbows but they have no place to be mixed in with an archery season. I live in PA and wish they would limit crossbow use to a specific season. Xbow technology hasn't even peaked yet. 60yds is a chip shot for the newest 500fps xbow. And it looks like a toy. I understand compound technology and know that yes it's very good equipment but I think we've hit the peak of advancements. And you still have to draw it. Can you imagine sitting on the ground calling in an elk under pine tree. And if you really want to see OTC numbers explode allow xbows. Sorry for the rant.

Crossbow use hasn't killed off all the elk in Wyoming, and they've been legal there for a while. It's the same old BS argument against crossbows in every state. I know a LOT of archery hunters that talk shit about crossbows and they can't shoot a compound worth a crap. They have to blame something on their failures

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[Betta1208]

Crossbow use hasn't killed off all the elk in Wyoming, and they've been legal there for a while. It's the same old BS argument against crossbows in every state. I know a LOT of archery hunters that talk shit about crossbows and they can't shoot a compound worth a crap. They have to blame something on their failures

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I don't think it will kill off all the elk either. I didn't state that. I think the concern is hunter numbers. Colorado and its OTC is a different dynamic than Wyoming. Crossbows are on a whole different level than they were 5 years ago. Hunter numbers will increase and it's not BS. I live in Pennsylvania and archery tags have increased by over 100000 since 2009 when xbows we're legalized. They need their own season. And those that can't shoot a bow worth a shit should go buy an xbow.

 

[CO Mountain Man]

Yet, it's been glossed over repeatedly in this entire discussion. Wolves don't care if elk are on public or private, there's no season or limit restrictions for what they kill, and wilderness areas are their favorite haunts. You CO guys will be wishing that NR numbers will be the root cause of declining elk numbers, but wolves are going to have a freaking field day in that environment. It's going to be like an all you can eat buffet for them. Feel free to keep discussing DAUs and caps, and draws, and license prices, but once the land sharks get turned loose is when herd numbers and behavior take a hit.

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I agree with you. Once the impact of wolves is fully realized, the number of tags that can be issued will fall. I think it will become 100% limited draw and the residents will become more vocal to have a higher percentage of the tags. The unknown is when that scenario transpires. Is it 10 years from now, 15, 20?

 

[Stalker69]

No way it will last forever ! At the rate we are paving and pouring concrete and building. Our wildlife is on the losing end, and we as hunters will be confined to smaller and smaller units ( land) to hunt on. If peta and “ animal lovers” would only see what is really killing our wildlife, and putting forth money and effort at the real cause, stopping the building we might have a chance to prolong our wildlife. But that ain’t going to happen, we are losing land at a rapid pace, and it’s only going to get worse.

 

[WRM]

Cuz the first thing you want to do when you see some "cool stuff" is...live there.

 

[mavinwa2]

Well I hope for 5 more years at least....then I might be too old for OTC backcountry elk hunting