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FIFY
They’re referring to what happens on private property. New building in winter habitat is a real problem that CPW has no control over.
Sure they do. If it’s that critical to the future of elk in Colorado they need to Buck up and figure out a way to protect it whether it’s through leasing, easements, purchasing, working with the county and cities to change zoning ordinances or however else they may. I know it’s easier said than done. But just saying It’s out of our control is not an acceptable answer. Just think if Aldo Leopoldo, Audobon, Ding darling, Teddy Roosevelt, hunters and all their conservationist wildlife officials said “It’s out of our control” in 1900. Many people a lot more in the know then me feel we are at the crux of modern wildlife NOW! Bird species, amphibians, reptiles are all going to the wayside but no one notices because the deer and elk are stable. Colorado is saying it’s out of their control. I call Bullshit.
They can do something, but they can't control it all. Look at the debacle over the Vail Bighorn issue. CPW can work to get an easement but they can't necessarily buy land so it doesn't get developed. They aren't going to be able to stop every development in elk and deer habitat. State game agencies are more in the business of making recommendations than actual decision-making.
That for sure has a lot to do with it. I can however say it is not the same for deer in every state. My home state our deer populations are still high, but not as high as they used to be, and not as many quality deer, but thats mainly due to habitat loss. Especially in my certain county.
How did the vail bighorn debacle end up in the end? O yea, that’s right people, worked their tails off and protected sheep winter range. It didn’t come easy but no one said we can’t protect it all so let’s not protect any of it.
I was a RMEF Committee member in Western Colorado for a number of years and many of our efforts focused on preserving winter range. Unfortunately many land developers will earn much more money by breaking up land than either private groups like RMEF, Mesa Land Conservancy etc can afford To mitigate. Efforts to conserve winter range are increasing but not as fast as development.
Whats the code for one of those September rifle cow tags? I want one of those!
They removed the unit 45 September rifle cow tags when the cba brought it to their attention in 2018, in fact they removed almost all cow tags hunt codes until last year when they reinstated rifle cow tags. I'd have to look at the book, I don't think archers got any.
Oh boy.
