Well here is a pasted copy of my comment.
I am simply amazed at how the data in the area seems so contradictory. I worked on several of the studies with Chuck Anderson and the main take always that Chuck shared for the last 20 or so years is that in 22 the habitat is not a limiting factor. I recall several public presentation in which he showed that decent body scores, high birth weights of fawns, the high pregnancy rates and the high birth rates all proved that the range was not a limiting factor in the area. His data showed that with some habitat work, we can greatly improve habitat and that Oil/Gas development is not a major impact on the herds in the long run. In many cases the development actually helped to create edge habitat and over time increased forage quality etc.
It is a shame what they did. We can’t manage to our old goal, but we have had 35,000 deer, so let’s put the new goal to 30,000 deer and kill off the excess 5,000 deer.
Sorry but the whole thing sucks. I wish that Chucks Predator research was released. It could greatly change the conversation. While I have only seen bits of the data, there is something there that would flip this entire conversation….
At any rate my long comment. I tried hard not to be an a*hole but it is nearly impossible given the current BS…
I write this comment with absolute discus and disdain for the current deer management practices present in NW Colorado. I honestly can not relay how sickening it has been to watch the slaughter of our once great deer herds in the NW. Watching the last 2 falls and seeing piles of healthy doe and fawn deer at the processing plants is simply beyond comprehension. It is wrong on so many many levels. Between that and the disastrous CWD mitigation process the deer hunting has been all but destroyed in the NW corner for a decade if not more...
Sorry but I can not fathom how poorly the herds in the NW have been managed. For decades I worked with CPW and supported the work being done. Served on several groups and worked with managers on a wide variety of issues. Now I no longer see CPW as an ally in management but a foe.
Having volunteered with Chuck Anderson on his many studies in the NW I find it interesting that his data, his reporting appears to be contrary to what is currently being reported in the HMP. I recall public meetings in which his data was shared to prove that habitat (at least in the Basin) was not a limiting factor to the herds. He had significant data that showed that the deer were healthy and on all but the harshest of winters they wintered well. His data showed that the OIl and gas development in 22 was not a major concern for the health and longevity of the herd. He presented slides that showed the area could likely support larger herds. Between the long term body condition scores, the pregnancy rates, the number of doe birthing fawns(including the really high rate of twins) and the number of viable fawns hitting the ground in the spring with good body weights, his presentations and data suggest that the habitat in the area was not a limiting factor. Yes the winter of 07/08 was an exception, but the conditions that winter were different than any winter I have personally observed since 1984. Between the data he had shared and published and the hands-on experience I had with his project (including the collaring, capture, preg checking, etc.) I simply do not but that the range can not sustain the herds and that we need to cull.
The last HMP was simply wrong(I am not sure how I missed it but I can honestly say I had no idea that the numbers/herd objectives were being so drastically cut). I do not understand at all how we can kill thousands of female deer in the NW and call it management, especially after myself and hundreds of other sportsmen fought so hard just a few years ago to end doe hunting in all areas where the populations are under objective. So instead of working and managing wildlife, growing our herds, CPW simply moves the goal line. Moves it so much that the currently struggling population is somehow instantly a surplus and we slaughter doe and fawns by the thousands over the last 2 years.
I strongly encourage the following actions to save the deer herds and restore quality to the hunting in the NW...
1. End all doe and fawn hunting immediately.
2. Set a good population goal that actually maintains what we used to have, while I understand the old objectives, prior to the last HMP update, were unattainable(at least by the management strategies in use) split the difference between the new low goals and the old. Raise the herd objective in each area by splitting the difference between the old objective and the new low number objective that have been used as an excuse to slaughter the doe and fawns. This includes all HMP areas.
3. Greatly reduce the war on mature bucks. It is sickening that CPW has taken this position. What is the point of hunting if you can not hunt a mature deer? Simply put you have no idea how to manage CWD and as a result everything you try is experimental at best. Seriously this year for the first time ever I watched spike and forked horn bucks do the majority of breeding.
4. Make the 3rd and 4th season hunts extremely limited and restore quality to hunting.
5. Support and push for expanded bear hunting. Simply put the CPW can no longer ignore and play stupid on bear manamgment. It is horrible how poorly CPW has handled this situation. Then to think that you demote and remove the one guy in the NW who understands the issues and speaks up?
Lastly, figure out who has it wrong? Was Chuck Anderson lying when he sat in meetings in Rifle, Meeker etc. and reviewed his data or is the HMP justifications wrong? I know in my gut who I trust and it is the researcher who appeared to be there for science and for the deer...
I know that this comment is likely to hit hard and it should. As I consider the current management in the NW to be some of the worst practices I have observed in CO. I would put the current management in the NW on a lower level than Montana management, which is sad as we used to laugh at MT and how they managed the herds.
This has done one thing for certain, it has taken away my desire to hunt Colorado entirely. I have seen several of my good friends in shock dismay at the current status in NW Colorado and several of them are done hunting deer in CO. It is sickening to think that NR are cashing in 20 points to hunt 4th season deer in 22 and the odds of them seeing a buck over 180 are virtually 0. That seeing any mature buck in 22 is now a miracle...
Do the right thing and restore quality to the hunts in the NW.
SIncerely,
Robert Winn
