Hunting & Fishing Guide 2019

Information for your hunting adventure.

R E G I O N A L CO LO R A D O PA R K S A N D W I L D L I F E

TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES Durango Service Center (970) 247-0855 San Juan National Forest (970) 247-4874 BLM Southwest Center (970) 240-5300 Pagosa RD Pagosa Springs (970) 264-1500

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DOUGLAS BENNETT VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING DAVID HABRAT CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER TAD SMITH DESIGNER CHRISTIAN RIDINGS EDITOR HUNTER HARRELL

TA B L E O F

Pagosa FO Pagosa Springs (970) 264-2268 Tres Rios FO Dolores (970) 882-7296 Gunnison FO Gunnison (970) 641-0471 *RD = Ranger District *FO = Field Office

03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES AMY BAIRD TANA BOWEN KELLY BULKLEY COLE DAVIS ABBY FELDMAN HEATHER MOBLEY JOE NELSON TERESSA NELSON DESIGN AND PRODUCTION CHRISTIAN RIDINGS GARY MARKSTEIN RYAN BROWN

Ballantine Communications uses reasonable effort to include accurate and up-to-date information for its special magazine publications. However, all information comes from a variety of sources and may change at any time for any reason. To verify specific information, refer to the organization or business noted. To view the online version of this guide, visit: www.durangoherald.com

15% OFF PACKAGING WITH THIS AD!

Contents

Letter from Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunting season dates Preference Points: understanding the system Know the rules and know your limits Shedding light on shed hunting regulations Tips to avoid getting lost in the woods Hunting gear checklist Hunting elk Hunting mule deer Season Outlook: Dolores Dry Creek Season Outlook: Hermosa Season Outlook: San Juan Basin Using a guide service in Colorado Online Tools: Colorado Hunting Atlas Hunters target hunger How to make fishing a family affair

• Packaging experts for shipping antlers and trophies • Coolers & dry ice available for shipping fresh meat • We ship bows, & taxidermy items • Pick-up available from your hotel • AAA/NRA/AARP Discounts available • We have the lowest shipping rates in Durango!

• Full Service packaging and shipping for your gear • Only we provide the PACK & SHIP GUARANTEE

361 S. Camino Del Rio Durango, CO (In the Centennial Center)

M-F 7:30am - 6:30pm · Sat 11:00am - 2:00pm Tel (970) 385-9550 • store3715@theupsstore.com

2/

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

August 2019

LETTER

H

Thanks for hunting in Colorado

unters, welcome to Colorado and the great Southwest Region of Colorado Parks and Wildlife!

Hunting in Colorado provides one of North America’s most unique and exhilarating outdoor experiences.

If you’ve never hunted here, you’ll soon learn why you’re about to set out on a great adventure. And for resident hunters and repeat visitors who have already hunted Colorado you know why the Rockies call you back every fall. The abundant public lands of Southwest Colorado provide all hunters the opportunity to explore and truly see the Best of the West.

When you hunt, you not only support your passion and a great tradition, you also support all wildlife conservation. When you buy a hunting license that money goes not only to improving big-game hunting, it also helps CPW programs

the future of wildlife and Colorado.

When you hunt, you not only support your passion and a great tradition, you also support all wildlife conservation.

that are helping to conserve dozens of other non-game species - from native cutthroat trout to lynx to sage grouse. Keeping native species on the landscape is one of CPW’s primary missions and important to

Hunting in these rugged mountains is challenging, and we urge hunters – especially those of you who come from lower altitude – to be careful in the field. Give yourself at least a day to acclimate and don’t push yourself too hard.

If you have young or novice hunters with you, take some time to explain basic hunting safety rules. Hunting in Colorado is safe; and through good mentorship it will stay that way.

Southwest Region where hunters can camp, rent a cabin – and get a shower!

The parks also have electric, water hook-ups and sewage dumps. The parks: Mancos, (970) 553-7065; Navajo, (970) 882-2208; Ridgway, (970) 6265822; and Crawford, (970) 921-5721 Best of luck, enjoy your hunt and be safe out there!

The staff of the Southwest Region, Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to call one of the four area wildlife offices in the Southwest Region: Durango, (970) 247-0855; Montrose, (970) 252-6000; Gunnison, (970) 641-7060; Monte Vista, (719) 587-6900.

CPW also operates 41 state parks across Colorado, and four parks in the

We’ve got the taste you’ve been hunting for!

Fine dining with a lake view!

Vallecito, Colorado

Rendezvous Bar - last call at 10:00pm

Travel back in time to feel the nostalgia of Rocky Mountain Men in their prime during the mid-19th century. At a time when men were charged with trapping their food.

The rounded menu boasts exotic meats and recipes including bison, quail, angus beef, catfish, alaskan cod, and of course the main event - steak.

Daily Specials Full Salad Bar · Gift Shop Conference Room Available

VISIT for our nightly entertainment schedule.

17460 CR 501 Bayfield, CO 81122 970.884.0596 11:00 am - 9:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday August 2019

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

/3

HUNTING Big Game

Season Dates 2019-20

Photo courtesy Joe Nelson

Deer Archery Aug. 31 - Sept. 29 Muzzleloader Sept. 14-22 Second Rifle Oct. 19-27 Third Rifle Nov. 2-10 Fourth Rifle Nov. 13-17 Plains Rifle Oct. 26 - Nov. 5 Late Plains Rifle Dec. 1-14 Elk Archery Aug. 31 - Sept. 29 Muzzleloader Sept. 14-22 First Rifle Oct. 12-16 Second Rifle Oct. 19-27 Third Rifle Nov. 2-10 Fourth Rifle Nov. 13-17 Pronghorn Archery Aug. 15 - Sept. 20 Muzzleloader Sept. 21-29 Rifle Oct. 5-11 Moose

Photos courtesy CPW

Archery Sept. 7-29 Muzzleloader Sept. 14-22 Rifle Oct. 1-14 Bear Archery Sept. 2-30 Muzzleloader Sept. 14-22 Rifle Sept. 2-30 Concurrent Rifle Oct. 12 - Nov. 17 Sheep & Goats

Migratory & Game Birds

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Aug. 3 - Dec. 31 Mountain Goat Sept. 3 - Oct. 31 Desert Bighorn Sheep Nov. 1-30 Small Game (season dates continue into 2020) Abert’s Squirrel Nov. 15- Jan. 15 Beaver Oct. 1 - April 30 Bobcat Dec. 1 - Feb. 29 Common Snapping Turtle April 1 - Oct. 31 Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Jackrabbit Oct. 1 - Feb. 29 Coyote Year-round Marmot Aug. 10 - Oct. 15 Prairie Dog June 15 - Feb. 29 Prairie Rattlesnake June 15 - Aug. 15 Fox and Pine Squirrel Oct. 1 - Feb. 29 Wyoming Ground Squirrel Year-round Badger, Fox, Mink, Muskrat, Pine Marten, Opossum, Raccoon, Ring-Tailed Cat, Skunk, Weasel Nov. 1 - Feb 29

4/

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

Band-Tailed Pigeon Sept. 1-14 Chukar Partridge Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Crow Nov. 1 - Feb. 29 Dove: Mourning, White-Winged Sept. 1 - Nov. 9 Dove: Eurasian Collared Year-round European Starling, House Sparrow Year-round Greater Prairie Chicken Oct. 1 - Jan. 5 Grouse: Dusky (Blue) Sept. 1 - Nov. 17 Grouse: Greater Sage Sept. 14-20 Grouse: Mountain Sharp-Tailed Sept. 1-15 Pheasant Nov. 9 - Jan. 5 Quail: Northern Bobwhite, Scaled, Gambel’s Nov. 9 - Jan. 5 Rail: Sora, Virginia Sept. 1 - Nov. 9 Sandhill Crane Oct. 5 - Dec. 1 White-Tailed Ptarmigan Sept. 14 - Oct. 6 Wilson’s Snipe Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Duck, Coot and Teal Oct. 5-23, Nov. 7 - Jan. 31 Goose Sept. 1-9, Oct. 5-14, Nov. 2 - Jan. 26 Turkey Sept. 1 - Oct. 6 August 2019

PREFERENCE POINTS

By Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Understanding the system

W

Photo courtesy Andrew Switzer

hen applying for a limited license, a preference point is awarded when an individual is unsuccessful in drawing their first-choice hunt code. Preference points provide a mathematical advantage when applied to future drawings.

Some things to remember: • Preference points are awarded by species, not hunt code. A point can be used to apply for any type of license available for that species.

• A preference point is awarded only for unsuccessful applications for a first-choice hunt code.

• Use a preference point hunt code as your first choice if your goal is to accumulate points for use toward a future quality hunt. Points needed can change significantly from year to year.

• For bear, elk, deer and pronghorn, you will accumulate preference points until you are successful in drawing a first-choice license.

If you draw your first choice, your preference points drop to zero. There is no “banking” of preference points.

• If you do not apply or hold a license for that species at least once within 10 consecutive years for a bear, elk, deer or pronghorn, your preference points for that species will be lost.

• For bighorn sheep, moose and mountain goat, an applicant can accumulate a maximum of three points. Future applications are pooled with other three-point applicants. If you are unsuccessful in the pooled drawing, a “mathematically weighted” point is awarded to increase the probability of drawing a future license. You must apply at least once in a consecutive 10-year period to keep your points.

• Nonresident allocations are determined by the average number of preference points a Colorado resident needs to draw a specific license during a 3-year period. For hunt codes that required six or more points for a Colorado resident to draw an elk or deer license, up to 20% may go to nonresidents. For hunt codes that required fewer than six points for a Colorado resident to draw an elk or deer license, up to 35% may go to nonresidents.

• A Colorado Habitat Stamp is required to buy or apply for a license. The Habitat Stamp may be purchased online, by phone or at any Wildlife Service Center or license agent.

August 2019

How long will it take to draw a license?

Statistics from previous years may be used to estimate the approximate time required to successfully draw a license. For example: If a unit allowed 20 licenses with 60 applicants, zero preference points required, 40 were unsuccessful. These 40 would be awarded a preference point.

Photos courtesy CPW

Assuming that the quota for this unit remained the same for 2017, and these 40 apply, 20 will draw a license using their preference point and 20 will be awarded a second point. An applicant with no points could expect to draw a license in three years.

Preference-point requirements can be found at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website. Go to the Big Game hunting page at www.cpw.state.co.us.

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

/5

Photo courtesy CPW

If you are not working to protect hunting, then you are working to destroy it.

- Fred Bear

Know the rules and know your limits HUNTING

By Colorado Parks and Wildlife

H

unting is challenging. Not only must you understand the habits of the animal you are hunting, you must also understand regulations, laws governing public and private lands and your own limitations.

Following are some reminders and things to consider before you start your hunt.

• To obtain a license, all hunters born after 1948 must present a Hunter Education Card from Colorado or another state.

• You must know the specific rules that apply to the Game Management Unit in which you are hunting. If you violate rules you can be cited and fined. Pleading ignorance to the regulations is not a defense.

• Be sure to know where you are hunting. You can only hunt in the Game Management Unit that your license specifies.

• As you are hunting be aware of buildings, homes, roads, and your overall surroundings. Make sure you know what is behind an animal before you shoot. A bullet shot from a high-powered rifle can easily carry for more than 1,000 yards.

• Make sure that someone at home knows where you are hunting, your vehicle’s license plate number and where you are staying or camping.

• Weather in the fall can change rapidly in Colorado. A day that starts sunny and warm could end with a snow storm. Be sure you are prepared for all weather conditions.

• Make sure you can recognize the symptoms of hypothermia in your hunting partners.

6/

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

Photo courtesy CPW

• Know how to get back to your camp.

• Cell phone service is not reliable in the mountains. Don’t expect to contact someone by phone if you are lost or if your vehicle is stuck.

• Make sure to drink plenty of water. Colorado’s dry air and high altitude can quickly dehydrate you and deplete your energy stores.

• Be sure to consult Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations to understand antler requirements for taking bull elk.

• Do not attempt to shoot at animals that are in areas where you could not retrieve the meat.

• Know your physical limits.

• If you harvest an animal, make sure the carcass is properly tagged. Tags must remain with all processed meat.

• If you transfer an animal killed

Photo courtesy Pete Shirk

by another hunter, ensure that it is properly tagged. You could be cited for illegal transport of a game animal even if someone else made the error.

• Do not strap a harvested animal on the outside of your car.

• Operate ATVs and OHVs responsibly. The vehicles must be registered in Colorado - even if it is registered in another state. Offroad vehicles can cause resource damage. Be sure to know the local travel management rules for public lands. OHV’s also disturb animals and other hunters.

• If you see hunters violating laws, please report the actions to a wildlife officer or other law enforcement agency. Actions by a few hunters can reflect badly on all hunters.

For more information: www.cpw.state.co.us.

August 2019

R U L E S & R E G U L AT I O N S

By Connie Sutton

Shedding light on shed hunting Photo courtesy Connie Sutton

T

here’s more to hunt in the Southwest Colorado than animals. Those who love “the hunt” can be found combing the forest for everything from mushrooms and berries to buried treasure. But if the treasure you seek is shed antlers, and there are some rules you need to know.

In the past, shed hunting wasn’t more than a tool for hunters and a hobby of artists. However, people today use antlers in a variety of ways, including eastern medicine, jewelry and home décor, which means the number of people combing the woods has increased. To protect wintering wildlife, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission enacted an annual prohibition in 2018 on shed antler collection for all public lands west of I-25 from Jan. 1 through April 30 with additional restrictions in the Gunnison Basin through May 15.

Being an antler broker is big business.

Even though you don’t need a license to scout for sheds, violations will result in fines and possible suspensions.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, five license suspension points will be applied per antler. If an individual accumulates 20 license suspension points, they are suspended from hunting or fishing for five years.

Antler broker Trinity Walker of Rollin’ Bones says being an antler broker is big business. Walker values the antlers by age, meaning the amount of time they spent lying on the ground. He said freshly shed brown-hued elk antlers go for as much as $15 per pound while fresh deer antlers can be worth $10 per pound.

Older, sun-bleached antlers and horns sell for about half as much. Walker buys sheds from individuals, and sells them to artists and furniture companies.

We offer custom made jewelry, including elk’s teeth pendants, buckles, and rings. Check out our great selection of unique gift items, including jewelry and carvings.

Over 50 Years in Business August 2019

(970) 565-9854 · 11523 Hwy 145 Cortez, CO · sanjuangems.com Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

/7

Tips to avoid getting lost in the woods M O U N TA I N M A N

By Chris Parmeter, Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Wildlife Manager Gunnison/Crested Butte

I

n the 1980 movie classic, “The Mountain Men,” the character Henry Frapp is questioned by a young greenhorn: “Haven’t you ever been lost?” Frapp scratches his whiskers and after a recollecting pause, replies, “A fearsome confused for a month or two… but I ain’t ever been lost!”

For the fur trappers, wandering through a vast and unexplored country, “lost” would have been something of an oxymoron. Not knowing where you were was a necessary part of the mountain man business. The blank space on the map was as much “home” as it was wilderness, and “lost” was more a state of mind than a physical dilemma.

The blank space on the map was as much “home” as it was wilderness, and “lost” was more a state of mind than a physical dilemma.

When the mountain men plunged headlong into the unknown, they knew that where they were going there would be no restaurants or hotels. So they planned accordingly. They learned quickly where to find food and how to get it; how to mend equipment, to make new or make do; they could sleep in a log, a cave, or just plain under the stars–and survive! How did they accomplish this incredible feat? Simply, they were prepared--mentally and physically.

Today, the same principles apply. When you head out into the woods, be prepared: for cold, rain or snow; to tend an injury; or to stay the night in the woods. It’s not as difficult as it sounds. Here are a few nuggets of Mountain Man wisdom to help you survive: Staying Found The old timers relied on “Dead Reckoning” for navigation: utilizing a compass to guide them in the general direction they wished to go. Sometimes in the absence of a compass, they relied only on “reckoning”: as in “I reckon camp is back that way.” The contemporary woodsman may have the handiness of a GPS, but owning one of these high-tech gizmos is not an adequate substitute for map and compass skills. Just as with other conveniences (cellphones, cameras, flashlights), the batteries will invariably go dead just when you need them the most.

The Essentials Unless your trip is taking you across the Gobi or the Brooks Range, you probably don’t need to carry 50 feet of copper wire or spare fishing line and hooks. The largest wilderness area in Colorado can be traversed in a day or two. So what are the essential essentials you need when you’re on your own hook? · Water. Without it, you’re dead in three days. Without it for a few hours, at 9,000 feet above sea level, you’re not dead, but you may wish you were. Dehydration can lead to altitude sickness and hypothermia. But even worse, it can impair your judgment, induce panic and result in a fatal case of Lost. · Fire good. Fire friend. Fire number two in importance. Learn how to build one, WITHOUT toilet paper and gasoline. It’s as easy as one two three: One, you need dry tender. Scratch around under grass tussocks for the driest stuff. Get lots of it, about a volleyball sized bunch; two, kindling. You want about twice as much as the tender you gathered. · Kindling. Pick small stuff - matchstick sized. Three is the fuel itself. Gather up plenty if it looks like you may have to spend the night. Pick dry branches one to two inches in diameter--these burn without difficulty and make it easy to control the heat. Of course we can’t overlook the match. You don’t need to be proficient with a flint and steel, but you should have at least a couple of ways to start fire; it doesn’t matter if it’s a lighter or a fire plow, as long as you can get it lit. · Shelter. Now don’t jump right into bivy sacks and backpacking tents. Let’s take a step back and start at the beginning. Shelter starts with your clothing.

Dress for the worst. And in a Colorado autumn, the worst can be pretty harsh. Pick synthetics - like fleece or polyester blends - but wool is best. Dress in layers: long handle union suit, light mid layer(s), and warmer outer layer. Dressing appropriately when you leave camp will find you well on your way to surviving a night in the outback even without a buffalo robe.

Learning how to read a map is not that difficult; up is north, left is west and so on. The closer the lines are together the steeper the country. Water is shown as blue, while man made objects are black. It is simply a two dimensional rendition of a three dimensional world. Using a map and a compass to show you which way is north, you’d be hard pressed to get seriously lost. Sure, some practice is required, but that’s all part of the preparedness thing.

· Plan. Make a plan and let someone know what it is.

Leave a map open on the dashboard of the truck. You don’t have to give up your secret spot with an “I AM HERE” arrow, just circle a square mile or two. When you leave camp, a plain old “I’m gonna work this ridge out and come back down the crick” is enough to give your buddies a place to start looking for you if you should become “a fearsome confused.” The important thing is to stick to your plan.

Paying attention to where you’re going can also be a big help to staying found. As you pursue your quarry, notice which way the shadows are falling. Have you been mostly climbing, or descending? Look for landmarks as you go. Not stumps and rocks, but BIG landmarks that give your relative position to the valley below, or that craggy peak to the west. Turn around and look behind you, what would it look like if you were going that way – back to camp or the truck?

As you head into the high country this fall, see yourself as one of the Lewis & Clark Expedition; be prepared, both mentally and physically for the challenges of the unknown.

Keep your powder dry and your eyes on the horizon and you’ll know that “lost” is, by and large, just a state of mind.

8/

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

August 2019

Hunting gear checklist M O U N TA I N M A N

By Colorado Parks and Wildlife

P

reparing for a hunting trip is a major effort. Listed below are a few common items that hunters often forget as they get ready to go into the backcountry.

• First aid kit (include mole skin/duct tape for blisters); • Compass and high-quality maps; • Fire starter for use in the field; • Knife sharpener; • Extra batteries; • Rain gear; • Blaze orange vest and cap; • Extra fuel for camp-stove; • Tire chains; • Cleaning supplies, trash bags; • Flashlight/lantern; • Game bags; • Sunscreen; • Toilet tissue; • Hunting license; • List of family/friends phone numbers; • Extra water bottles; • Water purification pump or tablets; • Latex gloves for field dressing animals; • 2019 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure.

For more information, see: cpw.state.co.us

August 2019

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

/9

H OW TO

Hunting elk

By Colorado Parks and Wildlife

T

he popular hunting magazines often display colorful photographs of huge bull elk standing in open meadows presenting easy targets.

The reality in the mountains of Colorado, however, is far different.

Stalking the wapiti is challenging and most hunters won’t get easy shots. You’re more likely to find elk on a steep hillside, in a dark ravine, or in thick timber than standing out in the open.

The hunter success rate for all manners of take in Colorado was 19% in 2018, and a total of 43,292 elk were harvested. About 224,000 hunters went after elk last season. It’s estimated that there are about 286,000 elk in Colorado, the most of any state.

If weather is warm, elk stay spread out over vast areas at high elevations at and above timberline. In those conditions hunters need to work extra hard. When snow falls, elk will usually start to move, bunch up, and look for food sources at lower elevations or on slopes where vegetation is exposed. However, the snow fall must be significant; usually more than a foot of snow must be on the ground to get elk moving.

Hunters must get off their OHVs and hunt slowly and quietly far from any road. Elk are very smart, move quickly at any hint of danger and hide in rugged terrain.

Compounding the challenge for hunters is the fact that elk typically gather in groups of 10 or more. If one is spooked they all move and they can run easily for a mile or more.

Elk are most active during the night and are likely to be grazing in transition areas--meadows next to heavy timber, where different types of vegetation meet and just above or below ridgelines.

Hunters should watch these areas at first light and at dusk.

During the day, hunters need to move into the dark timber--cool north-facing slopes--and not be hesitant to hunt in difficult areas.

Hunters should move as quietly as possible for short distances and then scan the woods for 10 minutes or more before moving again. Even in dense forest it’s a good idea to use binoculars so you can discern subtle movement or unusual colors in the trees.

10 /

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

Understand an elk’s response to hunting pressure, and use that knowledge to your advantage when planning your hunt. See forecasts from CPW Biologists on pages 12-14.

If you find the areas where animals graze at night it’s likely that you’ll find them in adjacent areas during the day.

When hunting in areas with roads, move far above or far below the roads to find elk. In areas where two roads are in close proximity, locate the most difficult terrain in between.

Line up your shot carefully because elk are difficult to knock down. The best shots are delivered in the critical area of the lungs and heart just behind and below the front quarters. Never try for a head shot, as this can result in only wounding the animal.

To learn more about hunting elk, check out “Elk Hunting University” on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife web site: This program gives extensive information regarding all phases of elk hunting: cpw.state. co.us/learn/Pages/EHU.aspx.

To learn how to field dress big game and sight-in a rifle, see the videos at: www.cpw.state.co.us/ learn/Pages/HuntVideos.aspx.

August 2019

Hunting mule deer

During the low-light hours of evening and morning, hunt in meadows at the edge of thick cover. If you see where they are feeding during times of low-light, it’s likely they’ll move into nearby timbered areas to rest for part of the day. Deer tend to move during the middle of the day toward the areas where they feed in the evening.

H OW TO

By Colorado Parks and Wildlife

A slow stalk is recommended. Spend a lot of time scanning slowly with binoculars--a deer can appear at any time. Pay attention to the wind direction. If the wind is blowing in the direction you are moving, a deer will likely pick up your scent.

Deer avoid going to creeks in daylight so there is no advantage to hunting near moving water sources during the day.

H

unting mule deer in Colorado is always challenging. Hunters can improve their success by understanding the habits of these critters.

During the 2018 seasons, for all manners of take, 84,000 hunters harvested 38,000 mule deer for a 43% success rate.

Colorado is home to about 433,000 deer.

In the mountains and foothills, mule deer don’t spend much time in heavy timber. They are primarily browsers and prefer aspen and forest edges where there are plenty of low shrubs, small trees, oak brush and varied vegetation types.

Mule deer are most active at night and can often be found in meadow areas during low-light hours.

During the day, they’ll bed down in protective cover. In warm weather, look for deer along ridgelines where wind is consistent and helps to keep them cool.

One advantage mule deer give to hunters is their curiosity.

When mule deer are spooked, they’ll often run a short distance then turn to determine if they are being pursued. That may give you one good chance for a shot.

A small amount of snow will get deer moving quickly out of high-altitude areas. Usually by late October migrating herds will move to winter range areas, even if there is no snow.

Hunters should aim at the vital organ area which presents a small target--about the size of a dinner plate just behind the front quarter. Hunters, no matter how good they are at the range, should never try to make a head shot. Many animals are injured and die slowly because of attempted head shots.

For more information: www.cpw.state.co.us.

MONDAY - FRIDAY 4:00TOP.M. 6:00 P.M.

GREAT SELECTION OF CRAFT BEER, WINE & SPIRITS 30 Town Plaza, Durango, CO · 970.247.1655 · WagonWheelLiquors.com Over 75 years in Durango! · Friendly & Knowledgeable Staff August 2019

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

/ 11

O U T LO O K & O B S E RVAT I O N S

T

his area covers a 2,800-squaremile landscape from the west side of the Uncompahgre Plateau to the Utah state line and south to the New Mexico state line. Habitat throughout GMUs is favorable for big game. With altitudes from 5,000 feet to more than 12,000 feet, the vegetation ranges from desert shrubs to alpine tundra. Weather can change quickly, so be prepared for all conditions. There is good vehicle access in these areas; consequently, hunting pressure can be heavy in areas of easily accessible public land.

An exception is the Lizard Head Wilderness Area, GMU 71, which is accessible by foot and horseback only.

Be aware of private land in the northern sections of GMUs 71 and 711, and in the southern section of GMU 70. The southern half of units 72 and 73 is tribal land. Hunting by non-tribal members is prohibited.

Hunting is also prohibited at Mesa Verde National Park.

Dolores Dry Creek

GMUS 70, 71, 711, 72,73 CPW Big-Game Biologists

Deer Hunting The deer population is within the objective range. However, fawn survival has been poor during the last three years. Buck licenses in all the units have been cut by about 10 percent to improve the buck-to-doe ratio.

In the early seasons, deer are evenly distributed, mostly above 8,000 feet. Deer begin migrating to lower elevations, generally from east to west, in midOctober. Snow will cause them to move to lower elevations earlier. Deer concentrate on winter ranges in Dry Creek Basin, Disappointment Valley and along the rim of the Dolores River canyon. GMU 70 in Dry Creek Basin is recommended in the third and fourth seasons.

Estimated Deer Population: 23,300 (includes all five GMUs) 3-year average sex ratio: 29 bucks per 100 does (GMUs 70, 71, 711) 3-year average sex ratio: 35 bucks per 100 does (GMUs 72, 73)

Elk Hunting Elk numbers are low and hunters will be challenged especially when the weather is warm and dry. Hunting pressure in early seasons has been increasing. The increase in hunters and the use of calls has resulted in bulls becoming call-shy. Other strategies such as spot-and-stalk or sitting in a high-activity area will yield a better chance for success. Expect elk to be in small groups of 4-5 animals, until snow starts to accumulate. Hunting smart is more successful than hunting hard. GMU 711 becomes better as the season progresses. Elk will move quickly into thick aspen, evergreens and rugged terrain with hunting pressure. A long-term study examining calf survival started in 2018.

Estimated Elk Population: 19,250 3-year average sex ratio: 14 bulls per 100 cows

2018 Elk Harvest Statistics Dolores Dry Creek GMU

Season

Bulls

Harvest

Hunters

GMU

Season

Bulls

Harvest

Hunters

70 70 70

Archery Muzzle 3rd Rifle

108 0 120

146 29 205

738 116 1,010

711 711 711

Archery Muzzle 3rd Rifle

43 7 65

67 7 95

325 47 927

71 71 71

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

107 27 96

157 32 107

1,049 202 707

72 72 72

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

17 7 24

21 7 34

130 29 123

2018 Deer Harvest Statistics Dolores Dry Creek GMU

Season

Bucks

Harvest

Hunters

GMU

Season

Bucks

Harvest

Hunters

70 70 70

Archery Muzzle 3rd Rifle

37 32 359

37 32 367

136 77 581

711 711 711

Archery Muzzle 3rd Rifle

9 10 167

9 10 167

45 30 299

71 71 71

Archery Muzzle 3rd Rifle

21 9 100

21 9 100

76 34 211

72 72 72

Archery Muzzle 3rd Rifle

21 29 137

21 29 137

39 37 203

12 /

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

August 2019

O U T LO O K & O B S E RVAT I O N S

P

Hermosa

art of GMU 74 was closed last year in the aftermath of the 416 Fire. In the burn area new vegetation has come back nicely and could be a draw for deer and elk. But be careful around dead trees. Elevations range from about 6,000 feet near the New Mexico border to well over 12,000 feet near Silverton.

An abundance of vegetation provides good summer range, but winter range on the south is declining because of development. Public land is abundant in GMU 74 with much of it quite remote.

Most of land in the GMU 741 is private or part of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Only members of the tribe can hunt on the reservation. No hunting is allowed near Nighthorse Reservoir, which is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation. Hunting is allowed on the 3,000 acres owned by CPW in the adjacent Bodo State Wildlife Area.

Deer Hunting This population has declined slightly but the buck-to-doe ratio is high, so it is possible to find quality bucks. Bucks tend to show up on the winter range after the last rifle season, so time is better spent hunting transitional range, even during the third and fourth seasons.

In October, deer move from summer range at high elevations in the north winter range to the south.

GMUS 74, 741 CPW Big-Game Biologists

Elk Hunting

Elk numbers are low and hunters will be challenged, especially when the weather is warm and dry. Hunting pressure in early seasons has been increasing.

The increase in hunters and the use of calls has resulted in bulls becoming callshy. Other strategies such as spot-and-stalk or sitting in an area of high activity will yield a better chance for success.

Expect elk to be in small groups of four to five animals until snow starts to accumulate. GMU 741 has a high number of licensed outfitters using the backcountry. Contact the Columbine District of the San Juan National Forest Service for more information about outfitting and commercial use on the national forest.

Estimate Elk Population: 5,500 3 year- estimated sex ratio: 19 bull per 100 cows

In the early seasons, deer hunting can be good near timberline. As deer begin to move to winter range, they can be more difficult to find. Look for timbered areas with a good mix of open meadows or undergrowth. During the third and fourth rifle seasons in a typical year, does head to winter range, usually 8,500 feet and below. Bucks will arrive about two weeks later. Portions of Junction Creek and areas further south can provide good deer hunting in the later seasons.

Estimated Deer Population: 5,700 3-year average sex ratio: 36 bucks per 100 does

2018 Elk Harvest Statistics Hermosa GMU

Season

Bulls

Harvest

Hunters

74 74 74

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

61 20 43

93 23 51

883 103 438

741 741 741

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

11 3 20

18 3 23

83 3 113

2018 Deer Harvest Statistics Hermosa GMU

Season

Bucks

Harvest

Hunters

74 74 74

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

28 42 39

28 42 39

143 128 167

741 741 741

Archery Muzzle 3rd Rifle

18 5 107

20 7 125

49 33 197

August 2019

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

/ 13

O U T LO O K & O B S E RVAT I O N S

P

San Juan Basin

GMUS 75, 751, 77, 771, 78 CPW Big-Game Biologists

ublic land access and road access is good at mid- to high elevations in these units which lie between Durango and Wolf Creek Pass.

Elevations range from about 6,500 feet to more than 12,000 feet. Weather can change quickly and be severe.

If the weather is warm, animals will be scattered widely in the vast alpine terrain. Hunters should concentrate their efforts away from roads. Two wilderness areas – the Weminuche to the north and the San Juan in the southeast corner – offer good backcountry hunting opportunities. If you’re hunting the backcountry during earlier seasons, get a harvested animal out and into a cooler quickly. Temperatures in the early seasons are often in the 70s and meat will start to spoil within a day. South of U.S. Highway 160 much of the land is privately owned or part of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. To access pockets of public land within the Southern Ute boundaries, you must obtain a crossing permit ($25) from the tribe.

Call (970) 563-0125 for information. Hunting is not allowed on tribal lands.

Deer Hunting The population is growing in these units and the buck-to-doe ratio is high. Deer hunting should be excellent, and dedicated hunters will be able to find bucks. The areas with the best prospects on public lands: the HD Mountains; the drainages of the Piedra River, Florida River and Los Pinos River; and areas southeast of Pagosa Springs. A large percentage of the deer in these units initiate north-to-south migration in mid-October.

After the first week of November, deer are typically on winter range.

Much of the winter range occupied by this herd is on a mix of public land, private land or tribal property. It is the hunter’s responsibility to know where they are and where boundaries are located.

Estimated Deer Population: 26,000 Three-year estimated sex ratio: 34 bucks per 100 does

Elk Hunting Hunting pressure in the early seasons has been increasing. The increase in hunters and the use of calls has resulted in bulls becoming call-shy. Strategies such as spot-and-stalk or sitting in an area of high activity will yield a better chance for success. Expect elk to be in small groups of four to five animals until snow accumulates. There are many licensed outfitters using the backcountry in these units. Contact the Columbine District or the Pagosa District of the San Juan Forest Service for more information about outfitting and commercial use

on the national forest. Hunters must be prepared to walk into remote and heavily forested areas to find animals. In the early seasons, stick to north facing slopes in the spruce, fir and aspen forests. In late seasons, ponderosa pine forests and oak brush are productive. The wilderness area boundary north of Pagosa Springs often holds elk when snow pushes them down.

Areas of south Pagosa Springs and east of Highway 84 can provide good hunting as snow begins to accumulate.

Estimated Elk Population: 21,400 Three-year estimated sex ratio: 13 bulls per 100 cows

2018 Elk Harvest Statistics San Juan Basin GMU

Season

Bulls

Harvest

Hunters

GMU

Season

Bulls

Harvest

Hunters

75 75 75

Archery Muzzle 1st Rifle

38 11 70

52 15 76

561 72 293

77 77 77

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

43 0 206

57 2 245

709 5 865

751 751 751

Archery Muzzle 3rd Rifle

25 4 60

32 4 88

356 40 455

78 78 78

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

108 9 156

171 13 163

1,147 94 755

2018 Deer Harvest Statistics San Juan Basin GMU

Season

Bucks

Harvest

Hunters

GMU

Season

Bucks

Harvest

Hunters

75 75 75

Archery Muzzle 3rd Rifle

23 52 141

46 54 153

170 155 295

77 77 77

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

28 52 231

57 59 240

140 129 569

751 751 751

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

7 11 154

16 13 159

97 84 357

78 78 78

Archery Muzzle 2nd Rifle

39 43 164

73 46 168

189 120 405

14 /

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

August 2019

Using a Guide Service in Colorado OUTFITTERS

H

ere’s what you need to know if you’re planning to use a guide service for your hunt. Outfitters in Colorado must be licensed by the state Department of Regulatory Agencies (http:// www.dora.state.co.us), and by the U.S. Forest Service or BLM if they operate on federal land. Ask guides for licensing information and check their records through the state and federal agencies. Ask for references for at least three other past clients. Before paying any money, require a contract that stipulates: types of services, dates of service, cost of service, lodging/camping/transportation arrangements, ratio of clients to guides, cancellation policy, and other items you believe are necessary. Guides who provide so called “finders fees” for locating animals also must be licensed.

Using an unlicensed outfitter is illegal. The Colorado Outfitters’ Association requires members to be licensed, bonded and to adhere to a code of ethics. For information, www.coloradooutfitters.org, or call 1-970-824-2468.

OPEN

Year Round!

THE BEAR DEN

HUNTING CABIN

Lone Wolf Cabins & Getaway would like to invite you to stay with us this hunting season. We offer 1, 2 & 3 bedroom cabins and are located at beautiful Vallecito Lake surrounded by national forest.

Check out our monthly specials…

SEPTEMBER SPECIAL

Stay 2 or more nights in September and receive 5% OFF!

OCTOBER SPECIAL

Stay 5 nights in October and receive 2 Additional nights FREE!

NOVEMBER SPECIAL

Stay 2 or more nights in November and receive 15% OFF!

Book Today!

LONE WOLF CABINS & GETAWAY 18039 CO RD 501 · BAYFIELD, CO 81122 970.884.0414 | LONEWOLFCABINS.COM

August 2019

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

/ 15

O N L I N E TO O L S

Colorado Hunting Atlas

The web site allows hunters to look at topographic data and then switch to Googlephotographs of the same area to get a sense of forest cover and what the ground actually looks like.

Hunters can also create their own “Hunter Resource Report” that includes a map, directions, contact information for various agencies, phone numbers and more. The report is also a good document to be left with family or friends at home so they know exactly where you’re going during hunting season.

To locate this feature go to cpw.state.co.us/ learn/Pages/PlanYourHunt.aspx, and then to the “Colorado Hunting Atlas” link on the right side of the page.

By Colorado Parks and Wildlife

B

ig game hunters in Colorado can get an early start on - from the comfort of their homes. By going online to the Colorado Hunting Atlas, a special feature on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website, hunters can do some virtual scouting of areas they want to hunt.

Utilizing geographic information systems technology, the web site provides a huge amount of data useful to hunters including details about travel routes in national forests and on BLM lands, topographic information, big game migration routes, campgrounds, state wildlife areas, Parks and Wildlife offices and facilities, and more. Hunters can zoom in on specific areas and print customized maps for any area in the state. You can even enter GPS coordinates for a specialized view of an area of interest.

Elsewhere on the web site, hunters can also find harvest statistics, big-game population estimates, and license draw and preference point information.

Another feature is “Elk Hunting University” which provides extensive hunting tips helpful to all hunters, no matter their skill level: cpw. state.co.us/learn/Pages/EHU.aspx.

For more information about Colorado Parks and Wildlife, see cpw.state.co.us.

TAKE A STEP

BACK IN TIME

Quality Antiques • Collectibles Fine Arts • Home Decor Indian Jewelry • Guns/Knives HUNTERS’ SPECIAL! 10% off guns and ammunition 20% off store wide

CASWELL

Home Decor

39728 HWY 160, Bayfield 970-884-2577

16 /

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

CASWELL caswelltrading.com

TRADING COMPANY

39722 HWY 160, Bayfield 970-884-2310 August 2019

G A M E M E AT

H

Hunters target hunger

unters are strong supporters in the fight against hunger state-wide. In fact, last year, national nonprofit organization Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) provided more than 178,668 pounds of meat to families in need across the United States.

Locally, hunters who legally harvest an animal in Southwest Colorado may donate the meat to an individual or organization. Just follow these simple steps.

USDA-certified Game Processing

1. Decide how much you want to donate. Most locals store meat in their freezers to share with friends and family throughout the year, but visitors hunting in Colorado might feel it is more meat than they can transport. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, you can donate any amount of processed and packaged game meat anywhere. However, you can only donate up to 20 pounds of unprocessed meat, unless you deposit the meat at the recipient’s home or the recipient has an unfilled like license. (A like license is a license for exactly the same species, sex, season and method of take.)

2. Choose where to donate. Most organizations can’t accept donations unless the meat is processed by a facility that is certified by the USDA, while others will allow donations by any licensed facility. Calling ahead ensures the meat will not go to waste. If an area food bank or shelter can not take the donation, check with churches and nonprofit organizations. Group leaders may be able to connect you with an individual or family, which takes the guesswork out of finding a USDA-certified facility nearby.

3. Make a certificate. Donation certificates are required to remain with the meat until it is entirely consumed. The certificate does not require a special form; simply include the names, addresses and telephone numbers for both the donor and recipient. The certificate should also include the donor’s hunting license number, species, the amount of meat donated and the date of the kill, complete with the donor’s signature.

Hunters who pay for the processing may write off the expense if they receive a receipt. Additionally, some processors will offer small discounts to hunters that plan to donate a portion of the meat.

August 2019

Mountain Meat Packing Fruita, Colorado (970) 858-9584 Mountain Valley Meat Monte Vista, Colorado (541) 352-6322 Salazar Natural Meats Maassa, Colorado (347) 407-1622 Places to Donate Durango Food Bank (970) 375-2672 Durango Manna (970) 385-5095 Mancos FoodShare (719) 440-1890 Pagosa Springs Community United Methodist Church (970) 264-5508

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

/ 17

How to make fishing a family affair HOOKED ON FISHING

Photos courtesy Jenny Johnston

By Jenny Johnston

I

grew up fishing, and spent the majority of my 20s working as a fly fishing guide in Colorado. When my children were born, I envisioned future fish stories the way some Texas parents dream of touchdowns.

Some people think the smaller the child the bigger the bobber, hook and bait or fly need to be. Here’s the thing, fish don’t know how big the angler on the other end of the rod is and they don’t care. They want an easy meal that looks delicious. Bobbers may make it easy for kids to see a fish strike but they can make it difficult for a fish to pull under. Smaller, stick on floats that you can pick up at your local fly shop tend to work best.

For my family, the salmon egg doesn’t fall far from the hook. But I realize that not all families are fishing families. And if you aren’t sure how to incorporate your children into your adventure, I’ve compiled a few tips to encourage fishing with your family.

Fishing is good for kids. In today’s technology driven world of instant gratification, fishing has a way of bringing us back to appreciating effort, learning cause and effect and that good things come to those who wait. Fishing allows our little ones to experience and respect Mother Nature. Where you find trout, you are likely to find a backdrop of sparkly Irion Pyrite rocks, trees in more shades of green than a jumbo crayon box, the smell of wildflowers, the sounds of animals and bugs and the opportunity to be part of this vast natural playground.

Fishing allows kids to feel part of something bigger than themselves. It teaches problem solving. In order to find

a fish on the end of your line, fishing takes consideration of what is going on around you and requires you to be present in the moment. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the sport and the one I hope to bestow to my children is that fishing allows for quiet time alone or to create memories with someone you love.

Fishing is simple and magical.

You don’t have to be an expert to get your kids out there. Whether you are fish crazed like me or haven’t touched a trout unless it was on a dinner plate, it’s easier than you think to get your kids hooked on fishing.

Equipment is key. The tiny character gimmick pole is cute but that’s about it. It’s a hassle for you and your little one to cast. I’ve made this mistake, standing on the shore trying to cast the hot pink Barbie pole my daughter “Reeeeeallllly needed.” After about three casts, I wanted to throw the whole rod in the lake and teach her the second level skill associated with fishing; swearing like a sailor. Just pick up a smaller spinning rod or a beginner fly rod for older children. It’ll last longer, cast easier and make the fishing experience less stressful for everyone involved.

18 /

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

There is no need for huge hooks. In fact, a trout will be more likely to eat and allow you to set the hook on a smaller sized 12 or 14 if you are fishing with bait. If you are throwing a lure, most come with a treble (three pronged) hook. When kids are involved “treble” can be interchanged with “trouble.” Three barbed hooks are not better than one, for obvious reasons. The child, or more likely the parent, is more likely to end up with a hook embedded in their hand than the fish.

I’ve heard it over and over that you can’t hook a fish without a barbed hook. So, go ahead, tell me this while you are trying to remove a barbless hook embedded in you knuckle with a freaked out three year old assisting as your scrub nurse, much less one with a barb.

Until I had my own little fisherman, B-A-I-T was like a four letter word, much less W-O-R-M. Now, I find myself out in the garden with my kids and a flashlight in one hand and a coffee can in the other looking for worms. For a fly fisherman, such as myself, better to do this type of covert operation under the cover of darkness. I’ve been known to think I am better than heavy metal chucker’s or gasp, bait fishermen, but here’s the deal, little kids can’t master casting a fly rod, but they can throw a mean cast with a spinning rod. The goal here is to get kids hooked on fishing, for it to be fun. If the thought of touching a wiggling worm makes you squeamish, pick up some salmon eggs or Powerbait. It’s like fast food for fish and less alive for you to touch.

Don’t forget sunscreen, bug spray, a lucky fishing hat, snacks and your manners. Set a good example by demonstrating proper etiquette. Handle the fish, with wet hands and as little as possible, practice catch and release and if you do end up with a floater, take it home and eat it. Freezer burned fins are no way to end a fine life.

Make Emily Post proud by creating tiny stewards of the land and if you really want to make your small fry feel special, go online to www. takemefishing.org and print out a “Big Catch” kids fishing award certificate to hang up on the refrigerator.

If you want to share your thoughts or a map to your secret fishing hole Jenny can be reached at jennyandgooseoutdoors@outlook.com August 2019

FISHING

Improve your fisheries

Waters where anglers can keep all catches of certain species: •Crawford Reservoir: northern pike •Green Mountain Reservoir: northern pike •Elkhead Reservoir: northern pike and smallmouth bass •Harvey Gap Reservoir: northern pike and smallmouth bass •Juniata Reservoir: smallmouth bass •Ridgway Reservoir: smallmouth bass •Rifle Gap Reservoir: northern pike and smallmouth bass

S

ome fish species are good where they belong, but in the wrong body of water they can ruin a fishery. In addition to carrying at hefty fine of $5,000, any person caught illegally moving fish can also lose hunting and fishing privileges. Report poachers to (877) 265-6648 or email game.thief@state.co.us.

•Stagecoach Reservoir: northern pike and walleye •Wolford Mountain Reservoir: northern pike Eating your catch

• CPW biologists are no longer stocking fish in some waters because illegally introduced fish can compete with and/or eat fish that would normally be stocked. Fish are stocked by CPW in other waters to ensure better use of your license dollars. CPW hatcheries are also raising larger sized fish to stock so that illegally introduced fish have a smaller chance of eating stocked fish. This situation results in increased expenses to CPW and fewer fish available to anglers.

• In the wrong place, some fish species can change the entire ecosystem, reducing the quality of fishing overall and interfering with CPW fishery management.

• For waters with no bag and possession limits for certain species, anglers are encouraged to “catch and keep” these fish.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages residents to fish and enjoy the fruits of their labor or leisure. Keep in mind that not all fish should be eaten in unlimited amounts. Fish are an important part of a healthy diet: They are a lean, lowcalorie source of protein and nutrients. However, some fish meat may contain chemicals that could pose health risks.

The Colorado Department of Health and Environment, in cooperation with CPW, tests fish throughout the state for the presence of certain contaminants such as mercury, arsenic and selenium. Current advisories can be found online at www.colorado.gov/cdphe/wq-fish-consumption.

NEVER MISS AN ADVENTURE! 10% discount

8 am - Close

for :

(970) 533-7651

Veterans Seniors Firefighters

CALL 970-375-4530 OR VISIT DURANGOHERALD.COM/SUBSCRIBE August 2019

Teachers

Open Daily:

Mancos, CO at the intersection

Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide

/ 19

BIG SAVINGS ON ALL 2018 AND 2019 RV’S

HUNTER’S SPECIAL Over 200 RV’s in stock!

2018 Clipper 14R $136/mo* *OAC 5.99% apr for 144 months +TT&L

505.334.5500 · CTRVaztec.com · 993 NM 516 4 miles west of Aztec, and 1.5 miles east of Flora Vista