2004 L1 Season Elk Herd (South Park)
07-elk 2004A.jpg

December 24, 2004
Big game seasons set through 2009 Durango Herald - Durango,CO,USA... with the flexibility to allow some units to have different opening dates to avoid pronghorn hunting during regular deer and elk seasons. ...

December 23, 2004
After the cold (to minus 13f below zero) and snowy weather we've had in the past few days there shouldn't be any elk left in the high country, most of them more than likely made it down to the ranch area. The local (CS) long-range forecast indicates that the daytime temperatures should remain in the forties through January third with no snow forcasted. Maybe that will bring them back to the foothills. Based on the local weather we've had in recent days, I suspect the low temperatures in the hunting area would be in the minus 20-30 degree (f) range. Hard to tell how much snow they've had, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a foot or more. During the L1 season I didn't make it to Dunlap, I know there were elk there, I seen where they came from 50 and made it to Lee Gulch and Dunlap, also seen where they crossed Rock Creek (JV ranch) to the FR 39 area, it looked like most must have made it to the Jefferson ranches. Dunlap is often quiet enough, that just maybe, some of them stayed around. Hopefully the last week of December and early January forecasted weather warm-up will bring the rest back to the foothills for the L2 season.

December 20, 2004
PROPOSED CHANGES TO SAN LUIS VALLEY ELK MANAGEMENT

A rapidly growing elk herd on the East side of the San Luis Valley has prompted the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) to consider changes in how it manages elk in the Valley. For more information click here: News - Department of Natural Resources

Harlan Bitterlin and His Trophy Kansas White Tail Buck -December, 2004-
harlanbuck2004.jpg (Click on the picture to enlarge - that might make it look like a Colorado Mule Deer)

December 22, 2004
South Park easements bought with lottery funds Rocky Mountain News - Denver,CO,USA... will be preserved thanks to lottery grants from the Great Outdoors Colorado program ... Tarryall Creek runs through the area, which is home to deer, elk, waterfowl ...

Bear ate woodsman, but did it kill him? Anchorage Daily News (subscription) - Anchorage,AK,USA ... Still, he noted Schleyer himself had documented grizzly bears hunting elk during the rut near Yellowstone National Park. Could it ...

Five bull Elk - 2004
Sorry about the picture quality - considering the circumstancis this was the best we could do.
5bulls2004.jpg

December 16,2004
Hunter deaths scrutinized despite lack of evidence elk malady can ...Denver Post - Denver,CO,USA... Scientists watching for CWD in humans...

Where Have All The Elk Gone!

December 13, 2004
Made an overnight trip to Fairplay and Jefferson yesterday and early this morning checked for elk at some of the ranches around Jefferson, did not see any elk at the usual places, maybe, just maybe, the elk might have returned to the foothills. Did not go back into the hunting area, as it looked like there might be somewhat more snow than in South Park. In the past few days they have had high winds and I suspect the drifts could be pretty high on FR 56 (especially in that one shaded area), although, the Christmas tree cutters and dogsled operators may have it pretty well open by now. Highways, 285/24 and 9, were clear and dry, did not use SH77. The early morning temperature was 8 above in Fairplay. Was hopeful the five bulls with the well developed racks we had seen during the L1 season might still be loafing south of the Columbine Ranch. No photos this trip.

Stayed at The Western Inn Motel and RV Park on Hwy 285 in Fairplay just east of the Hwy 9 intersection (stop light). Toll free 877 306-3037 or 719 836-2026. A nice clean facility, I had a room with microwave, coffee pot, refrigerator and 4 burner stove with oven. Good rates too.

http://thewesterninn.com/index.html

Cow Elk and Calf - RMNP October 2nd, 2004
07-0222 Photo credit Jon Sercel

Elk updates

Dentry: Damage elk herd could cause no small potatoes
Rocky Mountain News - Denver,CO,USA
... Within that unit, the division would allow bull elk hunting from May to July (when antlers are still in velvet) and antlerless elk hunting from Aug. ...

Wasting disease is slow to spread in
Vail Daily News - Vail,CO,USA
WESTERN COLORADO - Tests conducted during hunting season this fall have found no significant spread of chronic wasting disease among deer and elk in Colorado. ...

L1 Elk Season Summary

The L1 season will end December 5th and L2 will start January 1st and run thru January 9th.

The first weekend of the L1 season there were quite a few hunters and at least three cows were taken. One group worked the timber from 39 east, that's where they got the cows. During the week a large number of elk migrated from 50 and the Kenosha Mountains and made it through the hunting area to the Jefferson ranch land, not enough hunter pressure to slow them down and break up the larger herds. On our way-out Friday we seen four large herds that made it to the ranches in 501 and 50.

It looked like more elk migrated through the area during this season than what we experienced last year during the L2 season. And again we seen a number of bulls with well developed racks. Now the question is, will the elk be back in the foothills for the L2 season. During the L2 season last year quite a few elk went back and forth several time from the ranches back to National Forest.

The early morning temperatures ran from minus 10 to minus 22 degrees, the daytime temperatures were most generally above zero, with lots of sunshine, making it feel munch warmer than it was. We did get several inches, and almost twelve inches in some areas, of powder snow. Great Colorado weather.

SH 77 is treacherous and snow packed, we elected to go around using Hwy. 24 to 9 to 285 and from Fairplay to County Road 43. County Road 43 comes out on SH77 near FR39, a couple real slick spots on SH77 a mile or so from the 77/39 intersection. Anybody driving a Motor-home or pulling a trailer should consider this route. It's about 16 miles further but faster and certainly much safer.

Field Update December 1st, 2004