Short Takes

DOW hunts for process
Craig Daily Press - Craig,CO,USA
New hunting license rules could give private landowners and Colorado residents more elk licenses -- at the expense of out-of-state hunters. ...


Dentry: Hunters not likely to receive fair shot
Rocky Mountain News - Denver,CO,USA
... to raise the amount landowners could charge hunters as "access fees" (hunting fees, for ... Sure, that should attract more hunters to help control cow elk numbers. ...


Sportsmen groups split over set-asides
The Casper Star Tribune - Casper,WY,USA
... industry put forth a proposal July 12 to create a "closed license pool," more commonly known as set-aside licenses, of 2,900 elk hunting licenses for licensed ...

FORT CARSON MOOSE MOVED TO GRAND MESA

FORT CARSON MOOSE MOVED TO GRAND MESA

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) moved a 500-pound female moose from Colorado Springs to the Grand Mesa on Wednesday, July 20. Officials at Fort Carson spotted a moose wandering around the motor pool area about 9 a.m.

“The location was less than ideal for a moose,” said Steve Cooley, a district wildlife manager with the DOW. “The animal was inside a fenced area slated to receive equipment from troops returning from Iraq, so we made a decision to tranquilize the moose and take it somewhere it could roam with other moose.”

“When it came time to load the tranquilized moose into a trailer for transport to the West Slope, we had plenty of help from about a dozen soldiers who picked it up and put it inside,” he said.

The army post also supplied 600 pounds of ice to put in the trailer to keep the animal cool during a day when record high temperatures were expected.

“We are really glad to have another moose for our herd on the Mesa,” said biologist Stephanie Duckett.

In January of this year, the DOW began moving moose onto the Grand Mesa National Forest in western Colorado to re-establish a herd there.

It is not clear exactly how the moose got onto the army post near Colorado Springs. Moose are solitary animals but have been known to roam hundreds of miles. In recent years Colorado’s moose have demonstrated an uncanny ability to wander into areas where one might least expect them. Since the mid-90’s, wildlife officials have documented moose sightings near Cripple Creek, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Golden, Salida, Westcliffe, Gunnison, Hayden and Summit County among other places.

In addition to the moose on Grand Mesa, Colorado is home to two other established moose populations. One is on the west end of the San Luis Valley near Creede. The other is in north central Colorado near Walden.

In 1978, the DOW brought 12 moose from Utah to Walden. The next year another dozen more were released in the Illinois River drainage. Those moose expanded their range into the Laramie River Valley and in 1987, an additional 12 animals were brought in from Wyoming.

By 1991 the North Park population was doing so well that some of those moose were moved to the upper Rio Grande drainage near Creede. Continued supplementation with moose from Wyoming and Utah brought the Creede herd to about 100 animals by 1993.

In 2005, some of the moose from Creede were moved to Grand Mesa to begin a herd there. Additional moose were once again supplied by Utah to add genetic diversity to the herd.

The largest member of the deer family, moose have adapted to a variety of habitats. They do especially well where there are abundant willows along streams and ponds, but can also find adequate forage in areas of lodgepole pine, oakbrush, mountain mahogany, aspen or even sagebrush.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

BOY TREATED AND RELEASED AFTER BEING INJURED BY BEAR

BOY TREATED AND RELEASED AFTER BEING INJURED BY BEAR

A 14-year old Texas boy was treated and released from a Salida hospital for injuries suffered in an attack by a black bear around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The boy and his brother were sleeping in a tent at a private campground near Coaldale, Colorado when the bear came into the tent. The boy was bitten on the left hand and received some scratches and bruises during the struggle with the bear.

Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) officials will set a trap for the bear tonight to try to capture it.

The rest of the boy’s family was sleeping in a hard-sided camper nearby. They took him to Heart-of-the-Rockies Regional Medical Center where he received stitches and antibiotics to prevent infection.

“The boy did everything right,” said Jim Aragon, area wildlife manager from Salida. “He fought back and was able to fend off the bear. After a few seconds of struggle, the bear broke off the attack and ran away.”

Wildlife officials remind campers in Colorado to reduce the risk from bear attacks by keeping a clean camp. Never leave food, garbage or other attractants lying around your campsite.

The DOW has had calls about a bear getting into garbage containers in the area, but the investigating wildlife officer could not determine why the bear came into the tent in this incident. The DOW will destroy the bear if they can lure it into a trap.

Here are some tips for avoid bear conflicts when camping:

Keep your camp clean.
Store food and garbage properly at all times.
Keep your tent and sleeping bag free of all food smells.
Store the clothes you wore while cooking or eating with your food.
Burn all grease off grills and camp stoves.
Wipe table and clean up eating area thoroughly.
Store your food safely.
Store all your food and coolers in your car trunk or suspended from a tree – at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet out from the tree trunk.
Don’t underestimate the ingenuity of a bear! Vehicles are not bear proof.
Dispose of garbage properly.
Put it in bear-proof garbage cans where available or secure it with your food and then pack it out.
Don’t burn or bury garbage. Bears will dig it up.
Sleep well away from food areas.
Move some distance away from your cooking area or food storage site.
Store any toiletries safely. Store them with your food - the smell of toiletries may attract bears.

For more information: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Education/LivingWithWildlife/BearCountry.asp.

CONGRATULATIONS HALEY!!

Now that you have passed the Hunter Safety course you'll be able to do some serious Elk Hunting in Colorado with you Dad. He said you almost aced the written test only missing one question, that's very good.

Looking forward to your visit in December, make sure to bring a warm sleeping bag, it does get a little cold in the Colorado mountains (like 15 to 30 below zero) at that time of the year .

Gramps

Tarryall

Gazette.com
Plan an expedition up Pikes Peak with a stop at Barr Camp. ... The Tarryall
Mountains are made of eroded and wind-sculpted granite spires and walls of pink ...(The Historical Tarryall school - click to enlarge photo)a