NEW BUCK SEASONS CONSIDERED IN GUNNISON BASIN

NEW BUCK SEASONS CONSIDERED IN GUNNISON BASIN

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is seeking comment from the public about the possible addition of two new deer hunting seasons in the Gunnison Basin for 2006. Comments are due to the DOW by Oct. 14.

These seasons would be designed to provide hunters with additional opportunities in Game Management Units 54, 55, 551, 66 and 67, and to help the DOW meet wildlife management objectives. It is estimated that 25,000 deer live in those game management units.

Wildlife managers are considering an early "high-country" buck hunt in September. These hunts are generally restricted to a specific area within a Game Management Unit such as a designated wilderness or above a certain elevation. Similar hunts already occur in other parts of the state, and are generally one week long.

The second season being considered would be held in mid-November at the same time as the 4th elk season.

For both, only a limited number of licenses would be available.

"Both of these seasons would provide very high-quality hunting experiences," said Brandon Diamond, terrestrial biologist in the Gunnison region. "We want to hear what hunters think about this idea."

To comment, contact Diamond at 1-970-641-7071; send an e-mail to brandon.diamond@state.co.us; or write to him at 300 W. New York Ave., Gunnison, CO 81230.


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

From the DOW INSIDERr

HUNTER HARVESTED MOOSE TESTS POSITIVE FOR CWD

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) has confirmed that a bull moose killed by an archer has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). The moose was submitted for testing on Sept. 12.

CWD was diagnosed in testing completed by the Colorado State University (CSU) Veterinary Diagnostic lab. Because this is the first time CWD has been found in a wild moose, testing will be repeated on this sample.

Until now CWD had only been found in the wild in deer and elk.

The DOW and CSU have worked together to develop the most efficient and accurate CWD testing program in the country. CWD testing for moose was made mandatory in Colorado in 2003. Since 2002, 288 moose have been tested and the disease was not detected.

Nearly 13,000 deer and elk were submitted for CWD testing between Aug. 2004 and April 2005. Of those animals, 175 tested positive for CWD.

"This is a single case of CWD in moose, but given their social habits we believe that cases in moose are likely to be a rare occurrence," said Miller.

Deer, elk and moose are all members of the deer family. But unlike deer and elk, moose do not form herds or large social groups. Moose are typically solitary animals and generally only stay with other moose in cow-calf pairs.

The moose was harvested legally by a licensed archery hunter in GMU 171, which is located in Jackson County, south of Cameron Pass.

The hunter who submitted the moose for testing was contacted and will have the choice of having his license fee refunded or receiving a cow moose license for the same Game Management Unit this year. He will also receive a refund from the DOW for the cost of processing the animal.

The hunter said that he is pleased that the DOW has the testing system available and he is glad to be able to contribute to the ongoing scientific research on CWD.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that has been diagnosed in wild deer and elk in ten states and two Canadian provinces. Animals show no apparent signs of illness throughout much of disease course. In terminal stages of CWD, animals typically are emaciated and display abnormal behavior.

Epidemiologists with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have found no link between CWD and any human neurological disorders.




BEAR KILLED BY HOMEOWNER IN LAKE CITY; CUBS TAKEN TO DOW'S WILDLIFE CENTER

A homeowner in Lake City shot and killed a bear on Sept. 27 - but it was a shooting that Colorado Division of Wildlife officers say could have been avoided through community action.

The bear that was killed and her two cubs had been given easy access to food in town and had become habituated to human contact, said Lucas Martin, district wildlife manager for Lake City. Martin had been told that some people in Lake City were intentionally feeding the bears and other wildlife. He even received reports that people had been seen petting the cubs.

"Feeding bears is illegal and it is dangerous for humans and the animals," Martin said.

Many homeowners in Lake City do not properly take care of their garbage, so bears can easily get into trash cans to forage for food.

"Bears are smart animals. Once they get food out of one trash can, they'll go to every trash can in town," Martin said.

The man who shot the bear had not been feeding the animals and he stores his garbage in a bear-proof container. He was not cited for the incident.

About 3:30 a.m., Sept. 27, the man's two dogs started to bark and act irritated. Before letting them out, he looked outside to check if a bear was at his trash can. When he didn't see a bear he let the dogs out. Within a few seconds the man heard one of the dogs barking and saw a bear at the trash can.

He called the dog and it ran towards the house with the bear giving chase. After the dog ran into the house the bear stopped just a few feet off the porch. The man grabbed his rifle and yelled at the bear to try to scare her off. When the bear made a movement that appeared threatening, the man shot her.

The bear ran off and died quickly about 40 feet from the cabin. As the man walked toward the dead bear he heard the crying of the two cubs that had climbed about 50 feet into a Ponderosa pine tree.

The man called the DOW about an hour later and Martin went to the scene. With the assistance of a local company that provided a "bucket truck," Martin was raised near the cubs. He tranquilized the animals and placed them in a bear trap. Later that morning he drove the cubs to the DOW's Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center near Del Norte where they'll be raised and trained to live in the wild. While there is no guarantee that the cubs will survive once placed in the wild, the DOW has had good success with previous rehabilitation and release efforts.

There is a serious complication for the cubs, however. They have already been taught to associate people with food.

J Wenum, area wildlife manager, said that the incident could have been avoided. A similar incident occurred in 2004. Wenum fears that this will be a yearly occurrence unless the Lake City community takes action.

"We have a serious problem in Lake City with some people not taking care of their garbage properly and with some people feeding wildlife," Wenum said. "People think feeding small animals does not create problems, but that inevitably attracts large animals. And that leads to problems like this."

The DOW offers this reminder: A fed bear is a dead bear.

Please, follow these guidelines if you live in bear country:

· Never feed wildlife to attract them for viewing. It is illegal to feed wildlife. Food left out for small animals will attract large animals such as bear, deer and elk.

· Keep garbage in airtight containers inside a garage or storage area. Clean trash cans with ammonia to reduce odors that attract bears.

· Food scraps that produce odors should be placed in the freezer until garbage-collection day. This would include meat scraps, and fruit and vegetable scraps.

· Place garbage for pickup outside just before collection. Do not put out trash cans the night before pickup.

· Use a bear-proof dumpster. If you don't have one, ask a trash-removal company for options.

· Take down birdfeeders when bears are active. Once a bear finds a birdfeeder in a yard, it will likely look around the neighborhood for other easy foods within reach. It's recommended that bird feeders be brought in at night.

· Do not start a compost pile in bear country. The odor attracts bears.

· Do not leave pet food or dirty dishes outdoors at night. Store pet food indoors.

· After cooking on a grill, leave the burners on for a few minutes to burn the remaining scraps and liquids completely. The smell of barbecue sauce and grease can attract bears.



WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING IN SALIDA

The Colorado Wildlife Commission will meet October 4, 2005 at the High Country Bank at 7360 W US Hwy. 50 in Salida. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and is open to the public.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) will present a final proposal on big game hunting license allocation recommendations. This represents the culmination of a process that began in April with the formation of The Big Game License Allocation Working Group.

The effort to develop recommendations to adjust hunting license allocation in the state was made after several groups voiced concern over the current methods of allocating deer, elk and pronghorn licenses. A stakeholders group was created, meetings were held around the state to gather public input. The process culminated with DOW staff developing proposals to re-adjust license allocations.

The Commission will also begin hearing testimony concerning regulations relating to mountain lion hunting, including but not limited to, lion harvest quotas, seasons and manner of take provisions for the 2006 hunting season. A final vote on the 2006 lion hunting season will take place at the Commission's November meeting in Greeley.

The Colorado Wildlife Commission is an eleven-member board appointed by the governor. The commission sets DOW regulations and policies for hunting, fishing, watchable wildlife, and nongame, threatened and endangered species. Commissioners also oversee DOW land purchases and property regulations.

To view the agenda for the Salida meeting, go to http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeCommission/2005/Oct/mailversion%20October%2005%20Agenda.pdf


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

Colorado hunting program draw critics

Colorado hunting program draw critics
The Casper Star Tribune - Casper,WY,USA

Wildlife program provides undue benefits to private landowners and hurts public...hunting. ... existing rules, private landowners get 90 percent of male elk and deer ...

WOMAN INJURED BY BEAR IN COLORADO SPRINGS

A large black bear injured an 85-year-old woman in the Skyway subdivision in Colorado Springs on September 19.

The woman had been leaving a bucket of sunflower seeds on a picnic table for birds, squirrels or whatever other wildlife wandered into her back yard. According to the woman, at least four bears were frequent visitors including the bear that bit her.

The woman stated that she had been out of town for five days. When she put the bucket of seeds on the table around noon September 19, the bear confronted her. She tried to make her way back into her house, but the bear bit her before she could get the door closed.

"She was very lucky to escape with only minor injures," said Shaun Deeney, DOW Area Wildlife Manager.

Public safety guidelines require that bears that injure humans must be destroyed.

"This is a clear indication of why wildlife experts say that a fed bear is a dead bear. Feeding bears causes them to become habituated, and lose their natural fear of people. Habituated bears are a much higher risk to injure, or even kill a human," said Deeney.

Bears and humans often live near each other year-round in Colorado with few troubles. However, when bears become accustomed to a human food source, it can change a bear's natural behavior.

A black bear's digestive system requires it to eat large amounts of food to maximize nutritional benefit. Colorado bears have evolved to look for food in different parts of their range during different times of the year. In the spring, bears feed on the tender shoots of new grasses and forbs. As seasons change, bears move to areas where they found natural foods in the past.

Colorado Black bears are naturally wary of people and tend to avoid humans if they can.

Their most critical feeding period is late summer and fall when black bears move to regions where acorns, chokecherries, serviceberry, and pinion pine nuts are plentiful. During this time of year, feeding is ongoing for up to 20 hours per day. A single bear might eat 20-30 pounds of food a day. Nearly all of the food is converted into fat to provide energy during hibernation.

In wild situations, black bears will feed until their stomach is full, and then wander in search of new feeding areas. Bears do not stay at a single berry or acorn site until all the food is gone. They fill up, move on, and perhaps come back. This behavior allows several bears to benefit from a natural food site, and the bears are constantly mobile.

On the other hand, if a human feeds a bear, it becomes accustomed to a continuous source of food year round in one spot and does not follow the same pattern as a "wild" bear. A habituated bear will remain near the food source and make efforts to protect the territory, even from the humans who provide the food.


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

Gunnison Basin Buglers

Gunnison Basin Buglers
Rocky Mountain Game and Fish Magazine - USA
... "This area provides a quality elk hunting experience because fewer hunters are allowed to hunt here, which allows bulls to get older," Martin said. ...

It must be getting close to elk hunting season in the high country!

Cole sent this 9/13/2005

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Go to August ARCHIVE for more information on damming the Tarryall River (Click on the Map to enlarge)

Muzzleloading Deer hunting

HI GLEN,
JUST A SHORT NOTE, BOBBY GOT HIS BUCK TODAY THE FIRST DAY FOR MUZZLELOADER HUNTING. GOING TO KENNEY'S THE FIRST OF OCTOBER FOR THREE DAYS SHOULD BE GOOD FISHING MORE LATER.
DONNIE

Clem and Hurricane Katrina

Clem called Henry from Louisiana and said to tell all his Colorado friends and hunting buddies that he and his family are safe and missed the brunt of hurricane Katrina, losing only a few shingles on his house.

If anybody would like Clem's phone number or address let me know by email and I'll send it to you.