Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking input on elk management planning in Southwest Colorado and has scheduled four public meetings in Dolores, Norwood, Pagosa Springs and Durango.
“Elk management plans are revised approximately every 10 years,” said Matt Thorpe, area wildlife manager in Durango. “Public input provides guidance to wildlife managers who attempt to balance the biological capabilities of the herd and its habitat with the public’s demand for wildlife recreation opportunities.”
These Herd Management Plans drive important decisions, he said, which include the license-setting process as well as strategies and techniques to reach herd population objectives.
CPW staff members will talk about current status of elk herds, history of the herds and the herd management planning process. Wildlife officials want to hear from local hunters and others interested in wildlife about how they’d like to see elk managed.
The meeting schedule:
Feb. 4, 6:30-8 p.m. in Dolores, at the Dolores Community Center. The presentation will include Game Management Units 70, 71, 711, 72 and 73.Feb. 6, 6:30-8 p.m., in Pagosa Springs at the Archuleta County Extension office. The presentation will include Game Management Units 75, 751, 77, 78 and 771.Feb. 11, 6:30-8 p.m., in Norwood at the Lone Cone library. The presentation will include Game Management Units 70, 71, 72, 73 and 711.Feb. 13, 6:30-8 p.m., in Durango, La Plata County Fairgrounds extension building. The presentation will include Game Management Units 74 and 741.At the meetings, wildlife managers will also discuss the new regulation that limits archery elk hunting licenses in this area of Southwest Colorado.
CPW is also asking those interested in elk management in Southwest Colorado to take an online survey at https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/HerdManagementPlans.aspx that will be available Feb. 4 on CPW’s website.
