Winter big game mortality will impact 2023 hunting season

40% reduction in licenses expected

RBC | Big game hunters will feel the chill of the winter of 2022-23 this fall. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is recommending a 40% reduction in limited licenses for elk, deer and pronghorn herds across northwest Colorado in response to higher than usual winter mortality.

“Fawn survival at this point is in the low 30th percentile,” said Area Wildlife Manager Bill deVergie of the mule deer population. “We would hope for high 40s and 50s, but could get down into the 20th.” Elk calf survival is “probably a little higher, 35-40%,” while pronghorn antelope have been hardest hit. “If we have 10% fawn survival I think we’ll be doing good.”

While areas north of Rio Blanco County have had a harder winter, with deeper snow, deVergie said the entire region is affected. “The winter range has been hard hit because of previous droughts. It wasn’t in great shape to begin with.”

Traffic accidents have also played a role, with increased losses related to big snow berms on either side of the highways resulting in reduced visibility. In a couple cases, semi trucks ran into whole groups of antelope gathered on the road, killing dozens.

On her Josephine Basin-based family ranch just southeast of Meeker, Kathleen Kelley shared photos and commented on the winter kill conditions she’s witnessed this year. “We are seeing higher starvation and predator kills just in the vicinity of our house. The snow crusted so much this winter from high winds, that it was hell for deer, antelope and elk. What was a trail the day before, turned into a drift the next day, making it tnearly unnavigable. Deer would break through the crust while lions, coyotes and, as in the picture, bobcats could run over the top and get an easy catch, even of a healthy animal. Two deer were killed just 100 feet west of our house.” | KATHLEEN KELLEY PHOTO

Kelley continued, “Add starvation to that, and the death loss is even higher. As the snow goes down and I can get out on the ranch more, I can see where bands of deer and elk clustered, trying to wait out the winter. There was nothing for them to eat. The snow was so deep and often crusted that it made sense for them to hunker down and not move for long periods of time. That made them even more vulnerable to predators — and the predators have been thick this winter. I don’t know what the percentage loss will be in the CPW numbers but it has to be very high in some areas. We are definitely not at the end of it. While some of the ground has cleared, it will take a while for the grass to grow and brush to leaf out. The new grass is going to cause diarrhea and we will lose even more. In 1977 I saw a lot of deer make it through the winter and then begin to die off rapidly when the grass started growing. Their systems couldn’t handle the change.” | KATHLEEN KELLEY PHOTO

For elk, the 40% reduction will mean 6,300 fewer limited licenses — 4,800 cow licenses and 1,500 bull tags. Over the counter tags are still unlimited.

For deer, there will be 4,050 fewer licenses — 1,900 buck and 1,350 doe, as well as 800 either sex private-land-only licenses.

Licenses for pronghorn and moose will also be reduced.

CPW has been keeping an eye on the White River elk herd’s numbers. “We’re pretty close to about 40,000 elk in that White River herd, probably a little below that before this winter. After this we’ll definitely be much lower and that’s why we take the cuts. Deer have also been down,” deVergie said.

The CPW Commission will vote on the final decision at its meeting in Glenwood Springs in early May, but deVergie said he doesn’t expect recommendations to change between now and then. If anything, additional mortality is likely.

Hunters can still apply for unlimited over-the-counter bull elk licenses in the second and third seasons if they don’t draw in the first season, but there’s no way to know if they will take advantage of that option.

“We know it will affect our outfitters, restaurants and gas stations,” deVergie said. “We take that into consideration when we make these decisions.”

The prevalence of Chronic Wasting Disease in the northwest area has also taken a toll on big game, particularly deer. While weaker, ill animals may be more likely to succumb to harsh winter conditions, herds concentrating together may increase transmission of the disease.

Additionally, the plan to reintroduce wolves to Colorado, expected by December 2023, will not be affected by the winter mortality rates.

CPW has provided about 1,200 tons of replacement hay to ranchers, especially in Moffat County, this season.

The difficult winter does have a bright spot. “We hope the moisture will help get regrowth going a little bit,” deVergie said. “We should have good growth of summer forage, ponds should be full…if we have a good year we can start adding back [licenses].”

By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com