Summit County Citizens Voice

Learn more about an upcoming mule deer study at a meeting in Kremmling. PHOTO COURTESY COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE.

Public presentation set for Oct. 7 in Kremmling; results of study will help shape hunting plans

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado Division of Wildlife biologists will start an in-depth study of the Middle Park mule deer herd to try and learn how effectively they can control the ratio of bucks to does through the allocation of hunting licenses. The ratio is important because it helps shape hunting objectives.

“It’s extremely important for managers to know if there are differences between survival rates of bucks, does and fawns when we manage herds for different objectives,” said lead researcher Eric Bergman, who will discuss the study in an Oct. 6 public meeting Kremmling (& p.m. at the Blue Valley Sportsman Club).

“For instance, in some areas we may be managing for a pos- hunt ratio of 45 bucks per 100 does while in other areas we may be managing for a post hunt ratio of 25 bucks per 100 does Bergman said. “We’ve learned that we can effectively accomplish this, but we don’t know if the over-winter survival of bucks under these two conditions is different.”

Learning the answers could tell wildlife managers that they could sell more hunting licenses for bucks, for example, according to division spokesman Randy Hampton.

Management of deer populations has become more complicated since the state responded to mule deer population declines by moving from over-the-counter deer licenses to limited licenses in 1999.

During the initial two to three years of the study, the Division will establish a baseline by monitoring mule deer in Middle Park. Then the Division will temporarily adjust the allocation of hunting licenses in the area in an effort to change the ratio of bucks to does in the herd. During this period, Bergman and his team of researchers will monitor the population to assess how the license allocation actually affects the population of deer in the area.

More information about the Division’s mule deer research may be found at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Research/Mammal/Deer/

Filed under: Colorado Division of Wildlife, Environment, Summit County Colorado, wildlife Tagged: | Colorado Division of Wildlife, Deer, hunting, Middle Park, mule deer research, outdoors, Summit County Colorado, Summit County News