Colorado wildlife officials set 2011 season licenses, OK ban on hunting black bears in dens
By Jordan Steffen

The Denver Post

Posted: 05/07/2011 01:00:00 AM MDTUpdated: 05/07/2011 01:06:36 AM MDT


The Colorado Wildlife Commission unanimously approved a regulation Thursday banning the hunting or harassment of black bears in their dens.

Brett Ackerman, the Colorado Division of Wildlife's regulations manager, said the new regulation was prompted by an incident last fall when a hunter shot a large black bear in its den near Craig, according to a news release.

The new regulation, which takes effect July 1, is designed to "maintain and increase public support for wildlife management by emphasizing safety and fair chase."

The commission, an 11-member board appointed by the governor, also set license numbers for most big-game species for the 2011 hunting season.

Division big-game manager Andy Holland presented the division's license number recommendations for elk, deer, pronghorn and moose.

License numbers for elk are being cut in some areas to maintain population levels and accommodate complaints of damage to fences and crops. The largest cuts will be in areas near Craig, Meeker and east of Durango. The post-hunt elk population in Colorado is estimated at 282,000, about the same as 2009.

The 2010 post-hunt deer population decreased 7 percent to about 430,000.

In areas west of Interstate 25, license numbers for deer decreased, due to higher mortality rates during the long winter of 2007-08. East of I-25, license numbers remain the same as plains deer herds are doing well.

Colorado's post-hunt pronghorn population is about 79,000, slightly higher than 2009. Pronghorn continue to do well on the Eastern Plains, but some herds are struggling in the west and southwest portions of the state.

The state's moose population continues to increase, with a current population of about 1,690. This year the state will offer moose hunting in 36 game management areas, including two new units on the Front Range and Continental Divide.

There will also be additional bear hunting opportunities as the division plans to increase the number of licenses by 17 percent.

The commission also approved an emergency regulation lifting bag limits for all fish species at Bonny Reservoir. The regulation, which also allows the use of trot lines and jugs, will allow for anglers to catch more fish prior to the draining of the Yuma County reservoir this fall.

Staff are expected to transplant fish to other reservoirs before the reservoir is drained.