DENVER — In an attempt to increase deer populations in two areas of the state, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is proposing a predator management study in each area and is seeking input on the proposals at a meeting in Denver. Due to a variety of factors, including habitat fragmentation, disease, development, increased outdoor recreation and predation, mule deer populations remain below objective in parts of Colorado. To reverse the downward trend, CPW continues to implement the agency’s West Slope Mule Deer Strategy, approved by the CPW Commission in 2015 following an extensive public outreach effort in 2014 about declining mule deer populations in Colorado and across the Western United States. The proposals seek to determine how lowering predator density affects mule deer survival and recruitment
On Sept. 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., a moderated listening session will be held at the Hunter Education Building, 6060 Broadway, Denver. Public comments will be accepted so as to gather as much input as possible during the two hour meeting, The meeting will end promptly at 8:30 and if all comments have not been heard, the public can submit their thoughts to the Commission’s email address.
CPW’s population objective for mule deer is approximately 560,000 statewide; however, the latest estimate puts the statewide population at just under 450,000.
For more information regarding the plans go to:
Click to access Piceance-Basin-Predator-Management-Plan-Overview.pdf
Click to access Upper-Arkansas-River-Predator-Management-Plan-Overview.pdf