ELK MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR E-1 DATA ANALYSIS UNIT Game Management Units: 2 and 201 Prepared By Darby Finley Colorado Parks and Wildlife Meeker Service Center PO Box 1181 Meeker, CO 81641 2013 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 1 CPW Commission Recommendation ....................................................................................................................... 4 INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE .......................................................................................................... 5 Primary Goals ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Secondary Goals ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Management by Objective ........................................................................................................................ 5 DESCRIPTION OF DAU ........................................................................................................................... 7 Location ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Physiography .................................................................................................................................... 7 Topography ........................................................................................................................... 7 Climate .................................................................................................................................. 7 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................. 8 Land Use ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Land Status ............................................................................................................................ 9 Ownership ............................................................................................................................. 10 Development ......................................................................................................................... 10 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................ 10 Recreation ............................................................................................................................. 11 Energy Development ............................................................................................................. 11 HERD MANAGEMENT HISTORY ........................................................................................................ 12 Disclaimer for Population Size ......................................................................................................... 12 Historical Population ........................................................................................................................ 12 Post-Hunt Population Size ................................................................................................................ 13 Post-Hunt Herd Composition. .......................................................................................................... 13 Calf Ratio .............................................................................................................................. 14 Bull Ratio .............................................................................................................................. 14 Harvest History ................................................................................................................................. 17 Bull Harvest .......................................................................................................................... 15 Antlerless Harvest ................................................................................................................. 15 Hunting Season History .................................................................................................................... 16 Hunting Pressure ............................................................................................................................... 17 Economic Impacts ............................................................................................................................ 17 CURRENT HERD MANAGEMENT…………………………………………………………………….18 Current Population and Sex Ratio Objectives .................................................................................. 18 Current Management Strategies ....................................................................................................... 18 Current Management Concerns ........................................................................................................ 18 Elk Population Levels ........................................................................................................... 18 Population Demographics ..................................................................................................... 19 Elk Distribution and Movement ............................................................................................ 19 Elk Damage ........................................................................................................................... 19 Elk/Mule Deer Competition .................................................................................................. 20 Elk/Livestock Competition ................................................................................................... 20 Chronic Wasting Disease ...................................................................................................... 21 HABITAT RESOURCE ............................................................................................................................. 22 Habitat Distribution .......................................................................................................................... 22 Winter Range ........................................................................................................................ 22 Summer Range ...................................................................................................................... 23 Habitat Condition and Capability ..................................................................................................... 24 Public Lands .......................................................................................................................... 24 Wildlife Conflict Areas- public lands ....................................................................... 26 Private Lands ......................................................................................................................... 26 Habitat Partnership Program ..................................................................................... 26 Habitat Assessment Model ........................................................................................ 27 Additional Habitat Capability Monitoring ................................................................ 28 Impacts to Sage Grouse ............................................................................................. 28 Wildlife Conflict Areas- private lands ...................................................................... 29 ISSUES AND STRATEGIES ..................................................................................................................... 30 Issues Solicitation Process ................................................................................................................ 30 Issue Identification ............................................................................................................................ 30 Issues and Concerns of BLM ................................................................................................ 31 Issues and Concerns HPP Committees ................................................................................. 31 Issues and Concerns of County Commissioners ................................................................... 31 Issues and Concerns of State Land Board ............................................................................. 31 Issues and Concerns of Public............................................................................................... 31 ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................................... 32 Management Strategies ..................................................................................................................... 33 Management Alternative Projections ............................................................................................... 33 Population and Herd Composition Objectives ................................................................................. 33 PREFERRED OBJECTIVES AND ALTERNATIVES .......................................................................... 34 CPW Recommendation to Colorado Wildlife Commission ............................................................