Wildlife Commission to discuss elk management in Rocky Mountain National Park

The Colorado Wildlife Commission will discuss recommendations and proposals for managing elk in Rocky Mountain National Park at their workshop at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, February 8 in Estes Park at the Holiday Inn Rocky Mountain Park, 101 S. St. Vrain.

The Commission recommends the use of public hunting as an appropriate method to achieve the population reduction necessary for this elk herd. The Commission adopted a resolution to that effect in July 2006. For an outline of the resolution, please go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeCommission/Archives/2006/July2006.htm and click Minutes.  The resolution is on page 49-50.

Colorado Division of Wildlife staff will discuss herd management in Unit 20 (E-9) outside of the Park, as well as present information on the impacts of too many elk in the Estes Park area.

Vaughn Baker, the superintendent of Rocky Mountain National Park, will be there to give an update on the Park’s elk/vegetation management environmental impact study (EIS). The Park Service will make their decision on the alternatives presented in the EIS by May/June of this year.

Commission workshops, while open to the public, are intended to update the commission on current wildlife issues and on Colorado Division of Wildlife staff activities. There is normally no regulatory action or public comment taken at workshops.

The Colorado Wildlife Commission is an 11-member board appointed by the governor. The Commission sets DOW regulations and policies for hunting, fishing, watchable wildlife and nongame and threatened and endangered species. The commission also oversees DOW land purchases and property regulations.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.