Tony Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 hey its getting close to the time to making this trip happen. im leaving next week to be in camp on the 19th through the 23rd. but i have read on another website that Cottonwood Pass is closed due to snow? is this true? what do we do if the pass is closed and cant get through. will there be a shuttle truck to get my butt from Buena Vista to elk camp? or is there another place for us to meet to get to camp. maybe Gunnison ? anyways im really looking forward to this. should be a really good time and maybe i will catch a few fish as well. Shoot Strong Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters Im flying in on the 18th. and Steve B. is picking me up at the airport.... Maybe you should check with him Tony.... Can't wait to get out there,, this is been one real long wait... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters Man oh man I wish I had extra cash to go. Maybe next time. Have fun everyone! Can't wait to see the pics and hear the stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters i'm sure the pass will be open by the hunt time. closures happen often, but don't last for long. BUT, we do have a back up plan. if the pass is closed, we all go to gunnison, and head north ALMONT. then, just watch for the signs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted October 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters steve you be the man.. cant wait to share a cup of coffee with you and a camp fire.. thanks.. see you in a few days.. Shoot Strong Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters [ QUOTE ] Man oh man I wish I had extra cash to go. [/ QUOTE ] I'm right there with ya Shaun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters [ QUOTE ] we all go to gunnison, and head north ALMONT. [/ QUOTE ] I will be coming from this direction anyways late on the 19th. Getting ansy already. These remaining few days are going to be hard to handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters We'll be heading into camp on the 20th...prob. around lunch time? Looking forward to some time away from work...but the drive home is going to stink! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Man oh man I wish I had extra cash to go. [/ QUOTE ] I'm right there with ya Shaun. [/ QUOTE ] You fellers arent alone.... Id love to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters I wish that I could get there. I 'd like to meet all of the forum members I have come to know one day. I just don't have the kind of time required for the trip. I was hoping to take that week off, but when reviewing what vacation time I have left I found I'll need it for my Illinois trip and the gun seasons here at home. I hope everyone has a great time out there. I wish all the you the best of luck in tagging an elk and catching some of those western trout for the skillet! Don't forget your cameras! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters my guess there will be a camera or 2 around. let's not forget the photoshop archives..... lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters I'll have my Digital Camera ,, extra CD's , rechargable batteries,,,, just need a generator... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinwheel5 Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters I hope you all have as much fun in Colorado as I did calling in this 7x7 into 17 yards for a friend of mine here in Kentucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters Very nice. That should get the adrenalin going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters Man those Elk are massive animals... CONGRATS to you and your friend on an awsome Elk.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Re: Realtree Colorado Elk Hunters That is a great bull!! Congratulations to both of you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertip_co Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 The great work of the DOW continues. Sounds like there's lots of backstraps left for fall hunting opps: GUNNISON FEEDING OPERATION TO CONTINUE THROUGH MID-APRIL The deer feeding operation in the Gunnison Basin is continuing; but Colorado Division of Wildlife managers expect that the program should end by mid April. As of the end of March, the DOW was feeding about 9,100 deer at 114 sites in the Gunnison area. Earlier in the month the number of deer being fed peaked at about 9,500 at 131 feeding sites. Even though temperatures are slowly warming and south-facing hillsides are starting to be exposed, a thick crust of snow two-feet deep still covers much of the basin. "Based on our population estimates, we have been feeding nearly half the deer in the Gunnison Basin and we believe this has been a very successful operation," said J Wenum, area wildlife manager in Gunnison. "There was concern in January that catastrophic mortality could occur. We still have some winter weather to go and have experienced some losses in big game, but the feed operations have helped many animals get through a record winter” Heavy snows in late December and early January completely covered nearly all of the available food sources in the basin. Extremely cold temperatures followed and wildlife managers were concerned that a major portion of the estimated 21,000 deer in the basin might die. In early January the Colorado Wildlife Commission authorized the feeding operation. Based on aerial and on-the-ground observations throughout the winter, wildlife managers estimate that mortality rates throughout the Gunnison Basin were above the long-term average. "Winter mortality is a normal and necessary part of the natural cycle. Mortality rates are different every year," Wenum said. “The higher mortality we observed this year was anticipated and is not surprising based on the conditions this winter.” In order to meet deer population management plan objectives, the DOW is recommending that the number of deer hunting licenses for the 2008 season in the Gunnison Basin be reduced by about half. At public meetings regarding license numbers in Gunnison on March 28, local residents, hunters and outfitters generally agreed with the numbers recommended by DOW's Gunnison staff. License recommendations will be considered by the Colorado Wildlife Commission at its May 1 meeting in Grand Junction. Every day since Jan. 10 about 20-30 DOW personnel and about 80 volunteers have worked on the feeding effort. Workers have endured deep snow and brutal cold to deliver nearly 600 50-pound bags of feed daily to more than 100 sites. As of March 31 the DOW had fed 30,100 bags of feed – more than 1.5 million pounds. "A lot of people have put in a lot of hours and a lot of hard work. This was not easy," Wenum said. Pellets were also fed to nearly 600 pronghorn that live in the basin. Feeding those animals met with varying success. Pronghorn are very skittish and many of the animals would not eat the feed. Consequently, wildlife managers estimate that about half the population has probably died. “Eventually, good numbers of pronghorn did take to the feed, so we should have a good core population of animals in the basin to begin rebuilding following this winter,” said Brandon Diamond, terrestrial biologist for the DOW in Gunnison. "We'll be watching the pronghorn closely to see how they fare this spring and summer," Hay was provided to about 3,200 elk, but only to keep them away from ranchers' hay stacks and major roads. Using a helicopter and snow-cats, the DOW delivered about 14 tons of hay to three large herds every day. Elk are hardy animals and survival is typically high even during harsh winters. No changes are recommended for the number of elk hunting licenses. As the weather has warmed during the last two weeks, some natural food sources have become exposed and animals are moving to traditional range. Wildlife managers are now evaluating all feed sites on a daily basis and will cut back as conditions allow. Officials estimate that the Gunnison feeding operation will cost about $1.75 million. Anyone interested can make a tax-deductible donation to the program at any DOW office or at the web site, http://wildlife.state.co.us. For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us. This post has been edited by silvertip-co: Today, 06:25 PM -------------------- NRA Life Member www.nrahq.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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