Craig Daily Press / Balancing on political precipice

DOW: Elk populations affect to ranchers and tourism

August 16, 2008

• Local residents and Colorado Division of Wildlife officials met for a town hall meeting July 26 to discuss various issues between residents and the state agency.

• Many residents said Northwest Colorado is overrun with wildlife, which destroy property and eat crops.

• DOW officials plan to address the concerns raised but said wildlife are a boon to the community that cannot be erased without consequences.

• To bring wildlife populations down to the point ranchers do not suffer property damage, the agency would permanently damage the local hunting industry and jeopardize tourism revenue.

Craig — The Colorado Division of Wildlife does not exist in a vacuum, said Randy Hampton, DOW spokesman.

Following the July 26 town hall meeting between DOW officials and local residents, members of the state agency decided to come together and plan ways to address some of the concerns presented that day.

Several residents who attended the meeting sponsored by state Rep. Al White, R-Hayden, many of whom are local farmers and ranchers, said the overabundance of wildlife — specifically elk, deer and antelope — make it difficult, if not near-impossible, to make a living.

The animals eat more crops and cause more damage than the state has money to pay for, locals said.

The DOW listened, Hampton said Friday.

“We’ve always understood and appreciated the concern of the ranchers,” he said.

Moffat County is somewhat burdened by the fact that elk herds in the area use the land around Craig and Maybell as winter range, a critical and historical habitat for the herds to survive.

“To completely eliminate the game damage from elk, we would have to completely eliminate the elk,” Hampton said. “We have driven those herds down, and we continue to drive those herd down.”

The DOW estimates the Bears Ears elk herd in Moffat County will drop to about 19,000 animals after the 2008 hunting season, with more room to drop further. The population would be reduced from an estimated 35,000 elk in 2001.

Moffat County’s wildlife burden also is its reward, however, Hampton said. Hunting and hunting tourism make up one of Northwest Colorado’s largest industries.

“If we bring those populations down to where the ranchers want them, it would be to the point that there won’t be any licenses for hunters,” Hampton said. “Tourism will suffer. It’s a catch-22.

“That’s not necessarily the perfect answer, but it’s where we are.”

Local residents contacted for this story declined to comment or could not be reached as of press time Friday night.

Hampton said DOW officials are not going to ignore any issue raised by residents, expressly citing comments that the DOW doesn’t provide timely assistance.

Some said at the July 26 meeting that DOW officials take inordinate amounts of time to respond to requests for any kind of game damage help, whether it is for a special kill permit to take an animal that is destroying their property or for panel fencing to help keep animals away from hay and other crops.

“We are certainly going to make some efforts to address the ranchers’ concerns with time lengths,” Hampton said.

He added DOW officials plan to meet next week to further discuss problems and solutions.