As the April 2 deadline for hunters to apply for the 2024 license draw fast approaches, Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists have updated the hunting forecast for the Southeast Region and have important advice for big-game hunters – especially anyone pursuing pronghorn.
Julie Stiver, senior terrestrial biologist for CPW’s Southeast Region, urges pronghorn hunters to pay particular attention to units where changes were made recently to manage harvest.
“In 2023, CPW updated management objectives for all pronghorn units in the Southeast Region,” Stiver said, noting the changes can be found at CPW’s website under Southeast Region Pronghorn Herd Management Plans.
She said hunters should anticipate changes in hunting opportunities for the units where management changes were made.
“Hunters should also read the ‘Need to Know’ section on page 53 of the 2024 Colorado Big Game brochure to see where the changes have been made,” Stiver said. “Hunters are also highly encouraged to see if there have been changes to the grouping of units they normally hunt in.”
Here is Stiver’s updated forecast for other big game species:
- Elk
- Elk populations in the SE Region are at or above long-term management objectives. CPW anticipates providing similar elk hunting opportunities in the SE Region compared to last year.
- Hunters are encouraged to read the Need To Know section on page 35 of the big game brochure to see if there have been any changes to hunt codes they normally apply for.
- Deer
- 2024 is a mandatory Chronic Wasting Disease Testing year for several deer hunts in the SE Region. Hunters can learn more about CWD testing on pages 20-22 of the big game brochure.
- New fourth rifle season opportunities are available in GMUs 85 & 851 and GMU 140. See the Need to Know section on page 20 of the Big Game Brochure for more information.
- CPW anticipates providing similar deer hunting opportunities for most SE Region units in 2024 compared to previous years. However, biologists are seeing lower production and buck numbers in the eastern portion of the Arkansas River corridor. Therefore, buck hunting opportunities might be lower this year compared to previous years.
Hunters can call their local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office for questions about specific hunts or this forecast.
Written by Bill Vogrin. Bill is a public information officer for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife southeast region.