CPW's Northwest Region to host additional public meetings for proposed Elk Herd Management Plans

Rachael Gonzales
Northwest Region Public Information Officer
970-773-8587 / [email protected]
Twitter: @CPW_NW CPW's Northwest Region to host additional public meetings for proposed Elk Herd Management Plans

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Northwest Region announces additional public meetings for proposed changes to the region's Elk Herd Management Plan in October. Northwest Region terrestrial biologists are seeking input on elk management as we draft Herd Management Plans (HMPs) for 15 elk herds in northwest Colorado.

CPW is evaluating  management objectives for 14 of the 16 elk herds in the Region. Recommended updates are being proposed for the E-1 Cold Springs elk herd, E-2 Bear’s Ears elk herd, E-3 North Park elk herd, E-6 White River elk herd, E-8 Troublesome elk herd, E-12 Piney River elk herd, E-13 Williams Fork elk herd, E-14 Grand Mesa elk herd, E-15 Avalanche Creek elk herd, E-16 Frying Pan elk herd, E-19 Glade Park elk herd, E-21 Rangely/Blue Mountain elk herd, and E-47 Green River elk herd. 

“Public input is important in this process,” said Darby Finley, Wildlife Biologist. “While we are in the early steps of the drafting process, hearing from all stakeholders including hunters, landowners, and recreationists provides insights to specific herds to help us create a better-rounded plan for how we manage individual elk herds over the next 10 years.”

Open house meetings will begin with a brief presentation highlighting each of the herd units. Attendees will then have an opportunity to provide feedback directly to CPW staff by visiting various stations set up at the meeting specific to each herd unit.

Town hall meetings will consist of a presentation, with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and provide verbal feedback to staff on each plan's proposed changes. 

Upcoming public meetings details 

Area 10, Walden  (town hall)
Thursday, October 5 from 6 - 8 p.m.
Wattenberg Center (Jackson County Fairgrounds), 686 CR 42, Walden, CO 80480
Attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed changes for the E-3 North Park elk herd.

Area 10, Hayden (open house)
Monday, October 9 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Haven Community Center, 302 S Shelton St., Hayden, CO  81639
Attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed changes for the E-1 Cold Springs, E-2 Bears Ears, E-6 White River, E-21 Rangely/Blue Mountain, and E-47 Green River elk herds.

Area 6, Meeker (open house)
Wednesday, October 11 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Meeker Fire Station, 240 7th St, Meeker, CO 81641
Attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed changes for the E-1 Cold Springs, E-2 Bears Ears, E-6 White River, E-21 Rangely/Blue Mountain, and E-47 Green River elk herds. 

This new approach to create a Regional roll-up of all HMPs for a single big game species in the region – updating or establishing new population and sex ratio objectives – was first done last year. The Regional plans also describe the individual HMPs for each herd, significant management issues for herds within each Region, and public input used to develop proposed objectives. Previously, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff have presented one Herd Management Plan at a time for approval to the Parks and Wildlife Commission.

In 2024, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff will present a Regional HMPs document for approval to the Parks and Wildlife Commission.

About Herd Management Plans (HMPs)

The purpose of a HMP is to integrate the plans and intentions of Colorado Parks and Wildlife with the concerns and ideas of land management agencies and interested public to determine how a big game herd in a Data Analysis Unit (DAU) should be managed.

In preparing a HMP, agency personnel attempt to balance the biological capabilities of the herd and its habitat with the public's demand for wildlife recreational opportunities.

HMPs are used to establish management objectives for each herd in terms of a desired population size range and sex ratio. Each plan also describes additional strategies and techniques that will be used to achieve the desired herd objectives. The goal for the 10-year term of these plans is to manage to the most appropriate population level within the objective range based on climatic patterns, habitat conditions, forage availability and public desires. The management alternatives selected in these plans will help drive annual license setting decisions.

To view all Herd Management Plans for CPW’s Northwest Region, visit our website.