1. New for 2017: All changes for 2017 were carefully considered by staff and the 2017 Hunt Committee.

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Della Gilbert
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1 Backcountry Wilderness Area Hunt Information Fall 2017 Big Game and Spring Turkey 2018 SAVE THE DATE: The 7 th Annual Elk Banquet and Auction will be Friday, July 21 st 5 p.m. 9 p.m. BULL ELK and BUCK DEER HUNTS 1. New for 2017: All changes for 2017 were carefully considered by staff and the 2017 Hunt Committee. a. Unrestricted vs Restricted bull hunts. i. As in the past, unrestricted bull hunts, where any bull, including a trophy bull, is fair game will encompass the first four bull hunts. After that, all bull hunts are Flex meaning they begin as restricted hunts and have the possibility of Flexing to an unrestricted hunt. The change for 2017 is that the Flex depends on the quality and quantity of the previous harvests. There does not need to be four trophies harvested in order for a hunt to remain restricted. For example, if three trophies are harvested and one bull that is not quite a trophy but not a management bull either, or two trophies and two near trophies, the quota for unrestricted hunts may end for the year. The cumulative quality of the harvested bulls will be the determining factor. The determination will be made by staff prior to the beginning of each hunt. This will help ensure the number of trophy bulls continues to increase in the coming years. ii. In coordination with the above, restricted hunts will be limited to a management bull or non-branched spike. A management bull is defined as a bull that is atypical in a way that is determined by the guide to be detrimental to the herd genetics; while a spike must not have any branches whatsoever. b. Guides will be mandatory for all bull hunts i. Last year, only the restricted hunts had to be guided or a chaperone accompanied the hunter. This year, all bull hunts, including unrestricted bull hunts, must have a guide. The reasons are to increase safety, increase protection to the resource (trophy bulls and the herd in general), improve the herd (careful selection of proper management bulls), and increase success rates. Hunt fees and guide fees will remain the same for 2017; see below. c. Wounded Animal Rule i. Language in the wounded animal section of the rules and regulations will be changed to the following for clarification purposes: 1. A wounded animal, like a harvest, effectively ends the hunt and the hunter s time on the property. If an animal is hit/wounded, every effort will be made to recover that animal. However, if there is time or there are days left in the hunt, that time is not guaranteed to the hunter to continue to search for the wounded animal; staff will make a determination as to whether continued efforts are necessary taking into consideration all factors.

2 d. Buck Hunts i. Buck hunts will be restricted to a buck with four points or greater on at least one antler. e. Elk Banquet and Open Drawings i. The drawings that are open, that do not require attendance at the Banquet, will be completed a day or two before the Banquet and winners announced at the Banquet in order to save time and shorten the length of the Banquet. The open drawing time and location will be announced prior and will be open to the public. The drawings will be done with at least three witnesses to ensure proper procedures are followed. BULL^ 1. Archery 1 Bull (PROVIDE OWN TAG)* 8 days**** Open Draw 2. Archery 2 Bull (PROVIDE OWN TAG)* 8 days**** Open Draw 3. Muzzle Bull Buddy Hunt (BOTH VOUCHERS PROVIDED)** Sept 9-17 Banquet Only 4. 1 st Rifle Bull (FLEX) (VOUCHER PROVIDED)** Oct Open Draw 5. 2 nd Rifle Bull (FLEX) (VOUCHER PROVIDED)** Oct Banquet Only 6. 3 rd Rifle Bull (FLEX) (PROVIDE OWN TAG) * Nov 4-7 Open Draw 7. 3 rd Rifle Youth Man. Bull***(PROVIDE OWN TAG) * Nov Open Draw 8. 4 th Rifle Combo (FLEX)^ (BOTH VOUCHERS PROVIDED)** Nov Banquet Only BUCK HUNTS^ 9. 3 rd Rifle Youth Buck*** (PROVIDE OWN TAG)* Nov Open Draw ^ Guides, and payment for the guide is mandatory for all bull hunts. The first four bull hunts are unrestricted, any bull is fair game. The remaining hunts are FLEX meaning they begin as restricted (management or spike bull) but depending on harvest quality and quantity of the previous bull hunts, they may FLEX to an unrestricted hunt. A management bull is defined as a bull that is atypical in a way that is determined by the guide to be detrimental to the herd genetics. Those labeled Banquet Only, are available only to those attending the Banquet. Those labeled Open Draw, attendance is not required and one only needs to register for the drawing. Those labeled Provide Own Tag, the hunter must obtain the tag/license from the CPW Big Game Drawing in order to register for that particular drawing. Those labeled Voucher Provided, the HRCA will provide a landowner voucher in order for the hunter to obtain their tag/license. Voucher must be turned in at a CPW license vendor to obtain the carcass tag. All bull hunts are List A license, a hunter may not hold another List A license. *Hunter must provide their own tag by applying for the limited license drawing through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Big Game Drawing: Application Deadline: April 4 th. Unit 51. **Voucher provided pending Colorado Parks and Wildlife Landowner Voucher Big Game Drawing. If we are unsuccessful in our draw for the landowner voucher, these hunts may become provide your own tag drawings. ***These hunts are restricted to certain areas of the property. The elk hunt will be on the south end of the property and the deer hunt will be on the north end of the property. The 3 rd season youth management bull hunt is a management/spike hunt, and will not Flex. ****Each archery hunter will get eight days of hunting on the property. For dates, refer to the 2017 Calendar. The dates can be flexible if opportunity exists to be flexible; but no archery hunter will get more than eight days and flexibility is not guaranteed.

3 COW ELK, TURKEY, and COYOTE rule changes stay intact for 2017 turkey and coyote hunts: a. Some turkey hunts will be restricted to evening only, some will be restricted to one side of the property to allow another hunter on the other side. b. Coyote hunters will be restricted to walk-in access only. Cow, Turkey, and Coyote hunts: COW HUNTS^ 1. Cow Hunt 1 (youth) Dec 1-3 Open Draw 2. Cow Hunt 2 (youth) Dec 8-10 Open Draw 3. Cow Hunt 3 and 4 Dec Live Auction 4. Cow Hunt 5 and 6 Jan 5-7 Open Draw 5. Cow Hunt 7 and 8 Jan Banquet Only 6. Cow Hunt 9 and 10 Jan Open Draw ^All cow hunt tags must be purchased by the hunter in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Leftover License Sale which begins in August 1 st. It is very important that selected cow hunters purchase their tag on the very first MORNING of the leftover license sale as the tags do sell out immediately. If the cow hunter does not secure the appropriate license, they will not be able to hunt and will be refunded their hunt fee. COYOTE HUNTS^ 1. Coyote 1 Feb Guess The Score 2. Coyote 2 (youth) Feb Open Draw 3. Coyote 3 Feb Live Auction ^All coyote hunts will be restricted to one parking area at the entrance to the property. Vehicle access will not be permitted past the parking area. TURKEY HUNTS^ 1. Turkey 1 and 2 Youth April Open Draw 2. Turkey 3 and 4 Youth April Open Draw 3. Turkey 5 May 1-3 Open Draw 4. Turkey 6 May 1-3 Warrior Outdoor 5. Turkey 7 May 5-7 Stake Jake 6. Turkey 8 May Live Auction 7. Turkey 9 May Banquet Only ^All turkey licenses must be purchased by the hunter and can be purchased over the counter. All turkey hunts have restrictions. Some are restricted to evening only, some are restricted to a certain part of the property only. For details, see our hunt calendar. HUNT FEES for : $1,000 unrestricted bull $300 restricted bull

4 $100 cow $50 youth cow, turkey, coyote $300 Buck Deer $200 youth buck deer GUIDE SERVICES AND CHAPERONES Guides are mandatory for all bull hunts. Guides are optional for cow elk, deer, turkey, and coyote hunts. Guide service provides expert knowledge of the property, calling, transportation on the property, additional parking areas, field dressing, caping, quartering, and transportation of meat to your home. If a hunter pays for 5 days but harvests on day 3, the difference will be refunded/prorated. If a hunter s season is 9 days long, they may opt to hunt less days and pay the associated fee. All guided hunts guarantee success. If a hunter is not successful, the guide fee will be refunded. o Success includes: On any legal animal: a harvest, a wounded but not recovered animal, a missed shot, and a passed shot that is within the pre-determined agreed upon and reasonable range of that hunter s capability. Guide Service Fees for Unrestricted Bull a. 1 day: $300 b. 2 day: $450 c. 3 days: $600 d. 4 days: $800 e. 5 days: $1,000 f. 6 days: $1,100 g. 7 days: $1,200 h. 8 days: $1,350 i. 9 days: $1, Restricted Bull a. 1 day: $250 b. 2 day: $300 c. 3 days: $350 d. 4 days: $450 e. 5 days: $550 f. 6 days: $650 g. 7 days: $750 h. 9 days: $1, Buck Deer a. 1 day: $250 b. 2 day: $350 c. 3 days: $500 d. 5 days: $ Cow/Coyote/Turkey a. 1 day: $150 b. 2 days: $250 c. 3 days: $300

5 Refund Policy: Full refund if notice is given at least one week prior to the hunt. 75% refund if notice is given less than three days prior to the hunt unless there are extenuating circumstances. ORIENTATIONS: All hunters (except those that are guided) must attend a property orientation. If you do not attend an orientation, you will not be allowed on the property to hunt Each hunter also receives a scouting trip/refresher day or two before their hunt

RULE CHANGES FOR 2018:

RULE CHANGES FOR 2018: Each winter I sit down with our hunt committee and go over the previous year s hunts and discuss any changes that are necessary for the upcoming year. Here are the changes/additions