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 for 2017: 1. BULL HUNT CATEGORIES a. In 2017 we moved to Unrestricted and Restricted bull hunts. In an Unrestricted bull hunt, any bull is eligible for harvest. A Restricted hunt, any bull that was a management type bull meaning spikes or management bulls only. Moving forward, we will add a category of Management bull hunt and change the definition of the Restricted bull hunt which will allow us greater flexibility in the type of hunt we offer as the season progresses and harvests are recorded. b. Therefore the three category/types of bull hunts we will offer going forward are: i. Unrestricted Bull Hunt: Any bull is eligible for harvest ii. Restricted Bull Hunt: A bull that is not quite a trophy, but a solid bull is eligible for harvest iii. Management Bull Hunt: A bull that is atypical in a way that impacts its value to the herd negatively; a bull that is good to remove from the gene pool c. Quota i. The first two bull hunts are unrestricted. The remaining bull hunts after the first two are all FLEX hunts meaning the type of hunt will depend on previous harvests. If an unrestricted hunt harvests a restricted bull for example, the next hunt would FLEX to an unrestricted hunt. A maximum of two unrestricted bulls can be harvested each year. At least two restricted bulls can be harvested each year. The number and whether or not a hunt FLEXES depends on the quality of harvests and quality and number of bulls that year. Restricted hunts could go up to three or four before we FLEX remaining hunts to management hunts. The youth management bull hunt will never FLEX. 2. WAIT PERIODS As the opportunity and odds of harvesting a once in a lifetime bull and a true giant bull increase, it is necessary to ensure that those opportunities are spread out amongst our residents as much as possible. Therefore wait periods, or periods of ineligibility for an unrestricted and restricted bull hunt will be increased along the following guidelines. The wait periods are effective as of 2017 so that bull hunters who hunted in the fall of 2017 will fall under these wait periods: a. Harvested bulls will be categorized into one of four categories: i. Bull of a Lifetime ii. Giant Bull iii. Trophy Bull iv. Management Bull b. The wait periods for each of the categories will be the following: i. Bull of a Lifetime: 20 year wait period ii. A giant bull: 10 year wait period iii. A trophy bull: 5 year wait period iv. A bull that is not a trophy, but not a management bull: 2 year wait period v. A management bull or spike (success or harvest): 1 year wait period
c. For any bull hunter who has a successful (non-management bull) hunt but does not harvest: 2 year wait period ( Success is defined as an opportunity to harvest and includes a missed shot or passed shot) d. For any bull hunter who harvests a Bull of a Lifetime, a Giant Bull, or a Trophy Bull, the wait period is for unrestricted and restricted bull hunts. They will be eligible for management bull and other elk hunts after a 2 year wait period. e. Wait period is defined as a term of ineligibility. If a hunter harvests a bull in 2017 and they have a 5 year wait period, they are ineligible in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and can participate in an unrestricted bull hunt again in 2023. f. Each harvested elk will be judged by the sitting HRCA Hunt Committee. The committee will make a recommendation to staff to categorize the bull into one of the four categories: g. In the event a bull is wounded and not recovered; the Backcountry guide will have final say in categorizing the bull. However, if it is a known bull then pictures will be used and the categorization will go through the normal committee process. h. All hunters must have their harvested bull (if it is not deemed a management or nontrophy) scored by an official scorer and provide that score to staff or the 20 year wait period will apply. The score will help categorize the bull but will not be the final determination. i. All staff decisions are final 3. FEES a. HUNT FEES i. $1,000 Unrestricted Bull ii. $700 Restricted Bull iii. $300 Management Bull iv. $100 Cow v. $50 Youth Cow, turkey, coyote vi. $300 Buck Deer vii. $200 Youth Buck Deer b. GUIDE FEES i. All flex bull hunts will pay the Unrestricted/Restricted Fee up front and be refunded if the hunt flexes to a management hunt. ii. All guide fees will be paid in full, for entire season. Fees will be refunded at a pro-rated level for early harvest. iii. Unrestricted/Restricted Bull 1. $300 for Day 1, + $150 each additional day up to $1,500 on day 9. iv. Management Bull/Deer/Cow Elk 1. $250 for Day 1, + $50/ each additional day up to $650 on day 9. 2018 HRCA BIG GAME HUNTS (Dependent upon Land Owner Voucher Drawing Success; subject to change) 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 8-16 Banquet Only 4. 1 st Rifle Bull (FLEX) (VOUCHER PROVIDED)** Oct 13-17 Open Draw
5. 2 nd Rifle Bull (FLEX) (VOUCHER PROVIDED)** Oct 20-28 Banquet Only 6. 3 rd Rifle Bull (FLEX) (PROVIDE OWN TAG) * Nov 3-6 Open Draw 7. 3 rd Rifle Youth Man. Bull***(PROVIDE OWN TAG) * Nov 9-11 Open Draw 8. 4 th Rifle Combo (FLEX)^ (BOTH VOUCHERS PROVIDED)** Nov 14-18 Banquet Only BUCK HUNTS^ 9. 3 rd Rifle Youth Buck*** (PROVIDE OWN TAG)* Nov 9-11 Open Draw ^ Guides, and payment for the guide is mandatory for all bull hunts. The first two bull hunts are unrestricted. The remaining bull hunts after the first two are all FLEX hunts meaning the type of hunt will depend on previous harvests. If an unrestricted hunt harvests a restricted bull for example, the next hunt would FLEX to an unrestricted hunt. A maximum of two unrestricted bulls can be harvested each year. At least two restricted bulls can be harvested each year. The number and whether or not a hunt FLEXES depends on the quality of harvests and quality and number of bulls that year. Restricted hunts could go up to three or four before we FLEX remaining hunts to management hunts. The youth management bull hunt will never FLEX. 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 3rd. 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 2018 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. COW ELK, TURKEY, and COYOTE 1. 2016 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) Nov 30-Dec 2 Open Draw 2. Cow Hunt 2 (youth) Dec 7-9 Open Draw 3. Cow Hunt 3 and 4 Dec 14-16 Live Auction 4. Cow Hunt 5 and 6 Jan 4-6 Open Draw 5. Cow Hunt 7 and 8 Jan 11-13 Banquet Only 6. Cow Hunt 9 and 10 Jan 25-27 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 10-11 Banquet Only 2. Coyote 2 Feb 17-18 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 19-21 Open Draw 2. Turkey 3 and 4 Youth April 26-28 Open Draw 3. Turkey 5 April 30-May2 Open Draw 4. Turkey 6 April 30-May2 Warrior Outdoor 5. Turkey 7 May 4-6 Stake Jake 6. Turkey 8 May 11-13 Live Auction 7. Turkey 9 May 17-19 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. 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. 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 As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns please contact me. Mark.Giebel@hrcaonline.org or 303-471-8885 <INSERT ALL OF THE INFO AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SURVEYS HERE> 2018 Important Dates: Tuesday, April 3rd: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Application Deadline for provide your own tag drawings. Thursday, June 1st: CPW Draw Results Posted On-line Monday, June 4 th : Elk Banquet tickets go on sale. (Event will sell out so buy your tickets early) Friday, June 8 th : Registration for all HRCA drawings opens Monday, July 9 th : Registration for all HRCA drawings closes Friday, July 20th: 8 th Annual Elk Banquet Wednesday, August 1 st : CPW Left-over License Sale begins in person for those who drew HRCA Cow Hunts.