Red Hill Elk Herd Management Comments

As a botanist, I recognize the ecological value of Table Mountain and Red Mountain and encourage the County to work to preserve the important plant areas and high biodiversity areas, which may mean managing the elk herd. I am also a local commuter and concerned about my family's safety while driving.

Thank you for the presentation and opportunity to question BoCo and other agencies on the elk management plan. However, the next time you do this, please make CPW and Table Mountain a more integral part of the program. We will mainly address the plan for the Red Hill herd. About Us and Impacts We See from the Elk We live just north of the intersection of North 55th Street and Prospect Road, and we bound the Department of Commerce Table Mountain site immediately to its east. We have seen a dramatic increase in elk in the past several years. Initially just a small group of about six to ten elk, it has rapidly expanded such that in this year’s rutting season we counted as many as 180 or more individuals wander across our property, usually headed down from Table Mountain, across our land, stopping to browse or display, but eventually moving east, across 55th Street to the irrigated hay and alfalfa pasture owned by the Joris family. Other neighbors to the east report they keep marching across the Feeder Canal, through more private land, and eventually cross North 63rd to Lagerman and Imel areas. The elk have done damage to gardens and trees, and during rutting season they have torn up grasslands already stressed by prairie dogs and invasive grasses and weeds. They would dine on our vegetable garden until we constructed a game fence around the previously existing electrified fence. They regularly browse on Ponderosa pine, oak, elm, ash, cedar, maple and fruit trees. We have had to fence them out of fruit trees and some of the more vulnerable decorative trees. Total cost of fencing is approximately $1000. Sometimes during rutting season they have come right up to the house and have damaged perennial plants there. Neighbors have experienced similar impacts, plus serious damage to livestock fences. Finally, it is a real shame to lose agricultural producers like Pastures-A-Plenty, as we learned at the meeting. We would hate to lose other producers. More and more neighbors have been restoring their land to productive agricultural use or intensifying their production. Continued impacts due to the elk threaten all that. Until the presentations at the meeting, it was a total mystery why there should be such a dramatic increase in the elk presence here. Yes, we have followed news of elk management efforts in Rocky Mountain National Park, but we didn’t expect the numbers and damage we have experienced. But now that we understand that open space acquisitions and resulting land use changes along US-36 have caused changes in elk migration and range, we can certainly agree that the County has a responsibility to mitigate and reduce the impacts. To be clear, we love the elk. We have no problem sharing our space with a reasonable number of them. Given the fencing that we have already installed, we can avoid most serious damage, and we can tolerate their occasional pruning of decorative trees. But impacts will become intolerable if they are not managed. Comments on the Proposed Plan Despite the acknowledgment of “off-site” impacts on private land, especially regarding the Rabbit Mountain herd and its management, the plan there seems somewhat myopic – emphasizing management on County open space lands to protect County property land and biological values. The Red Hill plan is better at acknowledging off-site impacts but it will never work if management is limited to County lands. It is essential that the County explicitly and vigorously enlist support of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Department of Commerce, the City of Boulder’s Open Space program, and private landowners. The County needs to involve management of County properties other than those along North US-36. The Red Hill herd is wintering as far east as Niwot. The County’s presentation stated that migration and feeding patterns that changed because of the land use changes near US-36 have been well established. Hence, limiting management to that area is unlikely to be effective. Therefore, add AHI, Lagerman, Haystack, and properties near and along Left Hand Creek out to the Diagonal. We applaud CPW’s expansion of elk hunting in GMU 20 to Niwot Road. Archery should be encouraged. We would be more likely to invite archers to hunt on our property than those with high-powered firearms. Perhaps other landowners might think likewise. At the meeting, County representatives expressed skepticism of working with the City of Boulder. To be sure, that might invite opposition to the plan by PETA. However, City open space properties need to be part of the management plan. The elk that frequent our neighborhood often seek refuge on City open space (Bennett and Steele parcels) which were formerly leased by Wanda Clyncke, allowing them to escape hunters working neighboring properties. We see them there – especially on the Steele properties abutting Table Mountain lounging winter and summer afternoons. We’ve not personally seen them on the Imel property, but neighbors have reported them there. And recently we saw a large congregation – so large that it appeared to be a large brown smear – across the side of Haystack. Hence, the City’s Dodd property is important for effective management. We hope the County will be able to involve the Department of Commerce’s Table Mountain site. Elk use that area as a refuge. We appreciate that the Table Mountain site houses critical scientific assets that might be harmed by unrestricted access for private hunting. Furthermore, any hunt on the mesa must be done with care because it is almost perfectly flat. However, there are a few drainages which are frequented by the elk which can act as safe backdrops. The Department and the County ought to consider selective use of sharp-shooters on the property, or hazing to push elk down to private lands which have better backdrops for hunting. One of the management goals is to maintain a summering elk herd of no more than 25 animals. Many of the worst impacts occur because of a higher than historic migratory herd size, and land use patterns may have permanently changed the migration patterns. The migratory herd size should be reduced, too. A number of comments at the meeting supported culling via sharpshooters. We support this. This was apparently successful in Rocky Mountain National Park. It may achieve the goals faster. It may avoid private landowner conflicts with hunters. As mentioned, it may be appropriate for properties like Table Mountain. It also may be the best approach for County or City open space properties, requiring very limited closures only when needed. (We hope the elk meat will not go to waste but will find a good table!) Comments at the meeting indicate that programs for mitigating economic costs of excess elk are inadequate, too limiting, and too bureaucratic. The County and CPW should investigate more effective and accessible programs especially for those with agricultural costs. I have no specific comments on the Rabbit Mountain plan. It seems to be working, although I wonder whether dispersing the elk might have the unintended consequence of merely impacting more private lands instead.

I support preservation of native ecosystems in the area, particularly rare and endemic plant and animal species. I am also in favor of keeping local farmers viable in Boulder County. Based on the information presented at the Feb 5 public meeting, this means reducing numbers of elk summering in the Red Hill area. Measures need to be taken to persuade most of the elk to resume migration to the west, If hunting is part of management action taken, I believe it should be strictly controlled as with Rabbit Mountain. I would like to see use of fencing, guard dogs, hazing, and other deterrents incorporated where feasible and effective. Regardless of what actions are taken to reduce numbers of summering elk in the Red Hill area, I am in favor of wildlife crossing structures for Highway 36 in appropriate areas, for the elk and also deer, bears and other animals. This could be done with partnerships with CDOT etc., and grant funding may be available. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Create wildlife crossing bridges like the ones they have in Canada on the highway between Banff and Jasper.

I am a hunter, mountain biker and frequently drive from North Boulder to Lyons. I have had a few close calls with elk and other wildlife while driving 36 between Boulder and Lyons. Indeed, there have been over 80 wildlife associated car incidents in the area since 2005. I feel that hunting should be used to manage the population of elk in the area. Hunting has been a proven tool for wildlife managers throughout history and has been quite successful locally in the Rabbit Mountain area. I would support diverse methods of take including archery, muzzleloader and rifle.

Request that special consideration be given to low-income and disabled residents local to neighborhood who otherwise might not have opportunity to safely and efficiently harvest an elk. Request resident mule deer population also be taken into consideration at some point in future.

It seems clear from managing the rabbit mtn herd that hunting is the most effective way to manage the population of elk. It seems that either public hunting or sharp shooters are the best options. I strongly support public hunting over sharp shooting as it is far less expensive than sharp shooters. The Rabbit mtn hunt has been a win win for the county and hunters. A red hill hunt would do the same.

Hunting has been proven to be one of the most effective methods of conservation for our public lands across the west. This situation is no different. Continuing to allow access to hunting will provide a responsible method to limit the elk herd population in this area.

An limited draw rifle hunt in Heil open space would probably have similar positive results as it did with the Rabbit Mtn herd.

I lease County Open Space - The Bishop property and Hygiene Dairy property and live on the property. This spring we were seeing elk on Bishop. This fall elk were eating crops on Bishop for a few weeks before the 108 eld herd moved to Oxford/Nimbus. The herd was hazed twice and moved West. After that as recently as Feb 9 there have been 10 elk eating beets that were not harvested in the fall. If the elk do not migrate or change so they are present during part of our growing season it will negatively impact our vegetable farm. We use cover crops to improve soil and this attracts the elk. If they are not managed and we need fencing to keep elk from eating our crops the cost would be over $50k. Not counting the 108 elk herd we saw more elk in our fields and the surrounding fields this year than we have seen in the previous 10 years. As farmers we already deal with so many unknowns of weather etc but adding the unknown of when elk will come destroy crops is an added challenge that I don't know how to deal with. Our margins are not great and losing thousands of dollars to elk is not something we can withstand. I think elk will expand their range further East and live in small groups similar to the way deer are. I think controlling population is going to be difficult with numerous small groups. The elk seem to have learned to be active only at night so they would be difficult to hunt. We have elk year round on Valmont Rd between 75th and 95th st. We see tracks but almost never see the elk during daylight and we are there almost every day during the summer. The change in elk behavior has been rapid. I like the elk but am very concerned with planting this season and the losses we might face. We have been working to improve the properties we lease from Open Space. We have installed $200,000 in irrigation on the properties and spent a tremendous amount on compost, soil amendments, cover crop etc to bring this land into productive ground for Organic vegetable production. If we continue to have 10 elk as frequent visitors we will not be able to farm here.

The Rabbit Mountain management plan appears to be effective, and from what I have read, successful. I have heard from folks with land adjacent to the site who agree, and it appears to be a win all around for the county, residents, animals and conservationists alike.

If management is needed I believe a hunt open to the public would be ideal, and allow the public to reap the benefits.

I support extending the management plan mainly because of the success of the hunting element. Hunting is an effective wildlife management tool and it seems that most residents around Boulder County do not know this and seem to think it is not an option at all. As a Boulder resident and an active hunter I have seen it work.

I attended the last meeting and plan on attending the future meetings and feel that management techniques should be taken by the County, State and most importantly private land owners. One of the things that I would like to suggest is that maybe for the first couple of weeks of the hunt that you allow Archery and Muzzle Loaders the opportunity to hunt beginning in August to Mid September, because the land is closed to the public and you would not have to deal with closing it for the hunt. Also,one of the things that I took away from the meeting was that the neighboring property owners want Boulder County to do something for them, but don't want to do something for themselves. I would like to suggest that for the property owners neighboring the area to put up fencing. If you go to https://www.amleo.com/Search.aspx?ss=Deer+fencing there is an inexpensive way to fence that will deter the elk from their property. Also, they can go to a pet groomer & barber shops and pick up dog hair and human hair to use as mulch along the edge of the fence. (Good for the ground). And that there are commercial sprays that do work for a little while. I know, as I have used both the hair and spray to protect my landscaping from the herd that comes to visit every year since 2006. If the land owners aren't willing to take steps to protect their field/property after the first claim for damages, then maybe they shouldn't be allowed to collect money for damages. In the last 14 years, I have studied the herd that comes down from Rabbit Mountain, and they are very fascinating animals and have even taken picture of a bull calf looking into my kitchen window while standing on my back porch. I am a hunter, and have had 2 successful hunts from the Rabbit Mountain Herd. And as of right now the herd from Rabbit is napping in the field just to the west of my property and have been down here since before Thanksgiving with no signs of returning to Rabbit Mountain any time soon.

After seeing the success of the rabbit mountain herd management program I suggest similar measures for the red hills herd. Not only did this program reduce herd impacts it generated dollars for conservation and the local community.

Obviously hazing has been ineffective. I feel that a late season Elk hunt can be beneficial to manage the herd and public safety.

Hunting the herd should be considered to manage the herd population. Archery would be the safest but rifle/muzzleloader would be the most productive way.

The Rabbit Mountain hunt has proven to be a very effective way to manage this herd. This type of herd management should continue.

I support the management of this herd. I also support hunting by rifle and muzzleloader as an effective means of management. I believe both methods can be a safe option due to the controlled nature of the hunt and lack of incidents in other similar environments in Colorado. I oppose hired "sharp shooters". I travel Nelson to 36 and nearly hit elk that were quickly crossing the road a few years ago.

I support opening a public hunting season, using various methods of take, to help control the herd.

The data provided by CPW indicates that the elk herd has exceeded the local carrying capacity, particularly with the summering resident herd. Hunting should be used to reduce the number of elk and to push the elk off the county owned lands where hunting is otherwise prohibited. CPW and Boulder County should consider limited hunting permits for archery only. Archery equipment has a fairly short effective range, and is therefore safer for use in highly trafficked areas. It's also silent, so hikers and other user won't be disturbed or frightened by gun fire. Archery elk hunters typically have a lower success rate then rifle or muzzloader hunters, so more permits will need to be issued to get the desired harvest results. But more permit holders, means more hunting pressure on the elk, which should encourage them to disperse sooner and more thoroughly.

I live just a few miles SE of the area identified as Red Hill Management Area. I am also an extremely avid, passionate Hunter. Please consider opening his area up to bow hunting. Also please consider limiting license numbers, but making these a List B or List C tag. It is my opinion that Hunters that are extremely proficient, and dedicated, will not burn their preference points for a nearly urban hunt. However, I believe they would love to help out, by managing the herd. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Please kill these elk. They are trashing the foothill environment. I fully support hunting these animals to control their numbers. I’d be happy to help hunt them. Thanks.

A limited, controlled hunt modeled after the successful Rabbit Mountain public harvest program will be the most economical and environmentally sound action to manage the Red Hill elk herd. Center fire rifles will be the most efficient method and, considering the topography west and east of US 36, rifle hunting can be done safely. These elk are not as approachable as Estes Park or Evergreen elk and the open grassland east of US 36 will make harvesting elk with archery equipment less efficient than with rifles. Don't use hired shooters over trained public hunters. Hired shooters won't commit the time needed to achieve overall objectives because time is money and they are in business to make money. I'm glad to see Boulder County moving toward management of the Red Hill elk herd now rather than wait until there are a couple hundred non-migratory elk, which there will be in 2-3 years if no action is taken in 2020. As a 35+ year resident of Boulder County I support a public harvest program on parks and open space land to manage the Red Hill elk herd.

I was not aware that there was now a permanent segment of the Red Hill herd that sticks around all year. I suspect the situation may have been exacerbated when the County took possession of what used to be Elk Mountain Ranch. In the past, the owners would allow limited elk hunting on the property and grazed a sizeable herd of horses there in the winter. I'm guessing the lack of hunting pressure, the lack of public access and the grazing now available since the horses left may be contributory to the elk increasing sense of comfort. The Rte 36 collision danger is, to me, the easiest issue. There needs to be more than just the casual "Wildlife Crossing" signs . All summer there was a mobile "Bikes on Road" flashing alert leaving Lyons. I strongly suggest putting these flashing mobile signs at either end - Nelson Road to Lyons. Drivers need a wakeup call between dusk and dawn. I, myself, never drive more than 50 at night on that stretch and pay attention. At least a dozen times, I've come upon elk in or close to the road. Won't stop all collisions, but a lot of them.

Leave the elk alone.

By reading the comments already posted there is for sure concerns for heard management. To allow access to be determined to private lands and open space to allow the ethical harvest of antler less or antlered Elk should be extended for years to come. the access and take of elk will decrees help to decrease the amount of damage by vehicle and property damage for the land owners associated with this issue. As a public land owner i have seen much disrespect for the land. It is unfortunate. The access to private land becomes limited due to this disrespect. Land owners stop allowing access to there property. Cities and counties open spaces have as many if not more issues to deal with. The legality has to be overwhelming. Allowing Ethical harvest by hunting saves for sure paying claims by owners / public for losses.

Some input into the management of the heard -the property has highest biodiversity of fauna found in Boulder County -some species of plants only exist in Boulder and Larimer counties in the foothills of this area (in the world). -Hunting has shown to be the most effective management tool in the toolbox -86 wildlife associated car accidents with Red Hill herd since 2005 on US 36 -I support diverse methods of take: archery, muzzleloader, rifle, shotgun

I strongly support Management of the Red Hill Elk Herd through harvesting. I participated in the Rabbit Mountain Management Plan as a hunter in 2018/19 and hunted on private land in 2019/20. I harvested a cow in both years. This is a safe, well managed and low cost method of conservation for reducing the elk population to a range appropriate size of 25. At present there are about 400 wintering elk in the Red Hill herd. There will be many more next year, with calf recruitment. I understand the summer herd was about 88 and will go to over 100 after calving season. A similar conservation harvest as is conducted at Rabbit Mountain should be implemented. This program will be successful if continued for at least 10 years. I have seen the damage to vegetation on Rabbit Mountain from the concentration of elk bedding in a small area. A management plan should be implemented for at least 10 years to reduce the herd to 25. Once the herd reaches about 25 there should still be a managed harvest with a smaller number of hunters. Reducing damage to unique vegetation on Red Hill, private landscape, private property, fences, crops, and lowering vehicle collisions with elk is essential. I would like to recommend the addition of allowing bull harvest. I have observed the decrease in age class of the cows at Rabbit Mountain with only cows harvested. There are many calves and yearlings. There are also a large number of young bulls, especially spikes and raghorns. At times, it can be hard to get a good open opportunity on a cow due to all of the bulls. As only the cows are harvested there will continue to be more bulls and an unnatural age structure with fewer older cows. Lead cows are an essential part of a properly mixed herd age structure. The lead cows are the ones that will take a herd away from danger and help to disperse them. Allowing the harvesting of bulls will improve the age structure of the herd. Please allow hunters to harvest bulls as part of the Red Hill management plan. If there is a concern that trophy bulls will be taken, then limit the harvest to non-trophy bulls. This could be 5 points or less or even bulls with less than 5 inch browtines. Lastly, I would like to recommend the use of centerfire rifles for the Red Hill harvest. They are more accurate and safer than primitive weapons. Shooting lanes could be developed to aid in ensuring safety in the Red Hill area. As there may be several homes nearby and safety is very important, I recommended the use of seasoned hunters. Individuals who have hunted for more than 20 years would provide the safest alternative.

I would like to throw my support behind a biologically regulated public hunting season for this area to help reduce the elk numbers.

I support the elk management plan proposed by county staff at the Feb 5th meeting.

Please extend any hunting opportunities. We are the stewards of wildlife conservation, and provide an ethical harvest of an animal that feeds our families, and mitigates overfeeding on the habitats.

I did not make the meeting but read all of the comments. I only own two acres of land on north 55th, with one neighbor to the south and the other three sides bordering open space. I am not a hunter, but know a lot about it. The Red Hill elk herd started to frequent our area in 2018 and became more prominent in the next year, after the Klinke farm was abandoned and dismantled; they have caused damage to trees on my property, but nothing major. My opinion, from the comments are: 1. mass shooting by sharp shooters is the quickest and possibly the safest resolution, but inhuman and has cost. 2. archery and mussel load hunting is possibly the safest, but possibly the least effective, considering open prairie land, which is difficult hunt conditions. 3. High power rifle permit/ hunting is the least safest, but effective over time and profitable to the county. This method could be hard to control, so much more information about control would be necessary.

I attended the BOCO Open Space open house on Feb. 5. County and DOW representatives acknowledge that the primary driver of changes in elk population and emigration is the result of changes in land management. Land that was previously privately held has been purchased and converted to public open space and recreational activity. Red Hill herd spillage into adjacent areas is distinguished from the Rabbit Mt. Herd in that the emigration affects more and more densely inhabited private land holdings. In my opinion the proposed management plan proposed for the Red hill herd should be different from the approach taken at Rabbit Mt. Proposed hunting by sport enthusiasts to thin the summer herd is dangerous business in the more densely populated area. Rather, specially trained wildlife sharp shooters should be the method of thinning. These specialists are available through private companies or perhaps through Federal agencies, for a reasonable cost, and would be not only more effective, but cheaper in the long run both in time and $ spent by the County Let’s solve the problem quickly and efficiently and safely in order to ameliorate continuing losses to residents adjacent to the elk overpopulation. More importantly, please avoid tragedy or mishaps related to non professionals shooting in a relatively densely populated area.

Right thing to do to protect the properties' B1 biodiversity status. -Over the last 3 years with the project at Rabbit Mountain, Hunting has shown to be the most effective management tool in the toolbox. -Community upset has been limited at Rabbit mountain. -Would be interested in seeing more legal methods of take allowed, such as archery or muzzleloader. -Thank you for considering and utilizing hunting for Elk management, as it has been the most effective tool in the toolbox for trajectory toward management objectives.

Hello, I did attend the public meeting. It is great to see that our county, State, and Federal employees work closely together to support the wildlife and habitat management. I am also very pleased to see that our government employees are open minded and that they wish to achieve their objectives through collaboration with the community. Thank you. I have about 55 acres property in the area. I am a hunter, but I also like to see deer, Elk, and other wildlife in the area and in my own property. I will not try to be a backyard biologist nor a game manager. But I have the following thoughts about the objectives presented at the 2/5/2020 public hearing. 1-I strongly object to hiring any sharp shooter or any such tools to reduce the elk or any wildlife. Not only it shows such a disrespect to the wildlife, but also is expensive, and in-efficient way. My opinion is based on several past experiences I have observed in Colorado and other states to include Minnesota (deer management). Hunting is absolutely the way to go. Least expense to the government the hunters (are public, true owners of the wildlife) not only follows the law, but also removes game after harvest and utilize the meat without any expense to the government. Furthermore I support the county to charge an additional fee (beside the regular license) to compensate for any potential cost incurred during the season established. Bow Hunting early in season, is less intrusive, less noise and effective in managing the resident elk population that do not migrate. I support limiting the number of arrows a hunter can take to the field as well as requiring any additional requirements. I do not object rifle hunting either. 2-I heard couple of landowners complaining about current wildlife (Elk) damage to their property. ....my Suggestion, no refund unless they are willing to work with the county and state wildlife agencies to allow certain numbers of hunters in their property. I do not recommend things that I would not apply to myself. I recall a few years back, mountain lion had destroyed couple of my sheep (I had a few at that time). DOW officer verified the damage and told me that I was entitled to certain compensation, provided I also did certain things (removing shrubs, plants from certain area of my land). Although I did not file for compensation, I did remove the shrubs and plants and later switched to Cattle, as I realized that keeping sheep in the mountain lion area was just not the best idea. Cows are bigger and my problem got solved. That is why we need to tie any such compensation to land owners willingness to work with wildlife managers and allow access to the hunters. Of course hunters should also respect the landowner's specific wishes regarding the use of their land. 3- Please consider doing an study regarding impacts of these new hunting seasons on other wildlife such as mule deer. I know for fact that the last three years the mule deer population in my area has significantly reduced. My property is exactly west of Rabbit mountain (in stone canyon road), and I have never seen such a reduction in deer population. Unfortunately that reduction coincide with opening the elk management hunts at rabbit mountain. I close by saying: Thanks again for all your great work. David Nazeri Sr.

I think a limited draw archery hunt would provide a low impact way to reduce the herd and reduce human conflict.

Great opportunity to solve an issue and let citizens utilize the resource. Limited, controlled hunting is a win-win.

Appreciate the County’s work to manage the elk heard and provide elk hunting opportunity on Boulder County lands. I strongly support the proposed actions to actively manage the population through hunting and wish the county would consider allowing more hunting opportunity on county lands