Big Game Hunter's Guide to Colorado Book

	Acknowledgments	xv
	Wildfire	xxiii
	Introduction	1
	Tips on Using This Book	3
	Getting Around Colorado	5
	Road Conditions	7
	Colorado Facts	10
	State Features	10
	The Land	10
	Primary Industries	10
	Ecosystems	15
	Riparian Land	15
	Grasslands	16
	Semi-Desert Shrublands	17
	Pinon-Juniper Woodlands	17
	Montane Shrublands	18
	Montane Forests	18
	Subalpine Forests	18
	Alpine Tundra	19
	Colorado Division of Wildlife Service Centers	20
	Colorado Hunting Regulations, Seasons, and Licensing	21
	General Regulations	26
	Basic Hunting Regulations	26
	Legal Firearms and Bows	28
	Residency Qualifications	30
	Hunting Hours	30
	Season Participation and Bag Limits	30
	New Licensing System	32
	Two-Way Radio Communication	32
	OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) Restrictions and Registration	32
	Bear Hunting Restrictions	33
	Mandatory Inspections and Seals	34
	Chronic Wasting Disease	34
	Check Stations and Decoy Efforts	35
	Horses and Hay	36
	Guides and Outfitters	37
	Daylight Fluorescent Orange	37
	Scents and Calls	37
	Accidental Kill of a Big Game Animal	37
	Most Common Hunting Violations	38
	Procedures to Follow After Harvesting an Animal	39
	Carcass Tag	39
	Evidence of Sex	40
	Antler Point Restrictions	40
	Transporting Game	41
	Donating Game Meat	41
	Hunter Education	42
	Property Laws	42
	Permission to Hunt Big Game	42
	Trespass	42
	Posting Requirements	42
	Land-Use Restrictions	43
	General Licensing Information	45
	Over-the-Counter Licenses	45
	Limited Licenses and Preference Points	45
	Landowner Preference	47
	Youth Big Game Licenses and Youth Preference	47
	Seasons and Licenses by Species	48
	Colorado Big Game Species
	Pronghorn	57
	White-tailed Deer	70
	Mule Deer	83
	Elk	97
	Moose	111
	Bighorn Sheep	121
	Mountain Goat	133
	Black Bear	143
	Mountain Lion	155
	Discussion of Regions
	Region 1	165
	Region 2	165
	Region 3	165
	Region 4	165
	Region 1	167
	Game Species and Numbers	181
	Species Statewide Population	182
	Harvest Trends	183
	Physical Characteristics	183
	Land Use	184
	Weather	185
	Public Lands and Acreage	187
	Region 1 Highlights	188
	Altitude Sickness	198
	Hypothermia	200
	Region 1 Hub Cities	212
	Region 1 Outfitters	232
	Region 2	241
	Game Species and Numbers	255
	Harvest Trends	257
	Physical Characteristics	257
	Land Use	259
	Weather	259
	Public Lands and Acreage	261
	Region 2 Highlights	263
	Region 2 Hub Cities	290
	Region 2 Outfitters	315
	Region 3	321
	Game Species and Numbers	330
	Harvest Trends	337
	Physical Characteristics	337
	Land Use	338
	Weather	339
	Public Lands and Acreage	341
	Region 3 Highlights	342
	Region 3 Hub Cities	359
	Region 3 Outfitters	374
	Region 4	379
	Game Species and Numbers	390
	Harvest Trends	391
	Physical Characteristics	392
	Land Use	393
	Weather	393
	Public Lands and Acreage	395
	Region 4 Highlights	397
	Region 4 Hub Cities	411
	Region 4 Outfitters	429
	Hiring an Outfitter or Guide	430
	Hunting Public and Private Lands	432
	Statewide Overview Maps	433
	Topographic Maps	433
	State School Lands (State Trust Lands)	434
	State Wildlife Areas	434
	Colorado State Wildlife Management Areas	436
	United States Forest Service	439
	Bureau of Land Management	441
	Hunting on Indian Reservations	444
	National Wildlife Refuges	445
	Ranching for Wildlife	446
	United States Military Lands	446
	Fort Carson and Pinon Canyon	447
	The Air Force Academy	447
	Colorado Outdoors Magazine	448
	Equipment Checklists	449
	Camping Gear	449
	Survival Gear	451
	Vehicle Emergency Kit	452
	Backpack Camps	453
	First Aid	455
	Clothing	456
	Footwear	457
	High Country Boots	457
	Plains Boots	458
	River Bottom/Wetland Boots	458
	Rifles, Ammunition, and Scopes	462
	Rifle Actions and Styles	462
	Ammunition	463
	Recommended Cartridges	464
	Scopes	466
	Traveling with Guns	467
	Airlines	467
	Muzzleloaders	468
	Archery Equipment and Information	468
	Shot Placement	473
	Effective Range	475
	Caring for Meat	476
	Trophy Care	478
	Choosing a Taxidermist	480
	Conservation	481
	Hunter Success	483
	Scouting	483
	Practice	483
	Patience and Persistence	484
	Visualization and Positive Attitude	484
	Luck	485
	Resources	486
	Colorado Division of Wildlife	486
	Colorado State Parks	487
	United States Forest Service	487
	Bureau of Land Management	488
	Colorado State Forest	488
	Maps (Where to Find)	489
	Colorado Department of Transportation	490
	Additional Numbers of Importance	490
	Limited License--Preference Point Statistics	491
	Selected List of References	502
	Index	503