http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/index/ en elkoholic@elkoholics.net Copyright 2007 2007-03-31T18:42:00-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/colorado-big-game-application-deadline-april-3-2007/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/colorado-big-game-application-deadline-april-3-2007/#When:18:42:00Z Just a reminder! Only 1 week left 2007-03-31T18:42:00-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/2007-buyers-guide-leica-ultravid-10x42-br-binoculars/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/2007-buyers-guide-leica-ultravid-10x42-br-binoculars/#When:20:37:00Z In Short Ultravid = Ultralight + Ultrabright + Ultrarugged. In fact now that I’ve used the Ultravid BRs over a couple of months it’s apparent just how much better they are than my old glasses. Easy and comfortable to use, optically perfect and rugged to last a lifetime. What more could one ask for? The body is magnesium, the center axis shaft is titanium, there’s no plastic in the focusing mechanism, and the whole binocular is rubber-armor-coated. The highest magnification for binoculars of the 42 mm Ultravid series. The newly designed eyepiece cup provides an especially comfortable eye position. This is especially noticeable via improved steadiness when viewing over long distances. The distinctive, precise diopter adjustment on the central column makes it easy to check the setting at a glance. The diopter can also be easily found by feel, but it locks and won’t get accidentally knocked off its setting. Ultravid 10x42 BR Features Prism Type: Roof Magnification: 10x Objective Diameter: 42mm Angle of View: 6.4° Field-of-View: (@ 1000 Yds) 336’ (112 m at 1000 m) Minimum Focus Distance: 9.5’ (2.9 m) Exit Pupil Diameter: 4.2mm Eye Relief: 16mm Relative Brightness: 17.6 Twilight Factor: 20.5 Focus Type: Center Weatherproofing: Waterproof & fogproof Tripod Socket: No Dimensions: 4.8 x 5.6 x 2.6” (121 x 142 x 67mm) WxHxD Weight: 1.69 lb (765 g) Limited Lifetime Warranty I had problems with fogged up eyeside lenses at the beginning while hunting hart and sweating around the eyes (well, not just around the eyes). Now I use anti fog gel which keeps the lenses fog free. The eyepiece caps and the objective caps don´t last very long, but after calling Leica the Customer Service replaced those broken caps immediately for no cost. Great Service!!! Gear, Buyers Guide, Optics 2007-03-06T20:37:00-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/colorado-big-game-brochures-out-late-february/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/colorado-big-game-brochures-out-late-february/#When:01:19:01Z The number one question is: “When will the big game brochure be out????” The answer for the past decade or so has always been the same...late February. Anyone who applied for a big game license last year will automatically receive a brochure by mail. If additional brochures are needed, you can find them online on our Regulations Brochures page or pick them up at DOW offices as well as nearly 1,000 sporting goods stores and other retail outlets throughout the state when they are available. Nonresidents can order a big game brochure by calling 303-297-1192 or by using the Online Order Form. Be aware the Postal Service can take up to 10 days to deliver a brochure to your home, therefore printing the pages you need online and applying for a license online are both encouraged so hunters can meet the deadline. Applying online also helps avoid application mistakes. Hunters have the entire month of March to apply. The deadline is midnight April 3rd. Source: Colorado Division of Wildlife 2007-02-17T01:19:01-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/colorado-gmu-map/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/colorado-gmu-map/#When:05:52:00Z Colorado GMU Map [333kb] Note: Unit boundaries are subject to change. Use the descriptions for exact boundaries of units. Unit descriptions are mapped in clockwise rotation, beginning in the northwest corner with each segment connecting to the next. Boundaries on all maps are approximate. Maps 2007-01-22T05:52:00-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/elk_tenderloin_with_berry_sauce/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/elk_tenderloin_with_berry_sauce/#When:03:23:00Z 1 Elk tenderloin 1 tbsp. sugar 1 Pint Buttermilk 1 Pint meat stock 1/2 tsp. ground thyme 1/2 tsp. ground thyme 1 tsp. black pepper Berry Jam/Jelly parsley sprigs radish rosettes yellow squash slices Clean and wash tenderloin; then mairinate in buttermilk and 1 tbsp. sugar for 24 hours. Mix thyme, pepper, salt, garlic and sugar with Berry Jam/Jelly for sauce. Grill tenderloin, if possible over charcoal and baste with meat stock. Cook only until rare because elk, moose and venison have very little fat. The meat should be slightly pink to red in the center and quite moist. Serve on a platter with Berry Sauce. Decorate with parsley sprigs, radish rosettes and yellow squash slices. Recipes 2007-01-21T03:23:00-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/elk_fast_facts/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/elk_fast_facts/#When:23:58:00Z Taxonomy Scientific name- Cervus elaphus Subspecies- Rocky Mountain (Rocky Mountain West)- Roosevelt's (Pacific Coast)- Tule (Central California)- Manitoban (northern Great Plains)- Merriam's (Southwest and Mexico) - Extinct- Eastern (east of the Mississippi) - Extinct Deer family- Elk- Moose- Caribou- Mule deer- White-tailed deer Biology Who's Who Bull Male elk Cow Female elk Calf Baby elk Spike Yearling bull elk Size Newborn calf 35 pounds (16 kg) Cow 500 pounds (225 kg)4 1/2 feet (1.3 m) at the shoulder6 1/2 feet (2 m) from nose to tail Bull 700 pounds (315 kg)5 feet (1.5 m) at the shoulder8 feet (2.4 m) from nose to tailColor- Body varies from deep copper brown to light tan- Rump patch light beige- Legs and neck often darker than body Calves- Typically born in late May through early June- Calves are born spotted and scentless- They spend their first few weeks hiding motionless while their mothers feed 2007-01-02T23:58:00-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/hoyt-trykon/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/hoyt-trykon/#When:05:53:01Z The Hoyt Trykon is 75 years of research, innovation and technology forged into one epic creation. Hoyt’s engineers have pushed the evolution of archery by completely redefining and redesigning every aspect of the bow. With the Hoyt Trykon, three specific objectives were met – to substantially reduce noise, eliminate vibrational energy and increase speed. The engineers combined a longer Advanced TEC Riser with Hoyt’s new exclusive Parallel Split Limb Technology resulting in an incredibly quiet and recoil-free shot. Shot noise was further reduced by five full decibels and vibrational energy was reduced 15% by incorporating Hoyt’s new RizerShox directly in to the riser and utilizing FUSE Custom Strings with StringShox. Speed was increased by an average of over 10 feet per second by combining the shorter 5-layer laminated parallel split limbs with the new Zephyr Cam & ½ System specifically engineered for blistering speed while maintaining an extremely smooth draw that is easy to hold. The Zephyr Cam & ½ also utilizes a sealed ball bearing system maintaining ultimate consistency, durability and accuracy in any condition. The Hoyt Trykon, available in Realtree Hardwoods Green HD®, is the total package — everything demanded by serious bowhunters. To learn more about the Hoyt Trykon and the rest of Hoyt’s 2006 line of bows, visit them on the web at www.hoyt.com. Gear, Bows 2006-12-15T05:53:01-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/2007_expected_colorado_elk_hunting_season_dates1/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/2007_expected_colorado_elk_hunting_season_dates1/#When:05:03:00Z 2007 Expected Colorado Elk Season DatesDates will be finalized in January 2007 Archery08/25/07 -- 09/23/07 Muzzleloader09/08/07 -- 09/16/07 Separate Elk10/13/07 -- 10/17/07 Combined (2nd)10/20/07 -- 10/28/07 Combined (3rd)11/03/07 -- 11/09/07 Combined (4th)11/14/07 -- 11/18/07 2006-12-14T05:03:00-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/ranching_for_wildlife_gives_colorado_residents_access_to_high_quality_hunti/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/ranching_for_wildlife_gives_colorado_residents_access_to_high_quality_hunti/#When:03:37:00Z Coloradans seeking the hunt of a lifetime without the expense of guides, outfitters or access fees should know that more than a million acres of prime private wildlife habitat is open to the public on a limited basis under the Ranching for Wildlife program. Licenses for these private land hunts, available only to residents of Colorado, cost the same as any public land hunting license issued by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.  This makes them popular and also hard to get. Trophy hunters have to wait years to get enough preference points - up to 15 for a bull elk or a buck deer on some ranches. Doe and cow elk hunters need fewer points but are subject to the luck of the draw. Hunters seeking licenses to hunt on a Ranching for Wildlife property must plan ahead, since these licenses are available only through the big game license draw which has an application deadline in early April each year. The payoff for patience is a quality hunting experience on a private ranch with a very high success rate: 65 to 95 percent. Initiated by the Colorado Wildlife Commission in 1985, Ranching for Wildlife is limited to ranches with at least 12,000 contiguous acres that contain a significant number of species for which licenses can be drawn - elk, deer, pronghorn, bear, turkey, moose and bighorn sheep. The program now encompasses more than 24 ranches. Participating landowners must have an acceptable management plan to improve wildlife habitat on their property. Some ranches make special contributions to managing threatened and endangered species and species of special concern such as sage grouse. Other ranchers have dedicated significant perpetual conservation easements. Many provide youth hunting opportunities, special public seasons during premier hunt times, and offer exceptional services to public hunters. All ranches must provide free public access to hunters who draw a limited license for the property. The number of licenses issued on these ranches is determined through negotiations between the landowner and the DOW, with 10-20 percent of the male licenses and 100 percent of the female licenses allocated to the public. In return, landowners receive 80-90 percent of the male licenses issued for their property, for which they can charge hunters fees to access the land.  They also are allowed up to 90 days to hold their hunts. Season dates are negotiated between the DOW and the ranch.  Both the public and the private seasons can start earlier and run later in the year than regular rifle seasons. Hunters are allowed to use any legal weapons on the ranches. Jerry Apker, the DOW’s Ranching for Wildlife program coordinator, says some ranches with resident herds manage their big game populations to increase the age and size of their male animals. These offer real trophy hunts. Other ranches simply play host to migrating herds. Those animals move between private and public land, but during the seasons are usually under little hunting pressure. “One added advantage to the DOW is that we get a female animal harvest on private land where without Ranching for Wildlife we probably wouldn’t get much at all,” says Apker. “That helps us meet our management objectives.” Licenses issued for these ranches can only be used on the specified ranch. The public hunters are given the same access to the private property as those who pay a fee. DOW managers and the landowners, however, often work out some additional conditions on public hunters in order to spread hunting pressure and to relieve concerns about security and liability. Ranch rules are worked out between local DOW managers and the landowners. “Hunting on these ranches is a privilege,” says Apker, “and public hunters need to respect the ranch rules for hunting at all times.  That means closing gates, safeguarding livestock and sticking to designated hunting areas. Above all, public hunters should never forget that they’re hunting for a fraction of the fee they’d pay as a private hunting guest. Their behavior may determine whether the landowner opts out of Ranching for Wildlife or stays in the program.” Successful applicants receive information on ranch rules well before their hunts. Each hunter is usually allowed to bring one non-hunting companion. Each must sign a liability release and check in and check out with the landowner. Hunters may have to camp on adjoining public land or secure lodging in the nearest town. Last year, 3,270 Ranching for Wildlife licenses were issued to the public, and this year 3,381 were made available. Ranch sizes, elevations and available licenses vary greatly. Big Gulch Ranch in Moffat County in northwest Colorado, for example, offers excellent hunting on 100,000 acres in five separate game units north of Craig. In 2006, licenses available for the public draw were: 36 bull elk, 220 cow elk, nine buck deer, 60 doe deer, eight buck pronghorn, and 50 doe pronghorn.  Success rates vary from 73 percent to 77 percent for elk, 92 percent to 85 percent for deer and 95 percent to 88 percent for pronghorn. Hunters may need as many as eight preference points for an either sex elk license, six to eight for buck deer and up to 12 for a buck pronghorn. But cow elk and doe deer can be had for one to three preference points, while doe pronghorn require three to five points. Blue Mountain Ranch in the same county is 21,500 acres and in 2006 offers these licenses: one bull elk, 25 cow elk, one buck deer, no doe deer, one buck and one doe pronghorn for public hunters. Hunters may need at least 12 preference points to secure a bull license and one to two preference points for cow elk, about 10 or 11 points for buck deer, and 12 or 13 points for buck pronghorn, and two to four for doe pronghorn. Blue Mountain boasts a 100 percent success rate for bull elk, 50 percent for cow elk, 88 percent for deer, and 80 percent for pronghorn. In the southwest region, the Forbes Trinchera Ranch in Costilla County has 180,000 acres with 10 bull elk licenses, 75 cow licenses, 10 buck deer licenses and 50 doe licenses available for public hunting in 2006. Bull elk licenses may require 12 to 14 preference points and buck deer licenses require 13 to 14 points, while cow elk and doe licenses require one to three points.  The success rate on elk is about 55 percent to 60 percent, and on deer, 90 percent to 95 percent. Some plains ranches have only deer and pronghorn licenses available for public hunting. Others offer turkey licenses. And one, Twin Peaks in Las Animas County, offers four draw species - elk, deer, bear and turkey.  Again, many preference points are needed:  11 for bull elk, seven for buck deer, four to five for bear and two to four for turkey. Success rates vary from 80 percent to 100 percent. Anyone who has hunted on a Ranching for Wildlife unit has waited years to amass the preference points, but most will tell you the wait was worth it. Season dates for each ranch vary and change each year.  They are listed in the Big Game Brochure. The Ranching for Wildlife link in the hunting section on the Division’s Web site at http://wildlife.state.co.us/ranching/ranching.asp also lists the number of public licenses issued for each species by each ranch, the number of preference points needed and hunter success rates for the previous year. Hunting, States, Colorado 2006-07-02T03:37:00-07:00 http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/rules_of_hunting_in_colorado_know_your_limitations/ http://www.elkoholics.net/index.php/site/rules_of_hunting_in_colorado_know_your_limitations/#When:03:34:00Z Hunting is challenging. Not only must you understand the habits of the animal you are hunting, you must also understand regulations, laws governing public and private lands and your own limitations. Following are some reminders and things to consider before you start your hunt. • To obtain a license, all hunters born after 1948 must present a Hunter Education Card from Colorado or another state. • You must know the specific rules that apply to the Game Management Unit in which you are hunting. If you violate rules you can be cited and fined. • Be sure to know where you are hunting. You can only hunt in the Game Management Unit that your license specifies. • As you are hunting be aware of buildings, homes, roads, and your overall surroundings. Make sure you know what is behind an animal before you shoot.  A bullet shot form a high-powered rifle can easily carry two miles or more. • Make sure that someone at home knows where you are hunting, your vehicle’s license plate number and where you are staying. • Weather in the fall can change rapidly in Colorado. A day that starts sunny and warm could end with a snow storm. Be sure you are prepared for all weather conditions. Make sure you can recognize the symptoms of hypothermia in your hunting partners. Know how to get back to your camp. • Cell phone service is not reliable in the mountains. Don’t expect to contact someone by phone if you are lost or if your vehicle is stuck. • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Colorado’s dry air and high altitude can quickly deplete your energy stores.  Know the symptoms of “high altitude sickness.” • Be sure to consult DOW publications to understand antler requirements for taking bull elk. • Do not attempt to shoot at animals that are in areas where you could not retrieve the meat. Know your physical limits. • If you are using horses: Each must have a Certificate of Health Inspection within 30 days of entering Colorado; each must present evidence of a Coggins Blood test within a year of coming to Colorado; to combat the spread of noxious weeds on federal lands and DOW properties, hay, straw and mulch must be clearly marked as weed free. • If you harvest an animal, make sure each carcass is properly tagged and that sex and antler-point evidence requirements are met. Tags must remain with all processed meat. • If you transfer an animal killed by another hunter, make sure it is properly tagged. You could be cited for illegal transport of a game animal even if someone else made the error. • Do not strap a harvested animal on the outside of your car. • Operate ATVs and OHVs responsibly. The vehicles must be registered in Colorado or your home state. Observe road closures; do not drive them into roadless and wilderness areas; and do not drive them where roads are not present. Off-road vehicles can cause resource damage. OHV’s also disturb animals and other hunters. • If you see hunters violating laws, please report the actions to the Colorado Division of Wildlife or to other law enforcement organizations. Actions by a few hunters can reflect badly on all hunt. Hunting, States, Colorado 2006-07-02T03:34:00-07:00