MONTROSE – A proposed management plan for the South Grand Mesa Mule Deer herd, which includes  Game Management Units 52, 411 and 521, is now available for public comment. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is requesting that hunters, landowners and others interested in mule deer in this area to provide comments on the proposal.

These hunting units are located in an area on the south flank of the Grand Mesa north of the town of Delta in western Colorado. The proposed plan calls for a mule deer population of 8,000-10,000 animals, with a buck-to-do-ratio of 25-30 bucks per 100 does.

Every 10 years CPW biologists develop new management plans for specific areas throughout the state that guide how many hunting licenses are issued. The plans are based on hunter harvest, habitat conditions, agricultural conflicts, public perception, comments from land-management agencies, land owners and stakeholder surveys.

To read the full proposal, go on-line to: http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/HerdManagementPlans.aspx. A link to the plan is posted on the right side of the page.

“Input from the public is important for big-game management planning,” said Evan Phillips, a CPW biologist in Montrose.

Anyone who has comments should e-mail them to Phillips at: [email protected]. They can also be sent to him at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2300 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose 81401. Comments must be submitted by Nov. 30.