MONTE VISTA– Colorado Parks and Wildlife has completed draft big-game management plans for deer and elk in the San Luis Valley and asks the public to review the documents and submit comments.

The plans, one for deer and one for elk, are for the herd management planning area that encompasses Game Management Unit 82 located on the east side of the valley along the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. The plans can be viewed on the CPW website at: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/HerdManagementPlans.aspx.

Comments should be submitted by Nov. 17 to Brent Frankland, terrestrial biologist, at [email protected], or mailed to 0722 CR1 E, Monte Vista, CO 81144.

“We value comments from all stakeholders, so we would appreciate receiving your input,” Frankland said.

For the deer herd, CPW proposes increasing the population. Doe licenses have not been available for several years so fawn production has been stable and the population is growing slightly. CPW estimates the deer population for the area is about 2,500, with the potential to increase to 3,000. Lack of available winter range is the most significant limiting factor for this herd.

The elk population is about 5,900 animals and growing. Because of game damage to agricultural areas and overpopulation of elk in the area, CPW is proposing to increase hunting pressure to reduce the elk population to 3,000-4,000 animals.