Jump to: Deer Recommendation Summary Deer Populations License Changes M:F Ratios

Just the other day I was talking to goHUNT's Head of Research Brandon Evans and he mentioned he had something that I would be really interested in. So naturally, I was hanging off the edge of my seat in anticipation. That information was a draft report from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) of their 2020 big game license recommendations! And because I really love mule deer, this entire article will focus on the mule deer side of things. If you want to make comments on these recommendations to CPW, I provided links at the bottom of the article.

Below you find a bunch of tables and graphics that showcase 2019 numbers compared to their 2020 numbers/predictions. You'll also be able to see how CPW is trying to adjust the herd with buck tag and doe tag numbers to meet their overall herd objectives. The tables and graphics are broken out into categories that showcase region changes as well as small scale unit by unit changes.

For a quick summary, in total there are 54 Data Analysis Units (DAUs) in Colorado for deer. The full definition for a DAU is the geographic area that represents the year-round range of a specific big game herd/population. Each DAU is composed of one or more Game Management Units (GMUs). DAUs are used to monitor distinct herds/populations. For even more reading, you can always check out the herd management plans for each DAU. I really enjoy this information! It can be found here.

Those DAUs represent 989 different deer hunt codes.

CPW's deer recommendation summary

• CPW is recommending similar total deer licenses as last year; all changes result in an increase of 980 deer licenses (+1%) to 101,500 limited licenses
• A recommended decrease of 1,700 licenses in the Northwest Region was balanced out by increases of 2,600 deer licenses in the Northeast and Southeast Regions combined. 
• Statewide, rifle buck licenses remained nearly the same at 55,400.
• Buck license recommendations were increased in herds that are above Herd Management Plan (HMP) sex ratio objectives. In DAUs where CWD prevalence is greater than 5%, management actions were taken to reduce prevalence, including buck license increases for several herds. Buck license recommendations were reduced in herds that were below sex ratio objective ranges.
• Antlerless license increases are recommended in herds that are performing well and are at or above population objective ranges and reductions are recommended in herds that are below population objective ranges

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Tables and graphics

Deer populations

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2019 vs 2020 license recommendations

Below are all the license recommendations CPW could make in 2020 and the percent change. They are broken out by weapon.

All limited deer licenses by region
Region	2019	2020	Total change	Percent change
NW	40,313	38,592	-1,721	-4.3%
SW	19,290	19,415	125	0.6%
NE	14,070	14,540	470	3.3%
NE Plains	10,000	10,975	975	9.8%
SE	8,541	8,496	-45	-0.5%
SE Plains	8,265	9,440	1,175	14.2%
Total	100,479	101,458	979	1.0%

All rifle

All limited rifle deer licenses by region
Region	2019	2020	Total change	Percent change
NW	32,531	31,105	-1,426	-4.4%
SW	15,000	15,115	115	0.8%
NE	10,080	10,605	525	5.2%
NE Plains	7,960	8,753	775	9.7%
SE	6,501	6,506	5	0.1%
SE Plains	5,333	6,174	841	15.8%
Total	77,405	78,240	835	1.1

Archery

All limited archery licenses by region
Region	2019	2020	Total change	Percent change
NW	4,431	4,306	-125	-2.8%
SW	2,517	2,517	0	0%
NE	2,380	2,400	20	0.8%
NE Plains	1,345	1,455	110	8.2%
SE	1,330	1,255	-75	-5.6
SE Plains	1,962	2,141	179	9.1%
Total	13,965	14,074	109	0.8%

Muzzleloader

All limited muzzleloader licenses by region
Region	2019	2020	Total change	Percent change
NW	3,351	3,181	-170	-5.1%
SW	1,773	1,783	10	0.6%
NE	1,610	1,535	-75	-4.7
NE Plains	695	785	90	12.9%
SE	710	735	25	3.5%
SE Plains	970	1,125	155	16.0%
Total	9,109	9,144	35	0.4%

All rifle female and either sex

All limited rifle female and either sex licenses
Region	2019	2020	Total change	Percent change
NW	3,868	3,858	-10	-0.3%
SW	0	180	180	100.0%
NE	200	300	100	50.0%
NE Plains	880	945	65	7.4%
SE	0	0	0	0%
SE Plains	876	1,162	286	32.6%
Total	5,824	6,445	621	10.7%

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Male:female ratios

Colorado deer sex ratios
Region	Objective range		Observed
	Min.	Max.	2019	3 year average
NW	24.4	27.7	28.5	31.2
SW	28.3	32.3	31.2	32.3
NE	26.9	32.5	38.7	41.1
NE Plains	--	--	--	--
SE	31.9	35.3	35.3	34.8
SE Plains	--	--	--	--
Avg.	26.9	30.7	31.6	33.5

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In conclusion

After looking at the above information, you will see a picture at what CPW is recommending the license numbers be at to get to their population objectives and sex ratio objective at the ranges the would like. If you'd like to read the full draft report on Colorado's 2020 big game license recommendations you can check that out here. For a look at other license recommendations for 2020 (elk, antelope, moose, black bear) you can see the summaries on goHUNT here.

Note: If you would like to make comments on these recommendations, you can do that at the link below by May 1:

Info to submit comments here

The May 6-7 meeting information and a link to watch the meeting can be found here.