news
Colorful fall woods, bugling elk and unspooked deer are drawing more and more hunters to the early primitive seasons. During the past 20 years, the number of archers and muzzleloaders hunting in Colorado has more than tripled. With an optimistic outlook for the 1999 early seasons, the interest in primitive hunting promises to continue.
"General conditions around the state are looking excellent for archery and muzzleloading hunters," said John Ellenberger, state big game manager for the Division of Wildlife. "Barring any significant shift in the weather, the deer and elk should be well spread out and in excellent condition when the muzzleloading and archery seasons open up."
Statewide last year, approximately 45,000 archers and 19,000 muzzleloaders bought licenses to hunt deer and elk during the early primitive season. This year, archery deer hunters should take note that they will no longer be able to purchase unlimited over-the-counter deer licenses. All deer licenses for archery, muzzleloading and rifle seasons were distributed through the limited license drawing or made available through the leftover license sales process.
Hunters choose the challenge of pursuing big game with bows or muzzleloaders for a variety of reasons. According to Bob Taylor, owner of Bob^s Traditional Archery in Denver, one of the reasons ex-rifle hunters are drawn to bow hunting is to get away from other hunters.
"Ninety percent of the new people coming out of gun hunting and taking up archery are interested in getting away from the crowds of rifle hunters," he said.
According to Roy Nave, a salesman at Gene Taylor^s Sporting Goods in Grand Junction, people are drawn to the primitive early season because they believe it offers them an edge over other hunters.
"The majority of the people I talk to think they have an advantage getting in there first before the regular rifle season," he said. "The animals are not as spooked as in the rifle season when it^s harder to get up on them."
Mike Stone, hunter education coordinator for the Division of Wildlife, agrees somewhat, but he also says that, for many folks, taking up archery and muzzleloading is a logical step in their evolution of being a hunter.
"As guys and gals mature in their hunting careers, they often look to the primitive seasons as a way to challenge themselves," he said. "It^s a natural step for many, especially when the harvesting of an animal no longer becomes a priority."
According to Stone, the biggest challenge in hunting with archery and muzzleloading gear is getting close enough to an animal for an accurate, clean shot. Archers typically must get within 40 yards or less of their prey to accurately place an arrow, and muzzleloaders must be within 100 yards or less to shoot accurately.
"Whether you^re an archer or a muzzleloader, you have to know what your maximum range is before you take to the field," he said. "Once in the field, it^s critically important that you only take a shot within that range."
Safety in the primitive season – as in all hunting seasons – needs to be a top priority too, according to Stone. Two deadly safety blunders common to primitive season hunters are walking with an unquivered arrow and not taking the cap off a muzzleloader at the right time.
"Archers have got to keep their arrows in their quivers until they^re ready to shoot," Stone said. "Walking along with an arrow nocked or in your hand is a dangerous thing to do. We^ve had people stumble and fall on their arrows before – that can be deadly.
"For muzzleloaders, I can^t say this enough – keep the cap off your rifle unless you^re in the field hunting," he added. Having a primed muzzleloader in a vehicle or on an ATV is illegal and deadly. In addition, Stone cautions muzzleloaders who use horses to uncap their rifles before putting them in scabbards.
For some, the allure of the early primitive seasons has little to do with deer and elk. The late August to early September season typically offers hunters less snow and cold than the regular rifle seasons. In fact, the weather can be magnificent with crisp mornings, azure blue skies and sunny afternoons set against a fall backdrop of yellow, orange and crimson foliage.
"It^s a magical time," said Terry Gangle, owner of Rocky Mountain Archery and Hunting in Grand Junction. "Sometimes I catch myself just milling around enjoying the woods and not paying enough attention to hunting."
This year, Gangle and other archers can enjoy the season and pursue deer and elk in game management units west of Interstate 25 from Aug. 28 to Sept. 26. Deer and elk muzzleloading season lasts from Sept. 11 to Sept. 19. For details about these seasons and the archery and muzzleloading seasons for antelope, bear and plains deer, consult the Division of Wildlife^s "1999 Deer, Elk, Antelope and Black Bear" season.
Uploaded: 9/11/1999
Uploaded: 9/11/1999