Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

16 COLORADO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPORT · Apker
Percent Q. Achievement & Success
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
% Quota Achievement % Harvest Success by licenses sold
Quota # Licenses Sold
1700
1500
1300
1100
Figure 3. Colorado license sales, quota,
percent success and percent quota
achievement for puma.
component of hunter harvest has not
increased substantially which would be an
indicator of over-harvest.
Criteria used to guide quota setting are
as follows:
1. Strategic objective of the DAU or
group of GMUs within a DAU. If
management is directed at
maintaining a stable population, then
the following also apply.
2. Population for the DAU is projected
based upon low and high density
potential. Off-take should not
exceed a bracketed range of 15% of
low-end population estimate and 8%
of high-end population estimate.
3. Short (3 year) and long-term trend
(10 years) in proportion of females in
mortality should be stable or
downward and not over 50%.
4. Damage claim amounts on 3-year
average should not exceed DAU
objective levels.
5. Catch per unit effort indice (effort of
houndsmen to harvest).
900
700
500
300
100
Quota or License #'s
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP
Hunter harvest and total mortality
figures for 2002 have not been completely
tabulated at the time of this report. The
average hunter harvest from 1992-1994 is
308 with 41% female. The average hunter
harvest from 1999-2001 is 365 with 45%
female (Figure 4).
Generally, from 1965 to the mid-late
1970s seasons were mid fall through early
spring. In the late 1970s through 1994
seasons were liberalized, running almost
continually through the year excluding late
August – mid November deer or elk hunting
seasons. Since 1995, seasons were revised
to provide greater protection for pregnant
females or females with dependent young,
running on a calendar year basis from
January 1 – March 31 and mid November –
December 31. With a few exceptions the
bag limit has remained 1 per year of either
sex and some form of puma license has been
required since 1965.
Hunting with hounds is permitted with
hunting pack size limited to 8 dogs. Almost
all puma are harvested with the use of
hounds. There is no pursuit only season.
With certain technical restrictions on each,
legal weapons for take include rifle,
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Hunter Harvest
- Male
Hunter Harvest
- Female
Total
Mortality
Figure 4. Puma harvest and total mortality
levels in Colorado.