Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports mixed big‑game trends in Middle Park; CWD prevalence rose in D9 deer

Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff updated commissioners on big‑game monitoring across Middle Park. Elyssa Slazak (CPW big‑game biologist) reported the D9 mule deer population estimate is about 8,500 (below the new objective range of 10,500–14,000), but classified age ratios and recent fawn production have increased and the population is trending upward from the post‑winter lows. CPW’s mule deer survival study showed low fawn survival in the severe winters of 2021–23 but high fawn recruitment in the latest counts; cause‑specific mortality for fawns in the most recent complete season identified mountain‑lion predation as the largest single cause. Commissioners were briefed that chronic wasting disease (CWD) prevalence in D9 buck samples rose from about 3% in a prior mandatory round to about 8–9% in 2022–24 mandatory testing; CPW said sample sizes vary year to year and that managing buck harvest rates is a tool to slow prevalence growth. On elk, CPW said a new Middle Park elk monitoring study is generating cow and calf survival data; cow survival is near long‑term averages and calf survival improved in the latest year after severe winter impacts. Moose classifications remain above objective and the agency is adding a late‑season cow moose license to provide a new harvest window aimed at lowering conflict during regular seasons. Pronghorn remain close to objectives (about 790 animals) and the advisory recommended a modest buck‑license reduction. Commissioners and CPW staff also discussed mountain‑energy/electrification planning, winter severity indices, and the value of continued local reporting of mortalities and problem animals to CPW.