ASPEN – A portion of Sky Mountain Park will be open to limited hunting again this fall in an effort to manage the elk population that uses the open space as both winter habitat and a migration corridor.
While hunting is prohibited on open space under the regulations that govern the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails program, the management plan for Sky Mountain Park makes a specific exception to allow hunting on certain lands within the park. A hunt, limited to five participants, was conducted for the first time last year. One elk was harvested.
“Colorado Parks and Wildlife urged us to allow limited hunting, to help better manage the elk herd, when the plan was adopted,” said Gary Tennenbaum, Open Space and Trails assistant director. “Hunting also helps reduce grazing pressure in the area.”
The hunting will again take place on about 1,200 acres in the heart of Sky Mountain Park – the public land that stretches between Snowmass Village and Highway 82, between the Brush Creek and Owl Creek valleys.
The management plan allows up to five hunters on the property; they will be chosen through a lottery. Qualified hunters must have a Colorado hunting license and the proper tag, allowing them to hunt for a cow elk in the fourth season – Nov. 11-15 – in Colorado Game Management Unit 43.
During the hunt, some trails will be closed to use by the general public. No motorized access to the area will be permitted.
The lottery drawing will take place on Monday, July 20. Hunters who are interested in participating must submit their name, address and phone number, via email, no later than Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m. Participants should email janet.urquhart@pitkincounty.com to enter the drawing.
Sky Mountain Park hunters must abide by all Colorado hunting laws and regulations. Sky Mountain Park hunting regulations can be found at www.pitkinostprojects.com – click on the link to Sky Mountain Park.
Contact: Gary Tennenbaum
970-920-5355
gary.tennenbaum@pitkincounty.com