Pitkin County is learning from last year’s mistake and holding a hunting-permit lottery earlier this year. Five permits allowing Elk hunting in Sky Mountain Park will be issued through a drawing on March 18.
The permits, handed out by Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, allow for the kill of one cow elk between Nov. 16 and 20.
This is the third year of the program, overseen in conjunction with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The goal is to dissuade herds from settling in any one location in the late fall season.
Open Space assistant director Gary Tennenbaum said this can lead to overgrazing of an ecosystem’s vegetation.
“This helps overall with moving the animals around and to lower the refuge effect for Sky Mountain Park,” said Tennenbaum.
In 2015, the lottery was held in July, which was too late for some hunters to obtain the required license and tag from the state. Since the program’s inception four cows have been culled.This year’s lottery is open until noon on March 18 - entrants must submit their name, date of birth and address to janet.urquhart@pitkincounty.com with Pitkin County trails and open space.