Thank you Cal for all the work you put in here bringing this whole thing to rest. Thank you for all you do as a moderator.

To the main issue of a declining Colorado elk herd.... It was several years ago that my hunting partner Rob and I were talking with a mutual friend who is a lifelong Colorado resident with what I remember as a degree in wildlife biology. His dad before he passed was also a lifelong Colorado resident, ardent hunter and past member of the Colorado Wildlife Commission or so I have been told. My friend at that time was under the opinion that the elk herd was down especially on the western rim west of the St Louis Valley. I believe he thought it was predator related and we even talked about unsubstantiated wolf sightings. At that time I don't think the Colorado DOW acknowledged that there was a problem. I did a little research and it appears now they are talking about a shortage of elk in many areas without a good explanation of why. I know that there are a large number of hunters with more coming to the state each year but find it hard to believe that would impact natures ability for procreation. The animals IMO always find a way to get it done.