Red Hill Elk Herd Management

• Hunting occurred from Aug. 18-Nov. 1.
• Elk were active and abundant in the hunt area throughout the season, resulting in the second highest hunter harvest success since the program began in 2020.
• 29 hunters participated in the program
• 13 harvests, plus one additional post-hunt harvest on leased agricultural properties experiencing damage by elk (14 total harvests for 2025).
  • 11 harvests on Red Hill West
  • 2 harvests on Red Hill East
  • 1 harvest on county agricultural properties.

• Hunting at Red Hill occurred Aug. 19 through Nov. 2.
• Elk were active and abundant in the hunt area throughout the season, resulting in the highest hunter harvest success since the program began in 2020.
• 23 hunters participated in the program.
• 15 harvests, plus 3 additional post-hunt harvests on leased agricultural properties experiencing damage by elk (18 total harvests for 2024).
  • 6 harvests on Red Hill West.
  • 8 harvests on Red Hill East.
  • 4 harvests on county agricultural properties.

• Hunting at Red Hill occurred Aug. 14 through Oct. 28.
• 24 hunters participated with four hunters slotting back in to hunt a second week. Five of those hunters participated in the program during the past two years.
• Elk were active in the hunt area throughout the season, although harvest success remained low. Continuous hunting pressure from our program kept the elk alert, skittish, and moving throughout the season—limiting safe shooting opportunities and successful harvests. Many of the resident elk eventually made their way to the federally owned Table Mountain property to the south, where they have safe refuge from hunters.
• 3 total harvests during the management hunt and one post-hunt harvest to assist with game damage.
  • 1 harvest at Red Hill West
  • 2 harvests at Red Hill East
  • 1 harvest at Imel

• Hunting at Red Hill occurred Aug. 16 through Oct. 29.
• CPW completed several shooting proficiency tests with multiple methods of take, including archery, muzzleloader, and shotgun. Rifles were not permitted.
• 29 hunters participated in total.
• 3 total harvests during the management hunt (Aug. 16-Oct. 29)
  • 1 harvest at Red Hill West
  • 2 harvests at Red Hill East
  • 0 harvests at Imel

• Hunting at Red Hill occurred Aug. 16 through Oct. 30.
• Staff completed three on-site hunter orientations held on Saturday, Jul. 31, Wednesday, Aug. 4, and Saturday, Aug. 14 at the Beech Shelter.
• CPW completed several shooting proficiency tests with multiple methods of take, including archery, muzzleloader, and shotgun. Rifles were not permitted.
• 31 hunters participated in total. This number includes those hunters who hunted twice after the initial alternate pool was exhausted.
• 10 total harvests during the management hunt (Aug. 16-Oct. 30)
  • 4 harvests at Red Hill West
  • 2 harvests at Red Hill East
  • 4 harvests at Imel
• 32.3% success
  • 9 harvests by muzzleloader
  • 1 harvest by archery
  • 0 harvests by shotgun
• Game damage mitigation at the Imel property (see Red Hill Elk Management Plan) will continue through the end of the subunit license season on Jan. 31, 2022.
  • 1 post-hunt harvest at Imel

Permitting Results

• 104 hunters declared interest in hunting only Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain.
• 4 hunters declared interest in hunting only Red Hill.
• 155 hunters declared interest in hunting both Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain and Red Hill.
• 33 hunters and 10 alternates were selected through a random draw.
• 10 hunters successfully drew both hunts, whether selected to hunt or selected as an alternate.

• Hunting at Red Hill concluded on Saturday, Nov. 7. The season was extended by one week to accommodate the cancellation of hunting during the week of Oct. 19 due to the Cal-Wood Fire. Hunting during the final two weeks of the hunt was therefore restricted to areas east of US 36.
• Staff completed three on-site orientations held on Saturday, Aug. 1, Wednesday, Aug. 5, and Saturday, Aug. 15 at the Beech Shelter.
• CPW completed several shooting proficiency tests with multiple methods of take, including archery, muzzleloader, and shotgun. Rifles were not permitted.
• 37 hunters participated in total. This total number includes those hunters who hunted twice after the initial alternate pool was exhausted.
• 13 total harvests
  • 6 harvests at Red Hill West
  • 5 harvests at Red Hill East
  • 2 harvests at Imel
• 35% success
  • 10 harvests by muzzleloader
  • 2 harvests by shotgun
  • 1 harvest by archery
• Game damage mitigation at the Imel property (see Red Hill Elk Management Plan) will continue through the end of the subunit license season on Jan. 31, 2021.

Permitting Results

• 85 hunters declared interest in hunting only Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain.
• 8 hunters declared interest in hunting only Red Hill.
• 190 hunters declared interest in hunting both Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain and Red Hill.
• 44 hunters and 10 alternates were selected through a random draw.
• 13 hunters successfully drew both hunts, whether selected to hunt or selected as an alternate.

Management Plan Update and Extension

On May 20, 2025, staff updated the Board of County Commissioners on the status of the Red Hill Elk Management Plan and the commissioners extended the plan through 2029-2030.

• Red Hill Elk Management Plan Requested Extension and Amendments

Management Plan Extension Approved

On February 24, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners approved a three year extension of the Red Hill Elk Management Plan at a public hearing. The extension allowed hunting through 2024 and combined approval of the Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain Elk and Vegetation Plan so both programs are on the same approval timeline.

• Public Hearing Details

Management Plan Approved

On March 30, 2020, the Boulder County Commissioners approved the Red Hill Elk Management Plan for two years with the caveat that hunting will cease once herd objectives are met. The board also stipulated that an annual public hearing will be held to update progress and consider any modifications.

• Approved Management Plan

Past Meetings

Red Hill Neighbors Webinar (July 15, 2020)
On July 15, staff hosted a webinar for neighbors in the Red Hill management area.

• Watch the July 15 Webinar

Board of County Commissioners (March 30, 2020)
On March 30, the Boulder County Commissioners approved the Red Hill Elk Management Plan for two years with the caveat that hunting will cease once herd objectives are met.

• Watch the March 30 Meeting

Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee (Feb. 27, 2020)
On Feb. 27, the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee voted to recommend the plan to the Board of County Commissioners.

Open House (Feb. 5, 2020)
An open house was held on Feb. 5. Staff discussed management options for the herd.

Background

The Red Hill elk herd makes use of county-owned properties closed to the public on either side of US 36 between Heil Valley Ranch and Table Mountain. The area has been historically utilized by the herd during fall and winter after migrating down from its summer range at higher elevations. However, a growing number of elk has recently stopped migrating and now spends the summer summer at low elevation on county-owned properties and the Table Mountain area. The use of the Table Mountain area is a new development altogether, occurring only within the last 10 years. Three formal summer counts in 2019 all counted more than 88 elk, including a large segment of calves. This growing elk population has come into conflict with neighbors and Parks & Open Space agricultural tenants both north and south of Nelson Road. Additionally, this area has been noted as a dangerous highway elk crossing by the Colorado Department of Transportation with numerous vehicle-wildlife collisions.

The elk herd’s rapid population growth has the potential to cause extensive damage to the highly diverse native plants and wildlife habitat of this area. According to the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, portions of this area are rated B1 Outstanding Biodiversity Significance, which means the plant and wildlife diversity is globally rare and irreplaceable and other areas as B2 (Very High Biodiversity Significance). This area is also designated as a Critical Wildlife Habitat and an Environmental Conservation Area in addition to being a Natural Area (#9, Red Hill) in the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Environmental Resources Element.