BOCC Public Hearing – Elk Management Plans

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on May 20 to provide a status update and consider the reauthorization of the elk management plans.
Boulder County Parks and Open Space has been implementing elk management in two areas of the county to address on-migrating elk populations that are causing resource damage on valuable natural landscapes at Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain (8 years) and Red Hill (5 years). This management includes using licensed, approved hunters to attempt to harvest elk from open space properties to reduce the refuge created on our open spaces and encourage the elk herds to migrate.

This is the 2024-2025 update on elk management, including numbers and movement of elk and the progress on meeting our plan objectives. Staff will ask for the reauthorization of both management plans for five more years. Staff will also discuss the following actions moving forward: pausing hunting for the foreseeable future at Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain based on meeting management plan objectives and changing the hunt boundaries for Red Hill on the west side of US 36.

Action requested: Decision

Opportunity for live virtual and in-person public comments will be available.

• In-Person Comment Registration
• Virtual Attendee Registration

Written comments can be emailed to jdecoste@bouldercounty.gov.

Visit the Open Meeting Portal for the agenda packet.