Has Arable Land (for Farming) and
Viable Wildlife Population (Hunting & Fishing)
While there are a few (crop) farms in the
two counties, it is primarily grazing land. Fish & wildlife abound. The
growing season would probably be enough for two or three crops, but the
soil is not the best. Grains would probably do alright if the wildlife
could be kept out of them, but other crops would likely need to be
raised in hothouses or greenhouses.
WILDLIFE
This is not an exhaustive list, merely the most common species to
Colorado -
Mammals
American Pika, Badger, Bats, Beaver, Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Black Bear,
Black-footed Ferret, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Bobcat, Chipmunks,
Cottontails, Coyote, Deer, Eastern Mole, Elk, Foxes, Gray Wolf, Grizzly
Bear, Ground Squirrels, Hares, Harvest Mice, Hispid Cotton Rat, Jumping
Mice, Kit Fox, Lynx, Marten, Mink, Moose, Mountain Goat, Mountain Lion,
Muskrat, Nine-Banded Armadillo, Northern Grasshopper Mouse, Ord's
Kangaroo Rat, Pocket Gophers, Pocket Mice, Porcupine, Prairie Dogs,
Pronghorn, Raccoon, Ringtail, River Otter, Shrews, Skunk, Tree
Squirrels, Virginia Opossum, Voles/Meadow Mice, Weasels, White-Footed
Mice, Wolverine, Woodrats, Yellow-Bellied Marmot
Birds
Bald Eagle, Band-tailed Pigeon, Black-billed Cuckoo, Black-capped
Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Burrowing Owl, Canada Goose, Chukar, Columbian
Sharp-tailed Grouse, Cormorant, Cow Bird, Crow, Dusky Grouse, Eastern
Bluebird, Golden Eagle, Gray Catbird, Great Horned Owl, Greater Prairie
Chicken, Greater Sage-grouse, Gunnison Sage-grouse, Least Tern, Lesser
Prairie Chicken, Mountain Bluebird, Mountain Chickadee, Mountain Plover,
Mourning Dove, Peregrine Falcon, Piping Plover, Plains Sharp-tailed
Grouse, Sandhill Crane, Western Bluebird, Whooping Crane,
Yellow-breasted Chat
Fish
Arkansas Darter, Bonytail, Colorado River Cutthroat Trout, Greenback
Cutthroat Trout, Humpback Chub, Pikeminnow, Razorback Sucker, Rio Grande
Cutthroat Trout
Reptiles/Amphibians
Boreal Toad, Common Snapping Turtle, Painted Turtle, Snail
Mollusks/Crustaceans
Aquatic Mollusks
Terrestrial Mollusks, Native Crustaceans
Invasive Species
New Zealand Mudsnail, Rusty Crayfish, Zebra and Quagga Mussels
Small game birds: American coots, blue
(dusky), mountain sharp-tailed and greater grouse, ptarmigan, pheasant,
Gambel’s quail,
chukar partridge, greater
prairie-chickens, bandtailed pigeons, sora, Virginia rail, Wilson’s snipe, crow, sandhill
cranes, waterfowl (ducks, including mergansers, and geese, including brant),
mourning and white-winged & Eurasian collared doves.
Small game mammals: cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, jackrabbits, marmot, fox
squirrel, pine squirrel and Abert’s squirrel.
Other small game: prairie dogs, Wyoming (Richardson’s) ground squirrels, prairie
rattlesnake, European starling, English or house sparrow, common snapping
turtle, mink, pine marten, badger, red fox, striped skunk, beaver, muskrat,
coyote, bobcat, raccoon.
Hunting Seasons, areas & bag/possession limits:
ABERT’S SQUIRRELS:
Nov. 15-Jan. 15, 2009:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 2:
Possession limit: 4
MINK, PINE MARTEN,
BADGER, RED FOX,
RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK,
MUSKRAT:
Nov. 1-end of Feb., 2009:
Areas: Statewide:
Bag and possession limits: Unlimited
BAND-TAILED PIGEONS:
Sept. 1-30:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 5:
Possession limit: 10
Note: Permit required.
BEAVER:
Oct. 1-April 30, 2009:
Areas: Statewide:
Bag and possession limits: Unlimited
BLUE (DUSKY) GROUSE:
Sept. 1-Nov. 16: Areas: Only game management units west of I-25:
Daily bag limit: 3:
Possession limit: 9
BOBCAT:
Dec. 1-end of Feb., 2009:
Areas: Statewide:
Bag and possession limits: Unlimited:
Note: See “Bobcat Seals.”
CHUKAR:
Sept. 1-Nov. 23:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 4:
Possession limit: 12
COTTONTAILS, SNOWSHOE HARE, WHITETAILED
& BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBITS:
Oct. 1-end of Feb., 2009:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 10 cottontails, 10 snowshoes, 10 jackrabbits:
Possession limit: 20 cottontails, 20 snowshoes, 20 jackrabbits
COYOTES:
Year-round:
Areas: Statewide:
Bag and possession limits:
Unlimited
CROW:
Oct. 1-Jan. 31, 2009:
Areas: Statewide:
Bag and possession limits: Unlimited
DOVES: MOURNING, WHITE-WINGED &
EURASIAN COLLARED:
Sept. 1-Oct. 30:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 15 singly or in aggregate for mourning and
white-winged.:
Daily bag limit: Unlimited for Eurasian collared.:
Possession limit: 30 for mourning and white-winged.:
Possession limit: Unlimited for Eurasian collared.:
Note: See “Species Identification” for transit requirements.
DOVES: EURASIAN COLLARED:
Dec. 1-end of Feb., 2009:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: Unlimited:
Possession limit: Unlimited:
Note: See “Species Identification” for transit requirements.
FOX & PINE
SQUIRRELS:
Oct. 1-end of Feb., 2009:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 5 of each species:
Possession limit: 10 of each species
GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENS:
Oct. 1-Nov. 7:
Areas: Game management units 97, 98, 100, 101, 102.:
Annual Bag Limit: 2 of either sex:
Note: Permit required.
MARMOT:
Dates: Aug. 10-Oct. 15:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 2:
Possession limit: 4
MOUNTAIN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE:
Sept. 1-21:
Areas: Closed statewide except units 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 131,
211, 214 and 441.:
Daily bag limit: 2:
Possession limit: 4
PHEASANT:
1. Nov. 8-Jan. 19, 2009:
Areas: Units east of I-25:
2. Nov. 8-Jan. 4, 2009:
Areas: Units west of I-25.:
Daily bag limit: 3 cocks:
Possession limit: 9 cocks
PRAIRIE DOGS: WHITE-TAILED,
BLACK-TAILED, GUNNISON’S:
Public Land: June 15-end of Feb., 2009:
Private Land: Year-round:
Bag and possession limits: Unlimited
PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKE:
June 15-Aug. 15:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 3:
Possession limit: 6
QUAIL: NORTHERN BOBWHITE,
GAMBEL’S & SCALED:
1. Nov. 8-Jan. 4, 2009:
Areas: Units east of I-25 and north of I-70 from I-25 east to
Byers and Hwy. 36 from Byers to Kansas. -
2. Nov. 8-Jan. 19, 2009
Areas: Units east of I-25 and south of I-70 from I-25 to Byers
and Hwy. 36 from Byers to Kansas. -
3. Nov. 8-Jan. 4, 2009
Areas: Units west of I-25.:
Daily bag limit: 8 of each species:
Possession limit: 24 of each species
GREATER SAGE GROUSE:
Sept. 13-19:
Areas: Units 3, 6, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 (except east of Colo. 125
in Grand County), 27, 28 (except north and east of Grand CR
50, Church Park Rd), 37, 161, 171, 181, 201, 211.:
Daily bag limit: 2:
Possession limit: 4
SANDHILL CRANE:
Oct. 4-Nov. 30:
Areas: East of the Continental Divide except North Park:
(Jackson County) and San Luis Valley.:
Daily bag limit: 3:
Possession limit: 6:
Note: Permit required.
SORA AND VIRGINIA RAIL:
Sept. 1-Nov. 9:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 25 singly or in aggregate:
Possession limit: 25 singly or in aggregate
COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE:
April 1, 2008-Oct. 31, 2008 &
April 1, 2009-Oct. 31, 2009:
Areas: Statewide:
Bag and possession limits: Unlimited
WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN:
1. Sept. 13-Oct. 5:
Areas: Statewide except units 44, 45, 53, 54, 66, 67, 68, 70,
71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 444, 751:
2. Sept. 13-Nov. 16:
Area: Units 44, 45, 53, 54, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77,
78, 79, 80, 81, 444, 751
Daily bag limit: 3:
Possession limit: 6
WYOMING (RICHARDSON’S) GROUND
SQUIRRELS; EUROPEAN STARLINGS;
ENGLISH or HOUSE
SPARROWS:
Year-round:
Areas: Statewide:
Bag and possession limits: Unlimited
WILSON’S SNIPE:
Sept. 1-Dec. 16:
Areas: Statewide:
Daily bag limit: 8:
Possession limit: 16
Grand County
Grand County is widely known for its hunting opportunities, big game or
small. With the well-deserved reputation as a “Sportsman’s Paradise,”
the county offers some of the best hunting in Colorado. Grand County
hunting is known among hunters for elk, moose, and deer, and the
wildlife around the county is plentiful.
Hunting
Grand County has been a hunting destination since before the arrival of
the first European settlers.
• Kremmling area – Known as a “sportsman’s paradise” for goose,
antelope, deer, and elk hunting. The town’s businesses include wild game
processing, taxidermy, and several outfitters.
Fishing
With 1,000 miles of streams, 1,000 acres of high-mountain lakes, 11,000
acres of reservoirs, Grand County offers some of the best in the
Rockies.
• Rocky Mountain National Park – Secluded alpine lakes and streams that
form the headwaters of the Colorado River
• Colorado River – Gold Medal streams and Wild Trout Waters further
downstream
• Fraser River – Several miles above its confluence with the Colorado,
and in several larger streams that feed into the Fraser
• Lakes of the Arapaho National Recreation Area – Lake Granby, Monarch
Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Meadow Creek Reservoir, and Willow
Creek Reservoir, along with neighboring Grand Lake – Outstanding fishing
for rainbow, mackinaw, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout, and kokanee
salmon
• Williams Fork Reservoir, near Parshall – Northern pike, kokanee,
mackinaw, trout
• Wolford Mountain Reservoir – Flatwater fishing
Ice fishing
• Lake Granby, Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake, Wolford Mountain
Reservoir, and the Williams Fork Reservoir
• Contests throughout the winter and spring, with sizeable prizes
Agriculture in Grand County:
Average size of farms: 1269 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $42155
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $54.39
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total
market value of agricultural products sold: 85.30%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $56501
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 8.97%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 90.03%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $99549
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 78.61%
Average age of principal farm operators: 55 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 6.77
Summit County
Colorado holds the largest elk population of any state or Canadian
Providence, making hunting in Summit County exceptional. Public land, in
the form of national forest, is plentiful, with good access roads and
many areas to camp. At the north end of the county is the Eaglesnest
Wilderness in the Gore Range, and the Ptarmagin Wilderness in the
Williams Fork Range, where both elk and deer hunts are legendary.
Between Breckenridge and Frisco, good pockets of elk hunting exist
throughout The Tenmile Range.
Licenses, including deer,
bull & cow elk, mountain
goat, and bear, are awarded through
a drawing. Most tags are easily drawn, while others may take years of
applying. It is best to apply early if there is a specific animal and
season you wish to hunt. Hunting seasons vary year to year, but the
application deadline is always April 1st. If it is past April 1st, you
will be happy to know that Colorado is the only state that offers
unlimited, over the counter, bull elk licenses. Left-over licenses, if
available, are sold at Division of Wildlife offices starting sometime in
August.
Colorado requires all hunters to complete a Hunter Safety Education
Program if born on or after January 1, 1949. There is also a minuscule
surcharge of 25 cents included in all Colorado hunting and fishing
licenses. This fee goes into the Colorado Search and Rescue fund and
covers an individual for a full calendar year. If ever you needed a
rescue from the backcountry, this small fee could save you thousands of
dollars.
The Blue River is quality freestone and tail-water fishery consisting of
brown, brook, and the enormous rainbow trout
found below Dillon Reservoir. Beautiful pools, deep runs, and
classic riffles characterize the river from Dillon Reservoir to Green
Mountain Reservoir. Boulders, bends, and depressions in the river bottom
account for the variety of seams and excellent holding habitat for the
trout. The river averages from 80-100 feet across, flowing through the
Gore Mountains to the Colorado River near Kremmling. This "Gold Medal"
fishery provides a good food source and consistent quality hatches. From
Breckenridge to Silverthorne, above Dillon Reservoir, is a freestone
fishery. Below the Reservoir, is a tail-water fishery where monster
trout feast on the thousands of mysis shrimp spilling out of dam.
In the beautiful Swan River Valley, about 3 miles north of Breckenridge,
you'll find good casting on numerous beaver ponds for small, feisty,
mountain brook trout.
In Green Mountain Reservoir you will find
rainbows, browns, lake trout, and kokanee salmon. Anglers are
catching Lake trout, and Kokanee salmon weighing
between 20 and 30 lbs.
Lake Dillon Reservoir is stocked annually with
kokanee salmon and cutthroat and
brook trout.
Agriculture in Summit County
Average size of farms: 773 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $12924
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $16.46
The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the
total market value of agricultural products sold: 0.00%
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total
market value of agricultural products sold: 91.87%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $38813
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 8.27%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 76.08%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $78468
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 80.56%
Average age of principal farm operators: 58 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 9.05
Fish found in Summit County and their
descriptions:
Cutthroat (Native) Trout: Cutthroat have
a crimson slash on either side of the throat beneath the lower jaws. The
greenback cutthroat trout is Colorado's official state fish.
Brown Trout: Spotting pattern is made up
of black spots and red-orange spots inside light blue circles.
Rainbow Trout: Identifying marks are
black spots on a light body and red stripe along sides.
Brook Trout: Pectoral, pelvic and anal
fins often orange, edged with black and white. Body is dark with white
and red spots inside blue circles.
Kookanee Salmon: At the end of their
third summer, females develope a red-gray-white pattern. Males develope
hook jaw and turn brick red.
Lake Trout (Mackinaw): Has a white,
irregular spot pattern on dark body. Veriform markings over back and
head. Unlike other trout, they have a deeply indented tail fin.
Large game found in Summit County:
Elk, Deer, Antelope (rare), Moose, Mountain Lion (rare), Bear,
Mountain Goat, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (not really rare, just hard
to find).
Small
game found in Summit County:
Ducks and Geese are prevalent in the spring-fall seasons.
The Criteria List - How the 2 Counties
Stack Up (follow links to detailed information)
Membership Goals:
Our target goals for voting age self-reliant survivalist members:
Grand County: 13,406 population x 15% = 2,011 members
Summit County: 28,296 population x 15% = 4,245 members
Total voting age members wanted: 6,256,
although half that would make a BIG difference to the counties.
If you already live in Summit or Grand Counties,
contact MEG to let us know!
Please Read The Website Disclaimer!
Copyright 1986-2009, The Survival & Self-Reliance
Studies Institute (SSRsi), All Rights Reserved
Site conceptualized, designed, created & maintained by MEG Raven
Snail Mail: SSRsi, PO Box 2572 Dillon, CO. 80435-2572
