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~y hunt antlered elk in most units where limited antlerless or either sex lic- <br />enses have been authorized. <br />Bows and arrows, and muzzle-loading rifles have been legal to use in regu- <br />lar big game seasons for many years. Special elk seasons for archery only and <br />for muzzle-loaders were begun in 1967 and 1972, respectively. Data on these <br />hunts and harvests are listed sequentially hereafter, followed by regular rifle <br />season data. <br />The 1978 elk season represents the second year of the separate and combined <br />rifle elk season structure. This concept was adopted in an effort to maximize <br />the harvest of excess elk and to spread hunting pressure between two different <br />seasons, thereby reducing hunter crowding. This approach served to give the <br />elk hunter a choice never before offered in Colorado. The management of the <br />species was also enhanced by allowing the manager more flexibility in pin- <br />pointing needed pressure or reduction in pressure over two seasons. A continued <br />increase in elk numbers coupled with this season structure accounted for a record <br />harvest of 28,912 elk in 1978. Hunting pressure was greatly reduced due to the <br />o elk seasons (separate and combined) and as a result, hunter reaction to the <br />eason was very favorable. Of the 141,664 elk hunters, the maximum in the field <br />at any given season was 77,246 participating in the separate elk season followed <br />by 55,620 in the combined season. <br />• <br />