Colorado Hunting News

The Colorado Division of Wildlife has scheduled a public meeting to discuss big-game management and license numbers for 2007 in the Gunnison area.

Wildlife officers and biologists will talk about the status and health of deer and elk in the region and discuss proposed harvest numbers for next fall’s hunting seasons.

The public is invited to ask questions and discuss issues of concern.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 29 at the Gunnison DOW office at 300 W. New York Ave. From 10 a.m. – noon, DOW wildlife managers will address game management units 54, 55 and 551; from 1 – 3 p.m., game management units 66 and 67 will be discussed.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is reminding anglers in the Glenwood Springs area that annual spring fishing closures are in effect Mar. 15 through May 15.

These closures are to protect spawning rainbow trout, which congregate at the confluences of several tributaries to the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers. The fish behavior gives fishermen an unfair advantage and the DOW places the restrictions to protect fish populations during the spawning period.

These fishing closures, which have been in effect since 2001, are also in place in the fall during the brown trout spawning period.

Closures are for the following areas:
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It is a sure sign of spring when migrating birds return to Colorado, and once again this year the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory is offering “bird banding” field trips for K-12 school groups from April 21 through May 25.

Bird banding stations are located in Lamar, Fort Collins, and at the Chico Basin Ranch southeast of Colorado Springs. Students who make the field trip will learn about migratory birds by watching biologists capture birds, record information and put tiny leg bands on the birds to study their movements.

The field trips are designed for K-12, but any community group or service organization interested in scheduling a visit is invited to participate. “Bird Banding sites are located near resting places that attract a wide variety of bird species during spring migration. Observing birds up-close gives people a better understanding of the dynamics between birds and ecosystems,” said Linda Groat, an education coordinator with the DOW. “The programs put special emphasis on teaching about the relationships between bird adaptations and the environment.”

Students can watch biologists capture birds and learn how information is gathered and used. They also learn about the threats to birds because of loss of habitat, changes in migration patterns, and the challenges birds face during their northern journey. Start times range from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. depending on the group and the location.

The programs are free, but reservations are required. Educational materials are available and can be used to fulfill science standards 1 and 3.

Families, classrooms, scout troops, home schoolers, and adult groups are invited to learn about migratory birds by taking part in the bird banding programs.

To schedule a field trip, for Chico Basin please contact Pat Grove at (719) 475-9199 or pjgrove@earthlink.net. To schedule a field trip in Lamar, please contact Linda Groat at (719) 336-6608 or linda.groat@state.co.us. For Fort Collins, please contact Shelly Morrell at (970) 482-1707 or shelly.morrell@RMBO.org.

Additional Information: The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation and maintaining a balance between human activities and wildlife. The Division is funded primarily through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, with some support from federal grants and the Colorado Lottery via Great Outdoors Colorado.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) will hold free seminars in Colorado Springs and Salida to assist hunters with their big game license applications. “Everyone from first timers to ‘old pros’ can benefit from this seminar,” said Janet Sherwood, a customer service specialist with the DOW.

The Colorado Springs seminar is March 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the DOW office at 4255 Sinton Road. The Salida seminars are March 27 and 29 at 5 p.m. and March 31 at 1 p.m. at the Salida office at 7405 Hwy 50.

“This is a great chance to become familiar with the Colorado hunting license application process,” said Sherwood. “Whether you are mailing in a paper application, or doing your application on-line, there are a few tips and tricks that can help avoid errors.”

The DOW will have computer terminals set-up for hunters interested in doing their application on-line.

The seminars are open to anyone interested in hunting deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, bear, moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat, or anyone interested in learning more about Colorado hunting.

This year’s deadline for submitting an application for limited hunting licenses is April 3, 2007.

All deer, pronghorn antelope, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat hunting licenses are issued through the application process. Some elk hunting licenses are by application, and some are available over-the-counter, depending on the season and location of the hunt.

For more information, call the Colorado Springs DOW office at (719) 227-5200 or the Salida office at (719) 530-5520.

Tom Burke has been elected to be chair of the Colorado Wildlife Commission for 2007. Burke, who has been a commission member since 2000, lives in Grand Junction. He was elected by his fellow commissioners.

“It’s an honor for me to be elected chair of the commission,” Burke said. “I’d like to maintain the quality of stewardship of Colorado’s wildlife in this ever-changing landscape.”

Commissioner Claire O’Neal of Holyoke was elected vice chair; and Robert Bray of Redvale was elected secretary.

The Colorado Wildlife Commission is an eleven-member board appointed by the governor that represents various wildlife interests. The commission sets regulations and policies for hunting, fishing, watchable wildlife, and nongame, threatened and endangered species for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Commissioners also oversee DOW land purchases and property regulations.

Burke was appointed to the commission by former governor Bill Owens in 2000 and reappointed in 2004. This is his last year on the commission. Burke served previously as vice-chair. He replaces Jeff Crawford as chair of the commission. Crawford’s term on the board ends in 2010.

Burke represents wildlife organizations on the Wildlife Commission. He is the president of Burke Construction, a past chair of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce and the former statewide chairperson of Ducks Unlimited. Recently he was selected as Lion of the Year by the Grand Junction Lion’s Club.
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As the weather begins to warm Colorado residents will be heading out to state wildlife areas for fishing, hunting and for wildlife watching. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) reminds the public that anyone from 19-64 years old must have a Colorado Habitat Stamp to use state wildlife areas.

“Buying a habitat stamp provides direct support for wildlife in Colorado,” said Tom Spezze, southwest regional manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. “As Colorado continues to attract more people, we need to make sure that we continue to provide good habitat for wildlife.”

State wildlife areas are found throughout Colorado and provide more than 1 million acres of important wildlife habitat.

The habitat stamp program was started in 2006 as a way to allow purchase, preservation and enhancement of wildlife habitat in Colorado. During 2006, the DOW collected nearly $3.6 million through the Habitat Stamp program. That money, in turn, is being used to match a variety of grant programs and is helping to leverage more than $20 million for habitat protection across the state.

The habitat stamp costs $5 with the purchase of each license up to a maximum of $10 for those buying hunting or fishing licenses. Non-license buyers can purchase a stamp for $10.25 which includes the Colorado Search and Rescue fee.

In 2006, more than 99 percent of the income from habitat stamp sales came from those buying hunting and fishing licenses. The DOW is appealing to non-license buyers to support wildlife and consider purchasing a stamp.

“Wildlife is enjoyed by everyone in Colorado. To assure that wildlife remains part of our landscape for future generations, we need everyone to support wildlife,” Spezze said.

There are more than 960 species of wildlife in Colorado. Loss of habitat is the single most significant cause of the decline of wildlife populations. It’s estimated that Colorado is losing up to 120,000 acres of wildlife habitat per year due to development. Revenue from habitat stamp sales is used to secure migration corridors, winter ranges and habitat for native species at risk.

Those who use state wildlife areas are reminded that you can be ticketed for going onto an area without a habitat stamp. The fine is $68.

Habitat stamps can be purchased wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, by calling 1-800-244-5613, or on the Colorado Division of Wildlife website: www.wildlife.state.co.us.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) would like to remind big game hunters who are interested in applying for an elk, deer, pronghorn, moose or bear license for the upcoming 2007 big game hunting seasons that their applications must be postmarked by April 3.

The option for banking preference points will not be available in 2007. Preference point banking was a one time option that took place last year. It allowed hunters to keep any excess preference points that were not required to draw the license they applied for. This year, any first choice license that is received will use all of the hunter’s preference points for that species.

Another change for 2007 is that hunters will not receive their licenses in the mail until their habitat stamp requirement has been met. A Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp is required of people ages 19-64 who buy hunting or fishing licenses. With a license purchase, the stamp is $5 and required with each of the first 2 licenses bought in a calendar year ($10 total). The stamp also allows access to state wildlife areas and state trust lands leased by the DOW. Those who apply by using the DOW Web site (www.wildlife.state.co.us) can purchase a habitat stamp when submitting their application. Those who use mail in applications can buy their habitat stamps prior to applying or they can include $5 check with each of their license applications.

Also new in 2007, all muzzleloading pronghorn licenses are now limited and available in specific game management units.

The purging of preference points will also begin for hunters who are inactive in 2007. If a hunter has not applied for a deer, elk, pronghorn or bear license at least once since 2004 they will loose their preference points for that species.

The youth big game license program has been expanded to include 16 and 17-year-olds in 2007.

Hunters are encouraged to apply for big game licenses online at the DOW Web site. By applying online hunters will save time and money over mailing in their applications. It is also much more difficult to make an error when applying online.

For additional information on these and other changes for the 2007 big game seasons please read a copy of the 2007 Big Game brochure. A copy of the brochure and applications are available at the DOW Web site (www.wildlife.state.co.us). They can also be found at license agents and DOW offices throughout the state. Non-resident hunters can request a mailed copy by visiting the DOW Web site.

If hunters have questions about applying for a 2007 big game license they can watch the streaming video tutorial on the DOW Web site or contact the DOW customer service center at (303) 297-1192.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and wildlife habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation and maintaining a balance between human activities and wildlife. The Division of Wildlife’s primary funding comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and the habitat fees collected in conjunction with those sales. The Division does not receive tax dollars from the state’s general fund.