Colorado Hunting News

Gary R. Jordan, 58, president of the Colorado Outdoor Adventure Guide School (COAGS) located near Victor, has pled guilty in Fourth Judicial District Court to unlawfully hunting elk without a proper and valid license, and the illegal take of a Samson bull elk. Original charges also included making a false statement in the application of a hunting license, forgery and criminal impersonation.

Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) Officer Tonya Sharp received information on Sept. 17, 2006 that Jordan shot a bull elk during the 2006 muzzleloader season. Through investigations and interviews, Sharp determined that Jordan did not have an elk license for that season, but instead used an employee’s license. Sharp recovered the elk meat from a Colorado Springs meat processor and the antlers from a Teller County taxidermist.
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In order to determine angler use and the number and species of fish being caught at Vallectio Reservoir, the Colorado Division of Wildlife will be conducting a creel survey through the summer.

The survey will start May 1 and continue through August 31. Vallecito Reservoir is located about 20 miles northeast of Durango in southwest Colorado.

Vallecito is a very productive fishery and is home to rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, northern pike, brown trout, and smallmouth bass. The kokanee population was damaged by ash run off after the Missionary Ridge fire in 2002, but is expected to show signs of recovery in 2007.
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Springtime fishing in Colorado remains about as predictable as the weather.

About the time the promise of good, springtime fishing seems about to be fulfilled, the weather takes a downturn and delays things yet again. On the other hand, just when the prospects appear ever-gloomy, some bright spots emerge. Even with rain, snow and wind affecting many parts of the state early this week, anglers can take heart. Good opportunities remain plentiful, and the weather most likely will have improved by the weekend.

Lake fishermen willing to brave a sometimes-biting wind have enjoyed some very good fishing for early season trout at the North Park lakes and at Elevenmile and Spinney Mountain reservoirs in South Park. The trout typically are cruising close to shore and willing to take a variety of fishermen’s offerings.
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A Greater Sandhill Crane that captured national media attention after it had been raised on a ranch near Nucla will be held by the Colorado Division of Wildlife at its Frisco Creek wildlife rehabilitation center near Del Norte. The DOW anticipates that the crane will eventually be delivered to a zoo.

The story of the crane, however, doesn’t end there. It must serve as a reminder that humans should not touch young animals, even if a critter appears to be alone or in trouble.

“Adult animals often leave their young ones to go off to feed or to distract predators,” said Tony Gurzick, assistant regional manager for the DOW in Durango. “Young animals are well camouflaged and learn their own survival skills when left on their own. We know people are well-intentioned, but the animal’s best chance of surviving is if it’s left alone.”
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There are a bunch of new females in Middle Park… and if you’re a male sharp-tailed grouse - that is a pretty good thing. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) recently transplanted a group of 44 female sharp-tailed grouse into Middle Park to supplement a population of male sharp-tails that were released last fall.

“We transplanted 39 males in the fall so that they could establish breeding grounds and get a good feel for the area,” explained Justin Martens, DOW terrestrial biologist for the Middle Park area. “Once the males established their territory, the females were brought in to start the natural process.”
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The Colorado Wildlife Commission met last week and approved draft regulations to change the wording related to Colorado resident military personnel stationed outside of Colorado. Colorado state statue previously allowed military personnel stationed in Colorado, but serving outside of the United States, to apply for big game preference points missed during their tour of service, as well as receive preference for leftover licenses. Senate Bill 07-195 if passed would allow the Commission to change the regulation to include Colorado resident military personnel stationed outside of Colorado and serving outside of the United States. The draft regulation is scheduled for final consideration at the May Commission meeting in Grand Junction. If adopted, the changes would be implemented for the 2007 big game season.
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The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is introducing new signs to the Front Range to alert citizens when bears, lions, or coyotes are active in their community. The new “sandwich board” signs will be used by wildlife officers to communicate immediate sighting information and offer informational pamphlets and contact methods for the DOW.

The use of the signs will be determined by the local wildlife officer–for example, if a bear has been getting into trash in a neighborhood, the Bear Alert sign may go up in the next few days, asking residents to secure their trash. Signs will stay up for a few days, so that the public can take action and doesn’t become habituated to the visual signal of the sign. Homeowners are encouraged to read the Living with Wildlife brochure affixed to the sign or view it at http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/.
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