Colorado Hunting News

Because of continuing bear conflicts in residential areas in southwest Colorado, the Colorado Division of Wildlife plans to begin stricter enforcement of regulations that require removal of materials that attract bears from properties.

Late spring frosts and dry weather have limited natural sources of food for bears. The situation is causing bears to look for food in towns, rural subdivisions and campgrounds. Some conflicts have been reported: bears have broken into restaurants and houses, and are getting into garbage cans, bird feeders and dumpsters.
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In the past month, two Ouray County residents have been cited for illegally shooting black bears. Both face charges of unlawful take and hunting of a black bear and $1,370 each in fines.

Homeowners have the right to protect their life and livestock. However, bears may not be shot simply because they are near a person’s home, said Kelly Crane, district wildlife manager for the area. If homeowners experience problems with wildlife they need to contact the DOW.

“They should not try and take matters into their own hands,” explained Kelly Crane, district wildlife manager in that area. “Homeowners also have a responsibility to keep their properties clear of bear attractants which include trash, pet food, bird feed and feeders, and barbecue grills. It is illegal for any person to leave bear attractants unsecured. Homeowners that do so can be cited.”
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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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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.

This year’s unusually harsh snow conditions in southeastern Colorado are causing wildlife to bunch up on highways and railroad tracks. Recent reports indicate more deer, elk and pronghorns are being hit by cars and trains than normally occurs.

In light of that, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is asking drivers and train engineers to slow down and give the wildlife a break.

The first reports of elk being hit by trains came in from the Trinidad area in early January. Trains hit 41 elk between Trinidad and Aguilar during a four-day period.

Wildlife managers used snowmobiles and snowcats to create safe havens and set out specialized wildlife food pellets to lure the animals away from the tracks. Engineers on the Burlington-Northern also helped out by slowing down and blowing the whistle when they traveled that section of tracks. The effort paid off because no elk have been hit since.

“When the snow gets that high animals look for anyplace they can stand where it’s blown clear and they aren’t buried up to their chest,” said Travis Black, an Area Wildlife Manager from Lamar. “Once they get on a roadway or the train tracks they are vulnerable. The banks are so steep that when a car or a train approaches, they have no place to flee.”

In the past few days, reports started coming in of pronghorn hit by trains south of Las Animas. There have also been reports of drivers having near misses with animals on roadways. There are some indications that as many as 200 pronghorn have been hit since two major blizzards swept across Colorado last month.

“The Division of Wildlife is assessing the situation and will try to lure the pronghorn away from the tracks in a manner similar to that used near Trinidad,” said Black. “The Division is also in the process of contacting all the railroads in the area and enlisting their assistance both in monitoring and notifying DOW of herds near tracks and voluntarily slowing down where possible.”

Black reports that deer and pronghorn are also seeking refuge near haystacks and tree rows for thermal cover (blocking the cold north wind while utilizing the southern exposures for added warmth). Wildlife comes under severe stress in such deep snow conditions. Any additional stress, such as dogs or people harassing wildlife, will add to that stress.

“Although these are trying times, we want to let residents know that it is not a good idea for people to try to help by feeding wildlife. Wild animals have very specific dietary needs. For example, if you give deer the same kind of hay you feed your horses, it could kill the deer,” said Black.

Deer digestion requires specific micro-organisms to break down different types of vegetation. If a deer has been feeding on willows or shrubs, it has built up micro-organisms to digest only this kind of vegetation. If this same deer suddenly fills its stomach with corn or hay, it may not have enough of the corn- and hay-digesting micro-organisms in its stomach to digest the food. A deer can starve to death with a full stomach.

Studies done by research scientists at the DOW have established which types of specialized feeds are required for game animals. Years of testing have determined the proper mixtures of grains for optimal results in deer, elk and pronghorn.

The deep snow and sub-freezing temperatures have also taken a toll on small mammals and upland game birds in the southern part of the state. “We’re just not used to getting this much snow all at once,” said Black. “These conditions are abnormally harsh for this area. We will have a better indication to the impacts on the small game populations in the Spring.”

Additional Information: 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.

The Colorado Wildlife Commission met Thursday in Denver and voted to approve regulations to implement a Big Game Access Program in southeastern Colorado. Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) staff and the Commission will continue to work with interested members of the public to develop the program. For more information on the program please visit: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeCommission/Archives/2007/January112007.htm.

The Commission also approved annual changes to the big game regulations. Each January the Commission finalizes annual changes to the big game regulations, with the exception of license numbers for bear, deer, elk, pronghorn and moose which will be finalized in May.

Included with this action were several changes to the Landowner Preference System. With the changes, the transfer of any license voucher by a landowner must include hunting access to the landowner’s property. Vouchers will now only be allowed to be transferred one time and will only be transferred from the landowner to the hunter that will use the voucher to purchase the license. Third party brokering of landowner vouchers will not be permitted and violations of these changes will invalidate the voucher and any license purchased with it, and could result in a suspension from the program for up to five years

Other changes to the big game regulations include giving the Director of the DOW the ability to make additional Youth Outreach Program deer, elk and pronghorn licenses available to qualified organizations sponsoring youth hunting activities. The Director may also issue additional deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain lion and black bear licenses to individuals between the ages of 12 and 21 who have a terminal illness or life threatening disease or injury.

For more information on Commission action, please visit: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeCommission/

The Colorado Wildlife Commission is an 11-member board appointed by the governor. The Commission sets DOW regulations and policies for hunting, fishing, watchable wildlife and nongame and threatened and endangered species. The commission also oversees DOW land purchases and property regulations.