GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (May 18, 2007) – The White River National Forest will soon begin reconstruction activities on the Eagle/Thomasville Road (National Forest System Road 400).
Road reconstruction will occur on both the Sopris and Eagle Ranger Districts with construction operations anticipated to begin June 4 and continue through late September/mid-October.
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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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Concerned citizens working with the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Operation Game Thief (OGT) program have increased a substantial cash reward for information leading to an arrest or a citation being issued in the illegal killing of an elk in Boulder County.
A large bull elk was shot on private property (Caribou Ranch) near County Road 126, west of State Highway 72, in Boulder County on September 12th or 13th, 2006. Only the head and small part of the meat were taken from the elk. The majority of the elk was left to rot.
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Colorado Division of Wildlife officials will discuss big game license recommendations for fall 2007 at two meeting in the San Luis Valley.
DOW biologists will discuss deer, elk, pronghorn and moose. They will also explain the current status of the herds in the region, DOW big game planning efforts and license allocations.
The public is invited to ask questions and to discuss concerns.
The meetings:
• 7 p.m., April 9, at the South Fork Community Building in South Fork on Highway 149.
• 7 p.m., April 10, Room A103 in the student center building at Adams State College. Parking is available across the street from the student center. No parking pass is required.
Two Gunnison County men who killed at least two elk illegally will pay $2,700 in fines and could lose their Colorado hunting privileges.
The elk were killed in Gunnison County about halfway between Lake City and the town of Gunnison during the third week of November in 2006.
In a plea bargain, Larry McGraw, 49, of Gunnison paid $1,988, was assessed 30 penalty points against his hunting privileges and forfeited his rifle. Thomas McGraw, 21, of Crested Butte, admitted guilt to DOW officers, paid $616 and was assessed 35 penalty points.
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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) 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.