https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/53b05372c8845f2c569437901f23584c.pdf 9bdc04a63872048bdf23cb7de20ca0e3 PDF Text Text �S T ATE OF COLORADO D EPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH t 530 SHERMAN STREET D E NVE R 3, COLORADO November 13 1953 THOMAS L , Kl MBA.LL EXECUTfVE DIAE.CTOJII. The Honorable Dan Thornton Governor of Colorado State Capitol Building Denver, Colorado Dear Governor Thornton: Transmitted herewith you will find the annual report of the operations of the Colorado Game and Fish Department for the fiscal year July 1, 1952 to June 30, 1953. This report contains the activities and accomplishments of the Department in managing the State's wildlife resource, as well as a detailed accounting of receipts and expenditures. �ANNUAL 1952 Foreword HE PURPOSE of this report is to inform the people of the State of Colorado regarding the activities an<l accomplishments of their Game and Fish department. This report is made available in order that any individual might avail himself of the opportunity of studying the operations of the department, how much money has been appropriate<l by the General Assembly for the management of the wildlife resource, and just how that money was spent. All divisions within the department have made available for public scrutiny their long-range programs an<l plans for the future, as well as the accomplishments toward the completion of the program to <late. T It is hoped that those individuals interested in the wildlife resource will find this report a source of valuable information. With widespread public understanding and support, the goal of maintaining the hunting and fishing heritage that is so much a part of Colorado will be attained. Prepared by the staff of Colorado Conservation Magazine State of Colorado--Department of Game and Fish - 2- �REPORT -1953 Contents Responsibility for Wil<llife Colorado's Wildlife Resource Business A<lministration Division Personnel Division Game Management Division _ Fish Management Division Federal Aid Di,·ision Law Enforcement Division Fur Resources Division _ Education Division Map of Commissioner D1srricts Chart of Department Income Chart of Department Expenditures Chart of License Sales, 1923-52 Chart of Current Organization_ Chart of Proposed Organization . 5 8 13 23 29 37 _. 45 51 55 _ 59 6 14 14 22 24 27 �Game and Fish Commission July l, 1952 GovER'-OR D\--: TuoRSTo, , f x Officio Rm Ec.KLEs, Pl"l'sidt·nt Th I IAROI o \V.\TSO'-', T'ice President R 1c11ARD G . LYTTLE, Secretary T . V. Fe KLEs Cum l l on:.11K1,s E. H . .\1l'LLI'-' 11 \RLE, R110.\DF., I L •\. ROBERTS Lamar. District 4 Den\'er, District I Meeker, D1stnct 8 ,\Jonte \'ista, Distr ict 5 _ l l otchkiss, District 7 Pagosa Springs, District 6 Burlington, District Bou:dcr, Dimict 2 1\.'ote: In .\hi), 1953, the terms oi office oi R,n l·.cKLE, and T. \'. Eo,us expired. New commissioners appointed wtre: D1slncl 4, ) 011, .\lcCuLL.\so; District 5, 111,,RY L.\u E. New officers \\ere elected in June, 195.3, ,is follows: DR. I !.\ROLD \V \Tso,, President; R 1c11.\RD G. LYTTU, \'ice President; FAKL JI. .\lt·Lus,, Secreta r ). Game and Fish Department Staff T110~1." L. K1MBALL, D1rntor Jm1:-: D. ll .\RT, . lssist1111t D1rator Gt·Y \' . •\h:LVIS Business Manager W1LL1\:',f F. 1--It-:s:-: Chid (;amc Warden R. ,\I. ,\!'-iOREWS N. I k:-TER Fish Manager Game Manager G ILBERT .\. o~.\'C. D. CoLDf\:-.: Fur Manager Educ,lt1011 .\fanagn T oDl.\"1 )011, H . .\loRRI, Personnel .\tanager L. t.. RwRoAs Federal Aid Coord111a tor EARL ,\fcC.\!',; Public Relations - 4- �T HE G,\t.fE AND FISH commission and the Game and Fish department get most of the credit, and most of the blame, when the public sits in judgment on Colorado's wildlife management policies. No one in either agency (which will be separately defined later) objecu to the praise, and both try to accept and evaluate criticisms philosophically. For the record, though, these men and women who set and effect wildlife policy deserve only part of the public reaction, good or bad. They are, and should be responsible to the will of all the people; to each individual directly, and to the legislature and the governor of the people's choice. Role of Department Let's start more or less at the narrow top of the responsibility pyramid, with the Game and Fish department, and check the broadening power of each agency until we come to the foundation of all governmental structuresthe public. The Game and Fish department, which ha~ been in existence formally since 1889 and in some form or another since statehood was granted in 1876, is charged with actual performance of the duties involved in wildlife management. ft is not the policy-making agency. The department is staffed by trained personnel - wildlife technicians, wardens, trappers. bookkeep- ers and executives selected by competi- tive examination on the basis of training and ability. The Civil Service examination system, plus the job protection afforded employees selected, is the public's guarantee of competent service. On the lower level, the daily tasks of wildlife management are performed. On the executive level, the director, assistant director, the administrative staff, and the managers of the field units (game, fish and fur divisions, for instance) outline, assign and supervise current projects. The director and assistant director are also charged with making plans and recommendations for future conduct of the department-which are submitted to, considered and finally determined by the policy-making bodies, the Game and Fish commission and the legislature. Commission Sets Policy The commission was created by an act of the legislature in 1937. That original act has since been amen<le<l to provide for an eight-man board, appointed by the governor for staggered six-year terms. No commissioner can succeed himself, and the law provides that future commissions shall have no more than four members o( any particular political affiliation. To be eligible for appointment, a prospective commissioner must be a - 5- �bona iide resident of the slate, anc.l "shall he well informed on the subject of wild! ife conscn·ation and restoration." The law aim pro,i<les that at least one commissioner he a rancher; and all may be n:movecl by the governor, subject to charges, hearings, etc. Commission meetings are not dosed, and represent the public's chance to be heard, 111 writing or in person, before measures are finally approved. The commission establishes seasons, bag limits, tells how game and fish may be taken, passes on creation of new jobs ( suhiect to hu<lgetary limitauons ), approYes or disapproves all major proj ects; in brief, the commission defines the a1111s of wildlife management and authcmzcs the department, through the din:ctor, to undertake projerts to meet the g-oals-all within the framework of the laws appro\'e<l by the legislature. Governor Appoints Commission The go,·ernor's closest connection with wildlife management in Colorado is, of course, through the commission that he appo1n1s and of which he is an ex-officio member. The commissioners, thus, are directly responsi• hie to the governor, and must answer to him for failure to carry out the policies of the admmistration. The chief execuuve, of course, is responsible to the people for the caliber of his appointees. The go,ernor exercises a further control o,er w1ldliie management; he has, for practical purposes, a power ol veto O\'er proposed pro1ects - all purchase or<lers, contracts. agreements. etc .. requested by the department to pay for or implement operations arc subject to the go\'ernor's approval. l\Iap of Couunissioner Distriets l..;,,• c;·;~~ ! --~ . , ,t.;,l,l . District'6~ -i-- . --;: ' -· -i-.. ~.-- (~~.:.. .._ District 5 �The backbone of the Game and Fish department is its personnel - quali-f ied accountants, stenographers and clerks, as well as game wardens and technicians a 11 selected by competitive examination under the Civil Service commission. GEO RGE Finally, as chief executive of the state, the governor may call upon the two branches of the legislature to enact lavvs pertaining to game and fish. His power in the legislature is, of course, large! y dependent on the political make-up of the legislature. Legislature Appropriates Funds Colorado's General Assembly probably plays, next to the anonymous pub-lie, the leading role in the wildlife picture. The legislators- senators and representatives-together possess two great powers; they control the department's income through their prerogative of setting license fees, and its expenditures through control of appropriations; and they formulate the laws which define the limits of commission authority. Under the present set-up, much of the broad policy determination is delegated to the commission, which has the authority to set rules, regulations, sea-sons, bag limits, etc. But the legislature still reserves many functions: it outlines methods of settling game damage claims; distinguishes between game animals and predators; expands or restricts the powers of commissioners and the department; conducts in\'estigatiom into conduct of the department. D Through its control of appropriations. the Assembly exerts an effective control over every major undertaking. Through and beyond the powers delegated to the elected legislature, however, the public has the greatest responsibility in wildlife management. Individual votes select the most powerful policy-making body, the legislature; and the governor appoints the commission. As members of organizations of sportsmen, ranchers, farmers and conservationists, individual citizens exercise a profound influence on appropriations and other game and fish legislation. The activities of the department have a profound effect on every citizen of the state. Hundreds of thousands of our citizens hunt and fish, and their enjoyment while in the outdoors depends on the wisdom guiding department activities. The money they spend for licenses finances future operations; and the millions of dollars spent for food, transportation, equipment and lodging contributes greatly to taxes and to the economy of the state. The goYernor. the legislature, the commission and the department wam to know the puhlic's needs and desires. They will satisfy them if, in good con-science, they can. - 7 --- ANDREWS �M \~ \(,!'-.(, thL· ,,1ldlife resource ot the st 111; of Colorado 1s a big 10h ·1 IK C,amc and Fish department, opnatmg undn the policies esrnblished hy the (;amc and Fish commission, 1s tl;c agency L"ha rged with the task. ,\ p pro,imatcl) 350 men am! \\'Omen .ire mi ployed i ull tune. and the expcndi turn for the fiscal ,·car 1952-1953 were o, er 1hrcL' million ~lollars. There are at least two importalll qm:stions that en·rv citizen should ask of the department. I, the e,penditurL for game and iish management ,1 good 111,·l·stment? \\'hat is the department doing to maintain good hunung and f1,hing in Colorado' The amwer to dw second question i, gm:n 111 dt·t.1il in the n:ports of the \.trious di,is1ons. .111d only a hroad general outline ot some o( the major problems ,, ill he gl\ rn in this discm ,·on. But perhaps the least understood of all tht· factor\ i1woln·d in game and I ish managemrnt " wildlife economin: .111d 1t is important enough to merit our ,crious attt·ntton. More Than Pleasure 'I'< l1Lg111 with and this 1s funda mt·ntal-hunting and fishing mean, more to Color:1cbn~ than plea~urt· for those\\ ho 1akt• part. I lunt ing and iishing 1s hig hl!',iness. Tht· chart at the hot10111 of tlw page shows how h1g it 1,. although e,en tht· totals in the tahle .ire not high enough. Expenditurn arc based on 19-19 prices, which ,,ere considerably Iowa than today's .•\ bo, no reckoning is made of expenditures ol family memhtrs-women and children -w ho accompanied hunters and fish Lrmcn on tnps but dl(.I not hunt or fish. Since the ,neragt· tourist group contains three people, it can be -;een ( especial!) 111 the case of non-resident trout fishermen) that additional millions should logically bt· added to the total from this source. But whether the pursuit of game and fish amounts lO $'>0.000,000 or twice 1ha1 amount, 11 is properly defined as hig business. It ranb with mining and lncstock growing and manufacturing as a source ot inrnmc to hundreds of thousands of 1x·ople. Jt is this dollur \aluc that wildl1ft has rarely been rred1tt·d \\'tth 111 the past. I lo\\' ol1c11, for instance, has a proposal lo plow up winter deer range or dam a trout strt·am heen justified as tht· .. practical .. approal'h: I low often han: we acccptt:d an) change in land or water use in tht· name of a commercial L'llttrprise, without n·er realizing that, dollar for dollar, the land or w,lltr 111 tJt1cst1on was mort· \aluabk as habnal tor game or fish' This point-that wildlife is a natural resource that, 11 \\ i,dy used. will increase the standard of living of every person in the statl'· 1s a fact of major importance that conservationists han· X-- �failed to publicize sufficiently. And it is reasonable to assume that when this fact 1s generally known hy wildlife men as well as the public, we can expect more efficit:nt management with greater public support. By thus emphasizing the economic aspects of wildlife, it is not to be in. ferred that the department has lost sight of what still must be the resource's greatest \'alue-1he pleasure that hunting and fishing provides to our citizens and our \'isitors. Many wise men have commented on the need for relief from business and international pressures that beset the mo<lern man, and have mentioned hunting and fishing as ideal solutions to the need. There is no point in dwelling on this point. Any man who hunts or fishes will testify that it is true. \\'ith acceptance of these twin \'alues --(:COnomic and esthctic-wc agree that any reasonable investment we make in preserving or increasing the wil<llifr re• ,o urce is justifiable. Competition for Land Use If all the land and water in Colorado were at the disposal of the Game and Fish department, the wildlife manage• ment job would be simple. Hut the need for domestic li\'estock, for farm pro• duce, for minerals and timber in a ci\• ilized society has changed the character and restricted the quantity of land available to wildlife. The historic range Expenditures by Hunters and Fishermen Other Than Licenses-1952 Type 0£ Hunter or Fi,berman Pheu.2nt Duck ____ _ Goose Dove Rabbit Resident deer Non-Resident deer _ _ Resident elk Non-Resident elk Antelope Turkey Resident trout Non-Resident S-day fish Non-Resident Season Resident Warm Water No. of Hunters or Fishermen• 67,000 40,000 5,)00 9,000 57,000 90,)85 19,432 16,629 l , 688 l , 627 280 220,000 83 ,773 7,411 56,000 GRAND TOTAL EXPENDED. 'The ba,is for the t.1blc is a random suney conductl-tl among 1949 licemc buyers by the game man;igcmcnt <lni"on. The amount spent in pursuit <>f c.-a,h s1=•cs arc the a,·erage amounts rcportc.-d hy tho,e who filled out the qu~tionnaire. The numbers of hunter, or fishermen for 1952 are taken from actual hcen,e or st.Imp $:lies rc.:ord<, except that the breakdown of cumbmauon l,cense buvcrs into pheasant and other small ,::amc hunter,, and trout and warm \\"Jtrr fishermen, is based on the pcr.:entages reported ~, participating m -9 - Total Expended Cost per Individual, season• $ l 8.97 48.4) 58.35 18.65 22.25 65.96 230.71 92.-47 )02.34 25.8) -44.-4) 78.0) 186.0 377.11 l 1.7 t $ 2,6 10,990.00 1,917,200.00 )09,255.00 167,850.00 1,268,250, 00 5,961,794.60 4 ,483 , 156.72 1, 537,683.6) l, 11 S,029.92 9),685.41 12,440.-40 17,166,600.00 15 ,622,826.77 2,802,594.58 1,775 ,760.00 . .............................. $56,865,l 17.03 tho,c: ,1x1rt< in the 1949 ,urvcy. The number of duck and goo,c hunters wa, arrivc<l at in the -.1me wa>·: hr muluplymg tho· pcr.cnt• age, of duck .1nd 11ome hunt,·r, ,lctcrmincd in the 1949 ,uncy by the totJI 1952 1111gr.1tur)' Wlltcrfnwl <I.Imps. The u,1.1I number of rc,i• dent Jmall i:amc hunter- ,1n,l fishrrrncn <X• ,rt.~ls the total ,ombination license saks hccaust" manr hcen.c hui crs pursued more th•n one species, or f"hetl for both trout and warm water foh. The same re,ult, arc shown m the migratory figures. �W O KLEIN This stream-the South Platte below Deckers-has been robbed of part of its natural productivity by sand and gravel deposits from overgrazed watersheds. or antelope and bison, for instance, i~ now almost entirely in agricultural use. In the mountains, cattle and sheep now share lands that deer and elk once occupied alone. Waters that once were un touched by man are now Jammed, diverted and drained for domestic, ind ustrial and agricultural needs; and the fish resource has inevitably suffered. This use of the lands and waters by both wildlife and man brings up another and f requcntl y overlooked point - that all of what we call renewable resources-land, forests, waters and wildlife-are dependent on each other, and that any alteration in one affects the others. Overgrazing of land by do- -10 - mestic livestock, for instance, leaves the soil unprotected. Rains and melting snows run off rapidly, forming rivers that carry tons of good topsoil seaward during spring floods. Fish are destroyed, no cover is left on the land fo r wildlife and the soil itself is stripped. Three resources, at least, suffer because oi the misuse of just one. The importance of this interrelationship of renewable resources cannot be overemphasized. It is [undamental. A ll uses of the land-the basic resourcemust be coordinated if other resources arc not LO suffer. ,\nd it follows that good wildlife management is good soil management; good watershed manage- �ment is good fish management; good management for any renewable resource is good for all the others. The problem of harmoniously managing all the renewable resources is che basic problem of wildlife management. Population has increased sharply in Colorado, and will probably continue to rise. Demands for farm and forest products, for water and for wildlife, are bound to increase proportionally. Damage Problems One outgrowth of the increasingly intensive use of land is game damage problems. Wildlife-particularly deerhave turned to agricultural crops to supplement their dwindling supply of native browse. Since wildlife is protected by the department, landowners have turned LO the department for rem uneration for such damage. Claims last year were enormous, and there is reason to believe that they will increase in the future. Legitimate claims are paid without protest, but under the local arbitration board method of determining the amount of damage to be paid (further explained on page 33 ), abuses have often resulted. In this connection, two partial solucions an: indicated: better legislation and better management. One measure that has been studied would prmide an appeal to the courts &om the decisions of the arbitration boards, a privilege that is not now available. Another would allow landowners, subject to certain limitations, to kill or R F Competition between wildlife and domestic livestock. for winter range has led to the present controversial game damage law, discussed further above. -11 - G REGG �F 1. WAUCH Game management is becoming a matter of human relations. There is no rea• son why ranchers, sportsmen and conservationists should not work together scatter offending animals, and would do away with cash payments. One point that should, in simple justice, be in eluded in any change in the damage law, 1s the prohibition of payment to any landowner who posts his lands against public hunting. I le can hardly expect to prevent harvest of game, and then collect from sportsmen's license fees for any hay they might consumt·. The second partial solution is better game management. Hy limiting the size of a deer herd to the number the range will support. pressure on domestic crops can be reduced. This solution has bcl'n fought, howe\'er, by people who refuse to understand that all li\'ing creatures are limited in number to the quanllly of food available. Ult11natcly, the solution to prc\ent game management problems lies in workmg with other users of the land - 12 - to pro\lde for the needs of all. No good can come of limiung deer numbers on an O\crgrazed range. for instance, if this 1s to be followed by an increase 111 the number of domestic livestock. There is no reason why grazing lands cannot support rt'/Jsonablc populations of both domestic li\·estock and deer or elk or antelope. There is no re.tson why both irrigated and dryland farms cannot sup• port good crops and a population of pheasants at the same time. There 1s no reason why our ri\·ers and streams should not provide fishing as well as power and irrigation water. In short, the use of one renewable resource must take into consideration the others. If this principle will become the golden rule of rt·newahle n:source management. there is no reason why wildlife should not continue to prosper, for the economic an<l esthet1c well being of c\'eryone. �Adm i II i:-t rat ic 111 Busi11ess Administration T HE GAME and Fish department of the slate of Colora<lo is unique among major state agencies in one fundamental respect- it receives not one penny of general tax revenue. The department is financed almost entirely by proceeds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and from federal funds obtained from a national excise tax on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment. The only other major sources of income arc pro\'ided by the sale of beaver pelts, and fines collected for game law \ iolations. Effective wil<llife management, since it has become an expensive undertaking, may be said to be possible only so long as license sales and the tax on equipment sales provi<le the funds, and so long as those fun<ls are used exclusively, as they are now, by the Game and Fish department. Federal Funds The sale of hunting and fishing licenses, the largest source of revenue, has been supplemented in recent years by federal appropriations under the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts. These two acts of the nation's Congress provide for a tax on hunting and fishing equipment. Funds so collected by the federal go\·ernment arc pro-rated among the states on the basis of license sales and area; pro\·ided that for every three dollars allocated to a state, the slate musl appropriate one dollar to be used in the same program. The procedure is further explained on page 45. Even aside from lhe federal aid monies, the department has experienced a phenomenal growth, as evidenced by these figures. The income for the year ending June 30, 1933, was $185,602.70; for lhe year ending June 30, 1943, it was $617.963.03; and for the year ending June 30, 1953, it was $3,-135,226.33. These figures show that the revenue has increased to over 18 times that of 20 years ago. During this extreme growth period, the department busines~ management organization has had quite a struggle to keep pace with the increased operations. Accounting Modernized This year the department has made its first major step toward the modernization of systems and procedures. The department has grown to the point \\ here it is important to know the financial position at all times. To accomplish this, a more complete general ledger has been installed, complete rinancial statements are prepared monthly to supplement the quarterly budget statement, cost of fish production records and \·ehicular operation cost records are now being mainwined and a ne\\ cash validation procedure has been installed. A complete system of propeny inrentory has now been completed listing every item of state -13 - �property and its location and is kept current by means of property transfers. Considerable thought and planning is now being gi,,en to a program of decentralization which would d1\"ide the state into four region:il districts. It is anticipated that the plan will become effccti\"e July I, 1954, contingent o n Jegisl:tti\"e appro,·al of funds included in the department·s budget request for 1954,55. The financial statement follows: lnco111e: 1952-1953 Hunting licenses, 524% Fishing licenses, 32 % All combination licenses included in fish revenue figure. Expenditure~: 1952-195~ - 14 - �Statement of Receipts Biennium July L 1951, to Jmw 30, 195:3 FISCAL YEAR 1951-1952 AS OF JUNE 30, 1952 LICENSES: Resident Fi,hinit and Sn,nll G:ame Hunting Resident Alien Fishing Non-Resident Fishing Non-Resident 5-Da y Fishing Non-Resident Bird and Small Game Hunting Residen t Deer Resident Elk Resident Turkey Non-Resident Deer Non-Resident Elk Resident Antelope Resident Trapper Non- Resident Trapper Duplicate Deer and Elk Licenses S TOTAL Hunting and Fishing Licen•e Sales Less Commission on license sales 2 5c ench 730,077.40 1,097.50 61,600.50 175,121.75 I 0,754.75 654,872 .25 236,088.50 3,192.00 598,782.25 246,923.00 I 8,920.00 4,725.25 S2,742,15S.IS Net amount recei"ed on license sales S2,742,l 55 . l 5 Lakes and Pnrks Preserves Non-Resident Fur Dealers Resident Fur Dealers $ 1,524.00 126.00 304.00 698.50 16.00 226.00 2,000.00 71.00 250.00 1,797.75 3.00 27.00 Scientific Permits Importers Guide Licenses Seining PermitS Taxidermist i ransporta tion Specimen Permits Importation Sales of Be:aver Hides: FISCAL YEAR 1952-1953 AS OF JUNE 30, 19S3 S S3,034,947.00 -125,799.25 $2,909,147.75 $ 10,585.50 63,H6.25 39,429.74 8.00 12.00 1,805.25 State Landowners and Private Sales Fines and Convictions . Storage Refuge Miscellaneous Hides Dog Tr:ainers Field Trial Permits Sales Livestock Sales - Supplies and Materi.,ls Rents - Land Refunds of Expenditures Federal Aid: Oingell-Johnson- Pittman-Robrrcson $2,937,584.SS $3,078.915.42 ~ $ )I 8,749.59 17,277.35 Colorado Conservation Magazine ____3_o_9_.o_o_ Bonny Dam RC'volving Fund TOTAL RECEIPTS NET .... . l'i 1,888.00 101.00 102.50 63 5 .00 14.S0 282.00 1,735 .00 8S.00 21 s.oo 668.00 4.00 34.00 26, I 16.06 75,767 . 31 43,689.6 I 22.00 6.50 1,522.10 30.00 10.00 68.2 S 72.97 310.00 16,388.87 63,099.41 TOT AL Game Cash 831,141.00 1,638.00 78,390.00 254,148.00 14,750.00 678,8 1 o.oo 166,880.00 1,430.00 778,640.00 187,850.00 36,270.00 4,81 s.oo 12 S.oo 60.00 . . $3,273,920.49 343,3 S0.87 I S,052.44 1, 1s 1. 60 $3,438,470.33 �Statement of Expenditures July], 1952 - June 30, 1953 TOTAL FOR UNIT OR DISTRICT ADMINISTRA TlVE: General Adminiatration Commiu:i.oners - _ , Director Auistant Direct.or Busineu Admini1tr:1tion Business Manager 6,128.)7 14,994.39 I ),096.67 TOTAL FOR DIVISIONS OR SPECIAL REQUESTS $ )4,219.4) S0,412.96 38,)88.44 21,576.21 28, I} 1.91 H,143.68 Accounting License and Revenue Property and Supply Garage and Warehouse Office--Maintenance and Operation Personnel 24,971. I 6 14,)01.01 CONSERVATION - EDUCATION: Con1ervation • Education Radio and News FUR RESOURCES: Administration District 1 District II District Ill District IV District V District VI District VI-A 210,925.37 I 02,782.91 GAME MANAGEMENT: Administration Little Hills Game and Bard Farm Tarryall Trappers Lake Game Damage Control LAW ENFORCEMENT: Administration __ Assistant Chief District I District II District Ill Di,trict IV District V Diatrict VI 12,Hl.48 II 5,114.39 19,S 68.26 28,756.24 2),859.97 25,666.28 25,887.70 21,470.02 }7,148.54 D,729.40 196,086.41 102,017.72 50.91 21,192.92 658.72 664.44 83,104.65 207,689.36 17,984.26 S,273.95 49,520.85 42,571.57 41,980.24 )7,707.71 56,680.48 49,4n.21 )01,154.27 FISH MANAGEMENT: Adminittr;ition Fish Pathology Transportation Section Construction and Maintenance Bellvue Hatchery Bel Aire Ponds Big Creek Road Boulder Ponds - I 08,776.23 3,960.00 6,218.23 3,690.00 H,)28.52 13,S I 9.90 }8.05 26.89 16 - TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 1952-195} ASOF JUNE JO, 19 53 �Buena Vista Hatchery ___ _ Butte Lake Cedaredge Hatchery Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit Chipeta Ponds . _ Coaldale Ponds Crystal River Ponds Denver Hatchery Dolores Ponds Durango Hatchery Estes Park Hatchery Finger Rock Glenwood Springs Hatchery Ha,·iland Lake La Jara Hatchery Leadville Hatchery Little Hills Rearing Unit Mesa Lake Monument Lake North Fork Thompson Piedra Parvin Reservoir _ .. Pitkin ___ . _ Poudre Rearing Unit Rio Grande Ponds Rye Walden Hatchery Wr:iy H:itchery Yellowstone Project - - - - - · Fish Research Trappers Lake TOTAL ALL DIVISIONS SPECIAL REQUESTS: 17,) 14.66 116. 12 32,872.55 31,794.47 H,H9.7) 4,039.68 40,17).81 82,127.00 28,982.30 35,)58.12 22,656.)2 26,117 . 10 19,885.96 203.99 26,841.7) 1),0)9.7) 20,220.)2 87.51 12,592.)0 19,801.68 90.00 905.14 46,163.7) J 0,82 8.68 28,552.lJ 23,109.06 19,73).95 15,59).74 1,550. 00 15,055.07 I 20.96 Department's Share to Retirement Workmen's Comp. Ins. Prem. Federal Aid-Pittman-Robertson Act - Game Dingwell-Johnson Act - Fish 816,935.36 1,882,124.59 46,866.J) 8,000.00 407,546.49 55,407.81 32,140.46 Beaver Reimbursement Coop Units Colorado Agricultural College-Game Fish Warm Water Fish (Earmarked Fund} Contingencies . Predatory Animal OPERATIONAL ENCUMBRANCES OUTSTANDING 6 JO 53 NOT VOUCHERED OR CLASSIFIED 5,574.8) 9,459.79 195,149.97 97.21 48, 016.96 808,259.85 51,7H.39 TOT AL OPERATlON CAPITAL OUTLAY 2,742,118.8) 299,364.27 TOTAL EXPENDITURES GAME CASH FUND ),041,48).10 BONNY DAM FUND EXPENDITURES EASEMENT FUND EXPENDITURES COLORADO CONSERVATION MAGAZINE EXPENDITURES GRAND TOTAL ALL EXPENDITURES - 17- 985.70 11,550.57 14,614.9) ........ $3,068,634.30 �Balance Sheets June 30, 1953 Ganie Ca h Fund ASSETS CURR.ENT ASSETS Cash Cash on depo,it-Sute Treasurer Recei va ble1 Accounts receivable-Justices of the Peace ___ $ 3,455.81 Accounts reccivable---Licen1e Agents 122.75 Total Current Aueu OTHER ASSETS Investment in Stores Revolving Fund 250,000.00 Investment in Federal A,d Revolving Fund 500,000.00 DEFERRED EXPENSE Oeposiu in postage meter machine 1,508.34 Small tools and expendable equipment S0,461.22 PROPERTY, PLANT ANO EQUIPMENT Farm and garden equipment 72,) 81.71 General plant equipment H0,291.40 Household furniture and equipment H,778.67 Laboratory equipment 11,546.09 Library and instructional equipment 15,309.04 Motor vehicles and equipment 633,868.0J Office furniture and equipment 84,04).78 Recreation equipment I 10.00 Shop machinery and equipment D,978.05 Camping equipment 38,447.8-4 Air equipment )74.00 Remodeling, major repairs and replacement of structures 2,840.07 Buildings and structures 1,952,l)J.36 Land and non-atructural improvements to land 795,557.53 Sub-Total $),985,666.57 Equity in Federal Aid Property, Plant and equipment 47,407.0) TOTAL ASSETS $),212.967.16 ),578.56 $),216,545.72 750,000.00 51,969.56 4,0)) , 073.60 $8,051,588.88 LIABILITIES CURRENT LIABILITIES Payable, Accounts payable---landowners Accounts payable---license agents Accounts payabl-State General Fund Reserve for encumbranc~• Pay Rolls Accrued pay rolls Accrued Retirement Fund payment Withholding taxes Due to Other Funds Stores Revolving Fund Federal Aid Revolving Fund Total Current Liabilities -18 - s 16,942.)9 866.40 3,276.34 216,902.42 237,987.55 7,069.62 S.80 791.70 7,867.12 60,660.07 250,114.68 $ 311,474.75 557,329,42 �BUDGETARY AND OTHER FUND OBLIGATIONS Operating Expenses Appropriations $123,362.23 Encumbrances Capital Outlay Appropriations Encumbrances __ 93,540.19 123,362.23 123,362.23 93,540.19 93,540.19 RESERVE AND SURPLUS Reserve for working capital ----·-·--·· . 750,000.00 Unappropriated surplus _ ----------- 2,711,185.86 Surplus invested in fixed asseu _ _ _ _ . 4,033,073.60 7,494,259.46 TOTAL LIA:BILITIES .......................................................... $8,051,588.88 Federal Aid Revolving Fund ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer $ Receivables: Due from Federal Government -· $ 113,794.94 Due from Department of Game and Fish - - - · ·-···. *2 50,814.68 Unbilled advances: 105,153.03 Due from Federal Government Due from Department of Game 23,554.16 and Fish Estimated revenues on projects in process _ _ ·-··· ___ ..... Unallocated appropriated funds for 60,368.03 new projects --·---- _ -0-"" DingellJohnson Pittman• Robertso.n $ 3,829.92 117,624.86 *250,814.6 8 3,401.83 108,554.86 -548.56 23,005.60 542,374.56 241.34 $1,042,374.56 LIABILITIES Reserve for Encumbrances Equity of Game Cash Fund Appropriations available for projects in process: Total allotments _ - - $1,123,997.55 Less expenditures to date 666.333.82 $ 457,663.73 Less encumbrances outstanding 10,368.09 $ 447,295.64 Appropriations available for new projects: From anticipated revenues .$ 437,526.53 Less current project appropriations _ 390,077.00 $ 47,449.53 Add back unused balances on 12,918.50 completed projects _ 60,368.03 $ $ $ 124,892.10 40,181.27 $ 84,710. 83 17.584.00 67,126.83 27,952.09 500,000.00 514,422.47 11,137.34 10,896.00 241.34 241.34 $1.042,374.56 •• Actual cash portion of fund to be transferred as of July I, 1953. • Balance due on automotive equipment to -- _ $ 50,368.92 establish fund - - - $200,445.76 B~lance necessary to establish fund $250,814.68 ~ 19 - �Colorado Conservation Fund ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer _ $13,148 .75 LIABILITIES Accounts Payable Subscriptions paid in advance {58,163 copies (a 16 2, Jc) Surplus _ $ 250.00 9,693.83 3,2 04.92 $13,148.75 STA TEMEN T OF OPERA TIONS Year t o 6-30-53 Income Subscriptions Earned $ 18 ,069.85 Total Income $18,069.85 Expense Printing $11, 104.48 1,000.00 223 .2 0 2,2 8 7 .25 Postage Su pplies Ad vcrtising Total Expense $ 14,6 14.93 Net of Operations $ 3,4 54.92 Fishing Ease1nent Fund ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer $ 9,538.39 $ 9,538.39 LIA BILITIES Accoun ts Pa ya b!e S u rplus $ 2,176.82 7,36 1. 57 $ 9.53 8.39 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Year t o 6-30-53 Income Allocation from Game Cash Fund $20,000.00 Total Income S20,000.00 E""<pense Labor Rent Supplies & Materials Meals & Lodging $ 5,297 . 50 1,161.H 3,9 8 6.77 1 S.80 Total Expense . $10,461.61 Net of Operations $ 9,538 .39 -20 - �Stores Revolving Fund ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer ____ _ Due from other funds: Bonny Dam Revolving Fund ________ $ Game Cash Fund _______________________ _ 3.97 60,660.07" Inventories: Stores on hand _ _ __ Stores in tr-ansit 67,429.30 ' 1 S,444.82 152,592.07 $ 60,664.04 1 82,874.12 296,130.23 $ LIABILITIES $ Accounts Payable - - - __ Equity of Game Cash Fund _ _ _ _ __ 46,130.23 ' 250,000.00 $296,130.23 Note: This fund will have neither income nor expenses and, hence, no Statement of Operations. • Includes $15,840, 51 to be transferred from Game Cash F\lnd to bring fund up to the maximum of $250,000.00. b Denver Warehouse--S67,321.67; Little Hills and Grand Junction-$107.63. • Encumbrances-$32,024.27; Accounts payable $14,105.96. Bonny Dam Revolving Fund ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer __ ..... _ ... Property, plant and equipment - - - - ------·--- - $ 3 66.95 617.70 $ 984.65 $ 3.97 617.70 362.98 $ 984.65 LIABILITIES Due to Stores Revolving Fund - - - _ _ -Surplus invested in fixed assets __ _____ - - - - -- - - -Surplus ----------- - - · - - - - _ STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Year to 6-3 0-S 3 Income Boat permits ____________________ _ Rents from land 204.00 25.00 ----------- ------ - - - Total Income ·•·· - - --- $ Expenses Supplies and materials _________ - - __ Printing _______ - - - - - - - - - - - - - Motor supplies ___________ _ 341.70 14.80 3.97 $ Total Expense _ Net of Operations - 21 - 229.00 360.47 $-131.47 �Hunting and Fishing License Sales (By Calendar Years) UH 1952 NUMBER FEES Resident Fishing & Small Garne Hunt, 245,723 Resident Alien 363 Resident Deer 90,632 Resident Elk 24,3 J 7 Resident Turkey 678 Resident Antelope 1,893 Resident Trappers 1,393 Non-Resident Fishing __ 5,925 Non-Resident 5-Day Fishing 64,259 Non-Resident Bird & Small Game Hunt. _ 1,108 Non-Resident Deer --· 15,073 Non-Resident Elk 5,126 Non-Resident Trapper Duplicate Deer 6 Duplicate Elk TOT AL LICENSE R EVENUE ..... .456,517 $ NUM.BER FEES 675,805.25 998.50 657,147.75 237,293.25 3,220.50 18,930.00 J,83 1.00 57,769.25 267,398 512 90,385 16,629 280 3,627 1,5 OJ 7,418 176,720.00 83,773 230,377.00 10,804.00 599,159.50 255,022.25 l,509 19,432 3,688 5 14,712.75 772,432.75 183,481.50 l 23.75 48.75 $ 5 8.50 9.75 $2,696,769.50 9.75 496,165 $2,869,587.50 Liren se Sales: 1923-19S2 500.000 400,000 300.000 200.000 100,000 1923 1928 1938 1933 - 22 - 735,409.50 1,408.00 655,381.50 162,136. 50 1,330.75 36,270.00 4,138.00 72,327.00 1943 1948 �T HE PERSONNEL division was created in 1947 as a result of legislative action wherein a decentralization of personnel functions was set up for various state agencies. As a result of such action, the responsibility for many personnel actions, previously carried out by the Civil Service commission, was delegated to the Game and Fish department. The personnel officer organizationally reports to the director, or in his absence to the assistant director. With his staff, consisting of a clerk-stenographer and a clerk-typist, he is responsible for all recruitment, classification, certification of payrolls, maintenance of personnel and CiYil Service records. I le acts in an advisory capacity to both management and employees on all personnel problems and actions, and enforces all of the rules and regulations of the Civil Service commission. He is the liaison between the department and the commission. The problems of the personnel division are still quite numerous, although it is believed that great strides have been made during the last six years. A few of the more serious problems existing at present arc: Current Problems 1. A continual decrease in the number of certified employees. This is primarily due to the fact that for approximately two years the Civil Service commission has had insufficient funds to - 23 - maintain a staff adequate to carry on a continuous examining program. As a result eligible lists have been exhausted or allowed to expire. This in turn has necessitated numerous provisional or acting provisional appointments. 2. Lack of a classification plan wherein positions within the department would receive the same consideration as similar positions in other departments of the state. It is felt that discrimination was shown by the Civil Service commission when positions in the state patrol were up-graded and certain positions, particularly district game warden, in the department were not considered. 3. An efficient and simple method of merit rating. It is felt that the present system of rating an employee's job performance leaves too much room for a difference between raters. In other words, a new system should be devised wherein all raters would be thinking alike and we would not have a situation where one rater rates extremely tight and another is extremely lenient. This difference in rating methods-since ratings are tied to the pay plan is one of the greatest single c:iuses of mornle problems. 4. The lack of :in up-to-date promotional program. This again is a function of the Civil Service commission. The present commission has interpreted the constitution in such a manner as to practically eliminate promotional exam- �Chart of Current Organization r,,...,_,-·CLtU $T(NO 11 --, 1 CUU STENO I ltli.fStMllfot •••ttol olfiu Doc:1•1Pa.,,.11~-G.t.e,ol FUI. USOUIIC£S DIVISIOM SUt'T-fUl lESOVIICES GAMf MANAGEMENT DIVISION GAME MA.NAGER Plan,, 0,..111.In ond dir1ttt, Go1M Mo,..g.n,e..t ad Co111ro1P~_•ot::..N_•_ __ j PMu, ,ttJ0n11t1 ond d1rKt1 hr lN1111K, P,091011111 111d Pttdo!o,.,. Atil-1Co.1,.1 <-•• -~---~ DISTRICT NO 1 Dl$T fUI INS, ~'"".... D.tt ,,.,,.. Trap,..,.olld '"' N t COLO 5 E COlO DIST GAME MANAGll DIST GAME MANAGU !:;.7"r,::~ ~...°.:~ 1-------1--- l«.--.di ...,.., l«---'• ~ , ...... IHl'oh N<il k4 S w '°'"' " COLO ,io, & SU,,LY MANAGU OHICEl I ,10, & SU,,lY s"P"'"'IM"- D,o '---<--1- Mg•1 Pr114ro11111 h,c.ot11ll'Hlt1,h 1.a1on, OfFICCI 1 Ma,i1tM1110 af ond ba9 limth GAME N W COLO GAME MANAG[MENT tf l COLO MANAGEM[NT and Eq111p"'t"I o!!:~~:!~:!.':!1 ,,.,,_,. pl'Ofl'GIII 011d ltQUtS/TION o,ncra AUDIT CUlK I CUU: TYPIST I l1N1Me,,.tr••tc:t •I lou,,"''''° l"'Cor,, Go- Do~ '""tu"'9 '------ ...... 5 l COLO ,t,. ~'::11~:;:~~~,:' D~,~~~~~!i 1-----+---I od GI- 0.,-.- & SU,,LY ,.o,omcu111 DIST GAME S W COLO r I I MAl"AGtMENT l:ut(SlNTATrV( ,.,...... D"t<hGit-C...tnJ ~ ••d G.• Do-,. I p,•o, I SU,,lT "°' o,r SU,,L Y Off I 1 & PIO, & SU,,LY CU: II l ffr,,....--11,u""f W•"lllotrwl S•pphn fXP FAIM-lllOS w1Lourc TECH III O,l'ftn hp w.~ -·Mo""•,...,ct of I a11d 0p,!r •I l,rd Farm l1u11•IOf)' IKCW1h MtCHANIC -jv"7 ) MECHANICS II l:::;:-:;f:,;.:,,.,lj (qu111mr11!.....____J -o,-iicc ii1v1en UfUGE CUH II f1£LD ASS'TS STATISTICS WllDllH STATISTIClA,.. l!M l~C:Q.I Oi TAI O,U,ATOI a1u111 ~~y~=~r l~El . 1-~---< c.-,,., .... t........,.. , Stitt""-' ....... ...... ,,..,.. .... '4UISUYMAN Ill HUlSUYMAH I _. MUSCHGll _j our [ o,u , MCH CLUK fY[JPIST· JANIT()I JANITOfl ,. CLUK TYPIS' f,i.t-hc.,-dt ,-..n,a.ri.., ,..._ ...... �G I, f COM.loUSSIOH Sch "9ltutt••4 4-t...,iMI niict •"d nt11lttlo1'11 ,_,_., ..,...... OlltCTCM , ..... -,..an ....i 4"9C-h .un omcro« o~,. ,.,,.,.,,.._ 0,-,0100111 ■f ff,'t lDUC.ATOl 11 (DUO.TOI. II COH«b ... o.,c·, Ce.411Ch0rr:,'t ,,.. ...-.,t & [ ~-..ll&E ''"PUILICATIOHS £011(). Alf lDITOl STll<O ,.,,...._,.,uoll ,-Mou,_ LAW EHFOltC£MfHT DiVISION CHIEF WAlDlH FISH MAHAG[M[NT DIVISION F£0£U.L AID DIVISION AID COOIDIHATOl FISH MAHAG[l no ;~i1~"~:.:::!.'r.!~ ..,r,.•~•--- L,o-..&,ft,,c.1-111 ---~ surr -WAIIM WATH rf'iH(IU[S "•n•-d11td> Worm Woltr F,,. --~•ch ,........ ·"'''"'"''- ,.._,e-.,. Plo11t, 0t901111tio"d dfflh ,ki111, ...o•lln o"4 d"IKtl F..... Moao,••111t ,,.,,.. SUP'T--flSH $11'9~~¥!~ ProdNUlon 111116 O,u11b'!!.!!" t!.!t,.rit FISH CULTU•1m Ill !:t!'+'•.stlflf' .. DISTtlCl NO 2 WA.IO(N II S.,-rmwsOn.tnc:t W..-4cft, S..M"ac:1 D,\,lr,(1 WAADENS I C.,.dfl,C,- l,ow bfo,ce-111P,ottc1"' WAl0045 I Co11d11Ch Low (11loru"'e111 P,og,..,. W.lilOEN If w..-.., Herc:llluton• IC'tf".-gU••Ut11 D.\rnc:r flSH CULTUIUSTS II S...swnK<r T.-..t H11.:--,., ...,._. U11,r FISH CULTUllSTS I Trt1~1 Ho!CatfJ' lt1111ag U1111 FISH $tl.ld,ff f~ diet, and d,r.enn; ,..,._ ,ewnt1 cf.pt, or, tin• bnin ,tudlff. O+' ,u, MAINTrNANct & CO,,.STIUCTIOH COllldvct19""11nd _,,11-ac:eo11III c.outn,ct- DlifllCT NO , WAIDEN '1 s.,.,...... Diltnd Wl.•OEl'ISI Co"d11c1t \.111w (llf0'r.:,111en1Pro,111111 WAIDEHS I Co11d11cu '-•• (11f«(•mtal PIOf,_1111 w.~, o\u1,t,.,11 ..ono1 PATHOLOGLST OISTIICT 1'10 S WAIDEN II s...,."" o.,_,.._, O,STIICT HO S WA.lOlN II ~""""°'a O,ttrxt Wc•do, WA-.Dtti!i I Co"d'°'h u .. f..t.,u_..,,,.,.,.. w..- 01$TIICT HO ' WAJD~ II s.."""w..- Dl'ltntt WA.DENS I C..,dwcb. lo• '"'<>«:•-' ,~...- �The personnel officer is responsible for recruitment of new employees, classification of positions, certification of payrolls, etc. He acts in an advisory capacity to department executives and employees on all personnel matters, and is the department's I 1aison with the Civil Service commission inat1ons, \\ h1ch arc examinations for Jepartment positions limiteJ to qualifieJ Jeparunent employees. The commission has ma111tained that bck of funJs has made it impossible to hold hoth open and promot1onal examinations for each state department. New Pay Plan , \mong the actual accomplishments of the personnel d1nsion, the most import,tnt 1s the recent acceptance by the legislature of a completely new pay plan tor st.He sen1ce. This plan was de\elopnl by a personnel adnsory rom mntet: appomted by the lcgislaturL to study state salaries and Cini Sen ice administration and to make recom mcnJations for improvement. The per sonnel officer of the Jepartmcnt was a member of this committee. The committee does not hy any means consider its work complctcJ with the acceptance of the pay plan, but rather 1s mcettng regularly to discuss and den:lop a uniformly improved state personnel structure. ,\mong the programs being considered for possible recommendation to the Colorado Ci\ ii Sen ICC commission and the next lcg1slature arc: I .•\n impro\ed merit ratmg sptem. 2. Class1fiL,lllOn of all positions based on a comparison of similar positions 111 all departments, as provided by the "equal pay for equal work" clause of the state constitution. 3. Standardized hours of work. 4. Pay for time worked over and above the normal work week. 5. Probational period for every new employee prior to certification. 6. General recommendations for an unproved. administration of Civil ServlCC prO\ 1s1ons. As a result of the new pay plan, the a\erage monthly 111crease amounted to approximatcl) $12.50. C.-ertain pos1t1ons, including busmess manager, superin tendent of fish culture, superintendent of warm water fisheries, fish culturists Ill ( district super\'lsors ), game damage control officers and se\·eral accounting, stenographic and clerical positions were regraded with more liberal increases. This regradmg was done to level off \'arious pornions which were felt to he equal in respons1bi11ty but were not in pay. It 1s hoped that the next year will bring greater progress in personnel ad ministration, through the JOint efforts of the Personnel ,\dvisory committee, the General Assembly and the Civil Service commission. -26- �Chart of Proposed Organization GOYUNOl CHIU lUCUTIYl ...,,...hC-•1u-n. G.f.M(ANOflSH COMMISStON c.,-w.....,-1n--4 ,..., ... s...,..,oc, 011.lCTOl ...,._.., "-'"..,,....,,n..,tl tlut<n ,_,_, tf ,~ .,..,.. .......... , ,_ .. __ _, ASSISTANT OlllCTOI CONSllVATIOM IUllNCSS ADMIMISTUTIOH Plaso+IH(l DIVISION IUSIMW MAHAG[I ...........,.,._._"·"· ....._..,,...,....___. ,- ....... ......,,.i..,_... ,...... •,,H •Wl'-CI ~ s.,.._...cc_,..,.,, "'- lOUCATIOH DtVISK»I ,u.sc»•H-ill MAHAGll ... COHSUYATIOH •••ff ..,,..,.. ,~_...__,_ .__,.. ,,...~ (OUOTIOf,IOFflC.U , ........ tfoff 11'81.-CI ,,..;nnt-.. , clelwlic:1 t __ ,.,...,...,.., S.,.tfflft .. ,_..,..,,.. ..... ,.... , ,_ ,.....eHw....,,-,c-.. -,N<1-.c•tfwtl- '- I , , . ..... 11111 ..... c..fr.i,,..,.. ...... _....,_, ...,._. p,_.,4t,s,11ffM"1.ttiolel _......... ..... -- I SOUTHWEST NOlTHEAST llGIONAL ... (;.AM[ANbflSH llGK>NAl GAME AHO flSHM.AHAGU ~ ... ,,....., ..... «t..-,t. . ~-,..-·, «1..,,.... ~-~···,_ flSH CULTUlltST Ill ~,,....;4utnt.. ·'""''"' Wll0t.lf£ TECHNICIAN Ill W!LOUf( TlCHNICIAN Ill s.,..,..,,......-·, ....w s.,.,..._. •tt-·• w.U ..,.~ec-tn-11..... 1.t.-ll11err.,11n I I Is.,.n,-...-·,,~ fl$H TCCHNICIAN Ill S.,.,mMi,.......... flSH TICHHtCIAN Ill -"·'"'''"" I Ie-.--,,.....·, CONSllVATION lOUCATOl I&(,...,_ .... D4STUCT GI.MC MANAGU OtSTIICT G.\.l,,l[MANAGU ·-·""''" l,fe,.-d«t-.d-. CONSHYATIOH [DUCA.TO. K"',t°"' WAlOlNIII W,UOlNIII ~ flSH CULTUIIST Ill s.,.._.. ..,-•,.,w. I & L,,..,.._ •0..1ht1 .......... ....., ....... '4,nM WlLDllfl TCCHNICIAN Ill c.,,... ... ,.,....• s.,--,....·•......, ... ,..._,_ MANAG[l Mnefet,-,.,.,....... ,.,.,.._,.._.,.,. ,,...Kl--·•I• ,_._tmt... .. •-•dtllflftthn ............ ..... ,...ec1_ .s..,.n--...,..·.,_. ,...... flSH CULTUIIST 111 s..--...--,, ... flSH TlCHNtClAH Ill s.,.,.._,.,... .• ,... ~ DITTllCT Cai.MC MANMiU DlffilCT CAMCMAKAGU Klmt... ......",...ec-,_ ................ ~~· SOUTHfAST llCIOHAL GAME AND flSH , WAIO(N Ill WAIOCN Ill ~,............ ,...e(~ _ NOtTHWCST llGIONAl GI.Ml AMO flSH MAMA.GEi ,_tcllKIMOn .. r;;:SllVATION lOUCATOl ,,.,_, ,._ l I CONSllVATlON tOUC.ATOI c.,,,.. ..,,.,_. I. & l ,,.,,_ F(l)(lAL AID COOlDINATOl 1,Ji,"4w,Wl,l1.._.,. ~...,.,_"' ... ~~-, .. ,... "'.... MAHACU LAW lNfOIClMOff AND rut DIVI~ l(DllAL AID OIVISION P1~11efl9""1••U ....... .,.,..-1111,11 14Al(I -· ,.........l«i',"'--• t-J ,u,,,_, ....... _,._.1 ,...,__•...-n- ,._ FISH MAHAG(MENT DIVISION FISH .M,\kAGU . .Wlftl,et,_... . . . ., _ ficer,......,,....-, -- 1n•t-• GAME MA.NAGlMlNT DIVIStON GA.MC MA.MAGIi CHIErWAII.DEN.«!PT. or n•A JIEIOl.iRCU ,,.,.w....nu,lllC.Uc• I , .. ....,r-.1Affwtl,lla.r ..ti.w,..ion,_.._tlr. ��1TH THE gradual sprea<l of the W mule <leer eastward on the plains, it can now be sai<l that the entire state of Colorado is occupied big and small game range. It follows, therefore, the game management <li,·ision 's 10b is statewide in scope, and management plans must be based on consideration of the complex biological, economic an<l human values of the entire state. The growing importance of this job -from the standpoint of the human factors-is shown by the fact that in 1952, some 320,000 licenses or stamps of various types ( mostly big game licenses and combination small game and fishing licenses) were use<l for hunting. Even making a generous allowance for duplication ( many sportsmen buy more than one kin<l of hunting license), it is reasonable to assume that near a quarter of a million individuals hunt in Colorado annually. The sale of licenses used for hunting ( not counting duck stamps or combination licenses used for both hunting an<l fishing) amounted to almost two million dollars; but e\'en that figure becomes insignificant when compared to the amounts spent by the licensees for sporting goo<ls equipment, transportation, lodging, foo<l, etc. As shown in the director's remarks on page 9, these purchases a<ld up to tens of millions; and together with the business activ- ity spurred by the fish and fur resources, place wildlife among the leading industries of the state dollarwise. Personnel The game management <li\'ision consists of eight sections, together with the necessary stenographic and clerical assistance. These sections are: four district game management sections; damage appraisal and control; aerial survey; public shootrng grounds; bir<l farm; revegetation; cooperative wildlife research unit; an<l the I.B.M. section, which is devoted to compilation of statistics. The basic field organization of the game management division is represented by the four district game managers, with headquarters at achanta geous locations throughout the state. These men arc responsible for all game management functions within an assigned district, under the general supervision of the state game manager. Three game damage control officers and four assistants are also located in the various sections of the state. These men review and analyze damage claims, and take whatever measures to prevent damage that arc practical. The bir<l farm is manned by a superintendent and three assistants. In the past, the primary function has been hatching eggs and rearing birds for transplanting. Artificial production of game birds has proved impractical ex- -29 - C E HACtE �cept in establishing a breeding population in a previously barren area, and the best use tor the farm is probably as an experiment station. Two range examiners in charge of revegetation plans con duct a state-wide program ol horucultural habitat improvement for uplan<l game birds, and range rehabilita• tion for big game animals. Three pilots and two pilot observer\ make aerial surveys of wildlife, range and water conditions, take aerial phoLOgraphs, make law enforcement patrols, herd game animals to avert damage, assist in trapping antelope, plant fish and beaver by air, and provide trans portation for department personnel to the various sections of the state. During the migratory bird season, five to eight men arc employe<l to assist in the administration of the four public shooting grounds. AU the foregoing permanent personnel are trained specialists anti a<lministrators, and work \'ery closely with the law enforcement and fur divisions. In addition, the Colorado Coopcrati\·e Wildlife Research unit at Colorado A & M college, Fon Collins, is jointly under the supervision of the game management di\'ision, Colorado A & M college and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife serl'ice. The cooperatil'e research unn's particular funcuon is to train men for technical positions in game management and ecology, and to assist the department with its game problems. This unit is in charge of a leader paid by the Fish and Wildlife service, and generally ha~ four to six men working on game problems under fellowships. One-third of the cost is carried by the department, the balance by the Fish and Wildlife sen:ice, Wildlife ~lanagement Institute and the college. Status of Herds (See also table below) Dl'er and elk: These animals provide the state's finest hunting resource. Deer are now in all counties of the state; elk are in practically every mountainour county. The most serious problem conf renting big game is the lack of avail• able winter range due to encroachment of civilization; and the greatest problem facing the game management division is the problem of bringing our deer herds in balance with their winter food supply. It is the winter range shortage that makes necessary either sex, two deer, and multiple license sea sons, all designed lo increase hunter hancst. The reseeding of browse and some grass, particularly on the winter range is needed, immediately. The elk situation is different; the demand for elk hunting is increasing rapidly. As a result, we must manage our elk herds ,cry carefully and harvest no more than the annual increase. To provide adequate control over the kill, it may be wise to limit hanest to a specified number of antlered and antlerless animals from a particular area, based on populauon studies made in che field. It also may be necessary to limit the total number of elk license sales. ✓t ntelope: Heuer relationships with the landowner is our prime problem in antelope management. Since the antelope's range frequently extends into domemc li\estock range and occasionally into culuvatcd lands, many landowners feel that they should be compensated for "feeding'' the animals. Estimated Game Populations- I 9 5 2 ,:- Mule Deer 292,000 Bighorn Sheep 5,000 Elk 51,307 Antelope 11,000 B lack Bear 7,000 Turkey 12,200 · The crnmated population, nf deer, elk and .1ntclopc .irt bast·d on acnal and 11rnun<l counts. and nn kill figure,. The h1g-horn and IUrk,·y popul;uion, .ire based on lwnl c,umatc, and parual counts, and the populauon of black bc;ir i, fr.111kly an c,umalt. Mountain go,H, were released in the state ,cvcral year, ago. Jnd a kw gnzzh b('ar arc rq10rtcd in the S.in Juan range. but authenticated rcwrds arc not avaiL1blc. -30 �Various states have tried giving the landowner part of the license fee in compensation, but it has never soh·ed the problem. Education (particularly emphasizing the fact that antelope are primarily weed eaters) might help; and cooperative agreements under which the stale leases hunting privileges might keep posted lands open. Bear: The bear season should be lengthened, possibly starting in May and continuing through December. Populations are definitely increasing, as are damage complaints. A special bear license should be established. Bighorn Sheep: The first hunting season since 1885 on mountain sheep was held in 1953. One hundred and six ty-nine licenses were sold to hunters selected by drawing. The hunt was held in the belief that it might help ease a serious infestation of lung worms; overconcentration of sheep has caused re-infestation by the parasite, and it is felt that the hunting season will have a tendency to scatter the herds. Samples of lungs from sheep taken should reveal where the parasite is most damaging. Scattering should also tend to improve reproduction and distribute our sheep bands more equally throughout the state. If these aims can be accomplished, mountain sheep hunting in Colorado may become a major sport. Factors Affecting Management Area, elevation, use, and ownership of land profoundly affect big game management. About one-half of the state's area is significant big game range. A very large part of this range is occupied by sheep and cattle. ~lost of the summer range is publicly owned, the U. S. Forest service administering the largest acreage; but available winter range is about evenly divided between private interests and the federal Bureau of Land Management. Game check stations give valuable data on hunter harvest in various regions. The foregoing conditions quite understandably set the stage for varied and at times serious conflicts. Competition exists between cattle and elk, and between sheep and mule deer. Cattlemen have generally been quite active in representing livestock groups' view points, but controversy is being resolved through mutual understanding of problems important to both groups, particularly the necessity of maintaining the range in productive condition. The winter range problem is well emphasized by comparing available summer range against winter range. Most summer range is publicly owned, and there is plenty of it. On the other hand, winter range for wildlife is also winter range for livestock, both on federal and private land. Competition is direct. Forty-three per cent of the deer have inadequate winter range, and 14 per cent of the elk herds. This inadequacy of winter range, long the reason for spectacular deer die-offs ht:rt: as elsewhere, has been reduced during recent years. The chief mechanism for effecting such adjustment has been seasons which permit does to be hunted. Doe seasons and other variations are discusse<l on page 34. -31 - Policy and Techniques Game management is the product of research. Following is a list of some means used to gather information leading to sound management, together �These deer died during a recent hard winter, in spite of a plentiful supply of hay. Even in combination with food concentrates, it has been established that artificial feeding will not keep animals alive for Ion g periods. For this and other reasons, it is department policy to winter feed only under special circumstances, as described below. GEORGE D ANDREWS with a brief discussion o( applied management techniques. Census: Population determination is probably the most important managemenL responsibility associated with big game. ,\erial trend counts made over the same areas each year, to provide comparisons, have proved most effective and least cost! y, but ground counts are sometimes necessary and desirable. Sexing: Sex ratio and age-class determination arc necessary and at tunes difficult operations. To insure greater accuracy, the department now uses planes for nearly all sex and age counts. Trapping and Transplant111g: It is the pol icy of th<.: department, w h<.:n feasibk. lO build up herds and to restock suitable range through the trapping and transplanting of native wild stock. Under this system, bighorn sheep. antelope, mountain goats anJ wild turkeys h,l\'e been rclt.:ase<l on areas meeting h.tbnat requirements. Big game species are not transplaniccl to art'as unsuited to the species involved, where breeding stock is already present, or where the establ ishmcnt oi herds will be detrimental to other legiti mate prior uses of the area. Tht' indications are that moose should he intro- -32 - Juced in the state. There is little question of suitable range for moose, at least in limited amounts, but there is the possibilrty of their becoming pestiferous in the event of successful reintroduction and increase. Large herds would offer additional competition to livestock. The problem confronting the department is, therefore, one of determining ultimate value to the people of Colorado, and, in the end, to sportsmen, whose money would pay for the reintro<l uction. W11uer Feeding: 1\s was true in 01her states, Colorado at one time carried on an cxtensi,e winter feeding program. Despite feeding, 5,000 deer died in the Gunnison area during the winter of 1941-42. In Glenwood canyon, also in 1941 -42, 253 dead animals were found on one 40-acre site; the total was many more. Practically all of the animals died with iull stomachs, the food consisting of alfalfa and the concentrate known as "sheep checkers." Ft.:cding may be used to control big gamt.: movements - keeping animals away from haystacks or attracting them to available natural food. Feeding for this purpose may be used to advantage in the future to prevent, at least par- �tially, damage lO hay stacks and orchards on private holdings. Parasites and Diseases: In Colorado it has been observed that starvation and high parasitological incidence go together. In general, healthy, well-fed <leer, elk and other big game are resistant to normal parasitic infestations and seldom show ill effects from them. The department's basic policy, therefore, in combating paraSlles and diseases in big game herds is to balance numbers with range condition an<l otherwise stri\'e lo maintain general herd health. Artificial feeding senes LO concentrate deer and elk on still smaller units of winter range, thereby aggra\'ating both nutritional and parasitological difficulties. Range Surveys: The constant objective of big game management is to maintain balance between herd numbers and the range. District game managers and biologists work closely with federal agencies and landowners in range surveys prior to the setting of seasons. Thus, the opinion of all is determined and unanimous decisions usually achieved. Seasons formulated partly on this basis and partly on other management factors, such as trend in her<l numbers, herd condition and hunting pressure-the herd-range-drain concept-are meeting progressively wider approval in Colorado. Smee range management is regarded as the key to big game management, special attention is bemg gi\"en by the department to range research, for which purpose the Little Hills Range Experiment station is being de\"eloped. On this 15,000-acre range, \'arious grazing problems are under study. emphasis being gi\"en to the forage requirements of mule <leer, and to competition between this species and domestic stock. Later, elk, antelope and mountain sheep are to be studied similarly. Comparable research will be conducted on the Zimmerman range northwest of Fort Collins, and on the Tarryall sheep range southwest of Denver. Damage Problems: Tn Colorado, payment for crop or other damage caused by big game or other wildlife is gov erned by statute. Complaints, made co the department, must be appraised and settled by an arbitration board of three members--one chosen by the department, one by the claimant and the third by these two members. This board is required to make an unbiased investigation and report its recommendations co the department. If a claim for damage is allowed, reimbursement is made by check drawn on department funds. To assist in handling claims, the department carries on its staff three full-time employees who are thoroughly experienced in damage appraisal. It may be said that current high prices for agricultural products have resulted in an increase in the number of claims during the last year or two, and chat settlement has prove<l relatively difficult. lt is apparent that claims will increa~e dur111g the years immediately ahead. Damage pre\'ention, which depends on herd control, may be accomplished by several means. The most desirable is herd reduction by hunting during the regular season. \Vhere losses are acute, the department has the authority to kill animals in season or out, in which case the carcasses must be sold at public auction or given to charitable institutions. The most common form of damage is probably to haystacks and fruit trees. In such cases, stacks and trees arc fenced at department expense, authorized usually by the damage control representative. One effective means of controlling elk, particularly, is by plane, wherein the animals are hazed and often driYen many miles from the scene of damage. Check Stations: Extensive use of big game check stations has been made. These road blocks, placed at the same strategic locations each year and, when necessary, operated twenty-four hours per day, serve at least fi\·e purposes: -33- �I. To detamint· kill tro,ds. Expcrienn: has sho\\'n that the kill of either mule: <leer or elk can be <letermined five days after start of any season. Thus, seasons may be exten<le<l or dose<l as circumstances may indicate. 2. To gut her scimtific dutu on sex ratio, age classes, and weight in relation to range on \\'hich the animal was killed. 3. To detnminc cnppling loss. -t. To determi11e wsu of hunting, non resident as well as resident. 5. To 111d 111 luw e11forcemt·111. Report Card.,: Big gamt· kill is <lelermrned also through the return of car<ls h} hunters. ,\ny othc.:r ptrtincnt information dcsire<l may also he gath ere<l in tl11', wa 1. Report car<ls arc at, tached LO all big game licenst:s. Seasons and Limits In all forms of gamt: management, seasons prO\ i<lc the opportunity for harYesting surpluses of the wildlife crops pro<lucc<l, an<l limits offer control o\·er the season's har\'est. It follows, therefore, that seasons and limits represent two of the mo,t important tools of management. It is on the basis of d1.w·it1 or had management that the department achieves its highest degree of dlectneness. Each hcr<l is circumscribed to area l11111ta11om by natural harnt·rs such as mountain ranges, large area, of agn cultural lan<l or tksert. The 93 management units are based on these natural lan<l <l1Yisions, which are often watershe<ls. This principle permits ,11Ceilic management of each her<l, for which seasons and limits can be adjusted on the basis of more or kss uniform ecological conditions, as well as herd nurnhcrs and condition. Big game regulatiom in Colorado arc ma<lc by the Game and Fish commission, on the basis of recommendations submmcd by the department. Followmg a series of 25 to 30 district me<c·t ings. a state-wide, two-day game man agement mteting is held in Dem·er for - 34 the purpose of clkcting general agreement between all land-use agencies. Stockman an<l sportsman groups are consulted, and recommendations to the commission are based on agreements reached through consultation with all interested groups. Smee 19-tO, seasons on antlerless animals have been held, usually limited to specified areas, but on two occasions, statewide either sex seasons ha\'e been set. In I 952, a deer season permitting two animals per license was allowed on about one-third of the inhabited range, and hunters' choice on all re maining deer range. Tl11S 1s by far the most lil1Cral season e\ er granted 111 Colorado. In addn1on to eithe r sex, two deer and othcr seasons designed to increase hancst, the department may also use antlered only seasons, depcn<ling on the kill rcquired. Other yariations include special seasons for such species as antelope, sheep or turkey; extension and restriction of seasons; an<l postscasons and pre-seasons. Small Game and Birds Sixty-fi\e ~1Cr cent of combinauon license buyers hunt small game. Pheasants rank first, followed hy ducks, rah b11s, doves, geese, quail and turkey. Pheasant range depends on agricul tural practices. I fabitat den:lopment is needed in the entire phcasant range, particularly in the Arkamas ,alley. The migratory waterfowl population is 111creas111g at a rapid rate. More rest ing and feeding areas, as well as more public shooting grounds, should be acquired. Rabbit hunting is incrcasmg Ill popu lanty and deserves special attention to prondl· more of it. l labitat de\'elopment and trapping and transplanting will help. Dove hunting is increasing in popularity; howeYer, the bmls arc in the state a \'cry short ti me during the present open seasons, lea, ing with the first cold weather. �G E ORGE 0 . ANDREWS This I. B. M. machine provides quick and accurate correlation of population figures, kill results, and other data essential to scientific management. Turkey hunting, which is considered one of the greatest sports, has not been too popular in Colorado, although we have a very good population. A reasonably increased hunting pressure on this particular species will in no way damage our basic flocks. A one-day season was set in 1953 on all species of grouse, the first since 1945. The present population of all species can be classed as fair, and studies have revealed that a limited amount 0£ shooting is very helpful. It is believed that with further study and habitat development, Colorado can look forward to a regular, limited, open season on all species of grouse. Recommendations for Future In the past ten years, license sales for hunting have tripled. To meet the demand for this increased pressure, the following recommendations are made: The state managed public shooting areas should be increased to at least 300,000 acres in the next three years. Cooperative agreements with landowners should be obtained to allow hunting on private property. This particularly applies to the upland game and migratory bird areas, as well as antelope regions. Under this plan, large segments of land privately owned could be leased by the department, or the owner could be allowed a small fee for each hunter. Access roads into remote publiclyowned big game country should be built. An extensive revegetation program, primarily a winter range browse reseeding program if proven practical should be undertaken with the objective of 100,000 acres to be revegetated within the next few years. The habitat development program for upland game birds and animals should be greatly enlarged. And, in addition, areas surrounding reservoirs and streams should be purchased for the feeding grounds of migratory waterfowl. Finally, in order to protect the natural resources in their relationship to game, all river basin developments should receive very close scrutiny as to their advantages or disadvantages to wildlife. - 35 - ��URING the calendar year of 1952, D approximately 330,000 licensed fishermen pursued their sport in Colorado. According to the "1952 Creel Census Report" prepared joi ntly by this division and the fede ral aid division, license buyers spent three and threequarters million fishing days on lakes and streams, fished 19,400,000 hours and caught one fish for each hour. These statistics arc interesting for at least two reasons. First, they give some idea of the popularity of fishing as a means of recreation. More people actively participate in fish ing than in any other sport; and it follows char maintaining good fishing is a matter of prime importance to the stare. Second, these statistics show the tremendous dcma nd placed on our fishing waters, and by implication, suggest the scope of the job of trying to provide satisfactory returns to hundreds of thousands of creels. Fishing as an important factor in the state's economy is discussed elsewhere in this report. It is hoped that that information, in addition to what follows, will present a clear picture of the status of fish and fishing in Colorado. The goal of the fish management division is, simply, to provide good fishing. The division is organized with this goal in mind. Organization of Division The organizational chart shown on page 25 indicates the lines of authority for the entire fish management division. It will be observed that all fish cultural activities at the operational level arc segregated into two sections, trout and warm water. This di vision of activities is necessitated by recurrem earmarking of funds by each succeeding legislative session exclusively for warm water fisheries. The fish manager is directly responsible to the assistant director for all matters pertaining to the fish manag-cment division; and through him to the director. As shown on the chart, the superintendent of warm water fisheries is directly responsible to the fish manager, as is the superimendem of trout hatcheries and rearing stations. The fish pathologist is of necessity also directly under the fish manager. The construction and maintenance section and the transportation section arc also under the fish manager, although the superintendent of trout hatcheries and rearing stations has been delegated supervisory authority over operations of the transportation section. These two sections may, at any time, engage in operations for any division or senion of the entire department. Inasmuch as by for the greater portion of their activities is confined to the fish management division, jurisdiction must be held by that division. When the services of either of these - 37 - GEOllCE 0 A NDRE:W S �GEORGE. D . ANDR E WS Hatchery fish like these cannot be reared fast enough to keep pace with the demands of the growing army of anglers-roughly a third of a million in 1952. A proposed new hatchery near Rifle will help greatly. sections are required by divisions other than the fish management division, req uests are submitted to the fish manager's office. Priorities are then gwen, based upon the relati,e importance of each individual project. These priorities are determined and estahlisheJ h} mutual agreement between all supen isory and administrative pcrsonnd. District Supervisors To pro,·ide maximum efficiency in fish management operations, the state is divided roughly into four seCllons, each section having a district supervisor of fish culture. District supcn isors are responsible to the fish management administrative office for all matters within the districts which pertain to fish cultural and distribution operations. It is emphasized that frequent conferences between administrati,e personnel of the central office and the district supervisors occur. Since many management decisions in the districts are based upon the findings of fish research ( at this time operated under the fed- eral aid division), it is the responsibilny of the (ish manager to secure proper dissemination of research findings; adequate coordination of research and management activities; and compliance, \\'here possible, of all subordin:1te field personnel with the recommendations of the research section. Production unit supermtendcnts arc directly responsible to their district supen isor of fish nilture for all operations at their respccti,·e stations. ,\II matters pertaining to warm water fisheries management, that ts, production, research. distribution, and management of individual waters, arc the immediate responsibility of the superintendent of warm water fisheries. This employee 1s, of necessity, the top technician of the warm water fisheries section. Problems, Projects and Goals With the staff organization explai ne<l, a word about the actual operations of the di,ision is in order. The �GEORGE. 0 ANDREWS Trout are transported in modern fish trucks up to 150 miles for planting. The average cost of distribution in 1952 was approximately 10 cents per pound. primary objective of the fish management division 1s to exert all possible effort to insure that all streams. lakes and reservoirs within the state of Colorado which afford suitable fish habitat, and are open Lo free public fishing, are managed in such manner as to supply the best possible quality of recreational fishing. Accomplishment of this objective involves decisions as to species best suited to each water and size and numbers of fish to be planted therein. Distribution of the total available fish supply from production units is based upon several factors. These are: suitability of habitat ( water temperatures, volume of flow, frequency of pools and riffles. and food content); fishing pressure (the number of fishermen frequenting specific waters); and the economic effect of fish planting upon business establishments and industries in the area concerned. While the economic effects o( departmental activities must be considered in the compiling of annual fish planting schedules, they should never be the primary governing factor. Every effort is exerted to accomplish a fair and equitable distribution of the total fish supply, based upon the factors mentioned above. In this connection, it is emphasized that if the department succumbs to pressures and influences from groups and incli, iduals, the inevitable result is an inequitable distribution of fish. Setting Regulations Since intelligent and efficient regulations are important management tools, it is incumbent upon the fish management division to act in an advisory capacity to higher echelons of administration in the formulation of all regulations pertinent to the taking of fish of an) species for any purposes. It is emphasized that all recommendations of the division in connection with regulatory orders are based upon the findings of research personnel; on physical characteristics such as water and weather and other known factors; and on the problems of law enforcement. There are other objectives of the di,·ision. One of these is to see that e,·cry - 39 ~ �body of ""·ater m the state produces foh at its maximum pro<luctiYity. On waters open to public fohing, the 1.I..:partment's duty is obvious. The diviqon also frequently ad\'ises (arm pond owners an<l commercial lake operators on technical matters. Public Relations Responsibilities of the fish management division with respect Lo public relations are clearly recognized. All supervisory and administrative employees of the division arc under instruction LO com.ply with all reasonable information requests or other services requested by the public, so long as department policies are not violated. This is YiLally 1111pori.ant to insure un<lerstanding and acceptance of its programs on the part of the fishing public. Tnsofar as feasible, consistent with existing water laws and regulations, it is an additional responsibility of the fish management division to exert e,·ery effort to secure proper management of the water le,·els and flows in lakes and streams and rcsen-oirs in on.lcr that the waters concerned will afford the maximum amounts of suitable habitat. \i{anagcment of indi\'1dual waters m,1y include supplementation of ex1sung food contem; reduction or eradication oi un<lcs,rable fish populations; and improvement of physical characteristics which have direct effects upon suitability of the habitat. Fish Production Vital One project is basic to the entire program o( fish management. This is the pro<luction or acquisition of sufficicnt numbers of fish, of various species for planting in our waters. In this connection, fish or fish eggs of many species may be secured from sources outside of Colorado; either by outright purchase from commercial operators, exchange agreements with other states, or by cooperation with the U. S. Fish and G EORQ E" 0. >,N CREW & This installation on the Poudre river is one of 25 hatcheries and rearing units maintained by the department. Of these, 23 are used for trout only. - 10 - �GEORGE D. ANDREWS This modern laboratory, among other functions, provides facilities for diagnosing and recommending treatment for diseases threatening hatchery fish. Wildlife service. A satisfactory fish management program in Colorado would be impossible without these outside acquisitions. Estes Park Ilatchery & Rearing Unit, Estes Park Finger Rock Rearing Unit, Yampa Glenwood Springs Hatchery, Glenwood Springs La, Animas Hatchery, Las Animas La Jara Hatchery, La Jara Little Hills Rearing Unit, Meeker Monument Lake Rearing Unit, Weston North Fork Thomp,on Rearing Unit, Drake Pitkin Hatchery & Rearing Unit, Pitkin Poudre Ril'er Rearing Unit, Bellvue Rio Grande Rearing Unit, Monte Vista Rye l-latchcry and Rearing Unit, Rye Walden Ilatcherr and Rearing Unit, Walden Wray Hatchcrr, Wray Hatcheries and Rearing Units The foh production plant of the Colorado Game and Fish department consists of 25 indiYidual units. These are named and located as follows: Bel-Aire Rearing Unit, Buford Bcllvue Hatchery, Bellvue Buena Vista Hatchery, Buena Vista Cedaredge Hatchery and Rearing Unit, Cedaredge Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit, Nathrop Chipeta Rearing Unit, Hotchkiss Coaldale Rearing Unit, Coaldale Crystal R,"er Rearing Uatt, Carbondale Denver-Faden Hatchery & Rearing Unit, Dupont Dolores Rearing Unit, Dolores Durango Hatcherr & Rearing Unit, Durango Twenty-three of these stations are devoted exclusively to the hatching and/or rearing of trout. The installation at Wray, in Yuma county, is a combination unit, consisting of warm water hatching and rearing facilities and trout rearing ponds. The latter are -41- �GEORGE D ANDREWS Fish salvage crews rescue game species threatened by drouth, help in determining fish populations, and conduct rough fish removal projects where needed. Salvaged game species are planted in other suitable waters. in operauon only from Seplember LO June because of unsuitable water temperatures during the summer months. The Las Animas unit is dernle<l exclusively to the hatching an<l rearing of Yanous warm water species. 11 ,000, 000 Trout Planted During Lhe calendar year of 1952, the fish management diYision planted, in waters open to free public fishing. a total of I 0,832, 380 trout of all sizes and species. Of this number 6,708,596 wen: under 3 inches in length. The majority of these fish were fry an<l were packed to waters in the high country which are 111access1ble to our fish planting trucks. Approximately one half million of these try were planted by planes in high lakes. Some 7 I 5,700 of these trout were from 3 to 6 inches in length. These fish were planted in lakes and reser\'oirs in which the growth rate compares fa. Yorabl y to that of our rearing units. Creel size trout numbering 3,408,0(>7 -42 - were planted 111 waters \\hich are acces• sihle to motor ,·chicles. All these fish were o,·er 6 inches in length. Proceeding on the theory that the a,erage fisherman would rather catch one 8 or 9-inch trout than 2 or 3 six-inchers, the di,is1on exerts CYery effort to plant catchable trout at an average length of 8 or 9 inches. The total weight of all trout planted in 1952 was 331 ½ tons. Accord111g to the best aYa1lable computation, the av• erage cost per pound of all trout raised 111 1952 was $.94. This does not include the cost of distribution to fish ing waters. In this connection it i\ pointed out that many of these fish were transported by motor ,-chicle distances up to 150 miles. The cost of distribution was computed to be $0.096 per pound. It is particularly unphas1ze<l that the cost of production published by commercial establishments in Colorado docs not include the cost of liYe distri bution. �Warm Water Units Expand Hatchery Facilities During 1952 tht fish man.igt:ment di. vision distributed a total of 948, ~05 warm water fisht:s, of \'arious species. These included walleye pike ( pikeperch ), white bass, black ( l.1rp:mouch) bass, crappies, bluegills, channel cat• foh, bullheads and perch. In addition, 297,780 kokanee salmon were planted in Granby reservoir, c;rt:cn .Mountain resenoir, :rnd Skag• uay reservoir near Cripple Creek. One hundred thirty pounds of adult whitefish, or 520 fish, were secured from the Yampa ri\'er and transplanted ali\'e to the Upper Roaring Fork ri\'er. This was an experimental introduction into the Roaring Fork drainage. One hun dred thirty-five pounds or 2,565 gray• ling were planted in the Upper Colo-, rado River drainage in ~fiddle park. .\pproximatcly 500 tons of rough or trash fish, ( carp and suckers) were removed from warm water lakes and reservoirs during 1952 by seinmg operauons. Adult white bass were introduced in a number of warm water impound ments throughout the eastern half of Colorado during I952. The majority of the populations of this species resulted from the initial introduction of 32 adult fish into John Marcin reser\oir approximately five years ago. Draining of John ~lartin in 1952 eliminated the white bass population therein. However, a good population is now existent in Bl uc lake ( Adobe Creek reservoir) north of Las Animas, thus assuring a continued supply for transplanting to other waters which may afford suitable habitat for the species. The number of fohcrmen using Colorado waters increased approximately 40,000 in 1952, as compared to 1951. Considering the present rate of population increase an<l the increasing influx of non -residents during the fishing season, we have no reason to belie\'C that a comparable annual rate of increase will not continue. With tlm fact in mmd It 1s apparent that the fish management division must continue to expand its production facilities. It is realized that the planting of catchable trout on a "put and take" basis is not the entire answer: am! that it is costly. As a result of expanded research activities, management of fishing waters will gradually improve. I Jowcver, Lhis improvement is not an overnighl possibility. Impro\'cd management practices plus greater fish production will mainlain a reasonable quality of fishing, in spite or C\'er increasing fishing pressure. It is extremely doubtful Lhat management of individual waters will e\'er improve to the extent that planting of hatchery fish will not be necessary. In this connection 1t 1s pointed out that so long as fishermen arc willing to foot the bill, and until a bcner solution is available, planting of hatchery fish must continue. Halchery operations in general have come in for considerable criLicism in many states recently. This criticism has usually been based partially upon the high costs involved. and partially upon the publication of results of isolated over-winter sur\'ival studies on planted fish. In this connection it is emphasized that there is no "rule of thumb" by which the o,er-winter survival rate of hatchery planted fish can be deter• mined. This \'aries from water to water. It is commonly recognized by fish cultural authorities that each fishing water must be considered as a separate entity. In Colorado, for instance, we have obtained mrvirnl rates as high as 90 per cent to the scrnnJ yc.ir afler planting. It is admitted that the planting of creel size trout will produce higher returns to the creel if the fish are planted immediately preceding an<l during the fishing season; and confined to watcVi where the fishing pressure is sufficient to remove the majority of planted fish during the open sc.-ason. -43 - ��T I IE FEDER.\L AID <li"ision is responsible for the han<lling of all phases of the federal aid in fish and wildlife restoration program in Colorado. This program is aulhorizcd by two federal laws, Lhe Pittman-Robenson Act, and the D111gcll-Johnson Act: and by companion state measures which make available state tunds for match111g federal funds on a 75 per cent federal, 25 per cent state basis. The federal funds involved in this program are deri,ed from a manufacturer's excise tax upon sporting arms and ammunition and upon sport fishing tackle, and the state matching funds are from the game cash fund, which is derived principally from Lhe sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Thus, the financial support ior the program comes directly from the people it is designed to benefit, the hunters and fish ermen. Personnel The work ot the federal aid division is supen iscd by the federal aid coordinator who worb undt:r the direct supenision of the director and the as sistant director oi the Game and Fish department. The dl\·ision is organized in two m:tions, one for iish (D-J) projects and one for wildlife ( P-R) projecls. Each section is supcn·iscd by an :issistanl federal aid coor<lin:itor. In broad terms, the acti\'ities of the - 45 - C IE HAGIIE division arc determined by the federal laws, above mentioned, which designate in general the uses to wh1Ch the federal funds may be put. Brief!}, these acti,ities fall in four categories: I. Research aimed at solving problems of fish and \\ il<llife management. 2. Purchase of land or water areas that arc, or that can be made suitable for fish and / or wildlife restoration or production. 3. De,elopmcm work including building of structures or any other measures upon such lands for the purpo!>e of making tht·m more suitable for the production oi a huntable and catchable surplus oi wildlife or fish. 4. ~iaintenance of areas acquired and/ or cle,elo1)t'd. The di\'lsion has a f ull-timc permanent staff of 50 men and women which inclucles office personnel such as clerks, stenographers, and bookkeepers: refuge custodians: and an excellent group oi technically trained fish and wildlife technicians. Fieldwork is handled upon a proj ect basis with each project planned and written up in considerable detail for consideration and approval by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife scr\'ice prior to the initiation of work upon it. In most cases, personnt:I arc prO\·ided with specific 10b outlines for the work assigned and arc requ1rnl to submit written �c•• WARREN T rapping and transplanting antelope 1s a lively business, as this fine action photograph suggests, but the program has greatly increased antelope numbers. reports relati\'e to ib progress and accomplishments. Problems, Projects and Goals Two problems ha\'e plagued the d1\'ision dunng the past year. Tht· most serious of these was a lack of sufficient supernsory personnel on the co or<linat1on project stafi to properly plan and supervise the ficl<l program. The tremendous volume of paper work in,ohed in planning, sernring the necessary appro, al b) state and federal off1uals, and in carrying out a program of the magnitude and di\'ersit} of this one has utterly swamped the supen isory staff to the extent that insufficient time was available for adequate planning of the various projects or for the desired degree of iicld supen ision of the work. Another soum: of great difficulty lies in the apparently irreconcilable difference in the systems oi accounting- for fonds used by the state .ind federal gO\·· -46 ernments. Under the svstem that has been in effect 1t has bee·n impossible to determine with any degree of assurance what funds were arnilable for planning future work. Action has betn taken to alle\'iate both of the aho\'e outlined problems recently. ,\n add111onal assistant federal .11d coordinator has been placed upon the coordination project staff with the principal duty of field supen 1s1on of the going program. The reorganization of the accounting procedures of the Game and Fish department, under the direction of the accounting firm of Ernst and Ernst, promises to correct to somt· extent the need for a better system for accounting of federal aid funds. Accomplishments The following !met summary of the accomplishments of the federal ai<l Ji, ision is of ncccssitv limited to the most notcworth, item~. since urne and space arc lacking in which to report in �detail the many and varie<l works that ha,c been completed. A total of 32 projects ha,e been acti,e <luring the past year. These were dass1fie<l as follows: coordination, I: lan<l acquisition, 5: <leYclopmcnt. 8; maintenance, 8: and research, 10. A total of fiye lan<l acquisition projects invohing 4,620 acres at a total cost of $125,000.00 were initiated, in progress, or completed <luring the past year. All of this lan<l was purchased to provide range for big game animals. Tn a<l<lition to these purchases, titles were cleared, with the help of the business manager, on several purchases. Eight <le,·elopmcnt projects were in operation <luring the year. Points particularly worthy of mention in this category were the completion of Poose Creek dam in Rio Blanco county as the first Dingell-Johnson de,·clopment project in Colorado. This dam impounds a 36-acre fishing lake. Habitat Dev elopment Under the federal aid wildlife habitat <le,elopment project, W-59- D, plantings of trees aml shrubs for loo<l and cover for farm game were made. These plantings required 481,000 trees and shrubs, many of which were produced in a small nursery operated as a part of the project at Ft. Collins. The plantings aggn:gated approximately 1090 acres. Planting was <lone principally in northeastern Colorado, where the work wilt be concentrated pending the outcome of a sLU<ly designed to evaluate the effects upon the populations of game of such plantings. The study aboYe mentioned is being carried on jointly by personnel of the habitat de\'elopment project an<l of the game bir<l research project. Other research work has dealt with improvement of methods of censusing pheasants: devising better methods of trapping wild chukar partridges for transplanting to new areas: selecting suitable areas for such transplants, and experimenting with watering de\'ices which will make possible the extension of chukar range into many areas otherwise suitable for this new game bird in Colorado. Approxim:itely IOU Spanish red leggcd partridges, a species close! y related to our chukars, were imported from near .\la<lrid, Spam, through the cooperation oi the U. S. Fish and Wildlife service, the Wildlife Management institute, and a well-known Denver businessman, ~fr. George C. Cranmer. These birds were released in .southeastern Colorado. W aterfowl Research During the past year the research work upon migratory waterfowl has been reorganized with the aim of securing accurate mformation relative to the production of the various species of <lucks and geese m Colorado. The surveys are being con<lucte<l on an in tensi,·e basis, area by area, through cooperation with the CooperatiYe Wil<l lik Research unit at Colorado A & M college. The intensiYe surveys carried on with graduate students serve as the basis for setting up less intensive, but adequate surveys to be run on an annual basis, partially by use of the airplane. This will gi,·e a far hetter method of estimating game production-information essential for setting realistic hunung seasons. Big horn Problem \V 1th the onset o[ a serious outbrca k of lung worm disease among the bighorn sheep of the Tarryall herd, the technical staff of the research project dealing with this species was augmented by the assignment, pan-time, of a technician to assist the two regularly working upon the bighorn project. A great <lea! of progress has been made toward a complete understanding of the lung worm diseaS(', which knowledge is essential before any hope can be held out for successful corrective measures. It is expected that a great deal of benefit will lx· had from information to be -47- �tion, whicp 1s ga1n111;: recognition throughout the \\'est as one of the most comprchcnsi,·e of ib kind c,·er undertaken in the United St,ll<.:s. In connection \\ith the grazmg study just mcnt1onl'<l, the fcder.il :1id di, ision has added to its staff a wildlife technician trained in biological statistics. In this respect, Colorac.lo is one of the first stall's to avail ttsdt of tht' ust· of statistical science 111 the.· 111terprc.·t.11wn ' oi the data gathcrc:d on the variou, in\ estiga1ional projects. The practtce ol subjecting field data to analysis hy sla t istical methods h,1s long been ,tand ard in manv i1dds of sC1n11ifi..: ill\esti gation. but ·wildlife mc.:11 .ire only 1101\" h:.:gtnntng lO use.: tlm tool Fish Research CEOJl:G I: 0 ANDRE\'\- S At present, fish research act1v1t1es are under the federal aid coordinator. gathered rcl.itiH: to the lt:Ycl of infc<.: tion of the va rious herds by the dise.tse. as wdl as how wide-spread 11 1s in the henk \\ hen au1ops1n oi animah taken o n the hunt 1h1s foll arc completed. The hun1 made poss1hk the rnlkction of spc.Timen material on a sc.tle far broader than has hn:n possible up to tlw pres enl lillll'. Range Competition Study In\est1gat1ons art undLr\\ ,I ) 10 dc:tlr• mine.· 1-iest methods for accuratt:ly nwas uring crop damage.· Lo such crops as al ialta hay, :tlfalia ,cnl. winter wheat, etc., hy de.er and ;1n1dope. The vear just ended has seen the rn111plc1ion ol the l1ddwork of the llrst pha,c of a long range.· study of rnmpc.· 1it1on for r,1nge forage hy deer, cattle and sheep. Tim studr has h('c.·n in progress since l'J.t7 al the Came and Fish dq1artmcn1's Little I lilb Expc:rnnent st,llron nc.•;ir ;\ lcc:kcr. Sonw , en worthwhilc intormation for use ot ho.th range lin:stock raisers and big ga111e managers 1s h,:mg c,·oln·d h) thi, in,nt1ga The tish rcsc.·arch sn11on ol the tnl cr.1I aid division has dirc:dnl 11, :tlll\ i tin toward helping to soln· tht' major fish management probkrm in the slate. Thc.·se prohlems f.1ll mto the folio\\ ing 111a1or categories: (I) Tht' wise distnlnt11011 ol hatchny reared trout; ( 2) rough fish control: ( 3) rn,ironmental i111pro, c.·ment: and (-!) the mtrodurtion of fishes heller adapted to e:-rnung en' ironmc.•nt than those spnies now present. '-ip1:cific c.·x1x·riments h,,1c.· IX'c.·n umducted to detcrm111c.· tlw rt"turn to the l reel oi plants ol halt her\' reared trollt oi \·arious sizes and s1x-r1t·s pbntc.·d at different times of the \Tar. \\'ork along this lint' h,is progressed to .1 pomt "hc.-re ddinitc.· money sa\ing 11unagt·mcnt rc.·comnwndatiom have hn·n made This type of Mud) is to he continued. Experiments are under way to detn mmc the most feasible 111.11111cr ol controlling rough fish 111 trout waters, prin cipall} suckers. The work h.1, 1101 progressed far c.·nough to ohtJin condusi,c answers, hut it does app1:ar that the trapping of sp,I\\ ning migratiom may he the hcst solution. The departmc.·nt has artually done vc:rv lit1lc.· work in the form of c.•nvironllll"~tal 11111iro, cmc:nt. 1 lmwvcr. studies �Reservoir P roblem better understanding of the fish management problems encountered. This more complete background should greatly facilitate the practical approach to management. It has been recognized that the numerous large fluctllaling water level reservoirs in Colora<lo present a type of environment that is not particular! y suite<l to the trout species present in the state. In a sean:h for a more suitable game fish that would better fit this type of habitat, the kokanee salmon has been introduced. An intensive study is being made of this species in one res ervoir to determine the degree of success of the introduction prior to making more widespread distribution. In addition to the main problems and studies outlined above, a great deal of information pertinent to fish management is being gathered. Much of this information pertains 10 the study of the fishermen, fishing methods and success, and fishing pressure. Also, data is being gathered on the habitat and feeding habits of the g:ime fishes. along with other miscellaneous biological data that will pro, ide a b:ickgroun<l for a (Note: The following statement is based upon the federal funds apportioned to the state of Colorado un<ler the provisions of the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts. Federal funds allotted to the states are available for a period of two years during which time they must be obligated for expenditure upon an approved project. Any unobligated balance of a given allotment remaining at the end of the twoyear period reverts to the federal government for use by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife service. Accounting procedures in effect during the period covered by this report do not make it possible to present the status of state matching funds for the same period. However, state funds used in each of the categories presented 111 the tabulation below amounted to 1 / 3 of the federal money listed.) are now in progress to determine the feasibility of artificial fertilization of trout lakes in the alpine zone. Fina ncial Statement PITTMAN -ROBERTSON FUNDS DEBIT EXPLANATION June 30, 1952 _ Unused balances, completed Projects ·Apportionment, fiscal 195 3 __ New Projects approved: Coordination 1953 _ _ _ _ _ _ $ 17,797.50 1954_ _ _ _ __ 25,878.00 4,695.00 Lan.d Acquisition IH,625,00 Research 113,852.25 Development 6 I ,5 3 0,00 Maintenance __ June JO, J 953 CREDIT $ BALA NCE $132,950.25 69,734.29 311,023.39 152,330. 18 D INGELL-JOHNSON FUNDS DEBIT EXPLANATlON June 30, 1952 __ _ Unused balances, completed Projects Apportionment, fiscal 1953_ New Projects approved: Coordination 1953 ___ -·------ $ 7,627.50 1954 _ - - - - - 8,172.00 Land Acquisition Research _ _ - - - ___ 43,862.00 Development _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9,456.60 Maintenance June 3 O, 1953 ------- CREDIT $ BALANCE $ -o- 12,251.47 57,047.54 180.91 -49- ��of the game laws ENFORCEt-fENT is the primary work of the law enforcement division of the Game and Fish department. Under the general supervision of the chief warden, a district chief warden in each of the six districts coordinates Lhe work of the 55 district game wardens. The 35 tr:ippers and seven district fur inspectors arc regularly commissioned law enforcement officers, and are frequently assigned specifically to special law enforcement details. Thus the department has a staff of approximately 100 officers on call. Duties Varied The duties of the warden are varied, and probably not more than 50 per cent of his time can be devoted to law enforcement. The warden is charged with making recommendations pertinent to game and fish management in his district. Ile checks reports of game damage to crops, fences, hay stacks, etc., :ind (usually at night) herds animals out of fields where they are causmg damage. He gives lectures on game management and wildlife in the public schools, boy scout and 4-1 I camps, etc. As the department's best known (and frequently only) representati,e in towns throughout the state, he is the principal source of contact with the public. His liaison work with hunters, fishermen, license agents, landowners and others is an important part of the department's public relations. Vlardens wear easily identifiable uniforms of forest green, "San Fran" type hats :incl badges. V iolations and Arrests Where possible, of course, the interests of the Game and Fish department are best served by p1e11e11uo11 of violations. In I 952-'53, the warden division served this purpose by personally distributing hundreds of thousands of copies of fishing and hunting regulations to the 900 game antl fish license agents, and co thousands of individuals. In the interest of economy, regulations may be mailed to agents direct by printers in the future, but ware.lens will continue co fill shortages and provide information to individuals who request it. Arrest and conviction of game law violators is recognized as a deterrent to future violations. Apprehension of violators is commonly considered the main job of wardens, and while many other duties occupy portions of his time, the department's record of detecting ,·iolacions is satisfactory. ,\ breakdown of , iolacions is given later in this report. In recognition of the wnrden"s many duties, personnel attend one week of ins~n ice training each year at centrally located schools. At that time, they are brought up-to date on laws as well as new steps in game, fish and fur management and public relations. \Vardens an: being taught fur trapping techniques, and in the spring assist the fur -51- GEORG£ D . A NOAEWS �Summer and winter, game wardens are in the field. Above, a warden gathers information for the department's creel census study on fisherman success. Below, w,th Rabbit Ears peak in the background, a warden makes h,s rounds on skis. di\lsion during the heavy bea,er trappmg period. The majority of the wartlens have attentletl both police and F. B. I. schools, anti most h,l\·c certificates for thest. short courses. Aid to Management \\'artlens take part 111 game anti foh management hy pro, i<lmg information on population trends. brootl counts, hunting and fishing pressure, anti other data needed by the various other di,isions. \Vardens attend meetings before seasons are set, outlining their findings and conclusions, and after the seasons are established, each district chief warden submits an oudme of the work plan he will follow 111 enforcing the regulations. These plans are coordinated by the chief warden into an overall state plan. which is worked out with the co- ,I - 52 - �Breakdown of Violations Calendar Years 1951 - 1952 TYPE OF VIOLATION 1951 1952 Fishing No license 164 Over bag limit _ 148 Fishjng in nn improper manner 93 Under size 26 Fishing in closed waters 29 Trespassing Out of season __ 52 Before or after hours 22 Chumming -· 6 TotaJ Fishing CtfA1'LES STRAHL Better law enforcement is assured by a continuous in-service training school. operation o( the fish, fur, federal aid and g::ime divisions. Future Plan s During 1952-·53, the general assembly appropriated $353,195.00 for salaries, equipment and operation of the warden division. It is hoped that the division will be expanded to 60 wardens during 1954-'55. We also hope to complete the issuance to each warden o( a two-way radio which is tuned in with the State Highway Patrol department radios. \Ve now have 49 two-way radios and this has increased our efficiency a great deal. \Ve hope to also have a plane to work with the two-way radio equipped units. In this way it will save us a great deal of time in covering the primitive areas that would otherwise take considerable man power as well as time to cover. During 1952-'53, 40,i70 field contacts were made, 1,546 cases of game law violations brought to court, and $72,256.13 collected in fines. A breakdown of ,iolations for calendar years 1951 and 1952 is given below. - 142 250 38 72 15 27 ll l Small Game No license or stamp _ 71 Hunting out of season 39 Illegal possession -out of season or hens, etc. 112 Before or after hours 90 Illegal shooting -wrong type gun, etc. 64 Over daily bag limit 10 Hunting in closed area 5 Trespassing 4 Total Small game 560 540 73 30 109 80 2 11 10 411 395 Big Game No l.icense 27 Illegal possession -out of season, etc. 146 Not tagged 145 Shooting from hiway, etc. 14 Lending or borrowing license 3 0 Hunting in closed area 26 Trespassing _ 12 Night hunting 12 25 173 15 5 24 7 34 3 19 392 440 Total Violations _.1327 1411 Total Big Game 53- ��T Hr, \'i\LUl-. of Colorado's wild furs as a resource fluctuates marked Iy. The prices ol pelts of \'arious species are subject to the dictates of fashion, which several years ago started a long decline in prices of long haired furs. Mink, marten, weasel and bea\'er ha\'e fared br:tter, hut se\'eral factors ( including imports from Canada) ha\'e µready deprcss~d the bca\'tr market in recent years. (;enerally speaking, the cash rnluc of furs taken by pri\'ate trappers is around $300,000 annually. This figure (which docs not include bea \·er) has gone as high as $400,000 and as low as $70,000. It has consistently remained high enough to warrant protection of the animals inrnh·cd: and there is reason to believe that sustained yield management based on intensive research findings can greatly increase the annual har\'est. Beaver Trapping Bca\er arL now trapped largely by state trappers, as pro\'ided by :i Colorado statute. Hctween eight and nine thousand are taken annuallv. and are sold at public auction at pri;t>s r3nging from a few dollars to over $30 in recent years. The full sale price of pelts taken on public lands goes to the department: proceeds of pelts taken on pri\'ate prop • crty are split with the landowner. The landowner, incidentally, receives onehalf the gross; all costs are deducted from the department's share. -55 0£.0R(;; I!. D AN DRl[ tOS ~fanagcmt:nt of the tur resource ( in addition to other duties described below) is the direct responsibility of the fur di\'ision. The organization of the division consists of one superintendent, one stcngrapher, sncn district fur inspectors and thirty -fi"e trappers. The statt is di\'ldecl into se\'en districts with a fur msrector in charge of each distr:ct. The work plan originates with the fur mspector and is submitted to and coordinated by the superintendent. ,\s the work is so di\'ersified, it behooves the inspectors to consult with the d istrict chief wardens, district game managers, and district iish men before submitting their final work plan recommendations; howe\'er, the work of the di\·ision is g1,en first consideration. Four Major Activities The di,ision has four ma1or act1v1ties: the admimstration oi the state Bea,·er Control i\ct; management and control of all fur bearers and fur dealers; predator control; and law enforcement. The beaver control program constitutes approximately one-half oi the di\ 1s1on 's time and has for its objecti\'e the management, control, and remO\·al of nuisance beaver. Beaver are trapped and offered for sale during the period when market rnlues :ire highest. Some ~.917 were trapped in 1952. Since landowners recei,e one-half the proceeds from beaver taken from their lands, about seventy-five per cent of control �Beaver are pelted with professional care to assure top prices at auctions. Just under 9,000 beaver were trapped in 1952, and another 1,450 were transplanted. work is on private lands. Based on the assumption that one- hali of the di,ision 's time and expenditures go into the bea,er program, an idea of the.: total loss i ncu rred can be obtained. As a result, the proper amount of managc.:ment on forest and public lands has not been possible. The di\·ision is attempting to adjust the program to take care of this inequality of control and management. In the summer months the division li,e-traps nuisance bean:r anJ transplants them to areas on public and forest lanJs where previous inn·stigatiom ha\'e shown they will be of bendit rath er than gl\e trouble. trol program. The di\ is ion has cooperated wnh other agencies in the tagging of 11\e-trappcd beavers. Tagging records are kept, and when a tagged l)Ca\er is taken, 1t is possible to check the migration and other 111teresung fac tors concernmg this animal. Last year, 1,450 l-x:a\·er were transplanted. Work in the management and control of other I ur bearers consists of C\aluating the number of each species taken and the price received for same, and the coordinaung of field conditwns J)Crtaining to each species. From this information, rerommendat1ons for seasons and regulations arc submitted. It is also necessary to take control measures in cases w h·cre protected fur [)Carers have become a nuisance. The di,ision checks all fur dealers to see that they abide by regulations and keep the necessary records. Assistance and cooperation with the taggmg and keeping of Beaver Survey E\·ery other year a somewhat detailed survey of the state 1s made to determine the number of beaver pres ent in each area and drainage, as well as feed conditions. From this, it 1s possible to work out an intelligent con- 56 �data on lhe habits of various fur bearers is another division function. Predator Program The predator program <leals principally wilh bear, coyotes, and bobcats. Personnel are equipped with traps anti <logs to take care o[ bear complaints, and since the bear has been one of the main objectives in this predalor pro gram, the number and amount of damage claims have reduced materially. The coyote is well under control antl should be kept in this status. The division is well equipped with guns and traps to handle this problem. The bobcat is on the increase and is proving lo be a real predator in regard Lo small game and birds, especially turkey. A special effort is being made to reduce the numbers o[ this predator, and a large number has been removed from the wild turkey areas. Other predators, including the mountain lion, are giving very little trouble. The law enforcement part of the division's work consists of patrolling and checking al all times wherever the trapper may be. Personnel have defi01te assignments during all big game seasons and the fishing season. In some areas the trapper is the only department representative. Fish Planting Much assistance is given in the planting of fish, especially in the high back country where trappers, due to the nature of lheir work, are more familiar with the conditions contingent in successful planting operations. A S 5 1 CIATEO ,-R E && In 1952 a good pelt brought about $1 5. That's roughly half of peak year prices. h is hope<l that appropnanons will soon allow the fur division to fill existing personnel vacancies so that a full an<l expanded program can be maintained. This program, in brief, should include the following: 1. J\ more equitable program of beaver management in public and forest lan<ls 2. The establishment of experimental areas and projects in regard to beaver an<l other fur bearing animals 3. An expanded an<l better coordinated program of predator control. Cost of Beaver Operations Expenditures Beaver (One-half total divisfon expenditures) $106,693.05 Revenues: ½ .landowner pelts State pelts _ _______ Misc. castoffs, etc. _ Hides on hand Total Revenue $ 27,670.37 __ _ ___ • __ 19,542.00 1,069.69 1,148.00 $49,-H0.06 $57,262.99 TOTAL LOSS _ - 57 - ��I T IS the goal of the education div, s1on 10 increase public understand ing and support of both the broad concepts of conservation and the specific cause of sound game and fish manage ment. This objecti\'e can be attained only by providing the public with timely and accurate information on technical, economic and social factors which affect hunting and fishing. Compared to other department activities, the education-information program is new; and much remains to be done in perfecting a smooth operating procedure. Use All Media The media used by the division to acquaint the public with the facts about conservation include public appearances by department representatives; a regularly scheduled news release, supplemented by special bulletins and leaflets giving background information; distribution of posters and publications made aYailable by other conservation agencies; production of departmentmade mo\'ies, and showings of department mones along with films purchased from other sources; conservauon exhibits at fairs and other public gatherings; a photo and information sen ice, both telephone and correspondence, for answering ioqumes of the general public; a regularly scheduled radio program, plus other appearances and information on request; television films and appearances when request- ed (on a limited bam at this writing); preparation and distribution of O\'er 800,000 copies of game and fish regulations; preparation and distribution of educational pamphlets for schools, sportsmen and other interested parties; and preparation, promotion and distribution of the official department magazine, Colorado Consnvatron. The serYices for the general public listed above are supplemented by a growing in-ser\'ice training program conducted among department personnel. Both activities will be discussed in more detail later in this report. Division Organization In order to provide the quality of education and information services needed by the department, the diYision is subdivided informally into three sections. The information section includes the department's public relations specialist, who writes the weekly news release, the radio program and public notices; the library of books and current publications maintained in the Denver office; and a mail-and-telephone public information service in Denver anc.l in Grand Junction. The publications section, including- editor, an editor, photographer and stenographic personnel, prepares and distributes all departmental (as opposed to intra-divisional) publtcauons. The education section, consisting of five district educators, giYes public lectures, works with - 59 -- GEORGE D A N Of'EWS �casion. This type of p ublic relations work is done most often by the field educator, of course, but the district fish distributors and game managers, the local game wardens and central office execut1,·es also participate. , \ II the local programs are coordinated by the field educator in his district. Speakers present programs to nearly every kind of organization and group: schools, 4-H, Future Farmers of America, college classes, sportsman's clubs, anc.l farm, ranch, fraternal and church groups. For example, Director Kimball has spoken to 239 assorted groups, in various sections of the state; and the district educators have given over 616 programs in addition to their main acti\'ities of organizing consen·ation programs in schools, setting up junior conservation clubs, Laking pictures, and writi ng articles for the local and department pub1ications. GEORGE C, ,'NOREWS Department educators gave over 600 movie and lecture programs ,n 1952. schools, sportsman's clubs and other organizations, conc.lucts in-service training programs. and provides wriuen material for local newspapers anti rac.lio stations, as well as the various department publications. Television is recognizec.l as a potent tool for both information and etlucation; but was just getting started in the state durmg the perioc.l coverec.l in this report. Plans for utilizing this medium arc now being drawn up, and the departmem has already committctl itself to prO\iding !united funds anti progr,1111 material for an educational channel to be opened in Denver around January I, 1954. Field Activities Personal appearances rn, ohing talks and programs on game anc.l fish conservation are made by nearly all adminisrrati,-e and field personnel on oc- The department's news releases p ro"ide current information on conser\'ation acti\'ities for the use of newspapers, wire scr\'ices, radio sta tions and department personnel. News releases are issued weekly and carry a Thursday e\'ening release. About 2,000 copies are mailed each week during the year. Tnformation for many special articles, originated by pub!ications and free lance writers. is prO\ iclcd by the in formation section. Weekly Radio Program The weekly radio program is broadcast originally O\er K\'OD, Den,cr. Current fishing and huming reports as well as educational interviews are carried on the program. Scripts are sem weekly Lo 22 other stations in the state, who f rcquently broadcast all or pan ol th<: information. A regular mat senice illustrating the various programs of the department is furnished to 87 weekly and daily papers in Colorado. The service consists of four "Wildlife Willie" cartoon mats drawn by the department"s art editor. -60 - �GEORGE O AN DRE W & The education division's information center answers hundreds of inquiries daily during open seasons. Mail inquiries number over 20,000 annually. Help Local Newspapers In add1uon to news \\ h1ch ongmates from th<.. central office, local radio stations and newspapers arc provided with information and/ or photographs pertinent to game and fish management by the district educators. This information has been providt:d on request in the past. Howe\er, a regularly scheduled news release of local interest is now being prepared by one district educator, and will be made a part of regular educator duties if local papers respond. All such activities arc under the supn\'is10n of the publicity <lirector ( Iniorma tion W ricer III). .\ library of books has heen set up on all matters pertaining to game anti fish management. The librar} is a member of the Bibliographical Center for Research, a sort of mail order library which pro\'i<les access to thousands of books and publications on a temporar} loan basis. Literally thousan<ls of pieces of educauon anti information liu:rature were <limibute<l to the public <luring the year. These include bulletins, pam• phlcts, folders and leaflets dealing with policy anti management sent to newspapers and employees; big game, small game and fishing regulations; an<l other edurational materials, reports an<l mimeographed materiah distributed directly to the public. - 61 - Six P amphlets Published S1, pamphlets were spec1allv \Hillen, edned and d1stnbute<l b) the <li\ ision: Tools for Tet1cl11ng Co11savatro11, Fur lkurcrs of Colort1do, The Fish of Cofo . r.ido, Gum,· A11imali of Colort1do, Gt1me Birdf of Colort1do, an<l G11:de to a !Jrtter Sportsm,m's Club. The first named is 111 use as a bihliograph) for comcnation teachers. The last has proved cxtn.:mely popular in Colorado, and hundre<ls ha,e been requeste<l by other states. The other four arc now in �OEORGE D . ANOFIEWS Illustration and layout for publications are the work of the staff artist. use in school classrooms all o,er the state, and have received warm praise from professional educators. All six of the pamphlets were written by staff members of the division, and prepa red by the publications section-editor, art editor and stenographer. Colorado Conservation The publications section also publishes Colorado Conservation Magazine, the department's official publication. It is issued six times per year on a paid subscription basis ($1.00 per year) as provided by Chapter 188, Session Laws of 1951. The circulation reached a high of 21,000 in December, 1952, fell co a low of 13,057 in March, 1953, and climbed back up to 13,823 on July 1. The law provides that the magazine pay its costs out of subscription revenue; and it has done so, along with New York's, the on! y state conservation magazine that is self-supporting. A financial statement appears elsewhere in this report. ,\s an educational medium, the magazine has enjoyed considerable success. It is widely used in schools and is wide! y quoted in the state s press ( and in other conservauon and hunting and fishing magazines). Colorado Conservation is distributed free to schools, libraries and v a r i o u s conservation agencies. Several methods of subscription selling have been tried. Under an amendment to the original Act approved by the last General Assembly, hunting and fishing license agents and the Colorado Wildlife Federation, Inc., have been authorized to take subscriptions at a IO per cent commission. With one or two exceptions ( notably the Fort Morgan affiliate of the federation) this method has been a failure. Sales at game check stations (again with notable exceptions) have likewise been disappointing. The backbone of the circu lation promotion is direct mailings to license buyers. Designing, writing, printing, addressing and mailing of circulation appeals absorb a considerable share of the staff's time. Movie Produced The department photographer, beginning in the spring of 1952, has devoted an increasingly larger proportion of his time to the taking of movies. One 16 mm sound-color movie, Goin' Fishing? was photographed and released during the year. This 28 minute film-which has been shown on several television stations and before literally hundreds of other audiences- is the first sound-color movie ever made by the department. The expanding movie program, spurred in part by the great audience potential provided by television, includes plans for making four other movies. Some film has been shot for these, and scripts ( which must be completed before shooting can be finished) are in the final stages of preparation. Need Still Photos Partly as a result of the demand for movie production, the department's black and white photo file has dwin- -62- �Operation of addressing, folding and mimeographing machinery- as well as supervision of the supply room-is capably handled by a staff of two. <llc<l <luring this perio<l. Black and white photos are used by the score ( ,1\ many as 36 1x:r issue) in Colorado Co11servat1011, and in the pamphlets published by the division. Requests for photos are constantly being received from hunung and fishing magazines, free lance writers, , arious chamber of commerce groups, ,1nd local adverus mg agencies. Since these are for use in stones and advertisements about Colo rado's hunung and fishing, it 1s good public relations to meet such requests. It is becoming increasingly difficult to do so since no photographer has been assigned to this work. Besides Coin' Fuhmg? the department maintams a supply of other wildliie and conservation films purchased from other sources, for use by district educators and department executives in personal appearance public relations work. Realm of the Wild, The Her itage We Guard, The Beaver, The Web of Life, Tht Living Rarth series, and Su,mse Serenade arc the titles. 1n addition to the movies, the di, is10n began preparauon of six 35 mm educational filmstrips for different grade levels. 1\ script will accompany each filmstnp, making 1t possible for tht'. teacher to read the descnpuon of each frame in the filmstrip. The education division has answered approximately 20,000 letters of inquiry on all phases of hunting, fishing and wildlife management, as well :is inquiries regarding Colorado in general. The information center answers hundreds of calls daily during seasons, making the center one of the department's major means of public contact. Help for Schools Realizing the necessity of classroom education in any long-term program of public relations, the division has greatly expanded its conser\'ation education program. -63- �The e<lucation program in general follows the rccomrm:ncbtion oi a 1948 report on pol icie~ in con~ervation education drawn up by a committee of nationally rcrognizeJ educators: "This imol\'es primary emphasis on the training of teachers and other youth leaders. Secondary recommendations arc [or the establishment of workshops for teach ers and leader training, more effecti,e public meetings, enlisting the services of civrc and lay organizations, legislation to encourage conservation education. better ,1;1otion pictures and publi cat10ns ... In I 952-1953 the department has cooperated \\'1th teacher training programs at Colorado State College of Education, \Vestern State collegc, and other colleges and uni,ersities throughout the state by providing instruction and materials. Close cooperation with the state office of public instruction has yielJed di,idends in e~tablishing con ser,:nion education courses in junior high schools. funior consen·ation clubs h:ne been organized in those few communities in Colorado when: adult leadership has been founJ. This important program is growing with the increased cooperation from sportsmen. civic groups and educators. In-Service Training The first in-sen ice training school since 1946 was conducted at Ft. Collins during February and \larch of l 953. The school was of five weeks duration. Each field man attended for 5 1,2 <lavs. l nstrurtion on policy and procedure, for which a special manual was com piled, and other sub1ccts such as law en forct·ment, fur trapping, the meaning of research, .ind the relationships among the ,·anous diYisions were studied. ,\ field course on range management is being conducted in cooperat10n with the U. S. Forest service and the (ederal aid di\ision. ,\II personnel dealing wnh big game ;mend ycar-'round classes on - 64 the open range, studying plant identification, range ecology, and the us<: given the range by c.k-er ant! elk. By conducting these classes it 1s hoped that a uniform approach to our range problems can be effected. The education di,·ision has as its goal a well informed public on all matters of wise natural resource use, especially as it pertains to game and fish management. Need Editor, Photographer ,\dditional personnel are needed if we are to accomplish our goal. The education diYision needs an additional photographer to meet the great and legitimate demand for still photos of wildlife and wildlife management, and it needs an editorial assistant if the new and effective medium of television is to he enlisted as an ally in the continuing struggle for conservation. .\mong specific future goals are: I. Two T\' programs, one on an educational channel aimed at youth groups, and one on a commercial channel, aimed at familiarizing the adul t public with current game, fish, and natural resource activities. 2. An increased movie production program, in which 13-minute moYies will be made for showing on TV and Lo sportsmen's groups. 3. Six to eight additional pamphlets arc to be published annually, depending on personnel and time a\'ailable. 4. Additional 35 mm filmstrip series on wildlife management, to be furnished to the schools oi Colorado at cost. 5. !\lore direct cooperation with schools for teachers and for youth studies. The di\ision realizes that the future of wildlife depends upon the wise use of all renewable natural resources. The programs of the di,is1on are aimed at acquainting sportsmen, the general public, and department personnel with this fundamental conservation lesson. �I give my pledge as an American to save and faithfully to defend from my country - its soil and minerals, ,ts forests, waters, ANNUAL REPORT- FISCAL YEAR 1952-1953 � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/efdb4e3294cd91ce6363ece3c7ea8800.pdf b1c9801414a47e4a882ad588e9270138 PDF Text Text ... ·..._ STATE OF COLORADO- DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH t �.. STATE OF . I 7 .. COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF GAME: AND FISH t 530 SHEAMAN STA£1:T DENVER 3 , COLORADO T HOM AS L K 1MBALL ltlCt C V T IVE OI R:l!:C:TOR • October 5, 1954 The Honorable Dan Thornton Governor of Colorado State Capitol Building Denver, Colorado Dear Governor Thornton: Transmitted herewith you will find the annual report of the operations of the Colorado Game.and Fish department for the fiscal year July 1, 1953 to June 30 , 1954. This report contains a summary of the problems and projects undertaken by the Department in the fulfillment of its charge of managing and extending the State's wildlife resource. A detailed accounting of receipts and expenditures is also respectfully submitted. Very truly yours , Director �ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 1953-1954 CONTENTS Coloradn's Wildl,f,. Re,ource ) Business Administration O,vision 6 Personnel Division IS Game Management Division 18 Fish ·M anagement Di,· 1110n H fedora! Aid Division 32 Law Enforcement Oivuion 39 Fur Resources Div s1on 41 Education Division -14 Game and Fish Commission July 1, 1953 GOVERNOR DAN THORNTON, fa Officio Denver, District 1 Dr. Harold Watson, Preside11t Richard G. Lyttle V,re Presidc11t Earl H. Mullins, Secretary Clair Hotchkiss Henry Lai:ue John McClelland Harley Rhoades H. A. Roberts Meeker, District 8 Pagosa Springs, District 6 Hotchkiss, District 7 Monte Vista, District S Rocky Ford, District -I Burlington, District 3 Boulder, District 2 Note: Dr. Harold Watson died March 21 , 19S4, and Glen B. Clark of Denver was appointed by Governor Thornton to fill the vacancy. Shortly after Dr. Watson's duth, new officers were elected as follows: Richard G. Lyttle, Pre11dent; Earl H. Mullins, Vice President; H. A , Roberts, Secreury Game and Fish Department Staff THOMAS L. KIMBALL, Dirutor JOHN D . HART, AuistaHt Director Busineu Manager Chief Game Warden Fish Manager Game :\tanager Fur :\tanager Education \1.anager Federal Aid Coordinator PubBc Relations Guy V . Melvin William F. Hunn R. M, Andrew• Gilbert N. Hunter A. Dean Coleman C. D. Tolman L. E. Riordan Earl McCain --2- �Report of Director and Assistant Director T HE COLORADO GAME AND FISH commission and department employees are charged by law with the responsibility of maintaining for posterity the state's wildlife resources. This, in effect, means the department is not only charged with the management of the state's game resource but also with the protection of all wild animals, birds, fis h and amphibians, which include the song and insectivorous birds, as well as predatory animals. T his responsibil ity implies also that if hu nting seasons must be curtailed, seasons and bag limits shortened or hu nti ng completely prohibited in order to preserve a particular wildlife resource for our children and our children's children, such action is in compliance with this charge by law. While the department represents the photographer, the outdoor enthmiast, the camper and the hiker, as well as the hunter and fishe rman, it is the in<liYidual resident or non-resident citizen who finances the entire department's operations by buying a license which permits him to take the game and fish. Hunter Success Hig h Theo, er-all status of the state's game animals can be reported as fayorable during the period coYered by this report. Hunter success, which is the criterion used by most of the sporting public as an indication of game conditions. remains at the same high leYel as in 1xe,·ious years-or, if anything, -3 - has alkanced even higher during the past years' hunting seasons. Fish production was up both in pounds of trout and warm-water species stocked through our hatcheries and reari ng stations, as well as the numbers and pounds that found their way into the fishermen's creels. Fur Income Drops The fu r resource of the state, especially bea,·er, showed a marked decrease in value, principally because of the sagging fur market. Steps arc being taken to make a complete inventory of the state's beaver population, particularly on public lands, for the express purpose of providing information for developing a satisfactory management program designed for maintaining a fu r resource in balance with the food supply. This balance, of course, will provide continuing fur, which can be readily converted into cash rnlues by the individual trappers, as well as providing a means of producing additional fishing habitat and environment in the high country. We like to think within the department that most of the license-buying public are good sportsmen. The everincreasmg number of game and fish law violations and the seriousness of the offenses committed, however, leaves some doubt in the minds of official representatives as to whether or not there is actually such a large percentage who can be called "good sportsmen." �IL appears Lhat more pcrsom .trc fish ing and hunting ouL of season and more are exceeding bag and possession limits than ever before. Such a rise in Aagranr violation of law indicates a serious lack of understanding by the general sport• ing public of the over-all needs of conservation. Most sportsmen do not realize that the law violator in their midst is a thief, and should be treated accordingly. He should be reported to the nearest conservation officer, game wan.Jen or deputy shcri!T. A , iolation affects the hunting and fishing success of all license buyers. and good sportsmen should stand ready and willing to sign complaints and tcsnfy in court that law ,·iolators ha,c actually comm1ttecl an oflense. More Education Our educational program is being stepped up within the department but 1s in need of further expansion. Tele , is1on and radio arc being utilized to the iullcst extent allowed hy budget limitaLions in order to lmng to the sportsmen of the state the full meaning of \\'hat the wildlife resource means to them, as well as to give direct. scientific information upon which rules. rcgulatiom and seasons are based. \Ve arc more conunced than c:,er ,,nhin the department dial th: well 111formed sportsman 1s the one who understands fully the problems 111vol\'ed in the management of the wildlife re~ource. Only a small percentage of tlw licc:nse buyers of our state belong to sportsmen's organizations, and the large percentage who are not 1nterested enough to belong to such an organizauon are the: ones we hope to reach through an 111tcnsified educational program. \\'c arc hop111g that all license buyers ,, ill show su!Tincnt interest 111 the wildlife of our state to become affilinLcd with ~on1e organized sportsmen\ group and thereby take an act1,·c interest 111 the affairs oi the Game an<l Fish <le partmenl and wildlife management. There are many serious problems which confront the future of wildlife within the confines of our stale. During the past two years we have experienced an increase of 75,000 fishing license buyers. This increase in two years comprises more licensed fishermen than lishecl in the entire state some 30 years ago. With the advent of more and more fishermen, the value of private fishing waters rises. More and more lakes an<l streams located on private land are becoming inaccessible to the average sportsman. The department is [aced with less and less fishing water aYail,tble to free public fishing. and a terrific increase in the number of fishing liceme buyers. Considerable: opposition has deYelopc:d to the department's acquisition of waters for free public fishing. Rcmm·al of such lands from the tax rolls is one of Lhe prnnary reasons for such opposiuon. Yet if the departmenL makes no effort to pro,ide public fishing waters, it is criticized exceed111gly by tht t·Yer 111creasing army of fishermen who expc:ct to find accessible waters to fish 111 when they buy their Iicense. ,\nothcr dilemma in which the de partrnent finds itself is the problem oi ,ubsidizing 1ts fi,h production and dis mbuuon facdiues. \Ve expend in the neighborhood of a quarter-million dollars more annually than we take in for the production and distribuuon of fish. \Vith more and more fishermen each vt:ar. we arc forced to further suh;id 11,e unless the fishing license structure is brought mto such a position that the fishermen will pay for the benefits derived from our fish production fac1ln1es. Clarify Game Laws The slate gamt code, which was first c:nactcd 111 J 877 ha, been amended. alLered and changed over the succeed111g years to the extent that 1t is virtually impossible: Lo fully understand the meaning of the law. There is a definite need for a complete re-wriLing of the game code, with clarifications of anv -4- �C. A. MOSER This peaceful scene of an elk herd would be a sight for sore eyes to many a big game hunter. The elk ,s probably the most sought after game animal conflicting statutes and rhe insertion o( many needed changes which will strengthen the ability of the department to properly manage the wildlife re• source. The game damage statute is in need of revision to provide for court review of claims which are believed to be outright fraudulent by conscientious department employees. Under the present law, the state does not have access to its own courts for such purposes. Revise Beaver Law The beaver law is in need of re, ision. The management of the beaver resource is being subsidized by other department license revenue because the law does not permit the state to authorize the private trapping of beaver. A change in the law which would permit private trapping is needed to adequately cover the thousands of square miles of high altitude bea,·er country which is in need of more intense management. , \dditional forage is badly needed to winter a number of our big game herds throughout the stale. Submarginal lands, which are not suitable for intense agricultural practices, can and should be acquired and developed to provide winter forage for game. During heavy winter snows, a good portion of some of our deer and elk herds are lost through malnutrition, disease and starvation. Intense damage to haystacks and other agricultural crops is also evident during periods of heavy snowfall. Providing adequate forage for winter herds is the most pressing problem with which the department is confronted in the management of our big game species. All in all, the past year has shown a tendency for the game and fish resource to hold up rather well in spite of intense hunting and fishing pressures by increased license buyers. Changes in the game and fish l:iws are very much needed if satisfactory progress in the field of fish and game management is to be attained. -5- �Business Administration T I IE (,.\:\IE ,\'\/0 FIS! I depart mem expenenceJ a phenomenal 1nrnm1: growth which reacheJ a peak July 31, 1953, when annual gross income reacheJ approximately $3.-135,000. The gross income for the year en<ling July 31, ll/'H. howen·r, dropped 3.2 per cent. 1n the past, one of the prnalent prem1,es was that as long as the popuLnion inc reas1:d th1: re,enue of the ( ,ame and Fish department woulJ increase. The population of Colora<lo. for the past year. shows a sizeable increase, yu the re\t:nu1: of this department has decrc1sed 3.2 per cent. Since this i, LOlltrary to 1:stablished prem1st:s, there must l~· a definite cause for the decrea,c. This is the major <lecn.:ase 111 revenue and can onlv be attribute<.! to one factor -that of ~stpon111g the big game season at th1: last m111ute the last two se;1sons. Another factor which cause<l a <lecrease in re,enue 1s the receipts from the sale of beaver pelts which is Jown o,er $49,000. This can he attribute<.! to two factors: (I) the low price for beaver pelts, an<l ( 2) the poor l]Uality of pelts being trapped. The Jepartment has bet:n aware for some time that revenue from th1: sale oi fishing licenses is not sufficient to rarry out the fish program in operalion to<lay. The total re,enue recei,ed from the sale ot fishing licenses 111clud ing the comb111ation small game hunt 111g an<l fishing license lor the year rndmg June 30, 1954, was $1,282.512. The total expenditures for the fish d1,·is1on for the year ending June 30, 1954. amounts to $ l,288J44.98. .\ssuming that 50 per cent of the revenue from the combination small game hunting and fishing lic1:nse was from bml hunters an<l small game hunters, the total re,enue from the fish division is reduce<l to about $831,948 which means the <lepartment 1s subsi<lizmg the fish rearing program from other revenu1:s in the amount of about $450,000 per year. Most Sales Up .\nalyz111g the larger means of re,·rnue , we tind the sale of resident tishing a nd small game licenses up 8.4 pt:r cent; non-re,ident fishing licenses up 20.6 per LTnt; non-resident 5 day fishing lice1rn:s up 12 4 p,·r ct"nl, and rt"sHlcnL deer l1ccmn up 3.(, per l·enl. These statistics seem to confirm tht· vali<lnv of the aho,c pn:m1sc . Sales oi resident elk I1censes were down . 3 per cent which 1s somewhat irrele,·ant. Sales oi non resident deer licenses were down 19.'i per cent and non-resi<lent elk license s;tlt-s were <lown 14.4 per cent. The decrease in re,enue from non resident deer and elk license sales amounts to $178,620. Rifle Falls Unit Construcuon of the Rifle Falls hatch ery an<l rearing unit will increase the cost of operation of the fish division -6 - �and undoubtedly in the future the department will be subsidizing the fish program in excess of one-half million dollars. From a business management standpoint, this is a Yery unsound practice and should be corrected in the very near future. The department is considering increasing the fee for the combination fishing and small game hunting license and selling separate licenses, one for hunting small game, and one for fishing. Each of the separate licenses would be about the same price as the present combination license. It now appears that legislation along these lines will be necessary during the next session of the legislature if this department is to remain in a good financial postion and carry out the increased p_rogram as scheduled by the fish division. Since the publication of the last an nual report, the business administration division has completed its new systems and procedures. It has compiled an accounting manual outlining in detail the above mentioned systems and procedures. The accounting division is now operating smoothly and maintaining better records and controls than ever before in the history of the Game and Fish department. Smooth System The system now pro\·ides adequate records for absolute control of all expenditures for the department and also proYides adequate reports for the successful operation by management. Some consideration has been given to installing additional office machines to accomplish further efficiencies and some decision will be reached in this regard in the very near future. The department in recent years has been in a very enviable position financially. The cash balance of the department on July 1, 1954, was approxi mately $3,000,000, with an anticipated revenue of approximately $3,000,000 under the current year. This makes approximately $6,000,000 arnilable. The department work program this year amounts to approximately $3.250,000 with special bills amounting to approximately $500,000 which would reduce the cash balance of the department to approximately $2,250,000 at the end of this fiscal year. This, by no means, should be considered alarming, but it 10d1cates that if the department is to continue its present program, it will definitely be in need of additional revenues in the very near future. Hunting and Fishing License Sales (By Calendar Years) 1952 Number 1953 Fees 267,398 $735,409.50 Resident Fishing & Small Game Hunt. 512 1,408.00 Resident Alien 90,385 655,381.50 Resident Deer 16,629 162,136.50 Resident Elk Resident Mtn. Sheep 1,330.75 280 Resident Turkey 36,270.00 3,627 Resident Antelope 1,503 4,138.00 Resident Trappers 7,418 72,327.00 Non-resident Fishing 83,773 230,377.00 Non-resident 5-day 1,509 14,712.75 Non-resident Bird & Small Game ••. 772,432.75 .... ..............., .. 19,432 Non-resident Deer 3,688 183,481.50 Non-resident Elk ... 5 123.75 Non-resident Trappers .................................. .. __ .._____ . 48.75 5 Duplicate Deer 9.75 Duplicate Elk 496,165 $2,869,587.50 TOTAL LICENSE REVENUE ..................... .. ____ - 7- Number 281,700 448 93,740 16,185 169 653 3,454 1,187 8,509 93,722 1,319 15,678 3,215 2 Fees ;774,748.00 1,232.75 679,639.00 157,818.75 4,225.00 3,104.25 34,540.00 3,268.50 82,963.75 257,736.50 12,862.00 623,207.75 159,948.50 19.50 519,981 $2,795,314.25 �Statement of Receipts Biennium July L 1952. lo June 30. I 951 Per Cent Increase or Fiscal Year 1952-1953 a, of June 30, 1953 Resident Fur Dealers .$ Guide Licenses Resident Fishing and Small Gome Resident Alien Fishing Non-Resident Fishing Non-Resident 5-Doy Fishing Non-Resident Bird and Small Game Resident Deer Resident Elk Non-Resident Dee r Non-Resident Elk Resident Turkey Resident Trapper Non-Resident Trapper Resident Antelope Mountain Sheep Duplicate Licenses I mporters lake Licenses Preserve licenses Refuge Permits Seining Permits Storage Permits Toxidermish Transportation Permits Dog Trainers Field Trials Scientific Permits Importation Permits Bird Park Licenses Q uadruped Pork Licenses Non-Resident Fur Dealers Transfer Fees Sales- Hides (Except Beaveri Soles Livestock Sales- Supplies and Materials Soles Hides (Beave r) Stale Soles Sales- Equipment Rents From Land Fines and Convictions Refunds of Expenditures Overage- Agents Reports Total Game Cash Less: Commission on License Soles Net Game Cash - 00 102.50 - 01,522.10 68.25 72.97 398.50 1,725.00 901 , 128.00 1,272.00 94,530.00 285,612.00 13,320.00 703,050.00 161 ,860.00 627,120.00 160,750.00 3,265.00 3,408.00 50.00 34,540.00 4,225.00 20.00 250.00 1,3B6.00 229.00 18.25 105.00 8.00 235.00 540.00 -0 65.70 23.50 63.00 7 .00 423.00 260.00 51.00 8.00 1, 456.04 78.00 4,748.08 26,116.06 75,767.31 0 310.00 43,689.61 16,388.87 0 13,911.45 38,509.80 170.00 321.00 39,697.28 1,581.53 247.45 .$3,204,714.67 $3,100,666.58 4.00 Specimen Permits Landowners and Pri vate 635.00 1,735.00 831,141.00 1,638.00 78,390.00 254,148.00 14,750.00 678,810.00 166,880.00 778,640.00 187,850.00 1,430.00 4,815.00 125.00 36,270.00 - 060.00 282.00 1,888.00 101.00 6.50 85.00 22.00 215.00 668.00 30.00 10.00 14.50 34.00 Fiscal Year 1953-1954 as of June 30, 1954 $ 125,799.25 134,218.00 $3,078,915.42 $2,966,448.58 8- (Decrease) Fiscal year 53-54 Over Fiscal Year 52-53 .084 (.224) .206 .124 (.096) .036 (.003) (. 195) (.144) 1.283 (.292 ) (.600) (.048) (.043) (.467) (.492) (.091 ) (3.2) 7. (3.7) �State m e nt of Ex p e nditur es July L 1953- Jtme ~O, ]954 8 A To tal C General Administration - 0Commissioners .... Director •••••••••n•••••••••• ··········$ 12,616.00 10,720.00 Assistont Di rector 4,515.48 2,642.55 2,547.49 $ $ 23,336.00 9,705.52 $ $ - 02,689.74 1,859.07 $ 4,515.48 17,948.29 15,126.56 4,548.81 $ 37,590.33 $ 21 ,556.35 $ 51 ,509.99 1,364.55 969.90 1,779.19 787.11 21.58 2,265.38 21.40 - 051 ,050.98 47,502.25 22,266.89 31 ,258.49 21 ,115.53 9,962.21 29,479.37 13,478.26 3,201.86 71, 418.14 $ Business Management 10,643.95 42,370.13 17,016.99 27,857.26 16, 110.00 8,591 .50 9,359.08 12,715.53 - 0- 0- $ 19,309.69 3,767.57 4,280.00 1,622.04 4,218.42 1,349.13 17,854.91 741.33 3,201 .86 20,367.16 $144,664.44 $ 76,712.11 ...$ 63, 131.27 7,977.19 $ 39,653 .75 8,048.74 $ 71 ,108.46 $ 47,702.49 .... ....$ 65,272.21 Administration 1,825.00 Evergreen ··········· ........... 8,435.00 Game Bird Farm ... $ 40,232.18 ... $ Business Manager ....... Account ing ······-·· license and Revenue Property and Supply Garage ····-·············· Warehouse ........... Office Maint. and Ope r ....... Personnel ............. Beechcraft .......................... Federal Aid Automoti ve ...... $ 79,816.44 $301 ,192.99 Conservation- Education Education ............. Radio and News ... $ 7,644.32 1, 166.54 $110,429.34 17,192.47 $ 8,810.86 $127,621.81 Gome M anagement - 0- 0- 017,896.07 14.11 6,049.78 373.00 239.51 413.69 40,740.1 5 10,314.51 - 049. 36 1,147.80 - 0246.41 4,272.85 $115,818.90 1,839.11 14,534.14 1,520.80 239.51 660.10 62,909.07 $ 93,428.28 $ 88,062.42 $ 16,030.93 $197,521.63 7,742.81 $ 22,016.56 -010,091.17 6,802.99 4,744.35 5,345.41 6,360.71 7,328.41 4,292.77 57,869.53 48,663.00 50,318.69 43,563.03 67,317.74 58,524.85 $ 48,415.85 $352,566.17 483.11 2,-460.30 2,780.63 2,603.98 2,023.31 1,293 .53 1,090.83 1,100.00 $ 14,420.35 29,620.88 21 ,533.03 26,905.73 28,577.84 24,043.49 40,321.06 14,984.42 $ 13,835.69 $200,-406.80 Little Hills ·······••· .. Tarryall .. Trappe rs lake .... Game Damage Control $ Low Enforcement De nver Office .... ····••··•······$ Assistant Chief District I ........................ District II . ····················•-······ District Ill ··············District IV Di<lrict V ··········· .. .. District VI ..-· 8,938.70 3,990.00 38,190.61 34,727.27 35,789.00 29,614.00 45,965.60 40,926.00 $ $238, 141.18 5,335.05 302.77 9,587.75 7,132.74 9,785.34 8,603.62 14,991.43 10,270.44 $ 66,009.14 $ Fur Resource Denver District District District District District District District Office I ........$ II ········••········-··•· ····· Ill ............ ····-··· IV ···········•··••·······• V ............................ VI ......................... VI A ····-·················· 8,703.00 21 ,002.75 14,335.00 18,266.00 21 ,841 .00 18,243.05 32,174.63 11 ,487.00 $146,052.43 $ 5,234.24 6,157.83 4,417.40 6,035.75 4,713.53 4,506.91 7,055.60 2,397.-42 $ 40,518.68 -9- $ �Statement of Ca,..h Expenditure.,.. Fish Management A s Administration Pathology Tronsportotion Const. Moint. Bellvue Hatchery Beloire Ponds ..... Bueno Visto Hatchery Cedaredge Hatchery Hovilond loke Cholk Cliffs Chipeto Ponds Bonny Dom Cooldole Ponds Crystal River Denver Hatchery Dolores Ponds Durango Hotchery Estes Pork Finger Rock Glenwood Springs Las Animas .. Meso loke lo Joro Leadville Little Hills Monument Loke North Fork Thompson Pitkin Rifle Creek Foll, Poudre Rearing Un,t Rio Gronde Ponds 33,872.99 4,332.00 8,637.00 9,270.50 8,950.90 17,252.56 5,788.00 9,182.33 11,116.00 8,907.55 7,599.00 16,308.02 84.62 24,049.40 85.00 0 12,600.00 6,347.00 7,539.00 5,119.00 9,701.06 16,458.40 1,760.17 8,102 .75 15,069.00 9,542.29 6,631.79 6,382.00 12,580.85 00 0 350.63 Rye Wolden Wray Fish Research Muddy Creek Trappers loke Twin Lokes Parvin Reservoir 19,789.03 1,060.38 10,397.09 10,696.75 0 10,853.00 14,948.00 215.00 3,336.00 14,767.00 27,060.76 9,430.51 15,323.63 10,643.14 9,025 75 6,881.00 $332,064.97 s 1.68 838.55 28,369.68 39,936.56 18,654.97 19,014.87 15,259.40 17,432.00 15,856.38 0 3.59 15,217.37 5,095.08 6,311.64 6,217.66 15,879.34 29,038.47 6,347 17 19,971.93 14,519.08 15,525.17 11,741.52 9,732.36 7,837.76 0 3.54 0 813.06 $454,910.26 B Stole's Share to Retirement Totol S 76,009.41 22,347.39 27.32 2,8n.94 13,189.63 110.75 483.50 1,470.45 104.00 0 5,419.70 21,912.03 31,411.03 28,060.06 15,453.83 21,494.00 24,011.02 84.62 39,952.90 34,285.35 216.68 4,174.55 43,136.68 67,370.91 28,242.62 34,496.76 28,958.79 26,477.03 23,242.42 85.00 5,050.50 19,309.55 A 27.80 00 0- 373 59 157 14 158 26 3,056.25 19 28 50504 -00 1,475.47 0(33.07) 549 28 4,005 63 3,409 49 80,625 00 154 47 420 78 37 93 4,944 18 (280.09) 5,274 78 79200 0 460.00 184 18 $151,978.87 3.59 29,292.84 11 ,442.08 13,817.57 11,885 94 29,586.03 48,906.36 88,732.34 28,229.15 30,008.86 25,105.39 23,317.49 15,834.27 25,693.39 792.00 3.54 460.00 1,347.87 $938,954.10 C Total $ Workmen's Compensation Ins. Beaver Reimbursements Co-operative Fish Co-operative Gome Trout Culture Station Worm Water Fish-Administration Worm Woter Fish Capitol Contingent Funds Predatory Animal Control Pittman-Robertson Matching Fund Dingell-Johnson Matching Fund Refunds of Income C B s NOT CLASSIFIED BY TYPE OF EXPENDITURE 50,546.04 8,000.00 18,108.93 8,993.67 5,975.13 136,782.20 74,243.02 129,371.99 462.18 43,217.51 149,202.27 13,453.62 214.66 $2,794,425.05 JO- �Balance Sheets June 30, 195-1 Game Cash Fund ASSETS Current Assets Cash $2,992,576.48 Cash on deposit-Stale Treasurer ..... Receivables Accounts Receivable- Justices of the Peace .............. .. Accounts Receivable- License Agent, . . ..........•.••.. Accounts Receivable- Miscellaneous .... . ................ . $ 500.05 3,024.35 87.88 3,612.28 Due from Other Funds Stores Revolving Fund .. . ............... .............................. .....$ Federal Aid Revolving Fund ..... ........................................... Totol Current Assets ................................................ . 688.70 34,596.89 35,285.59 $3,031,474.35 Other Assets Investmenl in Stores Revolving Fund......... Investment In Federal Aid Revolving Fund $ 250,000.00 500,000.00 750,000.00 1,436.62 73,099.07 74,535.69 Deferred Expenses Deposits in postage meter machine ..... . .................. .. ..$ Small tools and expendable equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Farm and gorden equipment........ S 72,883.26 361 ,967.49 General plant equipment ............. Household furniture and equipment............................. 29,321.58 14,208.30 laboratory equipment ...................... .. .. ..................... .. 23,523.63 Library and instructional equipment Motor vehicles ond equipment ....... . ............................ . 781 ,994.48 95,735.76 Office furniture and equipment ....... . Recreation equipment ..................... . .. . ................... 202.70 26,525.31 Shop mochinery and equipment ........... . 43,563.55 Comping equipment .......................................................... 371 .00 Air equipment .......... ....................................... . 5 565.77 Remodeling, mojor repairs and replocement of structures Building ond structures ................................. 1,336,588.04 604,068.99 land ond non-structural improvements to land ............ .. - 0- Betterment orders in process ......................................... $3,396,519.86 Equity in Federal Aid property, plont ond equipment ............ ... S 264,963.78 $3,661 ,483.64 Budgetary and Other Fund Resources Estimated revenues .... . $3,097,675.00 . .............. Revenues- cash items ................ Revenues- non•cash items .$3,005,015.24· 56,737.87· 3,061 ,753.11 35,921 .89 TOT AL ASSETS ........................ ... . .. ............ . ........ .. . .....$7,553,415.57 Current Liabilities LIABILITIES Payables Account> Poyoble- Londowners ..... Accounts Poyable- License Agents Accounts Poyoble-Stote General Fund $ Reserve for Encumbrances 9,341 .47 576.45 2,259.01 657,452.14 S 669,629.07 10,797.27 36.03 1, 170.00 46.36 12,049.66 Pay Rolls $ Accrued Pay Rolls ...... Accrued Retirement Fund Payment Withholding Taxes ..... ... Other Poy Roll Deductions Due to Othe r Funds Stores Revolving Fund ....... •··•·•.. $ Federal Aid Revolving Fund Colorado Conservation Fund Total Current Liabilities - 11 - 46,497.02 7, 230.99 27.00 $ 53,755.01 S 735,433.74 �Budgetary and Other Fund Obligations Appropriations,--Current Year Penonal Services ..... . Maintenonce ond Operations .. Copltal Outlay ... Special Funds ···-•· $1,083,636.00 965,696.12 331,083.00 .. 1,500,979.41 $3,881,394.53 4,900.85 143,131.68 88,126.00 44,683.07 280,841.60 Carry-Over from Prior Years •.. $ Personol SerYices ... Maintenance and Operotions Capital Outlay ...... . Special Funds .......... . 4, 162,236.13 Expenditures-Cash Items .$2,361,879.59 · 660,152.31 • Operoting Expense Capital Outlay ........ . $3,022,031.90* Expe nditures-Non-Cash Items Operating Expense Capital Outley .. $ 135,755.52* 1,065.58* $ 134,689.94* 88, 109.56* 569,342.58 $ 657,452.14* Encumbrances $ Operoting Expense Copital Outlay $3,814,173.98* Reserves and Surplus $ Reserve for Working Capitol Unappropriated Surplus Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets 750,000.00 2,058,436.04 3,661,483.64 6,469,919.68 $7,553,415.57 TOTAL LIABILITIES . Federal Aid RevoJ-ving Fund ASSETS $ Cash on deposit-Stole Treasurer Receivables: Due from Federal Government Due from Game Cosh Fund Unbilled Advances Due from Federal Government Due from Game Cash Fund Property, Plant and Equipment PittmanRobertson ....$ 40,281.01 7,001.95 DingellJohnson $ 5,493.95 229.04 32,218.09 10,739.33 12,560.30 4,186.76 217,440.74 147,390.22 45,774.96 7,230.99 44,778.39 14,926.09 794,891.34 494,053.64 Estimated Revenues on Projects in Process Unallocated Appropriated FundsNew Projects 422,425.32 .$1,824,080.73 TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES $ Reserve for Encumbrances . $ 20,882.14 Dingell• Johnson $ 13,714.75 920,657.00 437,486.77 483,170.23 10,027.81 473,142.42 82,983.00 72,099.59 10,883.41 - 010,883.41 303,740.74 86,300.00 217,440.74 0217,440.74 147,390.22 - 0147,390.22 - 0147,390.22 Pittman- Robertson Due to Game Cash Fund Due lo Stores Revolving Fund Equity of Game Cash Fund ··--· Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets Appropriations Available- 10,027.81 34,596.89 538.86 500,000.00 794,891.34 Projects in Process: Total Allotments Less: Expenditures to Dote Sub-Total .. Less: Encumbrances Outstanding Net: Appropriations Available Appropriations Available- New Projects: From Anticipated Revenues Less: Current Project Appropriations Sub-Total Add: Unused Balances an Completed Projects Net: Appropriations Available TOTAL LIABILITIES and SURPLUS *Indicates Red Figures. - 12 -- 484,025.83 $1,824,080.73 �SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT FEDERAL AID REVOLVING FUND Farm and garden equipment ..... ..... ........ ···-·············$ 13,756.42 General plant equipment .................................•....................... -····· 16,444.89 Household furniture and equipment ..... ·-·· -··· 6,782.39 laboratory equipment ··············-··········· ....... _ ····-···· -·· • 1,323.99 library and instructional equipment .... ................ ...... .. ........... .. ... ·- ··-··-········· 2,315.57 Motor vehicles and equipment ......... . .... .......... ...... ·-· ···········•-··· 26,982.87 Office furniture and equipment ....................... ··-·- .. .................. 11,526.31 Recreation equipment ....... ................................. .....................• •..•..•..•....••... 42.00 Shop machinery and equipment ........................................ ......... _ ..•..............•............... 2,625.92 Camping equipment .............. ••·•··············-······················ .......................... _ ............ 8,217.60 Air equipment ..... .......... ............................ .. ....... ...... 88.25 Remodeling, major repairs and replacement al structures ........... •••• ••...••...•..•••... • .. .. 4,765.68 Buildings and structures ...... .. ............. ......................... 321,712.41 land and non.structural improvements to land ......... ... ... .. ........... ... 643,270.82 TOTAL, PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (100%) ......... $1,059,855.12 Distribution Game Cash Fund-25% ................................................••..............•.................... $ 264,963.78 Federal Aid Revolving Fund- 75% ........... ............................................................ 794,891.34 $1,059,855.12 Note: At the time expenditures are made far items of a "capital outlay" nature, they are charged to project accounts on the Federal Aid Revolving Fund accounts. They are later billed 25% to the Department of Game and Fish and 75% to the Federal Government. Thus, when a project is completed and payment is received in the above proportions, the project is closed, leaving no record of property, plant and equipment items. So the above memorandum accounts hove been set up to keep a record thereof because, while the Federal Government's manual says the properties actually belong to the Department al Game and Fish, their use is re• stricted to Federal Aid projects only. Thus, any property to be used exclusively on Depart• ment projects must be purchased from Federal Aid at the current book values. Colorado Conservation Fund Assets Cash on deposit- State Treasurer ........................ Due from other funds-Game Cash Fund ........ . ... ..$15,756.11 27.00 $15,783.11 Liabilities Accounts Payable .. ..... .................. ..... _........................................ $ 500.00 Subscriptions paid in advance ...................................................................................... 12,731.62 Surplus ........... . .......................... ... ............................................ 2,551.49 $15,783.11 Statement of Operations Income Subscriptions Earned Total Income .................................................... .. ... .............. ..................... . Yea r•lo•Date June 30, 1954 ..... $16, 192.06 ...... $16, 192.06 Expe nse Printin9 $14,570.60 1,760.00 35.89 $16,366.49 ... Postage Supplies .. Total Expense ..................................... ·······- Net of Operations ............................... ................... ..... . .. .. $ 174.43* Fishing Easement Fund Assets Cash an deposit- Stale Treasurer Property, Plant and Equipment ... S 8,793.88 723.48 $ 9,517.36 •Indicates Red Figure. -13- �Liobilities $ 2,251.52 723.48 6,542.36 $ 9,517.36 Accounts Poyoble Surplus Invested in Fixed As,eh Surplus Stotement of Operotions Year-ta-Dale June 30, 1954 $10,461.61 $10,461.61 Income Tronsferred from Game Cosh Total Income Expense Freight & Express Recording Supplies & Moterials $ 55.32 2.50 10,059.84 240.00 125.00 $10,482.66 Repairing & Servicing Property Rents Totol Expense 21.05* .$ Net of Operotions St1>rl'.~ H.1•, oh ing Fund Assets $143,036.52 Cosh on deposit State Treasurer Due from other funds Bonny Dam Revolving Fund Game Cash Fund Federol Aid Revolving Fund $ 7.42 46,497.02 551.09 47,055.53 Inventories: $ Stores on hand Stores in transit 69,301.25 16,725.97 86,027.22 $276,119.27 Liobilities I Vendors I Gome Cash Accounts Payoble Equity of Gome Cash Fund $ 25,603.57 fund 515.70 250,000.00 $276,119.27 Note: This fund will have neither income nor expenses and, hence, no Statement of Operations. Bonn) Dam Re, olvin~ Fund Assets $ 691.33 1,650.08 $2,341.41 Cash on deposit-State Treasurer Property, pion! and equipment Liobilities Accounts Payable Due to Stores Revolving Fund Surplus invested in fixed ossels Surplus Statement of Operotions Income Boat permits Soles from farm products Rents from land Tota I Income Expenses Supplies and materiols Motor Fuel & Oil Repairing & Servicing Property $ 347.55 7.42 1,650.08 336.36 $2,341.41 Year-to-Dote June 30, 1954 $ 599.00 1,334.00 726.82 $2,659.82 164.95 20.87 110.68 72.73 94125 $1,310.48 $ Printing Woge, of Laborers Totol Expense .... $1,349.34 Net of Operotions *Indicate, Red Fiaures. - 14 �A CTI VITI ES of the personnel di\'in_ sion during the year just passed were definitely not of a routine nature. Of course, many of the 361 actions initiated and completed were of the everyday type-such as new appointments, abolishments of old and creation of new positions, transfers and resignations. The preponderance of time, however, was spent in the development of the new wildlife conservation officer position. It was decided by the administrative h.:ads of the department that e\'Cr) effort should be made to combine the duties of wardens, trappers, and game damage control officers into a new position of higher salary and smaller districts for which higher qualifications could be demanded. As a result, many hours were spent in the preparation of specifications for the new position. Duties and responsi bilities, minimum qualifications, and special skills and abilities were included. New Classification Upon completion of the groundwork, the material was submitted to the Civil Service commission for classification. The result was the creation of the new field position, wildlife conservation officer, grade 9, at $300-$383 per month. The qualifications for the position are "a degree in wildlife management or a closely allied subject, or four years of qualifying experience in the wildlife field; applicant must be in excellent health and between the ages of 21 and 40." Other accomplishments included the preparation and review of 23 technician positions resulting in reclassification and upgrading, plus some 8-10 clerical, accounting, auditing and stenographic positions. The personnel ofTicer has continued to serve on a legislative appointed committee for the improvement of Civil Service. To date, lmle, if anything. concrete has been developed outside of the new pay plan. It is hoped, however, that by the joint efforts and cooperation of this committee and the Civil Service commission, many suggested changes can be adopted which will greatly impro,·e the Ci,il Service Administration. Face Problems Many of the problems facing the personnel officer during the previous year carried over to the year just passed and few, if any, were corrected. It is hoped, however, that through the efforts and cooperation of all concerned, considerable improvement can he brought about during the present year. ,\ few problems yet to be dealt with are: I. The number of certified employees continues to decrease because of an inadequate stalT under the Civil Service commission which makes it impossible for them to set up an examining program adequate to maintain eligible lists for the many positions in the state from which new employees might be drawn. -15- �3. An annual cl:issification review of the many positions in the state service cannot be conducted. This is due, agam, to an inadequate appropriation to the Civil Service commission resulting in too small a staff to accomplish the job. In order to maintain a proper ,\s of June I, 195-l, the depanment was comprised oi 231 certified employees, 53 acting provisional employees and 6-l pro\'isional employees. 2. A more efficient method of merit rating is needed. It is still felt by many of the personnel officers of the state that the present system of merit rating is definitely a subjecti\'e rating. In many cases a rating is based strictly on the granting or denymg of an annual i11uea,c.:. It i, felt that an objective type ratmg must be de\'cloped and introduced which assures a rating of job periormance, and not whether or not an employee is to get a raise:. L PWONNR DfVWOH ...",.__. ..........__ t DS(IHMR MAHAGll - Neat.....---44--h Cllo:~nNO II , l•f--- 0.-,.,_ ~..c.:-~ CUIIII( SUMO ,c.1.-1-c..<111 ,....~~,, ·••'•' t.i,,:1 •••.~... Chart of Organization Jun~ 30, 1954 IUSIN[SS ADMINl)Ul,TI0N IUSINISS MANAGU GAME MA.NAGlM[Nf 01Vl510H GAME MANAGU, ''-"I, _,.u,ul ••· .,,e,ct, c..MIi-,•-· c..- c.., ...1 , •. ,......... DISTUCf NO 2 . DIST JUI IP~~, ;s.,,,_,.,1,H D,•I tr.."'°'"•"d ! ......... hr TU.,,U~ N ( COLO [;;,... , _. .""' ,. . .r."'"'1 O+H GAME su, llCfNS( lfVENU[ OH1CU IV ""AN,t,G[I S.Mn•on t),.1 ........ .,..,por,. . . .,,.,_ ... s...,.,......... . l,.•ft•• ••d •e.•ft• r,. ,........ c.o,... - Mf..., '""..... =~~~-:~~io•• j ,.,.,\ w... ~- '""' n,r"'"'"" n'\,L•-' '"'e•u " ......., cl•,h' I Ci.,\ ,,,.,, I OH,u t,.,14,•• r-iiof, ,-ri;,,LY OHICll 111 PIO, 6 \U,,LY OfJICll 1 ,.o, & \U,,LY OHtCU I MOl•lt-0"4:11., ,~. .............,0.,., o.-,,h.,,,_.,, l••n'"''"'' ••4 ,.OP & \U,,LY Olf , I ,.OP & \U,,lf o,,';-'~i;~~,} """' ..... ,.., fs " ' " 0-,.i -.'.!:.... °'' ' PIO, & \U"l Y CU II S ( COlO 6• ... f OA•,H•GE lt<t"'"1 """'' w.,,.i..,.wS..,,tw, ...... """"''. . ."<'' . , ~-~ CONTIOL OHICE• 0.....:hC..-C..,t,-1 ,.......... p,,-... .... c.. ... IHUGI (UST II flUO A\\1"\ ~flO"I 0HKU AltDtT CUii( I CllU:: TYPIST I ,,.-.,,__ ··-·• -"' M<I-•...·~· ., l_!_M l!r_l')lDS .... ht Of'OATOI kl'!' ''-'"-(N <>'l• o_. _ _.tlM ..,_ 1 CLO( II Me,......,oc,Clf ....... S.ln h••f'M"' l NUUUTMAN Ill NUISUYMAN I ~- 1..,.. l,s.,.4,_, ' ACCOUNT .,_ �GOVUNOl A,_.;,attGal'Mlf.f~ classification plan it is agreed that each position should be audited at least once a year to keep pace with the changes in duties and responsibilities which might affect the classification. Many positions in the state and department ha,·e not been re,iewed for two or three years. C.-11t•n- I Gol JCOJr,Uo!tSSlo+I rh,..con"44c1-,n in ... ,.,...._, 011u,rot leoll. .......,n. ••, ,.,_,, -.c,_ _,,..._.,,., I I m-r 01uaoi .,...,_,.,_.., : In closing, it is ielt that although much work has been done and many improvements made in the fiel<l of personnel administration m the Game and Fish department and the state sen ice, much still remains to be done . O'IIUttM4u,,t,.11 COHStl'tATIO,. lOUCATIOH Dt.,.~IOH lOUCATOl Ill PlaJOJ. _,.,.,,.... •al flfKh Dort,'b , 1, 1 • ..,1111.. s.c,.K"' r,......, rDIJCATOll tDUCATOA ti C•d11ttt 0.,1 l"IO"ol I & [ ,,.,,.., [OUCA.TOl 11 C...411CO lk1t1 ,...,... 1,,0011011& ( PUILICIT"f INFO-Winu Ill PI01111Hddll't<h 11o•tpi1pc-rHd rodlo Pl'OINlll'I (OUCATCM II lDUCATOl 11 Co11d.-h 0..,-1 Ae,._il 1 & E P111ro111 C00od19C'Ti 0.-p'I lDUCATOl II C011dvc110tp'1 lq-ll&f ,"11... IC'9.-11&[ Pta,fNIIII PUIUCATIONS £DITOl AlT EDITOl STENO P1tp0tn-t-d,t1 011 tubllcoi1o11, CLUIC Ill 11£Cf'110NIST Co11d"'d-ou..,1,, •114 1,l•pho11• i11fo. i.1-.-ico UD!UL AID OIYISION 1ED AID COOID!t-lATOI ..•~!:~rr.;~::,:."! ,......_ ... ~~~ .. ...... ,,., ~ptfr/Wl,. ,,..,.. c..-•""..:" LAW l"'fOICIM[NT DIVISION , ...., ......autt . . . ,llfC,tt1 ,.,., . .,.....,,. ••d 11-r, Lo.- lof•rc■--■ I PT91f'O"' CHIU WAJD[N F,.Jr. M,1109c....-•I ,,_.,.... "' .ASH flD A10 COOIO nSH MANAGU,i(N'T 01Yl510/'<I flSH MA.MAGEi FISH CULTUllST Ill SUPT-WAJM ,...,..,_' ""4 D-tu,t...,_,,_,...,. S..iwn-1.T..,,, WA.TU. Ft5H1tllS Plo-"lfecHWoWa1vf'1J,._dr .ac1,aH111c.t- - ,... ·~· s...,..,_..,.... .., CUlTUlfill 111 .............. FISK TECHS 111 01\111(1 NO I DISTIICT NC 1 WAlDfN 11 s.,-,~,.u D>i,,,ct s.,,,...."" 0'1111'(1 W111ik•1 W,UOlN 11 w.,,.~ li11<lo_,_ lcwrffOf U••ho■ c-o•doc:til-.,\ D,unc-1 Pr.tN,11 WAID[N5 I c.o.4..chlo.. bt,,u--,,,..,.. F15tfT£C.HS ll FISH CULT\JtrSn II SuHn-T••.rt C.0..dtKtl ,.,. lcwc.•c~ Ptai«I Ho"""" 01 ltllUl"'I u.,, FISH TECHS I A:U4Hlft...,,lo" Fr11' lt-Moteir ,,o,ect FISH CUI.TUIISTS I AUttll 10 -..urli II ""'"' Hotc•~rt ... OISTtlCT N .& WAID[N Ii Su,-nf\ftDrUnCI Wo,k•, WAIDE.NS I (.,.flllCh Lo.. hf1M1:fMl■tPrG911JIII hoftftfllfr•• DISTllCT NO 6 lHUGl CUSTODIANS '81111 M11,111,...11r•11I A. .,...,. --e.,. '"' MAINTENANC( ~ CONSTRUCTION C...d.aclllt<rtNII rt1ao111u,a,,,u and ron1uuc1,,,. WA.OEN II 511Pt1~~ Dnt,,cf Wo11l1•i WAl0£NS I C.ftdllCII Low bht•n..,,..1P"'9t0.. AUO,LANL ,aLOTSo n,..., .,., ~...tu•o1>u1I At1-i,l1"ft OISUVUS C.-dvc.1 4'••1 !~~-~~~WJLDl,.IJ( ~-.. \"TATISTICIA.M CLUI 111 Sttt-.tc•I l•,-rt, 1 �Game Management I(, c;.\~11·, HV,Tll\:C, in Colorado 1, on{ of the greatest resources in the state and contributes a great deal to the income of the department. In the last few years, however, there has been a definite trend to curtail this resource. For example, n cry year more land is being reclaimed by farmers and ranchers. Generallv. this is the land in the river bottoms ·which constitutes a great portJOn oi the w111ter range for hoth deer and cl k. In addition, many acres are being reseeded; and thousands ol acres of browse arc being sprayed \\'ith a chemical to kill sage brush. Browse constitutes approximately 95 per ct·nc of deer food, and a loss of this prt·scnt food supply can mean only one dung a n:du,tiun of the deer herds. There 1s also a tendency on the p.irt of 111,,n) ranchers to close large sections of the ,tatt· to hunting. '\aturally such dosing builds up a beavy dct:r concentr,1twn. \Vithout any hunting, natllre ,, ill han: to take its course and remo\'!: thne deer 111 her only known way,,inter loss due to lack oi ,t\'ailable food ,upply. t'h1s rnnd11ion not only applie, to Ing g,111K. hut is also being felt 111 re l.11wn to pheasants and quail. For namplc. 111 northeastern Colorado. which former!) was one of the best pheasant areas in the statt·, and possibly ,ttll 1s, dean farming is being pracuced. As a result, little or no cover is ldt ior pheasants. The same applies to quail. Sportsmen may say, "\\'ell, plant more pheasants and possibly quail." B This could be done. Ho,,·e,er. if pheasanb and quail have no shelter or food they surc:ly cannot exist. It 1s hoped that Colorado will nol be forced to take the stand that some eastern states now take to please their hunters. That 1s, release the birds a few days before season, and then the planted birds are bagged by the hunters. This is not natural, and ll 1s hoped through an education program stressing the fact that food and co\'er are needed for all a111mals, such a program can be de feated. Coopera tion Possible It 1s ,·ery possible that a cooperative agn.:ement can be worked out \\'ith many of the farmers ,,here111 they will agree to bl\e a cntain portmn of their la nd II\ co,er suitable for our upland game birds. ,\reas such as these would tend to increase the Colorado pheasant population. Regarding migratory birds, there is an ever increasing tendency on the pan of many sportsmen to acquire pri\'ate lakes and ponds. This reduces th<.: hunting area ior the general public. .\n cf. fort should he made throughout tht· state to acquire a grc:at many morl' public shooting areas. Colorado has, generally, a \'ery good duck and goose population. In fact, we are wintering many more ducks and geesl' than we did some twenty years ago. Howe,er, under present conditions, a very small per cent of our hunung population 1s recei, ing the full benefit of this great r<:sourcc. -18- �Generally speaking, all types of seasons in Colorado during 1953 might be classed as satisfactory. In certain seasons, however, a definite decline was noted. For example, the big game season, particularly on deer and elk, was a fair season. The deer kill was 72,375 a nimals, which compares to an average deer kill for a 6-year period of 70,558. This was not true of elk. The average elk kill for the 6•year period was 7,496, but in the 1953 season only 5,299 elk were harvested. During the 1953 season there were only 2,475 validations allowed for tak. ing of antlerless elk. Such limitation naturally would reduce the kill for 1953. Bea r Kill Low The bear kill was well below the 6-year average. This condition can be attributed to the fact that at the time the season opened in 1953 it was late and the state generally had experienced quite a substantial snowfall. This drove the bear into hibernation and the re• duced kill resulted. The 1953 antelope season was very successful. In fact two seasons were held, one in January of 1953, and the other during the fall months. The hunters, during the antelope seasons, killed 4,456 animals, with a success ratio of 90 per cent . . The first bighorn sheep season in 50 years was held in 1953, and some 58 bighorn sheep hunters were successsful in bagging their ram. The success ratio was approximately 34.5 per cent, as 169 hunters entered the field to hunt bighorn rams. Relative to the small game seasons, only 80,249 pheasants were bagged, as compared to 137,426 in 1952. This re• duction in the pheasant kill can be directly attributed to the warm and dry weather which existed in November of 1953. The duck kill of 1953 in Colorado was approximately 29 per cent under 1952; while the goose kill showed only 4 per cent under 1952. Quail season was about normal, in the northeast section of the state, however, the hunting of bob.white quail was quite successful, and many more hunters are entering this sport in Colorado. The dove kill in 1953 was 61,962, compared to 76,002 in 1952. This de• dine can again be attributed to Wt'ather since approximately four days after the dove season opened there was a cold snap, which drove the doves on south. The first grouse season was held since 1945, and although very few hunters took advantage of this particular sport, those who entered the field were very successful, and 2,341 sage grouse were bagged, 86 sharptai1, and 1,018 blue grouse. Cottontail rabbit season showed a sharp decline from 1952, and this again can be attributed to the type of weather which existed during our l 953 season. It was warm and dry, and not conducive to the hunting of cottontail rabbits. 19 5 3 Seasons Fair The seasons of 1953 can only be classified as fair. The contributing fac. tor, however, to cause the decline over previous years, was the "bluebird" weather which existed through the fall and well into the winter of 1953. The game management division is responsible for all the game manage• ment functions within the state of Colorado, and is under the general supervision of the state game manager. The staff organization within the game management division consists of eight sections, together with the necessary stenographic and clerical assistance. These sections are the four district game management sections, supervised by four district game managers; the damage appraisal and control section, consisting of seven men located in various sections of the state; the aerial survey section, comprising four pilots and one observer. Public shooting grounds fall under the direct supervision of the district game manager, but durmg the particular seasons, 10 to 12 men police these areas and enforce regulations. Three men are assigned to the bird farm located at Colorado Springs, and two men -19- �CE:ORCE 0. ANDREWS Because of a severe winter, these deer were forced to extend thei r range into agricultural lands in search of a sufficient supply of winter browse are assigne<l to the browse re\'egctation program. In revegetating any area, the work is generaII y done by a con tractor u n<ler the supervision of the project leader in charge o[ the rcvegetation program. The Cooperative Wildlife Research unit locate<l at Colorado .\ & ~I college. is a cooperative section work111g \'ery closely with the game management division. And finally. four persons arc employed in tht IBM sccuon. This particular sec tion is <lernted to the rnmpilntion of statistics. Operation The four district game manager~. 111 cooperation with the other divisions of the (;ame and Fish depanment, were successful in rccommend111g a fair to satisfactory series of seasons for I 954. . \II deer, elk, sheep. and antelope ranges have been surveyed and mapped, showing the dcnsny oi the various animals in the statt:. Managemull plans lor the four game mana1;ement <listricts in the state an; approximately 50 per cent complete at this date. These particular plans cover all -20 species w11hi11 the district anti their relationship to the economic structure of the particular region. The game control section, with se,·en employees, carried on a full-scale program throughout the year. The winter of 1953-54 was extremely mild, and ,-cr) few hay damage claims were received . This condition enabled the personnel to construct and stockpile an adequate reserve of haystack fencing. Twenty stock piles are maintained throughout the state, and the fence is distributed to ranchers as the need arises . .\n 111,entOI") system for protective fencing was put in operation on July I, 19'>3, and all fence is now carried on the inventory <livis1on books. Complaints and damage claims arising from <leer grning alfalfa fields during the spring of 1954 were nUJnerous. This was brought about by the serious drought which forced the animals into the migatt:d fields. Night herding and repellant spray aide<l in breaking up concentrations and reduc111g <lamage. �The volume of bear damage complaints during the spring and early summer was also abo\'e normal. This, too, was due to the drought which reduced the amount of natural food available and forced the bear to prey on domestic li\'estock. A control program, using dog packs and traps, was put in operation to remove stock-killing bears and dri\'e others from the stock ranges. Aerial Activities Statewide aerial activities are conducted by five men. Three pilots, who are called upon to do many types of flying both on the plains and in the high mountains; and two pilot-observers, who assist in the planning of flights and record and report data obtained through the use of aircraft. During the past year approximately 1,400 hours were flown. Nearly 50 per cent of this time was spent in obtaining counts of elk, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, and upland game and waterfowl. Executive transport, which included many flights over the state for surveys and spot checks in specific areas by executive officers, utilized 20 per cent of the flight time. Many Uses The remaining 30 per cent of time was spent in many highly diversified types of activity. These included law enforcement, hunting and fishrng pressure checks, antelope trapping, antelope hazing for damage control, beaver and stream survey, fish and frog planting, photography, fire patrol, "show me'' flights, and search and rescue. The ,·ersatility of the airplane cannot be over-emphasize<l. Many types of work can be done much faster and more efficiently from the air than from the ground. The following work was completed by the range rehabilitation section: In the Gunnison Pilot area, a total of 11 dams were completed in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management. The completion of this work finishes the work committed by the PAUL Heavy snows mean hard work for these deer as they search for winter forage Game and Fish department in the rnitial Pilot area work p)an. Twenty-eight rolls of snow fence were erected on Quartz creek ridge, and eight seed plots for bitterbrush and four-wing salt bush were established behind the fence. A total of ·BS four-wing salt bush seedlrngs, and 326 bitterbrush plants were planted on the Quartz creek ridge; 461 four-wing seedlings, and 542 bitterbrush seedlings were planted on the lower contours of Quartz ridge; and 383 four-wing seedlings, and 114 bitterbrush seedlings were planted in the competition plot east of the Woods Gulch road. A total of 983 four-wing seedlings, and 1,786 bitterbrush seedlings were planted in the Woods gulch area. One-thousand four wing and bitter brush seedlings were planted in controlled plots at East Elk creek. Sufficient four-wing and bitterbrush seed was collected to allow initial field plantings at Gunnison, for the nurseries, and for seed treatment tests by the federal aid division. The nursery at Douglas Mountain was prepared and planted to four browse species. -21- GILB!: �The airplane is used extensively by the game management div1s1on for game populat ion counts, and in cooperation with the law enforcement division A new nursery of three acres was built at De\·il creek at the turkey ranch. It was cleared and prepared for irr iga tion and planting. Approximately thret: to fi\'e thousand four-wing salt bush, bitterbrush and mountain mahogan) seedlings ha\'e been established at this nurserv. \\'o;king in cooperation with the federal aid division, 15 impoundment structures were built at Little Ilills experiment station. Wire was purchased and land was cleared for the construction of three miles of fence bet ween state p ropeny and publtc lands. Game Herds Healthy Generally, with the exception of bighorn sheep, the big game herds in Colo rado are in good to excellent conditton. During the past two years, Colorado has experienced very mild winters. As a result, there has been practically litdc or no winter loss; and in the case of deer, if a doe bore two young, she was 111 such rnndition that she could carr) tlmn through the year. Generally this 1s not possible when the does are in poor condnion because of a severe wmtcr. In other words, the survival rate: of deer 1s far above normal. The same applies to elk and antelope. In the case ol bighorn sheep this is not so. ,\ serious loss was experienced during 1952 and I 953 in the bighorn herds due to an infewon of lungworm which resulted in a serious die-off from verminous pneumonia. It ts estimated that the famous Tarryall herd lost better than two-thirds of the: sheep that 111hah1ted this region. This situation was called to the attention of the public in 19-15. Due to pressure. however, the Colorado Game and Fish commission was unable at that wnc to establish a season on this particular animal. It was only due to the intestinal fortitude of the Colorado Game an<l Fish commission that the Depanment was success[ul in holding a season in 1953. -22- �:Much valuable information was de rived from this season, and it was found that only one area out of the eighteen opened in 1953 did not have infection of lungworm in the sheep bands. It was also found that the sheep were far from tame, and could not be slaughtered easily. Only 34.5 per cent of the bighorn sheep hunters were successful in bagging their rams. High Success Ratio Generally, Colorado has one of the highest success ratios in the United States on mule deer, and the success ratio of elk hunters compares very favorably with those of other western states. Tn the case of antelope, Colorado is also one of the highest in the nation. Colorado offers the small game hunter a very diversified sport, due to the fact that he can hunt practically every type of waterfowl. In addition, he has pheasant, bobwhite quail, scaled quail, dove, sage, grouse, sharptail, blue grouse, ptarmigan, cotton tail rabbit, ~nowshoe rabbit, and jackrabbit hunting. Colorado must look to the future, and in order to sustain our large herds and Rocks, definite steps must be taken. These steps should include the purchase of a great deal more vital winter range for our big game animals; the development of public shooting grounds; the development or acquisition of additional lands for the protection and survival of our various bird Rocks. · The following table shows the kill of all types of game animals legally harvested in Colorado, as well as license sales, for the period from 1948 to I 953. BIG GAME LICENSE SALES & KILL-1948-1953 Year Deer License Sales 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 89,132 87,113 96,565 I 05,562 108,863 109,109 . Year Antelope License Sales Kill 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 2,396 1,893 2,125 4,954 169 Kill 66,676 71,219 65,182 74,789 73,109 72,375 Sheep License Sales 2,148 1,646 1,922 4,456 Elk license Sales 23,961 25,170 25,262 29,350 20,040 19,351 Kill 10,628 8,248 7,466 10,330 3,006 5,299 Bear License Sales Kill 563 745 823 530 774 322 Kill 58 SMALL GAME KILL-1948-1953 Pheasants Year 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 --· 193,493 -------- _ _ 144,980 156,556 I 23,488 137,426 80,249 ----- Year Dove 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 80,089 88,567 110,788 51,787 76,002 61,962 Sage Grouse 2,341 Sharptail Grouse 86 Ducks 213,076 200,525 211,047 286,501 248,867 176,696"' Blue Grouse Rabbits 1,018 274,769 207,142 376,212 182,093 270,459 124,169 •Estimated Kill -23- Geese Quail 4,969 2,195 6,438 2,505 4,410 4,234" 6,193 5,800 6,200 6,000 6,500 7,000 Snowshoes Jackrabbits 14,764 153,874 �Fish Management L.RI);<; 1'>53, appro'-i111ateh· 75.()()() more fishing I iccmcs were sold than in the two preceding years. \Vhen the current rate of increase ol the permanent population of Colorado is considered along with the e, er1nneasing number of non -n.:siden ts who ,·1s1t Colorado during the summer months, one cannot ,·isualize any im mnhatc reduction 111 the annual rate of lllcrease Ill our ti,hing pressure. The constant lllcrease 111 the number of fishermen util1z111g Colorado's fishmg w,lltrs necessitates constant t:xpans1on of fish management act11 ltlts and operations by the department. .\II personnel concerncd are agrced that there art· se,eral approaches to the problem. fmpro,ement of cxist111g foh habitat, crGll1on of new halmat, expamion of production facilitit·s. and a more dl1cielll appl1cat10n of the lind1ng, of our re,eard1 program to our fish tfotribution acti\'1ties are all important L1ctors. .h ol June 30, I 954, personnel of the fish management di, ision consisted of the followmg: I fish manager, I sccre Lary, I stenographer, I superintendent ol hatcherin, I supnintendcnt of fisheries resean:h, I supcrintentknt of warm water fisheries, I tish pathologist and nutritionist, ~ fish tech ninans I. 9 fish techmcians II, I fi,h technician III , 4 tish culturists II [ ( district fish man agers), 23 fish culturists 11, 62 fah culturists I, I 'lsh sahage man, I con - D struct1on superintendc:nt, 2 equipment operators, and 3 1ch1cle operators 11. In addiuon to the abmc listed Civil St:r\'lce classiticatwns. there were approxunatcly 25 tcmporary laborers 1n the employ of the fish management di\is1on on June 30, 1954. It shoul<l be emphas1ze<l that these employees arc purcl )' temporary. and that their ser11Ces will be dispensed with as soon a, the peak ol the fish planting season is past. Appraisal o f the Prog ram .\ well rounded fish managemem program 111 Colorado must consist of nine basic components: ( I ) the artificial propagation of fish an<l distrihuuon ol these fish, ( 2) research, ( 3) de, clopmcnt of new fohery habitat, ( 4) acqu1si uon of fishing waters and access to fish. mg waters, ( 5) fish salngc, ( (i) cn11ronmcntal 1mprcl\ement, (7) introduction ol foh speues best adapted to existing habitat, ( 8) fishery regulatiom. (9) education of the public. To eliminate anv one of the listed basic components {, ould mean an in c:omplctc and unsatisiacwry fish management program. Further, 11 is impossible to say that one of the compom:nts is more important than the other. They are thoroughly interrelated. Colorado has a very definite need for an extcns1ve program of artificial propagation of trout. Fishing pressure is steadily increasing, as indicated by liceme salcs. In add1t1on to the in- -24- �creased demand on che fishery, a very substantial number of Colorado waters, pa rticularly lakes, are entirely dependent on arc ificially produced trout. Many of the lakes are completely devoid of satisfactory spawning areas for trout, thus omitting the possibility of natural reproduction. Considering the economic limitations of artificially propagating fish, it is impossible for the department to produce trout artificially in excess of the act1rnl needs. fn authorizing the construction of a new trout hatchery at Rifle creek, the Colorado Game and Fish commission recognized the acute need for artificial propagation of trout. Actually, the proper and adequate distribution of fish is as important as raising them. A program of distribution of creel-si ze fish is in effect, and is based upon the acreage of water to be stocked, the suitability of the water for fish, and the degree of fishing pressure. Biological considerations are also being included in the distribution system. One hatchery is devoted entirely to the rearing of warm water fish, and another hatchery is used for both trout and warm water species. Entirely different principles are involved in the artificial rearing of warm water fish as opposed co trout. The reproductive potential of warm water species is extremely high. The primary purposes of the warm water facilities are to provide sufficient warm water fish to obtain a start in new bodies of water, to introduce new species into waters in which they do not at present exist, or to adjust species compositions by carefully planned introductions. Research Essential To place a fish management program on a sound basis, a good research program is essential. In 1953, the Colorado Game and Fish department spent approximately $75,000 on its fishery research program. Tn addition to this amount, the department contributed to the Colorado cooperative fishery re- search unit at Colorado .\ & M college. The cooperati~·c unit conducted limited research work designed to assist the department in its fisheries work. Considerable research work within the department was devoted to determining the most beneficial use of art1fici:1lly reare<l trout. IL was found that the extensive use of trout in the twoinch size group will give more satisfactory returns to the creel in back cou nt ry lakes at less cosl than Lhe use of one-inch fry. Research was continued on the kokanee salmon, which was introduced into Colorado waters because of its apparent suitability to Ouctu::ning water-level reservoirs. These studies will be continued until it is possible to determine the real value and proper use of this species. One of the major problems confronting fish management in Colorado is An angler tests his sk,11 at casting flies ,n a beautiful Colorado stream - 25- �CHARL ES H.IEl TF: This aerial view of the Rifle Falls hatchery was taken while the mammoth rearing unit was in early stages of construction Trailers house workers that of rough fish. The sucker is particularly abundant in our large lakes an<l reservoirs. Investigations were made LO <leterminc feasible means of control of suckers. Research is under way on several warm water fishing lakes. Ch.id among the problems under consideration is the Yalue of newly introduced warm water species, the walleye, white bass and <lrum. Earlier research work indicated a definite need for a satisfactory predator fish in our warm water lakes. The white bass an<l walleye were introduced for this purpose. Drum We ll Adapted The drum seemed panicularly well adapted to conditions existing at Bonny Dam, an<l it was introduced mto this bo<ly of water. Other warm water research was directed at adjusting populations of fish in various lakes throughout the state by artificial means. Studies have been made to determine the effectiYeness of rough fish and stunted game fish control. Research work is also under way to evaluate various environmental improvement devices used in warm water lakes. The department gave serious consideration to the development of new fishery habitat in 1953. This particular phase of fishery management is especially important because it increases the waters available to fish, thus alleviating to some extent the adverse effects of increased fishing pressure. Il also has the advantage of very limited maintenance demands over a period of years. The possibilities of developing new habitat in Colorado are limited for the most part to the construction of reservoirs. Environmental improvement work is conducted by the department as a parL of a well rounded fish management program. The construction of brush harbors, rough fish control, and the introduction of natural fish foods into various bodies oi water are phases of environmental improvement frequently undertaken by the department. Fish salvage is a necessity in Colorado waters although, as such, it is closely - 26 - �integrated with environmental improvement. A game species, due to overpopulation, may be dangerous to one body of water but beneficial to another. Frequently salvage is undertaken with the dual purpose in mind of controlling rough fish and reducing certain game fish from one lake and introducing these game fish to another lake offering more suitable habitat. Losses of fish brought on by all types of irrigation use are frequently mitigated by timely salvage operations. In recent years, the department has become aware of the fact that some types of fish exotic to Colorado waters may be well adapted to conditions existing here. Kokanee salmon, white bass, walleye and drum have been introduced to fill certain environmental niches that were not being properly utilized by species already existing in Colorado. Management of a fishery on a statewide basis is not limited merely to the stocking of fish. The adequacy of any fish management program is best reflected by the quantity and quality of the fish caught. Since 1946, Colorado has maintained a system of checking fishermen that permits a reasonable evaluation of success on a statewide basis. The results of t.he evaluations to date indicate that no appreciable downward trend in fishing quality or quantity on a statewide basis has occurred. This fact is particularly significant when the steady increase in fishing pressure is considered. Trout Catch Normal The computed catch of trout in 1953 was 14,189,405. On warm waters the catch was 2,492,450. These figures compare favorably with previous years, and again no particular down trend is apparent. In fact, on warm waters the catch is definitely up. Regulations concerning fishing were very similar to those in effect the previous year. On trout, the fishing season opened May 23 and extended through October 31. This season also applied to whitefish. Regulations The usual fishing hours for trout4: 00 A.M. to 8:30 P.M.-were in effect in 1953. All those waters open to yearround fishing, but for minor exceptions, are also open to day and night fishing. The thought was to increase the harvest of warm water fish. The daily bag and possession limit on trout was 10 pounds and one fish; not to exceed ten fish in number. This limit of ten fish represented a decreased bag limit compared to previous years. The reduction in the bag limit is not intended to lessen the total catch, but to assist in an equitable distribution of the fish available. Very few fishermen are able to catch more than ten fish a <lay. Therefore, the vast majority of fishermen cannot be greatly concerned with the reduced limit, since only a few excellent fishermen would be curtailed. It should be recognized that regulations cannot be established on a permanent basis and that from time to time regulations must be adjusted to conform to a number of biological or physical factors which might develop. It is quite possible that, with ever-increasing fishing pressure, it may be necessary to further curtail the trout limit; but, at the same time, further knowledge may show ways in which seasons and bag limits-particularly on warm water fish -may be further liberalized. Certainly, it must be recognized that there are inherent limitations to the productive capacities of all our fishing waters. If this productive capacity is to be exceeded, in terms of fish to the creel, it must be accomplished through artificial propagation. There are economic limitations to artificial propagation that cannot be exceeded. When we have utilized both the natural productivity and our ability to produce fish artificially to the fullest extent, the only remaining way to meet the demands of increased pressure is through regulations that curtail the number of fish to each fisherman. The components of a well rounded fish management program, as outlined, -27- �... . ., . ....-....;:...........,..-=GEO RGE A"-CREW& When rough f,sh populations outnumber trout populations, the lake gets a do~e of poison, and a new trout population ,s introduced the next spring ,hould come unda careful ~cru1i1n as to the amount of monev .111d dtort dnotnl lO eaLh. W11h th·e rnmplction of the Ill'\\" Rifle LrtTk unit-the largnt trout hatdll'r)' in the: world- 11 appL,1rs that the department \\'di haH· cxtu1dnl itself as far as pmsihle alon!{ thL lint, ot anifici,11 propagauon tor a numh,:r of years to comt· Production T akes Time In I 1ct, 11 wil takt· an e,uniatcd ll\c' yt·;irs to ohtam I ull production at tht new unit and to .1d1ust thi, produc11011 111 tht· most etlicienl manner to e:1.isting management need,. Thi, llC\\ and di ici<'n t ll lll t \\'111 turtha hcnd1t the puhltc hy permi11111g tlw dosure ot somt· of the older. more oh,olcte and cP,tl) hatcherin and re.1nni.: units. In ,ome of these u nns the of raising fi,h is entirclv out of rc.1,on Thnt· i, a never-ending need tor ., sound re,e,1rrh program Ill the depart ment. ,\dually, cad, separate lake and stream 1s ., separate m.,nagcmcnt umt and preM:nts its own indi, idual proh• wst k1m. Continued rcsc1rch is needed to .1ssist in dt·tnmining the bnt ma nagcmt·nt prot-e1hm:s on all types of waters in Colorado. Research work will g-reatl) enh.1nce the possihility of obtaining ma x11num benefits from our artificial propag.H1011 program. The n:.il rnlue ot an .1rtiiKialh reared t ISh comt·s onlv from its com~ibution to the creel: it, has nc> actu,il valu1: ,11 thL· lllne ol release. It is known that thnc are ,uh,tanti.11 di,crcpancie, he l\\ecn the number ol fo,h plamed and tht number oi !1sh Laught. Contmucd fact lind111g will a\\1sl in culling thnt· lo"<:' after release to .1 rrnnimum. Operations Section During I 'l'i ~ approximate!) ~82 ,850 11,emed fi~hcrmen part1cipatnl Ill their ,port 111 Colorado. ( hl'r IO1500 ol thi, 101,il license ,.1le w,h to non-resi<lent fishamen. The e,t·r-1:1ercasing lish111g prt·ssure makes the maintenance of i1sh ing quality on the more accessible waters a matter of gr<:at concern to the f"h management di\'ision. - 28 · �Fish distribution from the hatcheries hit an all-time high of over 15 million fish of which 11,830,000 were cold water species (trout and kokanee salmon). The catchable size trout distribution numbered approximately 3,900,000. In spite of the increased stocking, the creel census figures showed a slight decline in the fish catch per hour of fishing effort ( 0.82 fish per hour in 1953 against I.OS fish per hour in 1952). It is becoming increasingly apparent that any expansion of hatchery facilities alone will not satisfy the fishing demand, and that a well-rounded fish management program that includes augmenting present fishing waters by land and right-of-way acquisitions, fishing lake construction, and environmental improvement is vitally· necessary. The department now has in operation a construction and maintenance section which aids greatly in getting small, early moving jobs done faster at a greater saving than the conventional contractor bid system used in the past. Large contractors are reluctant to bid on small jobs because of the costs of moving heavy equipment to the sites. Over $32,000 has been saved during the past year o,·er the contracted price of bids received on the same work. Construction Jobs Last year's jobs by the construction section included replacement and enlargement of dams on Swede and Bailey lakes in the White River 'l'ationaJ forest, rehabilitation of ponds at the Wray hatchery which resulted in trebling the fish production capacity at this unit, construction of roads, small impoundments and a siphon at the Rio Grande management area, construction of flood control structures at the Two Duttes management area, and the start of an access road into the Bundy ParkArapahoe creek country south of Walden. The section obtained a med drag line and a new I) .4 caterpiller loader at a cost of $20,000 during the year. The transportat10n section consists of three vehicle operators and three trucks used to haul supplies throughout the state. They are under the super\'ision of the fish management division but do hauling for all sections of the department. Their principal loadings are fish foods and supplies for the various fish hatcheries. :--Jew equipment obtained <luring 1953 consisted of a 5-ton truck and a pup box trailer. Land Acquisition The \fay ranch on the upper Huerfano river was purchased at a cost of $14,000. This opened up 2 ½ miles of previously closed stream. There is a possibility of an exchange of grazing rights on this ranch for the opening of an additional 2 ½ miles of closed stream below this property. Sunset and Beaver reservoirs on Grand \fesa were rehabilitated at a contracted bid cost of $20,000. The local water users put up $8,000 of this sum. The work resulted in maintaining a constant full water level in Beaver reserYoir and a four foot minimum conservation pool in Sunset reservoir. The bkes were periodically drained and ;mnual!y lowered in the past. The Ryan pond property near Rocky Ford was purchased for $10,500 with earmarked warm water funds and is now under development. t\ cooperative agreement with the State Highway department to exchange borrow earth for pond construction will result in 12 to 15 acres of fishing water in 4 or 5 ponds. Upland game habitat and reccreational facilities will be established. Sweitzer lake (formerly Garnet ~fesa) near Delta was completed at a contracted construction cost of $88,000 and a land acquisition fee of $6,000. Earmarked warm water funds were used. The lake is now filling and pre1iminary fish stocking plans are made. The lake should be producing a catchable fish population by 1956. Denny lake near Cortez was enlarged, dcqx:ned, and a new outlet - 29- �sLructure installed for a contracted cost of $10,000. This money was also 5Up· plied out of the earmarked warm water funds. :"\"umcrous preliminary estimates and fcasihility surveys were made- on other possible fishing dam sites throughout the sLaLc. The best remaining potential area ap1x-,1rs to be Carey D.1m near Las Animas. Preliminary negotiations to purchase this rescr,oir have been made. The abo\'c acqu1s1tions have heen or arc LO be made from slate game cash fumk The federal aid ( Dingell -John,on) ,tructures are cons1daed separately under the federal aid portion oi this report. Rt·ccnt lake dCYdoprrn:nt with these funds include Vaughn (Poose) lake near Hayden ( completed), Heart lake near Dotsero (fund encumbered), ~fcsa lake near B~ulder (purchased), and engineering feasibility and project plans made for several other trout fishing reservoirs. As of July I, 1954 all fish research projects reverted to state game cash fund allotments allowing complete usage of all D1ngdl-Johnson funds for fishing lake comtrucuon ancl environmental improvement Fish Culture Section The trout d1stnbut1on bv umts in the calendar year 1954 1s shown in the following ·cable: DISTRIBUTION BY UNITS 1953 (Rainbow, Native, Brook Loch Leven, Grayling, Kokanee and Mackinaw) o".J" 3"-6'' 6" • Over Hatchery Pounds Number Pounds Number Pounds Number Bel-Aire Unit 71 27,051 590 10,391 16,965 58,673 Bcllvue Hatchery 1,231 999,521 962 70,541 95 285 Bou lder Ponds 95 96,000 0 0 190 1,140 Buena Vista Hatchery 253 395,110 816 68,540 5,400 24,425 Cedaredge Hatchery 736 527,324 0 0 30,128 159,482 Chalk Cliffs lJnit 166 27,058 271 5,160 45,130 267,719 Chipeta Unit 0 0 0 0 67,915 345,265 Coald.,le Ponds 0 0 0 0 13,422 71,087 Crystal River Unit 1,rno 110,606 676 18,902 55,IH 270,309 Denver Hatchery 2,111 1,106,885 1,200 19,200 63,958 314,961 Dolores Unit 32 95,Jl3 3,800 66,690 38, I 00 268,090 26S 349,816 2,050 31,010 Durango Hatchery 17,020 133,407 Estes Park Hatchery 156 380,900 0 0 19,495 I 02,023 Finger Rock L'nit 0 0 0 0 41,525 178,851 Glenwood Hatchery 477 1,783,849 5 11 24,210 1,870 8,563 167 266,560 0 0 La Jara Hatchery 17,540 74,822 Little Hills Unit 0 0 0 0 1,239 6,840 85 55,722 368 7,498 Monument Lake Unit 8,226 38,652 0 0 0 0 No. Fk. Thompson 18,150 93,465 0 1,830 82,95S Pitkin Hatchery 0 81,931 475,217 17 2,100 0 26,866 155,526 Poudre River Unit 0 76,176 Rio Grande Unit H 350 12,750 29,113 173,752 Rye Hatchery 83 73,726 0 0 20,878 109,89S 0 Walden Hatchery 561 852,908 0 9,650 41,474 0 Wray Hatchery 0 0 0 2-4,928 89,J 52 0 0 0 0 11,800 10,390 Butte Lake 0 0 0 1,368 6,843 Salvage (Trout) 0 292,980 200 745 8 9,163 45,449 Leadville Hatchery (Federal) 71,292 0 0 21,487 44 295,226 Lead ville Hatchery (Applications) TOTAL ......... 8,829 7,590,897 13,432 418,047 698,687 3,820,983 Total Pounds (All si7<,s) Total Numbers (All sizes) 720,948 I 1,829,927 )60 tons-941 pounds -30- �Warm Water Fish Fact-finding investigations were conducted on North Sterling reservoir, Logan county; Jumbo reservoir, LoganSedgwick counties; Neff lake, Weld county; reservoir number 4, Larimer county; and Holbrook reservoir, Otero county. When enough background information is available to be evaluated, it can be formulated into a management plan and then the practical work toward fishery improvement can be started. Survey work was carried out on a number of streams and lakes of western Colorado to determine if warm water fish species could be successfully produced in this region. Warm water fishery management practices in the form of fish population control, population inventory, corrective stocking, and habitat improvement were applied to over 20 warm water lakes and impoundments of the state. Many of these waters produced only bullheads and carp in the past, but during 1953 a number of good catches of game fish were taken from these waters, indicating that correct management is beginning to pay off. • Eleven brush shelters were placed in Neff lake, Weld county; thirty-six brush shelters were constructed at Holbrook reservoir, Otero county, and twenty-one shelters were placed in Sweitzer lake, Delta county. Brush shelters take the place of the natural shelter which is usually lacking in most of the warm water lakes. Fish are concentrated around these objects making it much easier for the fisherman to locate the fish and increase his catch. :\fany farm pond investigations were conducted during the year to aid private pond owners to select suitable fish species, and to impart information on fertilization, weed eradication and population control in their ponds. A number of im·estigations were made by personnel in an effort to locate possible warm water lake sites in the state. G E ORG E 0 . Keeping streams stocked with trout is a full-time job during fishing season Several sites have been found which should provide fishing in the future. The fish control and salvage unit removed over 75 tons of rough fish species from 15 impoundments throughout the state. A total of 160,903 game fish were salvaged during the year and redistributed to other waters opened for public fishing. A total of 83,508 game fish valued at $16,726.40 were han·ested from the five state-leased lakes. These fish were planted in public waters. The two warm water fish hatcheries produced 6,708,129 walleye fry which were planted in eight lakes or impoundments located in 7 counties of Colorado. A total of 402,558 fingerling crappie, black bass, black bullhead, channel catfish, bluegill, yellow perch, hybrid sunfish and white bass were hatched, reared and planted in many lakes, reservoirs and streams throughout the state. - 31- ANDR E WS �YEAR the Colorado Came E .\CH and Fish department receives irom the Federal Government nearly one-half million dollars for use in fish and wild life restoration work. It is the respons1 bility of the federal aid di vision of the department to plan and carry out a program that will make the beH possi ble use of this monc:y to pro,,de more game for hunters and more fish for fishermen. Money for the federal aiJ program is made available to the st,nes under the provisions of two federal laws, the Pittman-Robertson Act anJ the Dingell Tohnson Act. These laws pro1ide tor the earmarking of fe<leral excise taxes upon sporting arms anti ammunition and upon sport fishing tackle. The money <lerived from these taxes is apportioned to the states and territories on the basis of the number of hunting and fishing licenses sold and the area of the state. The states are require<l to match the fe<leral money ex pended on the program on the basis of 75 per cent federal and 25 per cem stale monc::y. I n order to become eligible to participate 111 the program, each stale must ha,e passed companion legislation assenting lo the pro,isions of the federal laws and pro,·iding for the state's match ing funds. In addition to making funds avail able, the federal laws specify. 111 gen era! terms, the types of restoration work which may be undertaken under the federal aid program. Hricflv. these - 32 ,1cti1ities embrace the following: (I) purchase of land and/ or water areas which are valuable or which can be made val uahle (or the production of game or fis h ; (2) improvement of such areas for fish or wildlife through the buildi ng of structures or manipulation of the habnat; (3) maintenance of improvements established under t he prog ram; and ( 4) 11westigation into problems of fish and wildlife management aimed at obtaining knowledge which will make possible better management of the wildlife resources, "hich in turn will provide lx:ucr fishing and hunting fo r sportsml:n. With111 bounds of the federal la\\'s and the rules and regulations promulg,1tcd hy the Sccrctar) of the Interiorunder whose jurisdiction tht: la\\'s are administered the fe<leral aid di, ision has endea, ored lo establish a balanced program encompassing all of the ac ti, ities abo,e. Although fair success has been attained in some phases oi the program there are a number of difficult problems yet to be sohc<l. Close Field Work Then. is the task of closing field work on a number of so-called research pro1ecls which ha,·e been carried on since the enJ of World War II. In reality, these projects have had as their principal objectives the gathering of game popul:ition survey data to be used in the scttmg of hunting seasons. At �Lhe beginning of the federal aid program, such information was necessary for improving game management, and since most of the states had no facilities for obtaining population information, such surveys qualified for cooperative financing. Now, with the advent of a competently staffed game management division-assisted by three score or more conservation officers to assume the responsibility for routine game surveysLhe time has come for the federal aid division to summarize the work already done in final reports, and to plan new research projects designed to answer the most urgent of many ever-present wildlife management problems. Beav er Problem The need for sound biological information relative to Colorado's beaver population is still another problem. This includes the activities of the beaver in relation to public lands used for timber production, grazing, production of fish and other wildlife species. and most important of all, as watersheds to supply water for our expanding industry and growing human population. It is generally recognized that the present state laws governing beaver management are outmoded and that present management of the beaver is far from satisfactory. It is the duty of the federal aid division, cooperating with other agencies, wiLhin and outside the department, to obtain the necessary information for the sound re\·ision of the beaver control laws and the establishment of a better program of beaver management. The high cost of land and the necessiLy of obtaining unanimous agreemenl relative to values and pnce among so many authorities, might well be considered a major problem in the opera tion of the division. These maners will be given further consideration later in this report. The federal aid division operates under the supervision of the federal aid coordinator, who is responsible directly to the assistant director and the director of the department. The federal aid co- ordinator has as his aides two assistant federal aid coordinators. One is responsible principally for supervision of field operations and the other for smooth functioning of office procedures including preparation of project documents for submission to the federal government. A major change in organizational structure has occurred during the period covered by this report. Trout research activities, which formerly were financed jointly by federal aid Dingell-Johnson funds and regular department funds, were transferred effective April 15, 1954, to the fish management division. This resulted in the transfer of seven fish technicians and the sectional supervisor, who was an assistant federal aid coordinator. The transfer was made to consolidate all fish research activities into one di\·ision, the warm water fish research section having been a part of the fish management division for a number of years. The change in organization just discussed leaves the federal aid division with the following personnel: 4 clerical and bookkeeping employees; 27 technically trained men principally classified as wildlife technicians. These are of three grades as follows: three technicians III in supervisory positions as project leaders on large and important projects; 18 technicians II; and six technicians I, the beginning grade in this series. There are eight custodial employees who protect and manage lands acquired under the program. Beside the regular civil service employees listed above, the division hires six or eight temporary student employees during the summer months to assist on various investigation projects. Development projects are often handled on a contract basis or by force account which necessitates hiring a considerable amount of labor both skilled and unskilled. There is a serious need in the division at the present time for a man experienced in land purchase and sale procedu res to assist in this phase of the federal aid program. -33- �This is an aerial view of the Little H i 11 s experiment station, a project financed through federal aid funds as well as Game and Fish funds. The area is used for studying game and livestock use on the same area CHARLES Operation of Division .\II le<lcral J1<l acti,ities are handled on ;t project basi,. This means the work is pL111neJ and written up in considerable dt:tail in advance, with estimates ol personnel nn:ds, matcriah and cq uipmclll requ1n:1m:nts, and plans and spc(llicatiom 1·or thc work to be done. Tlw estimates involve both the time n.:qu1rc<l and the total cost of the job. E,,en acti,111cs of a contrnuing nature. sud1 as the planning and administration of the program, are CO\'ercd by a federal a11l project. and arc planned for a year ahcad as 011tl1ne<l above. Coord11111t1011 Pro1cct: The work of planning. initiation of projects, super, 1sron ot tidd work. toordination of the program with other department work, anJ reporting of results falls in this project. It pro, ides funds for the coordination staffs salaries, tra,el expenses, and other related costs. Fun<ls lor ~ccrctarial help, linancial record keeping, and rt·port preparation ,trt also included. The coordmatron stalT cons1sb of the federal aid rnordinator, two assistant t·oordinators, a secretarv, and three clerical and acrnunting c,;1ployccs. The coorJ111ation staff has been reduced bv two employees, an assistant coordinato'r for Dingell Johnson projects, and a secretary. HJELTE The loss of these employees was brought about by departmental reor ganization. The total cost of the project for the year ending June 30, 1954 was $31,923.25. Devt•lopnll'nt Prowcu: This category 1 ncl udes projects designed to make areas of lan<l or water more productive of game or fish through work of one kind or another upon them. ,\ substantial portion of each year's federal aid budget is expended upon this type of pro1ect. Present plans envisage the use of practicall) all future Dingell-Johnson f un<ls in this manner. Examples of the work being done arc: transplanting of live-trapped wild tur keys and antelope LO new areas in order to build up huntable populations; construction of dams to impound water for fish an<l waterfowl propagation and for public hunting an<l fishing; planting trees, shrubs. cereal grains, and other plant species for wildlife food and cover; construction of fences to protect game range from use by other animals; and construction of roads to open up range problem areas to hunting, and inaccessible waters to fishing. Construe tion of buildings and other improvements which ultimately benefit any of the above activities are also often included in development proiects. -34- �Development Projects Project No. F-S-D-1 W-35-D-7 W-45-D-3 W-56-D-3 W-SJ>-D-5 W-66-D-2 W-81-D-l W-8 t-D-2 Location Cost' White River National Forest . ·-- - - - $148,747.70' Statewide 13,475.53 (Fencing}-Little Hills 14,250.00 Tamarack Ranch _ 19,000.00 N. E. Colorado _ _ _ 6s,ooo.oo• Durango 5,968.58 Monte Vista 2,229.70 7,S00.00 Monte Vista Title Enlarge Heart Lake Antelope Restoration Little Hills Deer Range South Platte Management Wildlife Habitat Improvement Hermosa Drift Fence Extension Rio Grande Management Area Rio Grande Management Area Total ............................................................................... $276,171.51 'Total project cost-25 per cent State, 75 per cent Federal funds, ::Estimated cost-oow under construction. 'Project on a calendar year basis-1953. Maintenanc-e Projects: Operations aimed at maintaining fish or wildlife \'alues inherent in properties acquired ( either by purchase or subsequent development) under the Federal aid to fish and wildlife program, are normally handled under maintenance projects. Activities such as repair of fences and roads, painting and repair of buildings or other structures, fire prevention and suppression, protection from vandalism, construction of new facilities of a minor nature, may all come under this category of projects. Under the federal aid laws, expenditures for maintenance work in any state are lin1ited to 25 per cent or less of the a,rn;>Unt of money apportioned to that state. In Colorado, funds spent for maintenance ha\'e remained considerably below the 25 per cent limitation from the beginning of the program. Below is tabulated pertinent data relative to this class of projects. Maintenance Projects Project No. W-52-M-6 W-55-M-S & 6 W-62-M-S W-64-M-4 & 5 W-67-M-3 & 4 W-74-M-2 & 3 FW-77-M-2 Title Devil Creek Turkey Refuge Hot Sulphur Springs Deer-Elk Winter Range Cathedral Cr., Missouri Cr., Little Hills Deer Winter Range Sapinero Deer Winter Range South Platte Management Area South Republican Management Arca Mount Evans Management Area Location Chimney Rock __ Hot Sulphur Springs .. Near Meeker Sapinero Crook ___ Bonny Reservoir _ _ Evergreen Cost1 $ 4,515.14 3,240.64 24,528.20 10,972.27 4,240.73 9,100.53 13,306.55 Total .................................................................................. $69,904.06 'Total project cost, 75 per cent Federal, 25 per cent State. Land Acquisition Projects: The relentless encroachment of civilization upon "wild lands,'' and the intensive use of all land and water by man, has made it imperative that certain selected areas, high in wildlife or fisheries values, be protected, developed, and managed for these purposes if the demand for hunting and fishing for sport is to continue to be met. The land acquisition program is intended to meet this need insofar as funds are available and other obstacles of land purchase can be O\'ercome. Emphasis in the land buying program is placed upon the acquisition of winter range for the big game species, prinfr ally deer and elk. Some land has t:i,:n purchased for other purposes, too. ixamples of such other uses are, for r?lic shooting, waterfo\d nesting and ,,mng areas, and public fishing in lakl· An effort is made to a\'oid highly d,cloped land or land of outstanding Alue for uses other than grazing. Often the properties purcAsed have been old, run-down livest:k ranches which, through years 0 fOVell;razing and poor management, h-!e beccme ~nproductive. Ordinarily, ,1th proect1on from livestock grazing or a few years and with heavy wint.r use by deer, -35- �acquire land. Part of the support for such an attitude comes from local taxpayers who fed that acquisition of land by the Game and Fish department increases their tax burden by the removal of property from rhe tax rolls. They overlook the fact that the establishment of a game or fish management area in a locality usually produces payrolls, purchase of materials, and other local business far exceeding the small reduction in local taxes. there tends to be a change produced in the vegetative composiuon of such land with the grasses and forbs increasing in the ground cover at the expense of the woody shrubs, which are the important forage species for deer. This change calls for management to keep the area productive of deet forage. Management consists of two things: first, to secure limited liYestock ( catcJe) grazing which has a tendency to keep the grasses in check, and second, reduction of the deer herd to the carrying capacity of the forage plants upon which they feed. The first management step indicated is carried out by leasing the grazing privileges under strict! y controlled conditions to a neighboring rancher, or by an exchange of use agreement, where a neighboring landowner provides the Game and Fish department with the use _of some valuable property or some service. Purchase of land for fish and wildlife restoration purposes under the federal aid program presents several unique and difficult problems. First, there is a wide-spread feeling that this use of land is non-essential and unimportant, or is a luxury for which a premium should be paid 01·er and above the market price of similar land for any other use. Close! y related to this, is the curre111 ceeling that public agencies should not D ivergent Opinions Projects for the purchase of land require the approval of the Game and Fish commission, the Go,•ernor of Colorado and three other state officials, the Regional Director, and the Director of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are almost always divergent opinions as to the merits of a proposed purchase among so many people. Finally, the Branch of Lands, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose appraisers determine the market value of proposed land purchases, makes it a policy to disregard fish or wildlife Yalues in their appraisal. Jn view of these circumstances, land purchases are necessarily long drawnout affairs which often fall through because the seller is unwilling to wait for the final outcome. :\ summary of acreages and costs by land project are given below for the report period. Land Acq u isition Project Table Pn~ct No. FW -L-1 FW••L-1 W-76·,.1 W-78-.i W-80·4 Tc.al Title Cebolla Creek Management Area Mesa Reservofr Saguache Park Deer-Elk Range Brown's Park Deer-Elk Range Pikes Peak Management Area __ Location Acreage Cathedral 1,429.15 Boulder l 10.00 Saguache Park 22).83 Brown's Park 1,918.45 Victor 634.70 . -----------·--· .4,316.13 Cost $15,500.00 I 2,090.73 5,515.10 45,060.30 5,7n.so $83,919.93 Tot. project costs, 25 per cent State, 75 per cent Federal funds. The atl;tion of the above Iistcd tracts LO ti, pre\'ious totals of land purchaicd Uder the federal aid progra~ ~!_ng: lie total acres purchased to )5311 .6/ , t. a cost of $637,580.47 or ar average ]l'ice per acre of $11.51. R,,·em'Ch Pro/'Cts: Projects of widely Yarying types dealing with most of the state's wildlife species are found in this classification. For a number of years past, it has been customary to have a single pro1ect relating to one, or in some cases two, very closely related wildlife species, under which was carried on 36- �all surveys and imestig;1tion work dcal111g with that species. For example. a single project has dealt wich deer and elk work; a different project with bighorn sheep. still another project with upland game birds and migratory waterfowl. Each such project was operated under the supervision of a project leader with one to a half-dozen assistants. Under the Dingell-Johnson Ace, research work has been confined to cold water (trout) species. During the last year, imescigauon of problems falling in che following four categories as the) relate principally to trout lakes have been pursued: ( 1) che wise distribution of hatchery reared trout; (2) rough fish control; (3) environmental 11nprovement; and ( 4) the introduction of fishes better adapted to existing emironment than those species now present. As previously seated, this work has now been transferred to another division. There arc 11 of these research proiccts encompassing a total of over 100 separate job outlines. With such a wide diversity and large volume of work, it is impossible, in the limited space available, to discuss the projects individually or the activities they cover in detail. I Iowever, a brief discussion of the types of information being obtained 1s included. Census Techniques A great deal of work is being done upon census techniques. One of the most difficult problems of the game or fish manager is estimating the population of a species with which he is working. Some of the methods that are being studied in an effort to improve results are: crowing counts and cooing counts with pheasants and <loves; airplane counts of deer, elk, ante• lope, pheasants, sage grouse, ducks and geese; strutting ground counts of \'arious species of grouse; tract counts of migrating <lecr; lodge, food cache, and den counts of beaver; creel census, tagged and fin clipped fish, and an C&OIIOE D , A check on a deer's migratory habits is made possible through ear-tagging electrical shocking method for fish species. Federal aid technicians are also de• voting a great deal of time to improving methods of estimating che production of game and fish species. Some of the methods being used or studied are: scx-agc ratio surveys for <leer, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep, and pheasants; nesting pair counts on migratory water• fowl; brood counts on turkeys, phcas• ants, grouse, ducks and geese; scale and marked fish studies on fish species, and embryo and other repro<lucti\'e tract studies on all mammalian gamt' species. Studies are being conducted to deter , mine better ways of estimating the losses that occur in game and fish populations either through the sportsman's hag and creel or by natural means. 1\iot only is it important to know the cause of the losses, but also ways are being sought to reduce those that occur from cau\eS other than the legal harvest. Habitat Important In the management of most wildlife species, one of the important problems is that of maintaining suitable habitat. Therefore. it is necessary to have informauon on the game and fish species' requirernems for food. cover and other c:n\'ironmental factors. These matters are under study now for many species. -37 - AND,tl:YJ8 �From the brief outline presented here of the research work being Jone, it will be noted that the principal objective of this work is obtaining more adequate information upon which to base the management of our game and fish species. This is, and will continue to be, our guiding principle. Research Projects Project No. Title Wildlife Species F-1-R-l F-2-R-3 W-37-R-7 Trout lake studies Creel census compilation Game bird surveys W-3 8-R-7 W-39-R-7 W-41-R-6 & 7 W-61-R-4 Deer-elk investigations Wild turkey investigations Big horn sheep surveys Fur resources and bear studies W-7 2-R-2 Coop. experimental big game W-73-R-2 Introduction and release of exotic game birds Wildlife habitnt improvement studies Benver investigations All species trout All species trout _ All grouse, pheasants, quail, partridges, doves, band-tailed pigeons, waterfowl Deer and elk Merriam's turkey _ Bighorn sheep All furbearers except beaver and bear __ range revegetation W-79-R-l & 2 W-83-R-1 Total costs Cost $ 22,93S.49 I ,692.70 27,406.75 70,604.87 14,080.44 17,941.71 4,984.89 Deer, possibly others _ Spanish red-legged partridge Pheasants, quail rabbits 1,126.52 5,866.68 Beaver 7,761.77 2,016.14 _ ... $176,417.96 Appraisal of the Program The [ec.lt-r::il aid division has made notable progress in fulfilling its objecti1e of carry111g out a well-rounded program of ac11vi1ies authorized under the Pinman-Rohenson and Dingell-Johnson ,\cts. l\"e1ertheless, there are a number of points ;H which the program ol the divi,ion can be strrngthencd. One of these i~ 111 the purchase of needed land for wildlife use. The addition oi a staff member who could be made solely responsible tor expecli11ng land :1cquisi1ion projects would materially strengthen this phase of the work. ,\ continuing program of re-evaluat1111'( ~111 the research projec1s w,11 be carried on to 111sure that the oh1ecti vcs are sound; that the procedures are adequate to attain the desired objecu1·cs, and that competent personnel are assigned to each project in order to carry it lo a successful concluswn in a reasonable length of time. 1n connecuon wnh this latter point, ir is desirable to change the basis upon which research te~hnicians are paid. At the present time. too much emphasis is placed upon supervision given and received and not enough upon training, experience and a demonstrated ability to plan and carry out research. Under the present setup, a large group of in1·cs1igations arc grouped together as work plans under a single project. It is belien:d that 1t \\'Ould be more desirable to have these broken down into separate projects with one or two men. at most, assigned to each. This would result in a greater sense of personal responsibility and better results from those men capable of doing research work. Non-producers could be transierred to other work. At the same time, pronsion should be made to pay the researchers of demonstrated ability an adequate salar)' regardless of the fact that they do not ha,e administrative responsibility. The solution of the problems listed in the preceding paragraph will be sought while the satisfactory phases of the program are carried on in the same manner as in the past. -38- �... ·.:f;iuat~ Mltlnt· ~.;,;:.~.iLJt,;,&L,: , ::''. . ' ·: . :,.~ ·,: '.~,' .,;·:: .. ,i;tt.if;;,f T HE state of Colorado is divi<led imo six warden districts. Each district is supervised by a district chief warden, and the six district chief war<lens are supervised by a cnief warden whose office is in Denver. The main <luty of this <l1vision is law enforcement, and this is carried out by 52 wardens, six district chid wardens and one chief war<len as well as 34 trappers and seven fur inspectors which brings the total to approximately 100 men. The duties of the wardens are varied and only about 50 per cent of their time can be devoted to law enforcement. The wardens are in charge of the game an<l fish management of their respective districts. They also check reports of game damage to crops, fences, haystacks, and herd <leer out of fields which is usually night work. The wardens also conduct classes in game management at the public schools, boy scout camps, etc. Front Line Officer The warden is the from line officer in the field; therefore he is the one who is principally comacted by the hunting and fishing public, which means he has a very important duty in public relations and is the liaison between the Game and Fish department and the hunting and fishing public. The warden division is also responsible for some of the distribution of the hunting and fishing regulations. After the hunting and fishing seasons are set by the Game and Fish commissioners, it 1s the duty of each district chief to submit an outline of his work plans to the Denver office. These plans are coonlinated by the chief into an overall state plan which is also coordinated with the fish, fur, game management and fe<leral aid <livisions. C E Of1GE This conservation officer is checking spawning beds, one of his many duties -39 - 0 ~ N OAEW S �Each year lhe wardens gather at a c.:entralizcd point for one wt.-ck of school. During tlus lraining period, they arc brought up lo date on laws as well as new steps anJ methods in game and fish management and management of the fur resources. Wardens are bemg laught beaver trapping. and in the spring they assist the fur tfo is1on during its spnng lrapping campaign. The warden division as a whole has attendcJ hmh police anJ FBI schools and most of the wardens ha,e certit-icalcs tor thest short courses. The warJens an: dresscJ in fon:st grn,n uniforms with bronze badges which are embossed wnh the state seal. They also wear San Fran type hats and tan shins wnh black or green neckties. Expansion Planned During IlJ53-54, the legislature appropriaJ.eJ $431.279.65 for salam:s, equipment and operallon of the warden di, ision. ll is hopeJ that lhe warden di\'is1on will he expan<leJ to m(ly wardens during 1954-55. We also hope lO complett the issuance-to each man connectcJ with la,\ enforcement-of a two-way radio which is tuned in with the state highwa) patrol department radios. The department now has 84 two-way radios which :ire being used by the director. assist.int director, several division heads, wardens and trappers, and this has increased our efficiency a great deal. A plane is used to work with the two-way radio equipped unlls anJ this method saves a great deal of time in co\'cring the primitive areas that would otherw1S<: t.1ke considerable man power as well as time to CO\'er. ,\!though the change <liJ not t:ikc pl:ice <luring the period covercJ by this report, man} of those now scrnng as game wardens will soon become conscr\'alion ofTicers. The new position combines manv of the Juties of warJcns, trappers, and game damage control officers as well as changing the name from game w;1rclen to conservation officer. ,\ more JernileJ description of the new pos1t1on can be found 111 the personnel section of this annual report. During 1953-54 there were 1O1,9H field contacts made, 1,643 cases of game law violations brought to court and $(d,382.8O collected 10 hnes. Violations-1953 RcS1dent January February March April May June July August September October November December Total CEORCE D. ANDREWS Conducting the creel census is one of the jobs of a law enforcement officer NonResident 44 24 16 l8 4 161 18 88 58 J5 159 II5 98 I IJ 280 225 70 I ,343 I; 59 21 2 300 It is interesting to note that residents and non-residents are just about even regarding violations per license buyer. There were .00J 5 violations per resident license buyer, and .003 0 violations per non-resident license buyer. -40- �T HE MANAGEMENT of the fur resource in Colorado is the direct responsibility of the fur division. The organization of the division consists of one superintendent, one stenographer, seven district fur inspectors and thirty-five trappers. The state is divided into seven districts with a fur inspector in charge of each district. The work plan originates with the fur inspector and is submitted to and coord inated by the superintendent. Since the work is so diversified, it behooves the inspectors to consult with the district chief wardens, district game managers, and district fish men before submitting their final work plan recommendation; the work of the division, however, is given first consideration. The fur division has fou r major activities: the adm inistration of the state Beaver Control Act; management and control of all fur bearers and fur dealers; predator control, and law enforcement. These activities also include sufficie nt research and field work to be able to make intelligent recommendations on seasons and bag limits. Beaver Control The beaver control program constitutes approximately one-half of the division's time and has for its objective the management, control, and removal of nuisance beaver. Beaver are trapped and offered for sale during the period when market values are highest. Some 9.214 were trapped in 1953. .\bout 75 per cent of the control work is on private lands. Based on the assumption that one-half of the division's time and expenditures go into the beal'er program, an idea of the total loss incurred can be obtained. As a result, the proper amount of management on forest and publir lan<ls has not been possible. The <livision is attempting to adjust the program to rake care of this inequality of comrol and management. Liv e-Trap Beaver f n the sum.mer months, the division live-traps nuisance beaver and transplants them to areas on public and forest lands where previous investigations have shown they will be of benefit rather than give trouble. The value of the wild furs as a resource in Colorado fluctuates markedly. The price of pelts of various species are subject to the dictates of fashion which several years ago started a long decline in prices of long haired furs. Mink, marten, weasel and beaver have fared better, but several factors ( incl uding imports from Canada and other foreign markets) have greatly depressed rhe beaver market in recent years. The cash value of furs taken by pri\'arc trappers has been around $300.000 annually. This figure (which does not include beaver) has gone as high as S400,000 and as low as $70,000. It has consistent!) remained high enough to warrant protection of the animals in- - -H - �Trapping nuisance beaver is one of the many duties which make up the fascinating work that a department fur trapper calls an ordinary day's work a s s, g n me n t LEE E YEAGER \'Ol1cJ: ,ind there is reason to believe that mtensi1e researc.h, based on yield manage,rn:nt, can greatly increase the annual hanest. It is hoped the reductions 111 e,cise taxes on furs, anJ some nt:w 111110\ ::Hions in the fur industrv will result 111 J morl· healthy siwatioi, for the fur market. ,\s pro1 ided hy Colorado statute, bca1cr ;ire now trapped IMgcly hy stale trappers. Rel ween eight ,111J 11111c thousand are t:1ke11 annually and arc sold :n public auction at prices ranging from :1 fr11 dollars to 01 er $20 for a si nglc pdl in n:ct:nt yt:ars. The full sale prin: of pelts takt:n on public lands goes to the departlnent; proceeds of pelts taken on private property art: split wnh the landowner. The landowner, incidentally, recei1·es one-half of the gross: all cost, are deducted lrom the depart menl 's share. E1·ery other year a somewhat <lctaile<l suney of the ~tale 1s made to determine the number oi bea1er present in each area anJ drainage, as well as feed conditions. From this, 1l is possible to work out an 111tdligenl control program. The <l11 is ion ha~ cooperated with other agenrn:s 111 the tagging of live-trapped ht·aYer. Tagging records are kept, and when a tagged hea1er 1s taken, it 1s possible to ,heck the migration and other factors co11ccrn1ng the anim:iL Last year, l,+50 beaver were transplanted. Making Survey This year a Ycry inu:nsive and comprehensive survey is being made ol heaver and beaver conditions. This pl:1n was workeJ oul in several meetings :rnendcd hy Ralph I !ill of the Forest Senice; Lee Yeager of the cooperative unit at Ft. Collins; Ferd Kleinschnitz of federal aid; Jack Hogue. fur inspector; and /\. D. Coleman, supcrmtendenl of iur resources. The fol lowing objecti1es and procedures were .1greed upon: (I.) Determine the present beaver population and distribution. The first pan of the survey would be on forest and public lands only. Determine areas ol overpopulation, underpopulation, and areas that do not have beaver, yet have plenty of feed. These areas will be surveyed as to desirability for transplanting. Estimate the number to be removed in overpopulated places. Streams will be classified as to length 111 miles, stream flow and general conditiom adaptable or non-adaptable to beaver propagation. As time will permit, 1t is planned to obtain definite information concerning the relation of proper beaver manage- - 42- �ment to fish culture, w:ldfowl nesung grounds, stock water anJ erosion. After the inventory and distribution is determined, certain areas will be used for specialized experiments anJ research. The projects will be determined later. To accomplish this, the personnel of the Forest Service and Game and Fish department will be utilized, especial!) the Fur Division personnel, as they are familiar with conditions that now exist. ft is planned to have the trapper, warden and forest ranger in each district get together as soon as possible and go over a map o( the area. They will mark the streams and watersheds they are now familiar with, leaving that part of the area necessary for further survey. From these maps it will be determined where additional work is Lo be done. lt will be necessary to use department planes for many hours. Also, the various personnel involved will necessarily be assigned to the high country during the summer months. As far as possible Fish and Game personnel and Forest Service personnel will work together on this-at least they will consult one another regular! y. The Forest Service maps will be used as a basic record as well as a [orm to be worked out later. Supervision (2.) The Fur Inspectors will supervise the fieldwork connected with the survey and will be responsible for checking all data collecteJ and making sure this data is as accurate as possible. It will be necessary, however, to utilize personnel of other divisions, especially the warden service. All Game and Fish personnel necessarily must work in close cooperation with the Forest Service rangers. It will be the responsibility of the fur inspectors to confer with district chief wardens and forest rangers to coordinate this work. The forest rangers will furnish maps of their respective regions, and some aerial photographs can also be supplied by the Forest Service:. Predator Control The predator program deJI\ pr·nc1pally with bear, coyotes, and bobcats. Personnel are equipped with traps anJ dogs to take care of bt:ar complaints. Since the b:!ar has been one of the main objectives in the predator program, the number and amount of tlamage claims has reduced materially. The coyote is well under comrol and should be kept in this status. The divi sion is well equipped with guns .1nd traps to handle this problem. \Ve have made a special effort to control the bobcat, particularly in the wild turkey areas. This predator is on the increase and is extremely detrimental to sma.11 game and birJs. Our control program on chis animal has had good results. Other predators, including the mountain lion, are gi,ing very litt.le trouble. Skunks have been increasing at an alarming rate, and due co their peculiarities present a difficult problem. The law enforcement part of the division's work consists of patrolling anJ checking at all times wherever the trapper may be. Personnel have tlefinite assignments during all big game seasons and the fishing season. In some areas, the trapper is the only department rep resentative. Much assistance is given in the planting of fish, especially in the high back country where trappers, tlue LO the nature of their work, are more familiar with the conditions contingent in successful planting operations. It is hoped that future plans will allow the Fur tlivision to fill existing personnel vacancies so that a full and expanded program can be maintained. This program, in brief, should include the following: a more equitable program of beaver management in public and forest lands, the establishment of experimental areas and projects in regard to beaver and other fur bearing animals, and an expanded and better coordinated program of predator control. -43- �T HE COAL of the education <livi,ion is to increase public understanding and support of game and fish management. This obiective can be attained only h)' prm iding the public with timely and accurate information on technical. c:conomic and social fac tors "hich Jffect huming and fishing. The media used bv the Ji\'ision to acquaint the public with the facts about conscr1ation include public appearances by department representative,: a regularly scheduled news release, supplemented by special bulletins and kafleu, gi1 ing background information; distribution of postns and publications made available.; by other lOnservation agencies; production of department-made mo1ies, and sho\\'ings ot department movies along with films purchased from other sources; consen·.uion exhibits at fairs and other public gatherings; a photo and inlormation sen ice; both telephone and correspondence for answering inquiries of the general public; a regularly scheduled radio program, plus other ap pearances a,nd mformation on request; television p;qgrams. as well as films and appearances when requested; preparation and distribution of over 900,000 copies of game and fish regulations; preparation and distribution of educational pamphlets for schools. sportsmen :ind other interested parties; and prep aration, promotion and distribution of the official department magazine, Colorado Con,ervat ion. The sen·ices for the general public listed above are supplemented by a growing in-service training program conducted among department personnel. Both activities will be discussed 111 more detail later in this report. Div ision Organization 1n order to provide the quality of e::ducation and information services nec.:ded by the department the division is subdil'ided informally into three sections. The information section includes the department's public relations specialist, who writes the weekly news release, the Denver radio program and public notices; the library of books Jnd current publications maintained in the Denver ofTice; and a mail and telephone public information service in Denl'er and in Grand Junction. The publications section, indu<ling editor, assistant editor, art editor, photographer anJ stenographic personnel, prepares and distributes all departmental ( as op posed to intra -divisional) publications. The field education-information service, consisting of five education and information managers gives public lectures, works with schools, sportsmen's clubs and other organizations, conducts in sen ice training programs, and provides written material for local newspapers, coordmates local T\' and radio programs. as well as the various department publications. Television is recogmzed as a potential - 44 - �tool for both information and educa• tion; two programs are being conducted by the department, one in Grand J unction over Station KFXJ-TV, and one in Denver over KBTV. Plans for further utilization of this medium are now being drawn up. Field Activities Personal appearances in,·oh ing talks and programs on game and fish conservation are made by nearly all adn,jnistrative and field personnel on occasion. This type of public relauons work is done most often by the information and education managers, of course, but the district fish distributors and game managers, the local game wardens and central ofJice executives also participate. All the local programs are coordinated by the information and education manager in his district. Speakers present programs to nearly every kind of organization and group: schools, 4-H, Future Farmers of America, college classes, sportsmen's clubs, and [arm, ranch, fraternal and church groups. For example, one warden, Gurney Crawford, has talked to over 8,500 school children, and Director Kimball has spoken to assorted groups, m various sections of the state; and the information and education managers have given over 600 programs in addition to their main activities of organizing conservation programs in schools, setting up junior conservation clubs, taking pictures, writing articles for the local and department publications, and conducting local TV and radio programs. The department's news releases provide current information on conservation activities for the use of newspapers, wire services, radio stations and department personnel. News releases are issued weekly and carry a Thursday evening release. About 2,000 copies are mailed each week during the year. Info rmation for many special articles, ori)?inated by publications and free lance writers, is provided by the information section. .\ regular monthly mat ser\'ice ii - lustrating the ,·arious programs of the department is furnished ro 87 week!}· and daily papers in Colorado. The service consist5 of four "Wildlife Willie" cartoon mats drawn by the department's an editor. In addition to news which originates from the central office, local radio stations ~nd newspapers are pro,·ided with information and or photographs pertinent t<:> game and fish management by the district educators. This information has been provided on request in the past. However, a regularly scheduled news release of local interest is now being prepared by two district educators, :i11d will be made a part of regular edu, cator duties if local papers respond. All "such activities are under the supervision of the publicity director ( lnformaLion Writer Ill ). Library Kept A library of books has been set up on all matters pertaining to game and fish management. The library is a member of the Bibliographical Center for Research. a sort of mail order library which provides access to thousands of books and publications on a temporary loan basis. Literally thousands of pieces of education and information literature were distributed to the public during the vear. These include bulletins, pamphlets, folders and leaflets dealing with policy and management sent to newspapers and employees; big game, small game and fishing regulations; and other educational materials, reports and mimeographed materials distributed direct! y to the public. Colorado Conservation The publications section also publishes Colorado Conservation magazine, the department's official publication. Tt is issued six times per year on a paid subscription basis ($1.00 per year) as provided by Chapter 188, Session Laws of 1951. The circulation reached a high of 21,000 in December, 1952, fell to a low of 13,057 in March. 1953. and climbed back up to 15,913 on July 1, -45- �Cl[t")IIGK D .-,NOAEW!I Department educators have hundreds of color sl ,des to use ,n their lectures I115-t The law prcl\ ides that the mag azine p.iy its costs out of subscri pt ion ren·nuc. I )uring the past year it lo~t ne,1rlr $200, hut still has ,1 small surplus. ,tnd circulation is ,tcaJ1I y 111ne,1s1r1g. ,\ hnanrial ,t,llt·mcnt appears elsewhere.: 111 this rq>ort. .h an educational mc.:Jium. the: m ag .1z1ne has t·n1<>Yed considerable.: success. It 1, w1delr ~1~-d 111 schools and is wide!) qt1<H~-d 111 the: state's press (and in ,>thcr ,onsc.:n·.nion .ind hunting and fishing 111.1g,1zines). Colorado Comer,at1011 1, distrihuted free to schook lihrarit, ,1ml , ariou, ,on,c.:n at ion a gen Cit'\. St, nal met hods of suhs,nption sdl ing haH· l>ct·n Inn!. hut so far onlr ducct m.1il ,olicit,111on and salts hv d~par1111en1 t·mployet·s han· prmnl. surCLssful. Movie P rogram Filnung of two n10,1cs has lx:cn com plered durini.: tht· past yt·ar. Legends oi dw Lodore, .1 I'; minute: movie wl11d1 "a, rdt·asnl in I >nt·mhn, I<)',~. and the Farmer Ccb the Bird, a 28minutc mm ic on hunter-s110rtsmcn r.=lation~ which will he rclea~cd :--:o,ern ber I, 1954. The inc reased monc pro ;!ram. spurred on h) tclevi\io:1, indude5 four othc.: r mo,·ies, one of which is in tht· final stages oi filming, and some film has Ix-en shot on the other. One full time wildlife photographer has been added to the stall who ha~ the filming of rhe additional movies. Beside mones produn·d hy the de partment, a supply is maintained of other wildlife and conscn·at1on film, purchased (rom other sources, fo r ust· hy district educators and department exnuu,·e, 1n personal appcar,mce puhl1c rel,1t1om work. Realm of the W ild, ,\ I leritagc \Ve Cuard, The Lost I l unter. Wildlife and the H uman Touch, Be hind the Flyways, 'ature\ Ch ild ren. The Bca,tr, The \\'eh of Life. The LJ\ing Earth Serie,. and ~1111n,t "erenade are the utles. 1n addn1on to the mo, ie,. the di\"i,ion is prq)anng six ~5mm educa tional fil1mtnps for different grade leve ls. ,\ script will accompany ea,h filmstrip, mak111g 1t possible for the teacher to read the descripllon of each frame 111 1he filmstrip. Blac k and White Film 1n order to mec.:t the demand tor hl,Kk and wh ite photos, spu rred o n hy the increas111g number of dcpartmt:nt puhlicatiom and the comtant How of requests from other agencies. hunting and 11,hing 111al-!az111c free l,11Kc.: writer,. 1 a nous chamber of rnmmt·rce groups and local athcrtisinl-! agencies, a photo1:raphic lihrarv has been ,t·t up to Ix· usul in department puhlicauons and to 111t·ct the demand for photographs 10 illustrate stories and ad,ertisemcnts ,,bout Colorado's hunting and fishing. It 1, i.:ood public relations to mecl such requests. The education division has answered approximately 35,000 lcttns of 111quiry on all phases oi hunting, fishing and wildlift· managemt·nt, a, well as 111quirit·s rcgardmg Colorado in gt·neral. -46- �GEORGE 0 , ANORCWS Department field personnel learn many things, such as how to operate a sound movie projector, at education division's in-service training schcol The information center answers hundreds of calls daily during season, making the center one of the department's major means of pub! ic contact. Help for Schools Realizing the necessity of classroom education in any long-term program of public relations, the division has greatly expanded its conservation education program. The education program in general follows the recommendation of a 1948 report on policies in conservation ed ucation drawn up by a committee of nationally recognized educators: "This involves primary emphasis on the training of teachers and other youth leaders. Secondary recommendatiom are for the establishment of workshops for teachers and leader training. more effective public meetings, enlisting the services oi civic and lay organizations, legislation to encourage conservation education, better motion pictures and pub) ications." fn ]953-1954 the department has cooperated with teacher training programs at Colorado State College of Education, Western State college, and other colleges and universities throughout the state by providing instruction and materials. Close cooperation with the state office of public instruction has yielded dividends in establishing conservation education courses in junior high schools. Junior conservation dubs have been organized in those few communities in Colorado where adult leadership has been found. This 11nportant program is growing with increased cooperation from sportsmen, ciVlc groups and educators. In-Service Training The second in-service training school since I9-t6 was conducted at Colorndo A & M al Ft. Collins during February and ~farch of 19'H. The school was of five weeks duration. Each field man attended for 5 112 <lays. Inst ruction on -47- �W EM EASON SCOTT Taking movies as well as stills is an important task for the photographers policy anJ procedure anJ other subjects pertinent to the ope ration of the Game and Fish department were discussed. The ~chool's main purpose last year, howcl'er, was to emphasize sound pubIic rel rnons and the methods by which they could be obtained. Instructors were called upon from our own department, Colorado A & M College staff, the state patrol, local law enforcement ntTicers. such a~ the sheri/T's office, and Colorado Fuel and Iron company. \fanagement of game and fish in Colorado ha, made remarkable strides forward 111 the last year due largely to the increased public support of depart• ment pro1ects. thus reflecting the ex ccllent team work of all the di,·isions pulling together as a common unit. Th<. 111forrnation-cducation di Ii sion has played a major part in buildmg this unit for 1t has coordinated public in- formauon and education on game and fish matters with a sound program of tn-serl'tce trammg. Here, methods for obtaining good working relationships between the community and the department were stressed. ,\s a result the game and fish department and the public are working together LOward their common goal of better use of game and fish resources in Colorado. J\mong specific future goab arc: I. Pro\'iding instructional materials for use in a comprehensive plan of conserrntion education in the schools. hy puhlishing a classroom work book. a textbook. and a teachers guide. The work book is to mclude supplemcntar) material such as pamphlets an<l 35mm fi.l rn strips on al I phases of conservation. This work is to be completed within the next two years. 2. An increased movie production program 1n which 13-minute movies will be ma<le for showing on T\' and to groups. 3. An increased program oi information leaflets. 4. J\ better in-service training program which will prepare the department's personnel for advancement within the department. 5. Increased parnc1pation 111 such media as TV, radio and newspaper. GEO RGE D ANDREWS Specialists learn work of all divisions so each can a,d others in field 48- �ANNUAL REPORT-FISCAL YEAR 1953-1954 � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/90f16d7898fea7c8b0515caa0c5a9cab.pdf ecba4099c1b481d0dff33fb1754ad4f5 PDF Text Text .~ •4-,,,;,.4'- h~~,ij"/'. = ~ - ANNU REPORT STATE OF COLORADO-DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH FISCAL YEAR 1954-1955 �DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH DENVER 1,COLORADO THOMAS L ~ ll CCUTtVE KIMBALL ou•cc TOA October 1, 1955 The Honorable Edwin C. Johnson Governor of Colorado State Capitol Building Denver, Colorado Dear Governor Johnson: Transmitted herewith is the annual report pertaining to the administration and operation of the Department of Game and Fish, under the supervision of the Game and Fish commission, for the fiscal year July 1, 1954 to June 30, 1955, This summary of events, problems and projects reflects the objectives and accomplishments of the department in its endeavors to manage Colorado wildlife resources for and in behalf of all citizens. There also appears a detailed accounting of all receipts and disbursements. �ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year July 1, 1954 - June 30, 1955 Contents Wildlife Resource .............................................................................................................. Northeast Region........................................................................... .................................... Southeast Region ··················································--·················· ................... --•··•· ............. Southwest Region .................................... ............................ ....... ....... ............ ..................... Northwest Region ............................................................................................................... Business Administration ...................... . ............................ ................................................ Personnel ............................................................................................................................ Game Management ·······························-············································································· Fish Management ................................................................................................................ . Federal Aid ................. •·••·······················------··································•·················· Law Enforcement ........................................................................................................... Fur Resources ........................................ ····••·••················-···········•·-•···· ............................ Education ................................................................................................ . 3 7 10 12 15 17 27 30 34 39 51 53 56 Game and Fish Commission July 1, 1954 GOVERNOR DAN THORNTON, Ex Officio Richard G. Lyttle, President..._ ............................................................................ District 8 Earl H. Mullins, Vice President ............................................................................ District 6 H. A. Roberts, Secretary ..................................................................................... District 2 Glen B. Clark .......................................................................................................... District 1 Clair Hotchkiss ............................................................................. ····················••-··•District 7 Henry Lague ............................................................................................................ District 5 John McClelland .................................................................................................... District 4 Harley Rhoades .................................................................................................... _... District 3 NOTE: In January 1955 1 Governor Edwin C. Johnson succeeded Governor Thornton as Ex Officio member. In May 195 51 Clarence Baker was appointed as the new member for District l; Dr. T. O. Plummer became the new appointee for District 7. New officers elected in May 195 5 were: Earl H. Mullins, President; H. A. Roberts, Vice President; Harley Rhoades, Secretary. Game and Fish Department Staff THOMAS L. KIMBALL, Director JOHN D. HART, Assistant Director Guy V. Melvin ·········································----··································Business Manager R. M. Andrews .................................................................................................... Fish Manager A. Dean Coleman ............................................................................................... Fur Manager William F. Hunn ..................... ·•··-----·····································. Chief Game Warden Gilbert N. Hunter •••• ············---------···················-······················ Game Manager John H. Morris .......••·······················-----······························ ........... Personnel Officer L. E. Riordan···················-···························-··----············· Federal Aid Coordinator C. D. Tolman ...................... ···········----- ···-··--······· ............... Education Manager Earl McCain .............................................................................. Public Relations Specialist Clois E. Till ••·-·····································································Coordinator, Northeast Region Robert Elliott ........................................................................Coordinator, Southeast Region Richard Teague .................................................................... Coordinator, Sout!iwest Region Glenn E. Rogers ................................................................... Coordinator, Northwest Region -2-- �·Re port of Director and Assistant Director A P1\R 1\DE O F EV E N T S w ithout parallel in volume, variety and impact o n Colorado's wi ldl ifc resources di stinguished the fiscal year e ndin g Junc 30, J 955, for the Game and Fish department unde r direction of the State Game a nd Fish comm ission. Since submissio n o( the last annual report, Colorado has con tinued to draw increasi ng attent io n as a production area for t he har\'est o( deer, elk, a ntelope, m ountai n sheep, bea r, u pland game birds, migratory waterfowl, small ga me, fis h and fur bea re rs. F or f ull details a nd statistics we d irect attention to the reports which follow from de pa rtmental regions and divisions, and shall :mempt in this section only to highlight those events, accom plishments a nd contin uing objectives which in our opinion a re of most particular concern and consequence. R esou rce In c rements fn this cb y of mounting l ivi ng costs, Colorado's wi ldlife resources, through the application of wise use and management policies-an nual ha rvest according to proper seaso ns and bag limib, togethe r wi th libe ra lized storage regulatio ns-ha ve augmented the domestic food suppl y by many millions o( dol lars. Moreover, we are able to report substantially increased esthetic and recreational val ues. in company with ecoC EORCE O Completion of Rifle Falls hatchery was a major project o f the past year. View here is toward north . Two l a r ge basins are settling ponds for clean sing waters and distributi ng them evenl y t o power plant downs tr eam. -3 - A N ORF.W S �nomic advantages, for the enjoyment of our citizens. Production of game on private land, though minor with respect to most big game species, continues to show increasing consideration from landowners in many parts of the state, and constantly improving regard can be reported for game, song and insectivorous birds - the "winged wardens of the fields"-as allies in the battle with insect pests. The game production increase on private land occurred despite intensified farming practices and the effects of continued <lrouth, with the latter somewhat alleviated by the completion of water development projects throughout the state. Fur Market Improved Fur resources benefited during the latter part of the season from a definitely stronger market. This was especially true with regard to mink, muskrat and beaver, with the muskrat maintaining a high place in wild fur production and the beaver, whose pelt was the first "Rocky Mountain currency," still to be found on all watersheds. Fishery Developments The Rifle Falls fish hatchery came into production this last fiscal year, adding its hundred-ton potential to public supply. This station, without prec~dent in Colorado, and an amalgamation of the best features of state and federal hatcheries, continues to be a spectacle for wonderment to visiting officials and thousands of private citizens. Reflecting the constantly increasing need for more and still more in the way of fisheries resources, the budgeting of still larger amounts of money for overall development in this regard remains mandatory. We recognize, however, that artificial propagation of trout can by no means give the entire answer to our fishing problems, despite its importance in providing better fishing on small streams. The most important elements in our fish-resource program are the develop- ment and construction of new lakes designed solely for fish production, and stream improvement projects which aid nature in bearing the major expense of raising trout to creel size. Department Reorganization As a notable example of progress <luring the past year, we call attention to a landmark in departmental organization created by the decentralization of many responsibilities and functions heretofore conducted through the Den• ver office, and the resultant division of the state into four regions with a game and fish coordinator in over-all charge of each. The four coordinators maintain direct and constant liaison with the director of the department in Denver. Already the merits of the regional system have far outbalanced disadvantages, and even those most pessimistic originally now acknowledge the benefits of game and fish management, in all its phases, when applied at grassroot levels. Colorado citizens now enjoy direct representation throughout the four regions and have constantly available service in their immediate neighborhoods for the handling of game and fish problems. Wildlife and Legislation The 40th General Assembly also created certain landmarks by way of legislative acts, some new, some amendatory. None of the Senate or House bills hereafter mentioned represent legislative perfection, but the session did produce several beneficial enactments aimed at improved management, propagation, control and preservation of Colorado's wildlife resources for this and future generations. House Bill 25 legalized fishing with an additional pole in specified waters for an extra fee of $1.00. This legislation was especially desired by southeastern Colorado fishermen. House Bill 131, more commonly known as the "License Bill", through a drafting oversight which made changes -4- �Economic Value of Hunting and Fishing to the Businessmen and People of Colorado This tabulation, based on Bureau of Labor statistics, shows the average amounts of general expenditures made last year by individual hunters and fishermen of various types. Of the total, approximately 40 per cent represents money spent for equipment and clothing; 60 per cent represents food, lodging, travel, incidental entertainment, etc. The total does not include in excess of $3,000,000 spent for 532,789 licenses of various types. Type of hunter or fisherman Number Resident deer.................................................................. 98,902 Nonresident deer............................................................ 16,503 Resident elk.................................................................... 18,834 Nonresident elk.............................................................. 3,467 Resident antelope .......................................................... 4,033 Resident turkey .............................................................. 815 Resident bighorn sheep.................................................. 239 Resident pheasant .......................................................... 161,647 Nonresident pheasant.................................................... 624 Resident duck.................................................................. 32,450 Nonresident duck............................................................ 499 Resident goose................................................................ 12, 136 Nonresident goose.......................................................... 162 Resident grouse .............................................................. 21, 137 Resident rabbit................................................................ 102,843 Nonresident rabbit ........................................................ 30 Resident dove.................................................................. 4,150 Nonresident dove .......................................................... 15 Resident quail ................................................................ 18,181 Resident trout....................................................... ·-·········238,756 Nonresident trout (Season)............................................ 8,820 Nonresident 5•day fisherman ........................................ 94,497 Resident alien fisherman .............................................. 382 Resident warm water fisherman.................................... 8,882 Nonresident warm water fish........................................ 5, 135 Spent per Individual $ 75.85 265.31 106.34 347.62 29.70 51.09 286.25 44.82 104.16 55.69 110.88 67.10 98.70 10.16 25.59 81.34 21.45 52.13 23.05 89.73 434.48 214.46 89.73 36.47 113.95 Total Spent $ 7,501,716.70 4,378,410.93 2,002,807.56 1,205, 198.54 119,780.10 41,638.35 68,413.75 7,245,018.54 64,995.84 1,807, 140.50 55,329.12 814,325.60 15,989.40 214,751.92 2,631,752.37 2,440.20 89,017.50 781.95 419,072.05 21,423,575.88 3,832, 113.60 20,265,826.62 3,427.86 323,926.54 585,133.25 Totals ......................................................................................$75, 112,584.67 in license fees effective immediately, came in for much publicity, favorable and unfavorable. Nevertheless, the department can cite the bill without apology, since its enactment clarified important questions as to residency and citizenship. In addition, all persons sincerely interested in the fate of our wildlife resources can appreciate the creation of new license fees providing increased revenues toward self-sustaining fish production and distribution. Senate Bills 18 and 19 gave authority to the Game and Fish commission and the Board of Land Commissioners to exchange certain tracts in Logan county, with objectives of more economic operation and better defined management units. Senate Bill 246, known as the "Beaver Bill," became a reality. For a decade a sorely needed form of legislation, it is still not without its critics, but the thousands of landowners benefited are quick to recognize it as an instrument of relief. All those advocating economy in civil government, and intelligent beaver management on both public and private lands, can appreciate this legislation as a pioneer endeavor to correct many shortcomings of the past. Bird Farm on the Block Constantly urging the need for expanding production of fish, we see an apparent irony in the fact that Senatt• Bill 263 authorized the Game and Fish commission to sell all lands and improvements comprising the Colorado Springs state game bird farm. From this it might appear that we are abandoning our upland game bird program. -5- �Such inference, however, is not warranted. Civilization threatens to engulf the present bird farm area, and it can no longer be considered suitable for serving this phase of departmental operations. In concluding this necessarily brief commentary on legislation, we note that House Bills 291, 461, 469, 463, and 467 authorize the largest appropriation of monies from the game cash fund in Colorado history. Over $3,429,000 was made available for the administration, maintenance, development and expansion of projects and services essential to the benefit and public enjoyment of wildlife resources. The legislators of future assemblies may look with prejudice on continuing requests for large sums of money to be spent primarily on campgrounds and recreational facilities at department owned or operate<l installations. Permit us to record here, however, that over I 00,000 people visited department installations last year just to picnic, camp, take pictures an<l plain "loaf around and enjoy the scenery." Weekend and holiday traffic for this sort of recreational enjoyment continues to grow tremendously. Problems and Prospects This report cannot completely define or provide solutions for the many, many wildlife resource problems still confronting us, both private citizens and public officials. There remain serious issues resulting from causes and effects of last year, as well as from causes and effects accumulating over the years previous. We of the Game and Fish Department acknowledge that many problems are confined to Colorado alone and must be dealt with as such. Others know no state lines and extend into the range of federal aid in wildlife restoration. It is our constant purpose to make the objectives and accomplishments in this field of cooperative endeavor better known and understood by all citizens. Improved Code Required In the way of internal problems and objectives, we urge that there is still critical need for a completely up-to-date and comprehensive code of game and fish laws, although the Colorado Revised Statutes of 1953 accomplished much by way of streamlined definition in this respect. Good civil government, good business administration, good wildlife resource policy, and good public relations-all in all, "the greatest good for the greatest number"-demand the correction of unwieldy laws that hold the state of Colorado, through its Game and Fish commission and department, responsible for public damages caused by any protected species of wildlife. Legislative relief from the misunderstandings and abuses blighting the several decades under existing statutes is the simple objective, free from any attempt to sidestep obligations to Colorado citizens or to <liscriminate against any stratum of society. Future Heritage The Game and Fish commission and the department, though separate entities, are jointly responsible to the entire citizenry, not a segment thereof. In a day of new frontiers-in research, economics, industrial development and intensified agricultural production-by virtue of this responsibility we urge that the millions of boys and girls who shall be the men and women of tomorrow are entitled to inherit their share of the out-of-doors and its resources, in proper and sufficient proportion to these other heritages. W c trust that our youngsters, too, shall in the future be able to speak of this past year as one of progress in wildlife resource management. With confidence in those we serve to be our best judges, the regions and divisions that make up the Game and Fish department set forth their respective resumes of events in the pages that follow. -6- �Report of Regional Coordinator .Northeast Region . I I THE N ORTHEAST REG ION a factor creating many problems is the l:irgc number of people li ving in a relatively snrnll a rea with in comparatively short distances of all regio nal game an<l fish areas. A circle drawn w ith its ce nter near Brighton and a radius of about 70 miles would include sli g htly mo re than 55 per ce nt of the state ·s tot:11 popul:itio n. In sening hunting and fishing seasons, all management recom mendations must serve to di stribute t his pressu re e venly. Otherwise we become swampc<l with hunters or fishe rme n in many :ireas of the regio n . For big game hunting, delaying the Decentralization o f m ost Ga me and Fish departme nt fie ld opera tions was acco mplished last year by quarterin g the state into the regions shown below . �opening date five days on the front range has worked very well. For small game, we still have the problem of too many hunters in the field on opening day. Many complaints are received about trespassing, and many farmers and other landowners close their property simply to prevent hunter damage. Bird Status Increase in the use of power mowing machines plus the stress on "clean farming" in the last few years have made serious inroads on our pheasant populations. Unless something happens to change present farm practices, pheasant hunting as we once knew it is probably a thing of the past on irrigated lands. Buying plots of land for habitat development might increase the hird population in immediate localities, hut could only slightly improve the over-all picture. · The raccoon has multiplied considerably in the past few years and has contributed also to the decline in pheasant population. The leasing by private clubs and individuals of lakes and sections of the South Platte river for waterfowl shooting has created a serious problem. With the exception of the department's Tamarack ranch near Crook, very few places on the South Platte river are open to the ordinary duck hunter. At this time, it would hardly be feasible for the department to bid against these private interests for public hunting areas, as the costs in most cases would be prohibitive. We have had a duck depredation problem in the Haxtun area, which will probably continue as long as there are ducks and farmers raise corn. Big Game Factors Our primary problem with big game is similar to that in other regions of the state: the amount of winter range available is steadily decreasing each year with the encroachment of civilization. In practically every case where the range has been severely depleted, the principal cause has been over-grazing by livestock-this on both private and public lands. A few years ago a buildup of deer on the eastern plains was noted, and two seasons have been held here as a result. Although damage problems have not been solved, we feel that at least the herd has been held in check. Practically all antelope on the eastern plains are on private land, and the maintenance of herds is dependent on landowner cooperation. Seasons have been set for the landowner's convenience and every advantage is extended to him in obtaining licenses. Fish and Water Problems The competition for water on the front range will probably become more acute in the years to come. In all water struggles and litigations, wildlife is subordinate in consideration, and fishing is the first value to suffer. Fish hatcheries in the northeast are near maximum production at the present time, and without adding to existing facilities, there is very little that can be done to increase output. At several of the hatcheries, major overhaul and repair work will be required in the next year or so. The northeast region raises and stocks about 70 tons of fish each year, approximately 20 per cent of the state total. Regional Goals Our primary regional goal is the betterment of public relations, with increased emphasis on educating the public in the problems cited above. Certainly as more and more hunters and fishermen take to the field to find less and less in the way of public lands and waters, our public relations problems will increase proportionally. During the year ahead we shall be constantly on the alert for suitable land to purchase and develop as small game habitat, and to furnish the general hunter with a place to hunt. For big game we shall continue our efforts to purchase key winter range -8- �CCORCE O A NDl-{ C\V S Impo rtant wo r k is being don e here by m embers of a j unio r co n servat ion club in co u n teractin g "clean farming" and o the r prac tices which dimin ish habitat . a reas tha t arc now unde r private o wnership. For waterfow l the department should se riously consider leasing o r buying South Platte ri ver and lake areas, eve n should economi c feasibility make it necessary to charge extra for h unting these areas. A n immed iate goal in our northeast region is to bring pheasant t rend counts and big game range surve ys into standardiz ation with state wide m eth ods. vVe now have a man working full time maki ng fa rme r contacts toward acquisition of suitable plots of land fo r sm a ll game habitat. In the last year five areas were purchased o r set aside for this pu rpose, the largest consisting of 160 ac res at Cobb lake in Larimer county. This area has been planted in g rain fo r upland ga me birds. On another of these areas, t hat we do not own but that has bee n set aside for wildlife, a wel l has been drilled and a windm ill ercctn l with all labor and m aterials furni shed gratis by inte rested loca l sportsme n. O ne of our conse rvation officers located approximately fi ve acres of unreserved la nd on the South Platte ri ver near Sedg wick, a11d we a rc now trying to obta in title for its use as a public shooting area. The yearl y in-scn ·icc tra1111ng school fo r pe rsonnel in the northeast regio n was held in Fe bruary. Public relatio ns and contact techniques were the main the mes. - 9- �Report of Regional Coordinator Southeast Region P ERSONNEL ASSIG ED to de:il with the multiplicity of game :ind fish problems in the southeast region include one coordinator, (ive regional s upe rvisors, twelve wildlife conservation officers, certified :rnd acting, four hea ver trappers, three fish production unit superintendents, eight fish cultu rists I, a nd three men assigned to the state game bird farm. The wildl ife conservation officers are in charge of districts. T rappers work throughout the region accord ing to job needs. Al l other men a re assigned to definite stations or installations, but may work an ywhere in the region as conditions dictate. Information and Education The first major assignment involving all personnel during the past year was :icquainting the public with the de partment's legislative program. Proposed revisions of the game code-particularly those portions dealing with increased costs of fishing and small game hunting licenses--<:alled for continuous intelligent public contact. T his was accomplished through television, radio, personal appearances at meetings of all kinds, and individual contacts on the street. T he effectiveness of the regional system was clearly demonstrated in our stepped-up public relations performance . In addition to special dissemination of information on proposed legislation, programs of general information and - education we re conducted duri ng the w inter months. These consisted of slide lectures, films and discussions before sportsmen's clubs, schools, business and professional g roups. Emphasis was placed on having our conse rvation officers plan and present these programs, wi th the objective of developing them further into highl y qualified spokesmcn for thc Game and Fish depa rtme nt. A different procedure of ca rrying out in-service trai ning also was initiated within our regional set-up. Although a few classroom-type sessions were held, most instruction was through "learning by doin g," given in the field to small groups of men by supervisors or specialists. Personnel En thusiastic Seasonal jobs of beaver trapping, (ish planting, control o( predatory animals and birds were unde rtake n thi s year with a new enthusiasm due to the participation hy all hands. There are now no one-job specialists in the operational functions of the region. Every man must be familiar with all activities carried on by the department. Fish planting was started early in February in order to balance the work load over the year, and to clear the ponds and raceways at regional production units for the add itional 20-ton volume expected from Rifle Falls. Due to late snowstorms in the upper Arkansas rive r area, spring beaver 10 - �d ustrial corporation, provides good range a nd cover for elk, deer, turkey, g rouse, rabbits, and furbearers, hut with a few exceptions hunters and trappers are denied access to the area. This situation holds elsewhere t hroughout the region, with many smaller private landowners barring hunting and fish ing, or charging for the privilege. A limited budget, high prices, public apathy toward acquisition o( land by a governme nt agency, and many other factors severely cu rtail any progressi,·e program which the department might initiate. But the day of free public hunting and fish ing is practically Ill the past. Other problems in the southeast region a re those of damage by wildlife, law enforcement brought about by increased human populations, and sensible organization of sportsmen's clubs. In deal ing with the last, it is most essential tha t prope r information and guidance be given t hese groups so t hey will not misdirect t heir good intentions, efforts and money. trapping was delayed several weeks, a nd as a result the catch was less than for t he same period last year. H owever, with passage o( the new beaver law pe rmitting pri vate trapping and sale of pelts, department personnel arc now able to spend more time ma naging beave r o n public lands instead of dissipating their efforts in attempts to answer all la ndowners' com plaints of beaver nuisance and damage. W ater Problem s One of our most pressing problems is that of providing adequate fis hing waters for the steadil y mounting num bers o( fis hermen. The situation is serious for trout a nd cold water species, but is eve n more acute for warm water fish . Although all personnel are constantl y on the alert for possible impoundment sites, lakes, ponds, or streams for public acquisition, there have been discou ragi ngly few found a vailable. Some of t he proposed impoundment sires which have been surveyed and appear promising are compl icated by the terms of the Arkansas river compact between Colorado and Kansas. The department cannot expend funds to build dams and develop fishing areas if it is constantly under the obligation of releasi ng the impounded water for irrigation pu rposes. In spite of these obstacl es. the effort continues for development of fishing facilities, though sportsmen may ha ve to pay more and more dearly for this scarce, almost priceless ite m of water. Game Habitat D w ind ling Big game animals, upland game birds, and w:1terfowl also arc being sq ueezed into insufficient areas of habitat in the southeast region. The need is eve r present for purchasing or otherw ise acquiri ng winter ran ge, nesting grounds, hunting areas, access roads, and other lands necessary fo r game perpetuation. A large parcel of land in Las Animas county , owned hy a major Colorado in- F RANK SPICER Burning c leans up fence rows, also puts a further squeeze on protective bi rd cover. II �Report of Regional Coordinator Southwest Region S INCE REORGAN IZATION of the de partment on a regional basis, eve ry effort has been made in t he southwest to provide better administration of our game, h sh a nd fur resources, and bette r hunting and fishing for the gene ral pub! ic. Regionwisc our contin uing objecti ves arc : ( 1) improved law enforcement coverage; (2) fulle r data [o r ga me manageme nt pu rposes, through more e ffi cient game bird brood cou nts and study of big game range-use problems; (3 ) improved biolog ical data on lake s and streams to provide better fishstocking schedules, seasons and bag limits; ( 4) avoida nce of over-lapping e fforts in obtaini ng field data; (5) m ore efficient utili zat io n of equ ipment ; (6) more harmo ni ous worki ng relationships between divis io ns; (7) bette r fu r man;1geme nt through improved cropping of lo w-altitude beave r a nd he lle r harvesting methods en publi c lands; (8) bette r distribution of policy a nd manageme nt information to our field men and the public ; (9) anticipation of problem a reas and laying of in fo rmative g roundwork "·ith the public for bette r understanding and managem ent; ( I 0 ) making wildlife co nservation offi cer districts of proper size so that each off icer ca n ha vc ful I working k nowledge of all problem s and fun ctions within his area . Fish Culture Prod11ctio11: All fish production units in the southwest region have rece ived a l least som e ma intenan ce and re pair wo rk. Unstable bottom cond itio ns in the raceways at Cedared ge, w ith resultant fish losses. have necessitated putting in concrete. At La Jara. some increase in available water fo r prod uction purposes has been obtained by d rilling a deep a rtesian well. Co ntemplated major improvements arc a wate r collecting system at the Chipeta unit near H otchki ss, and rebuil ding of t he nurse ponds, resha ping botto ms of reari ng ponds and construction of new raceways at t he Pitk in unit. Raceways to fa cili tate planting operatio ns must c vcnlllally be constructed at Dolores. Habitat development: Sweitzer lake near Delta has bee n completed as a wa rm wate r fishing lake and stocked w ith Yarious species of warm water game fish. Considerable time and mone y ha ve bee n spen t in rejuvenating a small wa rm wate r body near Cortez k nown as Denn y la ke. In addition, alm ost t hree m iles of the Lake fork of the Gunni son ha ve been obtained for the fishin g public·s use forever by negotiation and purchase of pe rmanent fishing easements. a ve ry significan t accomplishme nt. ceded improvements of ex isting fishing wate rs are man y. Ha vila nd lake north of Durango is i 11 serious need of winte r wa ler suppl y lo el iminate winter kill. Plans call for diverting a nearby stream thro ug h the lake . T he clam o n Lo ve lake o n the l{io G ra nde is in di re - 12-- �need of repai rs. Andrews lake nea r Molas pass should be enlarged. Ragan lake on the Rio Grande is one of those frustrating bodies of water providing fantastic growth to trout during the summer months, but snuffing out fish life during the cri 1ical winter period. A supply of fresh water is needed here. Construction of two lakes in the Rio Grande area is almost a reality. These are the Trujillo Meadows impound me nt on the Los Pinos creek of the Conejos, and t he Rio Hondo above Creede. At least three other possible lake sites in this area are under study at this time. G a m e Problem s One of the g reatest th reats to wildl ife habitat, as well as a serious cause of soil erosion, is the uncontrolled invasio n of searche rs for radio-active minerals. Th is abuse has pretty much run its course in the western portions o( Dolores, San Miguel, and Montrose counties . However, the upper Gunn ison basin felt t he fu ll impact during this past spring and summer and many acres of game forage have been destroyed. J\s a result of these incursions t he Colorado Game and f-ish com miss ion in April. 1955, secured a regulation requiring all persons desiring to prospect 0 11 lands owned by the stale to obtain pen1~ission beforehand from the comm1ss1on . The Porter and Gibbs properties on 13illy creek in Ouray county have been purchased fo r the benefit of part of the Uncompa hgre deer herd. Billy creek has always been on the deer migration route, with excessive damage claims for hay resulting in thi s area. Purchase of a strip of key cluck shooting waters along the lower Conejos river has been co111plctcd . J\ flow of warm spring water, known as Sego The purchase of fishing easements on the Lake fork of the Gunnison permanently secured nearly 3 m i les of these fine waters for the pub lic fisherman. G E O HG E D . A NDR C W S -13- �power in spring trapping, less li ve trapping and transplanti ng of beaver we re necessary this past summer. This permitted men ordinarily used in trapping operations to be util ized elsewhe re. Field contacts with the sporting public were definitely above previous years, preventing much abuse of game and fish laws. Two way radios a re now standard equipment in nearly every ve hicle as e nforcement a ids. Education and Information cr:o RcC O A N OACW S The regional sys t e m has greatly im proved public contacts in the southwest. Spri ngs, enters the river on the new! y acquired property making exce llent habitat for migratory waterfowl. Ninety-ni ne per ce nt o( the rema ining portions of the Conejos arc posted to free public duck hunting . Along the Ri o G rande below Monie Vista, efforts a re being made to establish breedi ng geese populations. On state lands known as the Rio Grande game management area, a number of gosIings were released this past summer. It is hoped that these bi rds will return to the same area next su mmer as breeding adults and produce the n ucleus o[ a shootable goose population in the San Luis valley, where a number of key land acquisitions arc under survey . Trapping Simplified Partly due to Senate Bill 246 and partly to better utili zation of man - T he public is informed of our activ ities and objectives th rough radio and T V, news paper releases, movies, lectures, an d meetings wi th sportsmen's orga ni zations, civic g roups, scouts, church groups, etc. For these purposes a portable ta pe recorder is bei ng used to record on-the-spot field activities of an imals a nd wildli fe workers. A n in-service school for all personnel of the southwest region was held this past winte r at Adams State T eachers college in Alamosa. Topics were chosen according to listi ng hy field men of their weak points. Instructors were c hosen for their known ability in the field: The district attorney taught the sessions on law; an E nglish professor ca ught public speak ing . Subjects included: investigation techniq ues in law enforcement: procedure of handling court cases; iden ti fication of cold and warm water fishes of Colorado; identification of some of the beneficial and harmful hawks; fundamentals of good public speaking; relationships with the local newspape r ; departmental organization and policy; new laws affecting the department; and streamlined techniques of obtaining field data for game management purposes. A monthly newsletter has been inaugurated and goes to all field men from the regional coordinator's office. This presents the results of state and regional sta ff meetings, policy and procedures, work priorities and other information helpful to field me n in carrying out their d uties intel ligentl y in the service of the public. 14 - �Repod,'lf R~gional CQordinator PUBLIC RELATIONS and educational efforts in the northwest region have doubled under the new regional set-up, with conservation officers carrying these assignments in schools, civic clubs, and sportsmen's groups in their own districts. This has given the regional educator much more time for the in-service training program, as well as for radio, television and newspaper work. Beaver Profitable The department study of beaver conditions and habitat requirements throughout the state, and the change in the beaver law, have contributed to a greater regional harvest of this animal. Take of beaver increased between 10 and 20 per cent in the northwest region in spite of the late spring. The full pelt value now being received by the department, plus better fur prices, currently make this activity extremely worthwhile financially. Fishery Developments More comprehensive study of regional waters for stocking two-inch trout in beaver ponds and lakes may increase fishing success in all conservation officers' districts. Each officer is constantly assaying possibilities for new lake construction and stream improvements to increase productive waters. Poose lake, Dumont lake, Lake of the Woods and Heart lake are examples of increased facilities recently created in the northwest region for the fishing public. Several additional new sites for lake development have been engineered and will be constructed as soon as funds are available. Research on planting and survival of one to four-inch trout in our larger streams and lakes, and increased production and planting are prime objectives. New feeds, cheaper either in methods of preparation, initial cost, or both, are needed to enable us to produce a higher tonnage of legal-size trout with present income. Improved ways of sorting and handling fish, study of various hatchery diseases that kill a large number of fish each year, and a greatly expanded distribution program permitting waters to be stocked more frequently are additional current objectives. Use of the airplane in planting fingerling trout has greatly reduced our costs and increased the number of waters planted during the year. The Rifle Falls hatchery and rearing unit is completed and will increase greatly the fish stocking not only in the northwest region but throughout the state. A new raceway at the Finger Rock unit is expected to help fish production at that installation. The Little Hills rearing unit and the Glenwood hatchery, units of low production and high costs, have been closed or placed on a standby basis. Conservation officers have planted and sorted fish, fin-clipped and tagged them for identification, and helped -15- �with suggestions for greater anJ 1non; economical operation at all rearing units. Fisheries personnel a nd othe rs have helped with law enforcement, beaver trappi ng, and game management work when the work load at their units has pe rmitted , and have spent even more time on such acti vities during their offduty hours. Game Resear ch ( ; amc management studies on availabil ity of public lands, grouse and pheasant counts, and resea rch on deer and elk problems have been increased. It is planned to sta rt immediately lO improve small game populations, habitats, anJ shooting grounds. Bird hunting considerations- grouse, pheasant, chukar, quail , and migratory waterfowl- are getting the most atte ntion. C hukar were stocked at Parachute crcek, at Little Hills, Brown·s park , Plateau creek, and Prairie canyon. The construction of water developments in arid sections may increase the numbers of th<;sc birds, as well as of quail, pheasant, and g rouse. GEOR GI! 0 Turkey over-population in the Glenwood ca nyon area means that transplanting of these birds must be made to other areas throughout the northwest. Deer numbers are still too great for their winter range, making heavy seasons and liberal bag limits more urgent than ever. While the elk population appears to be on the increase, heavy huming has scattered these animals until few, if any, actual problem areas remain , except where the re arc haystacks and in a n occasional high mountain park. D am age P roblem s Conside rable time and effort of: regional personnel must be spent in deer damage control-supplying fence materials and labor, and mak ing damage payments. Control requests increase every year and must sometime reach a saturation poi nt, from the standpoints both of departmental fin,mccs and of sportsman-rancher relationships. The placing of all regional personnel under one coordinator has definitely led to much more efficient work accomplishments, by permitting the shifting of personnel to wherever the g reatest load exists within the region. ANORCW 5 Providing fencing mate rials and labor, in answer to inc reasing request s fr o m landowne rs fo r game control, requires more and more tim e and effort from pe rsonnel in the northwe s t r egio n . - 16 - �Business Administration DECENTRALIZAREGIONAL TION of department field operations resulted in some headaches for business administration along with the predominating benefits for game and fish management as a whole. Setting up the work program and preparation of the budget were considerably complicated by the change-over. However, after the four regional coordinators have administered their regions for a complete fiscal year and all expenditures have been properly charged to each for the period, we should be in much better position to prepare an accurate budget. Additional costs incurred in setting up the regional system have been offset by substantial reductions in longdistance telephone calls and trips to the Denver office by field personnel. Moreover, expectations that decentralization would provide more effective contact with local communities, resulting in greatly improved public relations, have been amply justified. License Revenue Up Interesting facts are revealed by the revenue statement for this year. It is surprising to note that total resident fishing and small game hunting revenue, which includes some sales at the new increased license rates as provided in H. B. 131, is 2.3 per cent below the total revenue received last year from the same source. Probably, however, this drop will be more than compensated by resident small game license sales after July 1, 1955. All other revenues from the sale of hunting licenses are higher than last year, the largest percentage of increase being in mountain sheep licenses, up 41.4 per cent. Antelope licenses are higher by 28.4 per cent; turkey, by 24.8 per cent; resident elk, by 16.3 per cent. All others are up between five and eight per cent. The only other items of revenue showing considerable change are fines and convictions, down 30.6 per cent. This drop may be attributed to two factors: liability for false arrest before coverage by insurance was arranged for, and reduction of minimum fines to $10. The departmental cash balance as of June 30, 1955, was $2,405,262.22 which is $587,314.26 less than the balance shown for fiscal 1954. This reduction may be attributed almost entirely to construction costs of the Rifle Falls hatchery and rearing unit which totalled nearly $1,000,000. Duplicate License Problems Section III of H. B. 131, providing for the sale of duplicate licenses at 25 per cent of the original license fees, has caused continuous difficulty. License buyers and agents make so many errors in computing the 25 per cent factor that a large number of applications must be returned for correction. These remittances in odd amounts are cum- -17- �C . 0. TO L MAN Biggest increase shown last year was in lice nses for pursuit of thi s qua rry. be rso1m: lO handle on t he summary sheets, since :111 additional ledger colum n m ust be provided for each type of dupli cate license. This complication costs the department more to administe r than is received in additional reenue. ,\ bill submitted to the next session o[ the legislature setting a flat fee fo r a ll duplicate Ii ce n ses would reduce chances for error a nd g reatl y expe d ite handling of the item s on ou r revenue records. A fla t fee of $ 1.50 for eac h d u plicate li cense is rea sonable and would cover all department costs m curred. Jt is inte resting to note t ha t fees fo r stamps permitting use of a n add itiona l fishing rod amounted to $ 11 :1s of June 30, 1955. Costs to the departme nt unde r H . B. 333 providi ng for payment o( equi vale nt fees, in lieu of taxes, to cou nty school funds a rc unknown at this time . I t was o riginally estimated that such costs woul cl fall between $ 15,000 and $20,000. Undou bte dl y it w ill be necessa ry to check each county's assessments of Game and Fish depa rtme nt lands wi Ll1 assessments o n simil:ir prope rty unde r private owne rship to determ ine w hether or not t he assessm ents a re comparable. T he new higher license fees should increase a nnual reven ue to the departme nt by approximately o ne-ha!( million dollars. In the face o( eve r mounting demands from the public for generall y increased hunting and fis hing facilities, this increased revenue is an absolute necessity if the present expansio n rate of the game a nd fish program is to be projected success( ull y into the futu re . Hunting and Fishi ng Li cense Sales (By Calen dar Years) TYPE OF LICENSE Number Resident fishing and small game................. 281 ,700 Resident alien.................................................. 448 Resident deer ................................ ................. 93,740 Resident elk........................... 16, 185 Resi dent mountain sheep................................ 169 Resident turkey................................ ................ 653 Resident antelope.............................. 3,454 Resident trappers....................... 1,187 Nonresident 5•doy fishing.............................. 93,722 Nonresi dent fishi ng .............................._, .... ... 8,509 Nonresident bir d and sma ll game.................. 1,3 19 Nonresident deer ............................................ 15,678 Nonresident elk ................ ..... ............. 3,2 15 Nonresident trappers ...................................... 2 Duplicate elk........... .. ........................ TOTAL LICENSES AND REVENUE...... .. ..519,981 * Net afte r deduction of o;:ents' commissions - JS-- 1953 Revenue* S 774,748.00 1,232.75 679,639.00 157,818.75 4,225.00 3,104.25 34,540.00 3,268.50 257,736.50 82,963.75 12,862.00 623,207.75 159,948.50 19.50 Number 284,030 382 98,902 18,834 239 815 4,633 930 94,497 8,820 1,334 16,503 3,467 3 S2,795,3 14.25 533,390 1954 Revenue* s 78 1,156.00 1,050.00 717,086.75 185,814.50 5,975.00 3,872.25 40,330.00 2,562.00 259,869.00 86,00 1.50 13,009.00 655,994.00 172,714.00 75.00 10.00 S2,925,5 19.50 �Statelllent of Receipts July 1, 1954, Through June 30, 1955 Fiscal Year 1953-1954 as of June 30, 1954 Resident fur dealers................................ $ Guide licenses.......................................... Resident fishing & small game (Old)...... Resident fishing & small game {New) ... . Resident fishing only ............................... . Resident small game hunting only ......... . Resident alien fishing.............................. Nonresident fishing ............................:..... Nonresident 5-day fishing (Old)............ Nonresident 5•day fishing (New) ............ Nonresident bird & small game ............. . Resident deer ......................................... . Resident elk ............................................. . Nonresident deer..................................... . Nonresident elk ....................................... . Resident turkey ....................................... . Resident trapper ..................................... . Nonresident trapper............................... . Resident antelope ................................... . Mountain sheep....................................... . Duplicate licenses ................................... . Importers ............................................... . Lake licenses ........................................... . Preserve licenses..................................... . Refuge permits ....................................... . Seining permits ....................................... . Storage permits ....................................... . Taxidermists ............................................ Transportation permits ........................... . Field trials............................................... . Scientific permits ..................................... . Importation permits ............................... . Specimen permits .................................... Bird park licenses................................... . Quadruped park licenses....................... . Nonresident fur dealers ......................... . Transfer fees ........................................... . Sales-hides (except beaver) ................. . Sales-livestock ....................................... . Sales-supplies & materials................... . Sales-hides (beaver) ............................. . State ............................................... . Landowners & private sales ........... . Sales-beaver seals ................................ . Sales-equipment ................................... . Additional rod stamp ............................. . Rents from land...................................... Fines & convictions.................................. Refunds of expenditures.......................... Overage agents reports.......................... 398.50 1,725.00 901,128.00 1,272.00 94,530.00 285,612.00 13,320.00 703,050.00 161,860.00 627,120.00 160,750.00 3,265.00 3,408.00 50.00 34,540.00 4,225.00 20.00 250.00 1,386.00 229.00 18.25 105.00 8.00 235.00 540.00 65.70 23.50 63.00 7.00 423.00 260.00 51.00 8.00 1,456.04 78.00 4,748.08 $ 532.00 2,025.00 553,392.00 } 167,650.00 159,492.00 274.00 681.00 91,440.00 267,318.00 } 15,256.50 13,330.00 741,765.00 188,340.00 660,160.00 173,300.00 4,075.00 2,781.00 25.00 44,280.00 5,975.00 170.00 300.00 1,417.00 127.00 7.00 96.00 2.00 225.00 544.00 (3.3) (2.1} 5.5 16.3 5.2 7.8 24.8 28.4 41.4 18.70 43.00 7.00 463.00 90.00 50.00 14.00 2,00S.5S 100.00 1,929.00 321.00 39,697.28 1,581.53 247.45 Total Game Cash ............ $3, 100,666.58 $3,228,687.00 170.00 (2.3) 66.15 20,599.30 56,926.30 640.00 6,392.83 11.00 328.88 27,569.50 14,086.59 2,366.70 Less: Commission on license sales............ 13,911.45 38,509.80 Fiscal Year 1954•1955 as of June 30, 1955 Per Cent Increase or (Decrease) Fiscal Year 54.55 Over Fiscal Year 53.54 (30.6} 4.1 134,218.00 122,844.25 (8.5) Net Game Cash .............. $2,966,448.58 $3,105,842.75 4.6 -19- �Statelllent of Expenditures July 1, 1954--June 30, 1955 (From 1954-1955 Appropriations) General Administration A Commissioners ..................... . Director ................................ $ 13,391.00 Assistant Director.................. 11,554.91 Regional Coordinators.......... 14,813.16 $ 39,759.07 B 4,735.71 2,808.34 1,797.17 $ C $ 4,959.52 26.00 152.11 301.05 4,481.77 $ Total 4,761.71 16,351.45 13,653.13 24,254.45 4,960.93 $ 59,020.74 7,083.63 1,805.56 841.84 351.00 435.91 177.31 2,472.70 376.50 19,364.75 $ 34,159.52 47,348.10 29,660.81 28,281.73 22,500.99 13,241.25 25,823.95 $ 32,909.20 $259,322.42 7,309.46 $131,201.33 14,577.38 $ 55,376.59 $ 7,309.46 $145,778.71 $ 14,300.74 $ Business Management Business Manager.................. $ Accounting ............................ license & Revenue................ Property & Supply................ Garage .................................. Warehouse ............................ Office Maint. & Oper........... Personnel .............................. Federal Aid Automotive....... . Cessna ................................. . 9,964.55 42,471.73 20,403.25 26,226.23 17,282.00 10,159.75 10,350.83 14,106.51 $ 17,111.34 3,070.81 8,415.72 1,704.50 4,783.08 2,904.19 13,000.42 982.39 20,050.03 3,425.89 $150,964.85 $ 75,448.37 Education ..............................$ 75,158.29 Radio & News........................ 7,934.37 $ 48,733.58 6,643.01 $ 15,465.40 39,414.78 3,425.89 Conservation-Education $ 83,092.66 $ Game Management Administration ...................... $ 92,142.53 Evergreen .............................. 175.00 Game Bird Farm.................... 7,517.00 little Hills ............................. . Tarryall ............................... . Trapper's Lake ..................... . Gunnison .............................. 26.84 Tamarack ............................. . Two Buttes ........................... . Seeding Project..................... . Game Damage Control.......... 14,109.06 $ 42,015.06 1,103.40 5,523.99 1,818.89 3,466.29 36.77 1,252.15 32.69 387.72 3,116.46 19,493.41 $ 20,235.56 300.65 861.25 $154,393.15 1,278.40 13,137.03 4,370.89 4,250.35 36.77 1,284.54 32.69 387.72 3,417.11 34,463.72 $113,970.43 $ 78,246.83 $ 24,835.11 $217,052.37 4,960.45 $ 22,542.35 2,619.72 2,396.80 1,805.45 $ 36,607.80 81,527.55 59,660.63 45,955.99 96.04 2,552.00 784.06 5.55 Law Enforcement Administration ...................... $ District 1.................................. District 11 ................................ District Ill .............................. District IV.............................. District V ................................ District VI .............................. 9,105.00 63,774.28 $ 44,842.44 15,133.55 12,421.39 34,908.00 29,442.03 33,525.23 36,584.50 13,084.98 7,480.34 8,563.97 2,447.95 44,974.96 1,285.54 1,321.75 42,291.11 46,470.22 $252,181.48 $ 70,887.22 $ 34,419.56 $357,488.26 572.00 4,573.22 690.85 2,575.39 1,989.65 3,917.52 2,910.00 8.80 $ 19,998.63 29,337.93 22,918.68 28,646.46 28,641.73 27,493.93 42,427.87 14,418.86 9,242.54 Fur Resources Administration ...................... $ District 1.................................. District 11................................ District Ill .............................. District IV.............................. District V ................................ District VI.............................. District VI A.......................... 9,329.00 19,608.00 16,837.00 18,863.90 22,039.75 18,847.50 31,663.29 12,060.00 $149,248.44 $ 10,097.63 5,156.71 5,390.83 7,207.17 4,612.33 4,728.91 7,854.58 2,350.06 $ $ 47,398.22 $ 17,237.23 $213,884.09 -20- �Fish Management B C $ 19,443.73 $ 11,966.31 A Administration ...................... $ Pathology ............................. . Transportation ..................... . Const. Maint .......................... . Bellvue ................................. . Bel-Aire Rearing ................... . Buena Vista ........................... . Cedaredge ........................... . Haviland Lake ....................... . Chalk Cliffs............................ Chipeta .................................. Bonny Dam............................ Coaldale .............................. Crystal River.......................... Denver .................................. Dolores .................................. Durango ................................ Estes Park.............................. Finger Rock............................ Glenwood .................. .... ........ Las Animas ........................ La Jara.................................. Leadville ................................ Little Hills.............................. Monument Lake...................... North Fork Thompson............ Pitkin .................................... Poudre .................................. Red Feather Lakes................ Rifle Lakes.............................. Rio Grande............................ Ryan ...................................... Rye .................. ...................... Walden .................................. Wray .................................... Fish Research.......................... 47,690.14 4,788.00 8,984.00 22,409.26 12,067.51 8,225.53 11,973.00 12,119.50 11,909.21 13,506.25 1,351.50 3,504.00 16,726.41 39,903.41 9,948.00 16,339.00 10,161.06 10,891.00 7,016.00 2,527.00 13,654.00 6,661.00 500.87 1,689.00 11,524.63 17,070.00 7,911.31 200.00 26,019.71 15,599.00 18.00 10,442.25 9,769.00 10,437.25 43,473.30 $447,009. l 0 645.05 4,347.64 11,724.44 8.55 132.30 165.00 10,971.30 13,089.23 11,164.86 13,475.01 9,397.32 15,177.33 87.83 23,834.45 18,437.43 801.41 32,721.56 29,698.90 14,898.66 17,324.78 11,230.51 21,374.73 7,833.92 87.11 11,804.74 4,033.73 4.63 211.79 12,747.97 31,305.92 23,592.85 1,135.72 101,924.29 10,963.33 2,118.93 12.79 246.38 339.46 297.00 96.75 493.70 11,767.37 679.04* 591.56 264.08 223.66 581.62 383,860.18 8,202.79 8,731.24 17,392.90 17,015.57 $520,762.59 973.86 263.70 3,093.64 Total $ 79,100.18 5,433.05 24,302.94 47,222.93 23,240.92 21,832.84 21,535.32 27,296.83 87.83 37,862.59 31,956.47 1,597.88 4,305.41 49,447.97 69,941.77 25,143.66 33,760.53 21,885.27 32,265.73 14,849.92 2,614.11 37,226.11 10,694.73 173.54* 1,900.79 24,864.16 48,640.00 31,727.82 1,917.34 511,804.18 26,562.33 18.00 19,618.90 18,500.24 28,093.85 63,582.51 $432,889.88 $1,400,661.57 *Indicates red figures A B State's share to retirement ........... . Workmen's comp. ins. prem ........ . Beaver reimbursements................. . Cooperative fish ........................... . Cooperative game ......................... . Trout culture station...................... Warm water fish-Adm ................ . Warm water fish-Capital ........... . Contingent funds ........................... . Predatory animal control... .......... . Pittman-Robertson matching ......... . Dingell-Johnson matching ............. . Refunds of income ....................... . Hunting & fishing rights............... . License relief ................................. . Game damage awards ................. . C NOT CLASSIFIED BY TYPE OF EXPENDITURE Total $ 56,032.84 8,000.00 16,956.23 5,388.30 5,080.92 425,000.00 69,285.33 40,070.73 11,755.93 49,568.42 107,959.72 29,060.62 1,188.91 185.00 4,495.79 6,550.95 $836,579.69 Total of all expenditures.............................................................. $3,489,787.85 -21- �Balance Sheets June 30, 1955 Game Cash Fund ASSETS Current Assets Cash Cash on deposit-State Treasurer....................................... . $2,405,262.22 Receivables Accounts receivable-Justices of the Peace ........................ $ Accounts receivable-License agents .................................... Due from Other Funds Federal aid revolving fund ................................................. . 2,181.49 740.00 2,921.49 4,869.06 Total Current Assets ................................................... . $2,413,052.77 Other Assets Investment in stores revolving fund .................................... $ 250,000.00 Investment in federal aid revolving fund............................ 500,000.00 $ 750,000.00 Deferred Expenses Deposits in postage meter machine ................................... . Small tools and expendable equipment............................. . 1,354.62 85,202.09 $ 86,556.71 Property, Plant and Equipment Farm and garden equipment .............................................. $ 121,352.72 General plant equipment ................................................... . 390,384.28 29,721.11 Household furniture & eqcipment..................................... . 15,782.00 Laboratory equipment......................................................... . 25,298.88 Library and instructional equipment ................................. . Motor vehicles & equipment............................................... . 827,776.85 Office furniture & equipment............................................. . 102,034.92 202.70 Recreation equipment ......................................................... . 23,220.41 Shop machinery & equipment ............................................. . 43,126.85 Camping equipment ........................................................... . Air equipment ..................................................................... . 371.00 2,600.00 Remodeling, major repairs & replacement of structures... . Building & structures........................................................... . 2,090,323.00 land & non•structural improvements ................................. . 855,688.51 Sub-total ...................................................................... $4,527,883.23 Equity in federal aid property, plant & equipment............ 332,256.70 $4,860,139.93 Budgetary and Other Fund Resources Estimated revenues .............................................................. $3,338,690.00 Revenues-cash items .......................... $3,210,889.03* Revenues-non-cash items.................. 58,869.36 $3,152,019.67 $ 186,670.33 TOTAL ASSETS ................................................................ $8,296,419.74 *Indicates red figures LIABILITIES Current Liabilities Payables Accounts payable-landowners ............................................ $ 15,364.10 531.05 Accounts payable-license agents ..................................... . 2,408.48 Accounts payable-state general fund ............................... . Accounts payable-encumbrances ....................................... . 287,289.80 12,386.05 Accrued payrolls ................................................................. . *Indicates red figures -22- $ 317,979.48 �Due to other funds Stores revolving fund .......................................................... $ Federal aid revolving fund ................................................. . Colorado conservation fund ............................................... . 61,276.13 7,141.65 30.00 Total Current Liabilities .............................................. $ 68,447.78 $ 386,427.26 Budgetary and Other Fund Obligations Appropriations-current year Personal services.................................. $1,316,363.00 Maintenance and operations.............. 1,032,161.00 Capital outlay...................................... 720,333.00 Special funds ...................................... 1,183,212.57 $4,252,069.57 Prior years Personal services.................................. $ 14,149.03 Maintenance and operations............. . 264,187.68 Capital outlay ...................................... 18,740.55 Special funds ..................................... . 121,725.04 $ 418,802.30 Expenditures-cash items Operating expense.............................. $2,655,450.16* Capital outlay .................................... 1,139,731.54* $3,795, 181.70* Expenditures-non-cash items Operating expense .............................. $ Capital outlay ................................... . $ 88,261.75* 1,932.89* Encumbrances Operating expense .............................. $ 156,720.30* Capital outlay.................................... 130,569.50* $4,670,871.87 90,194.64* $ 287,289.80* $4, 172,666.14 * Reserves and Surplus Reserve for working capital... ............................................. $ 750,000.00 Unappropriated surplus ...................................................... 1,801,646.82 Surplus invested in fixed assets .......................................... 4,860,139.93 $7,411,786.75 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS.................................. $8,296,419.74 * Indicates red figures. Federal Aid Revolving Fund ASSETS $ 352,000.65 Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer............................. . DingellJohnson PittmanRobertson Receivables: Due from federal government............................ $ 22,381.24 Due from game cash fund.................................. $ 242.02 7,141.65 $ 22,623.26 7,141.65 Unbilled advances: Due from federal government............................ *-6,050.98 97,384.04 468.15 -6,050.98 97,852.19 Due from game cash fund.................................. 32,461.35 156.06 32,617.41 Property, plant and equipment ................................. . Estimated revenues on projects in process................. . Unallocated appropriated funds-New projects........ 229,183.80 996,770.12 541,131.49 37,847.88 TOTAL ASSETS ........................................................................$2,044,085.79 * Balance on transfer of equipment to be cleared by purchase of land. -23- �LIABILITIES Reserve for encumbrances: Pittman• Robertson Due to game cash fund ................................................ $ 4,869.06 $ 76,556.92 $ 4,869.05 Dingell• Johnson Due to revolving fund ................................................. . Equity of game cash fund ........................................... . Surplus invested in fixed assets ................................. . Appropriations availableTotal allotments.................................................... $844,983.00 Less: Expenditures to date .................................. 458,546.69 1,315.12 500,000.00 996,770.12 $265,322.00 110,626.82 Sub-total .............................................................. $386,436.31 Less: Encumbrances outstanding.................................. 11,803.11 154,695.18 64,753.81 Net: Appropriations available.................................... 374,633.20 89,941.37 Appropriations available-new projects: From anticipated revenues.................................. 416,823.65 109,847.88 Less: Current project appropriations .................. 196,600.00 72,000.00 Sub-total ...................................................... 220,223.65 Add: Unused balances on completed projects.... 8,960.15 37,847.88 Net: Appropriations available ............................ 229,183.80 37,847.88 464,574.57 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS ..........................................$2,044,085.79 SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Farm and garden equipment .............................................................................................. $ General plant equipment................................................................................................... . Household furniture & equipment..................................................................................... . Laboratory equipment......................................................................................................... . Library and instructional equipment ................................................................................... . Motor vehicles & equipment ............................................................................................... . Office furniture & equipment ............................................................................................. . Recreation equipment ......................................................................................................... . ~:C:pi~;c:;:~m~n~~~'.~:~~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Air equipment ..................................................................................................................... . Remodeling, major repairs & replacement of structures ................................................... . Building & structures ........................................................................................................... . Land & non•structural improvements to land .................................................................... . 18,086.39 21,602.46 7,093.5~ 1,830.10 2,898.15 30,118.32 12,334.87 42.00 2,634.30 8,597.32 88.25 5,757.00 418,149.34 799,794.82 TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT (100%) ....................$1,329,026.82 Distribution Game cash fund-25% ................................................................................................ $ 332,256.70 Federal aid revolving fund-75%.............................................................................. 996,770.12 $1,329,026.82 Note: At the time expenditures are made for items of a "Capital Outlay" nature, they are charged to project accounts on the Federal Aid Revolving Fund accounts. They are later billed 25% to the Department of Game and Fish and 75% to the federal government. Thus, when a project is completed and payment is received in the above proportions, the project is closed, leaving no record of property, plant and equipment items. So the above memorandum accounts have been set up to keep a record thereof because, while the federal government's manual says the properties adually belong to the Department of Game and Fish, their use is restricted to federal aid projects only. Thus, any property to be used exclusively on department projects must be purchased from federal aid at the current book values. -24- �Colorado Conservation Fund Assets Cash on deposit-State Treasurer.......................................................................................... $19,815.39 Due from other funds-game cash fund................................................................................ 30.00 $19,845.39 Liabilities Accounts payable .................................................................................................................... $ 1,229.70 Subscriptions p:iid in advance .............................................................................................. 12,999.11 Surplus .................................................................................................................................. 5,616.58 $19,845.49 Statement of Operations Year-to-Date June 30, 1955 Subscriptions earned ...................................................................................................... $19,006.49 Income Total income ............... :............................................................................................ 19,006.49 Expense Printing Postage Supplies Refunds .......................................................................................................................... $13, 158.00 .......................................................................................................................... 2,000.00 ........................................................................................................................ 50.70 of subscriptions................................................................................................ 3.00 Total expense .......................................................................................................... $15,211.70 Net of operations...................................................................... $ 3,794.79 Fishing Easement Fund Assets Cash on deposit-State Treasurer .......................................................................................... $ 2,487.23 Property, plant & equipment................................................................................................ 723.46 Total assets...................................................................................................................... $ 3,210.69 Liabilities Accounts payable .................................................................................................................... $ 2,001.52 Surplus invested in fixed assets............................................................................................ 723.46 Surplus ............................................................................................................................. ..... 485.71 Total liabilities & surplus .............................................................................................. $ 3,210.69 Statement of Operations Year-to-Date June 30, 1955 Transferred from game cash fund ............................................................................... . Income Total income ................................................................................................................... . Expense Repairing & servicing property .................................................................................... $ 1,293.99 Rents .............................................................................................................................. 5,012.66 Total expense .......................................................................................................... $ 6,306.65 Net of operations ...................................................................... $ 6,306.65* * Indicates red figures -25- �Stores Revolving Fund Assets Cash on deposit-State Treasurer............................................................... . $117,799.87 Due from other funds: Bonny Dam fund .................................................................................. $ 21.11 Game Cash fund .................................................................................... 61,276.13 Federal aid revolving fund.................................................................... 1,315.12 $ 62,612.36 Inventories: Stores on hand ...................................................................................... $69 ,201.15 Stores in transit .................................................................................... 38,018.87 107,220.02 Total assets ..............................................................................$287,632.25 Liabilities Accounts payable .................................................................................................................... $ 37,632.25 Equity of game cash fund........................................................................................................ 250,000.00 Total liabilities ................................................................................ $287,632.25 Note: This fund will have neither income nor expenses and, hence, no statement of operations. Bonny Dam Revolving Fund Assets Cash on deposit-State Treasurer .......................................................................................... $ 602.83 Property, plant & equipment .................................................................................................. 1,731.68 Tota I assets........................................................................................................................ $2,334.51 Liabilities Due to stores revolving fund .................................................................................................... $ 21.11 Surplus invested in fixed assets .................................................................................. ............ 1,731.68 Surplus .................................................................................................................................... 581.72 Total liabilities & surplus ................................................................................................ $2,334.51 Statement of Operations Year-to-Date June 30, 1955 Boat permits...................................................................................................................... $ 650.00 Sales-farm products........................................................................................................ 1,153.00 • Rents-land ...................................... .................................................................... ............ 1,005.36 Income Total income ......................................................................................... _................... $2,808.36 Expenses Supplies & materials ........................................................................................................ $ 704.39 Wages of laborers........................................................................................................... 2,212.85 Total expense............................................................................................................ $2,917.24 Net of operations........................................................................ $ 108.88* * Indicates red figures -26- �SOME OF THE MOST drastic changes affecting organization and personnel functions in Game and Fish department history occurred during the fiscal year just passed. Of first importance was the switch from statewide administration under the Denver office to the new regional system with most of the field operations administered directly by regional coordinators answering straight to the director and assistant director of the department. The four coordinators are responsible for the over-all game and fish programs in their quarters of the state, with federal aid and fish research the only functions not included. Each coordinator has answering direcd y to him a regional fish manager, regional game manager, regional conservation officer, regional educator and regional fur manager, with each of these responsible for the activities of his particular section. Services Improved To date the regional system has brought about many improvements in the department's ability to serve the sportsman and the general public, and should continue to do so under the able leadership of the men appointed to· fill the new positions. Appointees were selected after many hours of reviewing, analyzing and comparing qualifications of personnel within the department applying in response to a general memorandum to all employees. Another significant change combines formerly specialized and separated warden, trapper and game damage control functions under the new position of wildlife conservation officer. The objective here is a multi-purpose officer whose capabilities and duties range from law enforcement and trapping to the increasingly important fields of public relations and conservation education. Substantially improved performance in these fields already is definitely attributable to the broadened qualifications and activities of wildlife conservation officers. Last year the personnel office processed over 350 separate actions covering the creation of positions, abolishment of positions, certified appointments, provisional appointments, acting provisional appointments, resignations, retirements, classification of new positions, classification reviews, military leaves, transfers, promotions and leaves without pay. Also classification questionnaires were written for 74 new positions and 15 classification reviews. Nine new class specifications were written and 14 existing class specifications were revised. The number of applicants for employment appearing in person remained fairly constant, between six and eight a day. The number of requests by mail for employment information steadily increased; over 400 such requests were received and answered during the past year. -27- �P aper Work Problems i'vlore anJ more time is retiuired in pa yroll processing and record keeping. This is due in part to increased departme nt pe rsonnel, but al so results largely from the processing and recording required by such factors as state and federal taxes, re m dcductions, ann ual pa y increases, retirem e nt fund deductions, e m ployees· assoc iation me mberships. Hlue Cross, credit associati on. U.S. sa,·i ngs bo nds. em pl o yecs' protecti ,·e associati o n, United Funds. new appointme nts, promotio ns and resig nations. The personnel office has also bee n made responsible fo r setting up and supervising t he entire personal -serv ices h uJget for the Came :ind Fish de partment. These fun ctions toget he r w ith supcr,·ising t he everyday routines of the me rit rating plan, personnel files and srn ff ing patte rns; maintaining liai son with the Civil Se rvice commission. Governor ·s office, state retire ment board and workme n's com pensation fund ; and scn ·ing o n v:irious legislati ve and ot he r appointi ve committees, ha ve set a full schedule for the pe rsonnel off icer. The coming year should be equall y full for the entire office in continui ng efforts to improve the over-all program and performance of pe rso nnel with in t he de partment. Combining many formerly separate and special ized functi ons unde r the new wildlife conservatio n o fficer has much improved our se rvices to the public. CEORGC O - 28- A ND R EW S �LEGISLATURE P,oviif•t. I e 9 • I f, • .,...work, "'•~M •ppropri•tion1-. Organization Chart July 1, 1955 Pion,, ONJG•ttrc, Oftd d1,cct1. "'"'''G"' of ~poftfflc-At ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Suptn11-t'I f1tffCtlO• of DePQP1'MCfll. IU51N!55 AD..,INISTU TION BU51NE55 MANAGll Pio,.,. dc-~lop, ot1d p,o .. du 1,tott OU•\tOf't((' on 9C'ftffOI buOfttU. occo""t•"9 and ad ,,.,11rttrot11(' 1111onr,1, Head, C('""GI bu,,.,n, cftt<t' C0N51RVATl0" ID~ ATION 01Vl510N EDUCATION INFORMATION MANAGIR Pia"\. d(•clop, end pro• P!150NN!l DM510N PIRSONN[l MANAGIR Pto111,, dt•C'lop1, ot1d pro,,do \folf OU•\fO"CC 01'1 O(f\Oft 111c-l molter, Adf'l•••ncrt CHIEF WARDEN Plant. dt•tloP\ and p,o•ldn 1taff on,110~~ o• depart- HdU \IOU OU•UOfl-C~ Oft dt , .. ,1 ,crocC' p,09rom I HD!RAl AID DIVISION HO(RAL AID COOlDINATOR Plans, dr•rklp,. and pta•9dH ,.... "'c•fs la• c1do,cc-tncnt pro- pGUffl(',if"t, cdw(OhO,.·lllfOt• fflOhcft c,,04,oM Fill RESOURCES DIVISI N SUPT. FUR R(SOUlC(S Plo•s. dc•tloP1 on.d pro••du stctf ms,sta11n on dcpott. meat·, flllt' rncurtn S,tO• 9,00, staff OHl\fGIIU 011 o•t•-all P R program and D J. dt•tlopml'nt pt09,a1111 ASSISTANT flD[RAL AID COORDINATOR NORTIICAST l[GIONAl GAM[ ANO FISH COORDINATOR Mon~Qu all r<q1011of 9G"'t and t,,h Cp(tOhOflll 1\'hl0"((' R[GIO,.Al CONS(RVA r,o .. OlflClR ..,.t u .. c-111,,c o.. d ..-o,n,c ra,.,c ol •cc i;,d~ S11p<h•H\ h'j•:..ncl lo• tfllci,um(ntptcq,o'" PURCHASING 5[CTION REQUISITION OfflCIR S"prru\O r;roccu,.,9 c,t n, h Ma111aqes •El reqiool 9ame ••d li1h ope,atioftt.. op•t•t.0111-, Ma11a9e-1 .U re9io11•I 9ame al'ld fit.h ope-rat•oM. RIGIONAl CON51RVA TION OJJIC!l RIGIONAl i:ONSllVA. TION OJJICER S'-''1~huo uq•.i.,ol low c11fo,umc11t proq1an1 Swpc-101,« rc,,o•al tow rnfMcr111,rnt p,09,0111 RIGIONAl CONSUVA, TION OFFICER rtgaoftOI low S.,pcntHs ofhc,r and SIG• pc-, •orl for dtpcrt• tw111', Ft4t-nt1 Atd pro. "''" ASSISTANT F!DIIAL AID COORDINATOR S.pc-nrt,irt f,dd pros«lt for dcpof1MC"f'lt·, Ftdtrol AM! pro,,om rtw0rch "°''°"' FISH RlSEARCH SECTION SUPT. FISH llSIAlCH S.pcnl'IN trout rt-ucrch "°'"'"' WARM WATIR FISH SECTION SUPT. WARM WAHR FISH Supthi1C'I dtpo,t-,.,.,·, we,,. wcttr t,,h produc• o•cf rntc1rth p,o- Su~f"'IUS tio• ,ro., t'fllOrtC'ffll'ftf s,,og,a,n NURSERYMAN Ill Suptf'l•1-H oll PROPERTY CONTROl SECTION PROPIRTY AND SUPPLY OfflCIR S1.1~<HI\('\ M•111•9H aU ,eqiOft•I qaffle SOUTHWEST REGIONAl GAME ANO FISH COORDINATOR :)f olll1un,c-b-ot"-1irctc•pt Ol'ld rt-ccrd,,.9 p"rcho,u SOUTH[AS1' lCGIONAL GAM( AND FISH COORDINATOR •"d li,h ll(tN5E REVENUE SECTION ~ur,t,·•1\(S NOUHWIST lCGIONAl GAM( AND FISH COORDINATOR FISH MANAGIMINT VI I N FISH MANAGU Plo•1. de•cloo, ,jlld p,o,tdn ooff ontU011Cr Oft dtportMC•t·s 11111 fflCl"°9C11tt•t ond REGIONAL FISH MANAGER REGIONAl FISH MANAGER REGIONAl FISH MANAGER RlGIONAL FISH MANAGER !.-,prr.uo uq,onol 1,,h r,,odwct,ottundd,,tt1b11 l•t-" pn,qro"' S11pcru1,n fC91onal f11h prod11chc" ond d,,1,,bw rc-910,,ial fnh produchoft Ofld d11.tr1bi,ho11 pro9ro111 Supcruit1 rc-9,0,ial f11,h produc1to111 and d1st1tbu- RlGIONAl GAMl MANAGIR Supc•••ut. •~9•0110I qomc fl'CUlf(l"IOft((' u,u!\ co•(""9 de port""r .. ,, uucnton- '"0"09cmct1t ond dom o;,c t;>111tol pto9rom RIGIONAl IDUCATOR rc;q•onol '" tounot,u" 011d rJutorion Sup(h11,o t10A p,09,om REGIONAL GAME M,\NAGIR Supt''9lU'\ rcg,011ol9amt mo-.09(mt11t and dom ai.:- <onrrol p,ogrom S11pChlU"l RfGIONAl GAM( MANAG(R Swp,th1\n rc•t•onol qome mana9cme-nt oAd dom 01.:- control pro-gram RlGIONAL EDUCATOR REGIONAl EDUCATOR tcg,ot1ol '" formof,011 at1d cdi,COll<in Sl!P<'"'''~' 51.11>,hllC\ V"Oqto"' hon program RlGIONAl GAME MANAGER Super ..1tsrt91ol'IOlgame "'onogement Of'ld damDil.:' control program fcrfflohon o"d cdi,co11on proqram program ,,.. for TIAN SPORT ATION SECTION VIHICLC OPUATOR II Supttuu, tro,i1portott0• of 1111ppl1t'1 and tquip- ,,.,..,., CO,~STIUCTION AND MAINTINANC( SECTION CONSTRUCTION fOl(MAN Supth1u1 deportMt11t'1 co111trucho11 0111d fflou,. tcfllOIICC program REGIONAL EDUCATOR Si,pcr•11oe, reg~nol in• formation and educott0n rc91onaf ftU'ltr, wlldltfl' hotutot dt•tlop. ffltl'II pfC1rom FISH PATHOlOGY AND NUTRITION SECTION 11511 PATHOLOGIST Supcoru1M dc,ortm<nt'~ RlGIONAl JUR MANAGU RIGIOW>l fl/R MANAGIR I ~1,1,11,, ..._,._ ''"1'tl"' r111ir.n11I Fur ~uP<'Ol\t'i r4:91onol '""' llGIONAl JUR MANAGU 5upuu,o t('91ono1 h,, p,o-gram UGIONAl FUR MANAGER 5upcon,t, program. rcg10,iol fur h1,h patholo9,col Ofld n1o1tr1ho11al pro-9,om �Game Management A NEW A D EFF ECTI VE crame m a nagement procedure, initiated experimentally in 1953 and greatly expanded during the past year's hunti ng season, has been genera II y accepted wit h favor by t he hunting public. Approximately 10 per cent of the state was opened last season for the taking of deer under t he m ulti ple license regulation . In multiple license areas hunters can take t he authorized bag o n t he original , and on ea ch additional license purchased, thus increasing t he ga me kill in specified a reas w ith a limited number of: hunters. During the past year, 10,375 m ul tiple dee r lice nses were sold, of: w hich 57 1 were non-resident, fo r a revenue total of $93,776. T he success ra tio o n t hese licenses was 90.2 per cent, g iving a total m ul tiple ki ll of 9,359 deer. Most multiple hunters purc hased o ne or two add itional l icenses. One hunter, however, found use for eight, and one non resident purchased six. The sale of deer licenses last year was the la rgest in the history of the state. Elk license sales were greater tha n t hose in 1952 and 1953, but below the 1948 to 1951 a ve rage. T he 195-l deer kill totaled 73,450 re presenting a 1.-16 per cent increase over 1953. Last season's kill of 6, 156 elk is higher by 13.9 per ce nt than in 1953, and is attributable to the i ncreased number of validations issued. R an ge Rcvcgctat ion La nd use agenc ies of toda y a rc, in g reat part, ma naging public lands on the principal of eradicating sagebrush and other browse and reseed ing with grass. This program, though favorable to livestock, is de trime ntal to t he welfare of big game herds. In orde r to offset, a nd possibly inriuence cha nge in such methods, the range-rehabili tation section of t he game manageme nt division was form ed. F irst action of t he new se::ction w as the cstabl ishment in 195 1 of a pilot a rea in t he G un nison region, patte rned o n similar projects in N ew Mexico a nd Nevada. T he conti nuing go:11 of o ur Colorado pilot area has been the consolidation of all know n methods of ra nge, w:ner, and wild life manageme nt into one comprehe nsively effective working un it. F iel d research , toward developing econom ical and efficient methods of revegetati ng cri tical big game wi nter ranges, has shown that seedlings of our major browse species can be grow n a nd established in the field under e rosion-resisti ng rm:thods of soil preparation and pl:mting . Our ow n methods of soil prepa ration are hasically those of standard contouring practices now in use o n the eastern plai ns. Last yea r 2,036 seedlings from the production nursery at Pagosa Springs w ere planted on the conto u rs, -30- �with each seedling row bordered by two rows of direct seed plamings. Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 seedli ngs have been grown by this method for the fall of 1955. Cooperative Development In conjunction with n:vq{etati on work, the range-re habilitation section has carried ollt a water developme nt program in cooperation with t he Bureau of Land Manage ment. Our m ethods of developing spring water sources, together \\'ith erosion control safeguards, arc now at a poinL where w ith riroper application they can be benef icial to all forms o( wildlife on our winter ranges. To date, 12 erosioncontrol and impo undment structures and 11 permane nt spri ng wate r developments ha ve been constructed and fenced. Land acquisition continues to be o( pri mary importance in our program for the development and mainte nance of Colorado's wildlife resources. The purchase of key marginal areas on o ur w inter ranges, with reservation for game use only, defi nitely aids in maintaining big game herds at desirable levels. Such areas. w hen strategicall y located, greatly alleviate damage problems and game losses during severe winters. The reorganiz ation o[ the departme nt shihed all game control work to the regional wildlife conservatio n office rs, leaving two e m ployees in the di visio n to adjust and settle damage claims. Statewide control activ ities last year consisted mostly of routine deer he rding and patrol work , as the winter was mild over the enti re state for t he third consecutive year. Complai nts of deer g razing alfalfa fields continued to be common during the spring and summer months, a situatio n further aggravated by t he lingering drought. A promising new method tor brea king up deer concentrations w::ts developed during the year . A slow burning fuse, with "cherry-bomb" firecrackers inserted at irregular inter,·als, is hung in t he fields and ignited each ev.: ning. The fuse burns throughout the night, periodically detonatin g the bombs and effectively dispersing the deer. Construction of protective haystack fencing was conti n ued duri ng the year to take ca re of curre nt needs as we ll as to maintain adequate fe ncing rese rves at stockpiles throug hout the state. Approx imately 2,000 roll s of 20-foot fence, a nd I 00 wire pa nels were constructed a nd distributed Numerous bear damage claims were recei \'ed during the spring and sumC F.ORCE D This lo n g-range quester af ter elk represents one of 22,000 takers of Iicenses last season for thi s s pecie s, more than '52 and ' 53 but sti 11 conside rably below the '48 to '51 average. A NDR EWS �mer, most of them for sheep killed on high mountain ranges. Trappers an<l conservation officers removed a 1mmber of stock-killing bear in an effort to control these depredations. A total of 78 damage claims filed during the fiscal year resulted in payments of $6,661.95. This somewhat below-the-average figure is attributable to the mild winter and subsequent lack of hay losses and claims. All other types of complaints and claims were about normal, making a relatively uneventful past year from the game control standpoint. Aerial Elk Census Increasing use is being made of the airplane in taking census of Colorado's big game with continuing efforts to reduce this activity to a seasonal routine. As a result, the population status of our elk herds is being determined annually by aerial survey work on a series of 17 permanent trend areas. Every year since 1944 routine midwinter flights have been made in selected areas to determine elk population trends, though unfavorable snow conditions, excessive winds, and conflicting schedules have prevented the taking of complete counts for each year. The 1953 census provided good coverage and counts for the current year are the most complete since 1948. Midwinter population trend figures were obtained in 16 areas for 1955, the ~ontezuma area being the only exclusion. Last year, 2,532 elk were counted in the White River area; 1,132 on the Hermosa; 1,100 on the Rio Grande; and 768 on the Cochetopa-Saguache. Total count on the 16 completed areas was 11,872 elk, a 31.5 per cent increase over the cumulative average of the past 11 years. Counts were above average in all areas except - the Cochetopa-Saguache and the Rio Grande, which showed an average decrease of four per cent. Continued systematic flights over these permanent trend areas will pro- vide more and more essential data on changes in elk populations throughout the important ranges of the state. Bighorn Sheep Season In 1953 Colorado held its first bighorn sheep season in 68 years with a primary objective of determining the extent and seriousness of lungworm infestation in our sheep herds. Also field research and observation had disclosed a statewide sex ratio of one ram to each ewe, in contrast to an optimal ratio of one ram to each five or six females. A controlled season, therefore, restricted to the taking of rams only, provided a means of bringing the procreative ratio into more desirable balance. The seriousness of the current lungworm epidemic has in great part been attributed to the stagnation of bighorn herds and crowded conditions on their home ranges. It has been assumed that controlled hunting seasons would serve to disperse herds concentrated in restricted areas for so many years. The successful outcome of the first season paved the way for another more liberalized season last year. In unit 18 the bag limit was one bighorn sheep of either sex, with no restriction on age. Prior to the 1954 season, department studies in the Buffalo Peaks region disclosed a rapidly growing herd with a high incidence of lungworm infestation. To prevent another die-off similar to Tarryall, it was decided to liberalize the kill by issuing permits for either sex. Data gathered at check stations confirmed the previous 1ungworm reports, as all sheep taken from the Buffalo Peaks area were found to be infected. Also, the moderate hunting pressure in this region did, to some extent, relieve the herd concentration problem. In 1954, 22 areas were opened in which the taking of sheep of either sex was permitted. This compares with 18 areas in 1953, all limited to the taking of rams only. Of the 255 permits authorized last _ year, 239 were taken, many of the hunt• -32- �ers being repeaters from the previous season. Last season's success ratio was 34.2 per cent, compared to 34.5 per cent in 1953. The 1954 kill was 58 rams, 17 ewes, and four lambs, for a total kill of 79 sheep, comparing favorably with the 56 rams killed in 1953. Estimated Populations-1954 Mule Deer.................................. 330,000 Elk ............................................ 55,000 Antelope .................................. 10,000 Bighorn sheep............................ 5,000 Black bear.................................. 9,000 Turkey ...................................... 13,000 Estimated populations of deer, elk, and antelope are based on aerial and ground counts an<l on kill figures. Bighorn sheep an<l turkey figures are based on herd estimates an<l partial counts. The black bear population is frankly an out-and-out estimate. Mountain goats were released in the Sawatch range several years ago, and last year for the first time since 1950 representatives of the species were seen by members of the <lcpartment. Two adult billies, two nannies an<l one kid were observed within 15 miles of the point of original release. A few grizzly bear have been reported in the San Juan range, but authenticated population counts are not presently available. BIG GAME LICENSE SALES AND KILL-1948-1954 Elk Deer License Sales Year 1948........................................................................ 89,132 1949........................................................................ 87,113 1950........................................................................ 96,565 1951 ........................................................................ 105,562 1952........................................................................ 108,863 1953........................................................................ 109, 109 1954........................................................................ 114,924 Antelope License Sales Kill Year 1948......................... . 1949 ......................... . 1950.......................... 2,396 1951 .......................... 1,893 1952..........................2,125 1953 ......................... .4,954 1954......................... .4,033 License Sales Kill 66,676 71,219 65,182 74,789 73,109 72,375 73,450 Bear Sheep License Sales Kill 169 239 58 79 2,148 1,646 1,922 4,456 2,778 Kill 10,628 8,248 7,466 10,330 3,006 5,299 6,156 23,961 25,170 25,262 29,350 20,040 19,351 22,197 License Sales Kill 563 745 823 530 774 322 515 SMALL GAME KILL-1948-1954 Year Pheasants 1948........................................................................ 193,493 1949........................................................................ 144,980 1950........................................................................ 156,556 1951 ........................................................................ 123,488 1952 ...................................... ·································· 137,426 1953........................................................................ 80,249 1954........................................................................ 263,485 Year Dove 1948.............. 80,089 1949.............. 88,567 1950.............. 110,788 1951 .............. 51,787 1952 .............. 76,002 1953.............. 61,962 1954.............. 65,350 Sage Grouse 2,341 11,551 Sharptail Grouse 86 930 Ducks Geese Quail 213,076 200,525 211,047 286,501 248,867 176,696 179,856 4,969 2,195 6,438 2,505 4,410 4,234 8,168 6,193 5,800 6,200 6,000 6,500 7,000 79,372 Blue Grouse Rabbits 1,018 13,385 274,769 207,142 376,212 182,093 270,459 124,169 818,997 -33- Snowshoes Jackrabbits 14,764 153,874 21,597 �Fish Management Fl SH ING LI CENSE SALES in 1954, thoug h reachi ng an all-ti me high of mo re than 387,000, showed an increase of o nly 2,500 ove r the number sold in 1953. This represents a leveling off last season in Iice nse sales from previous increases rang ing bet ween 20,000 and 30,000 each year since the end of World War 11. • During the I 954 season, fis hermen ca ug ht I3,576, I67 trout for a catch per man hour of 0.74, calculated fro m the an nual cr1:el ce nsus based on warde n field checks. This re presents the lowest tota l trout catch since 1950, w hen t he re were 90,000 fewer li censed fisherme n. Also, the catch per m an hour of 0.74 is Li1c lowest recorded since ince ption of the creel ce nsus program in 1946. In t:Ucct these fig ures ind icate that fis hing in I 954 was generally poorer t han in previous yea rs, and te nd to prove that dem a nd is beginning to exceed suppl y. The fish management division ·s approach to answe ring the problem is not an easy one. D ema nd, obviously, is not going to decrease as lo ng as the re is a g rowing population in Colorado. l ncreasing the supply is being au e mpted through the foll owing means : Increased hatchery facilities and producrion: \1/ith establishment of the new llifle Falls un it this year, the economic a nd biological potential for present hatchery facil ities is being approached. Increased fis/1ing waters: This exped ient is o ne on w hich m ore and m o re - 34 - accent is being placed . Fish ing lake construction. rig ht-of-wa y and casement purchas1:s, and access road construction a re the ma in facto rs in t his phase of the fish manageme nt program. H abitat improvement: To date compa rati vely littl e has been done in this field except for removal of barriers from spawni ng tributaries and occasio nal small stream improvem ents. R estrictive regulation: F ishi ng regulations a re primarily des ig ned to prevent exploitation of thi s resource by a few at the expense of the m an y. The posting of spawning areas and setting of bag lim its and restrictions o n fishing met hods are aimed a t protecting the resource and not at un just hampe ring of: the fisherman. Applied research: Continuous fact find ing studies arc prog ressing on stocking densities, sizes of fish stocked , species composition , times of stocking, a nd natural reproduct ion data- all in relation to increa sed returns for t he fishe rma n's creel. Fish C ulture Section Of great sig nifica nce in fis h culture was t he actual oper:11ion of the new Ri fle Falls uni t. Ove r 9,000,000 trout and kokancc s:ilmon eggs were hatched in t he new tank-t ype facilities. Fish g rowth is excel lent, a nd indications are t hat the unit will not only justify but surpass prelimina ry esti mates. The total 195-l tro ut distribution by units is shown in t he follow ing table: �DISTRIBUTION BY UNITS 1954 (Rainbow, Brown, Brook, Native, Kokanee, Grayling) 0"-3" 3"-6" Hatchery Pounds Numbers Pounds Numbers Bel-Aire unit............................ 0 0 750 21,989 Bellvue hatchery ...................... 2, 100 878,761 342 34,115 Boulder ponds........................ 96 323,776 13 7,000 Buena Vista hatchery .............. 458 593,400 0 0 Cedaredge hatchery .............. 844 392,948 0 0 Chalk Cliffs unit...................... 95 19,000 0 0 Chipeta unit............................ 0 0 0 0 Coaldale & Helms ponds........ 0 0 0 0 Crystal river unit.................... 0 0 0 0 Denver hatchery...................... 1,449 828,750 0 0 Dolores unit............................ 78 112,516 0 0 Durango hatchery .................. 473 518,288 0 0 Estes Park hatchery................ 145 4..C0,500 0 0 Finger Rock unit...................... 0 0 0 0 Glenwood hatchery................ 596 855,584 0 0 La Jara hatchery.................... 102 118,840 0 0 Monument lake unit................ 0 0 2,847 40,149 North Fork Thompson unit...... 0 0 0 0 Pitkin hatchery ........................ 194 149,360 2,445 25,673 Poudre river unit.................... 0 0 0 0 Rio Grande unit...................... 106 109,292 125 3,687 Rye hatchery............................ 21 10,713 2,443 42,670 Walden hatchery····--·········-···· 67 4 1,025,707 0 0 Butte lake................................ 0 0 0 0 Wray hatchery........................ 567 111,412 56 3,640 Salvage .................................. 0 0 0 0 Leadville (Federal).................. 74 242,572 481 16,886 TOTAL .................... 8,072 6,731,419 9,502 195,809 6" and Over Pounds Numbers 21,800 77,200 21 64 0 0 5,802 23,099 24,178 176,352 52,705 328,827 71,763 376,249 13,869 75,291 47,647 248,102 38,455 229,000 37,600 200,245 23,086 162,098 31,515 128,869 37,305 166,352 2,409 11,094 15,561 63,508 6,459 37,583 142,114 53,788 53,330 260,557 30,550 150,055 22,838 146,588 10,317 44,087 13,430 53,480 18,050 17,720 28,262 81,449 803 1,746 8,237 34,435 669,780 3,236,164 Total Pounds (All sizes)............................................................................................ 687,354 Total Numbers (All sizes) .......................................................................................... 10, 163,392 Fishing lake construction in 1954, using federal aid (Dingell-Johnson) funds, consisted of the completion , of Dumont lake on Rabbit Ears pass and initial work on Heart lake near Dotsero. Mack Mesa reservoir was built with state funds only, and Lake of the Woods on White river was enlarged and the dam repaired. The Bundy park access road was completed by the department construction section. Negotiation was initiated for construction of two reservoirs in the Rio Grande drainage area (Trujillo Meadows and Rico Hondo} using federal aid funds. Preliminary estimates and feasibility surveys are continuing on other potential fishing lake sites. Trout and Kokanee Approximately $75,000 was spent on trout research and experimental man- agement procedures during the past fiscal year. Much of the research is of a continuing nature such as the studies at Parvin lake in Larimer county on stocked rainbow and brown trout, and those at Skaguay reservoir in Teller county dealing with sucker control and the value of kokanee salmon. Facts are also being gathered on the contribution to the fisherman's creel of stocked two-inch trout from several Grand Mesa lakes. Other research on a continuing basis is that concerned with the use of commercial fertilizers in alpine lakes to increase natural trout foods. A final report on the study of stocked creel-size rainbow trout in Parvin lake discloses that 81 per cent of these actually reached the fisherman's creel. This relatively high return is definite indication that fishermen are receiving sub- -35- �GEORGE D ANDREW S Elimination of suckers and other undesirables is accomplish ed in m an y lakes by poisoning al l fish and then restocking wi th prefer red species. stantial benefi ts from the de pa n mem·s hatchery program. All available information shows tha t koka nee salmon introduced to Colorado waters are doing well, with this species const ituting a large portion oi the catch in Skaguay reservoir and from Cree n t-.,J ountain reservoir in CraJHI county. Small experimental plants of kokancc in Granby reservoir in Grand county have demonstrated good growth and in general show the species to be well adapted to this large body of water. Kokanee reach a size of approximately 16 inches in Granby and Green 1v lountain reservoirs and JO inches in Skaguay. To dare there is only slight indic:1tion of successful natural k oka nee spawni ng in state waters. Howe·cr, s urvival to the creel stage of stocked kokance fry has been computed at f ive per cen t in Skaguay, a survival pe rcentage nearly twice t hat normally expected from trout. Discovery of a trou t or salmon species giving really good returns from plantings of fry would be of great bcndit to Colorado fishing. The kokanee shows promise of prO\·id ing s uch returns. R e produc tion D e ficienc ies Census work with an electrical shock ing device produced evidence of inadequate trout reproduction in se1·eral of our rivers. (The electrical shocking procedure stuns but in no way injures th e fish . permitting close and detailed examination.) I n many w:ners s howing natural reproductio n dekiencics, there are still good possihil itic.:s for s uccessful fry stocki ng. Expe rime ntal plants of two-inch trout arc scheduled for several streams w it h t hese cha racte risties. - 36- �Sucker Control The majority of Colorado's large trout lakes and reservoirs contain substantial populations of suckers which are generally detrimental to trout survival. Sucker control therefore is an important and difficult task and all possible approaches to the problem are being investigated and evaluated as rapidly as possible. To date the results have been discouraging. The naturally great reproductive capacity of the species, coupled with the sucker's ability to spawn under a wide variety of conditions, considerably hampers control. The situation is further complicated by the necessity for keeping the measures selective and not appreciably detrimental to trout. In relatively small lakes, undesirable populations can be reduced effectively by complete eradication of all fish through use of toxicants and subseq_uent restocking with productive species. The fish research section rehabilitates trout lakes by this means wherever feasible. Special Facility Needed There is very great need for a trout research facility specially designed and constructed to reduce the variables confronting investigators. A small reservoir for this purpose could be developed with comparative ease and small expense and would ultimately produce real savings for the department. Answers to many perplexing fish management problems would be much expedited by the construction of a properly designed research lake. Warm Water Fish Stocking: During 1954 a total of 6,015,366 game fish, weighing 17,298 pounds and valued at $19,513.45, were planted in the warm water lakes and reservoirs of Colorado. Of this number the t\yo warm water fish hatcheries, Las Ammas and Wray, produced 5,684,327, or 2,556 pounds. The balance consisted of fish taken from ,·arious waters for redistribution by the fish control and salvage unit. Salvage: The fish control and salvage unit handled a total of 144,700 pounds of fish valued at $10,410.62. Of this ~umber _125,593 pounds were rough fish species removed from eight reservoirs located in 7 Colorado counties. . Habitat improvement: During the focal year, a total of 134 fish shelter devices and 60 yards of spawning gravel were placed in four reservoirs located in three Colorado counties. Most of the irrigation reservoirs have a general lack of natural shelter essential to survival of game fish species. As a consequence, the construction of artificial shelter devices is frequently necessary in such waters. Reclaimed waters: Four warm water reservoirs, comprising a surface area of over 600 acres, were reclaimed during the fiscal year though the toxicant eli~ination of existing undesirable populatt_ons and replanting with game fish species. Harts Basin reservoir in Delta county, Smith lake and Reservoir Number Four in Larimer county, and a small pond for junior fishermen in Weld county were treated in this manner. N etv waters: Denny lake at Cortez, Mack Mesa reservoir in Mesa county, and Sweitzer lake at Delta were all completed during the fiscal year, providing over 150 new surface acres of warm water fishing for the anglers of western Colorado. Game fish populations are being developed in these waters, including large-mouth black bass, bluegill, crappie, white bass, walleye and channel catfish. . Creel census: 22,550 fishermen, fishmg a total of 59,219 hours on 59 warm water lakes and nine streams, caught a total of 57,042 game fish during 1954. The recorded catch per man hour was .97 or almost one fish per hour of fishing effort. Yellow perch, averaging 6.9 inches in length, constituted the largest element in the total catch ( 57.49 per cent). The newly introduced species such -37- �as walleye, dru m and w hite bass ente red into the total catch in increasingly greater numbe rs d uri ng 1954, w ith Bo nny reservoir in Yu ma cou nty providing the west walle ye fishing. Wall eyes stocked in 1952 averaged 17.8 inches in leng th a nd two pound s in we ight b)' the sum me r of 1954. providing t he anglers fish ing t his irnpoundment wi th the ir g reatest fish ing t hrill . "W hite bass fishi ng was best at Ad obe creek reservoi r in Be nl co unty, w here a total of 97 1 o( t hi s species, a veraging JO inches in le ngth a nd nearly one pound in weig ht, we re ta ken by fisher men in 1954. Al so, ove r 2,000 w hite bass averag ing 6.5 inches in le ng th were caught on hook :ind line by hatchery pcr~un m:l fur restock ing in othe r st:ite waters. Research and Manag ement Basic fis h resea rch :i ncl pr:ictical manageme nt projects were continued duri ng t he yea r o n 30 wa rm water lakes, ponds :111d rese rvoirs, located in 17 Colorado co unties. T he wate rs of the A rka nsas river d ra inage area were cl:i ssified into th ree g roups: prod uct ive waters wi th permanent type conservation pools: producti ve waters with no co nservatio n pool s; a nd non-product ive wa te rs. Pla ns were made to expend every effort in ma king the waters ol' the first g roup into good GEORGE O fis hi ng an:as and lo develop those o f t he second g roup whe rever water conte nt is sufficie nt. Those in g roup three a rc to be left a s rough fis h wa ters. The experimental use of liq ui d Toxaphene in compa ri so n with othe r types of fish toxi cants was ca rried out in Reservo ir N umber F ou r and in Sm ith lake in La rimer county. A deta iled repo rt o( the results is a vailable at t he D e nver office of the departm ent. Expe rimental stocking of va rio us fish species in a num ber of rese rvoi rs to obtain data on t hei r survival, growth and re producti ve rates continues to be om; of t he most im porta nt projects of our tech nicia ns. I n the ea rl y spring of 1955, walleye al N ee Gronda reservoi r in Kio wa county we re artificiall y spawned, and t he resul ta nt eggs were hatched w ith some success. Man y su rveys fo r possible new warm wate r lakes were m ade during the yea r w ith a n umber of sites now under consideratio n for construct ion. The acq uisition o r Carey dam, a n 800 surface acre lake in Bent count y, is well underw:i y and t he construct ion of Fre nchman c reek lake w ill be sta rted soon. Sires at Sand Arroyo in Baca county and C hief creek in Yuma co unty we re additio nal cho ices by t he state legislature d uri ng t he past year for new wa rm water la ke de velopme nt. A NDREW S This view of Rifle ha tchery shows at bott om l e f t t he hatche ry build ing a nd n u rser y pond s. Fingerling s g o from he re to the raceways above for various s tage s o f re arin g to ca tchab le s iz e. �THE BROAD OllJECTIVES of this division are to produce more fish and game for sportsmen to catch and hunt, through wise use of the approximately one-half million dollars received annually by Colorado from the federal government. Federal legislation making the funds available also stipulates the activities for which they may be spent. These embrace: acquisition of land or water areas for game and fish purposes, development of such areas to make them more productive, and subsequent maintenance. Research investigations of wildlife conditions and problems, designed to secure data on which to base better management programs, are also authorized under law. Duties of the div1s1on are to plan, initiate, carry through to completion and report the results of a complete and progressive program of projects falling within these authorized limits. Program objectives, in general, include: determining populations of wildlife species; measuring the influences of game animals and birds upon crops, watersheds, forests, and ranges; measuring the effects of land-use practices and game management techniques upon birds or animals; and finding the causes and cures for wildlife diseases. Organization To accomplish these objectives the division currently numbers 36 permanent employees, supervised by the federal aid coordinator who is directly re- sponsiblc to the assistant director and the director of the Game and Fish department. Two assistant coordinators aid in directing the division's work. Supporting the supervisory personnel is an office staff consisting of one secretary, one clerk-typist and two bookkeeping and accounting employees. The field force of the division is made up of three classes of workers. The first comprises technically trained and permanently employed personnel consisting of two wildlife technicians III, project leaders; 13 wildlife technicians II, project workers; one wildlife technician I, beginner; five nurserymen; and one wildlife statistician. The second class of employees takes care of wildlife management areas purchased and maintained through federal aid funds. This group includes three refuge custodians I and four refuge custodians II. The third group consists of temporary help. Included are college students engaged on various research projects during the summer, temporary stenographic and laboratory help, and laborers on various construction projects. Personnel Depletions Establishment last year of the regional system within the Game and Fish department had considerable effect on the division from a personnel standpoint. Two of the four regional coordinators were promoted directly from key federal aid jobs, and the other two were former division employees -39- �GEORGE. 0 A ND REW S Beaver research unde r federal a id determines numbe rs, distribution and environmental influences on the anima l; also its effects o n soil and wate r. previously selected as reg io nal game managers. The promot io n of t hese latter two left departmental vaca ncies which were immediately fi lled hy two men from the federnl aid d i,·ision. During the period f rom July I, 195-1 , to June 30, 1955, six of our most capabl e and promising men were promoted to bette r paying positions in other sectio ns of the d epa rtment. W e a re proud to provide :i hig h proportion of candic.lates to fill such responsible positions. But it is bel ieved that in some instances the jobs to w h ich t hey were promoted, when viewed from t he long-range standpoint, arc no t more important than th ose vac:nc<l. It is hoped that action can be take n to adjust t he rates o( pay for our techn icia ns to a level consistent w ith their job requirements in trai ning and abil ity . Such action m ight sto p the constant de pletion of d ivision personnel, and per haps evcn n.:\'t:rse thc fl ow. Federal Aid Sources Si nce many pcopk still <lo not fully unc.lcrstand the functio ning of federal aid in wildlife restoration, it may be pertincnL he re to re1·iew its h istory bridly. The program had its beginning in 1937 with passage of the Pittman-Robertson 1\ ct at a t ime when w ildlife conse rvation, based o n sound biological principles, was almost unknow n in the U nited States. Particular em phasis was placed o n immediate measures to reverse the alarming dwindling of migratory waterfow l, with ge neral provisio ns mac.le for obtaining data on wh ich to base sou nd ma nageme nt prog ra m s for all game species. \.Vi th success of t his program solid ly - 40 - �established after severa l years of operation , companion legislati o n called the Dingell-Jo hnson Act was passed fo r the be nefit o( fish resources. 130th laws a re ad min istered by t he Un ited States F ish and Wildli fe service under su pervision o[ the Secretary of the Interior. U nder stipulations of the t wo laws, fede ral n:ceipts from pre--<:xisting manufacture rs' excise taxes on sporting equi pment are :11loued LO states a nd territories on the basis of the ir numbers of licensed h unte rs and fishermen and their respecti ve bnd areas. States a nd terri tories are requi red Lo matc h fed e ral allotme nts at a ratio uf one state to three (ederal dollars. Project P roced u res Unde r procedures designated by the fish and Wildlife service, all work is carried out on a project basi s. The state must thoroughly plan contemplated work in ad va nce, estimating needs and costs in pe rsonnel, equipment, suppl ies a nd mate rials. Whe n a project has been approved, the work is carried out e ntirely with state funds . The project is the n inspected and whi: n ce rtified as acceptable, the state is re imbursed from federal fu nds to the extent of 75 per cent of total project costs. Under present operat ing proccJun.::s the fede ral aid di vision first dete rmines through its own ( idd m en, and throug h the field personnel of o the r divisions, problems in wildlife manageme nt requi ring action. Specific projects the n a rc planni:d and ,ubmitteJ to the fi sh and Wildlife service. Following approval de partme nt personnel arc assigned to the work , o r in some cases pri vate contracts arc let for its accomplishme nt. In the case of research projects the division is responsibl e for field su pervisio n. Supe rvision over constructio n wor k o n developme nt or maintenance projects is the respo nsibility of the re, g ional coordi nator in whose area the project falls. L and purchasing is an excl usive fed eral aid functio n, although areas to be :1cq uircd, as \\"di as acqui sition prio rity, may be dete rmined jointly with other divisions of the de partment. Finally, the di visio n is res ponsible for liai son between the Fish and Wildlife service and the Game and Fish depa rtme nt in all matte rs pertaining to tht federal aid program, including arrangem<:nls for i nspcction by fede ral pe rson nel of work in progress and upo n completion ; re pons in the required manner on all projects; and publication of resea rch findings when they arc of inte rest to other states and agencies. State Matchin g Funds The Colorado General 1\ sse mbl y has always provided ample mo ney to match federal :illotmcnts. In some st:ites, sportsmen and the game and fis h departments are not so fortunate. Colorado"s matching money, of course, comes from the game cas h fund and is spent (or t he benefit of license buyers who co ntributed most of it in the first place. Last year, in order to preYent reversion to the i\ I ig ratory Bird Treaty fund of a part of Colorado's previous federal Ae rial surveys leadin g to land acquisition we re made last year at Carey dam. GEOH:CE 0. A N ORE'HS -41- �allotments, it was necessary to ask the 1955 session of the General Assembly for a special matching appropriation over and above originally estimated needs. This situation arose, not because original estimates were in error, but because by virtue of the state's accounting system matching funds were available only from July first of one year until June 30th of the next. Federal funds allotted to the state, on the other hand, are available for two years following the date of their apportionment. As a result, state money appro- priated to match a given federal allotment has often reverted to the game cash fund prior to the completion of an authorized project. Through efforts of the Game and Fish department director working with the joint appropriations committee of the General Assembly, this problem was solved at the last session of the legislature by placing the state's matching money in a separate bill making it available for two years after July 1, 1955. The following table shows the status of federal funds allotted to Colorado for the two years ended June 30, 1955. PITTMAN-ROBERTSON FUNDS Debit Explanation June 30, 1954 ......................................................... . Unused balances, completed projects................... . Apportionment, 1955 ............................................. . New projects approved: Coordination ..................................................$ 27,675.00 Land acquisition.............................................. 70,230.00 Research .......................................................... 155,775.00 Credit Balance $191,867.31 $ 60,765.42 312,276.05 Development .................................................. 52,725.00 Maintenance .................................................. 78,975.00 June 30, 1955 ......................................................... . 564,908.78 385,380.00 $179,528.78 DINGELL-JOHNSON FUNDS Explanation Debit June 30, 1954 ......................................................... . Unused balances, completed projects ................... . Apportionment, 1955 ............................................. . New projects approved: Coordination .................................................. $ 3,075.00 Land acquisition.............................................. 7,320.00 Research ......................................................... . Development .................................................. 36,560.78 June 30, 1955 ......................................................... . Division Projects Coordination project: This project serves as the administrative agency for all federal aid work. In it funds are provided to pay salaries and expenses of personnel engaged in !Jroject planning, supervision, record keeping and reporting for the program as a whole. As of June 30, 1955, there were 32 active federal aid projects in operation for which the above services were being performed. Total cost of the co- Credit Balance $ .............. $ 17,927.06 108,339.61 126,266.67 46,955.78 $ 79,310.89 ordination project for the year was $35 1597.37. !..And acquisition: All land acquisition work is done by the coordination staff. This includes initial analysis of all value factors in lands offered by sellers or designated by field men as key areas; preliminary examination of the land; preparation of maps, land descriptions and project papers; and assistance with formal land appraisals and actual purchase negotiations. During the past year, preliminary -42- �work was done on lands at Dotsero, Radi um, Carey dam, Russell lakes, South Platte management area, and Mt. Evans management area, all of which are now in process of acqu1s1t1011. The ta ble below shows lands actuall y acquired during the July I, 1954 to June 30, 1955 reporting per iod. LAND ACQUISITION PROJECTS Project No. location Title Cost 1 A creage S Sapinero deer wi nter range Gunnison county ... w.a.L. l O W. 84•l •l Hot Sulphur deer•elk range Billy creek ga me management area Hot Sulphur Spri ngs .. Ouray county ............2,618.66 90,000.00 Total ................................................. ..........................2,778.66 $90,350.00 1 Total 160 150.00 200.QQ:! W -3-l project costs, 25 per cent state, 75 per cent fed e ral funds. :! Lease. Development projects: A t the close of this report period, ten development projects were in active status on ou r records. The table below gives a complete listing a nd indicates the amount of money spent on each. Those with the prefix " F" in the number desig nation are Dingell-Joh nson or fish proj ects, the others are Pi ttman. Robertson or wildl ife "w·• projects. /\II the D ·J projects consist of new waters created th roug h the construe- GEORGE D . A N DREW S T he past year's bighorn sur vey continued intensive stud ies on the lungwo rm t o el imi nate this microscopic poacher as a factor in period ic d ie -o ffs of sheep. - 43- �Lion o r enlargement of impoundme nts to be used excl usivel y for fis h production and fishing . Sportsme n received their first di vide nd from thi s phase of the prog ram in May, 1955, when Va ug ha n lake ( listed as Poose lake in the table and later renamed in honor of nort hwestern Colo rado sportsman Leonard Vaughan) wa s opened to fis hing for the firs t time. Muddy creek reservoir, now officially named Dumont lake in honor of A. L. Dumont, retired fish division e m ployee, has been completed and stocked with fingerling trout, which should reach catchabl e size du rin g the 1956 fis hi ng season. H eart Lake Nearly Ready GEORGE: 0 A N DR E W S Above: 624 antelope were trapped last year and transplanted to unoccupied areas o f suitable range. Below: planting of trees and shrubs for game bird cover has for seve ra l years been concentrated la rgely in the northeast where lack of perma nent winter protection is most c ri tical. U nq uestionabl y the most im porta nt D -J project to date is the H eart lake development, a natural body of water curre ntly being e nlarged a nd deepened lo provide better fish habitat a nd to red uce w inter kill. This $ 160,000 project is nearing completion and will be ready for water storage and fish planting in the spri ng of 1956. H eart lake will provide nearl y 500 acres of new prod uctive fis hing water and should prove to be o ne of o ur most economi cal projects with regard to costs per ac re foot. Project W -35-D has as its pr incipal pu rpose the re-esrabl ishment of antelope populations in all su itable range areas for this species in t he state. With completion of the current project segment on June 30, 1956, the objective will ha ve bee n substantiallv accom plished. • During the course of operations 62-f a ntelope ha ve been trapped and transpla nted to areas of unoccupied range. Some of these areas have already cont ri buted meat a nd trophies to the hunter's bag. O thers are showing steady gain in populations to reward the antelope hunters of f utu re years. Unde r project W -59-D , wildli fe habita t improvement, a program of planting trees and sh rubs, principall y on pri vate land, has bee n ca rried o n fo r six years. -44- �G EORGE D . A N ORt: W S Heart lake, enla rged and deepened to reduce winter kill and generally improve habitat, provides 500 acres of new waters for Colorado fishermen. Most of this work has been in northeastern Coloratlo where severe blizzards in January of 1949 emphasized the neetl for permanent w inter cover for upland game birds. Planting Scope R ed u ced T he program was only motlerately successful unde r methods of the past. In an attempt to improve results, scope of the work was materially red uced in 1954, concentrating efforts in a smaller area and to greate r extent on land owned or controlled by the Game and Fish department. Jn conjunction with this realignment a cooperative prog ram was instituted with soil conservation districts to obtain their assistance in choosing landowner coopera tors and in su- pcrvisi ng t he distri bution and planting of trees antl shrubs. A nother important development was in the Ri o Gr:rntle ga me birtl management area near 1\llonte V ista. f\ siphon was installed across the Rio Grande, consisting of 330 feet of 15-inch pipe ca rrying water from the south side of: the river to the north, to fi ll several spots of low g round for add itional waterfowl habitat. Twel ve ea rth cla ms were installed to impound small areas of water, and a ditch three quarters of a mile lo ng was excavated from t he end of the siphon to a large oxbow. An existing road along the south bank of the river was im proved and two miles of fencing were constructed to insure against trespass. Four hundred pounds - 45 - �JACK CULBREA T H At Tamarack ranch, I 2 ,779 hunters have bagged 10,381 ducks in seasons s ince '4 8 . of wild Japa nese m illet. 200 pounds of duckwhcal. and JOO pounds o( g iant recd ca na ry grass ha vc been seeded in the area. In considering the total money expended for dc vdopment as shown i n Ll1c followi ng table. it should be unde rstood t hat in ma inte nance projects there a re ofte n mi no r expenditures fo r develo pment wo rk w h ich a rc not reflected in the listi ng here. H owever, in subm itt ing mai nte nance projects to the f7i sh and Wildl ife se rvice, such work is clearl y d iffe re ntiated so t hat costs t he reof will not be c harged against the state's 25 pe r ce nt maintenance limi tatio n. DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Project No. f. 4.0 .1 f.5 .0.1 F•6·D• l f.7.0 .1 f.9.0.1 w .35. 0.7 & 8 w .51. 0.2 w .59. 0.6 & 7 w .91. 0.2 w .95.0.1 Tota l Location Titl e Poose Joke devel opme nt Heart lake development Muddy creek r eservoir development Trujillo M e adows re servoi r Rito Hondo reser voir Antelope restora ti on Sapinero d eer wint er range Wildlife hab itat impr ovement Rio G rand e management oreo Middle Park ran ge impr ovement Near Hayden.............. .................. $ White River notional for est.. .......... Near Steamboat Springs.. .............. Near Antonito ... .......................... . Near Lake City .............................. Statewide .................................... Gunnison county ........................... . Northea, tern Colorado . .. ......... . Monte V ista ................................... . Grand caunty.................................. Cast 1 178.74 86,710.69 20,060.46 3 18. 16 12,273.89 45,596.70 2,203.50 82.56 ········ ................................................................................ $167,424.70 1 Tota l project co,t , 75 per cent federal, 25 per cent ,rate. :! N ew project. No expend iture during repo rt period . :; Inactive during repor t period. M 11i11u ·11,111ce projects: O pe ra tions fo r ma inta ining properties acquired u nder the federal aid program arc normall y handled under this categor y. One such project at C himney Rock near Pagosa Springs is set up as a w intering a rea fo r wild t urkeys. Farming is conducted here to produce g rains for t he reside nt birds. The project custodian also pe r• fo rms ge neral ra nch mai nte nance a nd assists wit h turkey t ra ppi ng d uring the winter months . This a rea was m ost importa nt d uring the 19-!0's when t he turkey transplan ting prog r:un was in its earl y develop• mc nt. It w:is t hese earl y tra nspl:i ntings a nd subscq uetll inc rea~cs from t hem which made it poss ible LO begin a t ur• k<:y sea so n in 19-19. T he Little H ill s project near ~leeker. lying w it hin t he winter range of the co u ntry's la rgest m igratory dee r he rd . serves in the st ud y of browse utilization and o( competition for browse between cattle, sheep and deer. During the year some sm all wate r catch ments were const ructed for watering the stock. Shee p a nd cattle arc placed in some past u res; dee r a rc stocked in others. T his necess itates the trapping of li,·e deer, with a total of 85 put into fi ve d i(. fe re lll pastu res d uring t he past yea r. - 46 - �/\t the South Pl:iue management area, 30 miles northeast of Sterli ng, a 14,000-gallon concrete cistern was completed for irrigation purposes an<l fire protection .. \lso a two-car fr:11ne garage with cement flooring was built during the year. 1cw fencing totalled more than ten miles along the ,·arious prop• c rty lines. Other work consisted oi sign posti ng, yard fill ing , pla nting oi clo,·e r and vetch and removal of wornout structures. Press ure at Tamarack I l unti ng pre,surc o n the Tamarack ranch in this area ha s increased more or less steadily since 19-18, with nearl y 2,000 duck hunters cou nted last seaso n. . \ total of 12.779 duck hunte rs over the past seven sca,ons shows :111 average of 1.526 hunters per year on the Tamarack and a )'Carly ave rage of 350 :n Sedgwick Har. During the same period, a total of I 0.38 1 ducks were killed on the Tama rack and 2,525 at Scd g1Vick. During the 1953 season 93 hunters took 65 dec:r of either sex in the approximatel y 20 miles of South Plaue management area river bottom. In 195-1. 15 buck deer were bagged. In add ition -100 hunte rs in I 953 and 935 in 195-1 killed a total of 126 pheasants. 152 quail a nd 792 couontails. .\t the South Republican manageme m area north of Burlington, the prog ram is designed main Iy ior warm water fishing and upland game bird and waterfowl hunting. 1\ total of ?.. .770 hunters killed 1.772 ducks in this area during the four seasons since 195 1. Upland game hunters numbered 1.83-1 for the four yea rs. killing a total of 867 pheasants and 3-17 cottontails. The fishing pressure has grown tremendously from 2-12 fishermen in 195 1 to 1,8-10 in 195-1. Total for the four years is 3,-103. In regard to general public use of the South Republican area, -1 1.752 cars and an estimated 125.256 people visited Honn y reservoir from April I th rough Dccembcr 3 1. 195 -1 . Evans Arca Pop ular The Mt. E vans management area above Eve rgree n. lying w ithin an elk winte ring range. attracts immense fishing pressure during the summer months and great numbe rs o( elk hunte rs from the De ,wer area during the: ma111 o pe n season. 11 unting pressure is controlled on the state-owned prope rry by a set maximum of 200 persons at any one time . with an estimated -100 to 500 hunters using the area each year. fn 195 1. the re were approximately 90 elk of either sex taken CEORC E O AN DR E~S Main purposes o f new waterfowl studies are to determine th e number s of breed-pai r s and their annual productio n in various breeding areas; also to find ways o f increasing pro ductivity for sportsme n 's benefit . �in the: management area , wit h 179 killed in the e ntire C lear creek unit. I n 1952, only 1-1 bulls we re killed, of w hi ch se1·e11 ca me from Mt. E vans area. In 1953, w ith limited v:ilidations o n elk of e ithe r sex, the kill was 66 elk and -I I deer. Unde r the same regulatio ns in 195-1, there were 29 elk and seven buck deer killed in the controlled area. During the two summers of 1953 and 195-1. an estimated 20,000 people used the Mt. Eva ns a rea camping g rounds and fis hing facilities. Much of the work he re during the past yea r consisted of road improvement and repai r of fe nces. E xtensive rem0Jeli11g " ·as necessa ry on the c ustodian 's house following a fire. The baseme nt was enlarged to accommodate a new oil f urrn1ce; a fireplace was installed, the roof recovered. and all damaged rooms completely refinished. MAINTENANCE PROJECTS Project No. w.52.M.6 & 7 w .55.M.6 & 7 Title Devil creek tur key refuge Hot Sul phur Spri ngs dee r.elk W.62•M•5 & 6 Cathedrol er., Missouri er., little W.64•M•5 W.67•M•4 w.74.M.3 w .77.M.2 Sapinero deer winter range South Platte management area South Republican management area Mount Evans management area winter range &5 &4 &3 Cost 1 ..S 14,007.53 Hot Sulph ur Springs Hills deer winter range & 6 Loca ti on Chim ney Rock ... Neor Meeker ......... . .................... Sapine ro ................................... ........ Crook ..................... ................. Bonny reservoir .................................. Evergreen ............................... 6,763.51 24,601.76 3,539.04 12,452.90 14,126.34 13,062. 12 To tal ......................................................................... ..................... $68,553.20 1 Tota l project cast, 75 per cent federal, 25 per cent sla te. l?csrnrc/1 projects: In this category. the bean:r i1westig:1tions project is concentrated o n mountainous portions of the.: state, m ainl y watersheds in the national fo rests, with objectives of lo- C.C.ORGC O A N DRE W S Ba nding gives important data on mig rations and d ispersa l from breeding grounds. eating criti cal areas of bea ver o ve r• populati on, obtaining acc urate informa• tion on total numbers. and determin• ing distribution of t he species in relation to food su pply and othe r habitat fa cto rs. The work includes research on the n umber of beaver t hat ca n be maintained unde r various environmental condi tions, and the effect of geologic factors o n beaver as well a s the an imal"s effect on soils and water. This information is to be published soon in booklet form. Waterfow l Studies A waterfowl in vestigations project was sta rted last spring as a se parate study, after several yea rs of prelirn. inary work under the game bird project. Main purpose of the ne w study is to determine t he number of breeding pairs a nd their annual production in va rious state breed ing areas. Dara is al so be ing gathered on waterfowl m i• g rations, di spersal of d ucks and geese from Colorado breeding grounds, ef. fec ts of hunting pressures, and the possibilities of decreasi ng duck depredation problem s. -48- �-~~- .. t,.:<;,, .'f . .\ C. D TOLMAN Important correlat ion s have been est abl ished be tween ground and aerial game counts which will greatly expedite winter censusing in the future. Another new project was recently started in evaluating the effects of trees and shru bs on wildlife. Objectives :ire to determine whether pla nted are:is will increase the populations of wildlife, whether several small plantings or onc la rge planti ng a rc more efficicnt in prod uci ng desired results, the effects of cover plantings on harvest of game birds, and the specific benefits of planting in d ecreasi ng winter mortality . U nder the game bi rd survey, fi nal reports were written coveri ng several years' work on pheasant pre-nesting studies, wate rfow l hunter SUf\'eys, and banding record s on ducks and gecse. Severn! aerial a nd ground • dri1·e counts were made last winter at Cedar Ridge near Parshall . T he objective was LO correlate the numbers oi deer ohserved from the air with counts hy crews walking in a line cross-country. From the correlations thus established future aerial coun ts over similar habitat can be adjusted to obtain very close-LOaccurate total winter populations. It was interest ing to find that the seYcn sq uare miles of Ced :ir Ridge had an average of approximatcl y I 00 deer pcr square mile, a much higher winter popu lation than was thought LO exist in the a rea. Game Studies R esearch on Sprou ti ng Deer - elk i11\"cstigations im:ludc sllldies on mig ratio n. population counts by aerial and ground means, a nd determinatio n of pre-season and post-season sex ratios. Some in vestigato ry work has hccn done on cutting mature oak brush LO determine how much sprouting can be produced as an :1dd iti onal winter food fo r ckcr. Three diffe rent methods of - 49 - �cconcc D, ANDREW ~ T h i s wi ld turkey is abou t to take a ride in th e course of t can splanting ope rations. culti ng were t ried over a th ree-yea r period to discove r the most econom ical proced ure. f\s ;t result, bu lldoz.ing o ut stri ps of ove r-age oak brush lo st im ula te sp routing may prove to be a m ost im po rta nt ma nag<.:mc nl techn ique in areas o[ critica ll y reduced deer forag<.:. The wi ld turkey project includes stud ies on survival , brood cou nts, food habi ts, population-limi t ing metho ds, locat ion of transplami ng sites, and t rapping and transpla nt ing of birds. D uri ng t he past year a manuscript was prepa red containing all in fo rmatio n gathe red d uring t he last 14 years of work on wi ld tu rkey. lt w ill be read y fo r publi catio n in the near future . The big ho rn sheep survey incl udes census and d istri buti on of t he vario us herds, food habits a nd effects of t he an imal o n range cond itio ns, a n nual populati on increases, a nd intensive inquiry into the li[e history of the lungworm. A fter discove ry tha t the sheep d ie.off in J952 was due to pne umo nia caused by the tiny lung worm, it was ded uced that very possibly t he fo rme r abrupt declines of shee p in 1885, 1900, a nd 1923 were al so traceable to thi s parasite. Co n• sidcrablc labo rato ry wo rk is being done to determ ine which la nd snail s may act a s inte rmed iate lu ng worm hosts ( two kinds arc known now) , and to dev ise some possible means of controll ing the sources of infectio n. O ne indirect m ethod of cont ro l which m ay prove effective is t hat of keepi ng indi vidual he rds below the peak n umbers of .I 952. thro ug h managed hunt• ing, in order to preve nt the maximum concentrations of a nimals which increase the incide nce an d ease of in fect ion. RESEARCH PROJECTS Project No. Title Wild life Species W-37-R-8 Gome bird survey w .3g.R.7 & 8 w.39 .R.7 & 8 w . 4 J.R.7 & 8 W.6J . R.4 Deer.elk investigatio ns Wild tur key investiga tions Bighorn sheep surveys Fur resources survey w .72. R.J Coop. experimenta l b ig game w.73.R.J w .79.R.2 & 3 ro nge revegetotion Deer, possibly othe rs ....... Exotic g a me b irds Spanish red•legge d partridge....... . Wild life habitat improvement stud ies Phea sant, quail, ra bbits ....... w .aJ.R. J & 2 w .as.R. J Beaver investigations Bea ver . .......................................... . Wo terlowl surveys a nd investiga tions Waterfowl .................................... . All grouse, phea sant, q ua il, partridg e, dove, bond•tailed p igeon, wate rfowl .................... . S Deer and elk.................................. Merriam's turkey ............................ Bighorn shee p ............... All furbeore rs except beaver Cost 1 24,567 .97 57,925.84 15,098.1 4 13,7 49.34 and bear ................. . 1,0 41.6 1 137 .72 15,040.94 16,0 8 1.82 2,353.92 Total costs......................................................................................$145,997.30 1 Tota l pro je ct cost- 25 per ce nt sta te, 75 per cent fede ra l fu nds. ~ Final re port p rinted. - 50 - �U NDER THE NEW regional system, law enforcement de pe nds principally on the wildl ife conservation officers, with duties of. this new position extended to cover all phases of game, fish and fur management as well as law enforcement. Many of our former specialized wardens and trappe rs were able to qualify for t hese broadened responsibilities and f unctions, and at the present time there are SI wildlife conservation offi c ers. Twe nty-four wardens, 18 trappe rs, six fur managers and five regional conservation officers make up the balance of personnel directly concerned with law e nforcement. Future plans are to have a total of 102 wildlife conservation officers covering the state by auto, pick-up or jeep, depending o n the district, with ea ch vehicle carr ying a two-wa y radio . Pack radio sets will be used in areas where vehicles ca nn ot penetrate. At the prese nt time the f.icld [orce is equipped w ith l I 6 two-way vehicular radios, with IO in reserve stock. Six pack sets are on o rde r. Training schools for e nfo rcemcnt personnel are conducted w ith in each of the four regions, effec_ting g reat savi ngs in travel, board and room ex penses. Four school s a year in each region keep fieldmen thoroug hly u p to date o n new la ws and procedu res. Airplanes H elpful Four airplanes equipped wit h radios work w ith our g round crews, enabl ing complete coverage of large areas with substanti al savings in time and manHOW ARD STI E HM Ho r ses and pac k radio se t s ma intain two-way contact for law enforcement personnel in rugged area s where whee led veh icles cannot penetrate. �TYPE OF VIOLATION- FISHING NUMBER Illegal posseuion of fish.. .... ........ 4 Over bag limit of fish.................... ........... 139 Fishing with more than one pole................ Fishing out of season........ ···········--············ Fishing in closed waters...................... 30 3 35 Fbhing o n priva te property without consent ····················--····· ·-----············-----Selling and having minnows without 15 valid license ............................................ Fishing ofter legal hours............................ Throwing away edib le portions of fish..... Fishing alter having obtained legal limit.. Fishing with illegal number of hooks........ Chumming ......................... ... ................... 2 18 1 2 2 5 Total- Fishing .......... . .......... ... TYPE O F VIOLATION- HUNTING tfOWAA D S TI C ttM Air-to-g ro und communication is increasingly important in effective law enforcement. power. Planes and ground crews work together wi th particular sucCl:ss in connection with nig ht hunting uf big game and nig ht fishing 011 the.: high lakes. En force ment personnel arc constant! y on the alert for campfires left burning hy careless sportsmen and during the year reported and assisted in pulling out fiftee n forest fires. After wildli fe consen·ation officers ha ve recciYcd their final tra ining in all phases of game and fish management as well as law enfo rcement. each becomes rt:sponsiblc fo r all departme nt functions within his established di strict, answering directly throug h his regional conscn·ati on officer 10 the regional coordinator. !Juring the 195-1-'55 fisca l year. 92.1 36 hunting and fish ing field contans were made with 1.07 1 Yiola tions successfull y prosecuted in court. Resulting fines totalled S-16.585.00. NUMBER Fishing without o proper license. 97 Fishin3 with set pole at night .. .............. coupon .................................................... 166 Illega lly transporti ng game meat without proper permit.......................................... 3 Illegal possession of ante lope.................... 3 H unting bear contrary to commission regulations .......................... ................. 3 1llogal possession of deer....................... .... 127 Illega l possession of ducks.......................... 8 Shooti ng antlerless deer in antlered area .. 3 Illegal possession o f e lk.................... ........ 29 Illegal possession of grouse........................ 8 Illegal possession of meadow larks ............ Over bog limit of migratory waterfowl..... 2 Illegal possession of pheasant.................... 48 Illegal possession of prairie chickens ........ 14 Illegal possession of quail.......................... 1 Illegal possession of rabbits ...................... 12 Illegal possession of turtle doves .............. 3 Illegal possession of turkeys ...................... 2 Killing one whistling swan ..................... . 5 Wasting meat -···--··--•-·••·· ........ -················ 3 Fishing with minnows................... . Using game fish for bait........ .. . .............. Illegal manner of fishing .......... Using explosives in taking fish ... NUMBER Failure to detach, sign or dote carcass Viola tion s -19 54-19 5 5 TYPE OF VIOLATION- FISHING 36 2 1 2 2 - 52 - Hunting in closed area................. ............ Hunting during closed season.... -............... 17 7 Hunting without a proper license·········-·-·· Assigning or transferring license................ 80 2 Unlawful use of license .............................. 17 Guiding without a proper license........... _._ Unlawful holding of fawn deer in enclosure without park license ............ _. 2 Hunting on private property without permission ................ ·············-·· ............ 39 Hunting ofter or before legal hours.......... Shooting from highway.............................. Using artificial light to toke big game...... Hunting with unlawful gun...................... Careless hunting.......................................... 38 38 1B 5 3 Resisting a search warrant ··-· ................... Leaving a campfire .................... 2 Total- Hunting . ....................... ............... 709 TOTAL VIOLATIONS ............................ 1,071 �THIS DIVISION is responsible for management of the state's fur resources, predator control and administration of the Beaver Control Act of 1955. It is also the division's function to gather various data on all fur hearers so that proper seasons may be set and recommendations made on other management problems. A further <livisional responsibility is supervision over the activities of licensed fur dealers and agents, with special regard to the regular reports that are required from them by law. The predator program is concerned principally with bear, coyote and bobcat, with bear continuing to be the main objective. Bear damage claims were reduced substantially during this reporting period, and the coyote remains under effective restraint. The division continues to work diligently on the control of bobcat, still ~ighly detrimental to small game and birds. Our program on this animal is producing very satisfactory results. Other predators are giving little trouble. Skunk and porcupine have been on the increase during the year, but current intensive measures are holding them properly in check. The division took the following predators during the past year: coyote, 64; bear, 47; bobcat and lynx, 172; other miscellaneous, 961. Total of all predators taken was 1,244. The new beaver law necessitated procedures differing from those in the past, although over-all administration is basically the same. Under provisions of the new law, the Game and Fish department is obligated to take beaver from privately owned water and irrigation systems if so requested by the owners. Beaver pelts taken hy Jepartment trappers are the property of the state. However, private owners may themselves trap beaver on their own lands, or employ licensed trappers to do so. In such case the landowner becomes sole possessor of the pelts and may dispose of them as he sees fit after they have been inspected and sealed by a representative of the Game and Fish department. Price of the seals is $1.00 each. A new procedure permitting private trappers to take beaver on public lands will be in operation during the fall of 1955 under close supervision by field personnel of the department. Last year the division pelted 7,441 beaver and transplanted 1,303. The average price per pelt was $ 11 .4 I. Effects of New System The new regional system has materially changed the operation of the fur division. All field personnel are now under direct supervision of the regional coordinators, and recommendations and requests for field work are sent directly to them from the Denver office for administration. The Denver office now consists of one superintendent of fur resources and -53- �cunailmenl. t\ lso in many sccti u11s of the state, the muskrat crop was co nsiderably less than in previous years. /\s the.: shortage reached larger proportions, the muskrat mark et began a steady advance. H owever, by the time it reac hed levels sufficient to attract more trappers, the season was so for ad,·:111ccd that it was impractical fo r most of them to take out licenses. Tn many sections, due to seve re weather condi tions, the muskrat trapping season js O\'e r by the m iddle of Decembe r or e \'en ea rlier. F"RANK SP ICLI( Skunk, o n the increase as predator s, this year required specially expert trapping . Future Prospects one secreta ry. In the field t here arc six regional fur inspectors and 18 trappe rs. Howeve r, all fidd personnel assist in trapping when occasion dem ands. A yea r :1go it did not seem possible to ha ve a more d isappointing trapping seaso n tha n the one just concluded. R esu lts, howe ve r, <luring the past yea r were e\'e n more of a letdown . despite a general rise in the market. Due to poor muskr:n prices of the p receding )'Car, many trappe rs d ecided simply to "sit thi s one o ut.'' The season was under way only a coupl e oi weeks when it became apparent tha t the catch would be considerably s ho rt of w hat it was the yea r before due to this trappin g The re arc some consol ing aspects in t he picture. Hig her musk rat prices s hould auract a larger number of trappers during the current season. Mi n k prices have hcen strong and the beaver market is somewhat improved. \,\/easel prices also have gained some strength. If the market holds at present levels, o r s hows signs of [urthe r improveme nt, this year's turno ut of trappers should be much healthier. There is still a great dea l to be desi red insofar as the gene ral fur market is conce rned . I ( prices for raw furs could be brought into li ne with t he market fo r other commodities, it would be most beneficial to rece ipts of the Game and Fish department. Survey of Annual Fur Catch Seasons of J 9S3-'5'1- and 195 11-'55 SPECIES Total Catch 1953-'54 Total Revenue Average Price Muskrat ..... 48,961 s 24,994. s .51 Skunk ................... 295 186. .63 Coyote ···-·············· 33 24. .72 Mink ...................... 210 1,932. 9.20 Weasel .................. 761 630. .83 Morten •••••••••••••••••• 91 542. 5.96 Badger . 9 1. .14 Bob & Lynx Cot.. .. 46 38. .83 Fox ........... 15 5. .32 Civet Cot... ............. OPEN SEASON- NO REPORT 421. Raccoon ..... 442 .95 OPEN SEASON- NO REPORT Opossum ......... ... Ringtail Cat.. ........ .. OPEN SEASO N- NO REPORT Tota ls ...... 50,863 $28,723 fetal Catch 1954-'55 43,509 239 26 154 252 176 8 Average Price s s 25,744. 196. 34. 2,145. 242. 1,428. 1. 182. .61 .82 1.30 13.92 .96 8. 11 .12 2.84 .20 .17 .82 64 1. 5 2 .35 331 273. 4 .36 .09 OPEN SEASON- NO REPORT 44,770 -54 - Total Revenue $30,246.71 �Seasons of 1951-'52 and 1952-'53 SPECIES Total Cat:h Total Revenue 1951-'52 Average Price Total Catch Muskrat •••••••••••••••• 74,223 $ 64,490. $ .87 Skunk .................... 262 217. .83 Coyote •••••••••••••••••• 13 11. .87 Mink ...................... 182 2,250. 12.31 Weasel .................. 312 421. 1.35 Marten .................. 3* 6* 2.00* Badger .................. 10 4. .38 Bob & Lynx Cat .... 57 86. 1.51 Fox ........................ 7 5. .64 Civet Cat ................ 14 6. .46 Raccoon •••••••••••••••• 469 693. 1.47 Opossum ·····-···-···· 0** 0** 0** Ringtail Cat............ OPEN SEASON-NO REPORT Totals ..... .75,552 $68,189 * Closed season-permits * * No open season. Total Revenue 1952-'53 89,023 $ 71,341. 471. 7. 13,492. 712. 4,147. 8. 91. 11. 1. 758. 0** 0** 492 13 948 630 413 14 103 33 5 690 O** 0** 92,368 Average Price $ .80 .96 .59 11.75 1.13 10.04 .57 .88 .33 .14 1.10 0** 0** $91,043 held over from previous season. Seasons of 1949-'50 and 1950-'51 SPECIES Total Catch 1949-'50 Total Revenue Average Price Muskrat ················103,974 $ 67,372. $ .65 Skunk .................... 100 30. .31 Coyote .................. 6 1. .18 Mink ...................... 0* 0* 0* Weasel .................. 219 152. .70 Marten .................. 0* 0* 0* 0* Badger .................. 0* 0* Bob & Lynx Cat.... 16 8. .50 Fox ........................ 0* 0* O* Civet Cat... ............. 4 1. .24 Raccoon •••••••••••••••• 88 74. .as Opossum .............. 0* 0* O* Ringtail Cat............ OPEN SEASON-NO REPORT Totals .... 104,407 $67,638 Total Catch 1950-'51 102,727 747 62 195 760 523 17 141 Average $103,530. 532. 53. 3,379. 1,110. $ 1.01 Price .71 .97 17.33 1.46 17.29 .36 1.41 1.49 .41 1.70 O* 1.50 9,049. 6. 198. 81. 8. 55 20 531 0* 2 105,780 Total Revenue 904. O* 3. $118,853 Seasons of 1947-'48 and 1948-'49 SPECIES Total Catch 1947-'48 Muskrat ················106,077 Skunk .................... 648 Coyote .................. 491 Mink ...................... 302 Weasel .................. 1,100 Marten ················-· 58** Badger .................. 73 Bob & Lynx Cat .... 137 Fox ........................ 43 Civet Cat ................ 29 Raccoon ··············-63 0* Opossum .............. 12 Ringtail Cat ............ Tota Is ... .109,033 Total Revenue Average Price Total Catch $177,442. $ 1.67 379. .58 107,143 580 131 0* 1,004 762 53 494. 5,709. 1,763. 1,134.** 52. 332. 50. 9. 97. 0* 7. 1.01 18.09 1.61 19.56** .71 2.43 1.18 .35 1.55 0* .61 1948-'49 69 8 24 174 O* * No open season. ** Closed season-permits held over from previous season. -55- Average Price $ 99,788. $ 301. 123. 0* 1,330. 8,343. 35. 103. 13. 6. 228. 0* .93 .52 .94 0* 1.32 19.41 .68 1.50 1.69 .28 1.31 O* OPEN SEASON-NO REPORT 109,948 $187,468 Total Revenue $110,270 �s ou D Ylt\ NAGEMENT and full enjoyment of Colorado's game and fis h resources depend essentially o n public understanding of the department's problems and objecti\'es and e ffective support of the programs establishe d to carry them out. ,\lore and more must the public be broug ht to recognize the pa rticular needs of all o ur species constantl y beset wit h diminishing lands and wa te rs fo r the ir propagation and surviva l. Moreover, as wildlife habitat shrink s unde r t he e ncroac hments of civilizat ion. so also do opportunities dw indle for ever-increasing numbers of fishermen and hun te rs. ot only is thei r sport a nd salutary outdoor recreation reduced by the constriction of producti ve habitat. but more and more of the w ild lands and waters st ill rema in ing become less a nd less accessible throug h landowner and private-dub posti ng and othe r practices restricting o r prohi biting the general sportsmen. Day by da y, problems for the de p:lrlment in these respects become more numerous a nd acute . And in proportion , the necessity for broade r and more effective public relations becomes the urgent responsibility of the information :111d ed ucation division. P repa r a tion of Ma teria ls r.laterials for informative and educational communication to t he public through a 1·ariety of m ea ns are pre pared hy two informally differentiated agencies within the division- the iniormation sectio n and the publications section. 1\ third informally defined secti on- field information and e<lucatiu11 - makes use of materials produced t hrough Ll1c forena med sections, together with aids aml devices from o utside sources. in setting u p educat ional prog rams for schools, youth groups. sportsme n's and oth1.: r cit ize n organizatio ns throughout the sta te. a nd in connection with the in-se rvice training of department pe rson nel. News Ser v ic es Under direction of t he departme nt's pu bli c relations special ist ( Info rmation Wri ter 11 1), t he info rmation section produces th1.: weekl y news relea se, publ ic notices, the weekly summe r fishing re port and scripts for the De nver radio program. T he reg ula r week ly news release, containing timel y in form atio n o n all aspects of fishing and hunting as well as on gene ral resource a nd management topics, is distributed to da il y and wc1.:kl y ne wspapers, wire services, radio :111d TV stations. legislators. leaders of sportsm en ·s and other citize n g roups. a nd to all members of the Came a nd Fish depart1111.:nt. 01·1.:r 2.000 copies of the release. carryi ng a Saturday dateline, arc di~tributed each week t hroughout the year. Inte rmittentl y as occasion warrants. the regular news release is supplemented by special releases from t he !)en ver - 56 - �office. l n addition, similar periodic and special news releases arc issued from the department's regional offices to local organizations. newspape rs and radio stations CO\'e ring subjects and t:ve nts or immcd i:ne regional sign ificance. T elevision act ivities conducted by departme nt personnel, with materials prepared and coordi nated under the information section, include regular programs ove r Colo rado Springs, Pueblo and G rand Junction stations. In additio n, proi;ram materi als a re curre nt! y in preparation for presen tation ove r proposed educational channel six in cooperation with the pub! ic schools of: D enver. Direc t Inquiry O t her activ ities under di rection of the infor m ation section incl ude a mail a nd telephone inquiry service. Ove r 50,000 letter requests for in formation on hunting, (ishing, conserva tion, ma nagement and Colorado outdoo r detail s in general were rece ived and answered last year through the D en ver and regio nal offices. Telephone inquiries handled by these offices mounted da il y into the hundreds d uring fis hing and hunting seasons. This sen ·ice has developed into o ne of the department·s most im portan t means ot co ntact with the public. Publications Production Principa l function of the publications section is gath ering, editing, illust rating and otherwise pre paring mate rial for "Colorado Co nse rvation," official magazine of: the Game an d Fish departme nt. Thi s publication issued six ti mes a nnually on a paid subscriptio n basis ($1.00 a year) , is req uired by l:tw to pay its production costs o ut or subscripGEOHGL D Particu lar prog ress can be report ed th is year in applying principles an d practices o f conservation a t juni o r le ve ls. H ere a young conservationist g roup gets fir s t - hand acquaintanc e with manne rs and custo ms of the beaver. -57- A N DHLW S �"F i s hing in the Clouds," one of the movies produced in color this yea r by members of the department, details the special attractions and reward~ for the sportsman fi shing in waters above timberline. CD. T OL MAN Lion n:vcnuc. ,\ ri n:1ncial slalcm enr appearing under hus incss-adminislration balance sheels elsewhere in Lhis annual report shows a curre nl s:nisfocwry status for lhe magazine under Lhis arrangement, with an operalional net of $3.79-1.79 reponed for Lhe past fiscal year. Ci rculation , which continues to mount Lhrough direct mail solicitation and sales hy department personne l. stands close lO 17,000, a figure including copies d istrihuled free to schools, I ibr:1ries ;1nd various othe r pub! ic age ncies concerned with conservation. Exte nsive use or "Colorado Conser vation " in schools, and wide quotation of its conten ts in nc wsp:1per and othe r publi calions con t inue Lo make the magazine one of the d epartmen t's most errecti,·e public relalio ns instruments . 1\ddi1 ional output r rom the puhlicaL:ons scclion lasl year incl udcd preparation and d islribution or nearly 1,000.000 copies or big game, small game and iis hi ng regulations; special publicat ions on physical :1uribules :ind liv ing habits o( vari ous Colorado game and fish species, pamphlels on Jcparlment conser v:uion policies and management p ro- cc<lures; Lhc annual repon to l hc CO\·· c rnor and legislawrs; a nd a copi ous variety of olher repons. bullclins, lcaflels and foldcrs- bOl h in prinled form a nd mimeographed - for Lhe educational use o( depa rtment e mployees and fo r informati ve distribution direct LO Lhe gene ral public. Personnel of the publications section includes the ed itor, assista nt edi tor, art edi tor, staff artist, photographer, pho to laboratory technician and ste nographi c personnel. T he di visio n's photog raphe r a nd labora tory techni cia n not o nl y takc and process pictures for illuslrativc use in department publi catio ns, hut swck an<l maintain, in coope ration with the department's general librarian, a photographic library to supply the increasing req uests for pictorial material from gm·e rnme nt agencies, chambers of commerce, advertisi ng agencies, f rec lance w rite rs and outdoor magazi nes. Movie Production The division 's film-lending li brary was a ugmented durin g Lhc past yea r by two new movies in color, produced through the iacilitics and by personnel -58- �of the depa rtment. Fishing in the Clouds is a 13-minutc presentation of the stimulations and re wards avai lable to fisherme n in waters above timberline. A Friend Indeed, 15 minutes in running time, detail s the duties and activities of the wildlife conserva tion officer, not onl y in research, management and law c nfo rcc mcnt, but as the department's f rant-line puhlic relations represen tative. Bot h of these films were produced specifically for tele vision purposes though they arc excelle m also for all forms of educat io nal showing . Two add itional colo r movies are currentl y Ill prod uction . Films available from the le nding library in addition to the above a re : Adventures of a Junior Raindrop, Behind the Flywa ys, Farme r G ets the Bird, Fishing in t he Clouds, Goin' Fishi ng, Legends of the L adore, H e ritage W e Guard, L iving Earth Scric.:s, T he L ost Hunter, Realm of the W ild, S hooting Safety, Su nrise S<.:renade, The Beaver, and W eb of Li fe . The di vision's general library of books a nd other pub! icatio ns on all subjects pertaini ng to ga me and fish continues to increase its list of titles permanently o n hand within the department, and t hroug h m embership in the Bibliographical Center fo r Research h as access to almost u nlimited additional publications on a loa n basis. of materials in preparation for the ir pub! ic appc.:aranccs. Regio nal educators last year persona II y prcsen ted over 500 progra ms to public gatheri ngs, in additio n to prepa ring and distributing informatio n to schools, sportsme n ·s, conservatio n and other g roups ; providing items fo r loc:11 newspape rs; w riting articles for de partment publi catio ns; conducting local r:1di o a nd TV programs; setting up conservation programs with the Boy Scouts and other youth groups; and establishing junior conser vatio n clubs under capable adu lt community leadersh ip. School Cooperation M uch increased use can be reportl:d during the past year of ed ucational materials supplied by the division to public and parochia l school s, hig h a nd junior hi g h schools a nd colleges and universities th roughout the state. Mo unting public interest a nd sup port for making conservation educat io n as integrally important in Colorado school c urric u b as any other course fo r t he development of f uturc good citizens is lea d ing to the establishment within the di vision ot a special section to plan and coordin:lle courses and furnish mate ri als for use in such t rai ning . T he cduc:nor in charge of this sectio n will work under the combined d irection of Educationa l Activities For the most part using mate rials produced by o r a va ilable th rough the above described ,ections and services of the division, the field information a nd education section ca rries on its programs o[ dcpartm<.:ntal in-service training and publi c education throug h the activities of fi ve ed ucators, one in each of the four regions and one servi ng the met ropolitan D en ver area . Duties of educators arc to aid all department administrative a nd field personnel in De n ve r and throughout the regions wit h select ion a nd o rga ni zation In-se rvice training, held mostly a t regional levels, emphasized publ ic re la tions. -59-- �C EO RCC D. A N DRC.W S Con servation's impo rtance in the training of our future citizens grows with the e ffectiven ess o f the depart ment's public education services. the Colorado Departme nt of Education and the Game and Fish department. Curre ntl y a group know n as the Colorado Conser\'ation Education Advisory Committee is studying how best this progrn m can be set up and administered. The committee is composed of representati,·es from state-supported schools and colleges, sportsmen's a nd conservation o rgani za tions. the Game and Fish department and the Colo rado Departme nt of Ed ucation. In-Service Training Finall y the field information and education sectio n of the di vision is res ponsible for in-ser vice trai ning of all de partme nt pe rsonnel. This acti vit y was conducted last year most inte nsive!)' at regional levels, with parti cul ar emphasis o n the purposes of the new organizational setup and the ne w position of wi ldli fe conservation officer toward broader and more dfccti,·e pubIic relations. /\II courses on department objecti ves, policies and procedures, law enforceme nt, species ide ntification , researc h and census methods were o riem ed spccificall y toward t hei r appl ication i n phases of public information and educatio n. Much time was devoted to principles and tec hniques of public relations a nd the most effecti ve uses of all a \'ail:1 hlc com munica tions media. It is bcl ievcd by thi s d ivi sion that remarkable progress was made during the past year toward wiser managemclll and use of ou r game and fish resources t hrough improved public understanding and support of the de partme nt's p urposes and projects. Excellent teamwork by all divisions is pa rticular! )' to be ci ted in every phase of the prog ra m for maintenance, development and perpetuation of wildlife reso urces. - 60 - �·'...,!·, ANNUAL, REPORT-FISCAL YEAR 1954•1955 ' ' \ . . -:~': ,,. .•. � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/dc0405c9b233d355a8eb3032ebf3e60a.pdf 47d1b1d786a31c30d47c96c003d5e07f PDF Text Text �FOREWORD T HESE ANNUAL reports are prepared by the Colorado Game and Fish Department to inform the people of the state concerning its activities and accomplishments during the past fiscal year. As an economy measure, the department has established the following method of reporting: in alternate years, a comprehensive report including a section for each of the state's four regions and a section for each department division will be given. The report for the other alternate years will include ( as does this report) a statement by the di rector and a statistical summary. It is hoped that all individuals interested in our wildlife resource will avail themselves of the opportunity of studying the operation of this department, e.g., how much money was appropriated and just how it was spent. With widespread public understanding and support, the goal of maintaining the hunting and fishing heritage that is so much a part of Colorado will be attained. �S T A T E OF CO L O R A D O DEPARTMENT 0,. GAME AND ,.19H 1 !530 SHl:JIMAN STfU[K.T DENVER 3 , COLORADO THOMAS L . KIM.A L L 11: XCCUT IV I: DUll'. C TO,- November 25, 1956 The Honorable Edwin C. Johnson Governor of Colorado State Capitol Building Denver, Colorado Dear Governor Johnson : Transmitted herewith you will find the annual report of the operations of t he Colorado Game and Fish Departmen t for the fiscal year July 1, 1955 to June 30, 1956 . This report contains a summary of the problems and projects undertaken by the department in the fulfillment of its charge of managing and extending the state's wildlife resource. A detailed statistical summary is also respectfully submitted. Very truly yours, Thomas L. Kimball Director �AnnUAl Rf PORT FISCAL YEAR 1955-1956 CONTENTS ........ 4 The Wildlife Rc~ource 7 Fiscal Report Game Management Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 18 Fish Management Division . • • . • • • • • • •• . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .•••• 19 Fur Management Divbion ...... . ..•.. . .. .. .•..•. .. ....... ... 21 Law Enforcement Divi~ion ....••.• 22 .. ••..•.. 23 Education Division Federal Aid Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .•. . ..... . . . . . . • 24 Game and Fish Commission Governor Edwin C. Johnson, Ex Officio Pagosa Springs, District 6 Boulder, District 2 Burlingto n, District 3 Denver, District l Mo nte Vista, District 5 Meeker, District 8 Rock>· Ford, District 4 Mo ntrose, Distriet 7 Earl H. Mullins, Presidml H. A. Roberts, Vice President Harley Rhoades, Secretary Clarence Baker Henr} Lague Richard G. L}ttle John McClelland . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. T . 0 . Plummer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Game and Fish Department Staff Thoma~ L Kimball, Diru tor John D . Hart, Assistant Direct or Gu~ V . Mel,in . . . Business Manager \X' illiam r. Hunn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Game Warden R. M. Andre"'s.. .... . . • .. . .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . . . . Fish Manager Gilbert N. Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .•. . . Game Manager A. Dean Coleman . • ..... ..• .. .. . .. ... Fur Manai::er C. D. Tolman..... . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . ........... . . Educatio n Manager I. E. Riordan . . .. . . . . .. . • . . • . .. • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. •. Federal Aid Coordinato r Earl r.kCain . . Public Relation~ -3- �Report of Director and Assistant Director The Wildlife Resource T H[ [ISCAL YEAR covering this report has been one of exceeding importance. E,eryone who has an interest m the cond1t1on of the state's wildlife resource should become fa. mil iar with the problems and the needs of our game and fish. The paragraphs to follow wil l attempt to summanzc the problems we face in the forthcoming years as well as the accomplishments and continuinJ,? objectnes of department personnel in presen ing ou r state's wildlife heritage. Lieense Sales With the increase in the hunting and fishing license fees. the department met with what we term "buyers' resistance" in that the number of resident combination fishinJ,: and small 1,:,1me hunting licenses sold during the calendar year I 95 5 was down a small percentage o,er the previous year for the first time in the history of the dep,1rtmc:nt. Resident deer hunting license sales were also down slightly, but non-resident <leer and elk license sales were up proportionately. Full details on the license sales can be obtained from the following fiscal reports. Eeonomi<' Value There ha,e been many articles written about the impact of wildlife on the economy of our nation. The U.S. Fish and \'Xlildl1fc Sen·1ce has recently published a comprehensive nationw ide survey to determine how much money is being spent by the armada of hunters and fis hermen m the pursuit of game and fish. It is s1gn1ficant to note that one person out of every five in the United States hunts or fishes and they spent three billion dol/a,-s in 1955 in pursuit of the,r sport. In Colorado the tourist industry forms an important part of ou r state's crnnomy. The cool weather and the scenery are great attractions, but hunting and fishing opportunities are of profound importance in luring tourists and their welcome expenditures to the state. It is therefore essential that we manage our wildlife wisely; that we provide for a continuing h.ir\'establc l:Cop of this important renewable resource; and that we continue our efforts to increase the amount of land and water audable for use by sportsmen Big Game Problems Our primary problem with big gamt· continues to be one of proper hanest. \'v'hi lc we arc making some progress, 1t becomes incrcasinJ.?lr difficult to attain an adequate han·est of animals in rough, inaccessible reiions and in limited areas where game populations are concentrated due to scYcrc winter weather. The problem of providing adequate winter forage for deer, elk and antelope continues to be of great concern. The ac9u1sition of the Square S lands on Piceance Creek southwest of Meeker 1~ an example of the department's cf- �forts to pro\'ide adequate winter forage for important deer herds within the state. The Square S lands wiU serve as winter range for the White Ri,·er herd. This herd is one of the largest migrating herds in North Amenca and is limited principally by the amount of forage a,·ailable to it during the severe months of deep snow. The Square S acquisition will prond~ I 5,514_ acres of winter range and will help fill the need. One only has to fly over Colorado and look at the intensive cultivation surrounding our major water courses to know that we arc losing ground in providing adequate winter range. These river bottoms once contained willow and other browse species on which the deer were dependent for winter food. As these stream bottoms are clea.red and used for hay and other agricultural crops, the browse is lost for sustaining the animals during the winter. It is therefore essential, if we are to maintain our present herds, to at least maintain what forage is presently available and attempt through acquisition and landowners' cooperation to increase the limited forage in areas where food is inadequate. Upland Game Farming practices continue to be our primary concern in the managc.mcnt of our upland game species. Clean farming, burning of fence rows and ditches, mechanical chopping of alfalfa fields at night and other practices too nun1crous to mention have already had an adverse effoct upon the reproduction success of our upland game birds. Habitat improvement continues to be our first line of attack, and the new soil bank plan affords the opportunitr for the department to launch a wc-atly expanded program in this direction. The long-term contracts pro, ided in the soil bank plan for removing lands from production and performinf? con~ervation improvements will offer great opportunities for landowner-department cooperative programs. Public shooting grounds continue to be of primary interc~t. As more hunters take to the field, more valuable private lands are being leased to individuals as private hunting grounds. The basic need for space to accommodate hunters is an increasingly acute problem each year, and as leasing values increase more and more private land goes into the hands of private shooting clubs. Fishing Pro blems \fount Maintaining the quaht} of fishing for which Colorado is famous is becoming more difficult with each passing year. Posting of lakes and streams limits the use of thcse waters (now totaling a full third of our good trout fishing strc.-ams) to a selected few, thereby increasing the burden on waters which are open to free public fishing. Streams and lakes adjacent to arc-as of high population cannot be maintained as good fishing waters by natural fish reproduction. An artificial fish stocking program is essential in this type of water if we are to maintain a reasonable degree of fishing success. In this connection, Colorado has made great strides during the past year in increasing the amount of fish stocked in our streams and lakes open to public fishing. An increase in production of 226,000 pounds of fish indicates the progress made in this field. More lasting value, however, is returned to the sportsman throu~h department efforts in the dc\clopment of fish habitat, which falls into two categories: ( 1) The creation of 11e11· l<1ker nr impo1111dme11ts derig11ed pri11wril; f nr the prod11ctio11 of fiih. These lakes are located in areas which have excellent natural fish food production. When stocked with fry ( rather than expensive c;1tchable size fish) these -S- �waters can produce good fishing within one year from the date of completion. These fertile waters provide more spa.cc for fishermen, and good fishing at a reasonable price to the sportsmen, by allowing nature to feed and care for the fish. (2) Slrt!al/1 impl'oz t!lllelll ll'Ork (which has been somewhat neglected in Colorado in past years) . By way of cxpl,u1atllJn, low water flows in the fall c.m c.1usc str1ous loss of fish through winter kill Steep wadie:nts with no pools or riffk-s do not pro\ ide very good emironrrn:nt for fish On smaller streams, which are not subiect to severe flooding, artific1,1llr constructed d.um and the resultant pools and riffles c.m increase the carrying capacity for fish immeasurably. Projects of this type are being planned, and it 1s hoped th.it a significant portion of our capital outl.iy for fish can be spent on this type of fish habitat 1mpro\ement work. A series of tables follows this general analysis of current game and fish problems. These tables will summarize the status of the game and fish resource, and the financial report should cast light on the economic facts surrounding our management efforts. As the custodians of the state's fish and wildlife resource, this department is constantly and consistently striving for better ways of management .ind for the impro\'cme:nt of the qualll)' and yuantity of Colorado's hunting and fishing. The licc:nse buyer is our lx,ss .md all our efforts arc bent toward better sen·ing him. W/e appreciate rnnstructi\ c suggestions ;1nd welcome the opportunity to discuss the problems we face and the methods we have proposed for h.tndling them. We arc hoping that those who will study this report will find that their department has made progress .ind that their funds ha\ c been cxpendc:d in accord with the maxim of "the greatest good for the great<:st number. ... The shortogc of winter ronge for deer remains one of the most pressing problems faced by the Gome ond Fish deportment -6- �Fiscal Report THIS DEPARTMENT has now operated for one complete fiscal year The over-all revenue increase of $350,000 is approximately $150,000 less than was anticipated at the time the license boost was put into effect. This has partially been offset by other increases in revenue, i.e., the beaver program, land rentals and fines. The department's cash balance as of June 30, 1956, is $2,374,382.67, which is definite proof that the expansion program of the department is sound as this balance is only $30,879.55 less than the cash balance on hand as of June 30, 1955. under the new license fees for fishing and small game. The results of these license fee increases compared with the fiscal year of 1954-'55 reveal an increase in license revenue of approximately $350,000 with 10,624 more licenses sold. The sale of fishing and small game licenses showed an increase* of 12,296, which, accompanied by the increased fees, resulted in a gain of approximately $336,000. License sales for hunting big game were down 2,246 from the number sold last year; however, the revenue for big game hunting license sales was up approximately $13,000. This can be attributed to the increase in the number of nonresident deer and elk licenses sold. *T he fiscnl year covered by this report (July l, '55-J une 30, ' 56) c.loes not reflect the "buyer rtSistance" to the incrense in fishing license fees which became effective in the early spring of 1955. In 1956, fishing license sales resumed the normal upward trend . Hunting and Fishing License Sales July 1, 1955 • June 30, 1956 Nurnber of Ucen5e.s (1 955 Calendar Year) Number of licenses (Fiacal Yeor) Gron Revenue* (Fiscal Year) Resident Fishing and Small Game Hunting ....... 139,483 Resident Alien . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . • . • . . . . . . 51 Resident Fishing (Only) .••......... . ......... 95,000 Resident Small Game Hunting (Only) ........... 23,262 Non-Resident Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,708 Non-Resident 5-day Fishing ....•............. 93,342 Non-Resident Bird and Smoll Game ........ , . . . 1,981 Resident Deer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95,039 Resident Elk ..... ...... ... . ................ 20,174 Resident Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . 732 Resident Bear . . . . . . • • . . . • • • . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . 125 Non-Resident Deer ...•....... , .•..... , ..... 16,948 Non-Resident Elk ....... , . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . 3,832 Non-Resident Bear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Resident Antelope ............ , . , . . . . . . . . . . . 3,900 Resident Mountain Sheep . . ......... , . . . . . . . . 179 Resident Trapper . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . 834 Non-Resident Trapper . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Duplicate licenses . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 688 Additional Rod Stomp . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . • . . . . . 69 115,106 1 122,417 27,212 13,454 94,274 2,088 95,039 20, 174 732 68 3.00 489,668.00 54,424.00 134,540.00 329,959.00 20,880.00 712,792.50 201 ,740.00 3,660.00 1,360.00 677,920.00 191,600.00 1,780.00 35,050.00 4,475.00 2,912.00 100.00 1,040.48 68.00 Total license Revenue ... . .. . ....... 507,523 517,103 $3,439,499.98 •Net ofter deduction of agents' commrssions. - 7- 272 16,948 3,832 178 3,505 179 832 4 788 $ 575,528.00 �Financial Statem ent GAI\IE CASH FUND Schedule of Income July I, 1955 • June 30 , 1956 Resident Fur Dealers ••..• - . - .• - • - . - . • . • . . $ Guide licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • .••..•.••.•...•.. Reside nt Fishing . . . . . . . . ...•.•••....••..••.••• Resident Fishing and Small Game . . . . . . . . . . .•.•.. Resident Alien Fishing . . . . . . . • • . •....••••.•.•• Non-Resident Fishing . . . . . . ....... , .....•......... Non-Resident 5 -day Fishing . . . . . . . •. •. . . . . . Non-Resident Bird and Small Game •.•..•. Resident Deer ... Resident Elk . . . Non-Resident Deer No n-Resident Elk Resident Turkey ...........•••....... . ..•••..••... Resident Trapper • • . . • . . . . . . • •.•••••• Non-Resident Trapper ....•............•......... Resident Antelope . . ..... . •.............••.•..•.. Beor Mountain Sheep ......•.............. . ............ Non-Resident Bear .................. . .......... . Resident Small Game ............................. . Additional Rod Stomps . . .......•.......•....... Duplicate license s . . . . . . . . . .................. . Importers ...................................... . lake Licenses and Preserve Licenses . . .............. . Refuge Permits . . .......•............ Seining Permits ......... . . , ... .. .............••.. Storage Permits . . . Taxidermists .... . ••.....•.•..•..•.•. Transportation Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • ....... . Dog Troiners ond Boot Permits . . . . . . ......... . Field Trials . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . .. Scientific Permits ond Specimen Permits Importation Permits 485.50 1,750.00 489,668.00 575,525.00 6 .00 134,540.00 329,959.00 20,880.00 712,792.50 201 ,740.00 677,920.00 191,600.00 3,660.00 2,912.00 100.00 35,050.00 1,360.00 4,475.00 1,780.00 54,424.00 68 .00 1,040.48 36.00 1, 289.00 6.00 73 .00 2.00 245.00 436.00 - 0- ........ . 123.75 17.00 232 .00 409.00 246.00 50.00 5.00 17,184.60 Sales of Farm Products ond Sales of Livestock . . ...••. Sales of Hides (Except Beaver) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sales of Supplies and Materials . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sales of Hides ( Beaver . .. •.... •.. .... ....... .. Soles of Beaver Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rents from Land . .. .. ••. . . •.. •. . . .. . •. . . . .. . . Court Fines . . . . . . . . . • •. •. . . •. . . . .. . . 1,880.35 3,005.35 72,786.78 2,999.24 17,029.44 41 ,157.02 Bird Park Licenses Q uadruped Park licenses Non-Resident Fur Dealers Transfer Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . ... . Garage Services - 0- Total Gross Income .................. $3,600,948.01 Less: Commission Expense 127,530.00 Total Net Income ...............•... $3,473,418.01 -8- �Schedule of Ex1,enses GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Commissioners . . . . . . ...................... .. .. , $ Diredor ...•....•.•••..•...............•.••.• Assistont Director . ............................. . $ 6 ,657.70 21 ,292.53 14,741.44 42,691 .67 Business Administration: Busineu Manager . . .................... . .... $ Federal Aid Automotive ....................... . License and Revenue . ................. . ...... . Accounting ................................•• Property and Supply . • . . . . . • . . .............. . Office Maintenance and Operation ............. . Garage • . .................................. Warehouse ............ • .................... Aerial (Ceuna) . . . . . . . . . . ....••............. Federal Aid Nonmatching .....................• Federal Aid Disallowed Items .................. . Workmen's Compensation - " E" Fund ........... . Hunting and Fishing Rights-"l " Fund ...... . .•. . . Chief Creek Dam - " J" Fund .................. . Sand Arroyo Creek - " K" Fund ..........•...... 39,510.87 27,497.43* 33,374.33 47,877.20 18,863.97 28,892.29 24,921 .89 13,003.13 1,764.29 2.00 746.40 18,438.00 - 0- 617.70 574.75 Contingencies - "X" Fund .................... . 926.70 Relief legislation - " H" Fund .... . ..• • ...•..... 328.50 $ 202,344.59 Personnel •.. , ........................•.•...... $ 15,337.72 $ 15,337.72 Conservation Education Radio and News ............................. $ 47,344.72 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • 66,746.38 $ 114,091.10 Game Management 65,585 .79 14,697.11 Aerial Operation .................. . .........• 10, 101.« Tarryall ........•................•.......... 375.29 Seeding Projects ............................ . 6 ,585.79 Game Cooperative - "T" Fund ................ . 5,386.23 Game Damage Awards - " Z" Fund ............. . 4,668.88 Pittman-Robertson - " M" Funds ·• .............. . 200,603.48 S 308,004.01 Fi•h Management Administration ......... . ..................... $ 120, 119.43 Fish Pathology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • • • . . . . . . . . . . l 03.91 Fish Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . 59,601.27 Transportation . . ....... • . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,018.74 Construdian-Maintenance ................... , . . 57,425.01 Warm Water Fish - ''W" Fund . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • 17,608.51 Warm Water Fish - " B" Administration . . . . . . . . . . . 45,337.79 American Crystal Sugar Ca. . ... .. ...... .. . 264 .39 Fishing Cooperative - " S" Fund . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,426.29 Dingell-Johnson - " P" funds* · . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 21 ,936.05 $ 354,8-41 .39 Administration .........•................•.•.. $ Game Control • 1ndicotes red figures . .. Stole's Shore (25%) of monthly billing to the Federal Government on project expenditures by the Federol A id Division. -9- �Low Enforcement Administration $ 29,947.51 29,947-'1 Administration •• • •.... . ... • •••.•...••.•.•.. • • $ 28,556.37 Beaver Reimbursement - " R" Fund 1,316.90 48.494.87 78,368.14 •••••••••. • • •• ••• $ Fur R..ources Predatory Animal Control - " Y" fund $ Northeast Region Regional Coordinator .•...•••.••••••.••.• $ 11,835.33 Regional Conservation Officers .•. , ••.•••.••• 137,316.88 Regional fish Monoger •. • . •• • • • • . 7,392.59 Bonny Dom . ..•.•• . ••••••• . •.•.••. • • • ••. 954.62 Estes Pork .•.•. . .......•..•••..•.•••. 21 , 109.92 Bellvue - ft. Collins .... , •.....• . • • ••••. • •• 30,794.26 Denver 69,610.24 North Fork Thompson 36,829.82 Poudre ..•.••• • . 36,015.67 Red Feather lokes 944.56 Wolden 18,438.75 Wray 36,867.18 Regional Gome Manager 6,672.82 Regional Educator 11 ,964 .29 $ 426,746.93 Northwest Region Regional Coordinator ..•.....•••.•. Regional Conservation Officers .••••. .•• .... . Regional Fish Monoger Bel-Aire Rearing Unit Crystal River Finger Rock Glenwood Springs Rifle Falls Regional Gome Manager little Hills ... Gome Control Airplonu . Regional Educator S .•.• , .. .. .... , . , ... . . , •. . .••• .• .... , . , • . . • . • . • $ 14,291.51 155,448.29 7,413.63 22,486.62 47,716.70 36,799.54 3,608.46 203,432.00 9,832.07 1, 102.68 5,318.07 16,522.23 6,174.89 530, 146.69 Southeast Region Regional Coordinator , .......... , ............. $ Regional Conservation Officers ......... , . .. , • , , . Regional Fish Manager ......•... , , •.... , ••••• , Torryoll Bueno Vista Cholk Cliffs Cooldole Ponds .• Mt. Shavano Leadville 11,042.28 94,219.12 7 ,820.39 90.67' 17,767.35 47,459.58 5,952.97 24, 272.67 13, 157.03 Rye . . . . ... . 16,946.93 Regional Gome Manager • . • • • • • • . . . • • • •••• 9,869.57 Gome and Bird Form ..........•••••••••.•• 16,804.05 Regional Educator ... . , •.•• . ••.••• . .......... 6,720.64 S 271 ,941.91 • Indicates red figures. - 10- �S011thwest Region Regionol Coordinator ••.••••••••• ..•. ••.• $ Regional Conservation Officers . . • . . . . • • • . . . . • • . . Regional Fish Manager . . •. . . . . . ••. . . . . . . . •• Cedoredge • . . • . • • . . . • • • • • • . . . . • • • . . . . . . . . • Chipeta . . . . . . • . • . • . • • • • • . • • . • • • • • • . . . . . • • Dolores . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . • • . • . . • . • Durango . . . . • . . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . Havilond lake • • • . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . la Jara . . Pitkin ..... Rio Grande Ponds ............ ...•. . ........ Regional Game Manager ...........•.....•.... Regional Educator .•....•••.. . .....•.......... $ 13,641 10 162,265 17 9,164.33 32,465.35 39,967.31 31 , 176.72 40,229.56 177.38 29,264.61 52,530.44 32,987.50 7,415.30 5,563.28 456,848.05 Financial Statem e nt GAME CASH FUND State m ent of Ope rations July 1, 1955 - June 30, 1956 Income Gross Income .....•..............•..•••••...... $3,600,948.0 1 less: Commission Expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127,530.00 Net Income .................... $3,473,418.01 Expense General Administration Commissioners . . . .........••...•.••••...•.•. $ 6,657.70 Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . • • • • • . . . . . . 21,292.53 Assistant Director . . . . . •••••••. . . •••••. •. . . •. 14,741.44 Business Administration . . • • • . . . . . . . • • . . • • . . . • . 202,344.59 Personnel . .. . • . .. . .. .. .. .. .. • .. .. .. .. . .. 15,337.72 Conservation Education • • • • • . . . . • • •• • • • • . • • • . 114,091.10 Game Management . . . . • • . • • . . • . . • • . • • . • . . . . 308,004.01 Fish Management . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . 354,841.39 law Enforcement .••• , , • • • • . . • • • • 29,947.51 Fur Resources .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • .... .. .. .. • 78,368.14 Total of Generol Administrotion ••.•.••••••.••• $1,145,626. I 3 Northeast Region . . • • • . . . . • . • • • . • • • . . . . . • • . • . . Northwest Region .. • .. • • • .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Southeast Region • • • . • . . .. .. • • • • . . • • • • • Southwest Region . • . • • • • • • • .. .. . • • .. • • 426,746.93 530,146.69 271 ,941.91 456,848.05 Total Expense .. ................ $2,83 1,309.71 103,054.83 251 ,476.42 Other Income ... Other Expense Net of Operations .............. $ 493,686.71 Not•~ Details for .ach of the figures obove shown ore s.et forth on accompanying 1chedules. -11- �Financial Statem ent GAl'1E CASH FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1956 CURRENT ASSETS Ca,h Cash on deposit - State Treasurer ••••..•.•.. Receivable, Account. receivable - Justice of the Pe ace Accounts receivable - license Agents $2,374,382.67 .... . s Due from Other Fund, Bonny Dom Revolving Fund . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . Store• Revolving Fund • • . . . . . . . • • . . . . • • • • . Federal Aid Revolving Fund ... • •• .$ 1,221.95 65.49 1 287 44 3.00 1.420.55 4.94155 6,365.10 Total Current Assets . ......... .. .. . .... . .. . .. .. ... . $2,382,035.21 OTHER ASSETS Investment in Stores Revolving Fund ..• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• $ 250,000.00 Investment in Federal Aid Revolving Fund • • . . • • • . . . . • • . . . 500,000.00 $ 750,000.00 DEFERRED EXPENSES Depo,ih in Postage Meter Machine • . • • . • • . . . . • . . . . • . .. S 2,243.07 Smoll Tools ond Expendable Equipment •.......... ...• ••.•. 123,548.08 S 125,791 15 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Form and Gorden Equipment .. s 151 ,637 73 General Plant Equipment 468,236.83 Household Furniture and Equ ipme nt ... 30,827 25 Laboratory Equipment . • 15,333 .36 Library and Instructional Equipment .... 27,845.39 Motor Vehicles and Equipment 838,713.33 Office Furniture and Equipment 106,674.33 Recreation Equipment ...•••••.• . . .. .• 535 15 Shop Machinery and Equipment 31 ,483.23 Comping Equipment .•.•. 46.206 23 Air Equipment • • • • • . • . 371 .00 Remodeling, Major Repairs and Replacement of Structures .•• - 0Building and Structures . . . . • • 1,545,2« 84 Land and Non-Structural Improvements • 1,724,263.95 Sub-Total . • • ••..••• . •••••.••........•• .... , $4,987,372.62 Equity in Federal Aid Prope rty, Pion! and Equipme nt. • . • 473,864 .21 $5,461 ,236.83 BUDGETARY AND OTHER FUND RESOURCES Estimated Revenue, Revenue, - Cash Items .... , , . , . . • . , ... $3,550,228.46 • Revenues Non Cash Items 18,283.28 • Total Assets $3, 129,200.00 3,568,511 ,7 4 • 439,311 .74 • . . . . . . . . .•...... . ...... . ...... $8,279,751.45 •1 ndicotes red fig ure ,. -12 - �Liabilities CURRENT LIABILITIES Payables Accounts Payable - Landowners ................•....... $ 2,053.02 Accounts Payable - License Agents ..................... . 1, 240.43 Accounts Payable - State General Fund ..........•....... 5,796.46 Accounts Payable - Encumbrances ............. . •....... 293,067.99 Accrued Payrolls ......•..................... . ........ 11,456.43 Due to Other Funds Stares Revolving Fund ........ . ....................... $ 66,095.66 Federal Aid Revolving Fund ......... . ................ . 14,308.14 Colorado Conservation Fund .......................... . 53.00 Total Current Liabilities $ 313,614.33 80,456.80 ....... . .. . ....... . ... . ... .. $ 394,071.13 BUDGETARY AND OTHER FUND OBLIGATIONS Appropriations Current Year Personal Services ... . ............... $1 ,338,000.00 Maintenance and Operations . . . . . . . . . 898,000.00 Capital Outlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542,000.00 Travel and Subsistence . . . . • . . • . . . . . . 100,000.00 Special Funds . . . . . . . . . . • . • • . • . • . . . 750,938.00 $3,628,938.00 Prior Years Personal Services ................... $ 12,386.05 Maintenance and Operations .....•... 152,510.10 Capital Outlay ............•....... 130,534.22 Special Funds . . . . ................ . 895.14 Expenditures - Cash /fems Operating Expense ........... • .•..... $2,881 ,252.05* Capital Outlay , ....•.. , . , . . . . . • . . . . . 697,476.94* 296,325.51 $3,925,263.51 $3,578,728.99* Expenditures - Non-Cash Items Operating Expense ................... $ 201 ,663.27* Capital Outlay . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • • 825.87* 202,489. 14* Encumbrance s Operating Expense ............... . . .. $ 109,941.1 0* Capital Outlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • 183, 126.89* 293,067.99* $4,074,286.12* RESERVES ANO SURPLUS Reserve for Working Capitol. ............... . ..•......... $ 750,000.00 Unappropriated Surplus ................................ 1,823,466.10 Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets ........ , ...•......•..... 5,461 ,236.83 $8,034,702.93 Total Liabilities and Surplus .. . . . ......... . . . . . ...... $8,279,751.45 • Indica tes red figures. -13 - �Financial Statem ent BALANCE SHEETS As of June 30, 1956 Federal Aid Revolving Fund Aseete Cash an Deposit - Stale Treasurer .••••..............•.• , ..••• . •.. , •••.•.... $ Pittmon- Re ceivables: Roberh on Due from Fede rol Government , ...• , ...... $ 43,883.81 14,228.77 Due from Game Cash fund . . . , . • .•....... 99,792 22 Dingell Johnson $ 238.08 79.37 $ « , 12189 14,308 14 Unbilled Advances: Due from Federal Government ....•. , .... Due from Gome Cash fund ••••. , .... . .•.. Stale Advance 334,555.46 111 ,518.48 - 93,750.00 2,534.73 844.91 332,020.73 110,673.57 1,413,094 .63 678,586.14 Property, Plant and Equipment Estimoted Revenues on Projects in Proceu . 2,302.56 Unollocoted Approprioted Funds - New Projects 119,796.03 Total Assets . .. .. . .. .. . .... ... . . . ..... .... . . . . . . . . $2,602,226.96 Liahilitiet1 . ........ $ Reserve for Encumbrances .......•...... Pittmon- Joh n5on Robertson 4,941.55 s 1,332,202.56 801 ,414 78 530,787.78 55,818 .32 474,969.46 $ Due lo Game Cosh Fund • , ••.........•. , .. S Due lo Stores Revolving fund . Equity of Game Cash Fund ..... Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets . 89,834.35 Dingell 0- $ 4,941.55 5,604.64 500,000.00 1,413,094.63 Appropriations Availoble - Projects in Process: Total Allotments Less: Expenditures lo Date Sub-total . . . Less, Encumbronces Outstonding Net· Appropriations Available 325,600.00 177,801 .64 147,798.36 34,016.03 113,782.33 588,751.79 Appropriations Availoble - New Projed s; From Anticipated Revenues . , ....... , . , .. Plus: Additional Appropriations . , .....•... Less C urrent Project Appropriations •.••... Sub-total .• , .•...... , •••. , •••• Add: Unused Balances on Completed Projects; Net· Appropriations Available 21 ,215.81 116,186.75 135, 100.00 2,302 .56 - 02,302.56 124, 196.03 4,400.00 119,796.03 - 0 119,796.03 Total Liabilities and Surplus ... . .......... . ... . .... . $2,602,226.96 - ll - �SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQu IPMENT FEDERAL AID REVOLVING FUND Form ond Gorden Equipment . . . . . . • • • • • • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . .• $ 31 ,764.24 Generol Pion! Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • • • . • . . . 24,818.17 Household Furniture ond Equipme nt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . 7,835.15 loborotory Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • 2,422.07 Librory ond lnstrudionol Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . 2,331.53 Motor Vehicles ond Equipment ....... .. ..•.•....••.........• .. . . .....•... , 30,078.16 Office Furniture ond Equipment ......... , . . . . . . • • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,517.01 Recreotion Equipment . • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • -42.00 Shop Mochinery ond Equipment .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • .. • .. .. .. .. .. .. . 3,138.35 Comping Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . 8,304.55 Air Equipment . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. , . . . . • . • . . . . 88.25 Remodeling, Mojor Repoirs ond Reploceme nt of Structures ••......... , . . . . . • . . - 0Buildings ond Strudures . . . . • . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . .....••.......... , . . ,4.45,571 .61 lond ond Non-Structural Improvements lo land ................•.........•. 1,315,215.10 Total Property, Plant and Eq uip ment (100%) ........ ... $1,884,1 26.19 Distribution Game Cash Fund - 25% • .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. • .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . • $ 471 ,031 .55 Federol Aid Revolving Fund - 75% ....................................... 1,413,094.64 $1,884,126.19 Note: At the time expenditures are made for items of a " Capital Outlay" nature, they are chorged to project occounts on the Federol Aid Revolving Fund Accounts. They are later billed 25% to the Deportment of Gome and Fish ond 75% to the Federol Government. Thus, when o project is completed ond payment is received in the obove proportions, the project is closed, leoving no record of property, plont and equipment items. So the above memorandum accounts hove been set up to keep a record therof because, while the Federol Government's monuol soys the properties actuolly belong to the Department of Game and Fish, their use is restricted to Federal Aid projects only. Thus, any property to be used exclusively on deportment projects must be purchased from Federol Aid ot the current book volues. Q Willow Creek Fund Assets Cash on Deposit - State Tre osurer ...••. , ••••....•............ . ........• , •• $ Total Assets . . . . .. ..... . ... . ............. . ........ $ 54.00 54.00 LiaJJilities Surplus . . . . . . • . . . • • . ••..•... . .........• . ...•••••••...•.•......•..•.. $ Total lia bilities ..... . ........... . .... .. ...... .. .. . . $ • 1ndicate1 red figures. -15 - 5400 54.00 �Colorado Conservation Fund Assets 22,790.06 53.00 Cash on Deposit - State Treasurer ..•...•................................... $ Due from Other funds - Game Cash fund ...•...........•....•.•............ 22,843.06 Total Assets .. ........ ................... ........ . $ Liabilities 2,240.50 Accounts Payable ....................................................... $ Due ta Other funds - Game Cash fund ...........•..• , ••.........•.•...... . Subscriptions Paid in Advance ............•................................. Surplus ................•...•...........•......•.•..................... - 013,824.16 6,778.40 22,843.06 Total liabilities .............................. ..... $ Statement of 01>era lious Year-to-Date Income June 30, 1956 Subscriptions Earned ....... ................ .....•. ..................... $ l 5,658.55 Total Income ..............................•....................... $ 15,658.55 Expense Printing ........•....................•................•............•. $ Postage ............ . ............................................... . Surplus .............................••.............................. Total Expense .................................... $ Net of Operations ................................. $ 14,950.82 1,020.00 156.18 16,127.00 468.45* Fishing Easen1ent Fund Assets Cash on Deposit - State Treasurer . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . ... $ Property, Plant and Equipment .................... • ................... Total Assets ...................................... $ 1,615.71 1,800.53 3,416.24 Liabilities Accounts Payable ....................................................... $ Surplus Invested in fixed Assets ......................•..................... Surplus ................................... , , , • . • • • , .... • • • .. • • • • • • • • • Total Liabilities and Surplus ......................... $ Statement of Opt'ratiom, 2,001.52 1,800.53 385.81• 3,416.24 Year-to-Dote Income June 30, 1956 Transferred from Game Cash fund .......................•............... $ - 0 - 0Total Income . . . . . . . .............................................. . Expense Salaries laborers . . . . . . . . . . .......................................... $ Motor Supplies . . . ....................•....••.....••.........•....... Repairs .................••.•........... • • • • • • • • • • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Total Expense .................................... $ Net of Operations ................................. $ 'Indicates red figures -16 - 390.19 6.33 475.00 871.52 871.52 · �Stores Revolving Fund Assets Cash on Deposit - Stole Treasurer .................... ,, .................... $ 101, 373.95 Due from Other Funds: Bonny Dam Fund ................ . ..................... $ Game Cash Fund ...................•.................. Federal Aid Revolving Fund ..........•................... Fishing Easement Fund ........ , ........................ . Colorado Conservation Fund ........................... . 28.16 66,095.66 5,604.64 - 0- 0- 71 ,728.46 Inventories: Stores on Hand ........................................ $ Stores in Transit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . 77,931 .52 43,730.71 121,662 .23 Total Assets ...................................... $ 294,764.64 Liab ilities Accounts Payable ........................................ ... ..•......... $ 43,344.09 Due to Game Cash Fund ................................... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,420.55 Equity of Game Cash Fund ......•........ , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . 250,000.00 Total Liabilities .. . ................................ $ 294,764.64 Note: This fund will have neither income nor expenses and hence, no Statement of Operations. Bonny Dam Fund Assets Cash on Deposit - State Treasurer ...... , ................... , ............... $ Property, Plant and Equipment ........................................... . Total Assets ...................................... $ 171.73 1,731.68 1,903.41 Liabilities Accounts Poyoble ..... , , ................................................ $ Due to Stores Revolving Fund ................ , , ........................... . Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets .......................................... ,. Surplus ............................................................... . Total Liabilities and Surplus ...................... .. . $ S ta tem ent of Operations 3.00 28.16 1,731 .68 140.57 1,903.41 Year•to •Date Income June 30, 1956 Boat Permits .......... , ............................. . ................ $ 1,098.00 Sales - Farm Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . 95.61 601.28 Rents - Land 1,794.89 Total Income , ...................•............•................... $ Expense, Supplies and Materials .............................•...............••.. $ Wages of Laborers . . ...............•....••....................•••.... Maintenance ond Operation . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • • . . • . . . • . • • . • . . • . . . . • . Total Expense .............. .. .................... $ Net of Operations ................................. $ • Indicates red figures. - 17- 176.47 1,831.50 218.02 2,225.99 431. l 0* �Statistical Summary GAME MANAGEl\lENT The following statistics were taken from hunters' report cards, game check stations, conservation officer field reports, license sales receipts, and aerial and ground census records. The censusing of wild animals is a ,ery difficult, expens1\'e and compli- cated task, and except in rare cases it is virtually impossi ble to make an exact count. For this reason population trends have been used with success and reliability in managing game animals and will be used in this report rather than random figures. BIG GAME KILL 1955 Number of Hunters Resident Non -Resident Deer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95,039 Elk ....... . . . ................•..•..... . ... 20, 174 Antelope . . .... . . . ..••.•••.. , . . . • . . . . . . . . . . 3,505 Sheep . . . . . • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . 179 272 Bear ...... . ............•.. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 16,948 3,832 178 Kill 70,040 7 ,037 3, 165 45 590 SMALL GAME KILL 1955 Number of Hunters (Resident ond Non -Resident) Pheasa nts . .. . . . . .. ..... .. ... . .. . •................ Quail .........•.•............... . ....... , . . . . . . . Rabbits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turkey ......... , , • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grouse ...........• • ............•........•..... Ducks . . .... . ........ • •....... . ... . .... . ......... Geese Doves 71 ,74 1 7 ,521 60,062 732 12,245 37,816 17,364 13,680 Kill 117,655 33, 199 312,980 381 11 ,916 25 3,367 17,711 147 ,742 POPULATION TRENDS 1955 BIG GAME STATUS SMALL GAME STATUS Deer Elk Antelope Sheep Bear 25% increase· 32% increase* remains static remains static remains static Pheasants Quail remains static Bobwhite - remains static Gambel - good increase Scaled - marked increase SMALL GAME Ducks Geese STATUS increase increase Rabbits Turke y Grouse increase increase Sage - marked increase Blue - remains static Doves increase •Thue perce n tages re p rese nt increase s over a ten yeor period . - IS - �Statistical Summary FISH MANAGEMENT low shows the catch per man-hour only of fishermen checked. By projecting these figures over the total number of fis hermen trips, the state-wide catch may be computed. Thus the total trout catch for 1955 was about 12,233,232, and the total warm water catch, 2,100,038. The distribution tables are from production and salvage unit records. No accurate census of fish populations is possible, for obvious reasons. The information which follows is designed to show the success of fishermen by computing the number of fish caught per hour of effort; and to report on this department's efforts to supplement natural production of wild fish with artificially reared fish. It should be noted that the table be- TROUT CATCH 1955 Type of Woter Fishermen Checked Catch 31,355 -41,13-4 72,489 79,134 74,900 154,034 -469 streams 323 lakes Catch Per Man-Hour 0.92 0.53 0.76 avera ge WARM WATER CATCH 1955 Type of Water 50 lakes Fishermen Checked Catch 17,781 49,764 Catch Per Man-Hour 0.99 WARM WATER SPECIES Dis tribution b y Units 1955 (Black, White and Rock Bass; Bullhead and Channel Catfish; Drum, Crappie, Perch, Walleye Pike, Sunfish) 3" - 6" O" - 3" Numbers Pounds Numbers Wray Hatchery .... 518 1,408,950 1,307 18,735 Las Animas Hatchery .... 592 4,772,477 1,963 Salvage ..... 30 840 4,025 Pounds Over 6 " Pounds Numbers 988 3,965 51 ,792 594 74,740 1, 145 Pounds Totals Numbers 2,803 1,431 ,650 4,934 3, 149 4,829,203 7,839 5,200 83,419 Tota l Numbers (a ll sizes) ............................... 6,444,272 Total Pounds (a ll sizes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 ,162 (5.58 Tons) -19- �COLD WATEH SPECIES Distribution by Units 1955 (Rainbow, Brown, Brook, Native, Kokanee, Grayling) o·•. 3 " Pounds Hatchery Over 6" Pounds Numbers 0 0 557 10,026 30,543 1,476,287 285,600 20 59 640 20,000 0 0 0 0 396,756 377,206 0 259 0 13,442 6, 168 506 30,648 26,691 108,556 Bellvue ......•.••.••.•.•... Buena Vista 3 - 6' Pounds Numbers 949 •.. . ..••••••. , 157 1,406 Bel-Aire Boulder Ponds Number1 Cedaredge Chalk Cliffs 126,462 0 0 1.050 9 .150 69.790 321 ,499 Chipeta . 0 0 0 0 72,380 338,630 Coaldale and Helms ...••.•••. 0 0 0 0 11,265 63,093 Crystal R. and Norrie ...•.•.•• 0 0 0 0 61 ,828 254,422 1, 1-41 650,650 0 0 39,425 62 10,044 0 0 39, 147 188,718 235,892 327 421,852 2,609 69,985 29,268 187,474 81 316,340 0 0 27,775 129,091 0 0 0 0 67,542 281 ,997 Denver-Faden Dolo res .............•..•... Durango Estes Park Fin. Rock and G ia. Spgs. Glenwood .. l a Jara No. Fk. Thompson Pitkin Poudre •• . •....•.••• Rifle Falls • •..... ..•. •.••. Rio Grande ...... ... .•••• 325 1,154, 192 0 0 0 0 498 261 ,774 4 1,000 15,572 70,927 0 0 195,156 0 0 100,320 54,735 162,707 956 491 ,181 382,009 129,250 692 113 8,554 36,176 229 49,000 90,070 43,610 2,969,575 3,418 221 ,296 79,550 22,347 167,745 13 12,650 213 12,000 Rye 173 171 ,329 0 0 6,712 Walden 766 751 .684 0 0 11 ,305 33,165 58,350 0 0 2,000 47,000 35,534 155,992 0 Salvage (Trout) ...... • ••••••. Leadville (Federal) • • . . . . . . . . . 1,222 0 0 0 1,868 7,608 517, 185 2,597 59,700 16,635 80,371 Wray 'Trout) . , ..•.•• • Purchase Fish Totals .... 0 0 601 33,055 34,181 94,092 16,985 10,004,456 14,572 646,6 14 897,898 4,095,922 Total Numbers (all sizes) . .. .. , . , •• . •.. .. , .... ... ...... 14,746,992 Total Pounds (all sizes) .. , . ........... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 929,455 (464.72 Tons) - 20- �Statistical Summary FUR MANAGEMENT and 386 landowner cooperative beaver permits are in force. Only approximately 25 landowners trap beavers themselves, the greater portion enlisting the help of a private trapper. The above figures do not represent the numerous novice trappers (under 15 years of age) that harvest a large share of our native muskrats. The annual survey of fur animals is taken from the records of fur buyers throughout the state and reports from state trappers and conservation officers. Outside of the 60 state officers taking fur animals, there were 41 federal trappers and 836 licensed private trappers. Twelve private trappers are harvesting beavers under special permits FUR HARVEST 1955 - 1956 Species Totol Number Beaver 10,761 Muskrat 35,499 23,396.00 227 185.00 Skunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • • • . . . • . . . . . . Totol Soles $ 73,087 Average Price .as·· $7.63 .66 .81 Coyote .. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . 15 14.00 Mink . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 253 117 2,623.00 141.00 1.21 112 734.00 6.56 Weasel Marten . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 10.38 Badger . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 4.00 .46 Bab and Lynx Cat . . . • • . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • 397 10 1,327.00 3.34 3.00 .33 18 62.00 3.45 1.12 Fox •... Civet Cat Roccaon ..........•...••....•. , . . . . . . 359 401 .00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . . . . . •• 1 .05 .05 Ringtoil Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 1 1.75 1.75 Toto! .................. 43,784 $101,983.01 Opouum *This ffgure is for atote ,oles only, repre.senting a harvest of 6,563 beavers. F1JR POPULATION TRENDS Specie, Stotus Species Status slight increase Badger remains static Muskrat increase Bab and Lynx Cat increa1e Skunk marked increase Coyote remains static Fax Civet Cat remains static Beaver marked increase Mink remains static Raccoon inc.reas.e Weasel increase increase Marten slight increase Opouum Ringtail Cat - 21 - remains static �Statistical Summary LAW ENFORCEMENT Law enforcement depends principally upon field personnel in conservation officer, warden, trapper and fur manager positions. At the present time the conservation officer force is understaffed in all regions, but it is anticipated that recent ci, ii service examinations will fill the existing vacancies. The re,·enue from fines is up ap- proximately 44 percent o,·er the last fiscal year. This gain is undoubtedly the result of the protection afforded by the: new false arrest policy that the department now carries for its law enforcement personnel. Failure to comply with tagging regulations, fishing or hunting without a proper license and over the bag limit of fish still head the list of game law Yiolations. VIOLATIONS - 1955 - 1956 Type of Violation - HUNTING Buying furs without o dealer's card Careless and reckless hunting . . . . . . . . . Failure to comply with togging regulations . . . . . . . . . Failure to leave sex evidence on carcass . Hunting without o proper license . . . . . . Hunting during unauthorized hours . . . . Hunting during closed season . . . . . . . . Hunting in closed area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hunting in wrong area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Illega l Illegal Illegal Illegal Illegal Illegal method hunting . . . . . . transportation of Gome possession of Antelope . possession of Deer . . . possession of Dove . . . . possession of Duck . . . . 6 282 163 105 18 19 3 . . . . ....... ....... ... .. .. . . . . .•. ....... . ... .. .. 22 19 14 14 1 5 11 Illegal possession of Elk . . . . . . . . . . . . . Illegal possession of Geese . . . . ... , . . Illegal possession of Grouse . . . . . . . . . . Illegal possession of Pheasants • . . . . . • . Illegal possession of Turkey . . . . . . . . • . • 1llegol possession of Rabbits . . . . . . . . • . Killing protected birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leaving a camp fire unattended . . . • . . . Shooting from o highway . . . . . . . . . . . . Trespassing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 5 20 41 2 21 2 8 97 75 Training dog in wild out of season Wasting Game Meot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unlawful possession of Fur Hides . . . . . Unlawful killing of Bear . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unlawful possession of Mountoin Sheep . . . . 13 2 3 2 Total Hunting ......... l, 136 Type of Violation - FISHING Fishing without a proper license Fishing in closed waters . . . . . . . . Fishing during unauthorized hours Fishing during closed season . . . . lllegol possession of Fish .. . .. . .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . . 364 102 18 24 173 Illegal method cotching Fish Trespassing .......... , ........... , Wasting Fish ...................... . Unlawful use of invoice Total Fishing Total Violations ........ 1,966 132 11 5 1 830 �Statistical Summary EDUCATION INFORMATION AND EDUCATION SECTION The department's field I & E activities are conducted and supervised by the five regional educational managers. These activities include radio and television appearances, writing and submitting newspaper articles, and personally presenting programs for various public meetings. A film library is also maintained to lend film for showing to schools and youth groups. Under the expanded duties of our field personnel, a large portion of the programs presented to clubs, schools and other organizations are conducted by Wildlife Conservation Officers, Wardens, Trappers, and Federal Aid personnel. Their increased cooperation in I and E work has been largely responsible for the increase in the number of programs carried on this year. Nearly 800 programs were presented throughout the state durin,g l 95 5, about half of which were presented to school and youth groups. Over 500 local radio shows were broadcast by Colorado stations, and 126 television programs were aired during the same period. Department personnel were responsible for 173 separate articles appearing in variom newspapers over the state in addition to articles prompted by the weekly newsletters emanating from the Denver offie>. "Two Buck Jones," a 28-minute color movie on deer management was recently completed; and several 35-mm slide lectures are in preparation. The film lending library in D ~nver has filled 187 requests from schools and youth woups <luring the year, and an additional 150 or more were distributed for group viewing. The publicity section continued its preparation and distribution of news releases and public notices of regulations; and also carried the weekly radio broadcast over Denver station KVOD. PUBLICATIONS SECTION Col0t·aclo Outdoors July l, 19.5.5 June 30, 19.56 Paid Circulation . . . . . . . . . . • . • • . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,687 18,098 Total Press Run (six issues)... . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . 122,250 Total Publication Costs ..........•...................... , ••.•. , ...... $13,453.40 Publications Title Number of Copies " A Contribution Toward A Bibliography on the Beaver" ...... , . . . . . 2,000 " Suitability of Physical Factors far Beaver Management in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado"... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000 " Guide to the Major Fishing Waters of Colorado" (Revised). . . • . . . . • 50,000 1955 Big Game Regulations ....................•....•... , . . . . . 248,325 1955-56 Fur Season Regulations ......... . ... _ .. , ....... ,..... 5,000 1955-56 Small Game Regulations. .............................. 205,724 1954-55 Annual Report . . . .......••........... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 1956 Fish Regulotions .................................. , . . . . 517,057 Toto I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... l ,031 , l 06 •The expenditures listed do not include shipping or malling costs. -23 - $ Total Cost" 180.00 564.00 857.50 7,259.00 130.00 2,153.75 990.00 8,670.00 $ 20,804.25 �Statistical Summary FEDERAL AID During the 1955-'56 fiscal year an active program was carried on encompassing 45 different projects. The most serious problem encountered during the year, and one that has not been solved, is that of our inability under existing state salary scheduk-s to recruit trained pt:rsonnel for the program Smee the inception of the program in 1938, and particularly smce World War II, the Federal Aid On 1s10n has s<:ned as a teaming agency for the department, maintaining a reservoir of trained men from which numerous supervisory positions m the department have been filled During ,t reorganization of department field ,lCti\'ities in 1954, the federal aid projects were stripped to pronde personnel for responsible positiom in the regional set-up. Very few of these losses ha\'e been reco\'ered through recruitment of new personnel, while at the same time seve:ral trained men have been lost to outside agencies. As a result, the division is facing a crisis which may result in a complete breakdown of its wildlife investigations projects if relief in the form of higher salaries is not forthcoming soon. The 1955-'56 Pittman-Robertson apportionment of $466,141.08 plus $87,140.14 from a surplus fund built up during the war years is the largest such expenditure since 19'5 l. The DingellJohnson apportionment of S124,405 .16 represents the largest annual apportionment received under this phase. The following is a summary of the status of the federal funds fo r the 1955-'56 fiscal year. The figures given do not include the state's matching share of project costs on a basis of S 1 state money to S3 of federal funds. Pittman-Robertson Funds June 30, 1955 Unused balances, completed project, ..• . • .• Apportionment, 1956 Additional apportionment, 1956 . . . ... . • Balance Credit Debit Explonotion $ $ 179,528.78 $ 527,050.15 706,578.93 60,909.07 379,000.94 87, 1-40.14 New projects approved: ,$ Coordination •.• . ...•.••. Land acquisition . . . . . . . . . Research Maintenance . ......•• ••.••••. •..... . .... Development . . • • • • .•• • • . . ... ....• 29,700.00 337,650.00 168,452.01 86,700.00 84,076.92 706,578 93 .00 $ June 30, 1956 .. • . Din~<"ll-Johm,on Funds Debit Explanation June 30, 1955 .. • . •• ••• •• ,, Unused balances completed pro1ects . • • • • • Apportionment, 1956 . , Ne·N Credit $ !olonce $ 79,310.89 $ 128,961 14 208,272.03 4,555.98 124.-405.16 projecls opprovod , Coordinalion Development June 30, 1956 .. .. .. .. $ 3,300.00 115,125.00 118,-425.00 $ 89,8-47.03 �1( • ~ • * * * ~ * -#/ * rouser,at\011 l'\ed!le ,. -- ., . --,, * � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/de2e54bf6d63712aedd324a7a3acf836.pdf c3bd2c92cea31275714b14c401115485 PDF Text Text DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH .c.,,,~ I,, I•',•~";',;, :., • , # .. .... /I , FISCAL YEAR 1956-57 �STATE OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH 1530 SHERMAN STREET DENVER 1,COLORADO THOMAS L. KIMBALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR November 1 1957 The Honorable Steve McNichols Governor of Color ado State 'Capitol Building Denver, Colorado Dear Governor McNichols: Transmitted herewith you will find the annual report of the operations of the Colorado Game and Fish Department for the fiscal year July 1, 1956 to June 30, 1957. This report contains a summary of the problems and projects undertaken by the Department in the fulfillment of its charge of managing and extending the State's wildlife resources. Included are financial reports and tabulations on game management and harvest, fish plantings, scientific investigations, hatchery activities and related data. It is hoped that this report will prove interesting and informative not only as an aid to you personally but to legislators and sportsmen, as well. �ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 1956-1957 CONTENTS Wildlife Resource ············--------······································································ 3 Northeast Region ···········-·· ................................................................... 7 Southeast Region ······--------------······································----10 Northwest Region ··························----- ............................................................... 13 Southwest Region - - - - - - - - - ....................................................... 16 Business Administration ·········---.............................................. 19 Personnel ···························-------····································································· 2 8 Game Management .... . ............................................................................... 2 9 Fish Management ····-----·································································------·33 Federal Aid .................... . ............................................................................ 3 6 Law Enforcement ·····--------············································································ 3 8 Fur Resources ·············---------·-·-····························································40 Education ..................... ···--································ ...........................43 Game and Fish Commission July 1, 1.957 GOVERNOR STEVE McNICHOLS, Bx Officio Henry Lague, President ·············------····························· Monte Vista, John McClelland, Vice President ...... . ................................ Rocky Ford, Or. T. O. Plummer, Secretary ....... . ................................ Montrose, Clarence Baker ............ . ....................................... Denver, Henry Bledsoe ................. ............................................Yuma, Dewey Brown .........................................Cortez, Pat Griffin ..................... . ................................... Fort Collins, Ralph L. White .................. ................................................... Craig, District District District District District District District District 5 4 7 1 3 6 2 8 Game and Fish Department Staff THOMAS L. KIMBALL, Director JOHN D. HART, Def,uty Director Guy V. Melvin _______ -------·········································Business Manager William F. Hunn .................................................. Chief Game Warden Wayne R. Scaman _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ----·~······························· Fish Manager Gilbert N. Hunter ··················-·······································Game Manager A. Dean Coleman ···········------····························································Fur Manager Carwin D. Tolman ...... . .......................................................... Education Manager John H. Morris ............ . ........................................................... Personnel Manager L. E. Riordan ......... . ................. Federal Aid Coordinator Earl McCain ····························-----····················································Public Relations Prepared by the Staff of Colorado Outdoors Magazine State of Colorado-Department of Game and Fish -2- �Report of Di rector and Assistant Di rector THI S REPO RT COVE RS one ol the most active years in the Colorado Game and Fish Departme nt's history. It was a year of treme ndous adva nces, with almost every field of o u r operations recording u nparalleled activity. More hunters and fish ermen pursued the ir sports in Colorado than ever before, and they bested all historical records in their harvest of game and fish. The impact of thi s prod ig ious group of sportsmen upon the wi ldlife resource, the departme nt, its operation, its accomplishme nts and its futu re objectives will be fou nd in the division and regional reports wh ich follow t his section. W e shall attempt here o nl y to highlight a nd sum mari ze the m o re im portant aspects of the department's acti vities and its continuing objectives. Big Game Colorado has continued to dr:nv national recognition as a big game stale with h unter success ratios among the hig hest in the nation. The I 956 dee r and elk season was the m ost libera l e ver granted in Colora do. Heavy dee r populatio ns and increasing cl k he rds ha ve dictated such manage ment. These control measures are pa rticularly relevant to deer, for on much of our weste rn slope deer populations arc not in bal ance with the a\'a ilable food o n the w inter ranges . Liberal seasons e ndeavor to harvest the bulk of the year ·s deer production, but unless total herd reductions are made, winter ranges will con- tinue to get progressively wo rse. Sound management plans, the refore, call for SL1ch herd reductions, despite the fact tha t the future hu nter success ratio may be reduced. D eer herds must be managed to m aintai n a sustained yiel d of a nimals rather than a "boom or bust'" policy which has so often bee n observed in other states in the past. Nonresident hunte rs increased substa ntially and more t ha n made up for the 2.5 per cent red uction in reside nt deer hun ters. The result wa s a record ha rvest of 85,743 dee r a nd 8,427 el k. P:ist populatio n figures reveal an inte resting comparison. [n I 920 t he state's e ntire deer population was estimated at 2 1,800 head. Last year we actuall y harvested nearl y fo ur times t his number with the herds co ntin uing to increase. Our efforts to maintain good hunting are still concerned with the purc hasing of bad] y needed dee r and cl k w inter range, a nd the securing of eq uitable em inent doma in powers to pro\'ide rig ht-of-ways into public lands now blocked by private property. Tn rece nt years more and m o re atte ntion is be ing devoted to our vis iting sportsmen. A nd with d ue cause, for w ithout t heir assistance we could not adequately harvest our deer populatio ns. There are simply not enoug h interested residents. N onresidents represe nting 45 states and Alaska hunted in Colorado last year and were al most twice as successful in bagging t hei r deer as the native -3- �Last yea r, Colo rado's beautiful mou ntain lakes and streams and its abundant big game ranges welcomed mo re hunters and fi shermen than e ve r before. hunter. The o ut-o f-state h umcr cont ributes heavil y to t h\: ov\:r-all game managemen t prog ram throug h license reven ue. too. Well ove r half of o ur license revenu\:, 63.7 per c\:n t, is d erived from hunring fees, -16.7 per ce nt of w h ich is brought in by non reside nts. toµ (economic) p roduction, w it h all fish-planting records b roken d uring the past year. The Riflc l.'alls Hatchery. alone. provides ove r 115 tons of fish each year. O ur production of t rout now ranks Colorado w ithin thc first three states in the nati o n in thi s reg:1rd. Fishing Research O ne of the biggest stumbli ng blocks to better angli ng in Colorado is the in- creasing amo11 nt of propert y posted aga inst fis hing . Unfo rtu natcly, abo ut ont:-third of our good trolll strea ms is dosed to public fishi ng. The depart• rne nt, with assistance.: fro m its Fede ral i\id programs, l1:1s continued to purchase additio nal la nd for hunting. fishing and recreatio n purposes. Reali zin!! the lack of pub! ic access for both fishing and hun ti ng, the -1 1st Gene ral Asse mbly appoinr\:d a leg islat i\'e committee to s tud y the probkm . T he Fish Management Di\'ision during the past yea r has been directing its e fforts largely at lake impron:mcnt and construction and stream im provements on such lands. 1-fa tchery o ut put is at N o fish resea rch proj<:cts were financed by the Fede ra l Aid Di vision d uring the last yea r. 1\ll fish restoration fun ds we re used fo r devclopmcnL and la nd purchase p rojects. Numerous investigations wne conducted u nde r the Fish Manageme nt Di visio n, howeve r, a nd concerned the foll owi ng : ma nagement of fl uct uating watcr levels on reservoirs, return to-thc-crecl data of trout and koka nee salmon plantin gs. high lake fe rtili zatio n and fish populat ion and carrying ca paci t y st ud ies a nd in vestigatio ns of potential impoundments and wate r dive rsion projects to dete rmi ne their effect o n our fi she ry resource. Game resca rch projects under Fede ral Aid co\·erecl a wid e va riety of --1- �game animals: grouse, partridge, quail, pheasant, turkey, waterfowl and deer, elk, sheep, rabbits and beaver. Fur Market The fur harvest has continued to drop for the last four seasons with the most severe drop-off recorded this last year. Almost 12,000 more furhearers were harvested in 1955-56 than in 1956-Si. Several factors are responsible. The importation of cheaper foreign furs, the high cost of turning raw skins into fur garments, high luxury taxes, cheaper synthetic fibers and excessive deep snow in the high country last year have all contributed to the downhill trend in fur harvests. Nationwide efforts are being made to enhance the use of furs in new fashions. And we hope such efforts will succeed and permit this valuable resource to he fully utilized. Legislation Game and fish came in for a generous share of attention in the 41 st General Assembly. Here is a capsule digest of the hills passed-and some comment on those which didn't pass. Among the new laws having <lirect significance to the state's sportsmen was Senate Bill No. 185. This bill provides that, subject to the discretion of the arresting officer, game violators may agree to the payment of a penalty assessment in lieu of going to court. Set fines, running from $15 to $100 were stipulated for various violations. Upon agreeing to pay the penalty assessment ECONOMIC VALUE OF HUNTING AND FISHING TO THE BUSINESSMEN AND PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO This tabulation, based on Bureau of Labor statistics, indicates the average amounts of general expenditures made last year by individual hunters and fishermen of various types. Of the total, approximately 40 per cent represents money spent for clothing and equipment, 60 per cent represents food, lodging, travel, entertainment, etc. The total does not include the $3,575,141.97 spent for 540,606 licenses of various types. Type of Hunter or Fisherman Resident Deer .......................................................... Nonresident Deer ...................................................... Resident Elk ............................................................ Nonresident Elk ............... ... .............. ........................ Resident Bear .......................................................... Nonresident Bear .................................................... Resident Antelope ...................................... .............. Resident Turkey ........................................................ Resident Bighorn Sheep .................. .......................... Resident Pheasant .................................................... Nonresident Pheasant .............................................. Resident Duck ............................................................ Nonresident Duck .................................................... Resident Goose .......................................................... Nonresident Goose .................................................... Resident Grouse ............................................. ......... Resident Rabbit ........................................................ Resident Dove ................... .. ..................................... Resident Quail .......................................................... Number 92,570 19,961 22,312 4,943 227 112 3,440 575 1n 71,460 287 38,505 602 17,133 231 12,245 60,062 13,680 7,521 Spent per Individual 7,6.61 267.96 107.40 351.10 69.60 149.00 30.00 51.60 286.25 45.27 105.20 56.25 111.99 67.n 99.69 -10.26 25.85 21.66 23.28 Total Spent $ 7,091,787.70 5,348,749.56 2,396,308.80 1,735,487.30 15,799.20 16,688.00 103,200.00 29,670.00 50,666.25 3,234,994.20 30,192.40 2, 165,906.25 67,417.98 1,161,103.41 23,028.39 125,633.70 1,552,602.70 296,308.80 175,088.88 Total Big Game and Small Game ............................................................................ $25,620,633.52 Resident Trout .......................................................... 239,872 Nonresident Trout (Season) .................................... 15,507 Nonresident 5-Day Fisherman .................................. 104,030 Resident Warm Water Fisherman ............................ 4,895 Nonresident Warm Water Fisherman .................... 1,160 90.63 438.82 216.60 36.83 115.09 21,739,599.36 6,804,781.77 22,532,898.00 180,282.85 133,504.40 Total Fishing ............................................................................................................$51,391,066.38 TOTAL SPENT BY HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN ............................................................ $77,011,699.88 -5- �the violator must mail the required amount to the Game and Fish Department or pay it in person within five days. This same bill also continues the minimum fine of $10 for all violations taken to court where no other fine is specified and reduces the minimum fine from $100 to $10 for hunting big game out of season. Senate Bill 170 provides for the establishment, licensing and operation of game breeding and controlled shooting areas. Of extreme importance to sportsmen is House Bill 206 which grants the right to "any person, firm, or private corporation, county, city and county, municipality or other political subdivision of this state" to sue the state or any of its departments, commissions or officers, for damages or injuries sustained as a result of the breaking of the Georgetown Dam in June, 1956. An award of damages payable out of the Game Cash Fund for this unhappy accident would certainly be felt by the state's sportsmen in loss of funds for improving fishing and hunting. The courts, of course, will ultimately decide who is responsible and what damages shall be paid. Military and consular personnel who are stationed in Colorado under permanent duty orders will, by the provisions contained in HB 251, be classed as residents for hunting and fishing purposes. Also in HB 251, a limitation of two deer licenses is provided. The commission is authorized to charge a fee of $7.50 for the second nonresident license and $5.00 for the second resident license. It is hoped that such fees will be a boon to harvesting surplus deer. House Bill 253 creates new administration with reference to private parks and lakes. A Class A license, under its terms, would be issued to commercial parks and lakes, while Class B licenses are issued to noncommercial lakes and parks. A noteworthy change is that fishing licenses will not be required in Class A lakes. Class B lakes, however, require the purchase of a license. A Senate Bill-No. 171-provides that any person having any buffalo in captivity shall be permitted to keep same without obtaining a license or paying any fee. Several important bills affecting game and fish were rejected by the legislature. Chief among these was the department's so-called "omnibus" bill which would have revised many outdated portions of the present law to meet current conditions, and iron out ambiguous and conflicting sections of the statute. Since the bill included no substantially controversial provisions, it is difficult to understand why it met with disfavor. A bill declaring bears to be predators, one to require the replacement of wildlife values lost through construction of dams and reservoirs and one to permit the seizure of hunting or fishing equipment of violators for use as evidence in court also failed to be considered favorably. Attempts by this department ~o amend the game damage law failed again. The measure, as ultimately written, would have allowed a claimant to report his damage within IO days after its discovery rather than after its occurrence, and would have provided either the commission or the claimant with a right of review and appeal in the district court if dissatisfied with the award of a board of arbitration. Changes in the game and fish laws are very much needed if satisfactory progress in the field of fish and game management is to be attained. With additional hunting and fishing pressures created by an increasing army of sportsmen, with more intensive land use and more areas becoming posted each year, we must continue to manage our wildlife resource to the best of our ability for all, including our future generations. In this day and age of increasing population and fast moving society, nothing can take the place of outdoor recreation-its need is greater than ever. -6- �Repo rt of Regiona l Coordinator UTSIDE O F TH E DE. 1VER metropolitan area, the northeast region e ncompasses a larger human population than any other section o[ the state. As a result, game a nd fish problems in t his region usua ll y evolve rrom o ur efforts to make a scarce commod ity reach further. Future reductions in fish bag limits will start here . as will further restrictions in hunting in the not too distant future . Competition for land and water is more ac ute each yea r and wildlife habitat continues to diminish in the face of economic developme nt. With new roads and better transportation. accessibility to any area in t he northeast open to public fishing is a matter of two and one-half hours or less from Denl'e r. 0 Fish Fi sh prod ucti on fo r the seven hatcheries and rea ring units of the no rtheast region was about the sa me as last year. 'Nater continues to be t he ma in limiting facto r, and with present facili t ies no large increase in fish producti o n ca n be expected . A ne w pipeline was installed from C hief C reek to the Wray I !archery, along w ith :1 new line to feed lower ponds. Some add iti o nal land was purchased adjacent to the 1ortl1 Fork Rea ring U nit near Drake, Colorado, but as yet no development work has bee n clone. It is anticipated that fish production at these two un its will be in~reased during the comi ng year; however, th is will little more than cover the decrease a t the D enl'er uni t. -7 - Polluted wate r, a flood du ring tvlay of 1957, and a g radual decline of raceways has cut the De nver unit's production to a fractio n of its fo rmer tonnage. Th~ \Vaide n station has bee n reduced to a hatche ry as a res ult of the hig h cost of producing lega l-s ized (8 inch ) fish. A study of I ice nse sales and fishing pressure revea led that heaviest fishing occurred in Jul y and A ugust. Our pla nting schedule was a ltered to coincide with this, th us reducing from prev ious years the number of legal sized fish planted in Septembe r and Octobe r. \1/est and Dowd y lakes near ({eel Feather "·ere poisoned to elimina te roug h fish. Fortunately, the water supply was sufficie nt thi s spring to refill these. Some preliminary work was done on stream improvement in the area west of Boulde r, hut no stream alterations have yet heen made . \Va ter pollution killed some fis h in Barker Dam and t he stream above . Th is apparentl y resulted from mine tailings. I nvcstigation of cause and control is cont inuing . In Jackson County, a contract was let fo r the constructio n of a dike at Lake John to increase its depth and surface area, to approximately 600 acres. It should prov ide excellent fishing in the next few yea rs. On the Laramie Ri ver an case ment agreement is being completed with M r. Bud H oh n holz. wherein the G ame and Fish Com mi ssion secures the rig ht, in perpetui ty, for the public to fish approximately two �"A I • In the northeast region, the kill of ducks exceeded 50 per cent o f the state' s harvest figures despi te a lower percentage than last year. mil es of the main Laramie River and three lakes located on this prope rty. Parking a reas at all lakes and a camping area near the ri ver will also be provided. I 11 addition, hunter access to public lands beyond wi ll be permitted. Upland Game and Waterfowl ,\ standardi zed syste m of pheasant in ve ntor y was set up during the past year. T11 each district where pheasa nts occur, the local wildlife conse rvation officer has " tre nd rou tes'' mapptd where crowing cou nts, sex ratio and brood counts are made annually in t he same manner. Tabulated data become increasingly valuable.: in year-to-year trends and fo rm a basis for comparing districts and setting sea sons. The kill of ducks in the northeast region excet:dcd 50 per cent of the state total, although this was down slightl y from the previous ycar. Lack of watcr was probably the main fa ctor in this dccn:a se. Firing lines we rt: established around Jackson, Prewitt and Empire rcservoirs during the past waterfowl season. /\II of these reservoirs were very low in water and huntcrs could constantly harass resting fl ocks of ducks - 8- a nd geese, eventually ca using them to leave the area. The fi ring lines kept huntcrs back from the wa ter and allowed the birds a place of refuge. 1n Morgan County the duck kill jumped to second highest in the state, apparently as a result of the closures. Duck depredation control work was continued in the H axtun area with ve ry few complaints received from farmers. r\ssistancc was given to Federal Aid personnel working o n the establishment of breeding fl ocks of geese in new areas. Ponds were d ug and cleaned out at Bonny Dam and a breeding flock is being held here to furnish gosli ngs for transplants. Releases were made on College Lake west of Fort Coll ins a nd on Lake John in Nort h Park. Big Game The system of alternating ''either sex'· with "antlered on ly" deer seasons on the front range was conti nued. This system actually amounts to a herd reduction in alternate years as "a ntlered o nl y" seasons scarcely affect herd m11n bcrs or their potential increase. Hunting pressure continues to be a primary factor in setting dee r and elk seasons �on the front range. This is due to the proximity of a high hunter population in Denver and vicinity. The opening of the big game season in the northeast was again delayed five days after the opening of the western slope season to shift hunters across the divide. Poor range conditions in Jackson County were alleviated, somewhat, by a post two-deer season which continued through December 31, 1956. Total kijl for the season in this county was 3,545. An extended either-sex elk season for a limited number of permits helped to correct a problem near Estes Park. In normal years elk herds summer in the national park and do not move out into the national forest lands until late in the fall after hunting seasons are closed. As a result, only a slight harvest was possible on this increasing elk herd whose winter ranges are already badly depleted. The late season allowed hunting until the first of the year, and hunters reduced this herd for the first time in many years. Line transects for measuring browse utilization were established in most districts with the cooperation of Forest Service personnel. Such transects have standardized range survey methods and more plots will be added in coming years. Fur Public trapping for beaver on designated areas in North Park was set up in the winter of 1956-57, but the harvest was disappointingly low. Crews of men were shifted to North Park for beaver trapping on private lands in the fall of 1956, also a boat crew was detailed to trap on the South Platte River from Sterling east. Information and Education More programs were put on for sportsmen's clubs, civic groups, etc., than in previous years with the bulk of these being movies of fish, wildlife and department work. Many district men started writing news columns about cm rent laws, seasons and activities for local newspapers. Several men in the Denver area appeared on TV programs concerned with wildlife and conservation. The first of three planned slide sets was completed. These consist of about 30 kodachrome slides accompanied by a brief narrative on management of different wildlife species. Law Enforcement Hunting and fishing contacts were up again, with the northeast region high for the state. This is to be expected, however, because of the greater per cent of population in this region. In the opinion of the writer, field contacts of our wildlife conservation officers with fishermen and hunters is one of the most important public relations activities the department has. A friendly approach, an expression of interest and a courteous and helpful reply to inquiries go a long way in establishing goo<l will among our sportsmen. Goals We hope to expand fish production at the Wray and North Fork units and the splitting of the large ponds at the Poudre unit is contemplated. We are working for a greater degree of efficiency at each unit and for a stocking schedule that plants more fish when and where more people are fishing. We hope to purchase additional tracts of marginal land to develop for upland game habitat. There is serious need for more waters for the general public to hunt waterfowl. The leasing of waters by groups and private clubs has drastically reduced the areas open to the individual waterfowl hunter. Closer and more intensive management is required each year if we are to keep a huntable population of big game on the front range. Pilot areas for a standardized system of beaver inventory and management will be initiated. Law enforcement will continue as previously, with the district wildlife conservation officer carrying the load. -9- �Report of Regional Coordinato r W ILDLI FE MANAGEMENT and administration have progressed adm irably during the past two a nd a ha! f years under the regional system of organization. All of our objectives have not been achieved , of course, and those attained were hard won. A conscientious, well-kn it team of hardworking p ublic employes has been molded , res ulting in more efficient operations and better service to the people of Colorado. Ca rerul a nal ysis of field conditions and attention to growi ng demands for recrea tio n ha ve brought about longrange programs designed to perpetuate game animals and fishes in the state . Fish T he purchase, over a ye:ir ago, of the f-ran zh urst Trout F arm, re named f--1[L. Sha va no Trout Rearing Unit, nea r Sa lida was an importa nt and forward step towa rd a better fish prod uction program in the southeast region. Extensive rehabilitation and improvement work on the un it has been done the past year and further remodeling is planned. Three new concrete rearing ponds ha ve been constructed al ong wi th a new diversio n structure and watergathe ring line to utilize wate r fro m the Ark:111s:1s Ri ver and pick up unused seep water. A mode rn food prepa r:1 tio n and food storage bu il di ng will be started sho rtl y, and alo ng wi th it, the power, water and sewage facilities will be rebuilt. Fish production has already exceeded expectations and fish ermen in southeastern Colorado h:1vc - realized the benefits from thi s valuable acquisition. Mindful of soaring costs in producing catchable size fis h, add1t1ona l emphasis is being placed on the " twoinch" trout prog ram. Stocking of sui table lakes and reservoirs wit h smaller fish is not only more economical, but in addition, recent records indicate a better return to the c reel. Catches of 15-inch kokanee salmon in Twin Lakes is a good example. Hig h lakes, particularly, are bei ng checked more closely to ascertain success of two-inch plants. Rt:sults thus far have been encouragin g . Some of these h igh la kes actually need heavier fishing pressure. Above normal precipitation and runoff t his year ha vc brig htened the pictun: somewhat for warm-water fish management. Many reservoirs which have been dry or nearly so for the past several years are now "spilling,' " and barring unusually heavy demands for irrigation water, should provide improved catfish, bass, crappie and bl ucg ill fishi ng . Walleye pike prod uction at the Las A nimas Hatchery was augme nted this spring by six milli on eggs La kc: n at Bo nn y Dam . Stream improveme nt has been contin ued o n the Upper 1-:luerfono Ri ver and pla ns ha ve been draw n for a similar project on Ophir Creek, southwest of Pueblo. Tm poundment constructio11 has not progressed as well as desired, but a continuous search is be ing made fo r suitable sites w here water rights m ay be secured, insuring a stable 10- �water level. F ish manageme nt just isn'L compatible with fluctuatin g reservoirs. Upland Game and Waterfowl With the final sale of practicall y all of the old game (a rm land at C olorado Springs, a new experime ntal game fa rm is nearing completio n near Rocky Ford. As an addit ion to the Ryan Po nds property, approx imatel y 250 acres mo re we re purchased to be used for ex perimental purposes in developing upl and game bird habitat. At t he Two Buttes Management Area, three tracts of land compri sing 2.960 acres a nd aggrega ting a cost of $73,960, we re purc hased during t he yea r. This la nd w ill g reatly enhance the public shooting a rea by providing more pits a nd fi ring lines and by supplying feeding grounds for the increasing flock s of Canada geese whi ch wi nter t he re . Al thoug h pheasa nt hunting in southeastern C olorado is not w hat it used to he. and probabl y ne ver wi ll be, scaled qua il populations have defi ni tely inaeased. A special season on scaled quail was held in Ja nuary and Fe bruary, 1957 in o rde r to harvest bi rds lest they be lost to severe w inte r cond itions. Management studies and development projects, particul ar!y for providing water, a rc being contin ued for scaled quail , chu kar partridge a nd Spanish red-legged partridge . Big Game Rangt.: for deer, elk and bighorn sheep has re mained unchanged for the past few yea rs. Some areas show sli g ht improvement, but most of the food suppl y lands a rc in o nl y fa ir condition or worse. Increasing demands on wild lands for livestock g razing, timber production, mini ng, watershed protection Future plans call for expansion of the range of our wild turkey. The large birds are t ranspla nted into areas where d esi rable hab itat exists. - II - �and other uses have intensified the management of big game animals. Current big game range utilization studies decree that heavier harvests must be continued to keep numbers consistent with available food supplies. Most of the public lands in the region are accessible to hunters with a few exceptions. Most of the pri vatc land, however, is closed or a fee is charged. Antelope hunting is done mainly on private land, with the majority of landowners permitting limited numbers of hunters. Hunting success has been increasing slowly, but steadily, particularly with antelope, bighorn sheep and deer. Elk range and numbers are not as great in the region as elsewhere in the state, and the annual kill has remained fairly constant. Turkey hunting has been successful with the exception of the 1956 season. There were several reasons for this. Quail, waterfowl and pheasant seasons were held at the same time. And even more influential on turkey hunting success was the late deer and elk hunting during the turkey season. Fur Beavers continue to present problems in some areas, while in other localities they are invaluable soil and water conservationists. Although regional personnel pelted more beavers this past spring than last year, the late snows prevented private trappers from filling their permits. Plans for intensified management on selected experimental areas have been made. Results from these streams may point the way to better management statewide. Information and Education After analyzing the effectiveness of the information and education program carried on the past two years, emphasis is being placed on developing TV and radio programs and writing feature articles for newspapers. This shift in priority of work is aimed at reaching more people every day with our story of wildlife conservation through wise use and sound management. In-service training of field personnel has been and will continue to be a regular part of the work program. Instruction in various fields of work, usually subjects selected by the men, is conducted in the field and once a year in assembled, classroom sessions. Wellplanned and executed in-service training is the key to successful implementation of the multi-purpose employe concept and the regional organization as well. Goals Regional goals are as follows: (I) develop the Two Buttes Game Management Area into a recreation area and park. Water development, tree and shrub plantings, reseeding and other work needs to be done to accomplish this; (2) construct warm water fish impoundments in feasible sites, and develop for recreational use; (3) attempt to gain access to closed areas of game and fish habitats through purchase of rights-of-way, or other means. Municipal watersheds located on public land have been closed to hunting and fishing in two instances, but not to other forms of entry. These have presented problems of proper husbandry and management and they should be opened; ( 4) ·expand the range of wild turkeys, and if necessary, purchase land on which desirable food and cover may be planted; (5) develop better environment for upland game birds through habitat improvement: watering areas, food and cover plantings, etc.; ( 6) encourage sound organization of sportsmen's clubs, and initiate worthwhile projects of wildlife conservation for individual and group participation; (7) continue a strong information and education program aimed at informing the public of the department's actions and the reasons behind the setting of seasons, bag limits, etc. -12- �A T O TAL of 52 acti ve Federal Aid projects were carried o n during the year which ended Ju ne 30, 1957. These projects encompassed all of the activities aut horized by the federa l laws w hic h establish and govern the natio nwide cooperati\·e program of Federa l A id to t he states in fish a nd wildlife restora tion. The authorized activities include the following: purchase of land o r water areas s uitable for g ame or fis h habitat: improvemenL of such a reas through various t ypes of develo pme nt work to make them more suitable for, o r productive o f ga me and f is h ; maintenance of improvements purchased with , or placed upon such areas; ce rtain specified or limited aspects o f ga me a nd fis h management: and in\'estigation of p roblems o f fi sh and wi ldl ife managemen t. No fish resea rch projects were acti ve during the year. Al l of the Colorado a pportionment of fi sh restoration funds amounting to $ 11 3.759.8 1 were used for development p rojects consist ing of the construction of fishi ng lakes, or fo r land purchase p rojects to acquire sites fo r such lakes. The fede ral apporti onmen t of wild1ifc funds for the year :1mountecl to $485,842.98. Thi s total is ne xt to the largest amount ever received under the program. T he summary g iven below presents the status of the federal fu nds fo r the fiscal year . It d ocs not include t he slate matching funds which represe nt 25 per cent of the cost of the com ple ted projects as req uired by la\\'. DEVELOPMENT PROJECT S Project No. F-7- O F - 12 -O F- 13 - O F- 14-O W - 5 1-O W - 56-O W - 59 -O W - 65-O W-69 -O W - 82-O W - 91 -O W-93 - O W-96-O W-97- O W-98-O W-99-O Title Location T rujillo Meadows Hahn 's Pc:ik Rese rvoir Homestake Rcscrvoi r Antonito CoSt $ Steamboat Springs Red Cliff M:aintcnn.ncc of Fishing Lakes Sapinero Deer-Win ter Ran ge So. Platte Management A rca Wildlife Habitat Improvement Mt. Evans Management Arca So. Repu b lican Arc, Devil Ck. T urke y Arc, Brown 's Park Deer Nursery Headq uarters Turkey R estoration Bill y Creek M. A. Little Hills M. A. Hot Su lphur M. A. Sapincro Crook Ft. Collins Evergreen Bonny R eser voir C h im ney Rock Brown's Par k t ,650. 5 8 -10, 298. 1 8 19,485.79 6,363.25 19,08 1.08 53 1.99 Ft. Collins So. Color ado Montrose Meeker H o t Su lphur Tota l - 36 - 39,062.23 505 . 65 1,509. 14 I ,54 1. 50 2,950.33 6,807.79 26,834.92 6,942.32 5,407.67 2,820.27 $ 181 , 792.69 �fish a re destroyed. Spillwa ys and outlets arc also seined below reservoirs to re turn game spec ies to the impoundme nts. On small er lakes the fishery is seined to sal vage all game fish before poisoning o perations to r limi11atc roug h species. The game fish are Lhen returned to the wate rs in prope r ratios. Game species Lhat an: com111011l y salvaged include: hi uegil I. crappa:, black bass, drum. ch:111nd cat, bull head , walleye pike . northe rn pike and pe rch. So me troul arc al so in cl uded . Carp and suckers arc conside red ro ug h fish. Fish sal vage records are as follows: Transportation Section O ver 2,000 tons o t fish food, fe ncing, hay and miscell aneous supplies were de li vered by this section d uring Lhe year. Tn addition to the above. t he household furnishings of 14 dc partmenl mem bers· families o n d uty sta t ion transfers were moved. Fish Salvage T he di vision's fish salvage rn;;w operates primaril y on the ea ste rn slope . Warm wate r species arc peri odically seined from large reservoirs and the game fish tra nsplanted to oLhe r waters where stocking- is desired. The rough Transplanted No. G om e Roug h Fish 20,337 Lbs. 2,070 Fish TOTALS 20,337 2,070 Transferr ed No. Lbs. 43,294 6,273 97,550 3 1,700 140,844 37,973 I nventoried No. Lbs. 16,401 3,208 16,401 3,208 Destr oye d No. 44,688 26,960 44,688 26,960 Hatchery production and the plantin g o f legal-sized fi sh set an all t i me record. Over 21 ,451,395 fi sh were stocked in Colorado waters in 1956. -- 35 - Lbs. �Fish Culture A record year for fish stocking was experienced in 1956 with 1,168,522 Trout Distribution Warm Water Fish Distribution TOTAL DISTRIBUTION pounds, numbering 21,451,395 fish planted. The size group breakdown follows: Under 3" Lbs. No. 17,970 8,777,225 3"-6" Lbs. No. 13,387 444,345 6"-0ver Lbs. No. 1,127,695 5,046,140 1,263 19,233 4,784 18,171 3,423 1,131,118 7,040,081 15,817,306 121,582 565,927 22,022 5,068,162 Total All Sizes Pounds Number Trout Distribution .................................................................................. 1, 159,052 14,267,710 Warm Water Fish Distribution .............................................. ................ 9,470 7,183,685 TOTAL DISTRIBUTION ............................................................................ 1, 168.522 21,451,395 1956 FISH CATCH (From Creel Census Data) Tot:il licenses sold .................................................................................................................. 365,357 Total trout caught ...................................................................................................................13,615,988 Total warm water fish caught ................................................................................................ 1,853,693 Total fish caught ......................................................................................................................15,469,681 Catch-per-man-hour (trout) ................................................................................................................0.78 Catch-per-man-hour (warm water fish) ............................................................................................0.86 STATEMENT OF FISH PRODUCTION COST Calendar Year 1956 Cost Per Pound of Production Feed Eggs Other Units Labor HATCHERIES: Bellvue ...................................... $ .951 Glenwood .................................. 2.500 $ .629 .129 $ .546 5.670 $ .499 1.983 $ 2.625 10.282 COMBINED UNITS: Buena Vista ............. ................. 1.405 Cedaredge ................................ .443 Denver-Faden ............................ 2.159 Durango ........ .... ........................ .627 Estes Park .................................. .411 La Jara ...................................... 1.663 Pitkin ........................................ .185 Rifle Falls .................................. .182 Rye ............................................ .685 Walden ...................................... .977 .312 .384 .900 .413 .412 .752 .227 .314 .426 .333 .518 .105 .368 .104 .341 .190 .991 .226 .148 .542 .080 .156 .373 .580 2.576 1.122 4.418 1.370 .971 3.245 .516 .742 1.624 1.890 .196 .080 .057 .091 .106 .361 .109 .158 .113 .911 .606 .615 .421 REARING UNITS: Bel-Aire .................................... .360 Chalk Cliffs .............................. .219 Coaldale .................................... .365 Chipeta .................................... .191 Crystal River ............................ .270 Dolores ...................................... .524 Finger Rock .............................. .177 Mt. Shavano ............................ .177 North Fork Thompson .............. .336 Poudre River ......... ................... .133 Rio Grande .............................. .402 Wray .........................................295 AVERAGE ALL UNITS ...................... $ .298 .355 .302 .193 .139 .393 .565 .326 .311 -0.288 .024 .090 .140 -0-0-0-0-0-0-0- .393 .292 .682 -0-0-0-0-0-0- $ .336 $ .045 .474 -34- Tot:il .769 1.450 .612 .646 .923 .622 .833 1.168 .096 .139 .191 $ .154 $ .833 �F !SH E RY MANAGEJ\1IENT activities during the year were conce rned chief! y with increased fishing lake development a nd studies aimed toward better in formation regarding uti liz ation of ha tche ry fish for improving creel returns and lake and reservoi r managem ent. Fish hatche ry production set an allt ime record, and is for all practical purposes now at the economic maxim um. Utili zation studies coupled with increased lake a nd stream development programs w ill now be of prime importance. The princi pal Fish Management Di v1s1on ac ti vities in I 956-'57 arc discussed under the fo llowing sections. Fishing Lake Construction The construction of Trujillo Meadows Lake in Conejos County was completed during the past year and e ncompasses 69 acres . Road Canyon Reservoir, with a total of 124 acres, was purchased in Hinsdale County and construction was sta rted on Rito H ondo Reservoir also in Hinsd ale County. Negotiations have been completed for construction improvements on Carey Dam (Mudd y Creek Reservoir) in Bent County and Lake Jo hn in Jackson County. Warm Water Research At Skaguay Reservoir information is being gat he red on the management of fluctuating \\'ater levels a nd return-tothe-creel data of various com binations of stockings of trout and kokanec sal mon. High lake fe rtilization and fish populatio n and ca rrying capacity investi gations are being made on the Rawah Lakes in North Park. The Grand Mesa Lakes studies deal w ith •the experimental plantings of va rious sized hatchery reared trout and the ir evaluation in terms of hig hest creel returns. I nvcstigations of pote ntial im poundments and water dive rsion projects are being ca rried on in conjunction w ith the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to dete rmine effects of suc h deve lopment on the fishe ry resources invol ved. Warm Water Research Investigations continue on ex pe rimental introductions of walleye pike, channel catfish, white bass and drum. Spawn was successfull y taken from walleye pike in Bonny Reservoir. Hatche ry operatio ns at Las Animas arc yieldi ng a li mited supply of channei catfish spawn from brood fish held for the past four years. Construction Section The constructio n section erected garage buildings a t the Rifle F a ll s and Chalk C li ffs rea ring units, constructed and repa ired ponds and raceways at the Las Animas, Vvray and Mount Shavano hatcheries, graveled roads at Finger Rock and Willow C reek reservoi rs, completed two-thirds of the construction of Black La kes a nd fi ni shed seve ral miscellaneous clean-up and repair jobs d urin g the year. -33- �The problem that facc:s Colorado hunters is that of the number of days allotted for the migratory bird season. The shallow pond hunters in north central Colorado and the higher park regions of the state desire an early season. The northeastern and southeastern regions, however, where there is very good river shooting, prefer a later date. As a result, it has been the policy of the department to request the Fish and Wildlife Service to grant us as long a season as possible, thereby benefiting a greater number of waterfowl hunters. During 1956, and again in 1957, the waterfowl season will be of 75 days duration. In 1956 the season extended from October 25, 1956 to January 7, 1957; while the goose season was from November 9 to December 15, 1956. During 1957, in order to benefit the upper park regions and the shallow pond shooters, the season will open October 18 and continue through December 31, 1957. The goose season will he from November 2, 1957 to December 31, 1957. Of recent years, waterfowl populations in Colorado have steadily increased; but due to drought conditions and extremely mild weather during migratory bird seasons, the kill of ducks has been only fair. On the other hand, during the last few years the kill of geese has materially increased because more hunters are using the public shooting grounds in the southeast section of the state. Quail: Colorado has three species of quail. The scaled quail, which inhabit the southeast section, can be classified as common. This same classification applies to the Gambel's quail, which inhabit the valleys of west central and southwestern Colorado. Bobwhite quail are generally confined to the river bottoms in eastern Colorado, including the South Platte and the Arkansas rivers, and in relation to population would be classified as rare to common. Dove: For the past two years doves in Colorado have been abundant. For example, in 1955, 13,680 hunters harvested 147,742 doves; while in 1956, 15,220 dove hunters harvested 210,036. From the increase in hunting pressure it is very apparent that hunters are recognizing dove hunting as an excellent sport. Grouse: Sage grouse, in the areas which they inhabit, can be considered common. As the population is limited by areas it is necessary to restrict the hunting to very short seasons. With the short seasons and bag limit of birds held at three, little interest has been developed in the hunting of these fine birds. In 1955, 4,441 hunters harvested 4,885 sage grouse; while in 1956, 6,683 hunters harvested 15,700 grouse. Most of the sage grouse hunting is confined to local hunters, who are familiar to the sage grouse concentrations. The game managers feel that a longer season on sage grouse as well as an increased bag limit, would stimulate interest in the hunting of this bird and not be detrimental to population increases. Blue grouse are considered common, while sharptailed are considered rare; however, there has been an increased interest in the hunting of blue grouse during 1955 and 1956. This increase, no doubt, is due to the longer seasons on blue grouse, with more hunters taking to the field in pursuit of this fine game bird. Rabbits: Cottontails, relative to population, are considered abundant: while the population of snowshoes or varying hare would be classified as common. Certain areas of the state, particularly in Moffat County, have experienced considerable difficulty in controlling the cottontail and jackrabbit populations. Accordingly, the 1955 season was extended until March 1 and the bag limit was not restricted. This control measure was very effective and reduced cottontail depredations in this particular county. -32- �Despite liberal bag limits on deer, overpopu lations in some areas sti ll exist. Whe re winter range is depleted a nd hunte r harvest is inadequate, starvatio n leaves its g ruesome mark for the spring thaws to reveal. fer ing serious problems in our c::Horts to maintai n pheasant populations. The recent tre nd in inte nsive fa rming, which destroys cover a nd protection for the pheasant, is o n the increase. In addition, the w ide-spread use of insecticides has a direct relations hip to further population increasc::s. Also, during t he past few yea rs Colo rado has experie nced seve re dro ug ht conditions 111 ma ny pheasa nt a reas. Hunting press ure, even w ith an increase in hunters, has had a ver y insigni ficant effect on the pheasant population. due to the fact that on! y cocks have been harvested. D uring 1955, 71,74 [ hunters bagged 1 17,655 pheasants, with an a verage of 1.64 birds per ma n. During 1956, 65,670 hunte rs bagged 108,355 pheasants, with an average of 1.65 birds pe r hunte r. As can read ily be seen, the a verage take for t he past t wo years has been very close. In com pa ring this with the harvest of 1949 where in 56,880 hunters bagged - l 44,980 birds, with a n average of 2.55 birds per man, t he effect of intensified far ming a nd t he use of insecticides on our pheasants is very apparent. Migratory W aterfow l: A total of 36,303 cluck stamps was sold in Colorado during 1956. This is a decrease o( 7.17 per cent unde r 1955, whe n 39, 107 d uck stamps were sold. In 1954, 32.450 sta mps were sold. It is rathe r Ji fficult to analyze why there wou ld be :i decrease in duck stamp sa les during 1956 under t hat of 1955, for d uring t he seasons of both years very m ild weather was experie nced . It is possible that duck hunters became d iscouraged during I 956 due to the lack of available water, and a s a result failed to buy stamps. T his decrease in cluck stamp sales was evident throughout t he e ntire central flyway, where a six per cent drop of duck stamp sa les was noted durin g 1956. Colorado's dec rease wa s a little more severe w ith a decrease of 7.l7 per cent. 31- �experience in harvest, are able to control the take of elk without affecting the reproductive potential of the herd. Bear Bear are considered common in the mountainous regions of Colorado, but as evidenced from the table below, the kill is never very large. The majority of bear taken during the regular big game seasons are killed by accident. In other words, a hunter in quest of deer or elk blunders onto a bear rather than actually hunting them. Colorado now has a special bear season extending from April I to November 1, and they may be hunted with dogs from April I to October 1. No dogs may be used during the regular deer and elk seasons. In addition, a hunter may purchase as many bear licenses as he desires for the special bear season, and they are also good during the regular deer and elk seasons. Each hunter may also take a bear on either of the deer or elk licenses he has purchased. BEAR HARVEST 1948-1956 Year 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 Number •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 563 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 745 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 823 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 530 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 774 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 322 ............................................................ 515 ························································-··· 590 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••·••• 324 Antelope Antelope are considered common in Colorado, with most herds on private land except those in the extreme northwestern part of the state. As a result, it is not good management to build an extremely large antelope population, and the policy of the Game and Fish Department has been to harvest these animals on a sustained yield basis. This allows the harvesting of three to four thousand animals each year. Success ratios in the past indicate that our herds are progressing nicely, and hunters can be assured in the future that Colorado will continue to have good antelope hunting for a limited number of sportsmen. Sheep Bighorn sheep in Colorado are considered common in the mountainous regions where they exist. Our bighorn population is rated as one of the largest in the North American continent. The herd, at the present time, appears to be on the increase. This may be attributed largely to the decreasing incidence of lungworm infestation. Sheep hunting in Colorado, as well as in any other portion of the country, is extremely difficult, and here again, intensive management permits the issuance of only a limited number of licenses. The success ratio for sheep hunters during the past four years has averaged 28.2 per cent. Turkey Turkey hunting has not been too popular even though it is one of our greatest outdoor sports. Possibly this lack of interest is due to the fact that the license fee is $5.00; and in addition, turkey hunting is rather difficult, with a bag and possession of only one bird. Our largest turkey populations exist in southeast and southwestern Colorado, and in those regions they would be classified as common to abundant. Even with a low number of license sales, Colorado's success ratio on turkeys is one of the highest in the nation. The reason for this unusually high success ratio is that only those hunters who are acquainted with the habits and the methods of hunting turkeys are the ones who go hunting. In the past few years the success ratio has ranged in the 60's, whereas in most states which have a much longer season the success ratio varies between 20 and 30 per cent. Small Game . Pheasants: The pheasant outlook is not too bright, although in the plains regions and west central Colorado the bird would be classed as common. A number of contributing factors are of- -30- �T O EFFECT more dfi cienl game manageme nt in Colorado, the seasons on dee r during 1956 we re Liu: most li be ral ever granted in Colorado history. In iact, one of the m ost liberal on the North American Continent. Twe nty-three per cent of the state's heaviest deer population areas was open to the taking of two dee r o n a license ; 20 per cent for the tak ing of deer on a mul tiple ( more t han one) li cense basis; 20 per cent fo r the taking of one deer o( eithe r sex; and approximately 7 per cent for the taki ng of antle red only deer. In 1957, a m ore liberal season than that of 1956 has bee n established. During 1957 the entire area west of the Contine ntal Di vide, and all lands within the Ri o Grande drainage have been opened for the taking of two decr on a license; each hunter is permitted to purchase two licenses. The bala nce of the state is o pe n fo r the taking of one deer of the hunter·s choice. The following is a brief su mmary, by species. of the status of o ur game animal s. Mule Deer From the extreme! y Iibc ral seasons mentioned abo\·e it is ob\'ious that mule deer arc very abun da nt in Colo rado. During 1956. Colorado expe rienced the la rgest deer kill ever made in its history w he n , 1 total of 85, 138 deer were harl'ested. Seasons by area extended irom early Se ptember to December 3 1, and t he success ratio for deer hunters wa, o ne of t he h ighest in the nation: 76 me n o ut of I 00 were successful i 11 obtaining their deer. Whi te-Tailed D eer White-tailed deer in Colorado an: rare; however, there is a small migration from New Mexico to t he Trin idad area. The herd inhabits thi s southern section of Colorado during the summer months, and generall y moves back into N ew Mex ico for the w inter. In addition, there has been a marked incrcase of white-tail ed deer in the extrem e nonheastern part of Colorado alo ng the Platte River. These.: deer a rc appare ntl y mig rating from both chraska and \Vyom ing . Elk ln the area west of the Continental Di vide and the San Lui s Valley, elk are considered abundant, while in the region east of the Continental Di vide: they would be classificd as common. It is necessary to practice inte nsive management on elk, as their reproducti ve: rate is a g re:H deal lower than that of mule deer. I 11 additio n, with deer hecorni ng so common. the re is a g reater desire on the part of the hunter to ohrai n a n elk. The popul:nion of elk in Colorado amounts to approxi mately only 15 per cent of the population of mule deer. I 11 orde r to properly manage t his he rd. in 1956, 6,836 perm its for the taki ng of hunte r's choice cl k we re issued , w hile in 1957, 9, 130 permits wi ll be allotted. Using this permit system the game managers. th rough years of past -29 - �F ROM T H E ST A D PO INT of personnel adm inistration, t he last fiscal year has been o ne o( the most acti vt: in tht: Jcpartment's history. T his was clue primaril y to a classificat ion rev ie w of all positions in the state. as ca lled for by legislat ive act ion. C lassification recom me ndations were incorporated into a new pa y pla n t hat was submi tted to t he C ivil Service C ommissio n by the Business Resea rch Corporation of C hicago, Ill inois. T he pay pla n was baseJ on an exte nsive wagt: a nd s:ilary survey cond ucted b y Mr. F.dwarcl Harker w ith assistance from the State C ivil Service C omm issio n staff and \'arious state person nel office rs. The person nel officer of the Departrm: nt of Ga me and h sh was appoin ted to t h is corn millee a nd assisted in t he developme nt of an t:quitable pa y a nd class ifi cat io n pl an. T he pay pla n was passed by t he regular session of the Lt:gislatu re in 1957. and as of May I. 1957. t he C ivil Se rvice Comm ission approved thl: a dj ustments to tht: pb n. It is felt that wit h the new pla n the department is in a better posit io n to ret:rin and recr uit high-caliber pe rsonnel in all job categories. In addi tion 10 this wo rk. 26-l sepa r:n e act io ns we re ca rried throug h and invo h·ed suc h procedures as tht: following : creation and a bolish ment of positions ; t he appointme nt of cntificd, provisiona l, act ing p rovisional and te mpora ry person nel ; resig nations: classification of new positio ns: classificat ion re- vie w: military lea ves. transfr rs a nd lea ve w ith out pay. Also, exam inatio ns wt:re g iven for 2 1 ca tegoric~ of posit io ns in the department w h ic h has resulted in the ce rt ification of 120 indi vid uals to thei r jobs. A continuing exa m ination prog ra m has been established hy which th e department sho uld he able to rt:cruit fro m elig ible lists a t all t imes a n<l thereby d ispe nse wi th the a ppoi ntrnl:n ts of provisio nal e mployes who are later su bject to examina tion. T he person nel office has handled mo re indi vid ua l problems than in previo us yea rs. These ha,·e ra nged fro m on-t he-job problem s to pe rsonal, financial a nd dom estic prohkms. E mployes arc counseled in a n attem pt to :il leviate si tuatiom, bo th w it h in a nd o utsidt· t he departme nt, that wo uld decrease t he ir jo h erficiency a nd lower t heir moralc. Three to fo ur interviews per dav a re g ra nted to people see king emplo yme nt. In addit ion to t he a bove-me ntioned item s, t he person nel office is c harged with t he respo nsibility of ha nd ling normal personnel functions such as accident a nd hea lth insura nce, W orkmen ·s Compensation, retirement. l ife insura nce, Bl uc Cross, Em.ployes Protecti ve Associati o n a nd U nited F u nds d ri ves. This office also sets u p a nd su per vises the perso nnel ser vices bud get fo r the departmen t a long with rout ine a nd techn ical correspondence from ind ivid uals a nd o the r state departme nts req uesti ng inform atio n. -28 - �Appropriations available-New Projects: From anticipated revenues ................................ 107,863.65 180,580.84 Less: Current project appropriations .............. 90,930.00 180,580.84 Sub-Total ....................................................$ 16,933.65 -0Add: Unused balances on completed projects $ 15,545.36 -0Net: Appropriations available ..........................$ 32,479.01 -0TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS ................................................................$3,280,508.00 Fishing Easement Fund JUNE 30, 1957 ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer ..................................................................................$ TOTAL ASSETS ..................................................................................................$ 1,315.71 1,315.71 LIABILITIES Accounts payable ............................................................................................................$ Surplus .............................................................................................................................. TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS ................................................................$ 2,001.52 685.81* 1,315.71 ST ATE MEN T OF OPERATIONS Year-to-Date Income June 30, 1957 Transferred from Game Cash Fund ........................................................................$ -0Total income ......................................................................................................$ -0Expense Expenses ....................................................................................................................$ TOTAL EXPENSE ..............................................................................................$ NET OF OPERATIONS ....................................................................................$ *Indicates Red Figure. 300.00 300.00 300.00* Colorado Conservation Fund JUNE 30, 1957 ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer ..................................................................................$ Due from other funds-Game Cash Fund ...................................................................... TOTAL ASSETS ................................................................................................$ 28,280.58 71.00 28,351.58 LIABILITIES Accounts payable ............................................................................................................$ Subscriptions paid in advance ........................................................................................ Surplus .............................................................................................................................. TOTAL LIABILITIES ..........................................................................................$ 2,417.75 19,044.72 6,889.11 28,351.58 ST ATE MEN T OF OPERATIONS Year-to•Date Income June 30, 1957 Subscriptions earned ..............................................................................................$ 20,289.69 Total Income ....................................................................................................$ 20,289.69 Expense Printing ....................................................................................................................$ Postage .................................................................................................................... Supplies .................................................................................................................... TOTAL EXPENSE ..............................................................................................$ Net of Operations ....................................................................$ -27- 16,703.70 3,010.00 240.03 19,953.73 335.96 �Stores Revolving Fund JUNE 30, 1957 ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer .................................................................................. $ 149,894.02 Accounts receivable-miscellaneous .............................................................................. 465.66 Due from other funds: 17.02 Bonny Dam Fund ............................................................................ $ 34,624.16 Game Cash Fund ........................................................................... . 468.88 $ 35,110.06 Federal Aid Revolving Fund ......................................................... . Inventories: Stores on hand .............................................................................. $ 85.526.49 Stores in transit ............................................................................ 27,872.47 $ 113,398.96 TOTAL ASSETS ................................................................................................ $298,868.70 LIABILITIES Accounts payable ............................................................................................................ $ 27,485.85 502.00 Due to Game Cash Fund ............................................................................................... . Equity of Game Cash Fund ........................................................................................... . 250,000.00 20,880.85 Inventory adjustment account ....................................................................................... . TOTAL LIABILITIES ..................................................................,.......................$ 298,868.70 NOTE: This fund will have neither income nor expenses and hence, no Statement of Operations. Federal Aid Revolving Fund JUNE 30, 1957 ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer .................................................................................. $ 516,578.88 PittmanDingellReceivables: Robertson Johnson Due from federal government ........................ $ 55,265.67 $ 4,744.67 $ 60,010.34 16,364.19 Due from Game Cash Fund ........................... . -016,364.19 Unbilled advances: Due from federal government ........................ 119,620.49 2,042.33 121,662.82 Due from Game Cash Fund .............................. 39,873.50 680.78 40,554.28 Property, plant and equipment ...................................................................................... 1,574,774.60 Estimated revenues on projects in process .................................................................... 950,562.89 Unallocated appropria.ted funds-New Projects .... 32,479.01 -0-0TOTAL ASSETS ................................................................................................ $3,280,508.00 Federal Aid Revolving Fund JUNE 30, 1957 LIABILITIES Reserve for encumbrances ............................................................................................ $ 132,401.80 PittmanDingellRobertson Johnson Due to Game Cash fund ........................................ $ 4,701.63 -04,701.63 Due to Stores Revolving fund ....................................................................................... . 468.88 Equity of Game Cash fund ........................................................................................... . 750,000.00 Surplus invested in fixed assets ..................................................................................... . 1,574,774.60 Appropriations Available-Projects in Process: Total allotments ................................................ 1,100,582.56 426,455.84 Less: Expenditures to date .............................. 5~5, 130.84 51,344.67 Sub-Total .................................................. $ 575,451.72 $ 375,111.17 55,915.32 Less: Encumbrances outstanding .................... 76,486.48 319,195.85 $ 818,161.09 Net: Appropriations available ........................ 498,965.24 -26- �ST ATE MEN T OF O PER AT I O NS Year-to-Date Income June 30, 1957 Boat permits ............................................................................................................$ 808.00 Sales-farm products .............................................................................................. 1,197.18 Rents-land .............................................................................................................. 1,504.25 TOTAL INCOME ..............................................................................................$ 3,509.43 Expenses Supplies and materials ............................................................................................$ Wages of laborers .................................................................................................. Maintenance and operation .................................................................................. TOTAL EXPENSE ..............................................................................................$ 455.70 1,888.75 893.57 3,238.02 Net of Operations ......................................................................$ 271.41 Willow Creek Fund JUNE 30, 1957 ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer ....................................................................................$ TOTAL ASSETS ................................................................................................$ 106.50 106.50 LIABILITIES Surplus ..............................................................................................................................$ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS ................................................................$ 106.50 106.50 ST ATE MEN T OF OPERATIONS Year-ta-Date Income June 30, 1957 Boat permits ............................................................................................................$ 81.00 TOTAL INCOME ..............................................................................................$ 81.00 Expenses Supplies and materials ............................................................................................$ TOTAL EXPENSES ............................................................................................$ 28.50 28.50 Net of Operations ........................................................................$ 52.50 Green Mountain Fund JUNE 30, 1957 ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer ..................................................................................$ TOTAL ASSETS ..................................................................................................$ 194.00 194.00 LIABILITIES Surplus ..............................................................................................................................$ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS ................................................................$ 194.00 194.00 ST ATE MEN T OF OPERATIONS Year-to-Date Income June 30, 1957 Boat permits ..............................................................................................................$ 194.00 TOTAL INCOME ..............................................................................................$ 194.00 Expenses Supplies and materials ............................................................................................$ TOTAL EXPENSES ............................................................................................$ -0-0- Net of Operations ......................................................................$ 194.00 -25- �Budgetary and Other Fund Resources Estimated revenues .......................................................................... $3,626,380.00 Revenues-cash items .......................................... $4,043,316.61 * Revenues-non•cash items .................................... 11, 123.33* $4,054,439.94* $ 428,059.94* TOTAL ASSETS ............................................................................$9,310,187.61 *Indicates Red Figures. LIABILITIES Current Liabilities Payables Accounts Payable-landowners ............................................ $ -01,330.24 Accounts Payable-License Agents ....................................... . 2,431.48 Accounts Payable-State General Fund ............................. . Accounts Payable-Encumbrances ....................................... . 818,954.86 6,429.83 Accrued Payrolls ................................................................... . $ 829,146.41 Due to Other Funds Stores Revolving Fund ............................................................ $ 34,624.16 Federal Aid Revolving Fund .................................................. 16,364.19 Colorado Conservation .......................................................... 71.00 $ 51,059.35 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES .................................................................. $ 880,205.76 Budgetary and Other Fund Obligations Appropriations-Current Year Personal services ...................................... $1,405,000.00 Maintenance and operations .................... 1,100,000.00 Capital outlay ............................................ 1,267,679.81 Travel and subsistence .............................. 100,000.00 Special funds ............................................ 550,808.19 Prior Years 300.00 Personal services ...................................... $ 36,218.44 Maintenance and operations ................. . Capital outlay ......................................... . 163,205.54 93,344.01 Special funds ........................................... . $4,423,488.00 $ 293,067.99 $4,716,555.99 Expenditures-Cash Items Operating expense .................................... $2,846,099.73* Capital outlay ............................................ 483,330.24* $3,329,429.97* Expenditures-Non-Cash Items Operating expense .................................. $ 297,238.53* Capital outlay .......................................... 1,903.23 $ 295,335.30* Encumbrances Operating expense .................................... $ 511,944.53* Capital outlay ............................................ 307,010.33* $ 818,954.86* $4,443,720.13* Reserves and Surplus Reserve for working capital .................................................. $1,000,000.00 Unappropriated surplus ........................................................ 1,392,711.03 Surplus invested in fixed assets ............................................ 5,764,434.96 $8,157,145.99 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS .......................................................... $9,310,187.61 *Indicates Red Figures. Bonny Dam Fund ASSETS Cash on deposit-State Treasurer ................................................................................. $ Property, plant and equipment ..................................................................................... TOTAL ASSETS ................................................................................................ $ 435.76 7.38 443.14 LIABILITIES Due to Stores Revolving Fund ........................................................................................ $ Surplus invested in fixed assets ................................................................................... . Surplus ........................................................................................................................... . TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS .................................................................. $ -24- 17.02 7.38 418.74 443.14 �A State's Share to Retirement Workmen's Compensation ... . Chief Creek ......................... . Construction Konantz Dam .. Fish Cooperative ................. . Game Cooperative ............... . Contingent Fund ................. . Predatory Animal ............... . Pitt man-Robertson Matching** ................. . Dingell-Johnson Matching** Game Damage Awards ........ Non-Budgeted Funds ........... . B C F NOT CLASSIFIED BY TYPE OF Total 63,727.68 13,988.00 11,111.66 194.83 5,790.57 4,447.86 21,730.59 47,933.05 EXPENDITURE 107,959.40 16,579.68 4,760.15 1,388.32 $ 299,611.79 Total of All Expenditures .......................................................... $3,084,905.00 **State's Share (25%) of monthly billing to the Federal Government on project expenditures by the Federal Aid Division. Balance Sheet June 30, 1957 Game Cash Fund ASS ET S Current Assets Cash Cash on deposit-State Treasurer ...................................................................... $2,834,881.35 Receivables Accounts receivable-Justice of the Peace ............................ $ 1,253.46 Accounts receivable-license Agents ...................................... 1,151.75 2,405.21 Due from Other Funds Stores Revolving Fund ............................................................ $ 502.00 Federal Aid Revolving Fund .................................................. 4,701.63 5,203.63 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS .......................................................................... $2,842,490.19 Other Assets Investment in Stores Revolving Fund ............................................ $ 250,000.00 Investment in Federal Aid Revolving Fund .................................... 750,000.00 $1,000,000.00 Deferred Expenses Deposits in postage meter machine ................................................ $ 923.03 Small tools and expendable equipment ........................................ 130,399.37 $ 131,322.40 Property, Plant and Equipment Farm and garden equipment .......................................................... $ 164,763.74 General plant equipment ................................................................ 485,072.46 Household furniture and equipment ................................................ 31,971.38 laboratory equipment .................................................................... 15,317.21 Library and instructional equipment .............................................. 29,610.72 Motor vehicles and equipment ........................................................ 891,755.26 Office furniture and equipment ...................................................... 109,281.82 Recreation equipment ...................................................................... 535.15 Shop machinery and equipment .................................................... 31,933.10 Camping equipment ........................................................................ 46,570.69 Air equipment .................................................................................. 371.00 Remodeling, major repairs and replacement of structures .......... -0Building and structures .................................................................... 1,532,045.11 land and non-structural improvements .......................................... 1,900,282.45 Sub-total .................................................................................. $5,239,510.09 Equity in federal aid property, plant and equipment .................. 524,924.87 -23- $5,764,434.96 �A Bonny Dam ................... . -0Denver ........................... . 30,235.25 Estes Park ..................... . 9,647.79 North fork Thompson .. 14,860.80 Parvin Lake ................... . -0Poudre Rearing Unit ... . 9,967.81 5,589.00 Walden ......................... . Wray ............................. . 10,769.60 B 1,064.20 28,083.27 12,861.90 22,007.35 1,357.16 42,963.36 7,204.44 31,911.06 C -0-0-05,845.83 -05,076.67 2,652.58 2,675.13 f Total -0975.45 59.10 34.75 -0274.90 253.20 133.50 1,064.20 59,293.97 22,568.79 42,748.73 1,357.16 58,282.74 15,699.22 45,489.29 $ 478,481.79 Northwest Region Regional Coordinator .. 12,157.12 Regional Cons. Ofcrs. 127,169.65 Regional Educator ......... . 4,358.00 Regional Game Mgr. ... . 8,146.55 Little Hills ..................... . -04,675.50 Regional fish Mgr........ . Regional fish Biologist .. 2,664.75 Bel-Aire ......................... . 9,335.00 Crystal River ............... . 16,908.60 9,035.50 finger Rock ................... . 1,606.00 Glenwood Springs ....... . Rifle Falls ..................... . 42,026.29 80.00 Black Lakes ................. . Trappers Lake ............... . -0Square S ..................... . -0- 4,139.34 24,319.47 696.27 2,356.71 2.59 1,794.17 524.35 11,668.26 30,089.44 18,964.30 5,972.80 125,367.96 3,945.67 172.71 601.97 5,494.38 11,100.61 349.00 30.50 -029.37 -02,342.15 978.92 8,862.72 323.75 18,757.55 278.96 -0-0- 1,011.95 4,866.52 295.17 1,098.30 -0769.80 253.55 123.15 182.33 318.32 483.60 1,702.88 -0-0-0- 22,802.79 167,456.25 5,698.44 11,632.06 2.59 7,268.84 3,442.65 23,468.56 48,159.29 37, 180.84 8,386.15 187,854.68 4,304.63 172.71 601.97 $ 528,432.45 Southeast Region Regional Coordinator ... . Regional Cons. Ofcrs. .. Regional Educator ....... . Regional Game Mgr..... Game Bird farm ........... . Tarryall Game ............. . Two Buttes ..................... . Regional fish Manager .. Regional fish Biologist .. Buena Vista ................. . Chalk Cliffs ................... . Coaldale ....................... . Leadville ....................... . Monument ..................... . Mount Shavano ............. . Ryan ............................. . Rye ................................. . Huerfano ....................... . 7,929.43 84,821.30 5,216.00 7,244.00 11,551.00 -0-05,216.00 4,596.00 7,454.00 16,258.20 3,782.00 7,564.00 -026,318.93 -03,442.00 -0- 3,022.37 17,047.01 1,162.45 1,557.92 6,224.22 809.01 234.05 1,897.01 1,217.26 10,436.11 32,416.43 535.13 3,955.44 47.42 46,957.89 12.50 2,395.72 76.70 9,134.71 6,132.30 349.00 1,407.61 789.65 7,601.82 671.95 678.00 1,703.85 -0-06,620.64 613.15 -0368.55 -0-0-0177.95 -0-0- -0- -0- -010,000.00 -0-01,662.32 7.29 -011,332.38 -0-0-07,944.34 -0- 20,876.16 115,602.43 7,399.40 9,479.92 29,479.07 809.01 234.05 9,395.97 6,433.70 17,890.11 60,375.56 4,317.13 11,519.44 47.42 81,399.11 12.50 7,245.33 76.70 $ 382,593.01 Southwest Region Regional Coordinator 9,253.00 Gunnison ..................... . -0Regional Cons. Ofcrs. .. 125,862.40 Regional Educator ....... . 2,873.00 5,262.00 Regional Game Mgr. . .. . Regional fish Manager .. 6,114.06 Regional fish Biologist .. 4,417.00 Cedaredge ................... . 13,111.00 Chipeta ......................... . 14,687.19 9,050.00 Dolores Ponds ............... . Durango ....................... . 19,059.00 Haviland Lake ............... . -0La Jara ......................... . 15,203.00 Pitkin ............................. . 19,209.00 Rio Grande ................... . 14,593.00 4,162.99 126.92 32,443.36 2,571.31 3,257.73 1,486.64 1,810.41 15,919.18 11,784.96 13,735.09 19,461.23 96.53 11,827.96 35,899.99 10,036.01 6,528.35 -011,998.99 1,948.39 3,374.87 1,662.32 24.25 2,596.95 5,749.10 5,769.27 1,606.67 -0110.20 6,479.76 50.00 922.65 -07,120.97 415.20 1,056.15 899.80 212.55 267.10 413.30 59.95 76.60 -0242.95 164.59 144.55 20,867.01 126.92 177,425.72 7,807.90 12,950.75 10,162.82 6,464.21 31,894.23 32,634.55 28,614.31 40,203.50 96.53 27,384.11 61,753.34 24,823.56 $ 483,209.46 -22- �Statement of Expenditures July 1, 1956-June 30, 1957 (From 1956-1957 Appropriations) A B Total F C General Administration Commissioners ................ -0- $ Director ··························$ 15,721.00 Deputy Director .............. 12,327.00 865.65 1,949.23 1,582.35 $ -020.05 -0- $ 5,466.75 1,469.79 593.25 $ $ 6,332.60 19,160.07 14,502.60 39,995.27 Business Management Business Manager .......... Federal Aid Automotive .. Disallowed Items ............ Accounting ...................... License Revenue .............. Property & Supply ........ Office Maint. & Oper... Garage •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Warehouse ..................... 19,958.64 -03,750.88 47,417.93 23,099.12 16,040.95 9,890.75 19,939.13 10,906.98 17,431.88 26,098.56 1,619.40 1,737.59 5,275.49 1,788.39 14,715.08 3,080.98 4,594.05 499.00 12,350.97 40.00 362.50 62.00 264.52 20.18 -01,613.40 401.18 -0114.94 34.60 7.56 540.00 -0-0-0- 38,290.70 38,449.53 5,525.22 49,552.62 28,444.17 18,633.86 24,626.01 23,020.11 17,114.43 $ 243,656.65 Conservation-Education Radio & News .............. Education •••••••••••••••••••••• 40,343.50 37,336.09 6,991.78 39,734.31 -02,577.62 597.50 1,536.75 47,932.78 81,184.77 $ 129,117.55 Game Management Administration ................ Aerial Operation ............ Game Control ................ Seeding Project .............. 37,971.50 18,978.03 -0-0- 15,938.60 12,730.92 34,851.36 2,255.45 3,634.89 24,073.35 3,756.54 -93.14 1,310.00 1,723.00 1,410.80 667.25 58,855.49 57,505.30 40,018.70 2,829.66 $ 159,209.15 Fish Management Administration ................ Research ·······-················ Transportation ................. Const. & Maint............... Warm Water fish ........ Las Animas .................... 19,621.38 30,671.23 10,323.00 24,633.75 37,386.50 -0- 28,703.52 8,413.33 11,697.36 14,124.01 7,319.93 6,254.65 48,666.87 2,825.15 7,288.13 2,464.20 4,084.11 3,479.67 857.20 2,925.25 2,011.20 5,356.65 3,437.80 656.87 97,848.97 44,834.96 31,319.69 46,578.61 52,228.34 10,391.19 $ 283,201.76 Personnel Administration 16,117.91 377.73 -0- 606.36 $ 17,102.00 10,265.84 1,639.73 11,243.74 339.20 $ 23,488.51 10,832.80 5,225.67 247.34 499.80 $ •16,805.61 Law Enforcement Administration ---·······------ Fur Resources Administration •••••••••••••••• Northeast Region Regional Coordinator .. $ 15,829.00 Regional Cons. Ofcrs. .... 112,382.63 -0Evergreen •••••••••••••••••••••• -0Mount Evans .................. 5,216.00 Regional Educator ........ 6,691.00 Regional Game Mgr. . ... -0Tamarack •••••••••••••••••••••• 5,278.00 Regional Fish Mgr. ...... 4,596.00 Regional fish Biologist .. 9,487.25 Bellvue ••••••·•••••·••••••••••••• $ 3,494.68 23,474.93 68.76 115.04 852.08 1,472.61 34.07 2,160.32 873.10 16,097.31 -21- $ 489.95 10,558.28 -0186.44 -0-0-0-0203.80 2,601.94 $ 609.00 $ 20,422.63 152,687.99 6,272.15 68.76 -0-0301.48 6,521.48 453.40 9,220.41 1,056.80 -034.07 8,104.32 666.00 6,422.65 749.75 28,193.90 7.40 �Statement of Receipts July 1, 1956-June 30, 1957 Fiscal Year 1955-1956 asof June 30, 1956 Resident fishing and small game ................................................ $ 575,528.00 Resident fishing only .................................................................. 489,668.00 Resident small game hunting only ............................................ 54,424.00 Nonresident fishing (season) ...................................................... 134,540.00 Nonresident 5-day fishing .......................................................... 329,959.00 Nonresident bird and small game ............................................ 20,880.00 Resident deer ............................................................................ 712,795.50 Resident elk ............ .................................................................... 201,740.00 Resident turkey ............................................................................ 3,660.00 Resident bear .......................................................... .................... 1,360.00 Nonresident deer ........................................................................ 677,920.00 Nonresident elk .......................................................................... 191,600.00 Nonresident bear ......... .. .... ......................................................... 1,780.00 Resident antelope ............... .................................. ..................... 35,050.00 Resident mountain sheep ............................................................ 4,475.00 Resident trapper ........................................................................ 2,912.00 Nonresident trapper .................................................................. 100.00 Additional rod stamps ................................................................ 68.00 Duplicate licenses ........................................................................ 1,040.48 Cash over or short llcense agents ............................................. 1,418.89 Resident fur dealers .................................................................... 535.50 Guide licenses ............................................................................ 1,750.00 Importers ...................................................................................... 36.00 Lake licenses . ...... .. .... ...... .. .... .. . ... .......... ...... .......... .. .. .. ... ....... ... . .. . 1, 126.00 Preserve licenses ..................................................................... ..... 163.00 Refuge permits ............................................................................ 6.00 Seining permits ................. ........................................................... 73.00 Storage permits .......................................................................... 2.00 Taxidermists ................................................................................ 245.00 Transportation permits ................................................................ 436.00 Field trials .................................................................................. 123.75 Scientific permits .................................................................... .... 15.00 Importation permits .................................................................... 232.00 Specimen permits ....... .......... .. ............................................... ...... 2.00 Bird park licenses ........................................................................ 409.00 Quadruped licenses .................................................................... 246.00 Transfer fees .............................................................................. 5.00 Sales-hides (except beaver) ...................................................... 1,938.52 Sales·-livestock ............................. .......................................... ..... -0Sales-supplies and materials .................................................... 3,005.35 Sales-hides (beaver) .................................................................. 73,334.75 Sales-beaver seals ................................................................. ... 3,092.00 Rents-land .................................................................................. 17,029.44 Court fines .................................................................................. 34,813.38 Sales-equipment ........................................................................ 33,427.52 Refunds of expenditures .............................................................. 8,664.50 Reimbursement by agreements .................................................. -0Square "S" Ranch ...................................................................... -0Sale of land ................................................................................ -0- Total Gross Income .................................... $3,621,629.58 Less: Commission on license sales .............................................. Fiscal Year 1956-1957 asof Juno 30, 1957 $ 559,295.00 471,728.00 55,092.00 152,920.00 363,986.00 26,750.00 698,587.50 223,190.00 2,875.00 1,295.00 798,800.00 247,100.00 1,300.00 34,400.00 4,425.00 2,485.00 -0425.00 1,085.83 -824.37 511.00 1,880.00 259.00 1,402.00 110.00 5.00 64.00 6.00 245.00 641.00 153.85 12.00 7.00 4.50 546.60 170.00 6.00 1,332.99 22.50 1,531.33 39,783.60 1,956.00 2,694.28 37,976.66 40,791.21 5,134.60 5,580.06 4,600.00 324,554.70 $4, 116,895.84 127,530.00 129,469.25 Total Net Income ........................................ $3,494,099.58 $3,987,426.59 -20- �R EG IO N AL decentrali zation of depa rtme nt fi eld o perations has been in effect two years, and in certain phases of operati on, costs ha\'e declined. . otable examples a re telepho ne bills, gas mileage a nd meals. The budget has been m o re accuratel y prepared and the general public has benefited because of closer contact w ith the de partment through the new regio nal field offices. D e partme ntal reve nue l°or t he fiscal year 1956-1957 has increased about 14 .1 per cent. Under close observation it can be noted, ho wever, that the majority of this increase is due to the sale of the department's bird fa rm a t Colo- rado Springs. License sales and reve nue ha ve dropped in three license categories. namely: the res ident combination fishing a nd small game hunting, reside nt fish ing o nl y, a nd resident deer. Sales have increased in nonresident 5-day fish ing a nd in both resident and nonreside nt e lk licenses. F ees fo r mul tiple dee r licenses we re reduced by the recent Colorado L egisla t ure on both resident and nonreside nt licenses. The law reduced the price of a resi den t multiple dee r lice nse fro m $7.50 per license to $5.00 per license, a nd on no nreside nt multiple deer li censes from $40.00 per lice nse to $7.50 per lice nse. Hunting and Fishing License Sales (By Calendar Years) 1955 Type o f License Number Revenue* Resident fishing and sma ll game ........... 139,483 $ 518,011.00 Resident fishing only .................... ........... 95,000 356,261.75 Resident sme ll game hunting only . ... ...... 23,262 40,714.50 Resident a lien fishing ................................ 51 140.25 Nonresident fish ing {sea son) .................... 11,708 114,154.75 Nonresident 5-day fish ing ........................ 93,342 303,337.00 Nonresident bird and small game .......... 1,981 19,316.75 Resident deer ........................... 95,039 689,078.50 Resident elk ...... .......................... ............. 20,174 196,771.25 Resident tur~ey .......................................... 732 3,480.00 Resident bear ... ......................................... 125 594.25 Nonresident deer ..................................... 16,948 673,695.00 Nonresident elk .... ..... .. ............................. 3,832 190,986.75 Nonresident bear ...................................... 172 1,677.00 Resident trapper .................. ................... 834 2,607.25 No nresident trapper ................................ 4 l 00.00 Resident ante lope .................... ................ 3,900 39,000.00 Resident mountain sheep ................... 179 4,475.00 Duplicate licenses ...................... ................ 688 878.59 Additional rad stamps ......................... ..... 69 69.00 TOTAL LICENSES AND REVENUE ....507,523 S3, 155,348.59 ,. Net ofter deduction of a g e nts' commissions. - 19 - 1956 Number Reve nue * 1 17,437 S 557,867.50 127,332 477,52 1.00 26,757 46,832.00 License Cancelled 15 507 15 1,196.75 105,081 341 ,516.50 2,444 23,832.25 92,570 671 ,204.50 22,312 217,644.50 575 2,731.50 227 1,129.25 19,961 793,472.25 4,943 246,448.00 1 12 1,098.50 780 2,545.50 3,440 177 841 110 540,606 34,400.00 4,425.00 1,166.72 110.00 $3,575, 141.97 �continuing into the spring apparently reduced hatches of certain game birds. However, in general, these adverse weather conditions have caused increased forage and thereby have compensated greatly for any losses that may have occurred. A limited amount of habitat development work has been carried on for small game species within the Sego Springs property on the Conejos. This area is being developed for migratory waterfowl through the drilling of artesian wells. Fur Conservation officers and trappers have made good catches of predatory birds and animals, as well as carrying out the specialized activity of trapping and pelting some 1,714 prime beaver pelts. Water conditions have made trapping extremely difficult since dispersal of beaver populations is at a maximum during high water periods. Information and Education Information and education activities within the region have been intensified during the past months. District officers, during the period covered under this report, spent 2,926 hours with local, civic, sportsman and church groups, disseminating information concerning departmental activities. Regular weekly radio programs in Durango, Monte Vista, Cortez and Delta are being carried out. In addition, various officers are contacted by local stations for weekly fishing reports, hunting conditions and other general game and fish information. Television, a relatively new medium within the region, has been utilized considerably through slides for "spot announcements" during station breaks. News releases are sent periodically to newspapers within the region and an excellent coverage is obtained. These releases are also sent to radio stations for their benefit. Such releases are not only of current local interest, but cover such topics as coming seasons, laws, bag limits and other interesting facts about our game and fish resources. In-service training has again been conducted for all personnel of the region in an effort to bind together policies, procedures and general working knowledge necessary for good game and fish administration and management. Such schools are held both at formal gatherings, such as the one during the past winter at Western State College in Gunnison, and also on· the ground with specialists in certain biological fields. These in-service training periods cover such topics as game range evaluation, lake site determination, good law enforcement techniques, etc. Law Enforcement Law enforcement activities were at an all time high with district men contacting some 29,150 hunters and fishermen in the field. From these contacts 522 cases were filed and 480 convictions obtained. A number of cases are pending. The conservation officer force for the southeast region consists of 23 men. In common with other regions, weekends and holidays are their busiest times. During the fishing and big game seasons their duties often involve round the clock work. Records reveal a weekly average of 67.3 hours per man. Goals Objectives within the region call for a more intensified information and education program. This is an absolute prerequisite in order to carry out the over-all objectives of the department with a minimum of public opposition. These are proposed through: ( 1) more comprehensive use of television; (2) increased newspaper coverage by training local conservation officers and teaching them how to get newsworthy items in local newspapers; (3) individual contacts by field personnel using movie, slide and lecture techniques; and ( 4) continued in-service training in order that all department policies are uniformly carried out. -18- �of. At present, re pairs a re being made in the dam and water is being retained in order tha t some fishing can be realized during the construction peri od. ,\ numb:cr of record catches of large brook trout have been reported here. :\lso in t he Rio Grande drainage, the re habilitation ol' a long sta nding ·'wi nte r kill '" lake is being carried o ut. Th is lake, k nown as Regan Lake, is being furnished w ith a fres h water suppl y in orde r to su pport (ish li fe d u ri ng tht: critical w inter months. In order to in sure storage of water in Rito H o ndo Rt:servoir, t he Fuch's transmountain di versio n has been purchased. In the San Juan area, the state-ow ned lake known as Haviland Lake, has ··winter ki lled" for a good many years. This beauti f ul 76-acre body of water has lx:en rd1ahil itated by a di version ditch which di verts the entire flow of Eiben Creek into the lake and t he n re turns the watt:r from the outlet back into t he old Elbert C reek channel. The Williams C reek Lake site northwest of Pagosa Springs has been purchased. and engineering is anticipated in the immediate future for development of thi s large impoundme nt. In addition to t he above men• tioned habitat developme nt, the reg ion is ca rryi ng out continual field investi ga• Lions for further development of fisheries resources. A good n umber of potemial lake sites haYe bee n investigated for ph ysical and biological feasib ility w ithin t he Sa n Juan, Rio G rande, Umcompahgre and G unnison dra inages. Engineering has alread y been requested on certain lakt: sites that show pro mise from prel im in a ry in vestig:itions. Big Game Gene rall y speak ing, survival of big game animal s through the regio n wa s excelle nt considering tht: extreme harsh wea ther conditions d uring the win ter of 1956-57. D eer losses were experie nced in overbrowsed areas o( the G unnison region, and game damage to agriculture crops, ma in! y due LO elk, was ex perie nced in almost every art:a w here elk winter range and ag riculture crops arc in c lose prox imity. Cold weather To provide better fi shing in the southwest, several projects have bee n carried on to develop new lakes and to increase productivity in ex isting waters. Among the sites completed or nea ring completion are Trujillo Meadows, Rito Hondo and Road Canon reservoi rs; Regan and Haviland la kes. - 17 - �Report of Regional Coord inator Southvvest Region T H E SOUTHWEST REG ION is a n a rea of complexities. The topog ra phy is perhaps some of the roug hest in the state, ranging from desert wastes to the jagged Needle Range. L and classifica tion is va ried, with privatdy owned lands, state, county, municipal , Indian lands, national parks a nd monume nts, national fo rests a nd Depa rtme nt of the Interior lands intermingl ed. In additio n, language ba rriers, due to the active use of Spanish, Indian and the Engl ish tong ues, compound the problems of administ ration of game a nd fis h laws and sound managemen t of our w ildlife resources. Intensified gas, ci l a nd radioactive mine ral explorat ion ha s added to the melee. Within t he 18 counties of the south west, approximately 13 per cent of all la nds are privately held while most of the re mainder arc in federal or state ow nersh ip. N aturally, management of ga me and fish must ,·ary accordi ng to the abo\'e named topography and land status. Objectives wi thin the region a rc to produce the maximum amount of recreation and increase the sportsma n's success. and continue to work in a harmonious m anner with the abo,·e complexities. Fish So me ma inte nance work has been ca rried out at all SC\'e n of the product ion units within t he region during the past fiscal year. Major construction ha s begun at the Pitkin Unit wherein completely new nurse po nds are being built , rearing ponds :ire be ing reshaped a nd new d rai nout systems establishn l. In . addi t ion , construction of new raceways at the D olores Unit to improve planting facili ties has been accomplished. A considerable a mount of rock fac ing is being done in o rder to protect against fu ture: high water. Prod uction at C hipeta will probably be mt during the com ing year d ue to fai lure of certa in springs. At the R io Grande Unit the failure of three small artesian wells has necessitated a stat us of nonuse of some of the uppe r raceways. The La Ja ra Unit will be curtailed as a rearing stat io n and w ill be retained fo r hatching o nly due to the un usuall y high cost of fish production at this location. Since budgt:tary lim itat ions dictate a maximum on o ur over-all fish production at re:iring units, development of suitable fishe ries habitat wherei n natural propagation ca n provide better fishing becomes a ,·ery important item. T his can he done mainl y by developing lakes w he re no ne have existed befo re a nd by increasing productivity in existing wate rs. T he latte r has been ca rried out by pl::tcing st ream im provement struct ures o n state-owned lands in the Cebolla Creek area . L ake constructi on has prog ressed in spite of many pi tfa lls. The Trujillo Meadows Reservoir r.ear C umbrcs Pass has been completed and is full of wate r, w ith some nice catc hes of fish being made. Rito Hondo Reservoir in the uppe r R io G rande is presently under construction a nd will be finished during the fall of 1957. It should furnish some fishi ng in 1958. The newly acquired rig hts for the Road C:mon Reservoir a re he ing rn ke n care - 16- �The northwest region hosts the largest number of big game hunters. Over 54 percent of the state's deer and 40 per cent o f its elk harvest occurred in the regio n last year. Desp ite the heavy deer harvest, the ir numbe rs still exceed the carrying capacity of most winte r ranges. The harvest of antlerless e lk by the validation system has proved sound, with elk populat ions continu ing to increase at a norma l growth rate. and made bean:r trapping 1nore difbcu lt. Regional personnel contacted 8,440 hunters and 19, 156 fishermen during the year and obtained 352 con,·irnons. Goals Lake developmen t projens for both cold and wa rm water fishes is o ne of our 1najor goals. ,\t the prese nt ti m e. warm wa ter fishing is near! y no nexistent, yet there are a goodly numbc r of sportsmen desiring t his t ype of fishing. Warm water fishing development might possibly be.: combi ned with \\'aterfowl habitat. Although the region j, blessed with many fine trout streams and lakes. additional developme nt of - this type of water is needed to meet increasing demands upo n t he resource. More reservoi rs with greatly fl uctuating wa ter levels should be planted with kokanee sa lmon. As kokancc arc primarily plankton feede rs, thcy do well in these waters and do not co mpete to any great extent with existing trout populations. C hukar partridges have been released in nearly all suitable areas within the region. An y further exte nsion of the ir range will depend largely upon the success of providing watering devices (gallinaceous g uzzle rs ) in arid regions. Our goal is a shoo tabl e population of these birds in the near future. l'i - �management tool. Not only has a greater harvest been realized, but elk populations have continued to increase at a normal rate. Management of both deer and elk became more realistic this year with the establishment of browse utilization plots on winter ranges throughout the region. Annual measurements are taken in cooperation with other landuse agencies and have resulted in closer agreement between personnel concerned. The problem of an ever decreasing browse supply was partially met this year with the formulation of a management plan for the recently acquired Square S Ranch, near Meeker, Colorado. Despite heavier than average snowfall during the winter, mortality was not excessive in deer and was fairly light in elk. The severe weather did result, however, in many damage claims heing filed by landowners. Fur Low fur prices are continuing to prevent an adequate harvest of fur hearers in the region. Some, such as muskrats, have increased to the point where they are becoming detrimental to crops and irrigation systems. Fur prices have also greatly hampered the proper management of beaver. Although an attempt was made to have private trappers help harvest our surplus beavers, low prices and lack of experience on the part of many trappers resulted in only a token harvest. The failure of private individuals to adequately harvest heavers placed an added burden upon our field men. Time and again they were forced to neglect other duties to trap nuisance beavers. Department personnel pelted 1607 beavers and live-trapped and transplanted 361 more. Predator control work resulted in our personnel taking four mar~uding bears and nine bobcats. There was increased cooperation between the department and the Predator Animal Control Section of the U. S. Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife in respect to their work as it affects game management. This agency provided good service in removing predators from areas where we are seeking to establish chukar partridges and wild turkeys. Information and Education Information and educational work in the northwest included radio, television, newspaper work and programs for groups as well as in-service education for our own men. One television show and three radio shows were produced weekly in the region. In addition, there \Vere periodic radio shows on other stations. The writing of regionwide newspaper articles was increased this year. Generally speaking, these articles were well received by regional newspapers. Programs for schools and organizations were given mainly by the field men in their respective districts. The purchase of additional movie and slide projection equipment greatly improved service to the public in this respect. Inservice training for our personnel included an annual school, two FBI police schools, and American Red Cross first aid courses. Good public relations work on landowner-sportsman relationships paid off in many localities. Outstanding work by field men resulted in the opening of several streams to public fishing. Members of stock growers' associations have commented on improved landownersportsman rdations. Law Enforcement Law enforcement act1v1ttes were hampered seriously by having three districts without officers. Men in surrounding districts tried to cover these vacant areas, but their heavy work load in their own regions prevented adequate patrolling in other districts. An unusually severe winter resulted in a great amount of game damage work -14- �Report of Regional Coordinator North¥1est • Region T H E FISCAL YEAR 1956-57 was an unusuall y busy one for the no rthwest region. The regional organization, having outgrow n the neophyte stage, has been running smoothly with cxcelknc coord ination from all staff members. Various regi onal acti vities for the year arc summarized below. Fish Maximum prod uction of the five fish rear ing units in the region resu lted in the planting of 5,677,7 15 fis h, for a total poundage of 388,150 . . ati,e trout spawn was taken at Trappers Lake and kok:rnee salmon spawn was successfullv take n for the fi rst time at Cranby R~servoir. 1\ erial fish plantings continue to be an economical means of stock ing in:1ccess ible high mountain lakes. Approx imately 237,000 trout were so pl:rntcd, whi ch took 41 hours of flyi ng t ime. This is on! y about one-fou rt h the amount of "airborm:" trout planted in a nor mal year. Actuall y, aerial plantings approac h one million trout ann uall y. Several new lake sites were surveyed a nd wate r filings obtained. Three of these sites, including the Homestake, H a lrns Peak and :vleadow C reek, w ill probably be developed in 1957 or 1958. Research was initiated to deu:rminc the degree of survi val of fry and twoinch trout plantings. This research was interrupted ~lig htl y by the resignation of the regional fish biologist. The last fisca l year saw t he contin ued pollution of Trn /vl ilc C reek and a new - instance of pollutio n ol' t he Eagle Ri ver below Gilman. Both of these cases we re in,estigated and remedial measures arc being taken. Upland Game and W aterfowl Even though small game hunting is greatly overshadowed by big game hunting in this region, there are many a vid small game hunters. U pland game and migratory waterfowl populatio ns ha ve mainta ined themselves except fo r geese in 1'vl offat County. le has been suggested by waterfowl biolog ists that construction of goose nesting structures might increase the nesting success of these birds. Plans for const ructing suc h structures are no w under consideration. Big Game Big game and their accompa n yi ng proble m s of proper harvest, range utilization, population trends and damage . comprised the bulk of our game management efforts. Fifty-four per cent of the state ·s deer and -10 pe r cent of the state"s elk ha rvest came from the no rthwest reg ion chis year, indicating the importance of big game in this portion of the stale. Despite the heavy harvest of deer, their nurnbers still exceed the carrying capacit y of most winte r ranges. Aerial tre nd counts indicate t hat elk he rds are on the increase. In a tally of five trend areas, over 7, 163 e lk were counted . Censusing of those animal s required 1-18 hours of fly ing time . The harvest of antlerless elk by the validat ion system has pro,cd to be a sound 13 - �LAND ACQUISITION PROJECTS Project No. W-3-L W-8-L W-33-L W-48-L W-86-L W-92-L Location Gunnison Hot Sulphur Springs Meeker Evergreen Radium Delta Title Sapinero Hot Sulphur Little Hills Mt. Evans Radium Escalante Total Cost $ 30,007.00 100.00 177.25 250.00 45,885.37 67,867.97 $117,287.59 RESEARCH PROJECTS .- Project No. W-37-R W-38-R W-39-R W-41-R W-72-R W-73-R W-7.9-R W-83-R W-88-R W-90-R W-95-R Wildlife Species Grouse, pheasants, quail Deer and elk Merriam's turkey Bighorn sheep Deer Partridge Pheasant, quail, rabbits Beaver Waterfowl Title Game Bird Survey Deer-Elk Investigations Turkey Investigations Bighorn Sheep Investigations Range Revegetation Exotic Game Birds Habitat Improvement Studies Beaver Investigations Waterfowl Investigations Evaluation of Habitat Improvement Diseases of Game Animals $ Pheasants Sheep, deer, elk Cost 12,657.19 73,505.88 3.45 7,521.47 2,689.25 1,604.09 21,688.97 5,246.14 12,292.97 9,153.42 11,192.23 Total $157,555.06 DINGELL-JOHNSON FUNDS Exp!anation June 30, 1956 Unused balances, completed projects ....... . Apportionment, Debit Credit $ 195 6 ····----·-····················-· Balance $ 89,847.03 7,935.07 113,759.81 121,694.88 $211,541.91 New projects approved: $ Coordination ·······-·················-····-········· Land acquisition ----······························ Development ··········-···-···-······--···-········· 3,637.50 60,000.00 147,904.41 $211,541.91 $ June 3 O, 19 57 ---·-·-··· ·····-··----············------····-- .oo PITTMAN-ROBERTSON FUNDS Explanation June 30, 1956 Unused balances, completed projects -······· Apportionment, 19 5 6 ··-·---·····-·······--··--······ Debit Credit Balance $ .oo $ 84,109.66 485,842 . .98 569,952.64 32,737.50 64,350.00 154,947.99 132,225.00 384,260.4.9 New projects approved: Coordination ··············-············--··--······· Land acquisition .................................. Research ··-··········-·----·-························· Development ············--·····················--··· Reversion ··············--·-·--···········--·······-···· i June 30, 1957 3,263.58 $182,428.57 -37- �E 1FORCE i'vl E TT of the game.: laws historicall y is the primary work of the law enforceme nt di vision. The chief game warden, a membe r of the administrative staff, is in charge of the general s upe rvision of this division. fn each of the four regions, a regional conservation officer coordinates the law enforceme nt of the district conservation officers. The majori ty of other regional personne l are also commissioned officers and may he called on during busy seasons to bring the law enforccment staff to approx imately 200 men for the entire state. Full Field Force ,\ s a result of compet itive civ il se rvice exam inations in January, a (ull complement of wild Iifc conservation officers fi ll s all available districts. The majority of the new positions were fill ed by inuiv iduals in the trapper an d warden divisions who qualified for the hroad eneu responsibilities and functions of the w ildli fe conservati o n officer. Some positio ns, however, were rnken b y recent coll ege g raduates who majored in game management or an all ied biological fiel d. Prio r to assuming the ir duties, th<: new officers we re g iven a two weeks in-se n·i ce training course at the Denver office. 1n addition to departme nt pe rson nel, guest lecturers for the cou rse included representatives from the Fish and Wildlife Service, Denve r Police Departme nt, /\dams Cou nty S heriff's O ffice, State Hig h way Patrol and the American Red Cross. The appo intmem of the.: new officers brings the total of personnel d irectly concerned with law enforcement to 106. The present force includes 70 wildIi fe conservation office rs, 10 wardens, 15 trappers, 6 regional fur manag ers and 5 regional wild life conservatio n office rs. Duties Duties of the prcse n t day district conservation officer are varied with probably not more than 30 per cent of his time devoted strictl y to law c n rorcemcnt. /\mong h is many other duties, the district off icer makes recommendations pe rtaining to ga me and fish manage ment in his area; t raps beavers and othe r fur hea rers; checks reports of game damage to crops, rences, haystacks; a nd he rds animal s out of fields where they are causi ng d amage. Along with other field pe rsonnel he forms an important part of the fi re fig hting service which baul es range, prai rie and forest fire~. Public Relations T oday, public rclations has becomethe conservation officer's most im portant duty. H e is the d epartment's best know n and freq ue ntly its o nl y re presen tati ve in many towns throughout t he sta te. As a result, addeu responsibilities ha ve been g ive n the field office r in his role as Lhe princi pal sou rec o f contact with the pub! ic. I-le g ives lectures on game management and wild life in public schools, civic and sportsm an orga nizations, Boy Scout and -l-H camps, etc. Occasionally he writes news- -38 - �paper articles, shows wildli fe films and works closely with sportsmen as well as the land manage ment age ncies on the state and federa l level. As indicated, the modern conser vation officer must possess many tale nts, and his duties entai l quite a contrast to his predecessor the "game warden." The work of these men, accordingly, fol lows the old adage tha t "game management is 75 per cent the manage ment of people." Violations -19 5 6-19 5 7 Convictions for violations are up ap• proximately 19 per cent over the last fiscal year. Over bag limit of fish was hig h on the list-407. Failure to comply with tagging regulations was second305. Fish ing without a proper license was thi rd-296. Hunting without a proper license was four th-232. Type of Violation- FISHING Fishing without o legal and prope r license 296 Illega l possession of fish ............................ 407 Fishing in closed waters ...... ..................... 102 Fishing during closed season .................... 25 Illegal method of fishing (Chumming; using more tha n one pole; using regu lations ... ............................ . Illegal method of hunting ........... . Illegal transporta tion of game d evices- traps, seines, Total Fishing ............................ 970 Type of Violation- MISCELLANEOUS Trespassing . .................................. 103 Shooting from highway ............................ 72 Failure to exting uish campfire .................. 12 Dumping trash on private pr operty .......... Buying furs without a dealer's card ........ Hunting in wrong area ........................... . 1 Total Miscellaneous ................ 193 Total Violations .......... 2,5 13 Types of Violation ..... . 42 232 305 57 29 Failure to leave evidence of sex o n carcass ..................... ............ 20 Hunting outside legal hours ............ ....... . 111 Hunting in closed area ........... . 27 Hunting in closed season ...... ......... .......... . 34 Careless and reckless hunting .................. 4 Training dogs in wild out of season ........ Type of Violation- HUNTING Hunting without o legal and proper lice nse ...................... . Failure ta comply with tagging illegal throw.lines, dynamite) .... ..................... 130 Wasting fish .............................................. 6 Illega lly charging ta fish .... ................. ... 3 Back.dating fishing license ... l 7 8 H unting ducks without a mi3rotory b ird stamp ............................... 12 Wasting game meat .................... 11 Keeping game beyond the legal time limit 2 Tra pping without a license ...................... 2 Killing protecte d birds .............................. 5 Illegal possession of antelope .................. 1~ Illega l possession of bear ........................ 1 Illega l possession of deer .......................... 140 Illegal possession o f dove .......................... 6 Illega l possession of duck ........... ............. 14 I llega I possession of e lk ............................ 39 Illegal possession of ge ese ........................ 6 Illega l possession al g rouse ............. 25 Illega l possession of mountain sheep ...... 2 Illega l possession al pheasants 20 Illega l possession al quail ........... ............. 2 Illega l possession al rab bits .................... 19 Total Hunting ................... ...... 1,350 - 39 - Che cking licenses is only o ne of the m a n y and v a r ied du ties of tod a y's w ildlife c o n serva t ion o ffice rs. �U NDE R STATE L A W , the department is given the authority to control all fur-bearing animals and is a uthorized to establish open or closed seasons on any or all species. The work of the fur di vision falls into fou r major categories: administration of the State Beaver Control Act; management and control of all fur beare rs and fur dealers; predator con trol; and law e nforceme nt. O rga nization of the d ivision consists of one superinte ndent, one secretary, and on the regional level, six district fur ma nagers. Between eight and nine thousand beavers are taken a nnually and sold at public auction. In rece1i't years, prices have ranged from a few dollars to over $30 per pelt. Work in the ma nagement and control of othe r fur bearers consists of evaluating the number of each species taken , the price received and studying fie ld conditions pertaining to each species. From this information recomme ndations for seasons and regulations are submitted. Trappe rs, resid~'.1t an~, nonreside nt, dealers 111 raw or g reen pelts, manufacturers of fur products a nd commerc ial taxidermists arc reguired to obtain Iicenses. By this means the Game and Fis h Departme nt is able to compile reliable records of the yearly ha rvest o( fur a nimals. Predator Control The predator program deals principally wi th bear, coyotes a nd bobcats. Personnel are equipped with tra ps and dogs to take care of bea r complaints. Since the bear bas been one of the main objecti ves in the predator prog ram, the number a nd amount of damage claims has reduced materially. FUR HARVEST 1953-54 1954.55 1955.56 Beaver .................... .. ............................ .. ...... 11,920 Musk rot ........................................................ .48,96 1 8.261 43,509 10,761 6,839 35,499 28,087 287 Species Skunk ............................................................ Coyote ...... ...................................................... Mink .............................................................. Weasel Ma rten ...................................... ,..................... 295 33 2 10 761 91 239 26 154 252 176 227 15 253 117 112 1956.57 15 140 61 24 ......................................................... . 9 8 10 7 Bob ond Lynx Cot ........................................ Fox ............................ .................................. 46 15 64 397 83 5 10 Civet Cot ........................................................ NONE 2 18 359 18 NONE Badger Raccoon .................. .............................. 442 Opossum ............................... ........................ NONE Ringtoil Cot .................................................... NONE TOTAL ....................................................62,783 -40 - 331 4 NON E 53,031 47,780 257 4 11 35,833 �The mountain lio n is the on ly predator that the Game and Fish Department is required to pay a bounty o n. The practice serves no usefu l purpose in p rotecti ng livestock, as the lion, b y nature, is not a stock killer. The coyote is well under control a nd should Ix: kepl in this status. T he d ivision is wel l equipped with guns and traps to reduce overpopulati ons of coyotes in problem areas. W e ha ve made a special effort to co ntrol the bobcat, parricularl y in the wild turkey are:is. This predator is o n the increase and is extremely detrimental to small game an d birds. O ur control program o n this :inimal has had good results. O ther predators, incl uding t he mountain lion. are giving very little trouble. Skunks have been increasing at an alarmi ng rate, and due to thei r pecul ia rities prese nt a dil'firnlt control proble m. Bounties T he State of Colorado pays a bo unty on onl y one predator- the mountain lion. Thi s $50.00 bounty is set by a law that was passed years ago at the req uest of stockmcn and has been continued ever since a t the ir insistence. T he bounty se rves no useful pur pose in the protectio n of li vestock as tht: lio n, by nature, is not a stock kille r. lt is the opinion of most wi ld life experts that the lion is not de trime ntal to big ga me populations. and that the bounty system is not t he proper manner of predator control. Monies devoted to such measures should he reall ocated to more profitable and proven game management techniques. MOUNTAIN LION BOUNTIES Year 1956-57 1955-56 1954-55 1953-54 1952-53 1951 -52 1950-51 1949-50 1948-49 1947-48 1946-47 1945-46 N umbe r 82 66 54 58 47 39 28 45 12 13 10 5 Amount $4, 100.00 3,300.00 2,700.00 2,900.00 2,350.00 1,950.00 1,400.00 2,350.00 600.00 650.00 500.00 250.00 From t he tabl e above. it is evident that lion bounties have continued to increase since 1945-46, with the largest amount paid out thi s last year. The increase in lion hunters fol lows t he gene ral increase of all hunters si nce \ Vorl cl \•Var 11. More and more people have - -1 1- �acquired dogs, and have found an unexcelled thrill in tracking the big cat. Intermittent snows last year permitting easy tracking was also responsible for an above average lion kill. Beaver Control Under the Beaver Control Act of 1955, a new policy in beaver management was authorized for the Department of Game and Fish. Under this new law a landowner may request the department to take nuisance beavers on his property or he may obtain a permit and take his own beaver subject to departmental regulations and supervision. If the department traps the animals, they receive all the proceeds from the pelts. If the landowner does his own trapping, he receives all the proceeds. If the landowner wishes to take his own beavers, he notifies a representative of the department who confers with the owner and they agree on the number to be removed. An application is then filled out, ownership of the land checked and the permit is issued. After the beavers are taken, the landowner must obtain legal seals for each pelt at a cost of $1.00 each. After the legal seals are attached, the pelts become the landowner's property to do with as he wishes. The act further authorizes the department to set up restricted heaver seasons on public lands and issue permits as it deems advisable. After the field men have surveyed their areas in regard to beaver conditions, they recommend the areas on public land that should be opened to privat~ trapping, stating the exact areas and number of beavers to he taken. Applications for these private permits are received at the Denver office and a drawing is held if the number of applications exceeds the number of permits. These private trappers must furnish a bond and show they are equipped and qualified to carry out the provisions of the permit. In the summer months, the division live-traps nuisance beavers and transplants them to areas on public and U. S. forest lands where previous investigations have shown they will be of benefit. Periodic surveys are taken, and detailed records maintained on all transplanting operations. It is necessary that each area for transplanting be surveyed and evaluated as to water, type and kind of terrain and amount of available food before any plants are made. The possibility of the beavers moving to private lands and becoming nuisances must also be considered. It was necessary for department trappers to continue their beaver program somewhat later this spring due to the heavy snows and adverse weather conditions in the mountains. The inclement weather made it impossible to reach many of the areas that were included in the control program. It is possible the high waters and fast run off in some localities have mo\'ed and scattered the beaver to where they will cause more than normal trouble later in the summer. We usually have fewer beaver complaints, however, when there is an abundance of water than in the dry seasons. We hope this will hold true this year. On June 12th, the last beaver pelt auction sale was held. The state offered 2,074 pelts which brought a total of $15,313.25 or an average of $7.38. This average, of course, was not good, but considering the present market conditions it was above average in comparison to other states. • BEA VER PELT SALES Year State Trapped Total Landowner Private Permits 442 10,761 144 6,839 1955-56 4,944 3,775 1956-57 4,951 1,500 -42- �P UBLIC UN DERSTAND ING and support of the (;a1rn; and Fish Department's problems and objectives are the keys to sound management and full e njoyment of Colorado's wildlife resources. ,\ primary goal , and one of sustained importance, is the securing of public recognition for the needs of ou r wild species- needs resulting f rum diminishing land and water for their proper reproduction and sun·il'al. r\s wildlife habitat shr inks under the encroachment of cil'ilization, the opportunity for h unting and fishing is reduced proportionally. :\nd our increasing populat:on will not only mean destruction of p rod ucti\'C habitat by encroachment. but more of our wild lands and waters will become less accessible through landowner posting. r\s these problems for the department become more numerous and acute, the need for a broader and more cffectil'e public education program becomes the urge nt responsibilit y of the Education Di l'i~ion. Our information and educational programs are p resented throug h a variety media, such as slides, movies, lect ures, etc., and are prepared large! y by the information and publications sections in the Dell\·er office. rield information and ed ucation offices utilize these services, together with aids and c.kvices from outside sources. The information and education materials aid in the creation of educational programs for schools. youth groups. ~portsmen and other c1v1c organizations throughcut the state, and in connection with the in-service training of department personnel . D irect Inquiry O the r dil'ision activiti es include a mail and telephone inquiry sen·ice. O\·er 52,000 letters requesting information on hunting, f ishing, conser\'ation. management and general informa tion on Colorado \Yere received and answered through the Denver office. Tele1: ho ne inquiries handled by the infor111:Hion desk mountc<l into hundreds dur ing the fishing and hunting seasons. These s-::n·ices ha1·e d ~\·clope<l into one of the departmen:·s more important menns of contact with the public. Library The department's library of books a nd publications on all sub;ects pertaining to game and fish conti nues to increase. In add:t;on to the books permanently on hand in the Denver office . membership in the Bi bliographical Center for Research provides access to unlimited publications on a loan basis. Rad io and Newspaper Section This section, comprisi ng an informat io n writer and pa rt-time secretary, handles all statewide newspaper, magaz ine, radio and tele\·ision releases and legal ad\·ertising of the department. The chief means of releasing new s is the d epartment weekly newsletter of ll'hich approximately 2,300 copies arc ninilcd each \\'eek. Jt goes to all news- -43- �papers and radio and television stations of the state ( as well as those in other states who request it), all game and fish departments of the United States and Canada. magazine and newspaper columnists throughout the nation, sportsmen's dubs, legislators, state and federal officials, justices of the peace, sheriffs, county clerks, district attorneys, U. S. Forest Service and National Park Service rangers in Colorado and all personnel of the department. Between 65 and 85 of the 160 newspapers in the state carry the weekly newsletter in whole or in part each week. It informs the public on seasons and regulations set by the Colorado Game and Fish Commission and on all activities of the department. This section also releases "spot'' news on seasons and regulations as they are set. The most important duty of the section is the handling of legal advertising for the department, as required by law. Seasons and regulations of statewide application are legally advertised, once, in a newspaper of general statewide circulation and once, each, in newspapers in the four sections of the state. Seasons and regulations that apply only to a specific area are advertised in newspapers in such areas. Legal advertisements may vary from one to 44 pageland are mailed in mimeographed form to interested county, state and federal officials and personnel of the department. This section also prepares and releases a weekly statewide fishing report from the opening of the fishing season on the third Saturday in May to Labor Day. This is prepared from reports telephoned in by field men of the de• partment each Wednesday, written in a style suitable for broadcast and newspa per publication and released each Thursday noon. Publications Section The publications section comprising an editor. assistant editor. artist. ste- nugrapher and two machine operators, publishes Colorado Outdoors magazine, the department's official publication. It is issued six times per year on a paid subscription basis ( $1.00 per year) as provided by Chapter 188 Session Laws of 1951. Its present circulation is 22,500 -the highest in its six-year history. The law provides that the magazine: pay its cost out of subscription revenue. A financial statement appears elsewhere in this report. The magazine is distributed free to public schools, libraries, legislators, department employes and various conservation agencies. Colorado Outdoor.,· is widely quoted in the state's press and in other conservation and game and fish magazines. As an educational medium. the magazine has enjoyed considerable success. It is necessary to maintain circulation of the magazine by promotion. ln this capacity two renewal notices are always sent each subscriber. Several methods of subscription selling have been tried. During the past year we have mailed 80,000 direct mail appeals to potential subscribers with a good return-9 per cent. Sales by department employes, especially at game check sta• tions, have proved fairly successful. Newsstand sales in the Denver area average 1,000 per issue. Some license agents sell the magazine on a commission basis selling over 300 copies of each issue. The publications section has published 4,000 copies of A Winter Guide To Rocky Mountain Brou1se Plantsan illustrated hook containing 273 pages. The cost was paid from Federal Aid funds with the agreement that other western states would be furnished copies. The Federal Aid Division also furnished a full time man for work on the book. The book itself has met with a large measure of success in Colorado and other western states, and has received national commendation by the American Association for Conservation [nformation. -44- �Mail and telephone inquiries, running into hundreds per day in some seasons, are an important means of public contact for the department. ,\nother publication. .·/ Guide to Heaver Trnpping and Pelting, \\':IS also published hy the st:ction. A total of 2.500 copies \\'as primed. Distribution \\'as made to all depa rtment field person nel and as a result of its review in thi: Pish aml Wildlife Scr\'ice·s Wildlife l?C'vil'II'. nurnt:rous requests for it have heen rereivt:d from :.\l:isk:t. Canada and most of the state,. Tht: publications ,cction during the past yea r has also published and distributed 2'i0,000 hig ga rm· regulations. ·I00.000 fi,hing regulations. I 7'>.000 small )!amt: n:gulations. 5.000 fur regulations : t wo programs for the International and \Vestern .\ssoci:nions of ( ;amL and Fish Commissioners: 2.UOO fishing report booklets, and 1.500 copie, oft he I Y'i'i-56 annual report. Numerous reprim, of existing puhlicrtions were 111:1de totali11g 3-1.130. The ,ection also prm·idcs the folio\\' ing sen-ices to the department: mimeograph, addressograph, and the storing and distrihmion of all office supplies. A monthly cartoon mat service for Colorado ne\\'spapers \\':IS fu rnished to - 83 weekly a nd daily m:wspapt:rs in Colorado the lauer hal f of the fiscal year. The serv ice consists of four '•Wildlife Willie·· cartoon mats which illustrate the principals of good sportsmansh ip and conservation and important game and fis h regulations. With the: increasing \\'Ork in the publications and visual aids sections it may he impossibk to continue this ser\'icc on a monthly basis. Visual Aids Thi s sectio n consist , of a visual aid~ ,upcr\'isor. a d1ief photographer and a Jarkroom technician. Filrn libraries arc maintained in the Denver and regional offices from which film is a\'ailahle for lending. The followi ng is a list of current films : .·/ Friend, I ndecd; ,-/cl venture., of a / r. Raindrop; lfrhi11d t/11· Flyways; Farmer Gets the Bird; Fish ing in th,· Cloud;; Goin' Fishing; L eg('nd..- of the Lodor<'; Hentage W,· G11111d; Living P.art/1 S('l'ies; The Lost Hunter; R,,alm of th(' Wild; Shooting Safety; Sunri..-e Sffenade; Th,· /Jeaver: Wch of l.iji·; T11 10 Huck / one.,. -l'i - �The following film stri ps are distributed to schools free : Ti1e Vanishing Prnirie; The Living Desert; Soil Co11ser11ation. Copies of the following department produced films are distributed out-of. state t hrough the Colorado D epartment of Advertising and Publicity : The Farmer Gets the Bird- (28 min.): Fishing in the Clouds--( I 3 min .); Coin' Fishing-(28 min.): Legends of t/1e Ladore-( 18 min . ); A Friend, Indeed - ( 15 min .): and T1110 Buck Jone..-. These films were shown to out-ofstatc audiences 988 times, with a television \'icwing audience of 12,000,000 plus. One film, L egends of the Ladore has been shown several times on a coast-to-coast hookup. The above film s ha ve been viewed by "live" out-of-state aud ie nces total ing over IO 1,000 i ndi viduals. The department's film libraries ha,·e repeatedly served Colorado's nine telcrision statio ns with free film. Motion pictures were shown to 258 school programs with an audience of 18,703 in the Denve r area alone, while 6,535 adults saw our films at 209 showings in Denver. Similar programming is carried on in each of the four regions. The departme nt produced one new film t his past year en titled Two Buck f ones. It is a 24 m inute presentation in color of a mule deer hunt, aimed reward better rancher-hunter relation s. Four 35mm slide lecture sets have been completed and are now in use throughout the state by field personnel. The sets contain from 25 to 40 slides with a script containing annotations for each sl ide. Each region and the Denver office has at least one duplicate set of the slide lectures with extra scripts. Sets produced thus far are: Warm t/later Fish Ma11ageme11t, The Clrnkar Partridge, Th e Bighorn in Colorado and Pheasant Facts. The scripts were written by regional personnel and edited and mimeographed by the editorial section . The slide photography was done by field personnel and the department's still photographer. The editorial section is responsible for the department's publications including t he publishing of Colorado Outdoors magaz ine. W riting, editing, layout, art work, etc., is all done by members of this section . -46- �Slide lecture sets, 16 mm movies and still photographs on wildlife and department act iv ities are produced by personnel of the visual a ids section. During the past year, still photog raph; were made o n man y different phases of department activities. One of the largest photographic projects conccrned the recordi ng of progress on t he dep:irunent's buil di ng programs. This consisted of photos of proposed lake sites. range land purchases and improvements on department owned lands. Bot h " before .. and "after"' photos were made o n these projects. The total num ber of still photos taken during the yea r was approximately -!,000. This includes pictures for news releases, the department magazi nc. television programs, color slides for sl ide lectures. photos o f research pro jects and a variety of othe r subjects. Darkroom production during the year included the p rinting of over 8,000 pictures and the processing of some 200 rolls of black a nd white fi lm, 50 fi lm packs and about 600 sheets of film . In-Ser vice Training In-service training schools fo r all field personnel were conducted in the - regions by the rcg io n:il educators. Materials and :1ssista nce in planning were g iven by the De,wer office. In addition to the fi eld in-service t raining courses, nn indoctrination course for ne w wildlife conservation officers was conducted from August 5 through 17 a t Denver. Field person nel are furnished two information leaflets per month, pertain ing to fis h a nd game management. C urre nt information o n department activities a nd management procnl ures is m ailed from time to time . One of the more important means of in-service training has been the regional newsletter. It is mailed from the office of the regional coordin:llors each month iollowing the regional staff meeting. Regio nal ed ucators last year personally p resented numerous programs to public g:1therin gs, in addition to preparing and d istributing informat ion to schools, sportsmen's organizations and other grou ps. T hei r othe r duties e ntail pro,·iding ite ms for local newspapers: writing articl es fo r department publi-!7 - �cations ; conducting local radio and T V programs; setting up conservation programs for girl and boy scouts and other youth groups: and establishing junior conservat ion clubs under capable adul t community leadership. Conservation Edu cation in the Sch ools The Game a nd Fish Department and the D epartment of Education arc cooperating in an effort to solve the two most important problems sta ndi ng in the way of an effective co nse rvatio neducation prog ram in the schools. One problem concerns the shortage of teachers with a well-rounded bac kground in conservation. The other is the lack ot understanding a nd support by school administrators of a soun d conservationeducation prog ram. /\s a result, the office of Consultant in Conservation was set up under the administrati ons of the Department of Education and the Came and Fish Commission. J\ total of SI 0.000.00 was authorized from the Game Cash Fund to carry out this program. W o rkshops for sc hool administrators and teachers have been set up in several counties over the state. The interest stimulated in these workshops is beginning to reap res ults, with conservation being integrated in the ex isting curriculum of many schools. Packets of materials from a variety of sources are being assembled and evaluated for use in t he schools. The packets arc distr ibuted free to teachers. The conse rvation consultant. in cooperation with game and fish personnel, has set up two experimental school camping programs emphasizing the conservation of natural resources. Both programs have met with considerable success and will be added to sc hool activities in several areas. ,\ bulletin has bee n se nt to all schools listing courses in conservation education given by the colleges and universities in Colorado. T he regional educators. together with t he conservation consultant, have e ncouraged schools to emphasize wildli fe habitat restoration this year. T he project was in cooperation with the Nationa l Wildlife Fede ration 's annual drive to make the public conscious of need for wildlife habitat. Operating addressograph, mimeograph and folding machines for department publications are the princ ipal duties o f two membe rs o f the di vision. - --18 - ��1( ... )f- ~~£~ Couservatiou 11ledge I give my pledge as an American to save and faith fully to defend from waste the natural resources of my country - its soil and minerals, its forests, waters, and wildlife. .i,.. � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/c2cf2211f9e7fcc03645945f56680192.pdf 36fb5087b4682c80a316180470135f9b PDF Text Text 1957-58 ANNUAL REPORT of the COLORADO GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT STA TE OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH �ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 1957-1958 Contents Wildlife Resource ···············---························································································ Financial Report .............................. .......................................................................................... Personnel ...................................................................................................................................... Game Management........................................................................................................................ Fish Management.......................................................................................................................... Fur Resources................................................................................................................................ Law Enforcement.......................................................................................................................... Federal Aid.................................................................................................................................... Education ...................................................................................................................................... 2 4 11 12 16 20 22 24 30 Game and Fish Commission July 1, 1958 GOVERNOR STEVE McNICHOLS, Ex-Officio John McClelland, Pre1idenl ........................................................................Rocky Ford, Dr. T. 0. Plummer, Vice p,.esident..............................................................Montrose, Clarence Baker, Secretary..................................................................................Denver, Henry Bledsoe........................................................................................................Yuma, Dewey Brown ........................................................................................................Cortez, Pat Griffin .................................................................................................... Fort Collins, Ralph L. White......................................................................................................Craig, Henry Lague..............................................................................................Monte Vista, District District District District District District District District 4 7 1 3 6 2 8 :; Game and Fish Department Staff THOMAS L. KIMBALL, Dirutor JOHN D. HART, Deputy Dire(lor Guy V. Melvin .................................................................................................... Business Manager William F. Hunn............................................................................................Chief Game Warden Wayne R. Seaman...................................................................................................... Fish Manager Gilbert N. Hunter....................................................................................................Game Manager A. Dean Coleman ........................................................................................................Fur Manager Carwin D. Tolman ............................................................................................ Education Manager John H. Morris ..................................................................................................Personnel Manager L. E. Riordan ............................................................................................ Federal Aid Coordinator Earl McCain ............................................................................................................Public Relations Published by the Staff of Colorado Outdoors Magazine State of Colorado - Department of Game and Fish MONITOR a0o PUBLICATIONS, INC, �STATE OF COLORADO DEPART MENT OF GAM E AND F ISH 1 S3 0 SHERMAN S TREET DENVER 1, COL ORADO THOMAS L KIMBALL EXECUTIVE DIREC TOR November 17, 1958 The Honorable Stephe n L. R. McNichols Governor of Colorado State Capitol Buildi ng Denver, Colorado Dear Governor McNichols : Tra nsmitted herewith you will find the annual report of the operations of the Colorado Gam e and Fish Department for the fiscal year July 1, 1957 to June 30, 1958. This r epor t contains a summary of the problems and projects undertaken by the department in the fulfillment of its charge of managing and extending the State 's wildlife re source . A detailed accounting of receipts and expenditures is also respectfully submitted . Very tr uly yours, Director �Report of Director and Assistant Director HE 1957-58 fiscal year has shown marked progress in fish and game programs and activities in Colorado. The past year showed Colorado to have the hig hest deer hunting success in the nation and the next hig hest deer kill. During the past year additional emphasis has been placed on the improvement of upland game habitat. Successful waterfowl , grouse and rabbit seasons have been experienced by the sportsmen of the state this year. The chukar partridge, an introduced exotic from India, is continuing to show much progress as an established species, and serious consideration is being g iven the recommendation for an open season. Our fisheries program has shown an increased prod uction in al l species of fish, both as to the number of fish and the total poundage. The int roduction of new fish species has rroved to be most successful in some o the fluctuating reservoi rs in the state. The kokanee salmon, which has been introduced into a great many of our higher elevation lakes, h as made the d ifference between poor and good fishi ng in mo~t instances. Experimentation has been tnade \vlth the splake trout, and it is •showing promise in filling an ecological niche in certain waters of the state which heretofore have been little used by other species of fish . The walleyed pike has been an outstanding success in the warmer waters of the eastern plains section. Perhaps the most sign ificant accom- T pl ishment in the fisheries field h as been the reduced cost of trout production, broug ht about as a result of our change in fish foods. T he feeding of carp and other meats is being supplanted by d ry formula pellets and mixes, and as a result, the fish cost per pound has been red uced to 67.8 cents. Since we have reached the limit of trout production because of budget limitations, the additiona l savi ngs from fish food costs can be passed on to the Iicense buyer in the way of increased production at no increase in the over-all cost. O ur research program is proceeding on a stepped-up basis. New techniques are being developed to increase the accuracy of our big game surveys and to develop better techniques for the census of grouse, pheasants and quail. New information is being collected on range management procedures and ways and means to measu re the use of the forage by big game and livestock on cri tical deer winter ranges. Fisheries research continues to explore the possibility of new species of fish to utilize all of the environment which is found in the lakes and streams of the state. Biological investigatio ns of all waters are continuing on a program desig ned to give basic fertility information on all waters in order to give a sound basis for stocking schedules. The elimination of trash fish, which compete with game fish for space and food, is continuing at an accelerated pace. 2 �The construction of new lakes, specifically designed for the production of fish, is continuing in an effort to meet the ever-increasing demands. The fish and game resource continues to be one of the most valuable economic assets, specifically to the business peo- pie of Colorado and generally to all the people. A very close check shows that sportsmen spent approximately $81,000,000 in Colorado this past yea r. It is therefo re important that we continue to manage the resource on the basis of fact. Economic Value of Hunting ancl Fishing to the People of the State of Coloraclo-1957 Revenue received by the businessmen and people of the State of Colorado, from hunters and fishermen. License fees are not included. Typo of Hunter or Fisherman Resid e nt Deer Non - Resident Dee r ---··--··---·-····-··-·--·-··--····-·· Resid ent Elk -····-··-···--··········-···-····-··-----·······Non-_R esident Elk ·-····-········-··-····-·---··-·-····· Reside nt Bear --·········-······················- ········-· Non-Re sident Bear ........................................ Resident Antelope ···················-···················· Resid e nt Turkey ·······················-····-········-··· Resident Bighorn Sheep••••••••••••••••••·-············· Resident Pheasant ........................................ Non- Resident Pheasant .................................. No . of Hunters 89,241 25 ,552 24,264 5,374 345 280 4 ,026 540 2 18 73,640 3 12 Resident Duck --···········-····························-··· 39,837 Non•Resident Duck -··············-··..••••••••••••••••••• 655 Resident Goose .............................................. 17,655 Non-Resident Goose ·····························-····· 251 Resident Grouse ·············-··········· .. ••••••••......... 15,980 Resident Rabbit ............................................ 61,894 Resid e nt Doves ···············--················..•••••••••• 14,097 Resident Quail .............................................. 7,750 Spent Per Individual Tota l Sponl $ 79.2 1 277.01 111.05 363.04 71.97 154.07 3 1.02 53.35 295.98 46.8 1 I 08.78 58 . 16 11 5.79 70.07 I 03.08 I 0.6 I 26.73 22.40 24.07 $ 7,068 ,779.6 1 7,078, 159.52 2,694,517.20 1,950,976.96 24,829.65 43,139.60 124,886.52 28 ,809.00 64 ,523.64 3,447,088.40 33,939. 36 2,3 16,919.92 75 ,842.45 1,237 ,085.85 25 ,873.08 I 69,547.80 1,654,426.62 315 ,772.80 186,542.50 Tota I Big Game a nd Small Game ••••••••••••••·-··············--· ..·················--······$28,541,660.48 Resi dent Trout ................................................ 244,470 Non-Resident Trout ( Sea son) ....................._. 15,560 No n. Re sident 5.Day Fisherman ...................... IO I, 182 Resident Warm Water Fish erm an.................. 4,968 Non•Resident Warm Water Fisherman .... ·-··· I, 19 5 93.71 453.74 223.96 38.0 8 119.00 22,909,283.70 7,060, 194.40 22,660,720.72 189,181.44 142,205.00 Tota l Fishing ·············································-································.............. $52,96 1,585.26 TOTAL SPENT BY HUNTERS AND FISH ERMEN ...................................._......... $,& 1,503,245.74* *Of this, $81,503,245.74, a pproximately 40 % is spent for cloth ing and equipment; and 60 % is spent fo r meals, lodging,. travel, entertainment, a nd so forth. 3 �GAME CASH FUND Income July 1, 195.7-June 30, 1958 Resident Fur Dealer.................................................................. $ Guide Licenses ···················------~···················· Resident Fishing ····························----······················ Resident Fishing and Small Game........................................ Non•Resident Fishing .............................................................. Non•Resident 5•Day Fishing................................................... Non•Resident Bird and Small Game_____ Resident Deer ............................................................................ Resident Elk .............................................................................. Non•Resident Deer ......... ........................................................ Non•Resident Elk ...................................................................... Resident Turkey ..................... ................... .............................. Resident Trapper ...................................................................... Non•Resident Trapper ............................................................ Resident Antelope .................................................................... Resident Bear ····························----··························· Mountain Sheep ........................................................................ Non•Resident Bear .................................................................... Resident Small Game ............................................................ Additional Rod Stamps ........................................................... Resident Deer Multiple............................................................ Duplicate Licenses ..... ............................................................ Non•Resident Deer Multiple.................................................... Importers .............................................................. ..................... Lake Licenses ............................................................................ Preserve Licenses ...................................................................... Refuge Permits .......................................................................... Seining Permits .......................................................................... Storage Permits ······························----····················· Taxidermists .............................................................................. Transportation Permits ·········-----··························· Dog Trainers .............................................................................. Field Trials ·······································----···················· Scientific Permits .................................................................... Importation Permits ................................... ............................. :r. ~~~r:~~ &:~:~!! :::::::::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Quadruped Park Licenses ····----······························ Transfer Fees ............................................................................ Special Fishing Licenses ........ - - - - - Garage Services ...................................................................... Sales of Hides IExcept Beaver)............................................ Sales of Supplies and ),f aterials............................................ Sales of Hides IBeaver)......................... ................................ Sales of Beaver Tags............................................................... Rents from Land........................................................................ Court Fines ................. ............................................................. Penalty Assessment-Board of Claims................................ Unclaimed. Monies .................................................................... 572.50 1,710.00 587,924.00 639,600.00 163,670.00 357,122.50 24,090.00 665,542.50 242,640.00 1,021,840.00 268,750.00 2,700.00 2,019.50 100.00 40,260.00 1,480.00 5,450.00 2,780.00 56,520.00 774.00 29,540.00 1,409.35 63,870.00 350.00 4,120.75 77 .00 9.00 53,00 2.00 245.00 1,846.00 5,00 139.85 18.50 5.00 42r:2~ 30.00 1.00 470.00 19,563.65 2,516.07 466.39 21,802.20 1,046.63 1,514.78 30,250.07 635.00 1.35 Tota I Gross lncome.................................. $4,265~966.24 Less: License Agents' Commissions...................................... 144,978.00 Total Net lncome .................................... $4, 120,988.24 4 �Expenditures July 1, 1957-June 30, 1958 Income Gross Income .... .... .... ............ ............ ................ $4,265,966.24 l ess: License Agent's Commissions ..... 144,978.00 Net Income .............................. .......................................... $4, 120,988.24 Expense Genera l ~d.ministration Comm1ss1oners .................... Directo r ..................... ............................ Deputy Director ......... Busi ness Administrdtion ·················· ..... P()rsonnel ............................... . Conserv ation Educc1tion 8,091.85 25,5 16.76 18,787. 18 234,716.57 17,589.28 139,043.29 Game Management 252,227.48 Fish Management 311 ,691. 16 l a w Enforcement 14,358.66 Fur Resources . 66,812 .66 Total- General "Admi~i;t;~tY~-~ S 1,088,834.89 Northeast Region S 479,455.53 Northwest Re~ion . ·····••··•·••·•• 555,416.55 Soutt-eas t Region . •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••• 369,119.78 Southwe st Region ........................... 481,643.86 To t al Expense ···········•••·•·••· ···•·················· ... $2,974,470.61 Other Income ........... ••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••..••••••• $ 102,1 80.60 Other Expense ........... •••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••• 195,896.80 Ne t of Operations ..................... ·········•···· $1,052,801.43 BREAKDOWN GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Commissioners .......................................... ................................. $ 8,091.85 Director ................................. 25 ,5 16 .76 De puty Director ................... ...................... 18,787. 18 Tot•I ....................................... ................................ $ 52,395.79 Business Administration Business M• n•ger .... ........ ..................... ...... $ 43,252.25 Feder•I Aid Automotive...... 19,02 1.02' License and Revenue .................................................... 43,061 .4 1 Accounting ........................... ............................. 54,114 .95 Proper ly •nd Supply......................................... 20,914.35 Office Mainten•nce a nd Operation................ 27,362.78 G a rage .................. ........... .............. ....... 24,474.59 Warehouse ......... ......... .............. .......... ... .... ... 16 ,052.48 Federal Aid Disallowed Items ............ ..................... I , 153.30 Workmen ' s Compensat ion- "E" Fund ......... ... 14,860.00 Study AuthQrited HJR No. 23-"V" Fund ................... 1,074.21 Contingencies-"X" Fund .... ................ 7,417.27 Total .......... . ........... ............................ $234,7 16.57 Personnel ............................ . .......... .. ..................... 17 ,589.28 Total .............. ................. ................ $252,305.85 Consorva ti on-Ed ucation Radio dnd News ................... ••··•··•··•·••·••·· $ 54,025.77 Education ........ . .. 85 ,0 17.52 Total ..................... .... ·········· $139,043.29 Gc1 me Management Administration ............. ....................... ............ $ 49,182.12 Game C ontrol ..................... ....................... ............... 59,970.01 Aerial Operation .............. . 17,097.00 Seeding Projects ......... .. .. 2,367.30 Game Cooperative-"T" fund 4,798. 14 Game Damage-"Z" Fund ... ...... . 20,026.50 Pittman-Robertso n Matching Fund .......... ······· ...... 98,786.41 t Tota l ........ ····································· $252,227.48 Fish Manage ment Administration ................. ...................... $ 60,169.24 Fish Resea rch ....... ................... 57,914.22 Transpo rta tion .... .......... ......................... 27,558.90 Construction Maintenance .. ....... . ...... 4 1,635.88 Warm W a ter Fish ....................... ..................................... 54,268.52 Las Animas ................................. .......... ............ . . . ........ 8 ,323.83 Fishing Coo perative-"S" Fund 12,452.53 Din~~r~:-J·o·h·n·s~n Ma tching F~n~ ...• ·.-.·.·. ·.·.:·...-........• .... .....• $311·.!~~·.~lt •Indicates red figures . tState's Sha re 125% I of monthly billing lo the Feder• I Government on project expenditures b y the Federdl Aid Division. 5 �Law Enforcement Administration -------$ Fur Resources Administration $ Predatory Animal Control-"Y" Fund .......... _____ Tctal ·····································•··••············-· $ Northeast Region Regional Coordinator ................................ ______ $ 14,358.66 16,737.34 50,075.32 66,812.66 31,619.30 :~~~fu ~:r:, :::::·:::::::::·::::::::::::::::::::::::=:::····---- . '·mJi Regional Conservation Officers ............................................ 167,268.07 Regional Fish Manager......................................................... 12,345.27 Regional Fish Biologist ............... -----············· 12,203.96 Bellvu-Ft. Collins ······································---- 24,908.11 Denver ·························------- _____ 49,786.20 Estes Parle ····································-------- 26,565.77 North Fork Thompson___________ 32,621.20 Poudre · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - 36,466.92 Walden 5,733.69 Wray - -----······················------c----_________ 54,756.88 Lake J o h n - - - - · - - - - - - - - - - 587.12 Regional Game Manager........... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10,053.89 Evergreen ··············------·------162.64 Mt. Evans·-----··············------- 3,916.16 Regional Educator ·····························-------- 8,101.20 Total • $479,455.53 Northwest Region Regional Coordinator .... ············----------$ 22,662.0 I Regional Conservation Officer................... _ _ _ _ _ 194,678.29 Regional Fish Manager .... · ................................ 9,590.77 Ragional Fish Biologist······---------- 6,401.60 Bel-Aire Rearing Unit ·················----22,763.04 Black Lakes ···············---- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 200.55 Crystal River - - - - · · · · · · · · · · - - - - - - - - - 43,400.63 Finger Rocle ........................................................................ 32,756.77 Glenwood Springs ·······················-----9,653.71 Rifle Falls ........................................................................... 177,614.40 Meadow Creek············-·----·-----60.78 Trappers La lee ....... ............................................................ 399.26 Hart Lake N.W................................................................... 80.83 Hahn's Peale . .................................................................... 30,94 Regional Game Manager...... _ _ _ _ _____ 9,282.74 Aerial Operation················---------- 16,294.95 Little Hills .......................................................................... 455.84 N.W. Square S................. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2,113.62 Vaughn La lee ..............:.....................·········----······ 126.16 Regional Educator ··················-------····--····-- 6,849.66 Total ···-·················-~--·······································$555,416.55 Southeast Region Regional Coordinator . . .................................................. $ 18,087.76 Regional Conservation Officers • 115,579.39 Regional Fish Manager............................................................ 8,255.32 Regional Fish Biologist · · · · · · - - - - - - - - 6,271.07 Buena Vista ............................................. ______ 19,780.25 Chalk Cliffs ... - - - - _ _ _ _ _ 54,237.23 Coaldale Ponds ....... ·---:_-_-_-_:_-_-_-_:_-.:._-:._-.:._-:._-_-:._-_: 5;646. 96 ~~dvJ~!va·~·~···::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·········---- ~uiHi Ryan Ponds ················································----38 •. 64 Apishapa S.E. · · · · · · - - - - - - - - · - - - - 168.00 Twin Lakes S.E......................... ···········---209.08 Huerfano •••••.• ··············-----------149.95 Regional Game Manager........................................................ 10,252.20 Rocky Fora Bird Farm .......................... - - - - - - - 16,748.12 Tarryall-Game .................................................................. • 712.54 Two Buttes ................................................ _ _ _ _ _ 434.78 Regional Educator ..............................................,____ 8,103.99 Total ................................................................................... $369,119.78 Southwest Region Regional Coordinator .... . .................................................... $ 24,557.85 Regional Conservation Officers ........................................... 199,393.40 •••i ~~:t:f: ~~~rff ;:~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::=.:::::::::::::: Dolores .................................................................................. Durango .... ·············································----·Haviland Lake ·································------La Jara ························································----·· Pitkin .................................................................................... Rio Grande Ponds ............................................................. ii:?U:il 22,700.66 47,320.76 353.71 14,788.38 57,344.14 28,068.39 Reg,:::, iaan~:n Ma~age·,:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::....................... 10,m:1; Regional Educator ····································------ 7,878.54 .. Total -----································----$481,643.86 6 �BALANCE SHEETS Game and Cash Fund June 30, 1958 CURRENT ASSETS Cash Assets $ 2,894,795.96 Cash on deposit-State Treasurer.. Receivables Accounts receivable-Justice of the Peace ..................................................$ Accounts receivable-License Agents Due from Oth er Funds Stores Revolving Fund ........................... Federal Aid Revolving Fund ..... .. Total Current Assets ........ . OTt-tER ASSETS Investment in Stores Revolving Fund ... $ I nvestment in Federal Aid Revolving Fund ....... .. .. ............................................ DEFERRED EXPENSES Deposits in Postage Meter Machine .. Small Tools and Expendable Equipment 1,5 14.5 1 170 .50 1,685.01 565.oo• 4,924.52t 5,489.52 2, 90 I, 970. 49 250,000.00 750,000.00 1,000,000.00 2,180.32 124,466.25 126,646.57 •In Transit from Stores Revolving Fund t i n Transit from Federal-Aid Revolving Fund $52.50 PROPERTY , PLANT ANO EQUIPMENT Automobile, .......... ................................. $ 167,325.45 Farm and Ga rd en Equipment .................... 194,604. 18 General Plant Equipment .................... 497,640.56 H ousehold Furniture and Equipment 33,598.32 Labora tory Equipment .................... 16, 122.09 Library and Instructional Equipment........ 31,837.78 Motor Vehicles and Equipment ................. . 877, 192.56 Office Furniture and Equipment ............ . 128,2 12.00 Recreation EQuipment ............................. 535. 15 Shop Mac hinery and Equipment ............. 32,664.61 Camping Equipment .................................. 48,092.42 Ai r Equipment ............. .............. . 37 1.00 Building and Structures ........................... 1,600,612.82 Land and Non•Structural Improvements 2,614,169. 10 Sub-Total ................................................ $ 6,242,978.04 Equi ty in Federal Aid Properly, Plant and Equipment . 621,421.72 BUDGETARY ANO OTHER FUND RESOURCES Estim~ted Revenues ........... Revenues-Cash Items $ 4,268 .-336.31 4 Revenues-Non.Cash Items 45, 167. 47 Total Assets 3.643. 150.00 l 6 ,864, 399.76 $ 492,352.32 4.223, 168.84 4 M omo Only After Closing $10,893,016.82 •Indicates Red Figures Lia bi Ii ties CURRENT LIABILITIES Payables Accounts Payable-Counties Share . $ Accounts Payable-License Agents .. Accounts Payable State General Fund Accounts Payable-En cumbrances ..... A ccrued Payrolls ................. Due l o Other Funds Stores Revolving Fund ........... Federal Aid Revolving Fund .......... Colorado Conservation Fund......... Total Current Liabi lities... BUDGETARY ANO OTHER FUND OBLIGATIONS Appropridtions Current Yocu Persona l Services ..... $ 1,456,672.00 Maintenance and Operations I ,2 11,095.00 Capital O utlay ...... . 500,000.00 Travel & Subsistence 105 ,000.00 Special Funds 485,206.00 7 393.66 4,717.40 1,724.1 6 481 , 101.89 4,415.21 79,672.19 3,868.65 90 .00 ''·"'·"'...] 83,630.84 575,983.16 M emo O nly After Closing �Prior Years Personal Services .... $ Maintenance and Operations ......... . 286,935.77 Capital Outlay ....... . 287,088.98 Special Funds ........... . 244,930.11 $ Expenditures-Cash items Operating Expense •••• $ 2, 993,576.37• Capital Outlay ........ 1,181,717.0B• $ ExpendituresNon Cash Items Operating Expense ... $ 176,791.04• Capital Outlay .......... 4,239.02• Encumbrances Operating Expense .. $ 328, I23. 98• Capital Outlay .......... 152,976.92• RESERVE AND SURPLUS Reserve for Working Capital .................... $ Unappropriated Surplus ............................ Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets .............. Total Liabilities and Surplus................ Memo Only 818,954.86 ] After Closing 4,175,293.41• l 181,030.06• 481,100.90• 1,000,000.00 2,452,633.90 6,864,399.76 ----- Memo Only After Closing 10,317,033.66 $10,893,016.82 •Indicates Rod Figures Federal Aid Revolving Fond Assets Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer................................................ $ PittmanRobertson 372,654.10 DingellJohnson Receivables: Due from Federal Gov13,959.18 ernment ...................... $ 12,636.38 $ 1,322.80 Due from Game Cash Fund ............................ 3,868.65 3,868.65 Unbilled Advances: Due from Federal Gov• ernment ...................... 207,120.06 66,192.64 273,312.70 Due from Game Cash 91,104.24 Fund ········-----69,040.03 22,064.21 Property, Plant and Equipment ................................................... . 1,864,265.21 Estimated Revenues on Projects in Process .............................. . 670,821.10 Unallocated Appropriated Funds-New Projects...... 239,549.63 14,366.53 Total Assets .......................................................................... $ 3,289,985.18 Liabilities ·---$ Reserve for Encumbrances .. Pittman• DingellRobertson Johnson Due to Game Cash Fund ... $ 4,872.02 $ Due to Stores Revolving Fund ·············---~·· Equity of Game Cash Fund Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets ............................... . Appropriations AvailableProjects in Process: 473,946.25 Total Allotments ........... . I, 143,596.31 Less: 263,795.39 682,926.07 Expenditures to Date 210,150.86 Sub-total ................... . 460,670.24 Less: Encumbrances Outstanding ..................... . 55,069.39 156,226.00 ~.~!.~-~.'. ~;.~ Net.i.v~rac,~o Appropriations AvailableNew Projects: From Anticipated Revenues ........................... . Less: Cu r rent Project Appropriations ......... . Sub-total ................... . Add: Unused Balances on Completed Projects ... 405.600.85 53,924.86 266,351.29 19,898.16 59,100.00 207,257.29 5,900.00 13,998.16 32,292.34 368.37 211,295.39 4,872.02 26.85 750,000.00 1,864,265.21 459,525.71 Net.l_v~rac 1~o ~.~.i.~.~~-~.~..~ 239,549.63 14,366.53 Total Liabilities on Surplus .......................................... $ 3,289,985.18 8 �Federal Aid Projects Income Account Assets Castot~~ i~f:t~t-State. Treasurer................................................ J Liabilities Surplus .............................................................................................. $ Total Liabilities and Surplus .............................................. $ 15,602.43 15,602.43 15,602.43 15,602.43 Statement of Operations Year-to-Date Income June 30, 1958 Transferred from Game Cash Funds (Rents) ...................... $ 10,640.00 Rents on Lands........................................................................... 2,031.76 Sale of Equipment .................................................................... 3,276.50 Reimbursements by Agreements............................................ 90.00 Total Income ....................................................................... $ 16,038.26 Expenses 220.00 Maintenance and Operation ................................................... $ 215.83 Supf~i:~ :::en~:ste~'.~~.~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·$ 435.83 15,602.43 Net of Operations ······················-······································ $ Willow Creek Fund Assets Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer............................................... $ Total Assets ............................................................................... $ 161.50 161.50 Liabilities Sur~~~!, • Liabilities·· ani··surplus ................................................. J 161.50 161.50 Statement of Operations Year-to-Date Income June 30, 1958 Boat Permits ............................................................................... $ 55.00 Total Income ........................................................................ $ 55.00 Expenses Sup!~J;f J:~;!Wt:;~~t:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::J 55.00 Colorado Conservation Fund Assets Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer ............................................... $ Due from Other Funds-Game Cash Fund ............................... . Total Assets .............................................................................. $ liabilities Subscriptions Paid in Advance .................................................... $ Sur~~~!, ··Liabilities··.........................................................................·$ Statement of Operations Income 31,590.50 90.00 31,680.50 22,248.71 9,431.79 31,680.50 Year-to-Date June 30, 1958 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·l i::::i:~J Printing .......................................................................................... $ 21,178.32 2,510.00 630.28 24,318.60 124.93 Sub:~f~~•ir::o!:rn.~~... Expense ,~~t:,?:s :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 1fI o,x~~!~ati~~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::f 0 ~ Fishing Easement Fund Assets Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer ................................................ $ Prof!{!r• A~~!~! and .. Equipment .................................................... $ Liabilities 18 :::=:i:~ts1n!!lt!~ in...Fi~;d···,:sset"s:·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::$ Surplus ................................................................................................ Total Liabilities and Surplus ................................................... $ 9 11,417.75 7,140.00 18,557.75 10,722.00 7,140.00 695.75 18,557.75 �Statement of Operations Year-to-Date Income June 30, 1958 Transferred from Game .Cash Fund ........................................ $ 18,684.29 Total Income ·························-----·······················$ 18,684.29 Expense Expenses ................ _ _ _ _ .................................................. $ 1,442.25 1,442.25 Total Expense ··········----············............................ $ Net of Operations ............................ _ _ _ _ _ _ $ 17,242.04 Stores Revolving Fund Assets Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $ Due from Other Funds: Bonny Dam Fund ..... _ _ _ _ _ _ $ Game Cash Fund .......................................... 82,177.89* Federal Aid Revolving Fund ..................... . 174.74t Fishing Easement Fund ·····----····· Colorado Conservation Fund ...................... Inventories: Stores on Hand ........ ·----··············$ 58,564.42 Stores in Transit.______ 110,334.66 Total Assets ..............................·-----··················$ 113,052.85 82,352.63 168,899.08 364,304.56 Liabilities Accounts Payable ............................ _ _ _ _ _ _ ............... $ Equity of Game Cash Fund......................................................... Inventory Ad(ustment Account ................. _ _ _ _ Total liabilities ·········----······-----··············$ Note: This fund will have neither income nor expenses and Statement of Operations. 110,334.66 250,000.00 3,969.90 364,304.56 hence, no *In Transit from Game Cash-$2,505.70 tin Transit from Federal Aid Revolving Fund-$147.89 Bonny Dam Fund Assets f 884.36 884.36 Accounts Payable ·············---·-··-········································ $ Surplus ·························································-----·················· Total liabilities and Surplus .................................................... $ 176.00 708.36 884.36 Castot:? ~:fe~!it-State .. Treasurer................................................ Liabilities Statement of Operations Year-to-Date Income June 30, 1958 Boat Permits ......................................... ·-----·········$ 1,034.00 Sales-Farm Products .. 521.00 Rents-land .................................... 1,205.00 Total Income ······························--------$ 2,760.00 Expenses 421.85 1,880.00 ~!ij;,:t:fa~7b~;,~~;~~::::::::::::::::::;:;:;:;::::::::::::::::::::::: Net of Operations ............................................................... $ 9.55 2,311.40 448.60 Green Mountain Fund Assets Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer.............................................. $ Total Assets ................................................................................ $ 994.00 994.00 Liabilities Sur~~~~I •liabilities·· and...Surplus ................................................ J 994.00 994,00 Statement of Operations Year-to-Date Income June 30, 1958 Boat Permits .............................................................................. $ 800.00 Total Income ....... ·---------·····················$ 800.00 Expenses Sup~~J:1 J~l!~!tt~~~l·~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::A .. 800.00 �Approximately 300 personnel actions were completed during the year. They included resignations, new appointments, creating new positions, classification reviews, etc. T HROUGH continuing surveys the Personnel Division brought about more recognition last year for jobs well done by employes in positions which were not upg raded during the Barker Su rvey, yet are vital to the department's operation. Because of the alarming increase in accidents on the job, this problem received considerable attention. A continuing in-service training program was started this year for administrative and supervisory personnel. Salary increases for more than onethird of the department's employes resulted from formal protests of grades assigned to such positions as fish culturists, trappers, experimental farm assistants, regional supervisors and some adm inistrative positions. Salaries now compare favorably to those of other western states. Handling of individual personnel or personal problems of employes and granting interviews to those seeking employment constitutes a continuing work load. Clerical work volume is high because of increased participation in various insurance plans, retirement, credit association, United Funds and other charity drives, replying to all types of correspondence with averages of 8 to 10 letters per day, approving leave requests, etc. This office is also responsible for setting up and administering the personnel services budget for the department. Through the Council of Departmental and Institutional Personnel Officers, to which the personnel officer was elected chairman, much has been contributed to the betterment of the state's Civil Service system. On the basis of the marked increase of the past year in the number of employes seeking council, and those outside seeking employment with the department, along with normal personnel functions, it appears that much work is cut out for the coming year. Data from many states were collected, assembled and carefully studied, establishing the fact that an adequate pay plan is the element essential to recruiting and retaining competent help. With the more realistic pay plan, the department bel ieves that reliable employes will remain for reasons other than a desire to live in Colorado. And, of course, with a realistic pay plan it is felt that the department is in a better position to recruit high-caliber personnel in all job categories. As the state's wages increase, the Personnel Officer will continue to work on maintaining equity between all positions both inter- and intra-department wise. To assure better evaluation and classification of positions, 59 class specifications were rewritten and brought up· to date. Time and effort devoted to wage surveys did not, however, lessen the volume of other personnel functions. 11 �T HE OVER-ALL goal of game management is managing game so that the surplus can be harvested. Game management's biggest problem is one of habitat for the game animals. Every year this habitat shrinks with the encroachment of· civilization. This means the department must balance the game with the habitat. Our deer seasons, for instance, are set on the basis of balancing the herds with the range. Following are the general accomplishments by region on how we are managing game along with the past year• s harvest .figures for all game. area, all public land use agencies will be able to work in closer harmony. • The year 195 7 turned out to be the best small game hunting season on record. Even though flood waters caused much re-nesting, particularly in the Alamosa River drainage, pheasant hunting was very good in all but the La Plata County pheasant range. For the .first time pheasant hunting was allowed on the controlled portion of the Monte Vista Federal Refuge through cooperative arrangements. This is a step forward in harvesting in refuge areas. Chukar partridge have increased to the point where they will be hunted. Cooperating with Delta citizens, hundreds of trees have been planted at Sweitzer Lake to increase its aesirability as a picnic area and to provide shade for .fishermen, cover for rabbits, pheasants and game birds. • Northwest Region: Not since the days of market hunting has there been so liberal a season on deer as that of 1957, with two deer per license and a limit of two licenses per hunter. Of the 115,000 deer taken in the state 57 per cent were taken in the Northwest Region. The remaining deer did very well, aided greatly by a 2 per cent to 600 per cent increase in browse growth, due to the mild winter. Over 37 per cent of the state's elk parvest was taken in this area. The antelope season was good despite fewer antelope, percentage - wise than elsewhere in the state. With only one bighorn sheep taken by one of the 25 licensed hunters, the season was a disappointment. Southwest Region: Last year the Southwest Region provided 56. 7 per cent of the total state elk kill and 47.8 per cent of the bear kill. Game populations continue hirh, as reflected in damage claims from farmers and ranchers. Some of the congested areas obtained temporary relief in our extremely liberal deer season in 1957. Five years after restoration measures were begun, the San Luis Valley is recommended for an open season on antelope. The animals increased to huntable abundance in the Delta-Mesa County area to the extent where it was opened for hunting in 1957. Open meetings were held in Gunnison and Hotchkiss in the spring to give the citizens an opportunity to voice their opinions on the type of big game season they want, and to acquaint them with the complexities of setting these seasons. Through cooperative analysis of standardized forage utilization in this 12 �At th e district big game management meetings more factua l information on browse production and utilization was presented and there was a closer agreement than in previous yea rs. Although subordinate to big game, considerable small game hunting is done in northwestern Colorado. Because the usually heavily hunted Moffat County was closed to hunting, the grouse harvest was down in 1957. Pheasant hunting was good, showing best hunting success since 19 51, wh ile quail and rabbit hunting was rated fa ir to good. westerri and southern Las Animas County. Antelope suffered a temporary setback by the severe blizzards and dust storms of a year ago. Hunting permits have been reduced in proportion to the losses. Last January 100 antelope were live-trapped from the Pueblo Ordnance D epot and transplanted in N ebraska in exchange for channel catfish . They were also transplanted in Kansas and at Fort Carson. Establ ishment of herds in new areas wi ll provide better hunting in future yea rs and even now are showing good bu ildup in several management areas. Rocky Ford's experimental Game Bird Farm was (:Ompleted and put into operation last year. A breeding stock of pheasants was bought to supply eggs for 4-H youngsters who will rear and report on their successes and failures Northeast Regio11: With the eithersex season on deer last year, a good kill was obtained and it appears that this practice holds the deer increase to about normal. Browse production has been excellent during the summers of 195 7 and 1958 on the East Slope. Six irrigation reservoirs in this region were leased for publ ic hunting and fishing for periods up to 10 years. With competition getting keener each year, it becomes more and more imperative that arrangements be made to retain these for public use. It is too early to make any statements as to the success of 16 wild turkeys transplanted on the Buckhorn west of Fort Collins duri ng the past fiscal year. Pheasant trend indexed during 1957 s~10wed an increased population, particularly on the table lands in the fa r northeast. This resulted in a higher ki ll -per-hunter ratio than ever before. Indications point to an even better hunting season in 1958. S0111heas/ Region : Last year's liberal season on the Western Slope mig ht have drawn a good number of hunters away from hunting th is area. Althoug h this region does not have the conditions conducive to large herds of elk or deer, there are some areas showing a need for increased harvests. One reason for the lack of adequate harvest is denial of access to game areas, notably in GEORGE ANDREWS Th e amount and condition of winter range or food is the ma in factor in setting the deer seasons. If deer a re not in ba lance with the range they will suffer starvation and disease. 13 �with the birds. If educational benefits are derived, the program will be continued. Chukar partridges are being hatched for release at suitable sites, mainly the Western Slope. Sixteen Canada geese were hatchea in an attempt to establish breeding flocks in Colorado. Work is proceeding in developing the Two Buttes Management Area into a first-rate public shooting ground for geese, as well as a recreational area. Some changes, such as charging a small fee to pay for cleaning out pits, toilets, parking areas, will undoul:itedly meet with opposition. But something must be done to meet the increasing cost of keeping hunting and fishing areas clear of litter. Hunters, we believe, underrate turkeys as a game bird. A number of fine turkey areas are in this region, especially in Las Animas and Huerfano counties. Everything possible is being done to build up these flocks. Big Game Ha,-vest Figures Deer: The total deer kill was 114,529 with a success ratio of 88.9 per cent based on license sales. Of this kill 83,270 were taken out of multiple twodeer areas, 5898 in preseason areas and 8120 in post and extended season areas. Nine counties in the northwest area killed 66,098 deer representing 57.7 per cent of all the deer taken in Colorado. Garfield and Rio Blanco counties accounted for 31.1 per cent of the state kill. The San Juan l:iasin harvested 9751 deer while the San Luis Valley harvested 6606. A total of 902 archery hunters reported a kill of 185 deer on the basis of card return with the success ratio of 20.S per cent. Elk: The total kill of elk was 815 5 with a success ratio of 27 .59 per cent, and 9130 elk validations were issued in 1957-6834 issued in 1956. The validations in the Glade Park and Uncompahgre areas, however, were for antlered only: Of the total validation holders 4.17 per cent took bulls. In 1957 the San Juan region led the state with a kill of 2034, Rio Grande was second with 1454 and the White River with 1415. Relative to the counties, the highest kill was again made in Rio Blanco of 729 and La Plata second with 688, Routt third with 672 and Gunnison had 638. Bear: Five hundred fifty-two bear were harvested in 1957 compared to 324 in 1956. In 195.7, 624 special bear licenses were sold compared to 339 in 1956. In 1957, 85 bear were taken on special licenses of which 64 were taken by residents and 21 by nonresidents; during the regular bear season residents took 3 56 and nonresidents took 111 bear. Antelope: During 1957, 4021 antelope licenses were sold and these license holders killed 3302 antelope with a success ratio of 82 per cent. Sixty-six per cent or all kills were made the first day of the season. The January, 1958 seasort is not included. Bighorn Sheep: In 1957, 240 bighorn sheep licenses were allowed and 218 were sold with a kill of 60 making a success ratio of 2 7.5 per cent compared to 18.6 per cent in 1956. Waterfowl: Results of the 195 7 random survey of waterfowl hunters reveal that of the 41,794 duck stamp buyers in Colorado, 37,166 huntea ducks, bagging an estimated 254,587 {23.4 per cent increase from average of previous three years) , and crippling an additional 41,679 for a total hunting loss of 296,266 ducks. The average season duck bag per hunter was 6.8 birds, and while mallards were still the most common species bagged, there was a large increase in the harvest of other species over past years. Duck kill -estimates by county revealed that the eastern slope of Colorado again accounted for more than 75 per cent of the total state kill as it has in the past. 14 �• • A erial Operations O f fou r conventional-type aircraft owned and operated by the department, two are stationed at Grand Junction and two in Denver. While these planes are operated primarily on their respectives sides of the Continental Divide, they are operated statewide when the occasion demands. Following is an annual report of activ ities and accomplishments of these aircraft. Game management functions included counting of game animals as well as hazing animals away from crops where they were alleged to be doing damage, which required a total of 670 hours flying time. Fish management, including primarily fi sh planting with some time spent on counts of fishermen and lake surveys, required 474 hours and 25 minutes. Law enforcement flying accounted for 101 hours and 25 minutes of concentrated and routine patrol. Administrative flights utilized 252 hours and 50 min utes of flying time. Aerial searches, rescues and mercy missions consumed 79 hours and 35 minutes of air time. Flying on game and fish research projects requi red an add itional 124 hours and 35 minutes of aerial work, while information and education activities took another 12 hours and 50 minutes. Cooperative flights with the U. S. Forest Service to aid them in spotting fires reported in remote areas utilized 3 hours and 45 minutes flying t ime. In add ition, at least 26 fires were reported wh ile pi lots were on routine flights. Fur ·management consumed 3 hours, while remain ing miscellaneous activities took another 20 hours and 10 minutes . Total flying hours numbered 1742 and 35 minutes. Many more hours would have been flown by department planes had we not received the excellent cooperation of the U. S. Army and the Air Academy in supplying helicopters for counting pu rposes. For. geese, an estimated 12,057 hunters bagged an average of 1. 21 geese during the season for a total estimated harvest of 14,589 birds (increase of 17.7 per cent over three-year average) . In addition, another 4473 bi rds were reported wounded but not retrieved for a wound ing loss of 23.5 per cent and a total hunti ng loss of 19,062 geese in Colorado. It is believed that the increased average goose bag in 1957 ·was mostly due to increases in water areas and numbers of geese wintering in the state. This combination of larger numbers and better distribution throughout the wintering area undoubted ly made more birds available to more hunters. The southwest region again accounted for almost 85 per cent of the total state goose kill with Baca, Prowers and Kiowa the hig h kill counties in that order. U pl(md Game Birds and Rabbits : A general resume of number of hunters and kill by species for the 195 7 season is as fo ll ows: (1) 75,349 hunters reported bagging 121,312 pheasants which were more hunters and h igher kill than two prev ious years; ( 2) 18,607 hunters reported a kill of 117,4 10 doves; th is is more hunters than two previous yea rs, but dove kill was down ; ( 3) 10, 517 hunters bagged an estimated 44,066 qua il, number o f hunters between the 195 5 and 1956 totals with kill below 1956 and similar to 195 5; ( 4 ) 8568 hunters reported killing 13,366 sage and sharptailed grouse wh ich was an increase in the number of hunters and a kill similar to 1956 and above 1955; ( 5) 12,172 hu nters bagged 16,067 blue grouse, an increase in hunters and a kill simi lar to 1956 and above 1955; (6) 48,578 hunters reported a bag of 240,461 cottontails -hunters held steady, but kill decreased somewhat from past two years; and (7 ) 5259 hunters took 19,5 11 snowshoe hares - number of hunters remained similar to past two years, with kill below 1956. 15 �F ISHERY management in Colorado was aided materially in 1957 by the breaking of a five-year drought period and the concomitant increase in stream run-off and reservoir storage water content. The fish hatchery production remained at an all-time high and ample construction monies resulted in creation of three fishing lakes and starts on four others. The principal Fish Management Division actvities in the four regions for 1957-58 are discussed briefly under the following sections: Southwest Region: Significant in the management technique has been the successful stocking of two-inch trout in this area. Creel returns from Lake San Cristobal, Groundhog Reservoir and Gunnison River have proved these plantings as effective as those of the cos~ly, pan-sized fish. Plants of kokanee salmon, which are thriving in Vallecito Reservoir near Durango, are being studied and carried out in other suitable waters. Road Canon and Rito Hondo lakes have been finished on the upper Rio Grande and details are worked out for a large lake on Williams Creek, a tributary of the Piedra River. Enlargement of Andrews Lake near Molas Pass, has been contracted for. Construction and improvements will be made on new nurse ponds, raceways and rearing ponds of the Pitkin Unit, along with extensive flood control work 'at the Chipeta Unit near Hotchkiss. Rechanneling of the North Fork of the Gunnison River and major riprap work was a part of the Chipeta work and was done by regional equipment and personnel. No,-thwest Region: Fishing, judging by fieldmen' s creel checks, was from good to excellent through the region, although stream fishing, due to aboveaverage run-off, did not improve until later in the summer of 1957. Spawn taking yielded approximately two million kokanee salmon- eggs from Granby Reservoir, 800,000 native eggs from Trappers Lake and 20,000 splake eggs from Deep Lake. Fish rearing units in this area supplied the state with 7,933,000 fish weighing 376,000 pounds. This included trans£ers to other rearing units outside the region. Raceways at Glenwood were repaired, the roads at Finger Rock were graveled • and the settling basin at Rifle Falls was enlarged during the year. Preliminary surveys of prospective lake developments revealed several excellent sites. Water filings are under ... way. Construction on Hahn's Peak and Meadow Creek lake sites will provide 90 acres of additional fishing waters. Two recently completed lakes, Mack Mesa Reservoir and Black Lake No. 2 on Vail Pass, were opem.:d to fishing in 1958. A 25-mile stretch of the Eagle River below Gilman, polluted by fuel oil in February, 1957, .was heavily stocked with trout, which restored the stream•s .fishery value, but recovery of food organisms has been slow. Future goals include further water .filings for more dam sites; making more fishing areas available to the 16 �public through cooperative agreements with land owners and government agencies; increasing some dam heights and erad ication of rough fish from Wi lliams Fork and Vega reservoirs. N ortheast Region: Pond alteration and the new pipeline at Wray H atchery are showing resu lts with a new production high of 35 tons of catchable size trout planted in the first seven months of 1958- a new h ig h. The year's total should exceed 40 tons. Large one-acre ponds at the Poudre Ri ver Rearing Unit have been split to improve the unit's efficiency and increase production. New raceways and a feeder pipeline from the Poudre Ri ver are planned. Remodeling of ponds and a series of new ones and a diversion dam and pipeli ne on adjacent land purchased last year are planned for the D rake Rearing Unit. A new pipeline and remodeled batteries are planned for Estes Park and remodeli ng of the hatchery building at Bellvue H atchery, where a new raceway is planned to overcome the lack of holding space. Poll uted water so red uced production at the Denver Unit that the lease on the Faden side was not renewed in 1957. Kokanee salmon have been planted in Lake Estes, Horsetooth, Chambers Lake, Rawah No. 3, Upper Camp Lake and Big Creek Lake and they should be catchable size by mid-59. With ditch and dike completed, it is hoped Lake John in North Park will be filled by late 1958 or early 1959. North D elaney Butte Lake was open to public fish ing for the first time throug h a land exchange brought about through the Federal Aid Division. Laramie River was bridged on the Hohnholz easement and an access road is being completed to the lakes and public land beyond. Studies are continuing to determine if smaller fish can be planted in this GEORGE AN DREWS Each year there are more fisherme n on our lakes and streams. And more fish were stocked in 1957 than ever before-1 , 13 1,866 pounds o r 17,677,9 51 fish. 17 �region's lakes to bring about a saving and still produce plentifully for the fisherman . S011/heasl Region: Shavano Rearing U ni t at Salida and Chalk Cliffs Rearing Un it near Nathrop, continue to increase production, as improved feeding, handling and general fish culture practices have been put into effect. Because Shavano will produce more than the eight or nine thousand pounds of fish raised at Coaldale, and at less cost, the Coaldale lease will not be renewed. Mt. Shavano construction and remodeling is progressing well. Water problems of early spring have been alleviated by an add itional pipeline from Thiel Ditch to Chalk Cliffs rearing ponds. Rye H atchery is being used only as holding ponds fo r trout, while some rearing of warm water species is done at the Las Animas hatchery. High operating costs have caused operation curtailment or shutdowns of some older units. Carey Dam has been renamed Lake Setchfield for an ardent sportsman who helped the department acqu ire this valuable 1000-acre lake. Renovation of dam, spillway and outl et structures cost about $ l 38,000. Slowly, new fishing waters are being developed, including tentative plans for impoundments on Alkal i Creek east of T rinidad, near Karval. Turquoise Lake, owned by the CF&I, is now under G ame and F ish Department management, and has been stocked with trout. When water conditions permit, roug h fish will be exterminated and the lake rehabi litated under the "two-inch'' program. Negotiations are under way for si milar management agreements on two other reservoirs near Pueblo and Canon City. Tro11t Research The Skaguay Reservoir study on management of fluctuating water level reservoirs was essentially completed and will be finished after the 1958 summer field season. The Grand Mesa Lakes study on experimental plantings of ~jyz,;--:. -:.. , < ,..."" GEORGE ANDREWS Dry feeding and curta ilment of operations at t hree inefficient hatcheries reduced the production cost fr om roughly 83 cents per pound in 1956 to 70 cents in 1957. 18 �units. Several miscellaneous clean.up and repair jobs were also concluded throughout the state. Fish Culture A record fish p roduction year oc• curred statewide in 1957 with 1,131,866 pounds, numbering 17,677,951 fish be. ing stocked. The size group breakdown is shown at the bottom of the page. The most spectacular achievement of fish culture du ring the year was th e lowering of production costs per pound of fish in the face of increased produc. tion and rising commodity costs. A comparison of 1957 costs against 1956 costs follows: various sizes and species of trout is in the same category. New projects covering different phases of trout management problems will be in•corporated in 1959. The Rawah high lakes study involving effects of artificial fe rtilization was augmented by the use of fertilizers labelled with radioactive phosphorus to aid in tracing the added nutrients through the fish food chain. Investigations continued on the effects of water diversion and impoundments on the fishery resources involved. One biologist has been assigned fulltime to this important but often ignored facet of water usage. Warm- IV ater Research The spawning operation on walleyed pike at Bonny Reservoir was highly successful this year with over 6,000,000 eggs taken. Channel catfish were again successfully spawned at the Las Animas Hatchery from brood stock fish. The increased interest shown by th e state's fishermen in the warm-water fisheries has made the stocking program for these species difficult. T he main sources for warm.water fish still involve seining and transportation by the department's salvage section, and trades with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other states. Trades of kokanee salmon and antelope were made for channel catfish with the states of N ebraska and Arizona. Cons/mctio11 Section The construction section operating statewide, completed Black Lakes on Vail Pass, cleaned up damage and in• stalled flood control measures at Rifle Falls, and effected numerous fish pond and rearing improvements at the Mount Shavano and Chalk Cliffs trout rearing Fish food costs, 1956 ..·- ······-···$358,905.S7 Fish food costs, 1957 ••·- ··········· 282,388.47 A savings of...................- ......... $ 76,517. I 0 Total hatchery costs, I9S6........ $878,411.21 Total ha tchery costs, 19S7........ 840,756.89 A savings of•••••••• Cost of Cost of per fish per fish ·-········-······-·$ po und produced, 1956.......... $ pound produced, 19 S7 ........:.$ 37,654.32 0.833 0.698 The reductions are attributed es• sentially to new improved dry feeding methods and the curtailment of opera• tions in three old inefficient hatcheries. 19S7 Fisherman Catch ( From statistica I creel census data l Tota I licenses sold ...- ...._........... 365,004 Total trout caught···-····-··-······· 14,587,503 Tota l warm•water fish caught.. 1,372,353 Total fish caught···-····- ····-······· I 5,959,856 C a tch•per•ma n.hour trout ···- ··· 0.83 Catch• per.ma n•hour warm water ........·-············-· 0.63 The above tabulated figures reflect an increased catch of almost 400,000 fish over that of 1956. DISTRIBUTION BREAKDOWN Under 3.. Pounds 3..-6" Number Pounds Number Over 6 .. Pounds Number Trout Distribution .......... 18,181 Warm• Water Distribution 2,747 9,283 ,944 2,892, 192 37,887 2,483 577,742 84,299 1,067,637 2,931 4,815,383 24,391 Total distribution ............ 20,928 12, 176,136 40,370 662,041 1,070,568 4,839,774 19 �ORK of the Fur Resources Division involves administration of the State Beaver Control Act management and control of all fur bearers and fur dealers' predator control and law enforcement. Fur Resources Division consists of one superintendent, one secretary, and on the regional field level, six district fur managers. Under our present beaver control law, beaver are taken by state employes, landowners with a permit and private trappers. Southwest Region: Numbers of beavers pelted and transplanted dropped sharply from previous years. Excessive flooding and an outbreak of tularemia almost annihilated beaver populations on some streams. Predator control activities were greatly increased. Almost 21 per cent more predatory animals were taken by our wardens and conservation officers. Much of this work was done in transplant areas and will no doubt increase survival chances of such exotic birds as the chukar. The predatory bird take was more than five times greater than in 1956-57. Northwest Region: Fieldmen pelted 1479 beavers and live-trapped and transplanted 235 more. This represents a decrease compared with the two preceding years. A major die-off, clue to winter kill and tularemia, accounted for much of this loss, plus a heavy work load on the department when the pelts were prime. Only 165 beavers were taken by private trappers on ten permits, as com- W pared with a scheduled total of 585 beavers to be taken from public lands. Low fur prices and inexperience of some of the trappers were mainly responsible. To determine if better techniques and methods can be used to manage beavers on public lands, two beaver management plots were established in the region. Predatory animal control work removed 35 bobcats, 8 coyotes, 5 predatory bears and 478 miscellaneous pred~ ators, including badgers, skunks, porcupines, magpies and crows. Fieldmen spent 16,.512 hours, about 23 per cent of their work time, on trapping and predator control. Northeast Region: Beaver trapping in this region, too, suffered because of tularemia among the animals. However, the annual winter boat trapping crew down the South Platte in the fall of 1957 got its usual good results. A new type of beaver survey is being initiated on a trial basis in North Park. This should be completed by the summer of 1958. Southeast Region: Beaver pelt taking suffered in this region as in the others, because of high water and disease. And due to poor market, severe late spring weather and inexperience of the individuals, trapping by licensed private trappers has not be~n successful. Two experimental beaver management areas have been set up in the Two Bit Creek and Squaw Creek areas in the upper Arkansas drainage. Conservation officers and biologists will work out i~proved food survey and inventory 20 �techniques in an effort to manage our beaver on a sound, profi table basis. Beaver Pelt Sales Year Stale Trapped 1955-56 .......... 4,944 1956-57 ......... .4,951 1957-58 ..........4,870 Landowner 3,775 1,500 623 Private Permits 442 144 198 Total I 0,76 1 6,839 5,691 The State of Colorado pays a bounty on only one predator- the mountain lion. This $50.00 bounty is set by a law that was passed yea rs ago at the request of stockmen and has been continu ed ever since, at their insistence. Mountain Lion Bounties Fur Harvest Ye ar The following table shows the Fur H a rvest over the past two years : Spe cies 1956-57 Bea ver ...................... 6,839 Muskrat .................. 28,087 Skunk ·······-············· 287 Coyote .................... 15 Mink ·········-············· 14 0 Weasel .................... 61 Marten ···-············-· 24 Badg er .................... 7 Bo b & Lynx Cat........ 83 Fox .......................... 18 Cive t Cat .............. None Raccoon .................. 257 Opossum ................ 4 Ringl ail Cat ............ 11 Total ·····-··········-·28,994 1957-58 5.691 38,206 197 14 127 127 61 12 119 13 None 208 None No Report 10.S. I 39,084 T he fu r business leaves -m uch to be desired this season. Prices are low and trappers have no incenti ve to take fur bearers. This presents a problem in some areas as some species become a nuisance and must be handled as predators. The p redator program deals p rincipally with bear, coyotes and bobcats. The number of damage claims on bea r com plaints has red uced considerably in the last few yea rs, d ue to the open season on bear. Coyote is still well under control and personnel are well equipped with guns and traps to reduce overpopulation in troub lesome areas. T he bobcat is still a detrimental animal to small game and bi rds and control on the bobcat is still heavily stressed. Other predators, includ ing the mountain lion, are giving very little trouble. Foxes and skunks are increasing at an alarming rate and d ue to their peculiarities present a di ffic ul t control problem. 21 1957-58 1956•57 1955-56 1954- 55 1953-54 1952-53 195 1-52 1950- 5 I 1949-50 194 8-49 1947-48 Number ...................... ···-················· OOHOOOH ♦♦ •♦♦ OUOOOO ♦ •••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••• •••• •ouo ...................... ••••••••••••••••• ••n• ••• • • • ••·••••••u••••• • ....................... 46 82 66 54 58 47 39 28 45 12 •••••••••••••••••••••• ....................... 13 1946-47 ...................... 10 1945-46 ....................... 5 Amount $2,300.00 4 , I 00.00 3,300.00 2,700.00 2,900.00 2,350.00 1,950.00 1,400.00 2.350.00 600.00 650.00 500.00 250.00 The past year shows a definite decrease in the number of lions taken. It is rather difficult to explain this situation, but the extremely wet year and a change in economic cond itions may be the answer. I if - • - ' I ~ LEE E. YEAGER Department and private trappers trapped 5,691 beaver in 1957-58-fur prices we re low and private trappers have had little incentive. �E NFORCEMENT ~f game and fish laws will always be an extremely important phase of a good wildlife management program. Colorado wildlife conservation officers face the tremendous task of enforcing the game and fish laws applying to approximately 66,718,080 acres of mountains and plains, with 14,554 miles of trout streams and 2401 improved trout lakes, as well as more than 300 warm water impoundments with a surface area that exceeds 150,000 acres. This work is carried on by nearly 200 fieldmen, of which about 115 are conservation officers, wardens and trappers. Duties of the present day conservation officer are varied, and along with all other phases of wildlife management he is able to put in about 45 per cent of his time on game and fish law enforcement. S011thwest Region: Field contacts of hunters and fishermen totaled 29,727 during the past year, slightly more than the previous year. In making these contacts, however, some 32,430 fewer miles were traveled. Better planning and a more efficient utilization of time made this possible. Northu,est Region: Law enforcement activities in this area were hampered somewhat during the past year by the increased need for game fencing and work on big game check stations. Field personnel overcame these handicaps to a degree by voluntarily working longer hours. Every wildlife conservation district office was occupied by an officer during the past year. Twenty-one thousand eight hundred and thirteen fishermen and 7,767 hunters were contacted by field personnel during the year. Of 266 cases prosecuted, there were five dismissals and 261 convictions, with $8,298.50 in fines assessed. A total of 85,488 hours was worked by 31 officers and supervisors. Law enforcement accounted for 32,046 hours, or 37 per cent of the total. Enforcement and other duties accounted for a total of 657,503 miles of driving by these men. Northeast Region: Again this year, hunting and fishing contacts in this area were the highest in the state. During the heavy spring .fishing, 22,962 fisherman contacts were made during the first two weeks of trout season. Pheasant and duck hunter contacts run heavier than those of big game hunters. The bulk of small game killed in Colorado comes from this region. Southeast Region: Resignations, trans£ers and retirement of personnel have impaired the over-all efficiency in this region. Decreased fisherman and hunter contacts are the result of two wildlife conservation district vacancies during most of last year. Placements from eligibility lists compiled from recent examinations will, we hope, bring the field force to full strength again. The following is a resume of law enforcement activities as reported by the four regions for the year 195 7. Miles driven ···-···----·---------··• 2,634,771 Contc1cts 22 Hunting • -------··----• { Fishing ...-................. 28,945 130,572 �Number cases filed ••·-····-··········· Number convictions ···-····-········· Amount of fines·············-··-····-·$ Hours worked ( Law Enforc.) ..._. l 1,485 1,426 39,418 143,972 Additional hours worked include: Education Game Damag e Fish Planting Federal Aid Fur Division Mi sc. and Office ................ Grand total of hours worked ...... 7 Number of Fishing Violations......... . Types of Fishing Violation............. . 707 6 5 8 MISCELLANEOUS: I 68,315 312,287 Violations--Year 1957 HUNTING: Hunting without a legal and proper license ·························-················· Hunting outside legal hours••·-··········· Failure to comply with tagging regu• Iations ···-··························-············· Illegal possession or transportation of big game ••·-··········-····················· Shooting from or across a highway.... Illegal possession of small g ame•.·-··· Hunting with a n illegal gun ...•......·-··· Hunting during cl osed season............ Hunting in a closed area.................... Hunting game with artificial light.... Hunting ducks without a stamp.......... Wasting game meat•••••••• ·-················· Careless and reckless hunting ............ Failure to leave evidence of sex on carcass Fishing during closed season............. . Fishing outside legal hours•• ·-··········· Wa sting fish ···- ··································· ···· ···••u•• .. •••• •••••••••• ••• • • • ••••••••• 14 7 134 Trespa ssing ···················-······-··········-· Fraud ulent purchase of resident license by nonresident ................... . Misuse of license···-················-········· Dumping trash on private property... . Leaving a campfire unattended ......... . Guiding ·without" a guide license....... . Back.dating of Ii c ens e by license de a Ier ·········- ··-················-············• 69 No . of Miscellaneous Violations.... Type of Miscellaneous Violation.... 129 7 27 23 4 3 2 GRAND TOTALS: 13 2 Number of Violations ...................... 1,1,60 Types of Violation............................ 42 127 I 00 46 42 I6 I6 14 13 8 5 3 Killing protected birds .•••...•·-············· Conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor Chasing waterfowl with an auto• mobile ···············-··························· Illegal transportation of small game Contributing to delinquency................ Hunting in wrong area ............... _....... Wounding game ···························-····· Donating game without giving a certificate ·····················-················· Ill egal possession of beaver pelts ...... Illegal transportation of beaver pelts Purcha sing license after killing game Attempting to take ducks in excess of bag limit••·-··············-····-··········· Illegal possession of protected hawk 3 3 Number of Hunting Violations ..·-··· Types of Hunting Violation............ 824 27 3 2 2 I I FISHING: Ill egal possession of fish·············-····· Fishing without a lega l and proper Iicense ·········-················-··············· Use of illegal d evices·········-····-········· Fishing in closed waters••·-················· Illegal transportation of fish ..._......... 21,9 HOWARD STIEHM 238 87 56 39 The modern.day wildlife conservation offi. cer has many· duties. And the radio pro• vides effective two.way communication wit h other officers. 23 �OLORADO received $555,015.49 as provided by law for its Federal C Aid in wildlife restoration.in the 1957- tion, acquisition of land or water areas, development and management of them and research to solve problems whida will bring about better game and .fish management. Four types of federal aid projects are: Coo,-dinatio11 Project: This provide.s administrative services funds for th,~ program, including salaries, expenses of personnel traveling on project business, supervision, r~cord keeping and reporting for the 39 active projects. Land Acq11isitio11 P,-ojects: Utilizini~ of land and water areas by a rapidly increasing population has been th:e prime cause of depletion of fish and game resources. To offset this trend the Federal Aid Division has engaged in buying or leasing key areas to be managed expressly for public hunting and fishing: This involves considerable detail work. In addition to the listed completed projects, preliminary work was begun or was in progress 011 several other similar land and water purchases during the year. Oevelopment and Operations Projects: Approximately 50 per cent of the total fiscal year funds were expended on this classification. They paid for constructing dams for fishing, watel'.fowl nesting and irrigation of food and cover plantings, and for building and maintainir;tg fences to control authorized and unauthorized use of purchased and leased land for livestock grazing. In the latter it has been noted that certain types of this land produce enough forage for both wild game and livestock with no adverse effects on 58 fiscal year. As Colorado's matching share, the General Assembly added $185,005.16 from the Game Cash Fund, making the total $740,020.65. Federal laws specify broadly how this money is to be spent on projects approved by the Secretary of Interior or his designated assistant in the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. This is done ·with the provision that the state passes enabling legislation which sets aside revenue from the sale of fish and game licenses for the exclusive use of state fish and game departments in the management of the state wildlife resources. The ratio of matching funds by the state is one dollar to the Federal Government's three dollars. In the past this has caused some difficulty because cash income from land lease rentals or sale of surplus products has reduced the state· s contribution to less than one-fourth of the total. This inconvenience has been overcome by legislation setting aside funds apart from the Game Cash Fund. These funds, known as the Federal Aid Projects Income are expendable on approved projects without further legislation. Responsibility of the Federal Aid Division involves initiation, pursuing and completing and presenting work programs that will properly utilize available funds to restore natural conditions to produce more abundant wildlife for the state's sportsmen. Authorized work calls for administra- 24 �in 2 1 counties since the work began with remnants of flocks in only three coun ties in 194 l. D eer were trapped in the Meeker area for g razing studies carried on there. Research Projects : Nine out of 13 act ive i-nvestigational projects have been in operation for varying lengths up to 1 l years. These accounted for about o ne- fo urth of the amount of money spent th is year. Projects included: Upland Gal/le Bird S11rveys: Trained biologists have been studying ringnecked pheasant, scaled quail, sage g rouse and chukar partridge. Developing and testing a uni form system of pheasant population determination was one goal. It is based on winter sexratio surveys, sp ring crow ing -cock ind ices and late summer brood counts. It is hoped that this will resul t in more liberal seasons in areas with large popul ations. Work on the sage grouse and quai l either one. Deer feed mainly on browse or woody shrubs, eating practically no g rass during the winter months. Grass crops, therefore, when careftilly managed are large enough to enable the D epartment of G ame and Fish to make the areas available fo r use on a bid basis to neig hboring ranchers. Some land was leased to share crop tenants on share-crop arrangements, providing that part of the crop would be left unharvested fo r use of birds and mammals. Project personnel farmed some areas to produce favorable conditions for wild life. In addition, approximately 15,000 seedlings were distributed free to landowner cooperators, and 9500 seed Iings were set out on depa rtment owned land by project personnel. W ild turkeys have been trapped d uring the year for release in other suitabl e areas. This prog ram has done much to establish huntable populations GEORGE ANDREWS Rito Hondo Reservoir near Creede has been const ructed with federal aid money unde r the deve lopment and operations pro je cts of that division . 25 �has not progressed a.:5 much as that on pheasants, but with studies continuing, it is hoped that more liberal seasons can be announced for these game birds, too. Prospects for the first chukar partridge hunting season in Colorado's history, in the autumn of 1958, are bright. This has been brought about by long study of the birds' habits, release of pen-reared birds, trapping and transplanting them to extend their range into new territory. Deer-Elk lnve11igatiom: Developing better methods of censusing elk and deer is perhaps the most important goal of thi s project. Aerial counts were instituted after World War II, when it was revealed that this method was faster and more dependable than g round counts. Using helicopters instead of fixed-wing airplanes is being studied . It is hoped this method will give a better count on both deer and elk. The NORM HUGHES The elusive chukar partridge is now a permanent resident of our state-thanks to federal aid. 26 importance of accur~te counts cannot be overemphasized in these days of increasing high pressu re for more li beral seasons, pl us the more liberal season and bigger bag limits. Another important objective is to de~ermine the herd size and seasonal distribution as well as the average productivity of the White River elk herd. A companion study deals with competition for forage between the elk herd and domestic sheep using the range. Answers to these problems will reveal the possibility of success or failure in providing a sustained game crop to harvest. Other grazing studies under way in various parts of the state will be equally revealing in the course the department will take to insure increasingly good hunting and, at the same time, protect farmers and ranchers agai nst game depredations. Bigham Sheep S11rvey1: Because of the rugged terrain bighorn sheep inhabit, studies of their habits, their rate -of reproduction and their season ranges are beset w ith difficulties. From the Pourde River drainage to the Sangre de Cristo range various promising census tediniques are being tried to determ ine the best method for our conditions. Some experimental trapping has been done to perfect methods that can be used where small numbers of sheep are involved. lntrod11ctio11 of Exotic Game Bird1: Experimental work in foreign game bird introduction has been under way since 1952. Spanish red-legged partridges wild-trapped· in Spain, were released in southeastern and northern Colorado. Some birds are still reported in those areas, but attention is now focused on game farm rearing of thes~ birds to increase breeding stock. Wat erfowl Sm'VeJJ and lnve1tigatio11J: Studies of the number of breeding pairs, brood counts and determining the time of autumn flights made in �conjunction with similar studies by other states and Canadian provinces should result in setting real istic hunting reg ulations. It is hoped that su itable nesting colonies of Canada geese can be estab1ished in Colorado. A captive flock has been established at the Irving Robert Poley Wi ldlife Management Area near Bonny Reservoir. A more rel iable supply of goslings may result by taking eggs from wild nesting birds, especially so after the successful testing of artificial nesting structures near Denver as well as at Bonny Reservoir and near Fort Collins. Intensive studies were made last year into conditions affecting lesser Canada geese wintering in the Arkansas Va lley so all factors could be analyzed for developing better management plans for th is goose flock. Beaver Investigatiom: Data are being collected on the various aspects of beaver ecology to improve our know!- edge of such things as reproduction rates in different habitat types and different elevations, as well as the rate of food production in these different types. Evalllatio11 of the Effeets of Habitat Improvement: For ten years the department has worked to improve conditions for farm game, principally pheasants in northeast Colorado. Assuming that a limiting factor in pheasant production was winter cover, plantings of shrubs and trees were made. Subsequent studies cast doubt on this assumption, so similar observations were made on plots w ithout cover plantings. Facts on both arc now being analyzed and results should be available with in a few months. I11vestigatio11 of Diseases: Lungworm in bighorn sheep and the transmission of this parasite to small snai ls and from the snails to the sheep again was given careful study in the hope that lungworm infestation can be brought under control. PAUL GILBERT Trapping and tagging of d eer by department biologists aid in determining migration ro ute s between summer a nd winter ra nges of the White River herd. 27 �Information on cysticercosis (tapeworm) in deer is being gathered to determine its distribution, its relationship (if any) between occurrence and use of range areas by domestic livestock. Ultimate control over this disease is one of the major objectives. Notable progress was made during the past year in the establishment and maintenance of a complete .file on reported cases of wildlife disease. Game Range Investigations: Solutions for six principal game range problems are the goal of these investigations of vital importance to sustained game production. Browse is being studied to determine how it might best be propagated in greater amounts to provide forage for deer. Results obtained in 30 enclosed areas throughout the state will be carefully studied to determine what types of browse will produce the most beneficial qua!ities for wildlife. It has been determined that domestic animals of various types and different species of wildlife prefer different types of feed. For that reason, a variety of wildlife and domestic animals should be able to sustain themselves on the same pasture land, providing the full variety of food is available there. Rodents, it was found, would collect seed before it had an opportunity to germinate and become established in areas of artificial seeding. This discovery launched an investigation into the effects of rodents on ~rowse production. Work is being done toward devising better methods of sampling range vegetation and developing it for the welfare of wildlife. Along with these investigations is another series on cutthroat trout reproduction and an evaluation of ·s~lake trout, being carried on in Garfield, Larimer and Grand counties. Project Costs Pittman-Robertson $182,428.57 June 30, 1956 Balance .....................- ..... Unused Balances, Completed projects ...............- ....... Apportionment, 19 57 ......•-···-••·..··-· $ 85,215.67 455,706.45 540,922.12 $723,350.69 New Projects Approved: Coordination - - - -..··-.............$ 41,985.00 Land ···-·-•....................- ••- ...•-••---····· 5 25.00 Research ....• - • • - - - - - - - - 173,962.50 Development - - - - - - - - 173,125.31 389,597.81 $333,752.88 Balance 6/30/58 - - - Dingell-Johnson June 30, 1956 Balance ............._............. Unused Balances, Completed projects ...,_ _ __ Apportionment, 1957 .......................... New Projects approved: Coordination · - - - - - - $ 4,665.00 Land 2,400.00 Development _............... 6 I, 796.53 • Research ···-----•··•·......-..... 4,200.00 $ $ 2,465.66 99,309.04 .oo 101,774.70 73,061.53 $ 28,713.17 Balance 6/30/58 ···-··-··-··-------·... 28 �Land Acquisition Projects Project No. Title Location W-8-L ........ Hot Sulphur . FW-3;.L ......Carey Dam FW-.4-L ...... Butte Lakes Acquisition W-86-L • .~•..:.Radium W-:84-L ..~..:.Billy Creek W-92-L ••-.Escalante F-·10-L ........Williams Creek Acquisition Hot Sulphur Las Animas Walden Radium Ridgway Delta Pagosa Springs Cost $ 67.32 26,178.47 1,006.66 30,000.00 18,061,50 40,981.07 14,000.00 $130,295.02 Development Projects F-4-D .......... Poose Lake Williams Fork F-8-D .......... Rito Hondo Reservoir F-12-D ...- ... Hahn's Peak Reservoir FW-5-D ...... Carey Dam F-21-D ........ Williams Creek Dam W-51-D ••-Sapinero Deer Winter Range W-56-0 •-•So. Platte Management Area W-59-D ...... Wildlife Habitat Improvement W-65-D ...... Mt. Evans Mgt. Area. W-69-D ...-So. Republican Area W-82-D ...... Devil Creek Turkey Area W-91-D ...... Brown's Park Deer W-93-0 ...... Nursery Headquarters W-96-D ...... Turkey Restoration W-97-D ...... Billy Creek Mgt. Area W-98-D ...... Little Hills Mgt. Area W-99-D ...... Hot Sulphur Mgt. Area W-102-D .... Mntce. of State Properties Creed Steamboat Springs Las Animas Pagosa Springs Sapinero Crook Ft. Collins Evergreen Bonny Reservoir Chimney Rock Brown's Park Ft. Collins So. Colorado Montrose Meeker Ho·t Sulphur Statewide Yampa 12,794.20 23,983,02 137.82 144,879.63 14,933.18 6,045.10 7,545.04 '26,714.27 3,093.44 6,526.53 3,357.16 4,606.87 4,106.46 18,129.62 3,776.91 50,973.26 2,462.04 330.18 $348.394.73 Research Projects Project No. W-37-R W-38-R W-41-R W-73-R Wildlife Species Title Grouse, pheasants, quail Deer and Elle Bighorn Sheep Spanish Red Legged ...... Game Bird Survey ...... Deer-Elk Investigations ...... Bighorn Sheep Survey ...... Exotic Game Birds Cost $ 24,300.73 60,770.66 7.029.36 1,044.00 Partridge W-79•R ......Wildlife Habitat Improvement Studies W-83-R W-88-R W-90-R W-95-R ...... Beaver Investigations ...... Waterfowl Investigations ...... Evaluation Habitat Improvement Pheasant, Quail, Rabbits Beaver Waterfowl Pheasants Sheep, Deer & Others Deer and Elk •-•Disease of Game ·J\.nimals W-101-R .... Game Range Investigations F-18-R ........ Evaluation of Cutthroat Trout in Trappers Lake inlets Cutthroat Trout F-19-R ........ Evaluation of Splake Trout Parvin Lake Splake Trout F-20-R ........ Investigations of Shadow Mountain Trout Fishery Rainbow Trout 26,268.54 6,459.85 17,718.08 10,162.38 13,303.56 9,130.04 150.00 ISO.OD 279.00 $176,187.20 Coordination Project No. Title FW-19-C .... Fish and Wildlife Management Cost $ 49,949,13 GRAND TOTAL 29 $691,405,08 �P UBLIC understanding and support of the Game and Fish Department's problems and ·objectives are the keys to sound management and full enjoyment of Colorado's wildlife resources. Our information and educational prog ram is presented through a variety of media: radio, television, ne~spapers, educational publications and illustrated lectures. The program is prepared and adfT!inistercd through the coordinated efforts of all sections within the div1s1on. Field offices, utilizing the same media, direct their information and educational program to the needs of their particular region. Below is found the information and education reports of the four regions, which are, in turn, followed by the reports of the various sections within the division. Southwt!sl Region: Field officers released to some 26 local newspapers a total of 5 7 special articles and reports on department activities. Five radio stations were utilized to broadcast 163 game and fish programs, for a total of 40 hours and 45 minutes of radio time. Six television programs pertaining to game and fish were televised over the Grand Junction station. Department movies were shown 102 times to 5051 persons. Total programs in schools and for youth organizations reached I 04. Slide lecture sets were shown 21 times to 9 56 persons. Religious, civic, sportsmen and stockmen meetings were addressed by regional speakers on 113 occasions. Northwest Region: Personnel in this area made 135 speaking engagements during the year, 64 of which were illustrated with color slides and 21 with movies. In add ition, 76 movies were shown where no talks were given other than question and answer periods following the films. Individuals viewing slide talks numbered 3788, while those viewing movies numbered 6841. This represents a continuing increase in contacts of this nature. About 150 weekly radio programs and 52 weekly TV shows were produced. Thirty-five newspaper stories were written and distributed to radio stations and newspapers. Such contacts are usually the job of the regional educator, but a wildlife conservation officer was responsible fo r programs over one station. In-service training for fieldmen included instruction in surveying proposed lake developments, making range surveys and in the use of department slide talks. Training was provided by regional staff members, including the regional educator in some instances. Northeast Region: Eight district wi ldlife conservation officers started weekly columns in regional newspapers to dispense information of local inter,!st. Readership of these columns has been very high and plans call for their c,)ntinuance in the fort hcoming year. In addition to the educator, regional personnel gave over 78 programs to assembled groups. One WCO gave 94 radio programs while another participated in 10 special TV shows in the Denver area. Other personnel gave four radio shows in addition to the above programs. Seventy-four speaking en30 �Shortage of funds prevented a formal in-service training school with classroom sessions, but the program of field train ing was continued. This included instruction in range management, identification of plants, surveying, mapping, etc. T hese programs are designed to provide better-trained, more helpful and courteous personnel. Direct lnqfliry: D irect inquiry activ ities include mail and telephone services. Over 50,000 letters requesting information on hunting, fishing, wildlife conservation and general information on Colorado were received and answered last year through the Denver office. Telephone inquiries h andled by the information desk mounted into hundreds during the fishing and hunting seasons, and constituted one of the depa rtment's more important means of contact with the public. Library: The department's library of books and publications on all subjects pertaining to game and fish continued to increase. In addition to the books permanently on hand in the Denver office, membership in the Bibliograph- gagements were made during the year, and motion picture films were shown to 294 groups. Sofltheast Region: Southeastern Colorado's 23 newspapers carried 387 feature stories and 2 L2 news items furnished by department personnel. Seven radio stations received 13 rad io tapes, while 19 game and fish half-hour programs were presented over KKTV, Colorado Spril)gs. This station is received by viewers in al l areas east of the mountains. KOA-TV, of Denver, carried eight half-hour programs. Game and Fish personnel made more than 121 speaking engagements and contributed to 191 other meetings held by groups interested in the proper management of our wi ld life resou rces. Movies prepared by the department are very popular. TV viewers numbering 250,000 saw them, as did 21,883 people by other means in a total of 212 showings. Teacher trammg for conservation education and classes for students from the elementary grades through college were continued. GEORGE ANDREWS Teachers le arn conservation ou t -of-doors in classe s taught by department personnel. 31 �May to Labor Day. The report was prepared from information- telephon ed in by fieldmen of the department. P11blirations The primary responsibility of the publications section is publishing "Col.orado Outdoors," the department's official magazine. It is issued six times a year on a subscription basis ( $1.oJ0 per year) as provided by Chapter 188, Session Laws of 1951. The law provides that the magazine pay its cost out of subscription revenue. Circulation as of the July-August issue, 1958 was 24,630- thc highest in its seven-year history. It is necessary to maintain ci rcu lation of the magazine by promotion. In th is capacity two renewal notices are always sent each subscriber. Several methods of subscription selling have been tri,~d. During the past year 60,000 direct mail appeals were sent out to potential subscribers with a good return- 8 per cent. Sales by department employes, especially at game check stations, have proved fairly successful. Newsstand sales in the Denver area average 800 per issue. The magazine received a second place award for over-all excellence from the American Association of Conservation Information. This was in competition with all of the state magazines in the nation. The publications section during the past year has also published and distributed 250,000 big game regulatic,ns, 400,000 fishing regulations, 175,000 small game regu lations, 5000 fur regulations and 2000 copies of the 1956-5 7 annual report. The section also provides mimeograph and addresso::;raph services and the storing and distribution of all office supplies for the entire department. A cartoon mat service for Color.ado newspapers was furnished to 90 weekly and daily newspapers in Colorado as time permitted. The service coni,ists of four "Wildlife Willie" cartoon mats wh ich illustrate the p rinciples of g:iod GEORGE AN0REWS Illustra tion for "Colorado Outdoors" and other department publication; is the work of the staff artist. ical Center for Research provides access to unlimited publications on a loan basis. Radio and Newspaper : The chief means of releasing news is the department's weekly newsletter. During the past year more than 2300 copies of this newsletter were mailed each week to local radio and television stations, and to some 80 state newspapers, federal and state agencies throughout the nation. In addition to the regular weekly releases on department activities, this section also released "spot" news on seasons and regulations as they were set. Another important duty of the section was the handling of legal advertising. Seasons and reg ulations of statewide application were legally advertised, once in a newspaper of general statewide circulation and o nce each in newspapers in the four sections of the state. The section also prepared and released a weekly (Thursday) statewide fishing report from the opening of the fishing season on the th ird Saturday in 32 �sportsmanship and conservation and important game and fish regulations. Visual Aids Film libraries are located in the Denver and regional offices. These libraries maintain distribution on 23 different motion pictures, 20 different film strips and six different slide sets. During the year all previous slide sets were maintained and distributed with outline scripts through the regional educators. In addition the following two new slide lectures were prepared by this section: Roads and Fishing; Deer Range. Slides were provided for use on television and as individual lecture aids. Television as an educational medium found extensive use throughout the year. Weekly television series were produced in Denver, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction. These pr?grams originate live, using film and slides as illustrative aids. In addition to regularly scheduled series department personnel contributed to many single programs throughout Colorado. Five different one minute film clips were produced for use on public service time. These were used on nine stations in Colorado and neighboring states that are within range of a Colorado audience. Work was continued on the beaver film production and scheduled for completion in December, 1958. A short fifm was produced on counting big game. Many department activities were photographed. Still photograp~s were taken of department construction and lake development projects. Still photographs were usea for news release, magazine illustrations, report illustrations, recorq material, displays, lecture aids, publicity material. During the year the following amounts of film were used by all department personnel taking photographs: 6000 feet 16 mm. Kodadirome; 2700 feet 16 mm. black and white film; 135 rolls black and white film ; 51 rolls 35 mm. color; 5 5 film packs. More than 5000 prints were produced by the Denver office. In-Service Training In-service training schools for all field personnel were conducted throughout the state by the regional educators. The Denver office staff provided materials and assisted in planning the training program. In addition to the field in-service training courses, a special in-service training program was carried on for the administrative and staff personnel of the department during January, with a monthly follow-up for three months. Field personnel were furnished two information leaflets per month pertaining to game and fish management. Conservation Education The Game and Fish Department and the Department of Education are cooperating in an effort to solve the two most important problems standing in the way of an effective conservation education program in the public schools. One problem concerns the shortage of teachers with background in conservation. The other is the lack of understanding and support by school administrators of a sound conservationeducation program. As a result, the office of Consultant in Conservation was set up, and a total of $15,000 was authorized from the Game Cash Fund to carry out the program. Workshops for school administrators and teachers were started, and the interest created has already resulted in conservation being integrated in the curriculum of many schools. In cooperation with game and fish personnel, two experimental school camping programs emphasizing the conservation of natural resources were initiated and met with considerable success. To further enlist the support of teachers and enhance their academic status, bulletins were sent to all schools listing courses in conservation e~uca~i?n given by the colleges and umvers1t1es in Colorado. 33 �_. ic*~wJ~** ~~ tonserr,ation l'ledye * -------- * Jf I give my pledge as an American to save and faithfully to defend from waste the natural resources of my country - its soil and minerals, its forests, waters, and wildlife. ,, � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/370f4d61145dd601e7661b1c7f7147b8.pdf ca25b4be3e7adf6b0f750bc665dfea2b PDF Text Text COLORADO GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT �ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 1958-1959 Conlents 2 13 14 19 Financial Report Personnel Game Management Fish Management Federal Aid ... Law Enforcement Fur Management Education . 24 27 30 33 Game a nd Fish Commission Jul:v 1, 1959 GOVERNOR STEVE McNICHOLS, E:1:-0fficio Dr. T. 0. Plummer. President Clarence W. Baker, Vire-President. Henry Bledsoe, Secretary C. Dewey Brown Pat Griffin .... . . Ralph L. White Parker Sooter Roy Eckles Montrose, District Denver, District Yuma, D1stnct Cortez, District Fort Collins, District Crnig, District .. Alamosa, Distnct Lamar, District 7 1 3 6 2 8 5 4 Game and Fish Department Staff THOMAS L. KIMBALL, Director LAURENCE E. RIORDAN. Deputy Director Guy V. Mclvm. William F. Hunn Wayne R. Seaman Gilbert N. Hunter A De>an Coleman Carwin D. Tolman John H. Morns Robert Elliott. Richard Teague Clois E. Till .. Robert L. Evans. Business Manager Chief Game Warden .. Fish Manager Game Manager .. Fur Manager Education Manager .....Personnel Manager Southeast Regional Manager Southwest Regional Manager Northeast Regional Manager ...Northwest Regional Manager Published by the Staff of Colorado Outdoors Magazine State of Colorado - Department of Game and Fish �STAT E OF COL ORADO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH 1 530 SHEAMAN S1'AE.ET DENVER I, COLORADO "f~lO MAS L. Kt MB ,.LL E)t:E (UTtVE DlftECTO R December 1, 1959 The Honorable Stephen L. R. McNichols Governor of Colorado State Capitol Building Denver, Colorado Dear Gove1·nor McNichols: Transmitted herewith you will find the annual report of Lhe operations of the Colorado Game and Fish Department for the fiscal year Jul y 1, 1958 to June 30, 1959. This report contains a summary of the problems and projec ts undertaken by the department in the fulfillment of its charge of managing and extending the State's wildlife re source. A detailed accounting of receipts and expenditures is also respectfully submitted, Very truly yours, ~~ Thomas L. Kimball Director �CAME CASH FUND Schedule of Income Month of June 1959 Resident Fur Dealer Guide Licenses Resident Fishing Resident F1sh1ng and Small Gome. Nonresident Fishing . Nonresident 5-Doy Fishing Nonresident Bird and Small Gome Resident Deer Resident Elk Nonresident Deer Nonresident Elk Resident Turkey Resident Trapper Nonresident Trapper Resident Antelope Resident Bear Mountain Sheep Nonresident Bear Resident Small Gome . Additional Rod Stomps Resident Deer Multiple Duplicate Licenses .. Nonresident Deer Multiple Special Nonresident License Importers ..... Lake Licenses Preserve Licenses Refuge Permits Seining Permits Storage Permits Taxidermists Transportation Permits .. Dog Trainers ... . Field Trials .... Scientific Permits Boot Permits Specimen Permits B,rd Pork licenses Quadruped Pork licenses Transfer Fees Special Fishing licenses Goroge Services .......... . Sale at Farm Products Sole of Hides (except Beover) Sale of Supphes and Materials Sale of Hides (Beaver) Sales of Beaver Togs . Rents from Land .. Two Buttes Manogement Area Court Fines ..... .. . Penalty Assessment Fines ... Penalty Assessment-Boord of Cla,ms Unclaimed Monies .. . .. .$ 50.00 231 ,632.00 249,110.00 45,620.00 16,968.00 320.00 59.50 320.00 180.00 366.00 187.00 273 .50 174.00 7.00 25.00 2.00 4.00 25.00 5 .00 1.00 370.00 2,711.31 4 85 448.14 240.00 882.43 4,316.62 Total Gross Income Less: License Agents Comm1ss,o"ns Total Net Inco me 2 Year- to-Dote Juno 30, 1959 $ 586.50 1,810 00_ 594,268.00 691,805.00 161,650.00 355.432.00 28,560.00 666,157.50 256,900.00 964, 120.00 294,950.00 2,950.00 1,736.00 75.00 27,370.00 1,820.00 5,300.00 3,500.00 75,772.00 800.00 49,770.00 1,382.75 1 12 ,597.50 240.00 425.00 5,692.26 62.00 2.00 78.00 2.00 240.00 1,383.00 5.00 218.20 22.00 4 .00 5.00 777.19 52.08 2.00 1,485.00 19,308.35 320.20 2,055.33 887.44 24,935.41 1,152.36 1,706.28 3,670.50 20,243.78 9 ,637.47 953.00 1.08 $ 554,302.35 29,314.50 $4,394,878.18 153,088.25 $ 524,987.85 $4,241,789.93 �HUNTING LICENSES 62 .83°4 Gome and Fish Deportment Income for 1958-59 Statement of Operations Month of June 19S9 June 30, 19S9 $ 554,302.35 29,314 50 $4,394,878.18 I 53,088.25 $ 524,987.85 $4,241 ,789 93 $ 1,757 35 2,597.32 1,539.52 29,861.04 1,896.06 12,156.93 21,656.89 30,606.35 1,937.18 3,437 .66 s 107,446.30 67,173 .55 71,420.23 65,550.65 57, 171.28 $1,313,523.38 505,345.91 574,904.13 394 .173.01 530,987.87 s 368,762.01 $3,318,934.30 6,794.15 18,802.68 249,259 18 230,456.36 Yeor-to-Dote Income Gross Income Less: License Agents Commissions Net Income Expense General Adm inistration Commissioners Director ....... . ..•••..•••.••..••.. Deputy Director ... .. Business Administrot 10n Personnel _ Conservotion-Educot,on Gome Management • Fish Management Low Enf orcement fur Resources Totol--Generol Northeast Region Northwest Region Southeast Region Southwest Region Total Administration Expense _ Other Incomc .......................•.............................................. Other Expense s Net of Opera! ions 144,217.31 $ s 7,677 66 28,581.35 21,493.67 393,763.11 19,256.65 157.042.56 21/4,892.81 336,009.67 21.967. 11 62,838.79 941,658.45 Note; Oetoi Is for each of the figures above shown ore set forth on occompony,ng 5Chedules. 3 �Schedule of Expenses Month of June 1959 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Commissioners Director Deputy Director $ Business Adminidrotion Georgetown Lit1gotion Business Monoger Accounting . •••••••. .••• •···········-· Federol Aid Automotive Attorney •••• • _ ··-·····-·········- ······-··· • s ----- Conservation-Education Radio ond News .. Education -s $ 486.19 7,677.66 28,581.35 21,493.67 57,752~68 118.04 67,377.36 53,697.25 17,976.tJ• 1,82140 30,698.70 2,437.23 21,864.36 28,056.26 26,496.58 12,732.21 30.425.36 3,68 I .29 72,222.22 35.67' 19,346.00 40,000.00 486.19 314.46 $ 29.861 .04 $ 1,896.06 5 393,763.11 $ 19,256.65 $ 1,896.06 $ 19,256.65 $ 3,328.98 8,827.95 $ 50,975.84 I 06,066.72 $ I 2,156.93 $ I 57,042.56 .. $ 2,396.35 7,176.46 220.88 8,398.25 3,464.95 $ 35,927.77 17,425.57 5,562.68 60,771.50 145,205.29 $ 21,656.89 $ 264,892.81 2,843.05 $ ----- • lndicotes Red Figures s 7,374.56 7,375.85 818.13 137.68 2,189.48 266.05 1,921.77 2,244.76 2.254.58 1,250.09 I ,118.99 622.97 1,865.22 65.28" License ond Revenue ...•. ............................ Engineer ......... ... . Property ond Supply Office Mointenonce ond Operot10n Goroge • Warehouse o• Tronsportot1on Aeriol Beechcrott .. Federal Aid Disallowed Items Business Administration-State's Shore to Retirement Workmen's Compensotion-"E" Fund Reimbursement for Administrative "H" Services Contingenc1es----"X" Fund ... ... Study outhorized by General Assembly . Personnel 1,757.35 2,597.32 1.539.52 5,894.19 Yeor-to-Dote June 30, 1959 Gome Management Admln1strotion Aeriol Qperot1on ... . .. Gome Cooperotove--"T" Fund Gome Domoge Awords-"Z" Fund Pittmon-Robertson Matching Fund t Fish Manage m ent Administration Fish Pothology Fish Research Construction-Mointenonce Worm Weter Fish 6,648.05 5,504.65 6,900.57 1,445.75 6,777.35 486.93 Los Animas .. .. Fishing Cooperotive--"S" Fund Dingell-Johnson Matching Fundt . $ t 38,147.37 60,171.60 55,183.29 59,747.64 6,206.02 18,521 .64 98,032. I 1 30,606.35 State's Shore (25%) of Monthly Billing to the Federol Government on Pro1ect Expenditures by the Federol Aid Division. Low Enforcem ent Adm,nistrohon ......... ........ ·····-···· ...... Fur Resources Adm1nistrot1on $ 1,937 18 $ 1.937.18 $ s Predotory Animal Control-"Y" Fund 4 $ 21,967.11 $ 21,967.1 I I ,400.78 2,036.88 $ 14,500.13 48,338.66 3,437.66 s 62,838.79 ------ �Month of June 19S9 Year-lo-Pote June 30, 19S9 Northeast Region s Reg,onol Coordinator Bonny Dom .... Parvin Lake ...... Regional Conservot,on Officers Regional Fish Manager Regional Ftsh Biologist Bel,vuc-Ft, Collins .. Denver Estes Park North Fork Thompson Poudre Wolden 4,446.70 105.2S 156.87 15,574.47 1,405.90 1,599.16 6,046.76 5,182.67 9,252.65 7,282.81 8,287.02 502.19 1,299.40 $ 47,629.60 2 ,276.92 1,520.71 164,725.87 9 ,870.93 10,543.60 27,294 40 42.173 29 33,214.47 34,528.52 44,089.97 6,351 .29 46,632.85 2,953. 11 16,319.39 440.50 5,981.97 8,798.52 67,173.55 $ 505,345.91 1,662.23 19,598.81 864.23 568.89 7,824.57 10,459.33 2,927.70 I ,203.63 S 757.66 20,120.63 193,626.64 10,039.30 6,241 .99 32,335.80 40,713.33 33,046.30 8,253.40 414.70 188,383.71 968.93 343.64 21.01 800.02 841.00 45.00 9,724.83 18,616.86 1,232.91 195. 10 361.20 673.60 7,904.23 $ 71,420.23 S 574,904.13 •••• . $ 2,211 .46 11,990.02 10,846.25 632.04 2, 113.34 14,697.41 2,778.16 16,383.67 40.39 $ W ray Lake John .... Regional Gome Mane. Evergreen .. Mt. Evans Regional Educator 4,187.14 12.50 1,085.35 746.71 $ Northwest Region Regional Coordinator Reg1onol Conservation Officers Regional Fish Manager ...... . Regional Fish Biologist Bel-Aire Rearing Unit Crystal River . Finger Rock ...... Glenwood Springs WIiiow Creek Rifle Falls Meadow Creek Hart Lake Bailey Lake Trappers Lake Mock Mesa .. Vaughn Lake Regional Game Manager Aerial Operat ion .. ltttle Hills ..•.. _ .. Hahn's Peak ... Northwest Square "S" Green Mount ain Reservoir Regional Educator .. 22,971.43 57 .94 83 .87 808.60 1,631.34 Southeast Region Regional Coordinator Regional Conservation Officers Regional Fish Manager Regional Fish Biologist Buena Vista Chalk Cit ffs .. Leadville Mt Shavano Rye Aptshapo, Southeast Huerfano Twin Lakes Regional Game Manager Rocky Ford Game Bird Farm T arryal 1--Game Two Buttes Karval Reservoir Regional Educator 200.73 79-4 .58 1,401.89 245.65 135.93 300.00 779.13 S 5 65,550.65 21,386.64 121,633.79 20,242.03 6,211.96 18,781.33 61 ,277.93 16,387.20 87,010.54 771.05 634 63 479,93 209.08 9 ,923 .64 14,204.G7 1, 123.83 4,328.'2 300.00 9 ,266.64 S 394,17301 �Month of June 19S9 Southwest Region Regional Coord1notor Gunnison loke City Reg10nol Conservation Officers Reg10nol Fish Monoger Regional Fish Biologist Cedaredge Chlpeto Dolores Durango Hovilond loke lo Jore Pitkin R10 Grand~ Ponds Williams Creek loke Big Blue, Southwest R1to Hondo Del Norte Sego Springs Reg10nol Gome Monoger Trujillo Meadows Andrews loke Sweitzer loke Rood Canyon Reg10nol Educator s Yeor-t o-Dole June 30, 19S9 3,263.16 19.47 24.83 18,288.74 1,024.03 748.78 3,214,38 2,365.38 2,300.86 1,866.01 s 21,792.01 289.31 727 78 196,702.27 15,104 79 7,475.48 32,490.39 30,075.80 27,693.48 47,805.55 1,540.02 15,953,57 63,421.30 29,378,63 407.74 1,078.26 15,482.32 602.00 200.00 13,006.04 100.00 56.55 388.88 1,085.16 8,130.54 $ 530,987.87 1,261.50 16,177.24 5,050.98 19.20 759.77 786.95 $ 57,171.28 $ 898.69 256.40 $ 21 71 3,923 16 Came Cash Fund Balance Sheet June 30, 1959 Assets CURRENT ASSETS Cash Cash on deposit-State Treasurer Re ceivables s 3,205, I 09 .60 Accounts receivable-Justice of the Peace Accounts receivable-License agents I, 155.09 Due from Other Funds Stores Revolving Fund Federal Aid Revolving Fund 3,944.87 s TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 3,210.209.56 OTHER ASSETS Investment in Stores Revolving Fund $ Investment 1n Federal Aid Revolvino Fund DEFERRED EX PENSES Deposits 1n Postage Meter Machine Smell Tools and Expendable Equipment $ 250,000.00 750,000.0'.J I ,000,000.00 4,380.34 I 40,078.87 144,459.21 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMEN T Automobiles ... .$ 155,826.95 Farm and Gorden Equipment 220,303.39 General Pion! Equipment 516,877.46 Household Furniture end Equipment 35,042.27 Laboratory Equipment 16,630.14 Library and Instructional Equipment 32,480.39 Motor Vehicles end Equipment 926,809.74 Office Furniture or,d Equipment 132,378.98 Recreation Equipment 780.85 Shop Machinery and Equipment 34,252.19 Comping Equ,pment 49,496.37 Air Equipment 371.00 Remodeling, Ma10r Repairs end Replacement cf Structur,;s Buildings and Structures 1,633,794.66 3,117,612.45 land and Non-Structural Improvements Sub-Total Equity in Federal Aid Property, Plant end Equipment 6 .$6,872,656.84 704,526.27 $ 7,577,183.11 �BUDGETARY AND OTHER FUND RESOURCES E<tornated Revenues $4,423,085.16' Revenues-Cash I terns S 3,786,700.00 Memo only ofter closing 4,488,96944') 65,884.28" Revenues-Non-Cash Iterns TOTAL ASSETS SI 1,931,851.88 =- • Indicates Red Figures Lio bi Ii ties CURRENT LIABILITIES Payables Reserve for Encumbronces--Prior Years 600.32 1,260.89 1,820.47 167,600.02 Reserve for Encumbronces-Pdor Years PI ti man-Robertson 31,484.00 $ Accounts Payable-Counties Share Accounts Payable-License Agents Accounts Poyob:e-Stote General Fund Reserve for Encumbrances-Prior Years 725.87 4,765.11 Dingell-Johnson Accrued Payrolls Due to Other Funds Stores Revolving Fund Federal Aid Revolving Fund Due to Colorado Conservoticn Fund $ $ 208,256.68 s 284,I 67.94 74,887.65 932.61 t 91.00 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 75,911 .26 BUDGETARY AND OTHER FUND OBLIGATIONS Appropriations Current Year Personal Services $ Maintenance and Operations Capital Outlay C-(601-617) C-1 Automobiles and Station Wagons C-3 Continuing Cop11al Travel ond Subsistence Hunt 1ng and Fishing Special Funds 11,887.18 185,819.34 27,312.78 4,920.11 n,509.96 8,113.51 2,000.00 59,404 71 $ 391,967.59 Prior Years P1ttmon-Roberlson Dingell-Johnson $ 101,040.81 12,567.34 113,608.15 505,575.74 Encumbrance s Operating Expense Capitol Outlay Unbilled AdvancesP,t tmon-Roberts~n Unbilled AdvancesDmgell-Johnson s 120,885.76* 46,714.26· $ 167,600.02 • 31,484.00· 725.87' 32.209 87 • S I 99,809.89' RESERVES AND SURPLUS ... S 1,000,000.00 2,764,734.98 .. 7,577,183.11 Reserve for Work,ng Cop,tal Unappropriated Surplus Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets Sl 1.931,851.88 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS t l 1,341,918.09 In Trans,t Warrant Na. 70492 Vo No. 7918 $3,951.88 • Indicates R<!d Figures 7 �Federal Aid Revolving Fund Bolonce Sheet June 30, 1959 Assets Cash on Deposrt-Stote Treasurer S 456,8<40.52 Rece,vobles PittmonRobertson s Due from Federal Government Due from Gome Cash Fund 145,414.61 4,397 56 Unboiled Advances. Due from Federal Government Due from Game Cash Fund 94,451.99 31,484.00 Dingell• Johnson s 18,091.44 486.93 l 63 506.05 4 ,884.49 2,177.60 725.87 96,629 .59 32,209 .87 Property, Plant and Equipment 2.113,578.89 Unexpended Balances on Pro1ects ,n Process 453,737.62 Unallocated Appropriated Funds-New Projects 454,319.36 1,954.73 TOTAL ASSETS $3,321,387.03 ---- Liabilities s Reserve for Encumbrances Pittman• Robertson Due to Gome Cash Fund s 40,267.14 DingellJohnson 3,923.16 3,923.16 Due to Stores Revolving Fund 103.31 Equity of Gome Cash Fund 750,000.00 Surplus invested in Fixed Assets 2,113,578.89 44 05 Refunds of Uncloomed Warrant Monies Appropriations Avo1lab'e--Projects 1n Process: T otol Allotments Less. Expenditures to Date 1,053,183.75 656,058.44 503,001.25 446,388.94 Less; Encumbrances Outstanding 3y7 125.31 38,791.68 56,612.31 1,475.46 Net. Approprootoons Avooloble 358,333.63 55.136.85 492,980.20 38,843 21 7,061.39 5,200.00 454,136.99 1,861.39 182.37 93.34 454,319.36 1,954.73 Sub-total Appropriations Avaoloble-New Projects. From Anticipated Revenues Less: Current Pro1ect Appropr1ot1ons Sub-total 413,470.48 Add: Unused Balances on Completed Net Pro1ects. Approproat,ons Avo,loble $3,321,387 ,03 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLt:S 8 �Federal Aid Projects Income Account Balance Sheet June 30, 1959 Assets Cosh on Deposit-State Treasurer Property, Plant and Equipment TOTAL ASSETS $ 35,750.17 460.00 S 36,210.17 s 4,804.22 460.00 Liabilities Accounts Payable Surplus Invested 1n Fixed Assets Surplus: Balance June 30, 1958 Plus Net of Operations, June 30, 1959 s 15,602.43 20,147.74 $ 35,750.17 4,804.22 Less· Current Year's Encumbrances 30,945.95 Adjusted Surplus TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS $ - 36,210.17 Statement of Operations Month of June 1959 Income Rents on Lends Sale of Form Products Annual Parking Fees Refund of Expenditures $ 2,000.00 Yeor-to-Doto June 30, 1959 $ 988.01 TOTAL INCOMES 21,667.05 4,816.13 4,172.01 17.09 $ 2,988.01 s 743.00 172.32 118.40 460.00 743.00 6,136.44 3,185.10 1,033.72 10,524.54 $ 30,672 28 ---- Expenses Cop,tol Outley Solones Mo1ntenonce ond Operot,on Supplies and Materials $ TOTAL EXPENSE s NET OF OPERATIONS 1,954.29 s 20,147.74 cc:. 9 �Willow Creek Fund Bolonee Sheet June 30, 1959 Assets S Cash on Oeposit-5,tate Treasurer TOTAL ASSETS 2113 75 .. ••._. _$____ --:.... - _2_9-=3=.7=5 Liobilities Surplus; Balance June 30, 1958 Plus Net of Op:>ro . on JJ,, : 3·J, I-!:,, s 161.50 132.25 293 75 Adjusted Surplus s TOTAi. LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS 293.75 Stotement of Operotions Income s Boot Permits Annual Parki ng s TOTAL INCOME 2.00 $ 42.00 90.25 2.00 $ 132.25 2.00 $ 132:b $ S 38,161.06 91.00 38,252.06 $ 25,197.32 -$ 13,054.74 38,252.06 -- Expe nses Supplies 0'1d Mote11ols TOTAL EXPENSES NET OF OPERATIONS Year-to-Dote June 30, 19S9 Month of June 19S9 s -: Colorado Conservation Fund Bolonce Sheet June 30, 1959 Assets Cash on DePosit- Stotc Treasurer Due from Other Funds-Gome Cash Fund TOTAL ASSETS Liobilities Subscr,pt1on.t Po1d 1n Advance Surplus: Bo'once June 30, 1958 Plus Net of Operot,ons Ju:-,~ 30, 1959 Adjusted Surp'us TOTAL LIABILITIE, $ 9,431.79 3,622 95 ;:_ - -- Stotement of Operations Income Subs.er ,pt ions Earned TOTAL INCOME Month of June 19S9 S 2,464.46 ~s ~464.46 Ycor-to-Date June 30, 19S9 S 26,950.69 -$ Expenses Printing Postcg"? Supplies TOT AL EXPENSE NET OF OPERATIONS s $ = 26,950ffi 20,800.54 2,520.00 7.20 23,327.74 - 3,622.9~ �Fishing Easement Fund Balance Sheet June 30, 1959 Assets Cash on Deµos,t-Stote Treasurer 2,000.00 TOTAL ASSETS 2,000.00 Liabilities Surplus: Balance June 30, 1958 Net of Operations June 30, 1959 $ 695.75 1,304.25 2,000.00 AdJusted Surplus 2,000.00 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS Statement of Operations Month of June 1959 Income Year-to-Dote June 30, 1959 19,304.25 $ 19,304.25 $ Transferred from Gome Cash Fund TOTAL INCOME Expenses Expenses $ 18,000.00 TOTAL EXPENSES $ 18,000.00 NET OF OPERATIONS $ 1,304.25 $ 110,410.07 Stores Revolving Fund Balance Sheet June 30, 1959 Assets Cash on Deµosit-Stote Treasurer Due from Other Funds: Gome Cash Fund Federal Aid Revolving Fund Inventories: Stores on Hand Stores 1n Transit ~ TOTAL ASSETS .. $ 74,887.65 1,162.46 63,551.66 _ _83,265.31 $ 76,050.11 146,816.97 $ 333,277.15 Liabilities $ Accounts Payable Due to Gome Cash Fund . Equity of Gome Cash Fund . Inventory Ad1ustment Account TOTAL 83,265.31 21.71 250,000.00 9.87" S 333,277.15 LIABILITIES NOTE· Th15 fund will hove neither income nor expenses and hence, no Statement of Operations. • lnd1cotes Red Figure 11 �Bonny Dam Fund Balanee Sheet June 30, 1 9S9 Assets s Cash on Depos1t-Stote Treasurer 3,997.36 TOTAL ASSETS Liabilities Surplus. Bolonce June 30, 1958 Net of Operations June 30, 1959 Decreo.se in $ 708.36 3,113.00 3,821.36 17600 Encumbrances Ad1usted Surplus 3,997.36 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS Statement of Operations Income Boot Perm1h Annual Porkin;i Soles-Form Products Rents--Lond TOTAL INCOME S Month of June 1959 490.00 217.00 35.00 S 742.00 Expe nses Supplies and Materials Wages ot Laborers Stole's Shore lo Retirement M01ntenonce and Operot,on Yeor-to-Dote June 30, 1959 1,313.00 700.50 602.30 3,135 18 $ 131.58 192.00 11 .52 335 l 0 s 2,637 98 = $= = = 406_ .9_0 $ 3,113.00 S 2,020.25 S 2,020.25 TOTAL EXPENSE S NET OF OPERATIONS 198 32 2,189.50 36.12 214.04 Creen Mounta in Fund Balanee Sheet June 30, 1 9S9 Assets Cash on Depasit-Stote Treasurer TOT AL ASSETS . Liabilities Surplus. Balance June 30, 1958 Net of Operations June 30, 1959 s 994.00 1,026.25 Ad1usted Surplus 2,020.25 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLl'S $ 2,020.25 Statement of Operations Income Boot Permits Annual Parking TOTAL INCOME $ Month of June 1959 86.0:J S 86.00 $ 86.00 ==== Expe nses Supplies and Moterools TOT AL EXPENSES NET OF OPERATIONS 12 Year-to-Dote June 30, 1959 857.00 169.25 S �administration continued to become an everincreasing factor in the over-all functioning of the department. Probably much of the impetus behind the departmeRt's program was due to the Governor's desire to improve and modernize general personnel practices in the state service and to an organizational study by the Wildlife Management Institute. The personnel office, cooperating with the chief of education, organized and conducted an extensive in-service training program for all male employes in the department. The sessions were held at Lowry Air Force Base and each special phase was conducted by professionally trained instructors. Shortly after the general sessions, a supervisory training school was set up and conducted by William B. Morse of the Wildlife Management Institute. As a result of these programs and the importance attached to training, the Game and Fish Commission directed the department to set up a training officer's position. This has been done and it is the firm hope that with the additional help and the cooperation of the various divisions, the personnel division may now develop a continuing year round program which will make available to all P employes the training materials, books, pamphlets, etc., needed to prepare themselves for higher level positions, but primarily to assist them in doing a better job in their present position. Also, an occupational survey was started. If accepted, it will on completion establish an even better organizational structure along with salary increases for long time employes who otherwise would be at their maximum salaries. In addition to these time-consuming activities, the personnel office processed the normal day to day work such as classification reviews, establishing new positions, abolishing positions, taking care of examinations, certifications, appointments, transfers, leaves, maintenance of files, merit ratings, etc. An average of at least four to five interviews a day was handled, along with the usual consultations and advising of employes on everything from personal loans to domestic affairs. Even though the work load continually increases on the personnel division, it is always a comfort to know that although you cannot possibly satisfy all employes, at least a day does not pass that you have not helped someone. ERSONNEL 13 �vidual herds are still on an increase in spite of continued concentrated harvesting efforts. In the San Luis Valley the antelope have mcreased considerably and during the 1958 hunting season we experienced our first season on these transplanted big game animals with a 100 per cent success ratio. These restoration measures have continued to pay off and the number of permits allowed in the area have been quadrupled. In 1958 the first chukar season in history was held in Colorado. The season was well planned and as a result we have learned much about management techniques in the management and harvesting of this species. Escalante Canyon, near Delta, provided the greatest huntable populations even though many other areas were hunted. Percentage of the state's small game kill taken in this region is as follows: ducks16 per cent; sage and sharptail grouse-46 per cent; pheasants16 per cent; ptarmigan-40 per cent; cottontail rabbits-24 per cent. Northwest Region: Population inventories, range surveys, determination of harvests and obtaining hunter access were important game management functions during the year. Nearly all aerial trend counts of the Game Management Division are concentrated on achieving the one main objective for which sportsmen will consider their license money well spent. That goal is the production of a harvestable surplus of game. Game animals and the game managers are literally in the jaws of a closing vise-an increasing number of hunters on one hand and continued expansion of farming activity on the ot her. Of the two, the latter is the graver problem. As game is deprived of its natural habitat and forage it tends to die of disease and starvation. Following are the reports by region on the department's game management activities. Included also is a statewide summary of game harvest: E FFORTS Regional Re ports Southwest Region: This region continues to hold the spotlight on harvest of bear and elk. During the 1958 big game season this quarter of the state provided 57 per cent of the total elk kill and 69 per cent of the total state bear kill. This heavy bear population, by the way, is also reflected in damage claims entered by stock raisers in this area. Mild winters have helped our big game herds to come through with light mortality and in many areas indi14 �Gaining access to public lands by acquisition of rights-of-way through private lands showed considerable progress this year. Northeast Region: Alternate antlered onlv and either sex deer seasons appear to be holding populations at desirable levels over most of the area involved. Range problems still exist in North Park and other localized areas but 1959 hunting seasons are expected to alle\'iate some of these. Elk are increasing, particularly in the Mt. Evans, Estes Park, Bull Mountain and North Park areas. Special hunting seasons for 1959 have been set in an effort to level off these population advances. An tel op e counts show an alarming downward trend. Hunting permits have been sharply reduced and a close check will be maintained on these animals. An experimental late season bighorn sheep hunt, given a try in of major elk herds indicated they had increased slightly or had remained fairly stable in numbers. This indicates that the validation system for harvesting antlerless elk has proven to be successful in that it provides a high sustained annual harvest without drastic fluctuations in the size of herds. The most intensive range production and utilization transect studies ever undertaken on deer and elk winter ranges in this region were conducted in cooperation with the U. S. Forest Service and the U. S. Bureau of Land Management. Findings from these studies had significant bearing on big game season recommendations from the field, and represent one more step toward realistic management based on biological facts. P u b 1 i c meetings were held again this spring for the purpose of providing the public with a resume of big game management practices. Charts, colored slides and movies were utilized in the;;e meetings to gain public acceptance of progressive game management practices. The 1958 deer and elk seasons were highly successful, with a deer harvest as heavv as two years ago, which surprised many people who feared we had overharvested the deer during the most liberal of all deer seasons in 1957. Antelope and bighorn sheep seasons were successful also; antelope area number one, however, had to be reduced in size to compensate for an eastward shift of the population. Two transplanted antelope herds in Mesa County continued to provide good hunting for a limited number of hunters. Valuable game manage ment dot:, is obtained through check station studies of big game. 15 �two areas, was very successful. Hunters were able to take rams where they previously had been underharvested. The 1958 pheasant season was by far the best in 12 years of record keeping. Prospects for the approaching season are very encouraging. Qua i 1 hunting is becoming more popular each year. Last season was very rewarding for these nimrods also. Several hundred scaled quail were trapped in the Southeast Region and transplanted in the Bonny DamWray area. If they continue to thrive as they have to date, a new area should be opened to the hunting of this species. Grouse and rabbit hunting continues to be good, particularly in North Park for grouse and in the South Platte Valley for cottontails. G a m e damage has been a greater problem in this region in 1958-59 than in any recent year. Southeast Region: Deer harvest and the related hunting pressure increased noticeably over the previous four years. This could be attributed to an increase in the deer population and a less liberal deer season on the Western Slope that prompted sportsmen to hunt closer to home. General belief and knowledge among laymen and game managers respectively that upland bird populations were definitely higher was supported by the above normal harvest of pheasants and scaled quail in southeastern Colorado. Trend counts of bird populations indicate an even better hunting season in 1959. Antelope, b i g h o r n sheep, grouse and turkey seasons were considered about normal in the amount of harvest realized. This in spite of reduced antelope permits in certain areas where a temporary setback resulted from severe blizzards and dust storms the previous year. Although bighorn sheep hunters were held to a % curl limitation they enjoyed considerable success. According to fieldmen, blue grouse are abundant in forested areas but sportsmen ordinarily hunt them in the accessible areas adjacent to roads and trails. They are ignored throughout the greater portion of its vast forest range. Some opposition was voiced against the daily pit charge of 50c per hunter in the Two Buttes Management area, but a poll of participating hunters indicated that the pit-fee was well accepted. Each hunter checked in is assigned a pit location that assures him of a day's shooting free from many petty and intolerable situations that formerly existed. The fee pays for improvements in facilities, trash removal, etc. S tatewide Kill S ummary Deer: Deer killed last year totaled 84,237, with a success ratio of 74.7 per cent based on number of hunters. Multiple (two deer) areas accounted for 15,831 of those deer; 2840 were from preseason areas and 24,034 were taken from post and extended season areas. Garfield County led all the rest in the number of deer killed with a total of 10,591. Rio Blanco was a close second with 9869; Mesa had 6719; Eagle was fourth with 5268 and Moffat followed with 4415. Archery hunting was more popular than the year before, with 1500 licenses issued. Re16 �turned cards showed 242 deer killed with a hunter success ratio of 16 per cent. Elk: Hunters showed a success ratio of 27.5 per cent in their elk kill, which is 5.47 per cent above last year. Elk killed totaled 8598 in 1958 and 8330 validations were issued. Of the validation holders 4.2 per cent took bulls. Gunnison County accounted for the largest number of elk killed with a total of 852. Rio Blanco was next with 703, followed by La Plata with 674; Routt with 671 and Garfield with 590. Bear: Bear harvested in Colorado in 1958 totaled 584, compared with 552 in 1957. Bear licenses issued fell six below the number sold in the previous year for a total of 618. Twenty-four more bears were taken on special licenses than in 1957, with 109 bear accounted for. Antelope: In the 1958 antelope season, 2715 licenses were sold, compared with 4021 in 1957. These license holders killed 2262 antelope with a success ratio of 84 per cent, compared with 82 per cent last year. Last year 66 per cent of the kills were made the first day of the season while this year the first day accounted for 74 per cent of the kill. J anuary, 1959, is not included in these figures. Bighorn Sheep: Two hundred twenty sheep licenses were allowed and 212 were sold with a kill of 51 sheep reported for a hunter success ratio of 24 per cent, compared with 27.5 in 1957 and 18.6 in 1956. Waterfowl: Waterfowl hunters, judged by the sale of duck stamps, amounted to 36,397, who bagged an estimated 206,015 ducks or 48,572 less than in the The deportment furnishe s fencing to ranchers to keep deer from eating hoystocks in winter, previous year. The average season duck bag per hunter was 6.1 birds; down .7 per cent from last year. While mallards were still in the lead for birds bagged, the take was 21.4 per cenl below the previous four-year average. Baldpate and gadwall bags showed the biggest increase with 621.2 and 335.4 per cent respectively. An estimated 13,043 hunters bagged 17,477 geese or a per hunter average of 1.34 birds, an increase of .10 over the previous year. The four-year (1954-57) average is 12,944. A wounding loss of 22.3 per cent, or 5016 birds, brought the total estimated hunting mortality to 22,493, compared with 19,062 in the previous year. In 1957 the wounding loss amounted to 23.5 per cent. Increases in water areas and the number of wintering geese in Colorado may account for the growing number of birds taken each season. Southeastern Colorado again accounted for the 17 �6.37 rabbits, higher than in any largest number of geese killed in the various regions. Baca County was in the lead with 7970 or 45.6 per cent of the total. Kiowa and Prowers counties were next in line. Nine counties in southeastern Colorado yielded 15,205 of the total number of geese killed in the state. They were Kiowa, Prowers, Bent, Crowley, Otero, Baca, L~s Animas, Huerfano and Pueblo counties. of the previous three years. There were only 4529 hunters who went out for snowshoe rabbits, but they took 3.21 per bag for a total of 14,810 which is 4701 below last year. Aerial Operations Four airplanes are used by the department with three planes on the Western Slope and one on the Eastern Slope, but the planes are flown statewide when the occasion demands. Planes were used in counting animals as well as in hazing them away from crops where they were reported doing damage. Helicopters, loaned to the department and piloted by Air Academy men, flew 292.0 hours in game management work with department observers. In game and fish administration work, a total of 236.9 hours were flown in department planes. Law enforcement accounted for 119.1 hours of flying time. Education administration required only 5.0 hours, photography .8 while other activities under this heading, including search and rescue work, fire patrol, fire flights and cross country accounted for 44.4 hours. Flights made for the Federal Aid Administration re q u ired 163.0 hours. This included beaver and waterfowl flights. Game management accounted for 533.4 hours, including antelope damage control and work on beaver and fur projects. During these flights 14,201 elk were counted on trend areas. These are not total counts, but cover sample areas in all elk regions of the state. Fish management required 72.4 hours of flying time. Upland Game Birds and Rabbits: A general resume of hunt- ers and the harvest by species is: 91,625 hunters reported bagging 245,555 pheasants. This is not onlv a new record in the number of hunters but also in the number of pheasants bagged. The average bag of 2.60 pheasants is also a record. A kill of 152,337 doves was reported by 18,376 hunters, for an average of 8.29 doves for the season's bag which is down from the 13.80 average of 1956. Quail hunters, numbering 10,517 brought in 117,745 birds or a11 average season bag of 6.56, or .31 below the 1956 bag. Sage and sharptail gr o use hunters did better than last year by bagging an average of 1.66 birds against 1.56 the year before. This was below the 1956 average of 2.11. Fewer hunters went after grouse in 1958. There were only 7102 who accounted for 11,789 grouse. In 1956, 6683 hunters took 13,700 grouse. Numbers of hunters taking blue grouse and p t a r m i g a n dropped slightly, from 12,172 in 1957 to 10,189 last year, but the kill averaged 1.44 per bag, with 14,570 birds taken. Cottontail hunters j u mp e d from 48,578 hunters in 1957 to 60,401 in 1958. They bagged 384,754 rabbits or an average bag of 18 �tion and rehabilitation, much has been done in the past year. Three small lakes about five miles south of Montrose, known as Chipeta Lakes, were purchased, and after rehabilitation have given some excellent fish catches. Rehabilitation work involved rip-rapping the river channel, rechanneling portions of the Uncompahgre River, new headgates, weed and rough fish control and restocking. An agreement with the irrigation company controling Gurley Reservoir in San Miguel County assured perpetual easement to the reservoir by the public. This was granted in exchange for graveling of the dam, providing an access road and installing a cattle guard provided by the department. Regional equipment was again utilized to build a small fishing pond in a natural basin on the Billy Creek Management Area in Ouray County. Williams Creek Reservoir in southern Hinsdale County was finally completed and has been heavily stocked with fish. It should provide excellent fishing in 1960. Other new acquisitions include Brown Lakes on the upper Rio Grande and a portion of the Rio Grande River below Wagonwheel Gap and the purchase of the Oscar Dressel ranch in Dolores County, north of Cortez, opens fishing on Big and Little of three fishing lakes and the acquisition of four private properties, adding 600 acres to Colorado's public fishing waters, highlighted fishery management during the past fiscal year. C OMPLETION Regional Reports Southwest Region: Most fish production units in the southwest region are operating at full capacity. New construction plus acquisition of supplemental water from Quartz Creek have put the Pitkin unit back on full schedule. Work completed on dirt raceways at the Dolores unit improved handling and planting of trout while completion of the new hatchery building at Durango permitted handling of a capacity load of trout eggs during the winter and spring of 195859. A reduced water supply continues to jeopardize both the La J ara and Monte Vista units, threatening them wtih closure unless economical supplemental water is obtained. Engineering has been completed to alleviate a similar problem at the Chipeta rearing unit near Hotchkiss where it is hoped a new pipeline from the North Fork of the Gunnison will supplement springwater flows. In lake development, acquisi19 �ment. Investigations were continued on high lakes and streams to determine the possibility of getting more privately controlled waters opened to public fishing. E r a d i c a t i o n of rough fish through chemical treatment was done on the inlet streams to the new Williams Fork Reservoir, after which it was stocked with trout. It should provide some excellent fishing when opened to the public next spring. Spawn - taking operations at Granby Reservoir in the fall of 1958 netted 3,500,000 kokanee salmon eggs, while 1,200,000 native cutthroat trout eggs were taken at Trappers Lake during the spring of 1959. Creel census results showed that fishing was good to excellent, despite an increase in fishing pressure in the region. Landowners in this region opened 60 acres of private lakes and 30.5 miles of streams on private land to public fishing in the past year. Other work done in this region includes enlarging the dams on Bailey and Swede lakes; marking the parking area at Willow Creek Reservoir with large boulders; doing some road work, including a short access road to a camping area adjacent to Cataract Creek at Green Mountain Reservoir; and improving some boat launching facilities. Northeast Region: Fishery research projects conducted in this region have done much to improve fishing conditions in northeastern Colorado. These studies include investigations on Lake John to try to alleviate winter kill. Another study involves growth and condition of kokanee salmon in Carter, Lake Estes, Horsetooth, Chambers and Big The re aring and stocking of trout is necessa ry in light o f the incre a sing fishing pressure. Fish Creeks, tributaries of the Dolores. Stream improvement structures are being planned on these headwaters. Studies have been made on some promising lake sites to get engineering and biological data as to the feasibility of creating lakes in these areas. Northwest Region: Making more waters available to the fishing public and fish cultural operations were the main activities of the Fish Division in the northwest region. Two more lake development projects were completed in the area. Meadow Lake and Hahns Peak Lake now provide 91 surface acres of additional trout waters for Colorado fishermen. Other potential lake development sites were surveyed for future development. A new spillway was constructed as a safety precaution at Vaughn Lake, a previously developed impound20 �Hatchery. These new troughs will accommodate twice as many small fish as the old wooden type which they replaced. New feeder pipe lines have been purchased and delivered to the Estes Park and Poudre River stations to replace the present water supply lines at these stations. Additional land was purchased at the North Fork Thompson Rearing Unit on which we intend to install a permanent diversion dam and additional rearing ponds and race,vays to increase fish production at this station. S011theast Region: Increased fish production is one of the many marks of progress in the southeast region. Rearing units at Mt. Shavano, near Salida and Chalk Cliffs, near Nathrop, again show increased production of catchable size trout. This was Creek lakes. They were found adequate in all but Estes and Chambers lakes. Fingerling trout plants in selected beaver ponds in the area were all found to have done well. Stream improvement sites have been studied on Sheep Creek and Bear Creek with a possibility of future development in mind. Reclamation programs were carried out on Big Hohnholz, Echo, Fort Collins City Park, College and Neff lakes. Potential reservoir development sites surveyed include Lake, Cabin and Pawnee creeks and McKay Reservoir. Assistance was given to investigators on the annual walleye spawn-taking operation-on the Rawah Lakes fertilization p r ogram and on lake surveys for mackinaw trout habitat. Study of the feasibility of a 2-inch stocking program on certain selected lakes was also continued. Methods of fish distribution were improved this past year when a new insulated fish transportation tank was built and added to the fleet. This tank is one of the small types that is insulated throughout, even to the aluminum cover. Up to 700 pounds of catchable size rainbow trout have been successfully transported more than 200 miles from the Wray Hatchery to upper Bear Creek. Plans are being made now to insulate some of the older trucks in this region. To improve production and fish cultural work at the Poudre River Rearing Unit, the large rearing ponds were divided and four of the new type aluminum fish and egg troughs were built according to our specifications and installed at the Bellvue Trout streams like these ore dwindling to meet increased de mands of water- users. 21 �As fishing stre ams be come less productive through water de mands by agriculture, municipalities and industry, more fishing rese rvoirs must be built. accomplished by the development of more water and through the improvement in general fish culture practices, including more productive feeds and more effective treatment of fish diseases. Construction and remodeling of facilities at Mt. Shavano and Chalk Cliffs is progre3sing well. At Mt. Shavano a new food preparation building has been completed an.d is in use. Another ten tons of catchable size trout will be added to the yearly production since the four additional raceway type ponds have been completed. Thousands of two-inch rainbows and native trout were furnished by the Buena Vista Hatchery and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for packing into high mountain lakes and streams. In the great majority of high altitude lakes the "packing" is done by airplane and helicopter. A survey of streams and lakes was conducted to determine the number of miles of streams and rivers and acres of lake water open to public fishing. To promote additional public waters, agreements were made with some private landowners to open their waters for public fishing. Brush Hollow Reservoir near Canon City received a stock of trout and warm-water fish following a lake management agreement with the Beaver Park Irrigation Company. Private waters open to public fishing and planted with state fish are posted with signs reading, "State Stocked Waters Open to Public Fishing," or "State Stocked Waters-Permission Required." Several proposed reservoir development projects which include Alpine Reservoir on Chalk Creek, Verhoeff dam site near Flagler and Mud Creek Dam southwest of Lam a r were checked for feasibility. 22 �Public recreation areas in conjunction with fishing waters are constantly being improved. Trash barrels were placed at Turquoise Lake near Leadville, and the CHy of Pueblo's Clear Creek Reservoir above Buena Vista. A boat ramp was constructed at the lower Twin Lake near Leadville by the Colorado Game and Fish Department with the aid of the Lake County Recreation Board. Three hundred thousand badly needed native eggs were obtained from lakes on the Pikes Peak watershed by agreement with the City of C o 1 o r a d o Springs. Continuous inventory checks were made on the various trout waters to determine the ratio of game and rough fish species. Important waters in the Trinidad and Walsenburg area have become overpopulated with rough fish. Plans are to rehabilitate these lakes during the fall of 1959. Upon completion of the program the City of Walsenburg agrees to open two more lakes to free public fishing. Rough fish removal from Two Buttes Reservoir, followed by a plant of game fish, resulted in excellent catches of bass, walleye pike and catfish. In the interest of a sound Iish stocking schedule, annual summer checks are being made on the high lakes to determine fishing pressure, exact location, food conditions, spawning areas and fish species present. Trout Research Studies on Skaguay Reservoir and the Grand Mesa Lakes were completed during the year and the R a w a h Lakes population studies will be completed during the 1959 field season. A new management study for Middle Park reservoirs was incorporated. A statewide lake trout investigation, a study of the hybrid splake trout in Parvin Lake and the cutthroat natural reproduction investigations at Trappers Lake will also be completed. Numerous investigations involving the many water development projects planned or under construction in Colorado has kept the River Basin biologist busy. Warm Water Research Successes or failures of past stockings of walleye pike have been evaluated and a population density study on this species was incorporated for Bonny Reservoir. Initial plantings of warm water species were made in the n e w 1 y constructed Setchfield Lake near Las Animas. Management investigations were carried out on many lakes throughout the state. Fish Culture Fish stockings for the calendar year 1958 are shown below. DISTRIBUTION BREAKDOWN Under 3" Pounds Number Trout Distribution .. 16, 153 8,811,430 Worm-Water Distribution -~·. 1,670 13,020,284 Total Distribution .. 17, 823 21 ,831,714 3"-6 " Pounds Number 20,295 758, 153 8,996 293,233 29, 291 1,051 ,386 23 6" -Over Po;.,nds Numbe r l ,065, 409 4,808,949 544 1,818 1,065,953 4,810.767 �H of all phases of federal assistance in fish and wildlife restoration programs rn Colorado is the responsibility of the Federal Aid Division of the Colorado Game and Fish Department. This aid is authorized by two federal laws, the PittmanRobertson Act and the DingellJohnson Act wherein federal reimbursement of 75 per cent of expenditures is authorized. Federal aid funds involved in this program are derived from a manufacturers' excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition and on fishing tackle. The state funds are taken from the game cash fund which is derived principally from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Responsibility of the Federal Aid Division involves initiation, pursuit and completion of work programs that will properly utilize available funds to restore natural conditions for the production of more abundant wildlife for sportsmen of the state. Authorized activities fall in four broad categories: 1. Research aimed at solving problems of wildlife management. 2. Purchase of land or water areas that are, or that can be, made suitable for fish and/01 wildlife restoration or production. 3. Development work, including construction of reservoir dams for fishing, and in certain cases, building fences, short sections of road, planting trees and food plots and installing adequate signs. This type of activity also includes the maintenance of properties that have been acquired and developed. 4. Administration. A separate proJect is set up to provide for the supervision and operation of all the above named activities. Thirty-eight men and women, including four clerks, stenographers and bookkeepers, 23 biologists, nine custodians or field assistants and two administrative assistants, make up the full time permanent staff of the division. Field work is handled on a project basis with each project planned and written up in considerable detail for consideration and approval by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and W i l d l i f e pnor to the initiation of the work. Research projects include field studies on pheasants, chukars, sage grouse, scaled quail, experimental census techniques on deer and elk, forage competition between different animals a n d range investigations for better management of food plants In addition, there are studies A:-:01.ING 24 �being conducted on beaver, waterfowl and diseases of game animals. Development and operations projects account for a sizeable part of the Federal Aid expenditures. This activity includes routine upkeep of properties devoted to wildlife restoration as well as actual development work such as fence and road building and habitat plantings. Major developments financed by fish funds (Dingell-Johnson) included some finishing work on Carey Dam, the construction of three new earthen dams at Hahn's Peak, Meadow Creek and Williams Creek and completion of a new spillway at Foose Creek. Acquisition of approximately 1126 acres adjoining the Mt. Evans Management Area was the main land acquisition of the year. Other small additions were acquired at Radium and the Escalante Canyon area. PITTMAN- ROBERTSON Land Acquisition Proje cts W 48-L .. .. $ 68,015.00 W 68-L 2, 174.95 W 84-L 408.30 W 86-L 23, 114.20 W 92-L .............. 5,000.00 TW-4-L ..................... .. 20.00 W 43-L .................. . 2,220.11 Mt. Evans Rio Grande Billy Creek Radium ... Escolonte Butte Lake South Platte $100,952.56 Development Projects TW-5-D FW-6 -D W 35-D W 51 -D W 56-D W 59-D W 65-D W 69-D W 82-D W 91 -D W 93-D W 96-D W 97-D W 98-D W 99-D W 102-D 9,462.52 23,081.42 1,940.97 7,382.89 10,047.87 17,100.70 10,989.69 5,490.60 5, 123.43 6,018.74 1,823.95 10,539.71 8,081 .04 33,004.29 3,407.30 268.41 .......... Corey Dom Hobitot Improvement .......... ..... ..... .. ... Antelope Restoration .. . . Sopinero Management Area .... ...• . .. ... ..... . ... ... South Platte ... Wildlife Habitat Improvement ............................... Mt. Evans ........ Irving R. Poley Management Area ..................... Devil Creek Turkey Area ......... ..... ..... ............. .... Brown's Pork .. .. Habitat Improvement Headquarters . ..... .... . .... Turkey Restoration .......................................... Billy Creek .. . .. Piceonce Creek . ...... ........ ......... . Hot Sulphur . Special School Fees $153,763 .53 Research Projects W W W W W W W W W W 37-R 38-R 41 -R 79-R 83-R 88-R 90-R 95-R 101-R 104-R 32,969.84 49, 120. 15 4,670.60 22,792. 18 6,955.20 21 ,688.79 2,263.32 13,159.31 47,312.43 25.36 .. $200,957 18 25 . . .... ... ... Gome Bird Survey .. Deer-Elk Investigations . .. . .. ... .... Bighorn Sheep Survey .... Habitat Improvement Studies . ........ Beaver Investigations .. . .. ..... Waterfowl Investigations Evaluation of Habitat Improvement . Diseases of Gome Animals Gome Range Investigations . Wildlife Population Study �Coordination Proje ct 43,716 53 TW-19-C ... .. -·········· 43,716.53 Grand total . ······ . $ 499,389 80 DINGELL-JOHNSON Coordination Project FW-19-C $ 4,8 8 5.16 4,885 16 Developme nt Proje c ts F-4-0 FW-5-D F-11 - D F-12-D F-21-D $ 9,213.72 28, 415.54 7 4,439.88 55, 946,66 130, 41 4 .13 . Poose Creek Corey Dom .. Meadow Creek Hahn's Peck Williams Creek $298,429 93 Research Projects F-18-R F-19- R F-20-R Grand totol $ 1,697 .43 1,734 58 1, 979.82 $ 5,411.83 . Cut t:,root Trout Study ____ Sploke T rout Study Shadow Mountain Trout Study $308, 726.92 PROJECT COSTS Pittmon- Robe rtson June 30, 1958 Balance _ Unused Balances, Completed Projects Apportionment, 1958 $333,752.88 .... $ 55,79557 436 366. 14 4 92,161.71 $825,91 4.59 New Projects Approved: Coordination Land Reseorc'i Development 35, 100.00 220,875.00 158,625. 00 139,350.00 Bo Ionce 6 / 30 / 59 553,950.00 $271.964 .59 D INGELL-JOHNSON $ 28,713. 17 June 30, 1958 Balance Unused Balances; Completed Pro,ect, Apportionment, 1958 $ 10, 048.85 ... 105 618.57 115,667.4 2 $1 44,380.59 New Projects Approved · Coordination Development Research 3, 900.00 123, 000.00 6 ,900.00 Balance 6 / 30 / 59 133,800.00 $ 10, 580.59 26 �dropped from the previous year. This, however, can be partly accredited to the fact that the region was operating with two vacant conservation officer districts during a portion of the year. These have now been filled and the region is operating at full staff. Use of the Penalty Assessment ticket was inaugurated under authority of Chapter 62-13-20 which saved much time and travel. It is felt that this system, used with discretion, is a valuable law enforcement tool. The mechanics of the system were worked out in such a manner that very little difficulty was encountered in placing the system in operation. 714,032 miles were driven during the past year in this region, 7159 hunting contacts, 18,464 fishing contacts, 328 summonses were issued for violations of the game and fish laws, with five violations either dismissed or found not guilty by the courts. Fieldmen worked 83,581 ½ hours performing their official duties. Successful prosecutions netted approximately $10,083.00. Northwest Region: Two of the 26 wildlife conservation officer districts in the region were vacant during a portion of the year, one during the summer months and the other in the fall months. of game and fish laws will always be an extremely important phase of a good wildlife management program. Colorado wildlife conservation officers face the tremendous task of enforcing the game and fish laws applying to approximately 66,718,080 acres of mountains and plains, with 14,554 miles of trout streams and 2401 improved trout lakes, as well as more than 300 warm water impoundments with a surface area that exceeds 150,000 acres. This work is carried on by nearly 260 fieldmen, of whom about 100 are conservation officers, wardens and trappers. Duties of the present day conservation officer are varied, and along with all other phases of wildlife management he is able to put in about 45 per cent of his time on game and fish law enforcement. E NFORCEMENT Regional Re ports Southwest Region: District conservation officers of the region spend 47 per cent of their total time on law enforcement problems. T h i s includes, of course, investigations, arrests, convictions, and the necessary paper work that goes with this phase of their duties. During the fiscal year being reported on, court cases and amount of fines 27 �Northeast Region: The 1958-59 vear shows more fishing contacts in the region than any other region. There was a fall in the number of contacts in May from that of the past two years, but an increase in contacts during the ice fishing season. The de\'elopmcnt of recreational and fishing areas on state leased lakes and streams has curtailed enforcement somewhat during the week days; however, most men worked weekends all summer while fishermen were in the field. Department officers in cooperation with the Lari mer County Sheriff's office, assisted in the arrest and conviction of several would-be hunters who were charged with shooting livestock during the big game season. 608,725 miles were driven during the past year in this region, 7797 hunting contacts, 41,863 fishing contacts, 701 summonses were issued for violations of the game and fish laws, with 12 violations either dismissed or found not guilty by the courts. Successful prosecutions netted approximately $17,147.00. Fieldmen worked 76,198 hours performing their official duties. Sot1theast Region: The certification of some additional personnel coupled with a newly created district in the Rye area brought the wildlife conservation officer force to 15, one more than the previous year. One district (Hugo) remained unmanned five months of 1958-59, thus reducing somewhat our most effective operation. The region was and is still pressed for manpower to perform the duties compounded by an ever increasing, recreationminded public Occasionally an Creel ce nsus ond lice nse che cking ore on important port of o WCO's doily work. Although conservation officers are considered multipurpose employes, they devoted almost their entire efforts to law enforcement during the regular big game season. At this time and again the fore part of the fishing season, valuable law enforcement assistance was provided by personnel from other divisions. Miles driven totaled 616,814 during the past year in this region, 7659 hunting contacts, 21 ,728 fishing contacts, 328 summonses were issued for violations of the game and fish laws, with four violations either dismissed or found not guilty by the courts. Successful prosecutions netted approximately $11,110.00. Field men worked 83,268 hours performing their many and varied official duties. 28 �area of operation, field contacts for example, may have suffered from the lack of time and attention that an expanded force could well provide; but this situation will surely be remedied as the field force is brought to full strength. These are not excuses but facts as evidenced by working hours and objectives accomplished. In spite of a complexity of dutiesand the added responsibility of our NRA "Hunter Safety" program-fieldmen generously devote long, additional hours to all game and fish work. 582,350 miles were driven during the past year in this region, 5218 hunting contacts, 20,676 fishing contacts, 227 summonses issued for violations of the game and fish laws, with seven cases dismissed or found not guilty by the courts. Successful prosecutions netted approximately $5,580.00. Fieldmen worked a total of 55,440½ hours on official duties. Violations 1958 Hunting small gome or gome birds without o proper license . . . 1llegol possession or tronsportotion of big gome . . . . Illegal possession of small game or gome birds ... Failure to tog big gome. . .. .. Hunting before or ofter legal hours. Shooting from, upon or across o highway .... .. . .. ... .... ... Hunting on private land without permission of owner . . . .... Hunting during closed season Hunting in o closed area . .. Hunting with on illegal gun.. Hunting with artificial light.. Hunting migratory waterfowl without o stomp ..... .. . . . .. Killing protected birds . ... . . Wasting game meat ..... .... . ... ... Hunting big game without proper license ... ..... ........... ... .... . Hunting migratory waterfowl from moving vehicle . .... ... .... .... Failure to leave evidence of sex on carcass . ... ... ....... . Toking waterfowl with motor driven boot .. ... .. ........ .. .. Careless ond reckless hunting. . . Trapping without o proper license Rallying ducks . ...... ... Number of hunting violations.. Types of hunting violations.. . 144 136 134 128 116 67 42 31 24 21 11 10 6 6 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 897 21 Fishing Statewide Summary Fishing Without a proper license... 247 Illegal possession of fish...... .. . . 166 Use of illegal devices... . ............. 134 Fishing in closed waters... 56 Fishing during closed season.. . . 16 Violation of booting regulations.. .. 5 Fishing on private land without permission of owner .. ..... ....... . . . . 4 Illegal transportation of small gome fish .. The following is a resume of law enforcement activities as reported by the four regions for the year 1958. Miles driven ... Contacts, Hunting Contacts, Fishing Number coses filed . .. . Number convictions ...... Amount of fines ..... Hours worked (Low Enf ) Additional hours worked include: Education Gome Domoge Fish Planting Federal Aid Fur Division Misc. ond office Grand Total of hours worked ................... . 2,521,921 27,833 102,731 1,612 1,584 $43,920.00 137,257 Number of fishing violations. • Types of fishing violations. 629 8 Misc:e llone ous 161 ,230 Fraudulent purchase of resident license by nonresident Leaving o campfire unattended. .. Littering o hunting or fi shing oreo _ 20 9 4 Number of misc. violations.... ..... Types of misc. violations........ ..... 33 3 Grond Totols: Number of violations. ............. 1,559 Types of violations .•. :3'2 298, 487 29 �W ORK mental animal to small game and birds and control on the bobcat is still heavily stressed. Other predators, including the mountain lion, are giving very little trouble. Foxes, racoon and skunks are increasing at an alarming rate and due to their peculiarities and habitat, present a difficult control problem as control measures used on coyotes and bobcats cannot safely be used in the majority of cases. Again the fur situation leaves a lot to be desired. T here seems to be a slight increase in demand for furs but to date no marked increase in p r i c e s has been shown. Fur dealers, however, seem to feel the coming season will be more attractive to trappers. An increase in the take of many species of furbearers would solve some of the Game and Fish Department's nuisance problems. in the Fur Resources Division falls into four major categories; administration of the State Beaver Control Act; management and control of all fur bearers and fur dealers; predator control; and law enforcement. The personnel of the Fur Resources Division consists of one superintendent, one secretary and, on the regional field level, six district fur managers. Our present beaver control law provides beaver may be taken by state employes, landowners with a permit and private trappers trapping in designated areas. The Game and Fish Department works very closely with the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service in a predator control program and it is the responsibility of the Fur Division to coordinate this work. The predator program deals principally with bear, coyotes and bobcats. The number of damage claims on bear complaints has reduced considerably in the last few years, due to the open season on bear. Coyotes are still well under control and personnel are well equipped with guns and traps to reduce overpopulation in troublesome areas. The bobcat is still a detri- Regional Reports Southwest Region: Since our recent t u 1 a r e m i a outbreaks among beaver colonies in the region, a substantial comeback has been noted. Five hundred sixtyone more beaver were pelted than in the previous fiscal year. Another indication of such increase is the fact that 259 nuisance beaver were live-trapped and transplanted, compared to 57 such animals in the preceding year. Management of the fur30 �tive of private trappers, and high rodent populations were both probably responsible for the increase in predatory animals. Northeast Region: Beaver trapping in the northeast region suffered a poor season, primarily because beaver numbers were decimated the previous year by tularemia. The area hardest hit by this was that where the greatest concentrations of beaver are, specifically North Park. Also, the beaver populations seemed to be down slightly over the entire region. The boat crew w h i ch worked the South Platte River from Sterling east, accomplished good results during the month of April. Beaver research at the Willow Creek Management Unit was delayed because of the tularemia epidemic. It is planned to establish another management unit on the North Fork of the Michigan River this fall. The open season on beaver was cancelled this year because of the declining population. There were very few muskrat trappers most- bearers in the region required 2708 more hours by trappers and conservation officers than experienced in the 1957-58 fiscal year. Pilot areas have been set up along typical beaver-inhabited streams to be utilized for training purposes of regional personnel to facilitate better census techniques, food inventories and over-all beaver management. Effective magpie control programs were instituted in certain key areas. Bobcat pelts brought exceptionally good prices at auction so a concentrated effort was made to pelt these animals wherever taken on routine control work in small game or turkey areas. Northwest Region: Be aver management and control of predator animals were the chief functions of the Fur Division in this region. A total of 1928 beaver were pelted, 1511 of these being taken by department personnel and the balance by private trappers. In addition, 274 nuisance beavers were live trapped and transplanted, bringing the total number of beaver handled by our officers to 1785. This represents a slight increase over the 1714 beavers processed the previous year. From all indications, the beaver population is about normal or increasing slightly. P i 1 o t beaver management areas, initiated the previous year, were continued according to plans this year. A very pronounced increase in predatory animals was evident this year and resulted in numerous predators being taken by our officers to eliminate damage to private property. Low fur prices, which reduce the incen- Old time trapping is on up-to-dote method of monoging Colorado's fur be are rs. 31 �ly because of low prices on all furs. State trappers took 924 beaver in the region during the year. Southeast Region: Beaver pelts taken by d e p a r t m e n t men dropped off in numbers to 469 during the fiscal year. This reduction is attributed to losses from winter kill and possibly disease. Inclement weather and poor road conditions during the spring season also lowered the catch. Fifty-two beaver were live trapped and transplanted in deficient areas from areas of overconcentration or from agricultural areas where they invariably become a nuisance. Beaver trapping by private parties has diminished the past year due primarily to poor fur prices. Predatory animal control work removed 21 bobcats, 63 coyotes, 2 predatory bear and 55 miscellaneous predators. Also, 140 predatory birds were removed. Mountain lions and coyotes are on the increase in the southeastern part of the state. The number of bobcats appears to hold steady in spite of highly appealing bobcat prices on the fur market. Lion Bounty The State of Colorado pays a bounty on only one predatorthe mountain lion. This $50.00 bounty is set by a law that was passed years ago at the request of stock.men and has been continued ever since, at their insistence. The following table shows the lion harvest over the past few years: Year Numbe r Amount 1958-59 1957-58 1956-57 1955-56 1954-55 1953-54 I 952-53 38 46 82 66 54 58 47 $1 ,900.00 2,300.00 4, l 00.00 3,300.00 2,700.00 2,900.00 2,350 00 Beaver Take Year 1956-57 1957-58 1958-59 State Trapped 4,951 ·--·-.... ... . 4,870 4,423 Landowner 1, 500 623 1,073 Private Permits 144 198 100 Total 6,595 5,691 5,596 Fur Harvest Species 195S-S6 Beaver 9,161 Muskrat ..• ···-·······- .... - 35,499 Skunk 227 Coyote .. ....... ···-· .. 15 Mink 253 Weasel 117 Marten 112 Badger 10 Bob and Lynx Cat 397 Fox - -·· ··· ···· ....... 10 Civet Cat 18 •••• • • • • • • • • • o n • • • Raccoon .. . ........... ....... 359 Opossum ..... l ··•····· · · ....... Ringtoil Cot l Total 19S6-S7 6,595 28,087 287 15 140 61 24 7 83 18 None 257 4 11 37,019 28,994 32 19S7-S8 5,691 38,206 197 14 127 127 61 12 119 13 None 208 None None (OS) 39,084 1958-S9 5,596 29,339 186 15 68 228 75 None (OS! 328 7 None 193 None None (OSJ 36,035 �T HE DEPARTMENT'S information and education program is presented through newspapers, magazines, public appearances, exhibits, radio and television, and planned training sessions. Organized education programs are presented in schools and to youth groups. Over the past year the information programs were designed to work with 44 special interest groups as well as with the general public. Following is a detailed account of the activities of the four regions, plus a breakdown of the activities conducted out of the Denver office, mainly on a statewide basis. Television programs and newspaper releases have also been utilized in the information programs. Television has been used both with live talent and with recorded spot announcements, reminding the public of current deadlines on seasons and for various other educational purposes. District men are being encouraged to write weekly columns in their local newspapers explaining the department's programs. This writing is doing much to inform the public of the department's aims and purposes. An accelerated program of public relations has also been inaugurated, both through inservice training sessions and through the N.R.A. Hunter Safety Programs. The entire personnel m the region has taken the Hunter Safety course and most of them qualify as instructors. They in turn have trained scores of sportsmen, teachers and other interested individuals. All counties are adequately provided with a nucleus of instructors from this program. Northwest Region: Personnel in this region showed 126 movies and put on 54 slide talks in addition to 16 special speaking engagements in the past fiscal year. Many of these included hunter safety classes. About 120 weekly radio pro- Regional Reports S01ithwest Region: Hours spent on information and education activities in this region were up 278 per cent over last year. This was mainly the result of the mservice training received at the Lowry Air Force Base last winter. This training was excellent preparation for doing the various jobs better and more efficiently. Radio programs given during the past fiscal year totaled 141. There were 51 film showings and 97 meetings in which regional personnel explained the department's program, and policies were explained to various sportsmen's, civic and religious groups. 33 �gram will gel underway next year. P resent instructors have trained 124 persons since early spring. In addition to the in-service training given our personnel, it also was instructed in first aid by the Red Cross, in fire fighting by the U. S. Forest Service and police training by the F.B.I. A few of the supervisors also took safety courses offered by the State Industrial Commission. Northeast Region: District wildlife conservation officers wrote a total of 312 columns of outdoor news for their local newspapers in the past year. Field men in the region produced a total of 97 radio programs and made 11 TV appearances. News releases produced by regional men (exclusive of weekly columns) totaled 357. Programs given before assembled groups outside the Denver metropolitan area numbered 211. Films and slides were shown at 73 of these programs. Records of programs and film showings from the Denver office are reported separately, although it is a part of the northeast region. In addition to overseeing the work of district men, the regional educator put out 68 feature news releases with pictures. Several of these features were carried not only in the region but were also carried statewide. Three fulllength magazine articles were written for "Colorado Outdoors." District WCO's and the educator spent considerable time working at display booths at the State Fair, the Denver Boat and Sports Show and a Centennial Conservation display at the Denver Federal Center. Several hundred Displays at shows, foirs, exhibits ploy o big port in the educotionol program. grams and 48 weekly television shows were produced during the year. More than 30 news releases, including some feature stories, were written by the regional educator and distributed to newspapers and radio stations within the region. Addition al news stories were supplied to news media by field personnel. Our fieldmen also provided considerable information for the weekly fishing reports released by the Denver office. During the past year the work load was increased by the initiation of the Hunter Safety Training Program. Up to July 1, at least 648 persons, including 31 of our own personnel, were trained as instructors during the year. With nearly all portions of the region adequately supplied with instructors, an expanded pro34 �subscriptions to Colorado Outdoors were sold at these activities. Working with schools in conservation instruction required considerable time. During the summer months the regional educator spent a good deal of time instructing teachers in conservation at Colorado State College in Greeley. This included lectures and field trips. All field men in this region qualified as Hunter Safety instructors and as Red Cross first aid men. Southeast Region: Field men participated in 273 public programs. Game and Fish Department visual aids, including movies, slides or graphics, helped to illustrate the discussion material at 228 of these meetings. Movies used at 152 meetings were viewed by 6080 sportsmen, conservationists and school children. An additional 76 meetings were attended by 3789 people. The latter were slide-talk lectures on game and fish management and closely allied natural resources. Department personnel furnished newspapers with 262 articles and feature stories. Colorado Springs TV Station KKTV presented a weekly halfhour game and fish show which was conducted by department men. In addition, field men of the southeast region participated in six weekly programs presented by KOA-TV in Denver. Eight radio stations cooperated in presenting 416 weekly programs on tape recordings, plus 18 other programs in which fieldmen participated in their localities. Radio and TV stations carried the programs at no cost to the department. These programs, 35 which represent thousands of dollars worth of excellent public relations, were presented as a public service by the stations. Wildlife conservation officers and the regional educator spent considerable time in school classrooms in the region teaching wildlife management and conservation. Interest in the Hunter Safety Program continues to grow with all personnel concentrating on instructing as many hunters as possible in an attempt to eliminate hunting casualties. Other Activities News Releases: Department activity is made public through the weekly news release, "Outdoor News," which is sent to a list of 963 newspapers, radio and TV stations, federal and state agencies, legislators, department personnel, sportsmen's clubs and out of state game and fish departments. "Outdoor News" is published by the editorial section. Every third week the news release is sent to an additional list of slightly more than 1000 names, mainly individuals who asked that their names be kept on the list when it was trimmed last spring. This letter includes a resume of news of the preceding three weeks. From the third Saturday in May until Labor Day, a weekly fishing report was issued every Thursday. Information on fishing conditions throughout the state, phoned in by department fieldmen, was used in this letter. It was sent mainly to radio and TV stations and newspapers in larger population centers. This year code letters were �used to indicate the conditions of water and results fishermen were having and the types of lures they were using. Publications: Editing and publishing the department's official magazine, "Colorado Outdoors," is one of the larger functions of the editorial section. This bimonthly publication must pay its own way with subscriptions as provided by law. In the past fiscal year the circulation climbed to a new high of 26,458 - 2228 above the previous high mark of the year before. This is a new high record in the magazine's seven-year history. Promotional effort is necessary to maintain circulation of the magazine. Subscription renewals for the magazine are unusually high. Two renewal notices are sent each subscriber when his subscription is about to expire. During the last fiscal year 25,000 copies of promotional literature were mailed with a much better than average return of 10 per cent. Sales of subscriptions at check stands, fairs and sports shows by department employes have been moderately successful. "Wildlife Willie", a cartoov mat service, has been distributed to 90 weekly and daily newspapers in Colorado, with a favorable number of the papers printing the cartoons. The character, ·'Wildlife Willie", portrays the principles of conservation and good sportsmanship. At the national convention of the American Association for Conservation Information, "Wildlife Willie" won first place for outstanding conservation projects in North America. During the year the publications section published and dis- tributed 260,000 big game regulations, 520,000 fishing regulations, 160,000 small game regulations, 5000 fur regulations and 2000 copies of the 1957-58 annual report. Regulations are distributed to the department's license agents which total more than 900. Mimeographing and addressographing for the entire department is also handled in this section, as is the storing and distribution of office supplies. Visual Aids: The primary concern of the visual aids section is the production, distribution and use of photographic materials for the department. In addition, this section contributes toward shows, displays, demonstrations and programs. One hundred sixty-five 16 mm sound film prints, 20 film strips and 63 slide sets are maintained in regional and state office film libraries. These visuals are available to department personnel and education authorities for use as program aids. Copies of the 16 mm films are available to outof-state interests through the state publicity office. Department personnel used these visuals in a total of 725 programs during the year. This is exclusive of television use. In addition, 184 films were loaned from the Denver office for use in the state's educational institutions. Once again extensive use was ma.de of television as an educational and informational medium. Game and fish material was carried on almost every station covering every part of Colorado. In all, the department took part in more than 102 television shows. Department films were used on television stations in many other 36 �Teaching hunte r safety to groups of all ages is one of the many important functions o f the de partment's information and e ducation program . Black and white as well as colored still photography was continued as in the past. Four thousand five hundred black and white photo prints were produced in the Denver office and 1500 prints were produced outside of the offke by the regions. The principal uses of these black and white photos are as follows: News releases and special news features, illustrations for publications, as record material on research and the development projects, as lecture aids and as state publicity materials. The following amounts of film were used: 106 rolls of 120 black and white, 47 film packs, 59 rolls of 35 mm color, 46 rolls of 16 mm color, 14 rolls 16 mm black and sections of the country. Twentyfour short films were produced during the year for use on television. "Realm of the Beaver," a 16 mm sound film, was completed during the year. This film was contracted for several years ago and runs about 25 minutes. Copies of the film are available through department offices. A second aerial trend count film was completed showing big game animals under winter conditions in various critical range areas in the state. Three new slide sets were produced. One was a general coverage of Colorado mammals and the other two related to the new hunter safety program. 37 �background in conservation. The other is the lack of understanding and support by school administrators of a sound conservationeducation program. Workshops for school administrators and teachers have been set up in several counties over the state. The interest stimulated in these workshops is beginning to reap results, with conservation being integrated in the existing curriculum of many schools. Packets of materials from a variety of sources are being assembled and evaluated for use in the schools. The packets are distributed free to teachers. Hunter Safety Program: A hunter safety program was instituted in late September 1958 by the Game and Fish Department in cooperation with the NRA and the Colorado Heart Association. The program was broken into two phases: the first phase of the program involved the training of instructors; and the second phase, the training of safe hunters. Stanley Mate, NRA supervisor of instructions, conducted the initial instructor training school in Denver. Other instructor training sessions have been held statewide under the coordination of the regional educator. The second phase of the program will get underway October 1, 1959. Six hundred forty-eight instructors and 400 hunters were trained by July 1, 1959. The objective of the program is the teaching of proper respect for firearms, safe methods of hunting, elements of good sportsmanlandowner relations and the proper exercises so as to prevent heart attacks. Direct Inquiry: Duties of the information desk at the Denver Or. T . 0 . Plumme r, Co mmission preside nt, presents first place AACI award to editor Charles Hjelte for Cartoon Se rvice. white and 200 sheets of 4 x 5 black and white. These figures include photo materials used by all divisions within the department. Public Appearance Programs: During the last year in the Denver area 211 programs have gone to civic groups, garden clubs and other assembled groups interested in game and fish matters. One hundred forty-six programs have been directed at the schools; 111 of which used films. Conservation Education: The Game and Fish Department and the Department of Education are cooperating in an effort to solve the two most important problems standing in the way of an effective conservation-education program in the schools. One problem concerns the shortage of teachers with a well-rounded 38 �office consist of answering telephone inquiries concerning laws and regulations governing fishing and hunting, locations of lakes, streams, mountain peaks, towns, hunting area boundaries and game concentrations; replying to mail inquiries on the same subjects; issuing hunting, fishing, trapping and guide licenses. boating, parking, dog training, field trial, refuge, seining, storage, importation and transportation permits; processing fishing reports received from field personnel for use by news media (newspapers, radio and television stations and wire services); editing copy for use by hunting and fishing periodicals with national, as well as local, distribution; editing hunting and fishing information pamphlets distributed by the Colorado Game and Fish Department. Approximately 1250 fishing, hunting and trapping licenses, 330 guide licenses and 800 permits (as listed above) are issued at the counter each year; approximately 8000 letters are given personal replies and an estimated 60,000 telephone calls are handled by the information desk and the general Information and Education office. These services have developed into one of the more important contacts with the public. Library: The department's library of books and publications on all subjects pertaining to game and fish continues to increase. In addition to the books permanently on hand in the Denver office, membership in the Bibliographical Center for Research provides access to unlimited publications on a loan basis. In-Service Training: In-service training was given all field personnel in two sessions, one running from January 12 to January 26. the other from January 26 to February 7, which left half the personnel on the job while the other attended school. Training included law enforcement, fisheries and biology workshops with two additional workshops in public relations and refuge management. Four hundred and sixty-five people were trained, with representatives from New Mexico and Utah also in attendance. Agencies participating in the training program were: the Governor's office; University of Denver; Utah A & M College, Logan, Utah; U. S. Soil Conservation Service; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Attorney General's Office; Denver Police Department; Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife; Colorado State Patrol· State Purchasing Department;' National Safety Council and Industrial Commission; Colorado Dept. of Public Health; Colorado Civil Service Commission; Public Employees' Retirement Association (P. E. R. A.); C o 1 o r a d o Civil Service Employees' Association; U. S. Air Force; U. S. Forest Service; R o c k y Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Coordination of the in-service training program was done by the division in cooperation with the personnel officer and personnel of other divisions. Much of the training was done on a regional level by regional educators. It is felt that this training program helped make every participating employe aware of his responsibilities in the building of good public relations. 39 �Cmaserrmiou l'ledye t give my pledge as an American to sa'Ye and faithfully to defend from waste the natural resources of my country- lu soil and minerals, its forest,, waters, and-wildlife. � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/be6ce4b79c7cd58feba59238c7111157.pdf 970b0db1d50a4b10b00fcedb5fdc54c2 PDF Text Text ANNUAL REPORT COLORADO GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT FISCAL YEAR 1959 - 60 �ANNUAL REPORT fiscal Year 1959 - 1960 Contents Financial Report Personnel Game Management Engineering Fish Management Law Enforcement Educat ion -· -·--- -···- 2 __ . 13 14 23 24 26 28 Game and Fish Commission July L 1960 GOVERNOR STEVE McNICHOLS, Ex Officio Clarence W. Baker. President Henry Bledsoe, Vice Pre sident C. Dewey Brown Pat Griffin, Secretary Ralph L. White Parker Sooter Roy Eckles Dr. T. 0. Plummer Denver, Yuma, Cortez, Fort Collins, Craig, Alamosa, Lamar, Montrose, District District District District District District District District 1 3 6 2 8 5 4 7 Game and Fish Department THOMAS L. KIMBALL, Director LAURENCE E. RIORDAN, Deputy Director Guy V. Melvm William F. Hunn Wayne R. Seaman Gilbert N. Hunter A. Dean Coleman Carwin D. Tolman John H. Morris Robert Elliott Richard Teague Clois E. Till Robert L . Evans Business Manager Chief Game Warden Fish Manager Game Manager Fur Manager Education Manager Personnel Manager Southeast Reginoal Manager Southwest Regional Manager Northeast Regional Manager Northwest Regional Manager Published by the Staff of Colorado Outdoors Magazine State of Colorado - Department of Game and Fish �STATE OF COLORA D O DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH 1530 SHER MAN S TR EET DENVER 1, COLORADO THOMAS L. KJ MB ALL EXECUT IVE DI REC TO R August 31, 1960 The Honorable Stephen L. R. McNichols Gover nor of Color ado State Capitol Building Denver, Colorado Dear Governor McNichols: Transmitted herewith you will find the annual report of the operations of the Colorado Grune and Fish Department for the fiscal year July l, 1959 to June 30, 1960 . This report contains a summary of the problems and projects undertaken by the department in the fulfillment of its charge of managing and extending the State's wildlife resource. A detailed accounting of receipts and expenditures is also respectfully submitted. Very truly yours , Thomas L. Kimball Director �FINANCIAL REPORT GAME CASH FUND Schedule of Income M o nth of June 1960 Y e ar-to-Date June 30, 1960 $ 0 Resident Fur Dealer 75.00 Guide Llcenses 242,940.00 Resident Fishing 262.735.00 Resident Fishing and Small Game 0 Resident Alien Fishing .. 45.350.00 Nonresident Fishing . 16.541.00 ~g~~!;l~~~f ti~~Ya~dshJ~~ll Game.:: ...::·..:::·::.::··::::::··· ···· ·· ·· 300.00 0 Resident Deer 0 Resident Elk ... 0 Nonresident Deer 0 Nonresident Elk .. 0 Resident Turkey .... 56.00 Resident Trapper . 50.00 Nonresident Trapper 0 Resident Antelope 230.00 Resident Bear . ...... ............... .............. . 0 Mountain Sheep ... . .. . . ............................................................ . Nonresident Bear .. . .... ..................................... ........................................ 170.00 380.00 Resident Small Game ........................................ __ . .. ... ..................... 162.00 ~~~~!~~abe!~dM~m~res . .:: .:.:·.::·:·.:·~··.. ::::.:....:::..:·..:: ·.:·:..·.· .:·· . ··: .:::·.:.:··· ··: Duplicate Licenses ..... .... . . ........................................................ . 1 d~~r~fd~nrtl~f~~es··:::::::::.::::::::.::::.=:::::::::::::::::.::··:. :··· :::· I mporters ... ............. ..................................... ····-······ .......... ····-·· ...... . Lake Licenses ................................. ·-······· ........................ _ Preserve Licenses .... .. . ....... ........................ .. ... ... .... ............. Refuge Permits ............. ............................................ Seining Permits ... ..................................................................... Storage Permits ............ ....... ..... ....... ... .... .. ...... Taxidermists .. ................................... Transportation Permits ............................................. ~3~c"i~1 ~{>e1d T¥,.\~r:s . Scientific Permits Boat Permits . .. Importation Permits Specimen Permits Bird-Park Licenses ~~~~!~1~~~t#~~ .::::.··•-·.-::·:....~:.·· ..:. :... .-:..... . . • ............. .... ..... ...... ..................... ....................................... ···-·················· ....... ... .... .... t!;a~~~:s ··:~:::::···:::::::·····::::··::::........ . Transfer Fees . .. .. .. ..... ... .... .... ... Special Fishing Licenses .... ..... ...... ·-···· ····-···· .. Game Breeding Control ................... ·- .... Garage Services .. ........... ··-·············•······ ... Sales of Hides (Except Beaver) ... .. .. ............... .. ................. Sales of Livestock . ... ···- ..................... Sales of Supplies and Materials Sales of Hay .. Sales of Hides 1Beaver) Sales of Beaver Tags Rents from Land Court Fines _ Penalty Assessment- Board "o"i. c ·1a1ms Penalty Assessment Fines Unclaimed Monies Total Gross Income .. . Less : License Agents Commission .. Total Net Income 2 0 290.00 0 0 0 231.80 0 0 8.00 0 0 5.00 0 9.05 .50 3,555.00 0 0 30.00 0 0 2.00 304.00 0 352.00 858.84 0 123.44 0 9,578.02 241.53 202.50 2,004.53 0 7,566.75 0 411.50 2,069.00_ 595.520.00 675,070.00 0 160.740.00 363,184.50 29,420.00 728,332.50 307,160.00 1.069,880.00 325,350.00 3,815.00 1,956.50 200.00 22,260.00 2,630.00 3.700.00 5,160.00 72,474.00 986.00 63,185.00 1.608.00 138,112 .50 50.00 325.00 4.738.90 41.00 1.00 68.00 2.00 265.00 803.00 10.00 271.40 18.00 8,515.90 1.00 19.00 565.00 50.00 25.00 4.00 1,228.00 75.00 11,499.94 1,365.52 $ 0 1,040.24 1,907.46 28,395.05 1,678.10 462.50 30,070.54 575.50 16,971.59 .29 $ 594,351.96 30.686.75 $4,684,267.43 158,076.50 $ 563,665.21 $4,526,190.93 �NSHING UCENSH HUNTING LIClNSU :18.39' Sf, 17W. l00~ 11 .. Game and Fish Department Income for 1959-60 Statement of Operations Month of June 1960 Income Gross Income .... .......... ...... .. .. ············-························•········ .... $ 594,351.96 Less License Agents Commission ... ··•-·········· ·····-·-·····-·· ........... 30,686.75 Net Income $ 563,665.21 Year- to-Date June 30, 1960 $4,684.267.43 158.076.50 $4,526.190.93 Expense General Administration Commissioners ........ Director ..... .... .. . . •. ................................ $ ··-···· ........ ···- -··-·· ·- -········· 1,039.26 2,612.45 1,758.76 397.40 29,444.95 2,335.96 27,881.92 63,381.33 62,623.12 1,642.03 3,914.23 6.657.00 29.354.24 19,596.54 4.15.40 256,216.83 24,955.93 155.186.67 297,205.24 231.497.38 23.200.39 67,860.34 ····- $ 197.031.47 $1.112,145.96 508.213.17 520.461.06 378.408.02 518.530.11 Total Expense ··········•·•··--·--·······-··--·······································-· $ 388.027 .00 Other Income .. ........................- ...................·----······ ···-········-···· 7,315.90 Other Expense -••·····•····..··-··········· · · - - - - - 25,202.90 Net of Operations ............. ~$ 157 .751.21 $3.037,758.32 121.597.24 284,117.26 ~~fd~U'e i~:;:~~h Labora°fory ····:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~:::::::~: Business Administration ···············--·············-·--·····-·-··············· Personnel . . ....... ... .................................................. ········-Conservation•Education ....................... ·····-·······-························ Game Management .. ·····-··························--······· ····-···-··-········ Fish Management .. ·-··-···-···-····················-- ·•-·--··· .... Law Enforcement .. ... ... ..... .. ... ·-•--···-·•···· ....... •···•-···· Fur Resources ....... .......... ..................... . ······-- ...... ········- ..... Total General Administration Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest . ... . •. . ....... ~ Region ............................................... ·•-·••· ... -····· ........... . Regton ............. --· ···-·····-··- ....... . Regton ... -··· .... . .............................. . Region ...... ................ ·-····-··-··- .... - · - - - · · ··-······· 56,397.29 43.126.98 32,753.04 58,718.22 §1,325,912.5~ sch~~=s. Details for each of the figures above shown are set forth on accompanying 3 �GAME CASH FUND Sche du le of Expense s Year-to-Dal• June 30, !HO Month of Jun• 19&0 GEN ERAL ADMIN ISTRATION 1.039.26 2,612.45 1,758.76 397.40 $ 6,657.00 29.354 24 19,596.54 415.40 $ 5,807.87 $ 56.023.18 $ 4.828.03 9.820.35 751.01 3,782.12 3,274 92 4,502.13 1.570.35 2,479.15 1.274.72 1,481 .18 2.187,76 • 6,502.36 0 •4 .41 0 0 $ 45.040 33 55,198.87 2,453.42 20,979.84 0 18,985.09 47.451.73 22,602.18 26,251.13 18.458.40 14,170.27 24,573.70 107,36 ' 70,280.58 •35_73 18.895.00 49,336.00 29.444.95 2.335.96 $ 256.216.83 $ $ 24.955.93 $ 2,335.96 $ 24,955.93 $ 3,977.79 23,904 13 $ 51,111.09 104.075.58 $ 27,881.92 $ 155,186.67 $ 6.459.08 2,029.56 Commissioners DI.rector D e puty D irecto r W lldllfe ReHarch Labor; tory Bu•lnes■ Admlnbtrallon Business Manager Accounting Attorney _ ··-- · , ___, ·-··-- ··-··--·-·---· _ Aid··· Auton{otive License • Revenue _ ... _ -· _ Property and Supply . _ -· _ •. ........ ··-······· ....... . Office Maintenance and Operation ~~J~:fr a,~':et"ouse · :~_:::·::::·:::·:~~:::::::::::::-:: X1"ea.?i;ro.1;~ti~~ ...- ..-:~·: ·:···::::::::: Federal Aid Disallowed Items State's Share to Retirement Workmen's Compensation-"29" Fund ........ .. Reimbursement for State Servlce-"59" Fund. $ Personnel Conservalion-Educallon Radio, TV and News Education ........... .. Game Management Administration Aerial Operation . . .. Game Cooperaliv~~ "53', Fund Game Control-"55" Fund .. Pittman-Robertson Matching Fund • 0 1,679.20 53.213.55 60,324 .73 16,935.49 4,192.50 31.939.06 183.813.~6 $ 03.381.39 $ 29].205.2~ $ 3.185 43 8,125.01 4,849.79 5.284.10 1,919.05 7,022.88 32.236.86 $ $ 62,623.12 ~ 231.497.38 $ 1,642.03 $ 23.200.39 $ 1,642.03 $ 23,200 39 . 1.832 36 2,081.87 $ 16,674.57 51,185.77 3,914.23 _$ 67,86!)3; $ Fbh Management Administration Fish Research • Construction-Maintenance Warm Water Fish Las Animas . Fishtnl( Cooperatlve-"52" Fund Dingell-Johnson Matching Fund .. 15,718.37 62,132.16 39,645.51 58,346.22 8.366.29 11,591.26 35,697.57 Law Enforcement Administration Fur Re1ource1 Administration Predatory Animal Control -"54,' Fund s • Indicates Red Figures. ••state's Share (25% ) of Monthly B1lllng to the Federal Government on Project Expenditures by the Federal Aid Dhislon. 4 �Month of June 1960 Northeast Region Year-to- D ate June 30, 1960 ,~~nft':~~i;i~i~:·. ::::::::~::::~::~:::::::::=.::~::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 975.94 Regional Game Manager ................-- .. ·-·· ............................ 124.75 673.70 ~:ri;;,"a~s ·........... · . .'.. ·.....................- ...........- ......................-Tamarack ........ ·•-..··•·····-··..- .................................... Regional Educator ..................................- ................................ 1,263.23 13.50 801.46 35,812.06 2,722.28 1,005.32 181,208.18 12,380.68 9,403.36 21,003.49 39,034.99 26,972.42 32,005.58 54.88].09 2,593.43 46,435.87 1.452.00 84.20 42.50 5.353.08 821.00 1,516.42 1,373.58 56.80 124.75 11.416.18 791.07 10,250.15 173.83 9,298.86 _$ 56,397.29 $ 508,213.17 Regional Game and Fish Manager ...........- ........... _ .............. $ Reg:ionaJ Conservation Officers ................................... . Regional Fish Manager .. ......... ·-~........._ ... .. Regional Fish Biologist ... •·•-..·····-··--··..···· ..........- ..... . BeI-Aire Rearing Unlt ............- .. ·- .................................. . Crystal River ..................................- ............- ...... 1,912.31 18,604.70 1,292.17 571.94 2,131.06 2,201.84 2,289.70 1,030.24 7,640.29 839.12 0 91.18 4.50 0 60.00 0 0 171.30 0 1,528.33 1,701.30 480.20 7.00 569.80 $ 18.723.75 211,394.95 9,795.16 9,485.75 20.708.06 35,258.25 31,970.47 9,244.20 130,422.41 839.12 720.93 769.98 304.40 28.00 960.93 20.25 13.42 490.70 20.25 12,053.81 20.031.88 623.76 27.00 7,535.03 43,126.98 $ 520,461.06 Regional Game and Fish Manager ..._ ....................................$ Regional Conservation Officers ....................................... Regional Fish Manairer ........ .... ... .. ........................................... Regional F'ish Biologist ...................................- .............._. Buena Vista -----••·•··....- ............... Chalk Cliffs .. - ............--... -· ._.._ ................._.... Leadville .. ........................._ .......... - ............ _...._._ ...... Mt. Shavano ..... .... .......... .. .. _ ... -· ---·· ....... Rye . . .. ......................................................... _ ......... _ ..... Setchfleld Lake ...-_................................. .. ..... - ... --··-··•· Karval Reservoir Twin Lakes .......- ........ .... • .. ... .. Ft. Lyon .. ... . ........................................Brush Creek Hollo" ... ... ··-·. ..... . .. .... .. ... Regiona l Game Manager ..................- - - -·•··-Rocky Ford Game Farm .. _ . -···-..·-·..···...................Tarryall ............·--·-· --·--···· ................ Huerfano · - - - - · · .........- .. . Two Buttes ... ·-· .............. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .............. . Regional Educator .. ··-·· ...... -· ...................._ .............. 2,948.68 13,099.36 884.57 591.10 1,223.46 2,711.82 1.179.77 6,674.13 10.04. 0 230.00 $ 853.93 1,022.41 52.50 10.20 475.15 785.92 25,394.53 129,028.90 4.547.98 7,727.88 18,198.18 47,651.67 17,901.70 79,238.08 484.05 4,100.00 2,15:J.55 262.08 90.0() 42.00 10,460.58 15,459.79 1,'117.70 176.28 4,533.89 9,539.19 $ 32,753.04 $ 378.408.02 Regional Game and Fish Manager .. . ........ ___ -· ····- S Bonny Dam . ..... ...... ... .. ...... ... __ Parvin Lake ... .. . .... .. ...... .....••...• .. __ _ Regional Conservation Officers ......- •.... Regional Fish Mana!l'er ...... ................... .. ............... Regional Fish Biologist ........ - .............. Bellvue - Ft. Collins ......_ .........- ......... -·-... .. ... Denver ... .. ...........................- ....- ....................... .. Estes Park North Fork Thompson ......- .....- ....... - .......... ·-·· . Poudre ... . _ ......... ..........·-•··.. _.......... -............. .. .. Walden ............................. ........- ................- ...- ..........._ ....... Wray ...................................... - ..···---·-..··-··.......- ................ Lake John .. ...... .... .........................- - - Jumbo Reservoir ... ....................................- - - - - · · · · Jackson Lake ......................................••·-·········.................... North Sterling Reservoir ............................ - - . ·--•.. ·•· .. Lone Tree Reservoir ..... ......................-_...................... Cherry Creek . .. .... .............. ........._.........- .........- ..- ........... 5.633.74 661.40 164.11 ]8.968.70 770.]9 1,215.54 2,821.12 3.129.40 6,030.67 3.573.42 2,886.42 259.26 5,387.24 $ 0 0 42.50 180.00 821.00 0 0 1 0 N o rthwest R egio n fill;~i~tcir~~~:· :::::::::::··::::::~~:::·~:~:::::::::~::::.:::~=:::::::::::: Williams Fork Reservoir ........................................................ Harl Lake . .... JJill'rwr5c;:,~e .................... . ........:::..:::..··::::::·:::::·::::::::::::::·:::::::::::::::· Meadow Creek ...................................... Mack Mesa -· .... ................... -. ·-········ .... Vaughn Lake ......................... ... .. ................................. _.. Hahn's Peak Lake ........... ...-.........- .......... Green Mountain Reservoir .. .... ...................-.. ..... ··Dumont . .. ............ .... .... • ................... Regional Game Manager ...................................... . Aerial Operation .... ... • ... .. .. ..................... Little Hills . . . .......... ................................................................... Square "S" Ranch ..............- .................... _ ........... ..... .. ... _ Regional Educator .................................. S outheast R e gion •Indicates Red Figure. 5 0 0 0 �MoDcth of June 1950 Year- to-Dale June 30, 1960 Southwest R egion Regional Game and Fllih Manager . $ Gunnison • ___ . ·---· ........ _ ..... Lake City ....... - - Regional Conservation Officers Regional Fish Manager Regional Fish Biologist Cedaredge Chlpeta Dolores _ Durango .. ............__,.. ____ -·· .................. La Jara .................·----· .... . .. .......- ..................- ......_ Pitkln ........ ... ... .. ...... .... ........... ..... · · .. ·· · ·- ... Rio Grande Ponds .. .. -··· ___ .................... Wllliams Creek Lake -~Big Blue . . . Rito Hondo _ Trujillo Meadow,; Regional Game Manager Del Norte • _ Rio Grande Management Area Sego Springs .. Regional Educator 3,224 48 249.07 36.19 19.347.03 2,237.61 719.94 1.924.62 2.010 65 1.714,00 2,953.49 1,117.47 18,811.21 1,498.37 3611.42 0 0 0 977.62 78.38 0 666.18 782.49 $ $ 58,718~ $ 518,530.11 .$ 1,501.61 1,436.90 45.00 24,897.16 595.04 559.20 205,932.45 14,586.90 7,544.60 29,358.67 32,036.14 27,6-17.74 38,999.08 15,34882 66,898.15 27.563.13 465.24 3.000.00 1,695.00 87 00 11,185.49 475.33 195.25 1,552.68 7,907.04 GAME CASH FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Assets CURRENT ASSETS Cash Cash on Deposit - Receivable State Treasurer $4,195,632.71 Accounts Receivable - Justice of the Peace Accounts Receivable - License Agents .. Accounts Receivable - Miscellaneous Due fro m Other Funds Federal Aid Revolving Fund Fishing Easement Fund .. $ 3,780.92 19,105.00 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 2.983 51 22,885.92 $4,221,502.14 OTHER A S SET S Invt,tment m Stores Revolving Fund Investment Ill Federal Aid Revolving Fund DEFERRED EXPENSES Dcpohits m Postage Meter Machine Small Tools and Expendable Equipment $ 250,000.00 $ P ROP E RTY , P LANT A N D EQUIPMEN T Automobiles .. Farm and Garden Equipment General Plant Equipment .. Household Furniture and Equipment ... Laboratory Equipment .. . .. Library and Instructional Equipment . :--.iotor Vehicles. Equipment and Air Equipment Office Furniture and Equipment . Recreation Equipm<ent Shop Machinf'ry and Equipment Camping Equipment Buildings and lmprovem<ents to Butldm~• Land and Non-Structural lmproveml·nts to Land Sub•Tolal Equity in Federal Aid Property, Plant and Equipment 750,000.00 1.000,000.00 1,583.72 150,005.51 151.589 23 151,729.09 227.452.50 529,703.95 36.627.58 IG.924.08 3-1.060.25 .. 1.030.947.78 l-il,748.66 765.40 34.061.10 50.02335 _: 1,672.680.68 . 3,220,123.43 $ ~7.146,847.85 795,770.10 $7,942,617.95 $13,315.709_.~ TOTAL ASSETS 6 �Liabilities M onlh o f June 1960 Year-to-Da le June 30, 1960 CURRENT LIABILITIES Payables 1.069.33 Accounts Payable-Counties Share ............... - .....•. ··-·--- $ 3,132.60 Accounts Payable-License Agents ..................•..... ··--··· ... 2,423.10 Accounts Payable-State's General Fund ············-··••·•···· .. Reserve for Encumbrances-Prior Year . ·············-···· ...... 523,527.41 Accrued Payrolls ......................... ......... ... . .... ... ....... 7,828.26 $ 537,980.70 Due l o Othe r Funds Stores Revolving Fund . ... ... . ... ·-· ....... $ 2,952.72 Federal Aid Revolving Fund ........................ -····· ... .................•.. 85,450.41 Capital Construction Fund ••.. -·· . ······- ·······-·--··-·-······· 1,490,100.00 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 1,578,503.13 $2,116,483.83 BUDGETARY AND OTHER FUND OBLIGATIONS Approprialions Balance F iscal Year 1959-1960 Personal Servjces ...... . . .. .............. ~ 44,375.97 Maintenance and Operation ................... 332,186.09 21,297.25 Travel and Subsistence ....... ·····-·-·..··· Capital Outlay 42,991.85 31 (71 - 71-9) .................... ······-·····-··· 32 (70J Automobiles and Station Wagons .......................... 24,146.25 56 (75 - 78) Continuing Capital ·-······· ...... ...................... 223,289.31 102,450.08 223,986.65 Dingell-Johnson .... .................................. .. 51,704.82 ~Pt~!~-:rc:g~Ason..···:::..::::::::::·:::::·:::::.···::.·:::::::: $1,066,428.27 Enc umbrances Balance F isc al Year 1959- 1960 Maintenance and Operation ...................$ 157,122.42• Capital Outlay ........... ........... ..... .............. . 280,954.58* Unbilled AdvancesPittman-Robertson ............................... 53,213.55• Dingell-Johnson .... .......... ..................... 32,236.86• 523,527.41• 542,900.86 RESERVES AND SURPLUS ~::·~:::··::::=·::::::::::::=::=::::::::::::::::=:::::::::::$½:m:m:gg ~~';.~;iot~fat~or~i1~:P:.~~.. Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets ...................................................... 7,942,617.95 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS .................................*Indicates Red Figures. 7 10,656,324.63 $13,315,709.32 �FEDERAL AID REVOLVING FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Assets Month of June 1960 Cash on Dt-pos1t- State Treasurer Receivables: Due from Federal Government Due from G a me Cash Fund $ Unbilled Advances : Due from Federal Government Due from Game Cash Fund Property, Plant and Equipment Esllmated Revenues on Projects in Process:. ·- •.• Unallocated Appropriated FundsNew Projects ... TOTAL ASSETS 144,713.72 $ 263,362 44 Dingell Johnson PittmanRobertson Year-lo-Date June 30, 1960 214.80 0 0 144,928.52 0 162,476.33 54,158.711 96,710.60 32,236.86 259,186.93 86,395.64 $ 2.387.310.32 4-11,902.31 54,932.69 286.267.89 $3,583,Q86 1~ .. FEDERAL AID REVOLVING FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Liabilities Reserve for Encumbrances PittmanRobert.,on Due to Game Cash Fund Due to Stores Revolving Fund Equity of Game Cash Fund Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets Refunds of Warrants Appropriations Available-Projects in Process : Total Allotments Less: Expenditures to Date $ 3,780.92 DingellJohnson S 0 32,188.84 3,780.!l2 0 750,000.00 2.387,310.32 92.61 . 1,190.250.00 768.919.8r. 160,050.00 139,477.83 Sub-total ..... Less: Encumbrances Outstanding 421,330.14 32,188.84 20,572.17 Net · Ap;,ropriations Available 389,141.30 20,572.17 297.867.89 11,600.00 54,932.69 286.267.89 54,932.69 0 0 286.267.89 54,932.69 Appropnati ?n s Available-- -New Projects · Frnm Anticipated Revenues .. Less . Current Project Appropriallon Suh-total .. .. ... ... ... . .. .. ............ Add. Unused Balances on Completed Projects Net: Appropriations Available $ ... .. .. ... •... ... ... TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS 8 0 409,713.47 0 .....$3,583.086.16 �FEDERAL AID PROJECTS INCOME ACCOUNT Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Assets M onth o f J une 1960 Year-!o-Date Jun e 30, 1960 Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer .. ···-··············· . ........ ...... _ - .... Property, Plant and Equipment ..... ···-········-··········· ............. _............ $ 48,594.99 536.75 TOTAL ASSETS ············--··-·.......................................................... -. $ 49,131.74 $ 1.132.40 115.50 536.75 Liabilities ,~~~:~~:~::::::!"~!~!~•:'.'.'.'.'.:~:'.: : '.:'.'.'.'.~: : : :'.: : '.: '.'.: ~: :'.:'.:~'.!: :==~$ Plus Net of Operations as of June 30, 1960 ...................•............. 35,750.17 12,84.4.82 --5 Less Current Year's Encumbrances .. .. Adjusted Surplus ............... .. .... -· ...................................... 48,594.99 1,247.90 --- 47,347.09 ............... ··········-··········•··-······ $ 49,131.74 $ 17,728.60 3,351.03 $ 26,953.18 0 :;; 76.75 3,322.00 308.12 10,363.69 37.80 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS . -· -· -····••·••·· ...... Statement of Operations Incom e 2,39?.00 19.25 904.00 0 30.78 TOTAL INCOME ····-····-··-······-············ ................................... $ 4,770.22 3.636.99 120.00 697.37 Exp en ses Capital Outlay .......... Salaries ....... .... ...... ... .. w:;~f[~ ..................................................................$ . . ...................................... ............. .... ......... :::.~:·::::.::::::::::.:=::::::·::::::::::::::::::·::..:: 3 1!_<;,ed a~~te~fa~a~'.~~... Retirement 204.00 0 2,101.80 0 TOTAL EXPENSES .. ....................................................................$ 2,305.80 $ 14,108.36 NET OF OPERATIONS 1,045.23 $ 12,844.82 .$ 42,282.18 • 104.00 --······· ...............$ 42,386.18 .......... - ............................ . $ COLORADO CONSERVATION FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Assets Cash on Deposit-Stale Treasurer Due from Other Funds-Game cash Fund TOTAL ASSETS 9 �Liabilities $ 28,295.73 $ 42,386.18 2,400.33 $ 28,432.75 ............................. --·..·•• ·-···· .......=$===2='= 400===.3=3 $ 28,432.75 $ 0 0 23,712.84 3,520.00 164.20 3,989.00 27,397.04 1,035.71 Subscriptions Paid In Advance ···-Surplus: Balance June 30, 1959 ...........·-••-·-------··-----......... $ Net Profit as o! June 30, 1960 ·----···-···................. __ .•. _ ... 13,054.74 1,035.71 Adjusted Surplus .. _........................................... . ..... ···--·· ·-·- ......... 14,090.45 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS ...... .......... _ .. -·· Statement of Operations Income Subscriptions Earned .... $ TOTAL INCOME Expense Printing .. ... ............. ........ ... ......... ............ ... ..... .. ........................_... $ Posta~e .. ... ... ..... ·····-·······.. ··· Supphes .......... .. TOTAL EXPENSE .... NET OF OPERATIONS 'Indicates Red Figure. 3,989.00 .......... $ .. ......=$===•=1=,5=8=8=.6=7 ..In Transit- Vo. 8071 $104.00. BONNY DAM FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Assets Month of June 1960 Cash on Deposit TOTAL Stale Treasu,·er .. ............... ASSETS Year-to- Date June 30, 1960 $ 2,215.65 $ 2,215.65 $ 617 .72 Liabilities .. ~-····· ······-· Accoun ls Payable .. Surplus: Balance June 30, 1959 Less Encumbrances $ $ Less Operating Loss as of June 30, 1960 . 3,997.36 617.72 3,379.64 1,781.71 Adj us ted Surplus as of June 30. 1960 ... 1,597.93 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS $ 2,215.65 Statement of Operations Income Boat Permits ...... Annual Parking .. . . Sales - Farm 'Products Rents Land .... TOTAL INCOME .. .... ·- .. $ 290.00 40.00 0 1,082.00 $ 1,098.66 380.00 142.00 2,957.00 ........................... $ 1,4.12.00 $ 4,577.66 Expenses Wages or Laborers ... State's Share lo Retirement Maintenance and Operation 0 0 651.17 I 1,669.20 69.03 4,621.14 TOTAL EXPENSES 651.17 $ 6,359.37 760.83 $ •1,781.71 NET OF OPERATIONS •Indicates Red Figures. .....$ 10 - �GREEN MOUNTAIN FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Assets Cash on Deposit - s s State Treasurer ...... T OTAL ASSETS 1,687.92 1,687.92 Liabilities Sur~~f~nce June 30, 1959 .................................................................. $ Less Operating Loss as of June 30, 1960 ........ ··-·····•·····-····· . 2,020.25 332.33• 1,687.92 Adjusted Surpl us ................................................................................TOTAL LIA BILI TIES AND SURPLUS ... 1,687.92 ................... Statement of Operations Month of .June 1960 Income Boat Permits ........ ···••···-· ·······················-···-················ ······-··-······-······ $ Annual Parking .. Year-1o-D a 1e .June 30, 1960 799.67 5.00 0 0 ... ................................................................$ 0 S 804.67 Maintenance a n d Operation ........................................................$ 1,137.00 TOTAL INCOME .. ... Expenses 475.00 $ ........................................$ 475.00 $ 1,137.00 NET OF OPERATIONS .............................•............................... $ • 475.00 $ • 332.33 TOTAL EXPENSES .............................. • I ndicates Red Figures. CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Assets Appropriation Due Lrom Game Cash Fund ..... ................................... $1,490,100.00 TOTAL ASSETS .......................•...... ·······-····-······································· $1.490,100.00 l iabilities Construction Allotm.ent 1959-1960 Hatchery Building Mt. Shavano ......•..........•... ..... ·······---·- _ .•$ ~!it:~1~~::~~t~:~:~~~:~:: ~: .: .: .: : : : : ~: : : : : : : : : ~==:: : : ~: : : :~: : ~sra'1f g~~•it L~'k~e ···::::::::::::::::::::=~~::::::::::::::::::=::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Rock Creek Lake Lake ...................................................................................... ··········•··••·······-··-······-·-····-·····································. Homestake Granby Seep Lake ...........- ...................................................·-············ Martin Reservoir Water Rights ....................... ··-·····----·· Michigan River Fish Ril;.ht o! Way ·-···--···---··-·-···-·-·-·-North Sterlint,,Reservo Land ......... ·······-····- ..·-·····-··-·-··-- tl~~e~ii~~:~~s s::i~u Pi-cij"ects·· ::::·:::...::::::::::::::::.:.:::::::::::::::::::::::: Agreement with Denver Water Boa.rd ......................................... 35,000.00 30,000.00 60,000.00 110,000.00 40,000.00 64,687.00 310,000.00 25,000.00 60,000.00 50,000.00 50,000.00 10,000.00 50,000.00 95,100.00 500,000.00 $1,489,787.00 Alkali Creek Lake ............................................ 313.00 TOTAL LIABILITIES ......................................................... ·-·· .. __ $1 ,-190,100.00 Restricted Reserve - 11 �STORES REVOLVING FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Assets .... ..$ 109,066.35 Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer •..... Due from Other Funds: Bonny Dam Fund .. Game Cash Fund . . . ... Federal Aid Revolving Fund Federal Aid Projects Income Fund .................. _ .... ,._............. 27.78.. 65,357.01•• 1,807.64°• 130.13°• Inven tories: Stores on Hand . .......- ................... ,_ .............. ... ............... .....$ Stores In Transit ... ...... .. _, ........................ ··- -· ..... _ ................. Inventory Adjustment ........ __ ............._, ... -· ...... ·- ................... 68,961 .82 66,159 83 4.649.21 - -- - - TOTAL ASSETS 67,322.62 139,770.86 $ 316,159.83 Liabilities $ Accounts Payable . Equity or Game Cash Fund 66,159.83 250,000.00 $ 316,159.83 Note : This fund will have neither income nor expenses and hence no Sta lemen l of Operations. ..In Transit. FISHING EASEMENT FUND Balance Sheet June 30, 1960 Assets Month of Year-to-Date June 30, 1960 June 1960 Cnsh on Deposit- State Treasurer TOTAL ASSETS ·····••·$ 19,105.00 .........$ 19,105.00 Liabilities Due to Game Cash Fund Surplus : July l , 1959 .... . . .. .. ... .............................$ Less Cost of Operations as of June 30, 1960.... ................... $ Less Encumbrances . .. . .. 19,105.00 20,000.00 895.00 19,105.00 19,105.00 0 Adjusted Surplus .. TOT AL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS $ 19,105.00 Statement of Operations Incom e Tra ns ferred from Game Cash Fund ........$ 0 $ 20,000.00 ....$ 0 $ 20,000.00 ......................................... $ -----0 0 $ 895.00 - - - -0 $ 895.00 ····•..···········=·$==== $ 19,105.00 ----- TOTAL INCOME Expense Maintenance and Operation TOTAL EXPENSE .. XET OF OPERATIONS 12 ..........................- ....$ �PERSONNEL Base. The school was conducted for office and regional administrators and supervisors and included general sessions on basic supervisory responsibilities and specialized sessions for each specific technical and field supervisory function. Critiques submitted by those in attendance were highly favorable towa1·d refining and continuing the training program. the last fiscal year the D URING Personnel Division continued its activities in handling the expanding personnel needs of the department. Acting in an advisory capacity to the director and division heads, personnel administers the civil service program of the department. In addition, it conducts the routine business of classification review, creation and classification of new positions, handling of g r i e v a n c e s, answering general correspondence, payrolls, maintenance of files and records and an average of four to five interviews per day. The growing personal services budget is now nearing two million annually and requires more and more time to administer to assure proper and efficient use of personnel. The Gabrielson report of 1959, which reviewed the problem and policies of the department, recommended that the Game Management, Federal Aid and Fur Resources divisions be consolidated. This reorganization was completed last year, and the result is that the enlarged Game Management Division provides new titles and better pay for long time employes. Some vacancies were filled in all regions during 1959, which no doubt accounts for the increased activities in all phases of the field. Salary surveys were continued, resulting in the upgrading of 31 classes of positions and the initiation of the first long range promotional examining program in the department's history provided a positive line of advancement for all employes. Personnel held open competition examinations last year for the positions of game biologist, fish biologist and wildlife conservation officer, and successful examinees were placed on the employment waiting list. Properly utilizing the abilities of 352 employes is no small task. A two week supervisor training school was held at Lowry Air Force 13 �GAME MANAGEMENT winters and liberal seasons have helped to alleviate this situation. Land acquisition 1s playing an increasingly important role in our program of development and maintenance of wildlife resources. The purchase of key marginal areas, which are reserved for game use only, definitely aids in maintaining big game herds at desirable levels. Our habitat program is becoming much more proficient through careful planning. continues to be inH UNTING creasingly popular in Colorado. License sales climbed to a new high during 1959 and the department income received from all types of hunting licenses amounted to more than three million dollars or 67 per cent of its total income. Continued production of a harvestable surplus of our wildlife continues to be the goal of game management. Sound management must be based on biological facts with proper consideration being given to the attitude of the people and to local situations and conditions. Type o f S eason: The 1959 regular deer and elk season began October 17 and ended November 3, covering a total of 18 days. The entire state was opened for the taking of one deer of either sex. In addition. 65 per cent of the state west of U. S. H ighway 87 was opened for the taking of deer on a multiple license basis in a multiple license area. A hunter is allowed to purchase a second license and take another deer of his choice. Pre and postseasons were also opened for deer. Department personnel are given technical training so they will be able to collect accurate field data, analyze the data and correctly evaluate their findings. An intensive study of deer and elk winter range is being expanded throughout Colorado. Personnel from our department, from the U. S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are working closely together to achieve more accurate and uniform range surveys. All lands west of U. S. Highway 87 were opened to elk hunting, and 8885 hunter's choice permits were issued. Aerial trend counts of big game are necessary to our management program and our aerial crew has become one of the most efficient in the nation. Other important duties of this crew are fish planting, law enforcement, search and rescue, waterfowl surveys, transportation, game and fish research, fishing and hunting checks, photography and game damage control. Weather conditions were ideal for hunting, as an early snowfall just prior to the season forced the animals to lower elevations. By the time the season opened, roads had dried out, hunters were able to reach the animals and hunting conditions were among the best in years. Seasons for other species are reported under their respective subtitles. One of the biggest problems continues to be sufficient habitat for our game animals, although mild The 1959 deer season was very successful, due primarily to excel14 �rado, totaling 10,820. T his resulted from ideal weather conditions, substantial numbers of elk and an increased number of hunters. There were 8885 validations issued. alt hough three per cent oI these validation holders took bulls. len t hunting conditions and an abundance of deer. The harvest of 107,120 deer was the second largest in Colorado history. This was exceeded only by the 1957 season, when the kill was 114,529. There were 123.857 deer hunters in the field, resulting in a success ratio of 85 per cent . Of the total kill, 22,985 deer (21 per cent) were taken on multiple licenses; 428 (.4 per cent) were killed during preseasons; and 10,154 (9 per cent) were harvested during post and ext ended seasons. A two-deer multipl e season was held in the southwestern part of the stat e in December, where 1708 hunters killed 3675 deer. Deer: Nine counties in northv,restem Colorado produced 51.7'75 deer or 48 per cent of all deer harvested in the state. However, this represents a drop of 2 per cent from 1958 and indicates that the hunt ing pressure is moving toward the Southwest. Garfield County again led in the number of deer killed; Rio Blanco was a close second and Mesa Cou n ty was third. The n umber of deer licen ses sold in Colorado in 1959 r each ed an allt ime high which was 32 per cent above t he ten -year average. Check station figures in dicate a normal kill-51 per cent bucks; 37 per cen t does; and 12 per cent fawns. El k kill during t he 1959 season was the highest on record for Col o- Last year 123,852 deer hunters and 37,212 elk hunters added more than 90 million dollars to Colorado's economy. 15 �Routt County accounted for the largest number of elk killed, fol lowed closely by Gunnison. Other counties with high kills were Rio Blanco. Archuleta, La P lata and Saguache. Of the total kill, 63 per cent. were bulls; 31 per cent cows; and 6 per cent calves, which is almost the same as last year. The kill of elk 1 1/4 years old was 33 per cent oi the total, compared to 31 per cent in 1958, indicating a good calf crop in 1958. Antelope: There were two antelope seasons in 1959-one on January 3, 4, 5 and one September 26, 27, 28. There were only 2237 licenses sold compared to 2715 t he previous year. These hunters killed 1900 antelope for a success ratio of 86 per cent. In 1958 the success ratio was 84 per cent. As is normal, the first day accounted for 75 per cent of the kill. Sportsman -landowner cooperation is aided by department personnel. Thu take of deer 1 1/3 years oi age was 43.9 per cent compal'ed t o 38.5 the previous year, indicating an excellent fawn crop in 1959. Some of the antelope herds are decreasing and this will result in further restrictions on the number of licenses sold. The number of archers increased to 1800. Report cards showed archers killed 290 deer, for a success ratio of 16 per cent. Larimer County took top honors with a kill of 31. Bighorn Sheep: The regular 1959 bighorn sheep season was held from August 29 through September 13. A l ate season from November 14 through November 22 was held in two ar::-as in northeastern Colorado. There were 148 licenses permitted and all were purchased even though regulations required a 3/4 or better curl. There were 25 rams killed, for a success rat io of 17 per cent. In 1958, 51 sheep were killed for a 24 per cent success ratio. This decrease is due to the 3/4-curl limitation on rams in 1959, whereas in previous years rams of 1/2-curl were legal and in certain areas hunters were permitted to take ewes and lambs. Elk: The 1959 elk harvest exceeded that of all other years in Colorado, even though in 1948 and 1951 90 per cent of the state was open to the taking of one elk of either sex. This fact indicates that by proper management (the validation system) a substantial harvest of elk can be sustained throughout the years without particularly damaging the elk herds. There was a decided shift of elk hunters to the southwest. as the Rio Grande and San Juan regions represented 40 per cent of the state kill. For example, 2498 elk were killed in the San Juan Basin; 1733 in the San Luis Valley; and 1294 from the Gunnison area. There wer"' 1455 elk harvested from the White River Plateau and 790 Crom Steamboat Springs. These five areas represent 72 per cent of the harvest in Colorado. Bear: The bear season was fairly successful, although only 555 bears were harvested, compared to 584 in 1958. This decrease may have been due to the early snow storm, because the sale of special bear licenses increased from 618 in 1958 to 992 in 1959. As a result, 208 bears 16 �were taken on the special bear licenses compared to only 109 the year before. The season opened April 1 and closed November 3. It is the general opinion that there has been a slight increase in the number of bears in Colorado. ers third in the number of geese harvested. Weld County showed a large increase over past years. probably because more geese wintered in that area in 1959. Phe as ant: The season was open in November and December and proved very successful. The annual small game hunter survey revealed that 99,450 hunters bagged 243,624 pheasants in 1959. This was the largest number of hunters and the highest harvest sincP the beginning of the survey. The average bag of 2.5 pheasants is slightly lower than last year's high. Turkey: The turkey season was :,split. one from October 3 through October 12 and the other from November 14 through November 22. There were 766 licenses sold for an increase of 27 per cent over 1958. Hunters killed 506 turkeys for a success ratio of 66 per cent. Toms comprised 33 per cent of the kill: hens 53 and poults 14 per cent. Dove: This season extended from September 1 t hrough October 20, and the success was fair compared to the four year average. A kill of 129,398 doves was reported by 17,972 hunters for an average of 7.2 doves for the season's bag. This represents a decrease both in number of hunters and total harvest from the previous year Duck: The 1959 season began October 26 and ended December 14-a total of 50 days. The bag limit was 4 birds and the possession limit was 8. The harvest was 45 per cent less than the five-year average due to a decrease in the number of hunters, a decrease m the average seasonal bag and mild weather. There were 29,060 duck hunters who bagged an estimated 122,924 ducks and crippled an additional 22,417. The average season duck bag per hunt er was 4.2, a decrease of 452 from last year Mallards again accounted for more than 65 per cent of the kill. Quail: The season was open during the pheasant season and was fairly successful compared to the four year average. Quail hunters. numbering 14,772 bagged 86,268 birds, or an average season bag of 5.84. This represents a decrease in the number of hunters and total harvest compared to last year. Goose: The goose season extended from October 26 through January 8 and proved to be the most successful on record. This was probably due to the longer season and the fact that an increased number of geese were present in the state during the hunting season. Sage and Sharptail Grouse: The season was held in August for the first time and proved quite successful. There were 7798 hunters, who reported bagging 16,142 birds for an average season bag of 2.07 grouse. An increase in both hunters and harvest resulted in the highest average season bag since 1956 An estimated 13,647 goose hunters bagged 21.972 birds, or an average 0f 1.61 geese per h u n t e r. The wounding loss was 17.8 per cent, or 4730 birds, bringing the total hunting mortality to 26,702. The wounding loss last year was 22.3 per cent or 5016 geese. Southeastern Colorado again accounted for the largest number of geese killed-SO per cent were killed in that region alone. Baca County was first. Kiowa second and Prow- Blue Gro use and Ptarmiga n : The season was held as usual in September and the success ratio remained normal. Grouse hunters numbered 11,617 and they took 17,774 birds for an average of 1.53 grous~ per hunter. Cottontail Rabbit: The season ran from October l through February 29 and success was normal. The 17 �number of cottontail hunters decreased to 56,834, but they killed 29-1,400 rabbits for an average season bag of 5.18. about 600 acres under the water, an irrigation right of way on 735 acres, a storage right of 140,565 acre feet of water and an additional purchase of a water right of 147 acre feet. Snowshoe Rabbit: There were only 4491 hunters who went out for these rabbits, but the kill was 13,143. The average season bag was 2.66-slightly lower than usual. The management area developments are varied though many items are recurrent annually. The habitat improvement program distributed 226,700 plants. mainly coniferous species. The work accomplished at various state areas included maintenance of buildings, repair and upkeep of irrigation channels, construction of a suspension bridge, road widening, gravelling, ditching and grading, erection of highway directional signs and area boundary signs, repair of flood damage, construction of two miles of hunter access road, construction of new fences and repair of existing fences, erection of gates, corrals and loading chutes, sewer line maintenance and fire control. FEDERAL AID For the fiscal year 1960, Colorado received an apportionment of $469,557.55 which with state matching funds made a total of $626,076.73 available for fish and wildlife restoration. Some monies, of course, are carried over from the previous year so that expenditures may sometimes be shown as greater than the current apportionment. There were eleven wildlife research projects active during the year, eleven development projects, six land acquisition projects, one coordination project and three small, part-time fish research projects. Research projects included work on upland game birds, waterfowl, turkeys, deer and elk, range investigations, beaver, habitat improvement and evaluation of habitat improvement. Fish studies were carried out during the summer on cutthroat trout reproduction, on splake trout and on the Shadow Mountain Reservoir trout. A pamphlet was published on the antelope containing information compiled over a several year period. Lands acquired included 38 acres near Monte Vista, 3370 acres at Radium, 3781 acres near Delta, 2549 acres at Dotsero, 440 acres near Hot Sulphur Springs, and 160 acres near Thomasville. Another acquisition at the La Jara Reservoir included 640 acres of deeded land, control of PITTMAN- ROBERTSON Land acquisition proje cts Project No. FW-7-L W-8-L W-68-L W-86-L W-87-L W-92-L Amount Title $ 57,339.06 LaJara Management Area 11,076.00 Hot Sulphur Deer-ElkRange 2,905.00 . Rio Grande Game Bird Mgmt. Are:::i 33,319.00 Radium Deer Winter Range Mgmt. Area 68,710.00 Dotsero Deer and Elk Winter Range 36,633.50 Escalante Wildlife Management Area $209,982.56 18 �Development Projects Project No. Title Amount 58,415.95 6,920.01 3,977 19 2,822.40 2,904.68 6,313.97 3,899 96 11,686.01 7,580.24 40,561.83 2,362.81 713.84 FW-6-D W-51-D W-56-D W-35-D W-65-D W-69-D W-82-D W-96-D W-97-D W-98-D W-99-D W-102-D Habitat Improvement Sapinero Management Area South Platte Antelope Restoration Mount Evans . Irving R. Poley Management Area Devil Creek Turkey Area Turkey Restoration Billy Creek Piceance Creek Hot Sulphur ····-- --- ..... Special School Fees $148, 158.89 Research Projects W-37-R W-38-R W-41-R W-79-R W-83-R W-88-R W-90-R W-95-R W-101-R W-104-R W- 105-R Game Bird Survey Deer- Elk Investigations Bighorn Sheep Survey Habitat Improvement Studies Beaver Investigations Waterfowl Investigations Evaluation of Habitat Improvement Disease of Game Animals Game Range Investigations Wildlife Population Study An ecological Investigation of the Cache La Poudre Deer Herd 34,863.73 43,299.16 1,74749 26,378.95 10,807.00 28,242.48 3,884.66 6,456.74 39,313.50 1,538.71 5,830.90 $202,363 32 Coordination Project FW-19-C $ 35,899.31 $596,404.08 Grand Total Coordination Project FW-19-C $ 4,046.70 Land Acquisition Projects FW-7-L F - 16-L $133,791.14 . 13,447.00 $147,238.14 19 La Jara Management Area Coke Oven Reservoir �Research Projects Project No. F-18-R F-19-R F-20-R .. $ $ Amount 2,317.17 ......... 1,765.53 2,424.58 Shadow Title Cutthroat Trout Study .. Splake Trout Study Mountain Trout Study 6,507.28 Development Projects F-4-D $ 1,207.80 . . . . . Grand Total $158,999.92 Poose Creek PROJECT COSTS Pittmon- Robertson June 30, 1959 balance Unused balances: Completed projects Apportionment, 1959 $271,964.59 $ 45,633.27 351,939.01 397,572.28 $669,536.87 New Projects Approved: Coordination Land Research Development 21,600.00 104,137.50 197,850.00 116,775.00 Balance 6-30-60 . 440,362.50 $229,174.37 Dingell- Johnson June 30, 1959 Balance . Unused Balances: Completed projects Apportionment, 1959 $ l 0,580.59 22,237.92 117,618.54 139,856.46 150,437.05 New Projects, Land Coordination 116,962.50 2,400.00 Balance 6-30-60 119,362.50 $ 31,074.55 eluding 1 that went to board); 9 claims were claims were sent to boards, 1 was paid and for further action. GAME DAMAGE Game damage is becoming an extremely important phase of game and fish operations. More and more acreage is being withdrawn as wildlife habitat and turned to agriculture. This makes for additional conflict between game and agriculture. arbitration denied; 2 arbitration 1 was held Kinds of claims filed: elk 7; bear 15. Deer 14; The total amount claimed on damage claims was $12,004.00 and the total amount paid was $6,889.00. During 1959-60, 36 damage claims were filed; 26 claims were paid (in20 �The following table shows monies expended for damage control and claims: $13,182.00 6,889.00 Fencing and Control Reimbursement for Claims $20,071.00 Hours spent by field men on damage control 9632 Hourly rate of field men $2.00 per hour (does not include Supervisory and Stenographic staff), 9632 hrs. <l1 $2.00 19,264.00 Expenses. Field Men at $2.00 per day (9632 : . 8 - 1204 days, x $2.00) __ ---- ----- - --- Supervisor cost, Denver _ Supervisor cost, Field _ Stenographic cost 2,408.00 2,756.00 2,250.00 -------Denver _ ----- ------ Supervisor expense, Supervisor, Field Legal-(1/3 salary) • Legal-auto expense Legal-travel expense Legal-secretary 1,167.00 - ------------ Auto expense - W.C.O. 96,542 x 7r per mile _ _ _ _ Misc. expense (office stationery, mail) 795.00 156.00 2,330.00 7,570.00 185.00 550.00 6,758.00 500.00 $66,760.00 dealers, administration of predator control, administration of damage control and checking and authorizing payment of mountain lion bounties. FUR RESOURCES Fur Management is now a part of the Game Management Division. Fur Management no longer maintains a separate division, but is basically the same with an assistant game manager, secretary and essentially the same field personnel administering the various duties. The main responsibilities of the Fur Management under Game Management are the administration of the beaver control law. management of the fur resources, control of fur Beav er: Our present beaver control law provides beaver may be taken by state employes, landowners with a permit and private trappers, trapping m designated areas. The following table will show the beaver taken during the last three seasons: Year State Trapped Landowner Private Permits Total 1957-58 1958-59 1959-60 4,870 4,423 4.386 623 1,073 1,881 198 100 135 5,691 5,596 6,402 21 �The following t able shows t he fur harvest over the past Fur Harvest: few years: Species ----·----- M uskrat Skunk Coyot e ---·-- M ink - - Weasel - -·---- -- Marten Badger Bob & Lynx Cat __ Fox Civet Cat Raccoon Opossom Ringtail Cat TOTALS 1956-57 1957-58 1958-59 28,087 287 15 140 61 24 7 83 18 None 257 4 38,206 197 14 127 127 61 12 29,339 186 15 68 228 75 None (OS) 328 7 None 193 None None (OS) 36,035 119 13 None 208 None None (OS) 39,084 11 1959-60 18,610 191 547 57 73 33 56 2,186 36 9 300 3 3 22,104 - 28,994 There still seems to be a slight increase in demand for furs but to date no increase in prices has been shown. An increase in the taking of many species of furbearers would solve some of the Game and Fish Department's nuisance problems. trouble. Foxes, raccoon and skunks are increasing at an alarming rate and due to their peculiarities and habitat, present a difficult control problem as control measures used on coyote and bobcats cannot safely be used in the majority of cases. Predaior Control: The Game and Fish Department works very closely with the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service in a predator control program, and it is the responsibility of Fur Management to coordinate this work. Bounties: The State of Colorado pays a bounty on only one predator - the mountain lion. This $50.00 bounty is set by a law that was passed years ago at the request of stockmen and has been continued ever since, at their insistence. The predator program deals principally with bear, coyote and bobcat. The number of damage claims on bear complaints has decreased considerably in the last few years, due to the open season on bear. It is hoped bear hunting will become more popular as there seems to be an increase in bear population. The following table shows the lion harvest over the past few years: Coyote is still well under control and department personnel are well equipped with guns and traps to reduce overpopulation in troublesome areas. 82 MOUNTAIN LION BOUNTIES Year Number Amount 1959-60 1958-59 1957-58 1956-57 1955-56 1954-55 1953-54 25 38 $1,250.00 1,900.00 2,300.00 4,100.00 3,300.00 46 66 54 58 2,700.00 2.900.00 The past three years show a definite decrease in the number of lions taken. It is rather difficult to explain this situation, but a change in economic conditions may be the answer. From field reports it is evident the mountain lion population has remained static. The bobcat is still a detrimental animal to small game and birds and control on the bobcat is still heavily stressed. Other predators, including the mountain lion, are giving very little 22 �ENGINEERING LIMITED construction fund of $350,000.00 for the fiscal year 1959-1960 curtailed most large dam projects. With the exception of Karval Reservoir, a 21-acre impoundment at Karval, Colorado, the construction program consisted of hatchery and rearing pond improvements. A struction of a regional office and laboratory building at Fort Collins. This will be an attractive redstone and glazed tile structure designed by Architect Robb at Fort Collins, located adjoining the college on the south. The old wood and concrete raceways at the Pitkin Hatchery were removed and replaced with 2800 lineal feet of 9' wide by 3' high concrete raceways. New pipelines were constructed at Mount Shavano, Poudre Ponds, Estes Park and Chipeta Rearing Unit. This amounted to 6000 lineal feet of pipeline with a total carrying capacity of 50 cubic feet of water per second. This construction was, in some instances, replacement of old lines with new and larger pipe. Also there was constructed a new supply ditch into the Chalk Cliff Rearing Unit. The additional available water from these projects has resulted in considerable additional output by the rearing units. Access roads and camp grounds were constructed at many of the department-owned lakes. These included Hohnholz lakes and Boyd, Lonetree, Seaman and North Sterling reservoirs. Green Mountain Reservoir and Williams Fork Reservoir also received roads, camp ground facilities and l a u n chin g ramps. This work was accomplished by our construction crew. Two new masonry buildings were constructed at Mount Shavano with a total of 6000 square feet of floor space. One building will be used for office, shop and truck storage, the other for truck storage and dry feed storage. This building also houses an 11' by 20' ice storage refrigeration unit. Dry feed shipped to Salida and stored there can then be dispensed to other rearing units in the area thereby cutting the long haul distance from the Denver warehouse. Storage buildings are also under construction at Dolores and Hotchkiss for feed storage and distribution. Besides these main construction projects much work was accomplished in repair and maintenance to existing lakes such as spillway repairs, additional freeboard and dam repairs. A concrete boat ramp was constructed at North Sterling Reservoir. This ramp 20' wide by 300' long permits boat launching regardless of the fluctuating water line. In addition to designing and handling these numerous projects for 1959 and 1960 the Engineering Sec tion has also accomplished much in the designs for projects included in our 1960 and 1962 budget of one million dollars for new fishing lakes. A $152,96-l.00 contract has been awarded to the Olds & Redd Construction Co. of Fort Collins for con- 23 �FISH MANAGEMENT 1·ights. Rough fish were removed by using derris and the lake restocked with 250 thousand brook trout and 100 thousand cutthroat fingerlings. It should provide good fishing in 1961. 1959, fishing licPnse sales exI Nceeded 400 thousand for the first time in the state's history. These fishermen spent more than 21 million hours in pursuit of their sport and caught approximately 17 million fish. A right-of-way around the San Luis Lakes north of Alamosa was acquired and the lakes stocked with rainbow trout and walleyes. Other casement and agreement acquisitions included the Upper and Lower Hoffman lakes and Hennessey Lake in Larimer County and Prewitt Reservoir in Washington County The combined surface acreage of these four reservoirs exceeds 2000 acres. The economic importance of this number of fishermen in Colorado cannot be discounted. It is estimated that fishermen spent more than 59 million in Colorado during 1959. This total includes clothing, tackle equipment. travel, meals, lodging, entertainment, etc. Fish culture operations set a new record of 18,661,000 fish weighing 1,311,000 pounds planted. The weight of these fish set an all time high for the state. Negotiations continue for acquisition of many other reservoirs and stream sections now closed to public usage. P u r c h a s e s and Improv ements: Hatchery improvements included new waterlines, raceways and feed storage buildings. Improvements were made at the following unit s: Mt. Shavano-waterline, feed storage building, office and garage; Poudre Ponds-raceways, waterline and pond division; Estes Park-waterline and enlarged rearing pond; Pitkin-new concrete raceways; Chipeta--waterline; Wray-ice machine; Bellvue and Denver-new aluminum hat(.'hing troughs. Two new lakes came into fishery production with excellent results in the spring of 1960. These were Williams Creek Lake northwest of Pagosa Springs and Williams Fork Reservoir, a City of Denver reservoir south of Parshall. The Hohnholz ranch property on the Laramie River, previously purchased, also gave good fishing results following den-is-reclamation of the lakes on the property. Lake construction consisted of one new lake, the 22-acre Karval Lake in Lincoln County. Designs and engineering plans were developed for seven new lakes in the 1960-61 fiscal year. Access roads, parking areas, sanitation facilities, etc., were installed at Jumbo, North Sterling, Boyd and Lonetree reservoirs in northeast Colorado. A concrete boat launching ramp was built at North Sterling Reservoir. Concessions were let at North Sterling and Bonny reservoirs. La Jara Reservoir, one of the largest in the San Luis Valley, was purchased along with the water 2-1 �Research: Projects at Skaguay Reservoir and the Grand Mesa lakes were completed. The investigation projects on the Rawah fakes and Granby Reservoir continued. New projects are scheduled for the Hl60-61 fiscal year. The experimental lot of fish planted in Lake John near Walden in 1959 did not winter-kill and excellent growth was achieved. The lake will be stocked with increased numbers of fish this year. An aeration device placed in Echo Lake near Mt. Evans proved successful in preventing winter-kill in this heavily utilized lake. Providing more fish for more fishermen in dwindling waters is one of the department's big problems. Retw-n to the creel studies using marked fish were carried out on the Laramie River, Granby Reservoir, Big Creek Lake, Horsetooth Reservoir and Williams Creek Lake. Surprisingly high tag returns came from var i o us Granby Reservoir marked plants. fornia and Nebraska for rainbow eggs, northern pike and channel catfish. One hundred adult northern pike and 60,000 northem pike eggs were obtained from Nebraska. A successful natural spawn of northern pike also occurred at Bonny Reservoir. Salvage and seining operations continued to supply the majority of warm water stocking fish. The salvage unit handled 338,000 fish weighing 90,000 pounds during their operations in 1959. More than 76,000 pounds of carp, suckers and rough fish were removed from state waters and destroyed. Spawn taking operations were more successful than at any other time in recent years with the following approximate number of eggs taken: Cutthroat _ _ Brook Walleye Kokanee 2,500,000 _ 2,000,000 2,500,000 _ 4,000,000 An additional 10 million walleye pike eggs were obtained from the State of New York. Kokanee eggs were traded with the states of Cali- TOTAL The fish distribution breakdown for the calendar year 1959 follows: FISH DISTRIBUTION ALL SPECIES, ALL SIZES 1959 Under 3" Lbs. Number 6" - Over 3" - 6,' Lbs. Number Lbs. Number Total All Sizes Lbs. Number Trout Distri27,518 button ... 11,588,471 15,516 489,592 1.252,702 5.195,726 1,295,736 17,273,789 Warm-Water Fish Distribution ... 2.040 1,104,973 9,446 239,759 4.438 42,592 15,924 1,387,324 Total Distribution ...29,558 12,693,414 24,962 729,351 1,257,140 5,238,318 1,311,660 18,661,113 25 �ENFORCEMENT poundments with a surface area that exceeds 150,000 acres. NFORCEMENT of game and fish E laws will always be an extremely important phase of a good This work is carried on by nearly w1ldlifc management program. 260 fieldmen, of whom about 120 are conservation officers, wardens and trappers. Colorado wildlife conservation officers face the tremendous task of enforcing the game and fish laws applying to approximately 66.718,080 acres of mountains and plains, with 14,554 miles of trout streams and 2401 improved trout lakes, as well ns more than 300 warm water im- Duties of the present day conservation officer are varied, and along with all other phases of wildlife management he is able to put in about 45 per cent of his time on game and fish law enforcement. VIOLATIONS 1959 HUNTING Illegal possession or transportation of big game Hunting big game without proper license _ Hunt ing big game out side legal hours Failure to tag big game Failure to leave evidence of sex on carcass Illegal possession small game or game birds Hunting small gam:? or game birds without a prop2r license Hunting small game or mig. waterfowl outside legal hours Hunting migratory waterfowl without a duck stamp _ Killing protected birds Hunting in a closed area Hunting in wrong area Hunting during closed season Hunting on private property without permission of owner Shooting from, upon or across highway Hunting with illegal gun _ Careless and reckless hunting __ Hunting game with artificial light Malicious mischief, shooting at domestic livestock Trapping without a proper license Wasting game meat Wounding game Number of hunting violations Types of hunting violations 26 200 50 7 227 3 120 84 112 9 2 43 0 28 40 121 22 6 8 0 1 1 0 1084 22 �FISHING Fishing without a proper license ___ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ Illegal possession of fish _ .. _ .... _ _____ ..... Fishing on private land without permission _ _ ____ _ Illegal transportation small game fish _ ___ _ Fishing outside legal hours _ _ _ ___________ . ____ _ Fishing in closed waters _ _ __ _ Fishing during closed season _ _ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ Use of illegal devices---seines, chumming, dynamite, throw lines, hands Fishing with more than one pole _ . ___ . _ Violation of boating regulations _ Wasting fish _ _ _____________ .......... _________ Number of fishing violations____________ ~ Types of fishing violations ______________ 267 226 15 1 3 72 9 19 71 0 1 684 11 MISCELLANEOUS Taking state traps _ _ __ --·-·- __ __ .. _ _ _ Hunting in state game refuge_. _ _ ___ ____ ___ . Acting as guide without proper license_ _ _ _ ____ ... __ __ Attempting to take migratory waterfowl with illegal device Attempting to take migratory waterfowl with the aid of a motor vehicle . _ Civil Action for value of deer _ ___ __ _____ ____ _ Juvenile delinquency ________ Fishing with unattended pole ... ----··-···- ____ _ _ _ Leaving campfire unattended .. _ ____ __ __ _ __ _ __ _ Misuse of license ... ·----···· ____ ________ _ _ ·•-· Fraudulent purchase of a license. _ _ _____________ ___ _ _ _ Trespassing on private property .. _ __ _ ___ _ Littering a hunting or fishing camp area _ . _ Illegal transfer, sale, gift, loan or assignment of license Hunting, trapping or .fishing on private property without permission Throwing fire crackers from cars __ -·· _ 1 4 l 1 1 2 1 7 4 24 28 3 8 3 1 l 90 Number of miscellaneous violations Types of miscellaneous violations ________________ 16 Grand Totals: 1,858 Number of violations Types of violations __ _ 49 SUMMARY The following is a resume of Law Enforcement activities for the year 1959 compared to 1958: 1958 Miles driven __ -· 2,521,921 Contacts. Hunting ____ _ 27,833 102,731 Contacts, Fishing Number cases filed __ 1,612 Amount of Fines $43,920. Hours worked (Law Enf.) _ 137,257 Additional hours worked include: Education, Game Damage, Fish Planting, Federal Aid, Fur Division, Misc. and Office ___ _ ___ _ _ _ _ 161,230 298,487 Grand Total of hours worked 27 1959 2,744,481 33,732 103,171 1,858 $58,924 140,776 183,553 324,329 �EDUCATION new subscriptions. During the past fiscal year 35,181 copies of promotional literature were mailed with a much better than average return of ten per cent. Newsstand sales average 600 per issue, and more than l 000 subscriptions are sold throughout the year at hunter check stations, fairs and sport shows. attitude toward the deP UBLIC partment is determined largely by the scope and quality of the information and education program. During the past year informational and educational material slanted toward the continued building of fa. vorable public relations has been released through a variety of channels. Regulations: It is also the duty of the Editorial Section to prepare hunting, fishing and trapping regulations. During the year this section published and distributed 275.000 big game regulations, 525,000 fishing regulations, 150,000 small game regulations and 5000 fur regulations. Regulations are distributed to more than 1000 license agents of the department. Detailed accounts of these activities throughout the state for the past fiscal year are presented here: Editorial Section A staff of three persons-Editor, assistant editor and a clerk-stenographer who also handles magazine circulation-are responsible for the department publications. In addition. two persons do mimeograph, addressograph and stockroom work. A departinent photographer is assigned to pa1 t time work on the publications. Edu ca tional P amphle ts: One of the services of the Game and Fish Department is to publish educat ional pamphlets covering the state's wildlife resource. Last year instead of writing new pamphlets, four previously published pamphlets were revised. They were completely rewritten with new artwork and new layout. These four pamphlets. now available, are "Game Animals of Colorado," 'Th2 Fishes of Colorado." ''Furbearers of Colorado" and "Fish Culture, For Fun, For Profit." "Colorado Outdoors": Editing and publishing the department's official magazine, "Colorado Outdoors," is the most important function of the Editorial Section. This magazine is sustained by subscriptions, receiving no other subsidy under state law. In the past fiscal year circulation reached a new high of 28,750 pe1 issue, bettering the previous record reached the year before by 2302 subscriptions. Two thousand copies of the 1!)581959 annual report were also published and distributed to interested parties N ews Releases: In addition to "Colorado Outdoors" the editorial s<>ction publishes various types of news r<:leases. Department activity is reported in the weekly relea~e. "Outdcor News," which is sent to Obtaining new subscriptions and new markets is the only way to maintain high readership and continued quality of the magazine. While subscription renewals are unusually high, the department must use other promotional methods for 28 �Envelopes addressed amounted to 145,672, and 210,791 addresses were run off on tape for "Colorado Outdoors" and miscellaneous uses. In addition, there was the n o r m a 1 work done on the folding machines and in cutting addressograph plates, filing, etc. 964 newspapers, rndio and TV stations, federal and state agencies, legislators, department personnel, sportsmen's clubs and out of state game and fish departments. Newspaper and radio-TV use of the newsletter was high last year, with some papers printing the entire release every week and all using an average of three to five stories per month. Every fourth week the news release is sent to an additional 1000 persons who are interested in the department's activities. This letter includes a resume of the preceding month's news. From time to time other feature material is prepared. Four of these additional features were sent out last year and received excellent coverage throughout the state. From Thursday before the opening of fishing season to the Thursday before Labor Day the department compiles and issues a weekly fishing report. Information on the p r e v a i 1 i n g fishing conditions throughout the state is phoned in by the department fieldmen and is sent to radio and TV stations and newspapers in larger population centers. Many newspapers print the fishing report in its entirety every week. News releases other than those originating in the Denver office totaled 681. This figure includes 10 feature stories and four magazine articles. The total output of news release material for the past fiscal year would amount to 1392 column inches if printed by the same newspaper. News releases accounted for 1104 column inches, and the fishing report accounted for 288 c o l u m n inches. Other Work: Mimeographing and addressographing for the entire department is also handled in this sec. tion, as is the storing and distribution of office supplies. During the fiscal year 1959-1960, employes in the machine room ran a total of 3375 stencils, using 1354 reams of paper. Visual Aids Section This section provides photographic services for the department and is concerned with the coordination of all photographic activities. The section directs, produces and distributes visual materials including still photos, 35 mm slides, 16 mm motion pictures and educational aids. It also participates in shows, displays, demonstrations and programs. Still Photography: This was used for news releases, magazine illustrations, feature releases, department publications, as record material on research and development projects, as lecture aids and as state public ity material. Slide material was used to illustrate lectures and provided the basis for two new slide series. One covered the development of lakes in Colorado to pro- Scores of inquiries, both by phone and person, keep information clerks in the Denver office busy. 29 �vide more fishing waters a nd t he other followed Colorado's cutthroat trout through its development from egg to creel. the department's D e n v er library al one last year. This same office conduct ed 107 programs usin g film a nd ot her visual aids. In the five region al film libraries t here are 189 mot ion picture prints representing 26 different titles. In addition . there are 75 slide sets and 100 film strips. Department films are available for out-of-state use through t he state publicity office. T wenty-one rolls of black and whit e 16 mm and 37 rolls of 16 mm color were used last year. Film footage and photographic prints were provided other state agencies on request. Thirty-nine hundred black and white prints were produced by the photo laboratory in Denver. The following amounts of film were used: 65 rolls 120 film, black and w hite: 10 4 x 5 film packs; 85 rolls of 35 mm color film; 20 rolls of 35 mm black and white; 100 sheet s of 4 x 5 black and white film. Movies: •·Realm of the Beaver," a 16 mm sound film produced last year won a second place award in in ternation al competition at the ann ual con vention of the American Associat ion for Conservat ion Information. P hotography covering the future of Colorado's fishing, based on the need for water in the state, was completed last year. Twentyone short television films, averaging about 10 minutes in length, were edited and produced from stock footage. Sound for these films is provided live at the time of the film showings. T hese films are used both as television visuals and as lecture aids. Audio Services: Au dio services were also furnished by this section. This included public address syst ems for several conventions an d meetings. Several recordin gs were made of meetings held throughout the year which were of interest t o the department. Radio tapes for release were made as required by the radio stations in the state. These averaged about two a week in the Denver area. Other recordings were made by personnel throughout the state. Public Appearance P r o g r a m s: During most of the past fiscal year t he Denver office was without a full time educator. For that reason public appearance programs were reduced to approximately half the number presented in the previous year. The educator's position was finally filled in J une as a result of an open competitive civil service examination. Film libraries are maintained in all department offices. A total of 270 film requests were filled from Programs given during the year totaled 107, with many others presented but not recorded. The number of school programs given outside the Denver area numbered 162. Television: This medium played an important role during the year with 205 scheduled programs being presented throughout the state. In addition, department personnel were guests on many other shows. Film spots were furnished at the request of t elevision stations in the state. A weekly half hour series was started in February and continues to be Addressing more than 30,000 labels, tapes and envelopes per month is one of the Machine Room jobs. 30 �One of the department's t echnical booklets. " The Antelope of Colorado", won an AACI plaque for first place in this field. partment personnel who answered questions and sold subscriptions to ''Colorado Outdoors." Months of planning and work were involved in the numerous wildlife conservation exhibits at the International Boy Scouts Jamboree held near Colorado Springs. More than 49,000 scouts and thousands of parents and scout leaders were at this jamboree. Most of them viewed these exhibits. In Denver, -!000 Colorado Boy Scouts, unable to attend the Jamboree, held their own camporce at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Four log booths were built and staffed by department men. At these booths they stressed hunter sa:Cety, preypredator relationships, C o 1 o r a d o snakes and Colorado fishes. Live animals were a part of the three displays and eight-minute lectures were given at each site. broadcast over K.RMA-TV, Denver's educational channel 6. A weekly quarter hour program was conducted in Grand Junction with the northwest and southwest regions cooperating in the broadcasts. Other Public Rel ations Activities Displays: A large display and information booth, featuring wildlife paintings and mounted animals and manned by wildlife conservation officers, was erected at the Federal Fail: at the Denver Federal Center. The fair, which was a part of the s t a t e w i d e centennial celebration, was held in June and July mainly for federal agency exhibitors. The Game and Fish Department was the only state agency represented. Another elaborate display was erected at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo. It was manned by de- 31 �In addition to the above, 32 count y fairs and sports show ex hibits w e r e conducted throughout the state. tion is discussed by wildlife conservation officers in these classes. Assistance a nd encouragement were given the A urora elementary school system in its Junior Wildlife Con servation program. Pilot Projects: Plans are being formulated to g 1 v e landownersportsmen relationships a groundlevel boost. Cooperative efforts of the Colorado Cowbelles (an auxiliary of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association), t he Izaak W al to n League and the Colorado Wildlife Federation are being coordinated by the Information and Education Division. A booklet on management a nd being developed training program Plans to film t he history, f unctioning and activities of the widelyknown J unior Conservation Club of Fort Morgan were completed last year. Cooperative efforts with the Soil Conservation Service t o improve game habitat are continuing. range and game hunter safety is for the outdoor at 4-H groups. A different and more efficient system of recording public rel ations activities was set up. New program cards were developed and a book was obt ained for recording p ublic appearance programs. I n this way these activities can be recorded and properly evaluated. All secretaries were given a supply of the new cards and instructed to keep a record of public appearance programs participated in by members of their staffs. Under this system, all film showings and 35 mm slide lectures are filed syst ematically. The Game and Fish Department is cooperating with the J efferson County Schools' outdoor living program. Grades four through eight are given one week's training at the Indian Hills Camp west of Denver t o learn about conservation in t he out doors. Local ecology and conserva- A news clipping service provides the division with most of t he news articles concerning the department. This service was the basis on which an evaluation was formulated of favorable and unfavorable n ews items concerning the department. Favorable information on Game and Fish Department matters totaled ap. proximately 5000 stories. This came to 50,000 column inches. Figured at regular advertising rates, this publicity had a space valuation of $50,000. Radio Programs: A total of 255 radio programs outside Colorado gave in.formation concerning hunting and fishing in Colorado. Within the four regions of the stat e excluding Denver, 661 radio programs were broadcast last year. Hunter Safe ty Program: In 1958, in cooperation with the National Rifle Association and the Colorado Heart Association, the department Still photography is an important phase of I and E activities. 32 �launched a year round hunter safety program, with two objectives: First, to train instructors and then have them train hunters. In the past two years a total of 1056 instructors and 4221 students have completed the courses. These figures do not include the large number of participants who received instruction over an educational television series. Instruction is conducted at a community level on a team basis. Such organization embraces as many citizen groups as possible and is limited only by the number of these groups. The I & E Division of the Game and Fish Department is the coordinating agency for the statewide safety program. Field activities are coordinated by the regional educators with local community activities being handled by the district Wildlife Conservation Officers. The total program of instruction encompasses a wide and indispensable group of agencies. These include 4-H clubs through local county agents; Colorado Heart Association with selected local doctors; National Rifle Association clubs; county sheriffs' offices; Izaak Walton League clubs; state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation; Boy Scouts of America; local school districts; colleges and universities and Denver's educational television channel (KRMA-TV) at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School. To provide the program with twoway communication and news service, several media were used. A Hunter Safety Newsletter is sent to all instructors regularly. A periodic news service aimed at developing an interest in the program and in a safe hunting attitude goes to all radio, TV and newspaper media statewide. In addition, special oneminute TV spots and radio announcements are made. The hunter safety program in Colorado is now well established on a firm and sustaining basis. The past year has seen many improvements in its operation and the future promises an even larger enrollment of students and instructors and the attainment of an increasingly safer out of doors for the mile-high state. Conservation E d u c a t i o n: 'I'he Game and Fish Department in cooperation with the Department of Education have continued an active conservation education pro g ram. Three main objectives of the program are: To increase teachers' knowledge of conservation; second, to increase the desire for making conservation an exciting experience for students; and, third, the overall objective of making a wise use of wildlife resources a part of the lives of all responsible citizens. C u r re n t activities designed to achieve these objectives are outlined by the head of the conservation department of education as follows: 1. The distribution of "selected curriculum packets" which include pamphlets on all phases of conservation. 2. Visitation and get - acquainted field trips to develop enthusiasm on the part of teachers for including conservation in their programs. 3. Workshops for teachers. 4. Inclusion of conservation in the college curriculum. 5. A Natural Resource Mobile Unit which tr ave 1 s throughout the state with interesting suggestions to teachers for improving their conservation instruction. 6. Preparation of articles on the conservi>tion - education program, interviews for local radio stations and visual aid material for use by civic groups and in the classroom. Future plans include the development of a complete curriculum guide for the benefit of the teacher, a more complete bibliography for conservation materials and continuation of the activities mentioned above. �� https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/44f85f25a694a4195cd6adcd1a3101c3.pdf 278b796e63d82d1c6e29fe4c0dfe22f8 PDF Text Text Game and Fish for the Future 1980 ANNUAL REPORT ot the OOL.ORADO P1•M . . .. .. . .. • • •• •• • • • ••• • •• •• • • •• • t ... t . .. GAM ■ AND D ■ ,-ARTM ■ NT �The 64th Annual Report of the Colorado Game and Fish Department Game and Fish GAME AND Ft•H CoMMlll910N __ ·-.. ~---··· f o r GAM'C AND f'"JSM CoMMl8.ION .._, OU,UtTMENT 011' GA.loll'. AND FISH December 1, 1961 The Honorablo Stephen L. R, MoNlchol,o Governor of Colorado Stale capitol Building Denver. Colorado Dear Governor M.oNiahola ~ I have the honor to tr1.Um.Jt herewith the Annual Report of the Colorado Came and Fish Department for 1980, lnoludlng the flecal report for the year 1960-1961. Till• la our ■tate'■ 64lh year of operat10ll ht the wtldllle management field. Colorado la fortunate to be one of the !oremo.-t ■rate• lD the na.uon LD thNe unique recreational reeourcee. Our otuzene enjoy uoellent hunting a.nd flah!ng, and we are able t.o ■hare t.beee prtvUeaea wtth ■portsmen from the entire nation. With the phenomenal a,q,loalon of bum.an population that our nation la ozperlenolng, It becomee lnoreulll,gly Lmponant for ua to plan ahead to Maure tha preeervat.lon of fiahl.ng opportunlttea for future pneratlona. Hance, thl.11 report pl..,.. apectal empbula on future of game ...S flab r8BOIU'Ceo. We hope that tt will eerve to create a greater awarenea1 on the part. or our cituenry rep.rdl.nr the import.ant I.Uk ahead of ua. lwntlnc and Reopoctf\11.JJ' 1ubmllted, ~~.~ Dewey Brown, Preatdent COiorado Ga.me and Flab COmmJutoo t h e �Future The Report of the Directo r Harry R. Woodward N OT many decades ago, fish and seekers have doubled the sales of hunting and fishing licenses, and Colorado's license sales have certainly followed the national trend. As a result of the population pressure, the Colorado Game and Fish Department must not only continue to maintain its wildlife resources on a shrinking base, but it must also increase production to meet increasing demands. game were able to maintain themselves with relatively little management. Americans fished, hunted and trapped for food, sport and income with little thought for the future of their nation's expansive wildlife resources. However, today in Colorado, as in many states, wildlife is not selfsufficient, and careful management is imperative if this natural resource is to be maintained. Management grows constantly more difficult because of the steady growth of human population and the rapidly increasing number of persons who seek recreation in the outdoors. Since 1960, Colorado's rate of growth has been almost twice that of the national rate. Projections made for the State Department of Natural Resources indicate that by 1980 the state may have a population of 2,763,000. In order to meet the needs of the surging population, land and water which is currently available as habitat for fish and wildlife will have to succumb to the more important necessities of human survival. Yet this does not decrease the number of persons desiring recreation in the outdoors, and the game and fish agency is, therefore, confronted with the task of maintaining the current wildlife resources in a constantly shrinking area. Along with the population increase, working hours are becoming shorter and vacations longer. Since the end of World War II, the nation's recreation Importance of Fish and Game to Colorado Although the greatest value of fish and wildlife resources unquestionably remains healthful relaxation, the economic value of hunting and fishing is also very important to the well-being of Colorado. Hunters and fishermen spent $90 million in Colorado last year, and with the population upsurge this revenue should also increase. At the same time, however, income is dependent on the amount of wildlife available for the sportsman's enjoyment. If population increases faster than the wildlife resource, both income and enjoyment will no longer be available. Colorado attracts a slightly larger proportion of out-of-state hunters and fishermen than the average state, partly because its fish and game are nationally known and partly because the state is close to centers of population in the Mississippi Valley. Nonresidents bought nearly 20 per cent of all hunting and fishing licenses sold in Colorado in 1960, and contributed 1 �Each year Colorado's beautiful mountain lakes ond streams continue to welcome more fishermen than ever before - more than 400,000 in 1960. nearly 60 per cent of total license revenue. Major attractions were trout fishing and deer and elk hunting. The sizable contribution of hunting and fishing to the state's income is especially significant because it is based on a natural resource that is managed at the expense of the users, at no cost to the general taxpayer. Another fact adds importance to income from wildlife. Tourists tend to congregate around developed recreational areas such as parks, forest recreation centers and commercial developments. Hunters and fishermen, on the other hand, visit remote communities, and their expenditures are important to the many small businesses in these areas. No other natural resource so completely pays for its own administration as does game and fish. Wildlife 2 �new organization plan is the naming of an additional assistant director and separating the research activities from those of management. One assistant director is in charge of research, the other in charge of management. With the appointment of an assistant director in charge of research, all research activities are consolidated with headquarters at the department's new Wildlife Research Laboratory at Fort Collins. Previously, research has been carried on separately by the Fish Division and the Game Division, with some work being done by the Cooperative Research Units at Colorado State University. Under the assistant director in charge of management is placed the department divisions of Game Management, Fish Management, Law Enforcement and the four regional management divisions. The division heads serve as an advisory staff to the assistant director who, in turn, directly supervises the four regional managers. A new division has been created for land and water acquisition and development for game and fish purposes. Previously this work has been done by various divisions within the department. Consolidation streamlines the operation as does the hiring of qualified land negotiators and water rights analysts. This new division incorporates the present engineering staff and reports directly 1Jo the director. The divisions of Business Administration and I nformation and Education operate under the director. Both are separate functions from the basic field operations of management and research. It is felt that central control of all information and education activities will lend unity to a sound public relations program. The four regional educators formerly working under the regional managers are now placed under the Chief of Information and Education, and are called regional information officers. The Hunter Safety program is in the Division of La.w Enforcement as most of this work is now handled by Wildlife Conservation Officers. An assistant attorney general will continue to serve the director's office as an advisor on legal matters. A very important feature of the is a permanent resource, one that under wise management can be utilized year after year with no impairment. Interdependence of Game and F ish With Other Resources F ish and wildlife are end products of water and soil, and for this reason the programs that will have the greatest effect on future wildlife populations are those that involve the land and water resources. Colorado unquestionably will have many important land and water developments in the near future, some of which may have an adverse effect on the fish and game resources of the state. This is most apt to happen when no consideration is given in the planning stages to the permanent values that are already providing recreation and income. Where real consideration is given, plans can often be modified so that the land or water projects will not interfere with existing wildlife values and may even enhance them. Developments that destroy existing permanent values in order to assur e temporary gains or to aid a small part of the population should be subjected to searching study before they are undertaken. Commission and Director Through the director, the department is directly responsible to the Game and Fish Commission. Colorado's commission, like those in many states, is bi-partisan and the commissioners are appointed on six-year terms. T his type of commission is the most effective mechanism yet found for providing continuity of the program and policy necessary to good management of game and fish resources. The commission's main activities are to make policy and to control the budget for the department. Reorganization With regard to its present and future effectiveness, the Game and Fish Department was reorganized by the Grune and Fish Commission with the approval of the Governor and the Director of Natural Resources. The department has been operating over the past few years on a line-staff regional organization with an assistant director. The primary feature of the 3 �management reorganization is the creation of areas encompassing a number of Wildlife Conservation Officer Districts within each of the four regions. There are six of these areas on the East Slope and <'ight on the West Slope. The Wildlife Conservation Officers in each respective area and all management activities are now u nder an Area Supervisor who is directly under the Regional ~tanager. In addition, four more A rea Supervisors act as assistants to the four Regional Managers. To fill these new positions, thr position of Regional Game :\fanagPr, Regional Fish Manager, Regional Wildlife Conservation Officer and Senior Wildlife Conservation Officer WC'l"I' abolished and the men transfprred into the eighteen Arra Super,. isur positions. All department reorganization h as b1•1•n done without an increase in staff. The accompanying chart is a detailed plan of the Game and Fish Department's new organizational structurP. The following points are recognized by the Game and Fish Department as n1•crssary for the efficient managemrnt and use of Colorado's wildlife r,•sources: Reorganization Plan Director of Natunil Reso1 I Assistant Director Management I I I Division of Gome Management Division of Low Enforcement Gome Manager Chief Warden Season Recommendations Hunter Safety Land Management ' ' Nursery :------ --- - -~--- -- - - --- ·: 1. Long-Ranl!e Plan Damage Claims ' 'I Regional Managers Drvelopmrnt of a long-range plan which will in<'lude specific details of projected policies, rxpansion and reorganization. The dc•part,m·nt must solidify its objectives in a plan of this nature in order to carry out an eff1•dive management program. It must know where it is going before it goes anywhere. '' Public Hunting Areas 'I Game Management I I I '~. Fish Management 2. Adequa te Office Facilities The efficiency of the department is impaired by the inadequacy of its presPnt officP facilities in Denver. A new building, including undnground parking, could be constructed on the site of thP present office. In adequate quarters the initiation of a central filing system and stenographic pool would grt>atly improve the dficiency of all dt:>partment operations. 3. Public Re lations Prol!ra m The department's public relations program anc.1 information services '' , __ - - - - - - I · - - .J Law Enforcement Land Management ' Division of lnh Chief of Edu Publications Information Education Visual Aids Regional Edu Photography �Colorado Game and Fi s h Depa r tment Governor I ~ Commission Director I Assistant Attorney General I I I Assistant Director Research I I I I Ga me Resea re h Laboratory Fish Research I ;ion of Fish Management ason Recommendations Small Game Cooperative Units Colorado State University Relations ke and Stream Habitat Waterfowl Special Studies Fish Manager Big Gome 1tcheries Fur Bearers ;hing Access Areas Predators . ~-------"' -ation -ion - ·ors l Division of Administration Business Manager Fiscal Control Division of Land Acquisition and Development Engineering Land Acquisition License Water Rights Personnel Leases and Contracts Federal Aid Purchasing Inventory Transportation Trout Warm Water Fish �Hunting license soles reached on all time high in 1960. Some 200,000 hunters took to the field in pursuit of all kinds of game onimols and birds. should be increased and revised to obtain the cooperation and good will of the public and the understanding and support of department objectives, programs and policies. Steps should be taken to improve relations and service between the department and license agents and between the department and the public. Much can be accomplished through a well-designed public relations program and improved communications bellween the agents and the department. 4. Recreational Development Policy It is imperative to formulate and enact into law a policy whereby money receh·ed from game and fish licenses is allocated for game and fish improvements. Other recreational resources and users should be required to pay their fair share of development for recreation. 6 �5. Use of Both P ublic and Private Lands It is department policy to cooperate closely with federal and state land managing agencies to secure maximum production of game and fish crops and to provide for adequate harvest of these crops on publicly owned lands. In order to achieve these ends the department should continue to work for the opening of National Parks and Indian Reservations to hunting and fishing; for identification of federal and state lands through uniform public fencing and marking regulations; for identification of free public access routes to hunting and fishing areas; for the opening of certain state school land to free public hunting and fishing; for acquisition of rights-of-way for the construction and maintenance of key r oads serving the public lands; for solutions to access problems throughout the state by means of improved understanding and cooperation between sportsmen and landowners, such as proposed in the "Operation Respect" program. 8. W ater Development and Use Colorado residents are well aware of the premiums placed on its water resources. Water is used for many different purposes, but multiple use does not mean that there can not be cooperation in developing the water resources in order to ensure a just and sensible apportionment. Water using and developing agencies must be encouraged, by legislation if necessary, to design structures and operate diversions and releases in such a manner that the least amount of damage is done to fish and wildlife resources. Use of water for fish and wildlife purposes should be reclassified by the federal government as ''beneficial" and not merely recreational. This would result in the maintenance of a minimum measurement of water in all important reservoirs and streams. Colorado should also have stronger antipollution laws which will make it more practical for an enterp rise to control pollution than to incur penalties for car eless handling of wastes. 6. Land Acquisition Prog ram There is a pressing need to acquire certain hunting, fishing and game production areas in order to preserve wildlife recreational opportunities in the future. The public must be assured that the department does not want to become a major land-owning agency, but it must also realize that in order to manage fish and wildlife efficiently the department must acquire and develop management areas. These should include large managed hunting areas, especially near population centers, where game birds and waterfowl can be produced in adequate numbers to offer hunting opportunities to greater numbers of people. 9. Fish Hatcher y Improvements Continuing efforts must be made to improve and modernize fish hatching and rearing facilities. This must include location and acquisition of new sources of desirable water supplies and the termination of units which are obviously short of water and thereby operate inefficiently. 10. Increas ed Use of Feder al Aid Funds It would be highly advantageous for the department to increase its use of federal aid funds in its program of construction and development. These funds come from excise taxes paid by Colorado sportsmen on arms, ammunition and fishing tackle, and by using these funds in the construction program the department would have the additional advantage of the engineering and technical services of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 7. Overpopulations of Deer In keeping with its land utilization program, the department must consider the fact that overpopulations of deer in the present may result in virtual desolation of the ranges for many years. Every possible effort should be made to plan seasons in such a manner that more hunters ·will be attracted to the problem areas. ~/J~, Director 7 �The Colorado Game and Fish Commission 1960 Clarence W. Baker District 1 President Henry Bledsoe District 3 Vice-president Clarence W. Baker (Republican) of Lakewood is a past superintendent of the Ford Motor Company and a retired automobile dealer. He is past treasurer of the Alameda School Board and the Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Board, and a Deputy U.S. Game Warden. Baker retired from the commission in May 1961. Henry Bledsoe (Republican), Yuma rancher, served as a county commissioner and was a member of the State Legislature from 1945 to 1951. His business duties take up much of his time, but his love of the outdoors keeps him interested in game and fish affairs. Bledsoe will serve on the commission until May 1962. New Commissioners Augustus P. Hann District 1 Melvern Renfrow District 7 Augustus P. (Gus) Hann (Democrat) of Denver is a retired General Motors official and a retired U.S. Army Colonel. Born in New Jersey, Hann grew up in Kansas and Texas. He is presently on the national board of the Izaak Walton League. Melvern Renfrow (Republican) is owner of two stores in Delta. He was born in Oklahoma, but came to Delta 22 years ago. He is treasurer and director of the Delta Sportsmen's Association and is active in civic affairs of that city. Note: In May 1961. the t,,rms of office of Clarence Baker and Dr. T. 0. Plummer expired. The above commissioners were RPPOinted by Governor McNichols to fill the vacancies. New officers were elected in May 1961, as follows: C. Dewey Brown, President: Pat Griffin, Vice-president; Ralph White, Secretary. 8 �Pat Griffin District 2 Secretary C. Dewey Brown District 6 Pat Griffin (Democrat) of Fort Collins is a petroleum and tire distributor and a recent appointee to the Executive Board in the Petroleum Section under the War Manpower Act. He is a graduate of Oklahoma's Southwestern State College and is the newlyelected vice-president of the Game and Fish Commission. C. Dewey Brown (Republican) is publisher of the award-winning Montezuma Valley Journal and the ,C ortez Sentinel and a past president of the Colorado Press Association. He is a member of many civic and sportsmen's associations and has recently been elected president of the Game and Fish Commission for 1961-62. Roy Eckles District 4 Dr. T. 0. Plummer District 7 Roy Eckles (Republican) of Lamar is currently serving his second term as a commissioner. Appointed first by Governor Knous in 1947, Eckles was reappointed by Governor McNichols in 1969. Eckles, a tire and appliance dealer, is active in several sportsmen's groups and in civic affairs. Dr. T. 0. Plummer (Democrat) of Montrose is a physician and surgeon, a certified flight surgeon and a civil aviation examiner for the Federal Aviation Authority. He is presently a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Plummer finished his term as commissioner in May 1961. P,arker Sooter District 6 Ralph White District 8 Parker Sooter (Democrat) is currently a restaurant operator in Alamosa, but was previously associated with the Monte Vista Potato Growers Association and the Department of Agriculture where he was a farm planner and land appraiser. Sooter is an avid sportsman. Ralph White (Democrat) of Craig has been Clerk of the District Court in Moffat County since 1911, is president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Craig and has also served as mayor of Craig. He will be the secretary of the Game and Fish Commission for 1961-62. 9 �Management A LTHOUGH this report relates activities of the calendar year 1960 or fiscal year 1960-61, it should be pointed out that some reorganization within the department has taken place since that time. Hence the changes in headings. The divisions of Game Management, Fish Management, Law Enforcement and the four regions are all grouped under the Management branch. The regions are not reporting individually, but most of the field activities will be carried under the separate division reports. As in most reports, the information contained herein reveals activities and operations of the past calendar and fiscal years. It should be noted, however, that each division's report also lists some of the long-range objectives, plans and needs. As these are accomplished, they will be reported fully in subsequent publications. Robert R. Elliott Assistant Director, Management GAME MANAGE M E NT In planning for the future, 60 years will seem very short if the rate of range loss remains constant. A partial solution to the range problem lies in the acquisition of additional big game wintering areas and land for birds, especially turkeys, ducks and geese. It is apparent, however, that competition between man and wildlife will increase and more and more lands will be taken over by housing developments and shopping centers. Unless land purchases are made now for the future, there will be no remedy for the wholesale reduction of game birds and animals. In spite of the fact that wildlife range and habitat is diminishing, Colorado had one of the best hunting seasons on record in 1960. Deer and elk license sales reached an all-time high for the state while special bear license sales decreased 29 per cent. The decrease was caused by a drop in the number of nonresident hunters who have become aware of QNE of the most pressing problems facing game management, and one which grows in importance with each successive year, is that of acquiring enough winter range and other new habitats to sustain or increase the number of huntable animals and birds without increasing game damage. The problem of available winter range has become acute because at least half of the original winter range has been taken over - necessarily, for the most part - by man with his widely varied interests. Further estimates indicate that since 1950 about one-half of one per cent of the winter range available to deer and elk has been lost each year to rei;ervoir construction, new irrigation systems, suburban and mountain home developments and industrial expansion. As the human population increases, it is reasonable to expect that winter range for game animals will diminish. 1 10 �d. Pheasants. Establish hunting plots on both slopes. Research information about seasons. e. Sage Grouse. Practical research on seasons, areas, bag limits. f. Blue Grouse. There is a definite lack of information about this bird. Need research on seasons. g. Little Brown Crane. Research to determine trend of population, migration time and routes. h. Doves. Need information about where these birds reproduce, where they go and where they come from to help in setting the seasons and bag limits. i. Migratory Birds. Study of migration routes and times. Also, need to control the vehicular kill of migratory birds. Need a banding program for the west slope to gather information for use in efforts to secure a split fly- the difficulties involved in hunting bear properly. Dee1· license sales were five per cent above the 1969 average while elk license sales rose six per cent over 1969. The elk harvest exceeded all other years in the history of Colorado hunting, a fact that is even more significant in light of the fact that only 66 per cent of the elk range was open to limited either-sex hunting. In comparison, 90 per cent of the state's elk range was open to the taking of eithersex elk in 1948 and 1961. This would indicate that through the use of proper management techniques a substantial harvest of elk can be sustained without detrimentally affecting the elk herd. Antelope license sales decreased over 1969 due to restrictions on the number of permits issued in 1960. Sheep license sales increased due to the fact that the regulations for 1960 permitted a hunter to take a sheep of one-half curl or better, whereas in 1969 he was allowed to take only a big horn ram of three-fourths curl or better. As we officially close the books on 1960, the Game Management division looks to the future considering the following as some of its main objectives: 1. Continue efforts to obtain an accurate and practical census. 2. Acquire a minimum range acreage annually. 3. Complete the mapping of winter ranges. 4. Continue to improve range survey techniques. 6. Acquire more public hunting areas for the waterfowl hunter. 6. Improve the game damage law. 7. Expand research on all game animals and birds. a. Deer and Elk. What is best feed ? What factors effect survival and the ability to survive? b. Antelope. Reopen former study. I mproved census-taking methods. In• formation on what causes herds to shift locations. Depredation information. c. Turkey. Research on winter loss. Nesting studies. Research for setting of and length of seasons, and bag limit. way. 8. Remove the bounty on mountain lion. A ten-year report on the big game harvest and hunting seasons for these animals has been compiled by the Game Management division of the de- Gome check stations give valuab le data on h unter harvest in t he various game monogement u nits t h roughout the state 11 �partment. The report is used by the division to provide information on which game management policies and operations are based in the management of the big game herds. A copy of the ten-year report- can be obtained from the Game Management Division, Colorado Game and Fish Department, 1530 Sherman, Denver, Colorado. a license and on a multiple license basis which made it possible for a hunter to take four deer during the season. The record deer kill that year totalled 114,529. Over 163,000 deer licenses were sold in Colorado in 1960, an increase of over five per cent from the year before. Revenue realized by the license sales totalled over $2,156,000, an increase of almost eight per cent over 1959. The total department income from the sale of all licenses in the state in 1960 was $3,253,449. From the figures compiled, several conclusions can be drawn. They are that over 59 per cent of the department's income is derived from the sale of deer and elk licenses; that 60 per cent of the department's income is derived from big game license sales; and that 68 per cent of the department's income is derived from the sale of all types of hunting licenses. Deer The 1960 deer harvest was 109,719, representing a success L'atio of 87 per cent, based on the number of hunters in the field. For the past ten years, 50 to 60 per cent of all the deer harvested in the state have come from the northwest section of the state. At the same time, the kill ratio as to sex and age class also has remained very constant. In 1960, 53.2 per cent of the deer killed were bucks, 35.1 per cent does and 11.7 per cent fawns. The amount of available range which has the ability to carry herds through extreme winter conditions is the main factor that determines the herd sizes, not the hunter harvest. Despite the constantly increasing kill figures each season, the deer herds have continued to increase because of continued mild winters since the early 1950s. For the past 20 years, deer license sales have shown a steady increase with no marked effect on the number of deer present. In fact, the herds have continued to increase despite increasing hunter pressures. Even though Colorado has the most liberal season in the nation, it may be, in the not too distant future, that our system of management will change. It may 1960 BIG GAME SEASON The 1960 regular deer and elk season was from October 17 to November 6, a total of 21 days compared to 18 days in 1959. The harvest of elk was 10,839 and exceeded the record kiJI of 1948 by over 200. This harvest figure is significant in light of the fact that in 1948 every licensed hunter was permitted to take one elk of his choice, but in 1960 only 8820 licensed hunters could do so under the hunter's choice elk permit system. 39,447 elk licenses were sold in the state in 1960, producing revenue totalling $683,950. This represents an increase of six per cent in license sold and over eight per cent in revenue over 1959. The entire state was open to the taking of one deer of a hunter's choice except in the northeast region which was open for the taking of antlered deer only. In addition, 60 to 65 per cent of the state west of U.S. Highway 85-87 was open to the taking of deer on a multiple deer license by purchasing a second license and taking a second deer of his choice. Pre- and post-seasons in the San Miguel-LaSalle region, in which a hunter could take two deer on a license, enabled hunters in that region to take a total of four deer during the regular and special seasons. In all respects, the 1960 deer season was most successful, due primarily to excellent weather conditions and an abundance of animals. The total deer harvest was 109,719 animals, the second largest in Colorado history, exceeded only by the 1957 s·eason. 1957 was a record year because the greater portion of the Western Slope was open to the taking of two deer on 12 �The winter range situation for elk is quite similar to that of the deer, and a planned long-range program of range acquisition for elk, as recommended for deer, will be required. The elk management program as used now has proven very successful. I n fact, using our validation or permit system, more elk are being harvested now than when unlimited either-sex seasons were permitted. The present system of elk management permits the game manager to manipulate his herds and hunting pressures so as to obtain good harvests and still maintain a huntable population which is in direct proportion to the available winter forage supply. Residence of Hunters Non-resident hunters in Colorado in 1960 came from 44 of the nation's 50 states. Of the out-of-state hunters, Texas and California were the two leading states in the nation supplying hunters for the Colorado big game season. It is of interest to note that for the past five years, more than 70 per cent of Denver hunters have gone to the northwest region, while 60 per cent of El Paso County hunters have gone to the southwest region. Antelope A total of 1823 antelope licenses were sold in 1960, over 400 less than in the previous year. However, the success ratio of 94 per cent in 1960 was eight per cent better than in 1959. It is also significant to note that 79 per cent of the total antelope kill was recorded on the first day of the season. Bear Fewer bear were harvested in Colorado in 1960 than the year before, 392 compared to 555. This drop in the total bear harvest figure was probably due to heavy snowstorms during the regular big game season causing the bear to go into hibernation. The special bear season, April 1 to September 15 in 1960, also saw a drop in the number of special licenses sold from 992 in 1959 to 714 in 1960. At the same time, the number of nonresident special bear licenses sold registered a drop over the year before. It is believed that the drops were due be necessary, as the deer range diminishes and the hunting pressures increase, that deer areas be managed in much the same manner as elk are now handled, that is, permitting the taking of a certain number of antlered or antlerless animals in specific areas of the state. More key winter range areas should be acquired annually based on a longrange planned program for deer range procurement. The mapping of deer ranges by the department is in progress and an evaluation is being made of all winter ranges. Considerable refinements, based on research findings, are needed to improve range survey techniques. E lk The elk kill in Colorado in the 1960 hunting season was 10,839, the final tabulations being made in March of 1961. The figure represents a success ratio of 27.5 oer cent. There wer~ 8820 hunter's choice elk permits issued in 1960, 65 less than the year before. Of the total hunter's choice elk permit holders, 11 per cent took bulls as compared to 3 per cent in 1959. This ma1·ked increase in the number of bulls taken on special permits indicates one of two things. Either there was an abundance of bulls which would indicate that the elk herds were in excellent condition, or an inclination on the part of the special permit holder to take trophy bulls. The elk kill by sex and age class in 1960 was identical with that of 1959. 63 per cent of the elk taken were bulls, 31 per cent were cows and six per cent were calves. The bulk of the elk hunters in 1960 went to the elk areas of the northwest region of the state, presenting a shift from the year before when the bulk of the hunters were in the southwest region. The harvest figures showed 3866 elk taken in the northwestern region, 3017 in the San Juan region, 1757 in the central-southwest areas, and 1312 in the Rio Grande area. The decided shift of hunters to the northwest from the southwest may be due to extreme weather conditions which existed during the elk season in the San Juan, Rio Grande and centralsouthwest areas. 13 �to the fact that in 1959 a hunter could hunt bear on the special permit during the big game season, while in 1960 he could not since the special season ended September 15. on the eastern slope, with Weld and Larimer being the high duck kill counties in that order. Geese The harvest of geese in 1960 was very similar to the six-year average, but was down from the record-setting year of 1959. 14,107 hunters harvested 15,569 retrieved birds and wounded another 4,087 for a total mortality of 19,746 geese. The average bag for 1960 was 1.11 birds, down from 1959's 1.61. 85 per cent of the goose harvest in the state occurred in the southeast region with Baca, Prowers and Kiowa the high kill counties in that order. Bighorn Sheep All the 176 bighorn licenses allocated in 1960 were purchased, and the harvest of 40 animals was 15 more than in 1959. The success ratio in 1960 was 23 per cent. This ratio, which was greater than in 1959, was due to the fact that hunters could take a bighorn with a \<z curl or better while in 1959 a ¾ curl or better was required. At present, records would indicate that our bighorn population is increasing and that through continued proper management of the bighorn a greater number of permits ran be issued each year. Turkey The success ratio of turkey hunters in Colorado in Hl60 was 51.7 per cent, based on records showing 797 birds killed by 573 hunters in the field. The kill fig~re represents an increase of 31 birds over the previous year. The kill was divided as follows: 282 toms, 399 hens and 116 poults. Pheasant There were significantly more hunters in the field and a greater harvest of pheasants in 1960 than the average of the past five years. However, although the number of hunters remained as in 1959, the average bag was down from last year. 99,929 hunters b°agged a total of 203,855 pheasants for an average bag of 2.04. The top pheasant area was the northwest with over 69,000 pheasants killed, followed by the central area with over 41,500. Doves The 1960 clove season proved to be less successful than the 1959 season. ThPre were morP hunters in thE> field than in 1959, but the average bag and the total harvest were down from the previous year. 21,201 hunters harvestPd 127,206 doves in 1960. The records show that 24,000 fewer doves were harvested in 1960 than in the five-year average, although there were more than 4,000 more hunters in the field. The top dove hunting area was the central region, where more than 50 per cent of the dove harvest occurred, and the Arkansas Valley. Quail The 1960 quail sea~on was one of the poorest on record, with the number of hunters taking part down from the previous year and from the fiveyear average. Down also was the success ratio and the total harvest. 8,961 hunters took to the field in Ducks All factors considered, Colorado had a duck season which was considerably below normal in terms of harvest despite the fart that migration and winter concentration inventories indicated an average population in the state throughout the hunting season. The total retrieved kill of ducks was 147,400 which is below normal and similar to the low harvest year of 1959. 22,257 binh; were crippled, making a total mortality of 169,657 ducks in the 1960 season. This total duck harvest was 29 per cent under the sixyear average and was attributed to a decrease in the number of waterfowl hunters combined with a decrease in the average seasonal bag from the norm. The average season bag was 5.0 with 29,480 hunters taking part in the season. More than 65 per rent of the duck kill was in mallards with the next most plentiful species being greenwinged teal which accounted for more than nine per cent of the harvest. 82 per cent of the duck kill occurred 14 �the 1960 quail season, bagging a total of 40,593 birds compared to the figures for the five-year average of 12,633 hunters and 73,221 birds. The top quail hunting area in the state in 1960 was the southeast, where about 70 per cent of the harvl!st occurred. Sage and Sharptail Grouse A decrease in the total harvest of sage and sharptail grouse from the five-year average was noted in the 1960 season, due to a decrease in the number of hunters taking part. However, there was a slight increase noted in the hunting success over the fiveyear average. 5,071 hunters took part in the season, bagging a total of 9,838 birds. Blue Grouse and Ptarmi gan A most significant decrease in the total harvest figures for blue grouse and ptarmigans from the five-year average was noted for the 1960 season. The harvest figure for 1960 was more than 50 per cent less than the five-year average figure. 6,295 hunters harvested 6,799 blue grouse and ptarmigans during the 1960 season. The five-year harvest figure was 14,305. Chukar Because of the relative newness of a season for the hunting of chukar, no comparisons with past seasons is possible for 1960. 1,399 hunters took to the field and harvested 2,938 birds in 1960 for an average bag of 2.1 birds per hunter. Cottontail The 1960 cottontail season showed a decrease in all aspects from the fiveyear average figures. The records for the 1960 season show that the greatest harvest of cottontail occurred in the central region and that one of the best hunting areas was in Moffat County. 46,379 hunters took part in the 1960 season, harvesting 185,616 cottontail rabbits, for an average season bag of four animals per hunter. The fiveyear average season bag was 6.47 rabbits per hunter. Snowshoe Hare A smaller season bag with a normal number of hunters resulted in a much smaller harvest of the snowshoe hare. 4,328 hunters took part in the 1960 season, harvesting 9,089 animals, for an average season bag of 2.1 per hunter. The five-year average season bag is 3.6. Game Damage As the game damage laws and regulations are now established and interpreted, the Game and Fish Department has many and varied responsibilities in regard to damage done to private property by game animals. All complaints and requests for damage payments must be thoroughly investigated and reports made so that just claims may be paid promptly and unfair ones denied. There are different methods of handling damage claims including, besides monetary payments, fencing, removal of animals from the area, rallying and herding of offending animals, and others. Between $50,000 and $100,000 is spent annually by the department for damage control other than monetary payments. During the fiscal year 1960-61, 44 damage claims were filed with the department, 36 of them being paid and eight being denied. The total amount of money claimed for the damages filed was $14,278.53. The total money paid in damage claims was $6,256.68. Damages done by bear to private property were the most prevalent filed, numbering 23, while deer were next with 14. Fur Management Lack of trapping pressure to reduce overpopulation of some species continues to present a problem to the department in fur management. Some of the species, especially muskrat, fox and raccoon, present a nuisance problem. Nothing of a truly serious nature has developed yet, and it is hoped that fur prices will increase so that private trapping will take care of the situation. The fox is a problem in some pheasant and bird areas, and raccoon in agricultural regions. It is felt that fox and raccoon should be removed as fur-bearing animals from the fur law and classified as game animals to be taken on small game licenses. Beaver Our beaver law makes beaver management a project separate from other fur bearers. The department is obli15 �gated by law to remove nuisance beaver on private property, but the property owner may obtain a permit to take his own beaver as he so desires. The program is now working satisfactorily. In the fiscal year 1960-61, 3,734 beaver were trapped by the department, 1,887 by landowners and 144 on private permits, making a total take of beaver for the year of 5,765. The total take figure is less than the previous year, but up over the figure of two years ago. FISH .'.\IA:SAGEMENT from the fishing license JUDGING sales for the past two years, we can count on having at least 400,000 licensed fishermen in Colorado each year from now on. If all these people were to go fishing on public lakes and reservoirs the same day and spread out evenly, each fisherman would have less than three surface a<.'res of water to himself. If they all descended on public trout streams at the same time, each fisherman would have only 132 feet of stream to call his own. Fortunately, this does not occur at any one given time. However, in some of the more popular and accessible areas the use pressw·e already exceeds t,hese figures. In the futu1·e, we can look for everincreasing competition for space and use in our public recreation areas. It is going to be more and more difficult to "get away from it all," and the true wilderness-type experiPnce will be found only in the most remote and inaccessible regions. What does this mean for the future of fish management and the fisheries of our slate'? Fishing quality declines rapidly with over-exploitation and excessive han·Pst. On the other hand, fish are rather prolific and the resource is a renewable one if properly handled. Any means used either to cut down on natural mortalitv in fish or encourage natural repr~duction will help to offset increasing demands for hatchery fish. This can be accomplished partially by more accent on management procedures such as stream improvement, erosion control, pollution control and fish population control and manipulation. The future will undoubtedly see more emphasis placed on management of this type. The increasing human population also forces another major fisheries program into the forefront - that of increased stream and lake acquisition, either by purchase, lease, easement or lake construction. More public recreation areas are needed to help meet the demand and to assist in spreading fishing pressures. Predator Control The Game and Fish Department's predator control program is l'onducted in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Sc•rvice with $50,000 a year appropriated to finance the department's part in the program. Of this amount, $35,000 is turned oYer to the Fish and Wildlife Service for use in that part of the predator control program under their supervision. The other $15,000 is used by the department for its specialized work and control. Bounties The State of Colorado pays a bounty on only one predator, the mountain lion. This $50.00 bounty is set by a law that was passNI years ago at the request, of stockmrn and has been continued ever since. The bounty on mountain lion, the department feels, should be removed. It is not a Game and Fish Department Jaw, but the department is directed to make the bounty payments out of the Camp and Fish Department cash fund. While the amount of money involvPd is not too grPat, it could be utilized in a more bi•neficial way. The number of mountain lions killPd and on which bounties have been paid has been decreasing since the 1!)56-57 fiscal year. However, in the HlG0-61 fiscal year, it showed an inrrrase of six, with 31 animals killed. The amount of money paid out in bounties for the 31 animals was $1,550, an increase of $250 over the previous year. Gilbert N. Hunter State Game Manager 16 �The extent of lake construction and lake acquisition to date is covered in the report of the Land Acquisition and Development Division. Hatchery fish production will always remain an important tool in future fisheries management, but care must be exercised constantly to keep costs down. This is best done by modernizing facilities at the better hatchery units and curtailing or closing units made obsolete by short water supplies. Vastly improved dry fish feeds will eventually supplant all fresh meat feeding and will effect considerable savings in manpower, equipment and freezer storage facilities. Table 1 shows the pounds of fish planted and the cost per pound planted for the years 1950-60. Table 2 shows the total fish distribution for 1960. Particular significance is attached to the drop in cost per pound from $1.04 in 1955 to $0.70 in 1960 despite the rising commodity costs. The cost per pound decrease was effected by closing or curtailing eight TABLE 1 Cost ..., PouN Pl•t1ted P o,u,d• Fi, h Pl• rrlM 1950 45-0,500 1951 585,800 $1 .32 1.08 1952 679,500 1.02 1953 743,800 1.08 1954 724,700 1.19 1955 940,900 1.04 1956 1,168,500 0.89 1957 1,131,800 0.82 1958 1,113,000 0.80 1959 1,311,600 0.74 1960 1,258,500 0.70 TABLE 2 Trout Distribution Warm-Water Fish Distribution Total Distribution •·-o"•'Humber Pound• 1,205,388 5,341 ,643 1,247,197 15,482,069 120,866 2,755 16,316 11 ,298 8,585,995 485,032 1,208,143 5,357,959 1,258,495 24,068,064 3 •-4,. Under 3 " Number Pound• 23,546 364,166 8,448,813 7,680 18,225,073 31 ,226 Pound• Number 18,263 9,776,260 863 19,126 Pound• TOTAL FISH DISTRIBUTION • 17 TolaJ All Si.ua ALL SPECIES, ALL SIZES • 1960 Number �obsolete hatcheries, cutting manpower and labor costs, installing labor-saving machinery and equipment, modernizing facilities and changing to dry feed diets. The fact-finding programs of the fish research section must continue to supply information to be utilized in the management program. We need to know more about better utilization of the hatchery product as regards survival and return to the creel. This entails such things as genetic strain of the hatchery fish and relative planting survival in varying habitats as compared to their individual hatchery source. Water chemistry and varying physical properties must be compared in this regard and be correlated with survival and planting success. More information is needed on management, species manipulation, etc., for artificial reservoir impoundments. The ever-increasing demands for water in the West will result in more and more reservoir and water development projects. These structures should be utilized to their fullest for all types of outdoor recreation consistent with their primary purposes. Fisheries management objectives for future years include: 1. Continued fishing lake construction. 2. A continuous program in acquiring public fishing waters either by purchase, lease, easement or management agreement. 3. Habitat improvement utilizing all possible means such as erosion control, watershed protection, better road construction methods, stream improvement devices and structures, stream bank plantings, artificial lake shelter devices, spawning bed construction, stream barrier removal, artificial fertilization and aquatic plant control. 4. An increased stream pollution control program. This should encompass all agencies, municipalities and industries interested and affected. 5. Modernization of hatchery facilities and fish culture techniques. 6. Better information on reservoir management. 7. Species control and manipulation, utilizing tools such as seining, trapping, reclamation with fish toxicants, introduction of predator fish, etc. 8. More detailed information on utilization of hatchery-reared fish. 9. Special regulation fishing waters, such as "Fish For Fun," "Fly Fishing Only," etc. 10. A continuous program to include fish, wildlife and recreation as recognized uses under state water laws. Wayne R. Seaman State Fish Manager LAW ENFORCEMENT G AME and fish law enforcement is a tough job. It is a necessary part of any successful management progl'am. Managing our wildlife resources is becoming more complicated year by year because of the increasing number of persons pursuing the sports of hunting and fishing. As the number of people continues to increase, stricter compliance with laws, rules and regulations will be required. The financial foundation of any state game and fish department as operated today rests upon the power of the state to require the purchase of a 1icense by any person who wishes to hunt or fish. License revenue still foots the bill for all department functions. If it were not for the fieldmen constantly checking hunting and fishing licenses for violations, revenue certainly would shrink. There· are sound reasons for law enforcement. 1. Although it has its negative aspects, law enforcement is an effective tool of game management. 2. Regulations are a rationing device, another management tool, supervised by the wildlife conservation officers. 3. Many species of game would become extinct, for all practical purposes, if Jaw enforcement did not constantly combat commercialization and the greed of some individuals. 4. The fact that from 25 to 30 per cent of most game and fish department budgets are earmarked for law 18 �Breakdown of Violations Number of Violations Types of Violations Hunting 938 27 Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643 16 Miscellaneous ............................ 1,092 19 Totol ........•................. 2,673 62 Breakdown of Enforcement Activities by WCO's Miles driven .................................... . ...... 2,547,208 Contacts, hunting ............ . ...... ....... . ............. 31,61 1 103,809 Contacts, fishing Number coses filed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,673 Amount of finl;ls ......... . ........ . .... . ................ $ 74,676 ment and one-third to the counties in which the violations were committed. For a summary of the law enforcement activities of the department for the year 1960, see chart. For a summary of the violations involved, see chart. Here are the major objectives of the law enforcement division. 1. Legislation making it mandatory that all persons obtaining a hunting license must first take some form of hunter safety training. 2. Inservice training for personnel including a 30-day indoctrination and training program and a 10-day refresher course to be given every two or three years. 3. A manual setting forth detailed procedures for officers engaged in law enforcement work. 4. Write and publish rules and regulations so they will be more easily understood by all persons. 5. Recodification of game and fish laws eliminating confusing and outof-date sections. 6. Uniform enforcement of all laws and regulations by personnel. enforcement clearly indicates that many so-called sportsmen are not the conservationists they pretend to be. 6. The wildlife conservation officer, in spite of his role in law enforcement, still is an important public relations man. What each officer says and does determines, to a large degree, the standing of the department in his area. Looking to the future, we know that more wildlife conservation officers will be needed in Colorado. We know, too, that high standards must be set for the individual officer. He must be a man who believes in the law he enforces; he must uphold the regulations of his organization; he must strive to become better trained in the performance of his duties and become better acquainted with the problems of his community. At present, the Colorado Game and Fish Department has 116 wildlife conservation officers. Their duties are varied, but they spend about 46 per cent of their time on game and fish law enforcement. In 1960, fines were levied totalling $74,676. Two-thirds of the fine monies went to the Game and Fish Depart- William F. Hunn Chief Ga:me Warden 19 �Research D URING the latter part of the period covered by this report, the appointment of a new director of the Game and Fish Department resulted in a rather complete reorganization of the administration of the research program. While the changes concerned have had relatively little effect on the operation of the several research projects, the responsibility for future administration of the program and for preparing the present report were affected. The work reported in the following paragraphs was accomplished under the direction of the Fish Management and Game Management Divisions of the department. Under the new organizational structure, the research program will function as a branch of the department on a level with a game and fish management branch under an assistant director of research. Limitations of time and space preclude the detailed reporting of all of the work that was accomplished on each research project. There were 28 separate research projects in operation during the report period. This total includes investigations being conducted by the Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units which are partially supported by the Game and Fish Department and are located at Colorado State University in Fort CoJlins. Laurance E. Riordan Assi.~tant Director, Research GAME RESEARCH Statewide census systems for pheasants and sage grouse were completed and transferred to management personnel, and work progressed on improvement of census procedures for scaled quail, chukar partridges, and the lesser prairie chicken. Concurrent with improvement of census techniques, distribution and density maps for principal upland bird species are being refined. These are complete for pheasants and sage grouse. Overlays which show correlation between pheasant populations and irrigated areas, precipitation and elevations, have been prepared. Studies of habitat improvement for chukar partridges, scaled quail, and lesser prairie chickens were carried The ten research projects dealing with bird and mammal species and their habitats were all financed through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) program. Under this program, 76 percent of the cost of completed project work is re-paid to the state from a fund in the United States Treasury resulting from an excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition. A brief statement concerning each of these projects follows: 1. Game Bird Survey: This is a comprehensive project involving work on six species of game birds. 20 �out in 1969 and 1960. Studies are imcomplete on the effects of water developments, shrub plantings, and protection of cover in windmill "run-off" or "over-flow" areas within scaled quail and lesser prairie chicken ranges. Chukar development work continued through the stocking of 1,205 gamefarm birds, bringing the total releases from 1961-1960 to 7,338 chukars. Studies of adaptability, survival, and reproductive success, and the check of hunters during the open season were carried out to evaluate the chukar development program. Gradual increases in the range and numbers of chukars are being made and the chukar is now an annual target for the hunter, but success of the hunter has been relatively low. An ecological survey of the Hungarian partridge disclosed this species may adapt itself in several areas in Colorado. Plans are proceeding to ol;itain wild birds from the State of Oregon. 2. Deer-Elk Investigations: With its companion project Game Range Investigations, this project receives major emphasis in number of personnel assigned and in total expenditure of funds because of the position of importance held by deer and elk among the game species of the state. The work is principally confined to the western mountainous half of the state with major effort presently being centered on the White River elk herd. A total of 62 elk were live-trapped, ear-tagged, and neck-banded on the White River to aid in migration route determination. Measurements were made and analyzed on elk pelvises to determine structural differences between sexes and ages for management and Jaw enforcement objectives. Counts and analyses were made in the Sapinero area to help develop winter loss determinations on deer. Basic background data were assembled, and plans were formulated for a detailed study of the important White River elk herd. Data have been collected and analyzed on highway kills of big game throughout the state. Plans for intensive evaluation of deer damage to alfalfa were drawn up and the study initiated. Comparisons of ground counts and aerial counts by helicopter and fixed-wing planes were made on the deer winter range in Middle Park to determine correction factors to apply to usual aerial game counts. Work was performed on the preparation of a standardized procedure handbook for range and game management as a model for permanent records in wildlife conservation officer districts. 3. Game R an g e Investigations: While this project is designed primarily to get information concerning big game range problems, the nature of such problems results in much of the information being applicable to land management in general. Some of the activities and accomplishments of this project were the following: Final tabulation of data and some of the statistical analyses on the final report for the 12 years of Mesa Verde plot study on five important browse Ronge management is regarded as the key to big game management. Special attention is now being given to the forage requirements of mule deer, and to the competition between deer and domestic stock. 21 �the purpose of developing suitable plant materials adapted to Colorado soils and climatic conditions for use in experimental wildlife habitat improvement plantings. A brief summary of some of the activities and accomplishments of the personnel of this project is as follows: By potting (or banding) and establishing evergreens and some broadleaf species in a growing condition for several months, the planting season may be lengthened to almost any month the soil is not frozen. Transplanting is also made easier and quicker. The new potting machine developed in 1960 enabled the cutting of costs from $0.0,rno to $0.0244 per potted plant for labor. To operate the crew required six women operators and three men as tenders. Nearly 41,000 plants of 35 species were potted in the test. It has been found that many important species, from a wildlife-habitat standpoint, can be germinated by fall planting almost as readily as by spring planting. Treatment with rodent repellents may be necessary in the fall, but extra weed eradication is also a factor not found with spring planting. Testplots for survival were started on nine farms and several state properties, using 3,945 plants of 24 species. A five-month drouth appeared to take its toll of several grasses and legumes in the nursery testplots. New plantings were started to increase the supply of three grasses in an effort to meet an increasing demand for them. Plans were made to increase two or three of the legumes considered hardy enough for use on the drylands. 6. Beai•er lnt'estigations: During the last seven years, this project has produced the basic information necessary for an improved program of beaver management in the state. Activities during the report period consisted of making further refinements of beaver population and habitat analysis techniques in preparation for turning beaver management over to local conservation officers under regional supervision. "Wildlife conservation officers were species were completed. Base year inventories on plant composition and density were performed on three new exclosures, and a repeat examination was conducted on one existing exclosure. Competition between elk and livestock on some critical spring and sommer ranges was measured by use of wire cages and clip plots. Experimental stocking of deer, cattle and sheep in nine fenced pastures at the Little Hills Game Experiment Station was continued with attending vegetation studies involving transect procedures and analyses. Measuring of the small rodent effects on deer winter range through their seed gathering and bark eating was continued at Mesa Verde. Instruction in procedures and their application, and interpretation relative to browse transects was carried on in 35 wildlife conservation officer districts; cooperation with an inter-agency range procedure committee on development of a browse condition transect procedure was r:ontinued. Average weight per unit length of annual growth stems on three key browse species was determined with a view toward quantitative measurement of game forage production. 4. Wil<I Turkey hwestiuations and Derelopmn1t: Through work carried on under this project since the inception of the Federal Aid in Wildlife R?storation program wild turkey h u n t i n g has been re-established throughout a large part of counties in the south half of the state. Data on the population status and reproductive success of wild turkeys were gathered from wildlife conservation officers, and work progressed on refinement of the wild turkey range map. Release sites were selected for wild-trapped birds and four areas in western Colorado were stocked with 60 turkeys during the winter of 196061. An additional 20 wild turkeys were shipped to Oregon in trade for Hungarian partridges and 18 birdR were flown to Idaho in exchange for mountain goats. 6. Wildlife Habitat Improvement Studies: Under this project, an experimental nursery has been established and is maintained at Fort Collins for 22 �instructed in the field application of the techniques concerned and department airplane pilots and observers were instructed in the procedure for conducting a er i a I beaver colony counts. A final project report which will summarize all of the work and findings of the project and will mark its termination for the present is being prepared and will be ready for publication within the current year. 7. Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations: This project, also is in its seventh year of operation, has contributed significantly to improved management of waterfowl species through making available to the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife accurate information on waterfowl production and migration in the state. Listed below are the major accomplishments during the 1960-61 project year. All of these activities were aimed at the improvement of management of the waterfowl resources in Colorado. Conducted aerial and ground waterfowl breeding pair counts in all major breeding areas of Colorado, and analyzed, evaluated, and reported, the waterfowl harvest by use of random survey questionnaire procedures. Trapped and banded 2,271 ducks of 14 species, and 2,684 geese of three species in Colorado and Canada, and analyzed all goose band returns, and reported results. Each of the 2,000 Canada geese trapped at Two Buttes Reservoir was aged, sexed and fluoroscoped to determine extent of wounding by hunters. Cooperated in an aerial inventory of waterfowl in eastern Alberta, particularly for Canada geese, but including all other waterfowl species. Participated in the cooperative aerial census of the Arkansas Valley goose flock on the wintering grounds at three intervals during the fall and winter. This included counts in Texas and Colorado. Reported on all cooperative Canada goose work with recommendations for future effort. Operated the Two Buttes management area for goose hunting, and collected pertinent information regarding harvest, hunter success, and sex and age ratios. Conducted wetlands and public hunting area survey in a part of northeast Colorado, and reported on preliminary results. Built goose nesting structures, hatched and released 68 Canada goose goslings, and in general continued the successful efforts to establish a Canada goose breeding flock in the Fort Collins area. Wrote final completion report on the Yampa Valley-Brown's Park Canada goose investigation and presented it at the Western Association of Game and Fish Commissioners meeting. 8. Evaluation of the Effects of Habitat Improvement on Wildlife: This project grew out of the need to measure the effectiveness of habitat improvement work being carried on under a federal aid development project. It was instrumental in disclosing weaknesses in this early work and has pointed the way toward more practical approaches to habitat improvement through manipulation of naturally occurring vegetation or cover on the land. Current work on the habitat evaluation project is aimed at describing and delineating the limiting factors of pheasant environment in Colorado. Progress during the 1960 segment led primarily to improvement in analytic and data-collecting procedures. 9. An Ecological Investigation of the Cache La Poudre Deer Herd: This project represents the contribution of the Game and Fish Department to a much more comprehensive study of the named deer herd. The overall project is being coordinated by the Colorado Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit which will be covered later in this report. This long-term, ecological study involving selected study areas at altitudinal levels of 6,000, 7,000, 8,000, 9,000 and 10,000 feet has accomplished the following. Tentative herd and subunit boundaries have been delineated. Environmental measurement stations have been established on each of the five study areas. Data recorded weekly on each area include: continuous air temperature and relative humidity, maximum and minimum soil temperatures, average 23 �been the initiation of a study of the effects of the environment on a wild deer population with substantial financial support from the environmental sciences branch of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission in the form of a research grant. The following projects were in effect during this report period. 1. The Effects of the Environment on a Wild Deer Population: As has been mentioned above, this is a comprehensive project drawing support from several sources. It has been broken down into twelve sub-projects, a number of which have not yet been staffed. Definitive results will have to await the outcome of all of these studies. Therefore, it will be reported in greater detail in future reports when more information becomes available. 2. Food-Cover Relationships on Deer Winter Range: A doctor of philosophy candidate in wildlife management is pursuing this study on a 150-acre site on the upper winter range of the Poudre deer herd. The study is a unit of the above mentioned overall study of this herd. The following are some of the accomplishments to date. Four environmental stations on four slope aspects were read at weekly intervals. Vegetative type mapping has been completed, pellet-group transects established and read once, and vegetative analysis is currently underway. Other factors being mesured are timber density and canopy coverage, relative stoniness, and forage production and utilization of sagebrush, bitterbrush and mountain mahogany. 3. Inventory and Analysis of Wildlife Populations and Habitat, South Platte River Valley: This project was one of two completed under the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit program during the report period. It was designed to determine the relative differences in wildlife populations and habitat conditions on grazed and ungrazed bottomlands along the South Platte River in Logan County. Results of wildlife counts showed that significantly larger numbers of ducks, deer, pheasants, quail, cottontail rabbits, squirrels, hawks, crows, and wind velocity, precipitation, snow depths and phenology of 18 plant species on four slope exposures. Vegetative studies include collection, identification, mounting and filing of over 700 plant specimens (continuing); te:;ting the "angle-order" distance measurement method (in progress); mapping the vegetation on each study area (completed); and computing the acreages of each vegetative type (in progress). Physiological studies made on one deer collected each week are underway. Eighteen deer have been processed so far. Data are recorded on standard body measurements, whole and dressed carcass weights, measurements, weights and volumes of all glands and organs, blood analysis, analysis of the stomach content sample, analysis of vitamin C levels of the adrenal glands and vitamin A and carotene of the liver, gross and microscopic morphology of the reproductive tracts of both sexes and their associated fluids, and preservation of about 25 tissue samples, and both eyes, lower jaw, femur, humerus, scapula, and two cannon bones for future studies. In addition, physical condition or relative fatness, using the brain weight as a standard is being evaluated by four methods: 1) densiometric, 2) kidney fat index, 3) fat content of bone marrow and 4) color of bone marrow. Analysis of the harvest has included: age composition of the kill at the check station, location of the kill, and five antler measurements. In 1960, 447 bucks were placed in age classes and 443 antlers measured. Harvest intensity, hunter success, and hunter effort (average hours hunted per hunter) have been summarized by sub-unit. The Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at Colorado State University coordinates a program of research conducted in part by graduate students of wildlife management at the university. The Unit is supported by four cooperating agencies, Colorado State University, the United States Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, the Wildlife Management Institute, and the Colorado Game and Fish Department. One of the most significant developments under the unit program has 24 �Research is determining the suitability of waters for lake trout introductions. All were planned to discover immediately usable management-type information. A brief discussion of each project follows: small birds were seen on the ungrazed land; more shorebirds were counted on the grazed tract, while there were no significant differences in the numbers of doves, eagles, horned owls, or magpies. 4. Experimental Chukar Partridge Habitat Development: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of providing water by means of rain-water catchment devices (gallinaceous guzzlers) on otherwise suitable chukar ranges in western Colorado. Intensive observations were made during two summers at four guzzler sites in Wells Gulch, Delta County, and on adjacent control areas without water development. From the information gained it was concluded that the installation of water catchment devices is an effective means of extending the range and increasing the abundance of chukar partridges in dry but otherwise potential chukar partridge habitat. 1. Rawah-Mclntyre High Lakes Project: The major part of the Rawah-Mclntyre High Lakes Project has been devoted to determining the effects of fertilization on three of the 16 lakes in the Rawah Wild Area. Data concerning the fish populations of the other lakes have also been collected. During the past year the field work for all of the lakes except Upper Camp Lake has been completed. Though analyses of the data collected have not been finished. In no case has clear-cut evidence been found that the fish populations have benefited from fertilization of the lakes under observation. This is not to say that benefits did not occur or that no changes took place following fertilization, but only that they could not be discerned. The many uncontrolled variables inherent in such a study make it almost impossible to determine which is responsible for a given change, or if, indeed, a significant change has occurred. Consequently it has been concluded that the large-scale approach has not been FISH RESEARCH Seven fisheries research projects supported with Game Cash Fund money were in effect during 1960-61. Some of these projects were shortterm experiments, while others were of a long-term, more complex nature. 25 �particularly useful in this case. More limited studies, such as the use of radioactive phosphorous as a tracer in Upper Camp Lake in 1958, have given less equivocal results. pelling trout and preventing downstream losses from Willow Creek Reservoir. No favorable sonic repellent was discovered. The final report has been distributed. Aside from the fertilization study, much useful information on the size of the fish is expected to provide a rational basis for the management of similar high altitude trout Jakes. 5. Anesthetizing, Icing, and Transporting Large, Mature Trout to a High Lake by Ho1·seback: A series of experiments were conducted at the Denver Hatchery in which trout were treated with MS 222 and packed dry on ice for a lightweight transportation method. The experiment was partially successful and trout were kept alive, out of water, for periods up to two or more hours. Losses were heavy beyond this length of time and transportation by horseback was not deemed feasible. The final report has been distributed. 6. Granby Reservoir Management Studies: Studies conducted at Granby Reservoir during 1960 were essentially follow-up investigations of those initiated in 1959. Samples taken of the existing fish populations were analyzed to determine age and growth characteristics, food habits, reproductive potential and similar life history characteristics. Seasonal fluctuations of zoo-plankton and bottom fauna populations, water chemistry and lake temperature analyses, were included in a study of the environmental factors affecting the fish. Additional studies designed to develop and evaluate fishing techniques with regard to facilitating a more complete harvest of kokanee salmon were conducted by utilizing sounding equipment to locate and follow seasonal movements of the fish. Creel census information, daily boat and shore fishermen counts, tagged fish returns, and related data were collected and processed to form the basis for projecting total season fishing pressure on the reservoir. Finally, experimental plants of fertile kokanee eggs were made in the lake during the fall of 1960 to determine the practicality of thus maintaining an optimum population of salmon. 7. Skaguay Reservoir Studies: Studies were initiated at Skaguay Reservoir, a fluctuating water level impoundment of about 90 acres located on the south slope of Pikes Peak, in 1962. Information on the fishes 2. Lake Trout Investigations: A total of 8 large lakes and reservoirs were investigated to determine their suitability and value for mackinaw introductions. The spawn taking operation was continued at Twin Lakes and was successful in taking over 90,000 mackinaw eggs. Approximately 60 large mackinaw were tagged and released to study growth habits. Approximately 35,000 (4"-5") mackinaw were reared at the Bellvue Hatchery. Experiments on feeding procedures were conducted as these mackinaw were reared. This group of mackinaw was used to make experimental introductions into five overpopulated brook trout lakes and mackinaw were stocked in Grand Lake for the first time. An experimental plant of 10,000 marked mackinaw were stocked in Twin Lakes. A regulation setting a size limit of 15 inches and a bag limit of four fish was passed by the Commission to reduce the excessive harvest of mackinaw at Twin Lakes and Deep Lake and to curtail illegal catches by chumming. 3. Electric Fi,'lh Screen Efficiency, Willow Creek Reservoir: The threeyear study and evaluation of the electric fish screen, which was constructed cooperatively by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Game and Fish Department at Willow Creek Reservoir to prevent downstream trout losses, was concluded. The results of this study showed that the electric screen was not able to prevent these losses. The final report has been completed. 4. Sonar Fish Screen Study: This study was conducted cooperatively between the Game and Fish Department and the Bureau of Reclamation. A series of experiments with various underwater sounds were made in an efforts to develop a method of re26 �the drawdown of five and six years ago, for the purpose of modifying the outlet structure, seriously diminished the game fish populations of this reservoir and upset the age growth structure of nearly all fish species present in the Reservoir. The stocking of additional predatory species and other management procedures currently being applied to Boyd Lake were selected in part on the basis of the information resulting from this research project. Current projects are: 1. The Evaluation of the Splake Trout: This hybrid trout is produced by fertilizing mackinaw or lake trout eggs with the milt of brook trout. Splake trout were first stocked in Parvin Lake of the Red Feather group in the summer of 1958. A study of the first two years of this trout's life history was completed in 1959. The current study is examining the characteristics of this trout during .its second and third year of life. Its rate of growth, food habits, distributional patterns, age at maturity, spawning activities and its harvest by fishermen are all being measured and evaluated. Because of infertility in the second generation, slower growth rates and comparatively poor harvest by fishermen, it probably will not become an important species in Colorado's trout management program. 2. Ha.rvest and Reproduction of Cutthroat Trout in Trappers Lake: The fishery of Trappers Lake is the largest and most important cutthroat trout fishery remaining in Colorado. Trappers Lake is also an important source of cutthroat trout eggs for the Game and Fish Department's stocking program. The great natural beauty and semi-wilderness nature of Trappers Lake are additional reasons for this study, which seeks to develop the factual background necessary for the perpetuation of this fishery. A study of the spawning areas in the inlet streams, size and characteristics of the spawning run and numbers of fry produced was made during 1958 and 1959. This study is continuing and a measurement of the harvest of trout by fishermen has (trout, kokanee salmon, perch and suckers), fishermen use and catch was accumulated over a four-year period. The data thus gathered were in the process of final analysis and summarization as a completed report in 1960. Contribution to the catch of identifiable plants of kokanee salmon fry and fingerlings, rainbow trout fingerlings and creel ·size rainbow trout was an important part of the study, and information of this nature should permit improved management of the fishery resource in waters similar to Skaguay Reservoir. Graduate students in fisheries science at Colorado State University conduct fishery research projects as part of their graduate training. These research activities are supervised and coordinated through the Colorado Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit. The unit is supported jointly by Colorado State University and the Colorado Game and Fish Department, and its research program is integrated with the regular fishery research program of the Game and Fish Department. During 1960 the fisheries unit has engaged in seven individual research projects. Two of these have been brought to a conclusion and five are currently in progress. Completed projects are: 1. The Comparative Efficiencies of Food Conversion by Three Species of Fish: Carp, yellow perch and green sunfish in separate populations and in all possible combinations were fed at selected rates. The weight gains made by each species alone and in competition with the other two species were examined. For this information a better understanding of the amounts of food required by each species was developed and the considerable understanding of the effects of inter- and intra-specific competition between these warm water species was acquired. 2. The Age and Growth of the Yellow Perch in Boyd Lake: This study, completed late in 1960, examined the long term effects on the fishery of a major drawdown of Boyd Lake which occurred in 1955 and 1956. It was determined that the effects of 27 �been carried out during 1960 and is continuing. Cabin Creek is the most important spawning area. The run of adult trout to the spawning areas has varied from 2,000 to 5,000 individuals. Approximately 75,000 to 100,000 fry enter the lake each year. In 1960 fishermen made an estimated 5,400 fishing trips to Trappers Lake and harvested 11,000 cutthroat trout. This study is scheduled to continue. 3. The Ve,·tical Distribution of Fishes iii Horsetooth Reservoir: Water storage reservoirs usually are comparatively poor fish habitats and usually can be made to produce interesting sport fishing only by application of intensive and expensive management procedures. Also, the art of managing reservoirs is admittedly not well understood. This research project was begun in the summer of 1960 and will continue through 1961. It is hoped that this study will tell us more about how the species of game fish and trash fish distribute themselves within Horsetooth Reservoir. The depth distribution of trout, kokanee salmon, yellow perch and suckers is being determined throughout the summer months. The relationships of the distributional patterns of these fishes to water temperature, thermal layering, dissolved oxygen and season are being studied. It has been learned that trash fish are many times more abundant than the game fish; that rainbow trout remain near the surface throughout the summer while the kokanee salmon, seeking colder water, is often found at depths of 50 to 60 feet. The most common food item for all fish species present are small, free-floating minocrustacia known as zoo-plankton. 4. The Effects of Monomolecular Layers of Evaporation Retardants on Fish and Wildlife: This research is supported by a contract from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. This bureau is seeking practical means of redeeming evaporation from storage reservoirs. Evaporation represents a serious loss of water throughout the water-critical areas of the west. One of the most promising approaches to the problem is to apply cetyl alcohol and other closely related compounds to the 28 water surface. This material has the most interesting characteristic of spreading across a water surface in a layer one molecule thick. Such a layer has been shown to substantially reduce evaporation. Since most storage reservoirs are important in terms of fish and wildlife recreation, it is important that prior to any wide scale applications that the effects of these materials on fish and wildlife be determined. This study has been under way a very short time and no conclusions can be drawn at this time. 5. Hepatoma in Rainbow Trout: Hepatoma, or liver tumor, in rainbow trout has quite suddenly become a serious and widespread disease of hatchery rainbow trout. Research designed to detect the eauses and the nature of this disease were begun in 1960. As part of a coordinated, nationwide research effort the Colorado Game and Fish Department and Colorado State University have designed and initiated a research project on this subject. The National Institute of Health is supporting our research program with a grant of $83,000 for a three-year program. Significant financial contributions have been made by the Colorado Game and Fish Department. The research is jointly supervised and directed by the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit. Hepatoma research in Colorado seeks to detect the roles of genetic susceptibility, diet, and water temperature in the development of hepatoma. In addition, attempts are scheduled to demonstrate whether or not hepatoma is transmissible from affected fish to sick fish through inoculation and ingestion. The research has not progressed sufficiently to permit even tentative conclusion~. FUTURE PLANS With the rapidly growing population of the state and nation, and the resulting intensification of uses of our land and water resources, together with the mounting demands for outdoor recreational opportunity, including hunting and fishing, the problems of maintaining acceptable fish and �analyzed to identify and measure the influence of game population density, hunting pressure, bag limits, weather, terrain, and the use of selective permits on hunter harvest. Improvement in the accuracy of kill figures is also needed. 6. A continuing survey of the incidence, causative agents, and control methods for all wildlife diseases occurring within the state should be maintained. 7. The development of practical and efficient procedures for observing, recording, and interpreting range conditions for all big game species must be continued. This work should also include the mapping of deer and elk winter ranges. 8. The present small game habitat development and nursery programs need to be evaluated to determine feasibility of sustaining these programs. 9. The research program on migratory waterfowl should be continued and we should endeavor to convince the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that "species management" is highly desirable. 10. The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of each of the major streams or stream segments and of major lakes and reservoirs must be assessed to determine their suitability and potential for improvement as game fish habitat. The type, degree, and extent of all pollution encountered should constitute a separate section of each study. 11. More detailed information is needed on utilization of hatchery fish as regards genetic strains, differing water chemistry between hatchery source and planting site, fatigue stud- · ies on pond-reared versus racewayreared fish planted in streams, and improved transportation methods. These are some of the areas in which research can improve the management of our fish hatcheries. 12. A system of publishing and/or reporting research results must be developed so that they are understandable to the public and can be applied more readily by management. wildlife populations to satisfy these demands are bound to increase in number and complexity. The one hope that these problems can be solved successfully lies in the bringing to bear on them a fund of factual knowledge relating to every facet of such problems. This knowledge can only be acquired through modem scientific methods. Recognizing this situation, the Game and Fish Commission has approved the construction of a new research center in close proximity to the campus of Colorado State University at Fort Collins. Plans have been laid, funds budgeted, and a recruitment program initiated to staff this research center with competent specialists to enhance the productivity of new and existing research projects. A program is underway to review the objectives of all existing projects and to consider any new proposals from the standpoint of directing our research efforts toward the solution of the most pressing problems first. Unquestionably one of the most fundamental problems standing in the way of the research program is the dearth of trained fish research biologists on the staff. The following are key long-range objectives which we feel should be stressed in the Department's research program: 1. Research is needed on ways and means of managing land to make it produce maximum crops of game and fish. Fish or game habitat improvement projects should be coordinated with the research branch to allow "before and after treatment" evaluation of cost and effectiveness. 2. More efficient techniques need to be developed to improve the management of game bird species, e.g., doves, band-tailed pigeons, pheasants, grouse, quail, and chukar. 3. Research is necessary to develop better means of preventing depredation by big game species. In this connection, studies on the food habits of antelope should be continued. 4. Efforts should be increased to perfect practical and reliable indices for censusing game populations and the annual producton of all species. 5. Deer and elk kill data should be Laurence E. Riordan Assistant Director, Research 29 �Land Acquisition and Development T WENTY years ago the Game and Fish Depa1tment owned less than 2,000 aaes of land. Its only uses for land at that time were for fish hatcheries, game farms and office space. • : ow the State Game and Fish Department, for the use and benefit of sportsmen, controls over 111,000 acres of land. During Lhat 20-year interval, the necessity for acquiring lands has become apparent. If we are to be able to accomplish the job for which the Game and Fish Department was established, we must have land that can be developed and used for the following purposes: 1. Waterfowl hunting, nesting and resting areas. 2. Deer and elk ·winter range. 3. Upland game bird habitat. 4. Public shooting areas. 5. Lakes and streams for hunting and fishing areas. 6. Rights of way for access to hunting and fishing areas. Watt>r plays an extremely important part in the development of any area for all of the above purposes. This increases the impo1tance of time in acquiring land and water since the Colorado River and its tributaries are scheduled for a reappo1tionment of water rights in the near future. Possibly there will be an early redistribution of water in other drainages, too. During this same period, it was recognized that professional engineering services on all our projects would result in sound, substantial develop- ments. The Game and Fish Commission has established a full-time eightmember engineering staff in addition to contracting for architectural and engineering design services . The engineering section has a continuing job of remodeling, maintenance and repair of fish hatcheries to increase their efficiency in production. Professional engineering is vital to all phases of land development to assure efficient and sound results. During HIGO remodeling of the Salida and Chipeta fish hatcheries, including construction of office, shop and storage buildings, water development and new pipelines, cost $60,000. Construction of a laboratorv and research center building at Foi·t Collins amounted to an expenditure of $160,000. Three majo1· waterfowl improvements, at the Wellington Game Refuge where a 200-acre shallow lake was created and at the Fort Lyon!': Game Management Area where two 100-acre shallow lakes were built, involved costs of $7,500. In addition, there w!'re numerous small projects, including repair of dams, structural improvements, recreational area imp1·overnents and other work completed by the department's own maintenance and construction unit. Acquisition of land was somewhat curtailed during the first six months of 1960 due to legislation. A need for deer winter range was the primary reason for the purchases of land in the Radium, Escalante and Cherokee 30 �as landowners are concerned in connection with the problem. In a few cases we have been able to obtain rights of way across private lands. However, much remains to be done in the future to solve these problems. Park management areas, but these lands will be used also for public hunting and access to other public lands. The Cherokee Park Management Area is particularly important for access to forest lands in an area where forest and patent lands are in a checkerboard pattern. This area also contains a number of miles of good fishing streams. · La Jara Reservoir was purchased primarily for fishing, but it also presents excellent values from the standpoint of waterfowl production and resting areas and elk winter ranges. A beginning was made on the acquisition of a reservoir site in Pitkin County known as Coke Oven. All these acquisitions total about 7,000 acres of land. The majority of the lands purchased generally have been marginal lands where the owners have had difficulty in making a living. When the lands that we acquire are fully developed for their maximum production and benefit to wildlife and fish, there is no question but that they will be beneficial to the communities near which they are located. A program has been started, with the excellent cooperation of a number of irrigation and reservoir companies, wherein reservoirs are turned over to the Game and Fish Department for management of public hunting and fishing. In exchange, the Game and Fish Department purchases a liability insurance policy in favor of the reservoir company which will take care of any liability that the department might incur. Another area requiring considerable time, work and cooperation lies in the aspect of obtaining rights of way across private lands to get to public lands for hunting and fishing. During two consecutive years an inventory of blocked areas has been made. Quite often it is not realized that this is a changing situation from year to year. Land that may be blocked this year may be open next year and, of course, the converse may be true. We have encountered some encouraging changes in thinking as far Land Acquisition and Developm ent in 1960 For a six-month period in 1960 it was not possible for the Game and Fish Department to purchase land. Therefore, considerably less land was acquired in 1960 than in 1959. There is opposition in some areas to the Game and Fish Department acquiring land. This opposition is difficult to understand when all facts are known and considered. With the present problem of agricultural surplus The acquisition and development of land by the deportment for hunting and fish- ing purposes is very necessary because of the growing numbers of sportsmen. 31 �Lake Construction Projects Completed with Game and Fish Funds (Federal Aid where Indicated) I. Pre-World War II Projects Lake• P-Purchase Ac,•aoe MA-Management Agreement L •lensa Cost Fed•ral Aid 1. Haviland Lake 2. Parvin Lake 3. Tarryall Lake 4. Skinny Fish Lake 65 63 175 16 $ 11,350 8,500 12,250 900 Total 319 $ 33,000 II. Post-World War II Projects 1. Vaughn or Poose Lake 2. Dumont or Muddy Creek Lake 3. Trujillo Meadows 4. Rite Hondo 5. Andrews Lake 6. Denny Lake 7. Sweitzer Lake 8. Mack Mesa Lake 9. Hart Lake 10. Bison Lake 11. Supply Basin (Hart Lake) 12. Lake of the Woods 13. Swede Lake 14. Baily Lake 15. Road Canyon Lake 16. Lake Setchfield (Carey Dam) 17. Lake John 18. Means Lake (Frenchman Creek) 19. Burchfield Lake (Sand Arroyo) 20. McGinnis Lake 21. Stalker Lake (Chief Creek) 22. Ragan Lake 23. Beaver Lake 24. Sunset Lake 25. Black Lake No. 2 26. Georgetown Lake 27. Larson Lake 28. Deer Creek Lakes (5) 29. Hahn's Peak Lake 30. Meadow Creek Lake 31. WIiiiams Creek Lake 32. Ka rval Lake TOTALS TO DATE Lakes and Reservoirs Opened to Public Use by Purchase, Lease, or Management Agreement by the Colorado Game and Fish Dept. D-J 36 D-J 35 D-J 70 41 D-J 13 22 137 24 D-J 346 D-J 48 D-J 23 10 4 9 160 D-J 1,100 643 27 23 23 12 61 7 19 13 63 10 12 (aggregate) 37 D-J D-J 55 Part D-J 343 22 $ 41,571 19,928 39,192 64,833 16,846 10,083 100,539 21,204 160,173 5,000 5,000 500 300 1,000 64,780 245,898 136,916 35,396 59,887 2,000 18,800 5,081 4,000 7,562 10,973 19,013 975 7,499 56,024 78,214 432,969 3,448 $1,706,965 34,809 Lake 1. Bonny Reservoir 2. Watson Lake 3. Dowdy Lake 4. West Lake 5. Bellaire Lake 6. Creedmore Lake 7. Willow Creek Reservoir 8. Green Mountain Reservoir 9. Boyd Lake 10. Boyd Lake Equalizer 11. Horseshoe Lake 12. San Luis Lake 13. North Delaney Butte 14. South Delaney Butte 15. East Delaney Butte 16. Hohnholz Lakes (3) 17. Neff Lake 18. Hank Roberts Lake 19. John Martin Reservoir 20. Turquoise Lake 21. Gurley Reservoir 22. Hennesey Lake 23. Hoffman Lakes (2) 24. Julesburg Reservoir 25. Sterling Reservoir 26. Prewitt Reservoir 27. Jackson Reservoir 28. Brown Lakes (3) 29. La Jara Reservoir 30. Woods Lake 31. Chlpeta Lakes (3) 32. Lone Tree Reservoir 33. Fruitgrowers Reservoir 34. American Crystal Sugar Lake 35. Brush Hollow Reservoir 36. Cherry Creek 37. Harriman Lake TOTALS TO DATE Acreage Status Coat 1,500 8 MA MA NC $ 3,725 165 35 9 12 303 2,125 2,022 83 100 960 45 205 110 88 40 70 17,500 818 215 80 30 1,570 3,081 2,431 2,640 300 1,261 30 8 p p p p MA MA L L L L L p p p MA p MA MA MA L L MA MA &P MA MA p p p p 536 MA 502 10 186 665 67 MA MA MA 39,810 MA-L MA 17,500 NC NC 15,000 /10 yrs. 3,000/10 yrs. 200 2,597 74,672 NC 12,000 NC 10 yrs. NC NC 2,400/8 yrs. NC 8,500 10 yrs. NC 10 yrs. NC 50,000 203,130 45,000 5,250 Res. NCRoad Casements 4,062 20 yrs. NC NC NC 1,387 NC 10 yrs. �fessional engineering is vital to all phases of fisheries, wildlife and recreational development. In 1961, in accordance with the general reorganization plan, engineering will be incorporated into a new section called Land Acquisition and Engineering. It is felt that this consolidation will allow more efficient planning and development of future improvement projects. For the future it is necessary to establish a long-range plan for construction and improvement. The main need at this time is the impoundment of as many surface acres of fishing water as possible. This has to be accomplished before the reapportionment of water between the upper and lower basin states of the Colorado River and its tributaries. This plan will also cover creation and improvement of waterfowl habitat areas. After the reapportionment of the Colorado River waters, all water for development will possibly have to be bought if any is available. At that time there will be a concentration on the development of hatcheries and rearing ponds to increase fish production for the stocking of the waters. taking some land out of maximum production as the commission is doing, would seem to benefit the agricultural economy in this critical period. Then too, since the department is paying an amount equal to the school tax on all lands for which the counties have submitted proper filing, our acquisition program is not creating a tax burden in any area. Actually, the lands that we have acquired and developed are a decided financial benefit to the communities near which they are located. During 1960 three major impoundment projects were undertaken to improve conditions for waterfowl by creation of permanent water areas in low sloughs or swamp lands. At the Wellington Game Refuge a 200-acre shallow lake was created with a maximum depth of four feet. At the Fort Lyons Game Refuge two 100-acre shallow lakes were created in low swamp lands. Project costs were: Wellington Game Refuge, $2,000.00; Fort Lyons Game Refuge, $5,495.00. Other projects for 1960 included dam repairs, structural improvements, recreational area improvements and work completed by the department's own maintenance and construction unit. Major Construction Projects Masonry Office and Shop Building, Salida - $22,640.00 Masonry Truck and Storage Building, Salida - $20,000.00 Laboratory and Office Building, Fort Collins - $160,000.00 Waterfowl Diversion and Pipelines, Chipeta- $17,000.00 Engineering The Engineering Section is responsible for all engineering, maintenance and construction. The services range from design and supervision of major construction projects throughout the four regions of the state to lesser structure and water control repairs and land boundary surveys. Pro- Harry J. Figge Chief, Land Acquisition and Developnwnt AREAS ACQUIRED-1960 Project No. W-86-L W-92-L W-106-L FW-7-L F-16-L Title Radium Management Area Escalante Management Area Cherokee Park Management Area La Jara Game and Fish Mgmt. Area Coke Oven Reservoir Site Total 33 Acres 1,700 46 3,280 1,400 160 6,586 Amount $ 23,000.00 2,400.00 20,000.00 (partial) 133,791.14 (final) 13,447.00 $192,638.14 �Information and Education JTtablished is important that the policies esby the Game and Fish can increase the amount of information it produces for the public. More popular and timely reports such as found in "Colorado Outdoors" and the weekly newsletter, "Outdoor News," and an increased amount of technical and educational publications are the best ways of telling the public just what the Game and Fish Department does with its time and money. In addition, understandable maps and descriptions of available hunting and fishing spots will inform the public where it can exercise its constitutional rights of enjoying wildlife recreation. Commission be assimilated by the department and presented to the public through every available method of communication. Having the public understand all the department's objectives is the basis of the public relations program. With the increased demands made on wildlife managing agencies there must also be an accompanying increase in the scope of their public relations program. The public must be presented with the full story of the nature and effect of t,he department's activities. The program of the Information and Education Division is designed with an awareness of present and future public relations problems. Information con<'erning the department's activities is released to the public through newspapers, magazines, public appearances, exhibits, radio, television and organized long-range education programs, presented in the schools and to adult groups. The first requisite of a public relations program which will remain effective in the future is to have every employe realize that his o,vn personal actions shape the public's attitude toward the department. Second, the public is entitled to have its questions answered, but it is the responsibility of the Information and Education Division to present material such as regulations, season information, management techniques, etc., in a clear and concise manner that will make most questions unnecessary. The department must improve its ability to inform the public clearly. Third, the time lag between an event and its publication must be eliminated. The public reserves to know what is going on at the time and not weeks later. Publications: The chief function of the publications section is to publish the department's official bi-monthly magazine, "Colorado Outdoors." This magazine is sustained by subscriptions, receiving no other subsidy under state law. Printing runs averaged 30,876 issues in 1960. The magazine has regular features and special articles devoted to current game and fish events. Fourth, with an expanded staff the Information and Education Division It is also the duty of the Publications Section to prepare bunting and 34 �fishing regulations. During 1960 this section published and distributed big game, fishing, small game and fur regulations. Regulations are distributed to the more than 1000 license agents of the department. Two of the pamphlets printed last year included revisions of "Fish Culture for Fun and Profit" and "Fishes of Colorado." In addition, this section also published and distributed a pamphlet entitled "Know Your Colorado Grouse" and the 1959-60 annual report. News Releases: In addition to the magazine, the publications section publishes a weekly newsletter, "Outdoor News," and other special releases. Total weekly circulation of the newsletter, which is sent to newspapers, radio and TV stations, federal and state agencies, legislators, department personnel, sportsmen's clubs and other game and fish departments, is more than 1000 copies. An additional 1000 copies are run of the first issue of every month and sent to persons interested in the depattrnent's activities. Thirteen special releases were sent to the news media during 1960, and regional pe1·sonnel distributed 147 special news stories on topics of local interest. Fishing Reports: From the Thursday before the opening of fishing season to the Thursday before Labor Day the department compiles and issues a weekly fishing report. Information on the prevailing f i s h i n g conditions throughout the state is phoned in by department fieldmen and sent to radio and TV stations and newspapers in metropolitan areas. In-Service Training: In-service training programs were conducted on a regional level by the regional educators at Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Montrose. These programs were planned and coordinated with the Personnel Division and designed to train the fieldman on the job. Visual Aids: Furnishing photographic services and coordinating all department audio-visual activities is the function of this section. This includes the production of both informational and educational visuals such as slide sets, 16mm motion pictures, display materials and demonstration aids. Still Photography: Slides were taken to be used as programming visuals in educational projects and in promotional series for state publicity. Files on these materials a1·e also maintained in the Denver office. Film Libraries: Film Libraries are maintained in state and regional department offices. These libraries furnish program visuals for department programming. Schools and youth organizations make particularly heavy use of these facilities. In all, the department circulates 100 film strips, 81 35mm slide sets and 211 16mm film prints. The department completed and had in circulation by the end of the year a 13-minute film production, "What The Hunter Safety program is one of the major education programs of the Game and Fish Department. All age groups are eligible for the course. 35 �The department cooperates with the State Department of Education in conducting conservation education workshops for interested teachers. about Tomorrow's Fishing?" Photography was started on another film illustrating the activities of the Fort Morgan Junior Conservation Club, a pioneer in its field. Twenty-seven short television films WPre assembled for use on stations in Colorado. Narration was furnished live. Some photography was required for these films, but many were assembled from film taken by this departnwnt over the past 30 years. This seC'tion furnished visuals as requested by television stations in Colorado. Sustained series were prepared anr! conducted by department personrn•l on thrPe Colorado stations. A total of 118 programs was conduct<'d by the di>partment including 37 weekly programs in the "Colorado Wildlife" series on KR.MA-TV. This does not include guest spots, public service time and news releases. Auclio Services: Audio services were furnished by this section, including public address systems for two national con\·entions, recordings of meetings and radio tapes as requested by the radio staLions in the state, averaging about two a week in the Denver area alone. Other Activities: Live programs were also conducted by the personnel of this section. Several shows and displays wne prepared and manned in part by this section as well. Conservation Education: Conservation erluration training in the schools and with organized youth groups has beconll' a very important part of the Colorado Game and Fish Department's public relations program. Conservation education extension in Colorado is designed to penetrate and incorporate every phase of community life and has won suppo1-t from practically every community organization. The seven phases of the department's conservation education program are: 1. Conservation education in the schools and among the existing organizations not directly connected with the schools. 36 �2. Hunter safety instructions. 3. Training teachers for leadership in conservation education. 4. Wildliie management 4-H programs. 6. Outdoor living program. 6. Cooperative extension program in the Denver Public Schools. 7. The Emily Griffith Opportunity School - cooperative TV series. In addition to the above programs the Colorado Game and Fish Department conducts a cooperative program with the Boy Scouts and other organized youth groups. The department also sponsors a system of junior conservation clubs throughout the state, typified by the famous club at Fort Morgan. Hunter Safety: In 1960, 461 instructors trained 3708 students in the department-sponsored hunter safety program. Instruction is conducted at a community level on a team basis. Such organization includes as many citizens' groups as possible and is limited only by the number of these groups. Additional instruction is given on an educational television series. The Information and Education Division coordinated the statewide Hunter Safety Program in 1960, but the program was transferred to Law Enforcement Division in January, 1961. The total program of instruction encompasses a wide and indispensable group of agencies. These include 4-H clubs, Colorado Heart Association, National Rifle Association clubs, county sheriffs' offices, Izaak Walton League clubs, state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation, Boy Scouts of America, local school districts, colleges and universities and Denver's educational television station. Here is a summary of the future needs of the department's Information and Education program: 1. Increased organization and coordination so that the public will be aware of all department activities. 2. Better internal public relations including in-service training, formulation of a definite wi·itten policy covering all department functions and giving employes more of a voice in department activities. Television is the latest tool used by t he Information and Education Division to explain the activity of the deportment. 3. Improved cooperation with license agents, keeping them informed of department activities so that the public can contact them directly for ordinary game and fish information. 4. Improved and expanded visual aids, radio and television material including inter-regional cooperation in programming, more films and more short and timely TV film clips. 6. Improvement of written media including more educational and technical publications and more complete and direct news coverage. 6. More educational and technical publications, including federal aid project reports. 7. A public information program, through the press, using Wildlife Willie cartoons to explain regulations, conservation practices and department activities. 8. Expansion of the conservation education extension program. 9. Continuation of the better landowner-sportsman relations program "Operation Respect." C. D. Tolman Chief, Information and Education 37 �Flnanclal Report GAME CASH FUND BALANCE SHEET JUNE 30, 1961 CURRENT ASSETS Cas h Cash .,n Depos,t ASSETS State Treasurer . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . $ 4,759,213,07 Receivables Acc,_unts Rece1voble-Just1ce of the Peace .$ Acc,unts Rt!(:e1vable - L1cens.e Agents.. . .........• Due from Other Funds Federal Aid Revolving Fund. . . . . . • . . Federal Aid Project. Income Fund, TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS... , .....•...... $ , . , ••••••• , , , • . ... , ••.•..• • . , . OTHER ASSETS Investment 1n Stores Revolving Fund Investment 1n Federal Aid Revolving Fund. 1,320,63 255.35 1,575.98 4,394,68 109.05 4,503.73 $ 4,765,292.78 $ 250,000.00 • DEFERRED EXPENSES Deposits 1n Postage Meter Machine , ....••••••••••••• $ Small Tools ond Expendable Equipment.. . ••.....•.••• 750,000.00 I ,000,000.00 3,050.14 153,149.64 156,199.78 PROPERTY, PLANT ANO EQUIPMENT Automobiles .. • .. .. .. . .. • • ........ , .. • .. • $ 160,515 51 Form and Gorden Equipment.. • .••••.....•• , • 229,169,85 General Plant Equipment ••• , • . • . • • • . . . • • . 560,284 59 Household Furniture and Equipment. • .•....••.••• , 37,258,01 Laboratory Equipment • • . . . • . . . . •••. . •. . •••.• 17,272 26 Library and lnstructionol Equipment. 36,583 31 Motor Vehicles, Equipment and Air Equipment 1,047,917 25 Office Furniture and Equipment, ••.• , •••.• , • • • 147,364 38 Recreation Equipment • • ...•• , • 765.40 Shop Machinery ond Equipment. • • . • • . 10,091.81 Comping Equipment • 50,348.68 Buildings and Improvements to Buildings 1,783,829 59 Land and Non-Structural Improvements to Land 3,370,341 70 Sub Total . .. .. • .. • .. .. • • .. .. $7,481,742 34 Equity ,n Fecerol Aid Property, Plant and Equipment 841,646.93 8,323,~89 27 TOTAL ASSETS ............................ .. • .. $14,244,881.83 LIABILITIES CURRENT LIABILITIES Payables Accounts Poyoble - Counties Shore • • • . • • • •••. $ Accounts Payable - License Agents ..••.•••••••. Accounts Payable - Stole General Fund •..•••.•.••• Reserve for Encumbrances- Prior Years 38 7,875.33 1,356.00 2,005.70 274,442 53 $ 285,679.56 �LIABILITIES - Continued Due to Other Funds Stores Revolving Fund ............................ $ 2.530.63 Federol Aid Revolving Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,638.80 2,696,960.99 Cop1tol Construction Fund, • ; •..•........•.•...... 2,635,791.56 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES .... , ....•...................... $ 2,982,640.55 BUDGETARY AND OTHER FUND OBLIGATIONS Appropriations Bolance Fiscal Year 1959- 1960 Capitol Outlay 56 175-78) Continuing Capitol .. $ 23,094.21 Balance Fiscol Year 1960- 1961 Personal Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,953.59 Maintenance and Operation ....... 234,051.06 Capitol Outlay 31 171-0-71-9) ............ 37,643.66 32 I 701 Automobiles and Station Wagons ..... . 17,641.42 Travel and Subsistence .......... . 15,594.20 Spec 101 Funds ................. . 127,279.52 Pittmon-Robertson ......•.•..... 201,455.25 75,696.77 Dingell-Johnson $ 758,409.68 Encumbrances Balance Fiscal Year 1959- 1960 Capitol Outlay ................. $ 22,756.06* Bolance Fiscal Year 1960- 1961 Maintenance and Operation ....... 150,757.31'' Capitol Outlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,393.28" Unbilled Advances Pittmon-Robertson . . . . . . . . . . . . 57,346.05'' Dingell-Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189.83" 274,442.53" 483,967.15 Reserve for Working Capitol. ......................... $ I ,000,000.00 Unappropriated Surplus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,454,884.86 Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets ....................... 8,323,389.27 10,778,274. I 3 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS ............................ $14,244,881.83 • Indicates Red Figures. Income Game Cash Fund Gross Income ....................................................... $4,838,675.60 Less: License Agents' Commission...................................... 158,395.75 Net Income ...................................... , .... , ........ $4,680,279.85 Expense General Administration Commissioners ............ , ....... , .... , ...... , ... , , ..... , . , ...... $ 9,838.98 Director . . . . . . . . , ............... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,640.91 Deputy Director ............... , ........ , ................ , . . . . . . . . . 20,151.58 Wildlife Research Laboratory .......... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . 3,843.55 Business Adm1n1strotion .............. , ...... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410,047.92 Personnel ..........•.................................. , . . . . . . . . . . 27,679.16 Conservation-Education .... , ..•......•................... , .... , . . . . 160,521.12 Gome Management ................ , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259,647.90 Fish MORogement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . 182,568.64 Low Enforcement ........... , , ... , .. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,409.11 Fur Resources ................................ , , . , . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 55,781.88 Total General Administration ... , ............... , ........ ,,,,, ..... $1,170,130.75 Northeast Region ....... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 539,387.61 Northwest Region ................................ , ....... , . . . . . . . . . . 608,464.20 Southeast Region .......................................... , , . . . . . . . 439,586.69 Southwest Region ........... , ....... , ..................... , . , . . . . . . . 607,626.76 Total Expense ............... , , ................................. $3,365,196.01 Other Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245,414.61 Other Expense .... , ..... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359,183.34 Net of Operations ...........• , ...... , ............................ $1,201,315.11 Note: Details for each of the figures above shown ore set forth on occompony,ng schedules. 39 �Game Cash Fund - Income Year-to- Dote June 30, 1961 Resident Fur Dealer .•.•....•...••..•...• . .......•.•......••.•.•..••..•••. $ 530.00 Guide Licenses • . . • •• • . •. •. • •. • . . • • • . • • • • • . • • • •. •. . . • • • • • •• . . • • 2,382.00 Resident Fishing • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . • . • • . • . • • • • . • • . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . . • • . . . • 572,228.00 Resident Fishing ond Smalt Gome........................................... 651,445.00 Non-Resident Fishing . • • •• . • •. . . . •. ••••. . . . • . . . . . . . . . ••. . . . . . . ••••••• 156,150.00 Non-Resident 5-Doy Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . • . • . . . • . . • • • . • . . . • . • . . . . . . 370,681.50 Non-Resident Bird ond Smalt Gome . . . • . . . . • • . . . . . • • • • • • • . • • . • • . . • . . . • . . . . • 33,450.00 Resident Deer . . . . . • • • • . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . • • . . • . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . 721,800.00 Resident Elk .••••.• , • . . • • • . • • • . . • • • . • • . . • • • . . • • • . . . . . . . . . 322,300.00 Non-Resident Deer . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . • • • • • • . • . • . . . . . 1,195,080.00 Non-Resident Elk . . . . . . . • •• • • . . . . . . • . . • • . . . • . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363,250.00 Resident Turkey . . . • • . • . . . . . . .. . . • . . • . . . • . . . • . • • • . . • • . . . • . • . . . • . . . . . 7,995.00 Resident Trapper ...•..•••...•.•..•.• , .••....••. , •.• , . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,900.50 Non-Resident Trapper • . • • • . . .•. . . .. . . , . . .. . . .. •. •. •. •. .. .. .. .. . I 00.00 Resident Antelope . , . , .. , .. , , , , , . , .• , .•........• , . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,230.00 Resident Bear . . . • . . . . • • . . . .....................•••......••.....•.••. , 3,125.00 Mountain Sheep ......•... , ... , . , ...•...• , • . . • . . • . . . . . • • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,450.00 Non-Resident Beor ... , . . . • •.. , ....•..•..•......••..• , . . . • . . . . . 1,250.00 Resident Small Gome •. . . . . . . . . .. . . • . . ••.. . •••••••. .•. . 69,476.00 Additional Rod Stamps .....•...• , . . . . . . . . . . . . , ..... , .••..... , ... , . . . . . . . 676.00 Resident Deer Multiple . . . , • • • • •. • . • . • • . • • . • . . . . . • 75,015.00 Duplicate Licenses ......•......•.... , , ... , ....•.. , ,. .... .... ... . 1,628.00 Non-Resident Deer Multiple ....•••.•••...... , . , , . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . 165,915.00 Special Non• Resident Licenses , . . . . . . . . • . . . . . • . . . • . . . . .....••.•....• , • . . 220.00 I mport ers . . . . . . . . •. . . •. •. . • .•. . . . .. . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . •.. . 325.00 Loke Licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • . . . • . . • • . . . . . . • . . • . . • • • • . . . • . . . . . • • 4,600.10 Preserve Licenses . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00 Refuge Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • • . • . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . 2.00 Se1n1ng Permits . . . . . . , ...••..•••.• , . . . .. . .••..•• .. .. .• .... ... . 95.00 Storage Permits . . ...•......•....•..................• • ... , .......•...... $ -0--Toxiderm1sts .............•.....•...••. , , .......... , ...... , ..• , • . . . . . . 220.00 Tronsport ot 1on Permit s .............. . .................•................. , 594.00 Dog Trainers .• , ...• , , • . . . • . . • .•• , •.•. , • , . . • . . •. •. . . .•.• -O--F 1eld Trials ........ . ............•............•...........••...•.•... , . , 276.20 Scientific Permits ..... , , .....•.• , .......•.•.•......•... , . . . . • . , • • . . . . . 15.50 Boot Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . • .. . .•• . .. . . . . .. . 10,214.60 Importation Permits , ...•...... , .. , . . , •...• , .. , .•. , .•.• , , ••.. , . . . . . . . . . 84,00 Specimen Permits ... , . . . • , , .....• , . . . . • . • . • . • . . •. . •. . . .. 1.00 Bird-Perk Licenses . . . . . . . . . .... , ........ , ........ , ... , . , . . , . . . . . . . . . . 645.00 Quadruped Park Licenses . . . . . . • . ..•.. • , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . •.. , • . • . . . . . . . 45.00 Non-Resident Fur Dealers ... , . , .. , .... , ••.. , • • . • . • . . . . • • . . • • • . . • . . . • . . . • . 52 50 Transfer Fees . . . . . . . . . , .•. , . , ...•..... , ... , ... , ......•.... , ... , ... , , . 2.00 Special Fishing Licenses .. , • • . . . . . •••.. , . • . . . • . I, 100.00 Game Breeding Control . , .. , •....•......•....•. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . 50.00 lnspect1an Fee- Fish . . . .. • . . .. .•. . . . . .. .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . •. ••• •. . . • I 1.00 Soles of Farm Products . . ....•.. , , . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,452.67 Sales of H ides <Except Beoved . . . . ....•......••....••....•.....• , ..•. , . . . 348.28 Soles of Livestock . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . ...•....•.. , • . -0--Sales of Supplies and Mat erials . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,094.21 Soles of Hay . . . . . . . • • • . . . • , • . ..•.. , • • . • . . . . . . . . . . . 318.00 Sales of Beaver Tags . . . . . . . . , .•.......•....... , . . . • . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 3,310,61 Sales of Hides I Beaver I ..•••.•...•.•..•..••....•...... , • . . • . • . . . • • • . . . . 14,807.53 Rents from Lond .. •.•.... • ••..... , • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I, 195.00 Court Fines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . • . . . .•... , . . . . . . . 32,999.97 Penalty Assessment - Board of Claims . •. . •. . . . •.. . . •. . . •.••. . .. •. •. .••. 344 75 Penalty Assessment Fines .................. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . . . 13,203.64 Unclaimed Monies . . . . ...•... , ...•..•.• , • . . . • . • . . . . • . . . •..••.•••.... , 2.25 Garage Services ...... , . . . ...............•........ , . . . . . • . . • • . . . . . . . . . 11,928.79 Total Gross Income . . . ...•••. , . . . . • . . . . . . . . • ..•.•...••..•.. $4,838,675.60 Less: License Agents Commission. . . ..•..•....•..•.•..... , . . • • • • . . . • . . . . . . . 158,395.75 Toto I Net Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . • . . • . . • ....••.... $4,680,279.85 40 �Game Cash Fund - Expense Year-to- Dote June 30, 1961 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Commissioners ............................ , ...... , .......... , ....... $ Director ......................................•.................... Deputy Director .................................... , .............. . Wildlife Research Loboratory ................•......................... $ 9,838.98 23,640.91 20,151.58 3,843.55 57,475.02 Business Administration Business Manager ..........................•............ . ••..•.... $ Accounting ..........•............................•...•.........• Attorney ...........................................•...•..•...•• 32,648.29 53,298.95 7,715.23 Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,374.76 Construction-Maintenance .....................................•.... 47,578.75 Federal A id Locomotive .....•...................................... 12,738.10" License-Revenue ................................................. . 55,580.55 Property and Supply .............................................. . 17,425.53 Requisition Office ................................................ . 13,321.61 Office Maintenance and Operation ................ . ................. . 33,594.72 Gorage ......................................................... . 14,874.67 Warehouse ........•........•.. • .................................. 20,925.78 Transportation ............................•......... . ..•.......... 25,034.83 Aerial Beaver .................................................... . 175.65" Workmen's Compensation - "29" Fund .............................. . 18,684.00 Hunting and Fishing Right s - "51" Fund ............................ . 911.00 Reimbursement for Stote Service - "59" Fund . ............ , ........... . 49,993.00 $ 410,047.92 Personnel .......................................................... $ 27,679.16 27,679.16 $ *Indicates Red Figures. Conservation- Education Publicity .•.............•...........•... . ..•...•.........•....... $ 43,014.27 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l 17,506.85 $ 160,521.12 Gome Management Adm in istrot ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . ....... $ 50,538.86 Aerial Operat ion .......................................•. . .•...... 18,826.04 Gome Cooperative- "53" Fund ...................... , ............. . 4,073.78 11 Gome Control - "55 Fund ........................................ . 46,220.89 Pittman-Robertson Matching Fund¢"' ................•.... . .....•..... 139,988.33 $ 259,647.90 Fish Management Administration .................................................... $ Fish Research ................................................... . Warm Water Fish ................................................ . Los Animas ..................................................... . Fishing Cooperative - "52" Fund ................................... . Dingell-Johnson Matching Fund'"* ........•........................... $ 35,711.75 65,440.47 62,190.04 5,381.54 5,937.46 7,907.38 1B2,568.64 **State's Share (25%) of Monthly Billing to the Federal Government on Project Expenditures by t he Federal Aid Division. Low Enforce ment Administration ....•.............................................. $ $ 16,409.11 16,409.11 Administration •....• . .•.•........................................ $ Predat ory Animal Control - "54" Fund •....................... : ..... . 16,042.84 39,739.04 55,781.88 Fur Resources $ 41 �Honheost Reg ion Regionol Gome ond Fish Monager ..•...•.•.•••.••••••.••...••••••••••.• $ 29,923.11 Bonny Dom ••••••..•.......••.........•.••••••••.•••.•••••••••••• 3,576.63 Evergreen •••.•.••................••.•••....•..••••••••....••.•••. 5.00 Mt. Evans ......•.•••.•.•..••..•.•.•••..•.•.•.•......•••.•.••••.• 15,742.12 Parvin Lake ••.•.••....••...•.•.•.•.••.••....•...•••••..•......•.• 3,169.1 7 Loke John .••............•........•...•......•.••...•........... 1,682.50 Tomorack 277.00 Regional Conservotion Officers .•...•......•........•.• • ••....•.......• 206,580.50 Reg ionol Educator ..•...•.•...••...•......•••.•....................•. 9,996.79 Reg ionol Gome Manager ...••...•....•.•..•.......•............•..... 13,483.78 Regional Fish Manager ..•....................•....•..••••......•••..• 9,696.5 1 Regional Fish Biologist .........•.•...•...•...•••.•.•....•......••.. 8,748.57 Deloney Buttes ..................••........•.••....•........•..... 683.58 Hohnholz Reservoir ............••....•..••...............•.....•.•. 80.00 Secmon Reservoir . . . . .... .... ............... .......... .....•..... 3,045.00 2,990.87 Boyd Equollzer Reservoir . . . • . . • . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . .............•... 204.00 Horseshoe Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . ..... , ............................ . 474.94 Jackson Lake ..........................• , ...•........••.....•.•.. North Sterling Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . ....... . 3,403.79 Jumbo Reservoir ..... , . , .....•..........•......................... 1,005.00 Cherry Creek Reservoir . . .•.....•...... ...•....•.•.•..•.....•.•..•. 669.94 Prewitt Reservoir .. , .. Colorado State Forest Lone Tree Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... . Bellvue ..............•.........••...•.•......•................... Denver . . . . . . . . . . . . ...•..•..........••.•..............•.......• Estes Pork . . . . . . . . ....................... • •..•.................. North Fork Thompson ..•....... ....•.....•......... •....•.......... Poudre River ....................................•................ Wolden .•.....•.••...•.•••....• .•• ....•.•......•..•.•••.•.•. Wray .......•.••.•.......•.... • ....•........•••....•.....••..• 2,141.62 250.00 1,376.30 29,865 26 43,227.91 30,604 00 28,937.89 37,928.32 3,074.60 46,542 91 $539,387.61 Northwest Region 26,498.84 222,496.90 8,148.66 12,713.85 20,673.18 1,519 93 Square "S" Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... . 84.00 10,305.97 Regional Fish Manager ....•....•..•......•......•...•............... Regional Fish Biologist ........••....••.......•..............•.•.... 6,995.78 Bel-Aire ................•........•..•........•................... 21,052.54 Crystal River .................................................... . 39,460.25 297 43 Dumont ........•.............. • • • • • • • • • •. • · · · • • • • • • · · · • · · · • Finger Rock ................•.•....•.................••........•.. 38,41658 Glenwood Springs . . . . . . . . ...•...........•...•..........•.•....... 8,279.61 Green Mountain Reservoir ......................................... . 88.16 Hahn's Peak Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • ....•.... 1,370 00 Hort Loke ................................•......•..•.....•••.•.• 69.72 Homestoke Lake ............•.•...•..••....•••.........•....•..... 950.75 Mock Mesa ........•.......•........................ 464 28 Rifle Foils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . • . . . • . . ...... . 180,352.75 Rock Creek ..............•.•......••...........•...•....•.•.•..•. 3,086.42 Trapper's lake • . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . . . • • • . • • • • • . • . • • • •..• .• •. 482 75 Willow Creek . . . . . . • . . . . • . • • . . . . . . . . • . • • . . . . . . . . . • • . . . ...•.... 135.06 Lester Creek . 2,608.05 Williams Fork Reservoir 1,912.74 $ 608,464.20 Regional Gome and Fish Manager .......••......•..... , ..........•...•• $ Regional Conservation Officers .......•. .........•.......••.....•..•••• Reg ionol Educator ..........•........ • ........•....•.•.............•. Reg ional Gome Manager ...••...•....................•.........•...•. Aerial Operations ................................................ . little Hills ....•.........•...............••....................... Southeast Region Regional Regional Regional Regional Gome and Fish Manager .....•....••••...••.•...........••.. $ Conservation Officers ..........•...••..•.•...•.•.•.•.•.•.••• Educator .•.•...•...........••....•.•..••••...•.......••.•. Gome Manager .................•••..•.•.•.........•....... 42 26,685.73 138,17606 9,490.83 11,100.90 �Southeast Region - Continued Apishopa •••.•.•......•.•........••.•..............•.........•... Huerfano ••..•.•..•.........•....•....•........................•. Torryall • . • . • • . • . • . • • . . . • . . . . . . • • . . • • . • . • . . . . . . . . . ...•.......•.. Two Buttes .••.•....•.•.••••...••••••.•.•. •.••.•.....•.••...•.••. Experimental Gome Form .....•••....••..•.•...........•............ Regional Fish Manager •...•.......•....•..•.•••.••..•..•.•••.•••..•.• Regional Fish Biologist ....•..•..••.•••..•.•.•...•.•....••..•...••.. Bueno Vista ........••....•..... • ...•...............•...••••..•••. Chalk Cliffs •..•.•.••.....•.•.•.•...•..•....•.....•.•.......•..... Leadville •••••..••••....••....••.•....•.......................... Mt. Shavano ...•.••..•..•.......•.....•.•.................•...... Rye ...••.•...•.•.•.....•.•••.••..•.••••.•.•.................... Twin Lakes ........•..•....••.••••..•.••.•••.•.•.••..•.•••••.• • •. Ft. Lyon Property .........••..••.•......•....•. , ......•...........• Setchfield Lake ........•...••..••••.••. , •.•.•........•.....•••..•• Mortin Lake ..................•• , ....••....•.......••.....•...... Korvol Lake ............ . .....•.•••...••...................•...... North Lake Reservoir Project ....•••...•..••.••...•..•••.•...••...... Turquoise Lake .••.•...•.•.......•...•.•...•...........•.•••....•. 130.00 346.82 882.69 4,365.48 16,867.18 12,280.70 7,623.44 17,550.50 58,072.61 21,624.33 105,453.21 391.55 466.44 3,495.00 1,103.34 636.00 1,552.80 887.60 403.48 $ 439,586.69 Southwest Region Regional Gome and Fish Manager .....••..•.••.........••••..••..•..... $ 37,612.45 Gunnison .••.....••.•.••.............•..........................• 1,995.22 Lake City •...•....•...•........................................•. ,. 123.33 Regional Conservation Officers .•......•.••..••.•.•......•.......•••...• 217,758.34 Regional Educator ....•...•.....•.•.••....••.•........•.....•........ 8,419.20 Regional Gome Manager ..•••••...•.•.....•..............•.. . ...•.•... 12,264.65 Sego Springs ....•.•.••...•..•...•..•..••...•..•...•.•..•••..•.•.• 716.01 Del Norte •••.................•....•.••••..........•.•.......•.•.• 587.00 Rio Grande Management Area ....•.••.•..•.......•.•.•..•..••....•.• 23.44 Regional Fish Manager •........••.•..••.••...•..•••• •.. •..•.•.•.•.... 17,791.55 Regional Fish Biologist ....•...•...•....•..•..•.••.•.•.•••••........ 9,899.16 26,336.41 Cedaredge •••.•.•...............•...••••.•... . •... •. ..•.•••.....• Chipeto ..••.................•..•....••.••.•..•... • .••..•........ 35,981.68 28,295.19 Dolores •...........................•••.•...............•...•.•... Durango •.......•...•.•..•......••....••..........••••.••••.•.... 39,357.72 Lo Joro .•................•.....•....••.........•.••.•.••.. • ..... 19,496.57 Pitkin .•...•••.•....••...•.......•......••..........•......•.•..• 110,546.48 Rio Grande Rearing Unit ....•.... • .••.•.• •. ...•......•.............. 19,578.24 Williams Lake Creek ..................••........•.•. ••.. .•....•...• 1,525.58 Rito Hondo Lake ..................•..••.••....•••.•......•....•... 4,888.00 Rood Canyon Reservoir .......•.••••..•••........•...•....••.••..•.. 9,701.60 Dowson Creek • . . • . . . . • . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . . . ..•••.••...•.••.••..•. 2,090.62 Calamity Drow . • •.............•......•........•....•...•....•.... 283.12 Spring Creek . . .•.............•......•.........••..••..••......... 1,223.20 Woods Lake .... ..•..... .....•...•.••••..•....•••••••••.•..•••...• 132.00 $ 607,626.76 Insurance Compensat ion for Loss of Capitol Equipment .•..... •••....••.. ...... $ Capitol Equipment Transferred from Other Funds .•.............•.•.•...••.•.• Capitol Equipment Discovered or Revalued •......•.•........•.••.........•..• Gross Soles of Capitol Equipment ...•..•.•... • ........•...•...............• Gross Soles of Land and Buildings ...•..••..•.•••.•.••.••.••...•.•....•.•... Gross Soles of Capitol Equipment -Trade-Ins •••.•.•.•.•.••...... .. ....•••... 9,047.94 114,289 65 2,633.27 68,363.25 26,661.00 24,419.50 $ 245,414.61 SCHEDULE OF OTHER DEDUCTIONS Capitol Equipment Transferred to Other Funds •...•..........•.....•.....••.•. $ Capitol Equipment Lost, Destroyed, Stolen, Strayed or Devalued •..•...•.......... Cost Value of Capitol Equipment Sold ......•...•............... , .........•• Cost Value of Land and Buildings Sold ..••.........•.......•...........•.•.. Cost Value of Capitol Equipment-Traded-In ......••.....•.............•..•. 319.50 46,339 44 192,306.64 71,299.72 48,918.04 $ 359,183.34 43 �BONNY DAM FUND JUNE 30, 1961 ASSETS Cash on Deposit - State Treosurer. • . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • . . , ••••••.........•... $ TOTAl ASSETS . • • • ........•........... $ LIAB I LITIES Accounts Payable .........................................•....•....•... $ Surplus Balancc, June 30, 1960 ............................ $ 1,597 93 1959 60 Encumbrances L1qu1dated during 1960-61 . 617.72 $ 2,215.65 Less Encumbrances Outstanding June 30, 1961 . . . . . . . • . . 220.75 $ 1,994.90 less Net Operating lass as of June 30, 1961 . . . . . . . . • . • 822 44 Adjusted Surplus as of June 30, 1961 . . ........................•..•. TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS........ . ............•.•.. $ Income STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Boat Perm ,ts . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. $ Annual Parking . . . . . . . ......................•.........•.......... Sales- Hay ........................................... . Refunds of Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. . Rents- Land . ......... ....... . . ........•........... TOTAL INCOME . .. ....................•................ $ 1,393.21 1,393.21 220.75 1,172.46 1,393.21 947.00 389.00 716.50 30.00 2,820.74 4 ,903.24 Expenses Wages of laborers ...............•...........•.•.................. $ State's Share to Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . ........... . 2,330.20 Momtcnonce and Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,163.49 2,141.27 5,725.68 822.44'' . ................ . Capital Outlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . TOTAL EXPENSES ........................•....•......... $ NET OF OPERATIONS ...........................•..•..•... $ ''Indicates Red Figures. 90.72 WILLOW CREEK FUND J UNE 30, 1961 A SSETS Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ TOTAL ASSETS . . . . . . ......................•..•••...... $ 462.42 462.42 L I ABILITI E S Surplus: Balance June 30, 1960. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 366.42 Add Net of Operations as of June 30. 1961 . . . • . . . • . . . 96.00 Ad1usted Surplus as of June 30, 1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS ............................ $ 462.42 462.42 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Boat Permits ..... . . ........................... $ Annual Parking ............ . TOTAL INCOME . . . . .. .......................... $ 91.00 5.00 96.00 Income Expenses Maintenance and Operotsion .. . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . .$ TOTAL EXPENSES ..... . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • • • . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . $ NET OF OPERATIONS .......... $ --0---0-96.00 GREEN MOUNTAIN FUND JUNE 30, 1961 ASSETS Cash on Deposit - State Treasurer ... TOTAL ASSETS Surplus ................................$ . ..... . . ................. $ 1,967 56 1,967.56 L I A B I LI T I ES Balance June 30, 1960. .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . $ 1,687.92 Add Net of Operations as of June 30, 1961............ 279.64 Adjusted Surplus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......................•..... $ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS .........•.•....•.•••....••.. $ 1,967.56 1,967.56 44 �STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Income Boot Permits .......•......••......••............................. $ Annual Parking .................................................•. TOTAL INCOME ...................•.......................• $ 461.00 93.00 554.00 Expenses Maintenance and Operation ...•...............•....•........•....... $ TOTAL EXPENSES ....................................•..•... $ NET OF OPERATIONS ...............•..•..................•.. $ 274.36 274.36 279.64 STORES REVOLVING FUND JUNE 30, 1961 ASSETS Cash on Deposit - State T reosurer .....................••...•.............. $ Due from Other Funds: Gome Cash Fund .........................•...•.... $ 2,530.63 Federal Aid Revolving Fund ...................•...... 17.00 Federal Aid Projects Income Fund ...........•......•. 125.80 191 ,002. 97 2,673.43 Inventories: Stores on Hand ................................... $ 56,663.71 Stores ,n Transit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119,407.78 Inventory Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340. 11 * 175,731.38 TOTAL ASSETS ............................................. $ 369,407.78 LIABILITIES Accounts Payable .............................. . ........................ $ 119,407.78 Equity of Game Cash Fund ............................................... . 250,000.00 TOTAL LIABILITIES ..................................... , ... $ 369,407.78 Note: This fund will hove neither income nor expenses and hence, no Statement of Operations. '''indicates Red Figure. FEDERAL AID REVOLVING FUND JUNE 30, 1961 ASSETS Cash on Deposit-State Treasurer ......................................... $ 133,966.80 Pittman- Dinge ll- Rece ivobles: Robertson Johnson Due from Federal Government ...•.... $ 268,808.29 $ 117,174.06 385,982.35 Due from Game Cash Fund .......... . -0--0--0Unbilled Advances: Due from Federal Government ....... . 175,346.89 175,916.39 569.50 Due from Gome Cash Fund .......... . 58,448.97 189.83 58,638.80 Property, Plant and Equipment .............................•............... 2,524,940.78 Estimated Revenues on Projects in Process ................................. , . , 501,307.61 Unallocated Appropriated Funds : New Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 191, 198.82 119,466.02 TOTAL ASSETS ........................................ , .... $3,780,752.73 LIABILITIES Reserve for Encumbrances ......................................... , ...... $ Pittmon- 24,220.83 Dingell- Robertson Johnson Due to Gome Cash Fund ................... $ 4,394.68 $ --04,394.68 Due to Stores Revolving Fund ............ , ...........•....... , , ....•....... 17.00 Equity of Gome Cash Fund ......... , ..................................... . 750,000.00 Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets ....................•..... , ........•.•...... 2,524,940.78 Refunds of Warrants •.............•..•...........................•.• , ..•. 92.61 45 �LIABILITIES - COfttinued Appropriations Available Projects in Process: Total Allotments .................... . 1,364,080.00 251,920.00 Less: Expenditures to Dote ..••....•... 954,967.10 159,725.24 Sub-total ...........•......... 409,112.90 92,194.76 Less: Encumbrances Outstanding ..... . 24,220.83 --0Net: Appropriations Avoiloble ...•.... 384,892.07 477,086.83 92,194.76 Appropriations Available - New Projects: From Antic,poted Revenues ........... . 394,736.05 210,666.02 Less. Current Project Appropriotions ... . 205,600.00 91,200.00 Sub-total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189,136.05 119,466.02 Add: Unused Balance on Completed Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,062.77 --0Net: Appropriations Avoiloble . . . . . . . 191, 198.82 119,466.02 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,780,752.73 FEDERAL AID PROJECTS INCOME ACCOUNT JUNE 30, 1961 ASSETS Cash on Deposit - State T reosurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Property, Plont and Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . TOTAL ASSETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . $ 65,967 23 536.75 66,503.98 LI AB ILI T I E S 1,028.30 Accounts Payable ............................ $ Due to Other Funds: Game Cash Fund .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .............. $ I 09.05 Stores Revolving Fund . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • 125.80 Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets ......••...................•............... Surplus. Balance June 30, 1960.. . ..........................$ 48,594.99 Add Net of Operations as of June 30, 1961 . . . . . • . • . . . . . . . 17,137.39 $ 65,732.38 Less Current Year's Encumbrances . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . . . . . . 1,028.30 Adjusted Surplus . . . . ...........................•................... TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • . , ....... $ 234.85 536.75 64,704.08 66,503.98 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Incom e Rents on Lands ..................................................... $ Sole of Form Products ....................•......•............. , ..... Annual Parking Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . Sole of Equipment ......... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . .....•.. Troctor Rental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. . Sole of Buildings ........................ . , . . . . ......•..••.•....•... TOTAL INCOME .•.............•• , ...•..•..•...•. , .•. , . . . . $ Expenses Salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $ Maintenance and Operation . . . . . . . . . • . . , . . . .....•............... Supplies and Materials . . . . . . .. , . . . . . . . . . . . ........ . Retirement 16,197.50 6,459.84 4,699.00 100.00 240.00 611.00 28,307.34 3,614.56 2,020.07 2,982.41 30.22 713.60 9'1.50 1,71'1.59 11,169.95 17,137.39 ....................................................... . Rent . . . . . . . . . . • . . •.•. , . , .... , . • •, • • • • · · • · · • · · · • • · · · · · · · · • · · · · · · · Travel Taxes ..................$ TOTAL EXPENSES ...•....... , NET OF OPERATIONS .... , •.. . . . . . . .•.•.................. $ SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT FEDERAL AID REVOLVING FUND JUNE 30, 1961 Form and Gorden Equipment . . . .............. , ...........•. , .•......... , $ General Plant Equipment . . . . .............................•.............. Household Furniture and Equipment ...... , . , ........... , .................. . 46 27,858.19 42,'175.87 9,155.76 �SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY - Continued Laboratory Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . 4,658.51 Library and Instructional Equipment . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . 2,212.59 Motor Vehicles, Equipment and Air Equipment. . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,140.81 Office Furniture and Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . 14,900.52 Recreation Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0-Shop Machinery and Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . • • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . 3,684.06 Comping Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . 8,417.93 Buildings ond Improvements to Buildings ........................... ......... 497,062.31 Lond and Non-Structural Improvements to Lond .............................. 2,372,021.16 TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 1100% J •••••••.•••••••••••. $3,366,567.71 Distribution : Gome Cash Fund - 25 % ........................................ $ 841,646.93 Federal Aid Revolving Fund - 75% ................................ 2,524,940.78 $3,366,587.71 Note: At the time expenditures ore mode for items of o "Capitol Outlay" nature, they ore charged to project accounts on the Federal Aid Revolving Fund accounts. They ore later billed 25% to the Deportment of Gome ond Fish and 75% to the Federal Government. Thus when a roject is completed and payment Is received in the above proportions, the project Is closed, eoving no record of property, plant and equipment items . So the above memorandum accounts hove been set up to keep o record thereof because, while the Federal Government's manual soys the properties ocutolly belong to the Deportment of Gome and Fish, their use is restricted to Federal Aid projects only. Thus, any property to be used exclusively on Deportment projects must be purchased from Federal Aid ot the current book values. r. COLORADO CONSERVATION FUND JUNE 30, 1961 ASS E TS Cash on Deposit - State T reosurer .......................•.•............... $ TOTAL ASSETS ..............................•.............. $ 47,355.62 47,355.62 LIABIL I TIES Accounts Payable ....................................................... $ Subscriptions Poid In Advance . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... .. 500.00 28,465.53 Surplus: Balance June 30, 1960..........................•..... $ Less Encumbrances Outstanding June 30, 1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,090.45 500.00 $ 13,590.45 Add Net of Operations as of June 30, 1961 . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . 4,799.64 Adjusted Surplus as of June 30, 1961 ...........•....................... TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS .................••.......... $ Income 18,390.09 47,355.62 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Subscriptions Earned ............................................•.... $ TOTAL INCOME ...•.. . . .•.... .•... ..•................... ... $ 29,506.33 29,506.33 Expense Miscellaneous Operating .........•...............................•. , .. $ Printing ...................•.•.....•.•..................•••.•...... Postage .................•.......•.......................•......... Supplies ... . .......................... ........ ...... .. .........••.. TOTAL EXPENSE ............................•............... $ NET OF OPERATIONS ....................................... $ 155.00 21,824.49 2,520.00 207.20 24,706.69 4,799.64 CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION FUND JUNE 30, 1961 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash on Deposit - State Treasurer ..................................... $ 96,084.80 OTHER ASSETS Appropriation Due from Gome Cash Fund .. ............................. 2,635,791.56 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Land and Non-Structural Improvements to Land. . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000.00 TOTAL ASSETS ............................................. $2,737,876.36 CURRENT LIABILITIES LIABILITIES Reserve for Encumbrances ............................................ $ 47 l02,084.80 �BUDGETARY AND OTHER FUND OBLIGATIONS Construction Allotment from 1960-61 Appropriation: Hatchery Building Mt Shavano ..••.•...• •• ..•••••• $ Lester Creek Lake •.....•..•....•••••••.••.•••••. 49,400.00 110,000.00 Construction Allotment from 1961-62 Appropriation: Mortin Lake ot Walsenburg . . . . . • . • . . ••. •. •. •. 11,387.76 Improvements to Rifle Hatchery end Rearing Station... 9,000.00 Improvements to Two Buttes Reservoir . . . • • • . . . . • • . . 6,000.00 Idaho Springs Check Station . . • • • . . . . • . . • • . . • . • . • . 6,727.04 Expenditures-Cash Items- Capital Outley ....•.•...........•. Encumbrances - Capitol Outley . . . . . . . . . . . ......•.................... 222,514.80 6,000.00~ 102,084.8~ $ 216,514.80 RESERVES AND SURPLUS Restricted Reserve from 1960-61 Appropriation: Rock Creek Lake . . .................•. $ North Sterling Reservoir Lend . . . . ...•.....•...... M II !er-Spahn Land .. , , . , . , , . , , . , .. , . , , ... , , .•.... Miscellaneous Small Pro1ects .. , .......• Restricted Reserve from 1961-62 Appropriation: Cal1forn10 Pork, Dawson Creek, Lake John Addition, Ted Off Reservoir, Fish Creek Reservoir and Colom1ty Drow Reservoir Land Acquisition Beaver Lake Improvements Nor-th Lake Reservoir Improvements ...•........... Wray , .. , . , . . . . . . , , . . . ••..••.... , . North Fork Big Thompson River ........• , • , .••..... Durango Hatchery . , . . , ...... , . • • , ..... , .. Big Beaver - White River ........... . . . . . . . . . . . . . Johnny Johnson Reservoir at Meeker, . , , . , •. , .... , . , Martin Lake at Walsenburg , . , .. , , , . , , •• , ••..•.... Ft, Collins Grovel Pit .. , .................•••.•..•• So. Piette River Bottom land .... , , .... , , .•...••.•• Mt. Shavano Hatchery .... , ..............•..•••.. Lake Irwin .............. , ... , . . . . . . . . . , ....••. Big Meadows .... , , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Purchase of Additional Land and Water for Bellvue Hatchery . . . . . . , • . . . . .. , •. , .....•.. Improvements to Ted Off Reservoir .. , .. , .......... . Improvements to Ramah Dom Reservoir ............ . Improvements to Lake John . . . .. , ... , ... , . , , . , .. . Improvements to Dawson Creek Reservoir ........... . Improvements to Beaver Lake . . . . .••..... , Improvements to California Pork Reservoir .......... . Improvements to Fish Creek Reservoir . . . , ......... . Improvements to Porter Creek Reservoir ............ . Improvements to Yeoman Pork Reservoir . . . ....... . Improvements to Snowdon Creek Lokc .. , ........... , Improvements to Las Animas Rearing Station ........• Improvements to Walden lake . , .. , . , , ....•. , , , . , .. Improvements to Calamity Drow Reservoir .. Improvements to Upper Stillwater Reservoir .. , .... , •. Improvements to Upper Piedra . . . .........•.• Improvements to Taylor Pork Reservoir . . . . , . , .•.. Improvements to Spring Creek Reservoir Dam Purchase of the Cory Trout Form ....... , .•..••..... Purchase of land ot Twin Lakes .. , . . . . . , .....•... Chalk Cliffs Diversion Structure and Pipeline ... Purchase of Beaver Lake and Crystal River Easement Miscellaneous Small Projects ........... , .... , ... , .. Contingency for Any or Ali at the Above-Listed Projects ......... , , , , .......... , , , ........ . . 310,000.00 10,000,00 50,000.00 37,672.00 166,250.00 22,800.00 86,450.00 23,750.00 44,650.00 22,800,00 190,000.00 166,250.00 49,013,60 5,700.00 3,325.00 14,250 00 38,000.00 133,000.00 3,000.00 19,000.00 61,750.00 66,500.00 23,750.00 4,968.00 95,000.00 8 I ,358.00 23,750.00 45,885.00 23,750,00 17,575.00 19,000.00 44,650.00 28,500.00 89,965.00 123,500.00 6,500.00 42,750.00 23,750.00 19,000.00 22,230.00 144,448.96 110,871.00 $2,515,361.56 6,000.00 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS ............ , ..........•... , ... $2,737,876.36 Surplus Invested in Fixed Assets ... , ....... , ... , .• , • . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . *Indicates Red Figures. 48 �Operation Respect Courtesy + Understonding Respect J NCREASED hunting and fishing pressure means more posting of lands. Increased posting means problems between those who use the land for recreation and those who use it as a basis for their livelihood. "Operation Respect, The Sportsman and Landowner Association of Colorado" was organized to solve these problems. Such an organization has been discussed for a number of years and community programs have been initiated in several counties. It is the goal of "Operation Respect" to maintain a common ground of mutual respect and cooperation. To carry out the "Operation Respect" program the participating groups organized as a non-profit corporation - "Operation Respect, The Sportsman and Landowner Association of Colorado," with a democratic structure. The actively participating groups in this program are represented on its board of trustees and by its officers. They are from a cross section of Colorado's public. All are dedicated to the purposes and principles of "Operation Respect," as set forth in its slogan, "Courtesy + understanding = respect." They are: President: Edw. H. Hilliard, Jr., Colo. rado Conservation Council; Vice-president: Charles A. Davlin, Coloradoans for Sound Government; Secretary: C. D. Tolman; Treasurer: Herb Hockstrasser, Colorado Wildlife Federation. The board of trustees is: Lloyd Eichler, Farm Bureau; Orris Albertson, Colorado Cattleman's Association; Henry Christensen, Colorado State Grange; Robert W. Field, Colorado State Wool Growers Association; Edw. W. Hilliard, Jr., and A. P. (Gus) Hann, Izaak Walton League; Herb Hockstrasser and Harry Sims of the Colorado Wildlife Federation; Ed. R. Nelson, representing labor unions (AF of L and CIO) ; Clarence A. Foster, Soil Conservation Districts; Charles A. Davlin and Fritz Snyder, Colorado County Commissioners Association. The project already under way is the "ASK" program, a posting program built around an orange sign with the word "ASK" and a courtesy card which will be given out by the landowners to the hunter or fisherman when he asks for permission to pursue his sport on private land. Other projects are t.o furnish and empty trash barrels and picking up litter on public lands. All programs are self-disciplined, self-supported and on a local basis, and are designed to work with all natural resource management agencies to further the recreational use of private and public lands. If you are interested in more information write to: "Operation Respect, The Sportsman and Landowner Association of Colorado," Box 720, Denver 1. This report is a publica.t.ion of tbe Colorado Game and Fiab Department, 1630 Sherman Street, Denver, baa been printed for free public distribution by the department's Information and Education Divialon. Credits: Editing and Layout - Pete Han11Son, Charles HJelte; Photography- George D. Andrews; Artwork - BiJJ Lee; Printing - The A. B. Hirschfeld Press of Denver. �Fishing 1950 296,538 449,057 ~ ~ Big Game 1950 1960 125,005 207,051 Small Game 1950 1960 153,930 177,779 � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/2dc7ab6d2c789a067ff7836b2bbbcf3d.pdf 00f05422184eb9589df3ad85f76d2b93 PDF Text Text A 65-Year History of the Colorado Game and Fish Department �A 65-Year History of the Colorado Game and Fish Department 19611ANNllU REPORf OF THE COLORADO GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT CONTENTS Page Letter of Transm ittal . . ...... , ............ . ...... . . , 1 Director's Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 A Look B~ck . . . . . . . . . • . .. .. . .. ....... ........ .. 4 The T erritorial Government . . . . . . . . , .•... . ...... .... , Statehood - and a Fish Commissioner . .... . ... , . . . . . . . . 7 The Turn of the Centu ry . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... .. ....... 16 The Roaring 20s - and the ', Os . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . • 24 The 1940s - Years of Prog r~s . . . . .. . . ...... .. ...... 30 Highlights of the 50s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . ....•. 32 A Look Ahead . . . . . . ..... . . . .................... . 34 Histurical Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . , • . . . . . . . . . . 36 AnnuaJ Report for L96! _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •.. , .... The G:ime anJ Fish Commission . . . . • ... , . . . ......... 50 Department Orgaruzation . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ }2 }.{anagemenl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 53 ,o Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . ...•.. 57 Land Acqu isition and Dev elopment ...... . ....... . ... , .. ,9 lnforrnJr ion and Education ............•.... , . , . . . , .. 60 Business Adm inistration . . .............. , ......... , •. 61 Dtpartrnent Personnel . . . . . . . . . . • , ......... , .....• . 62 �--- COMMISSION STEVE MCNICHOLS, P11 Griffin GOYClltHOl't - Ralph L White STATE OF COLORADO Potb<Soolw DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH R oy £di" Aug1.11fut P H&nn 1530 SHERMAN ST., DENVER 1 Melvern Rerifrow W R "Bob" Hen,Mdn Morlholl H,q,e. - Horry R W-'ward September 1, 1962 The Honorable Stephen L. R. McNichols Governor of Colorado State Capitol Building Denver, Colorado Dear Governor McNlchola: We are proud to present the annual report of operations of the Colorado Game and Fish Department for the calendar year 1961. At the same time, this annual report is in the form of a history of the operations of the Colorado Game and Fish Department. Sixtyfive years ago, this Department was created through an act of the Legislature. Since that time, It has grown, matured, accepted increasing responsibilities in the game and fish field and has made Colorado the leading state in hunting and fishing opportunity and economy. It is fitting and proper, therefore, that the annual report on this import ant anniversary date should contain the first recorded, complete history of the Department . • . an accounting of 65 years of game and fish wildlife management in Colorado. The resume of Department operations in 1961 is presented on a calendar year basis. The fiscal year financial accounting will be presented in a separate publication in the fall of this year. / Pat Griffin, r Colorado Game and Fish Commission �Director's Statement JNthe life of any organization there comes a The Game Management, Fish Management and Research divisions are and will be hardpressed to keep these resources ahead of the steadily increasing numbers of people who make demands upon them. Through lessons learned in the past and through research mto the methods for the future, the Colorado Game and Fish Department hopes to protect the state's game and fish resources so that even larger future generations may enjoy all phases of the outdoors. It is to accomplish this aim that we now pause, and while probing into the future, look back and take stock of the knowledge we have gained. For the first time, a complete history of the Colorado Game and Fish Department has been recorded. For the f mt time, all the names, events, milestones and statistics have been gathered, edited and published. Dunng these first 65 years, the Department has had a colorful history, covering the early days of a one-man operation, the manpower shortages of the war years, the money shortages time when it must pause for a moment, look at the past, study its development and progress, and understand the lessons learned through past experience, in order to intelligently plan for the future and carry on day to day operations For the Colorado Game and Fish Department, 1962 1s such a time, for 65 years ago the Colorado Legislature created this department. From this meager beginning, the Colorado Game and Fish Department has grown into a five million dollar operation which is responsible for the addition of more than one hundred million dollars a year to the state's economy, the amount spent m Colorado in 1961 by sportsmen exclusive of fees paid for licenses. In 1961, there were more hunters and fishermen enioying Colorado's game and fish than ever before. The harvest of deer and elk set state records, and was among the highest m the nation. More fish were stocked in Colorado waters than ever before. The population explosion has hit Colorado's game and fish resources. 2 �Horry R. Woodward of the depression years and the present days of the population explosion. Many famous and honored names will be found in this department history along with other names less famous but equally honored. Many events are recorded that are well known to historians and many events not so well known but important in their own right will be found here, too. Chronicled within this history are the accomplishments of: ... the early day fieldman who covered many thousands of square miles in his district, herding elk out of haystacks in sub-zero weather on winter nights, conducting a constant battle of wits with the skillful poacher, working for little pay but reaping a large reward in the satisfaction realized from a job well done. ... the directors who guided the department in difficult times, answerable to the State legislature, sportsmen and their own consciences, doing their best to assure that the game and fish would survive and thrive so future generations could enjoy hunting and fishing in Colorado. ... the members of the comrruss1on, since 1937 guiding the policies of the department, dedicated men laboring for no pay, representing at one and the same time their home districts and the whole state, with responsibilties way out of proportion to their intangible rewards. All these people, the problems and victories they experienced, the events they lived through, all these are the history of the Colorado Game and Fish Department. And to all these people, this memorable and historically-oriented annual report is dedicated in recognition of their invaluable contributions through the years. Without them, there would not be a history of outstanding game and fish management in Colorado - indeed there would not be a history of a successful Colorado Game and Fish Department. Director 3 �A 65-Year History of the Colorado Game and Fish Department By GEORGE FEL1NER JNthe biennial report of the Game and Fish Depart- immediately folloll'ed my trail. Upon right of me the; began firing. I u•a.r .rho/ in the le ft s11/e. the bullet shalleri11g a portion of the se1•e111h nb. 117 hi/e the u·o1111d u·as pamful, it was not 1er1011s and I u•as st,// able lo clmg lo mJ horse. Their f,re was rel11med b; me, b111 l/'1/h rl'hal reJ1dl1 I do 1101 know. "Later, my horse u·as shot 0111 from 1111del' me, and I 11 as compelled to .1eek shelter in the brush. The lou of blood from the 11•01md began lo le// 11po11 my strength b; this t11ne, and I was forred to be down. "At daylight, I made my way back lo Rangely and, aftff al/e11d111g lo Ill) u·o1111d, asked for l'olunteers to go u•,th me to the scene of the enco1111ter for the ment for 1901-02, submitted to Governor James B. Orman by Game and Fish Commissioner Charles N. Harris, the following passage is found: "This year, upon teaming that the Indians U'ere a1;ai11 makmg their appearance, l dectded lo vi1il their ramps III J1er.ro11 u·1!h !he 1•1el/' of pers11admg them to go bark peace/ully. I enro1111/ered a number of them al G1'/e11 Draw III Rio Bl,mro Co11nl; al about 10 o'clock III the forenoon of October 6. After theJ had teamed 111) b11.r111er.1 ll'ilh them. they agreed lo 1;0 bfHk to the re.ren·a/1011. It see111.r, hou·el'er, 1111/ead of ret11mmg, they foN11d another band in the 1 ici111ty and 1 1 ' ~ ~ -=----.. -===-~ -- .-, -= - -~ ,· I'/ 4 -=-==.... ~-~~~~-~-~~·· ~ -=--- ""'"-- .,,- �purpou of gelling mJ saddle and bridle. Some ollzem of Rangel) informed me that theJ 'had 1011 110 Indians' and I found 0111) one man, F S Cm11k, tl'ho u·,u u•,lling to go u·,th me. ''After 1ec1m11g the Jaddle and bridle, U'e learned from a number of cou·boJJ u·hom tl'e met that the /11dia111 tare 011 therr u•ay back lo the re1ervat1011 '' The duties of the director of the Colorado Game and Fish Department no longer involve such hazardous personal risk and the department in the intervening years has grown from a fledgling operation to its present status. The span of time from the first to this 65th year of department operations has seen many great advances made in game and fish management in Colorado. But everything must have a starting point, and for the Colorado Game and Fish Department, that starting point was in 1897 when the Eleventh General Assembly passed the following Session Law: ··section I. The department of Forestry, Game and Fish is hereby created. Immediately upon the passage of this Act, and ever, two years thereafter, the Governor of this State shall. by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint some person skilled in matters relating to forestry, game and fish to be State forest, Game and Fish Commissioner who shall be the head of said department . . . all such appointments shall expire on February first. Said Commissioner shall recei\·e $1200 per annum, payable monthly ... $500 traveling expense." This, then, was the official beginning of the Colorado Game and Fish Department and in the following pages, its history is recounted. To find the first inklings of concern for wildlife expressed by a government of Colorado, we must go back to the beginning ... the year 1861. The Territorial Government COLORADO did not become a state until 1876. Pnor to this time, the territory was governed by a territorial governor and a territorial assembly. The first assembly met in 1861. In the mountainous stack of work undertaken by the first Territorial Assembly there was one act concerning "the protection of trout fish." Section 1 of that act stipulated that "all persons are hereby forbidden to take trout from any waters of this Territory by means of seine, net, basket or trap... Section 2 warned that ..any and all persons being identified in setting or using any seine, net, basket, or trap or causing the same to be done in any streams or waters m said Territory which abound in trout shall be deemed guilty of a violation of the provisions of the foregoing section of this act." Consequences for such wrongdoing were set forth in section 3, "That any and all persons upon being convicted of violating the provisions of this act, before any court of competent jurisdiction in that county where said offense was committed, shall pay a fine of not less than $25 and not exceeding $50 for each offense, one-half of such fine to be paid over to the complaining witness and the other half into the treasury of the county in which such offense was committed." With those teeth set in the law, the lawmakers sharpened them in section 4, "That every day in which such basket, trap, seine or net stands, or is set, in any of the waters described in section 2 of this act, shall constitute a separate offense ... Added to this was the warning in section 5, "No property belonging to or owned by any person convicted of violating the provisions of this act or any one of them shall be exempt from execution issued for the purpose of collecting the amount of penalty." Section 6 declared that 'This act shall take effect and be m force from and after its passage." It was approved November 6, 1861. But no limits or seasons were set and nothing was said about the taking of game animals and birds. No thought was given to any department bearing even the slightest resemblance to the Department of Game and Fish when the first Territorial Legislature met. There were, m those early days, "An Act to Prevent the Sale of Intoxicating Liquor to Soldiers," and another ..to change the name of James Lee Longbottom." But there was no provision for even one individual to attempt to slow down the ruthless slaughter of wild game in the new territory. Family life was practically unknown on this frontier in the 1860s as Territorial Governor William Gilpin's statement would infer. He said, "The predomi11a11ce m 11111nber1 of male cit1ze111 oi·er female1 a11d childre11 iI a f,1ct 10 remarkable a1 to haze 110 recorded precede11t i11 all) new 10ciel) volrmtarilJ planted and pe,-pet11ated in the wild11e11." Hunting would therefore have been a welcome diversion as well as a necessity in a land where wild meat had to augment the sometimes meager supplies of beef, pork, lamb and mutton. Pioneers, a term which included every white person 5 �in the territory, had always lived off the land to a certain extent. To most people it seemed quite natural and not the least wasteful to kill an antelope, deer or elk just for the hindquarters, or perhaps for just a large roast. In fact, many a country housewife in her husband's absence bagged meat for the family whenever a luckless deer, antelope, wild turkey or other game wandered into the vicinity of the home. Butchers, too, contributed to the depletion of game. Thinking of little but their margin of profit, many of them were ready sources of cash for the market hunter who was totally without conscience where bag limits or methods of obtaining game or fish were concerned. To make any money at all market hunters had to kill game by the wagonload when game furred, finned or feathered - sold for as Iittle as two cents a pound over the retailers' counters. Market hunters also met the heavy demands made by the earl; railroad builders whose large crews were laying tracks across the plains and into the mountains. True sportsmen and far-seeing, conservationminded citizens were appalled at the unrestricted slaughter of wild game. Partly to appease these people and also because some of the territorial lawmakers were concerned, some laws pertaining to wildlife resources were passed. Strangely enough, all interest seemed to center on the fish of the territory rather than on both fish and game animals. Local peace officers were expected to enforce these laws, which they d,d grudgingly, ,fat all. Game law violators in those days operated within a short radius of their homes and were usually friends of the sheriffs, deputies and constables. Naturally, there was little desire on the part of the officers to punish their friends for such insignificant infractions as shooting a game animal or seining fish for their tables. Attempts to enforce the loosely constructed laws of territorial days met with varying degrees of success - usually very little. The slaughter of game and fish continued. In 1870, the 8th session of the Territorial Assembly passed an act against taking fish by using "any poisonous, deleterious or stupefying drug or explosive substances." Another section of the act specified that "Any person, company or corporation maintaining or keeping up any dam, weir, or other artificial obstruction upon any stream in Lake or Park counties, shall erect and keep up ... a sufficient sluice or fish way for the free passage of fish up and down the stream." A fine of not less than $ I 00 nor more than $300 was imposed on violators. Hunting of quail was stopped by another act which closed the season until the first day of October, 1873. Thereafter, it would be unlawful to hunt quail or have dead quail in possession between January I and October 1 of each and every year. This seems to have been the beginning of the passage, amending or repealing of a variety of game and fish laws. One commissioner, at a later date, was to despair O\'er the fact that one legislature would approve new laws or amendments and the next one would repeal them. Territorial Governor Edward M. McCook, was one of the early-day advocates of laws against the unrestricted slaughter of wild game. Addressing the opening of the Territorial Assembly, January 3, 1872, McCook said: "Be/ ore clomzg my message, I denre lo say a word in faio,- of protecting our game birds, beasts and fishes - ail of which are being 6 �Insectivorous birds, it was discovered, were an important asset in the scheme of things. In 1874 this act was slightly amended for the protection of the quail and Virginia partridge (probably the bob white) stating that no person could kill any of these birds within a period of four years after the passage of the act. After that, quail and Virginia partridges could be hunted from October 1 through November 30 of each year. Anyone found guilty of violating this law would be subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $100. Half of the fine was paid to the informer, and half of it was placed in the school fund. It is quite possible that many a ful l fine went into the school fund because the informers, in many instances, may not have wanted to expose themselves to the wrath of the game law violators. Section 7 of the act stated, "Informers shall not be excluded by reason of interest from giving testimony in any case which may be brought under the provisions of this act." By 1876, as the livestock industry grew, bounties were p laced on wolves and coyotes by the 11th Territorial Assembly. Fifty cents was paid for each wolf or coyote scalp with ears attached. Game laws were repealed, amended and new ones passed by each assembly. Some carried the escape clause: "It shall be unlawful for any person at any other time than that specified in the preceding section ( designating open seasons) to kill, destroy or have in possession, any animal named m the foregoing section for any purpose or under any pretext whatsoever, except for food, and only when necessary for immediate use, governed in amount and quantity by the reasonable necessities of the person or persons killing the animal." u•a.rtefu//y destroyed, both in and out of season; and unleu some law is paued inflicting such sei•ere penalties aJ u·i/1 stop thir 11seleJJ and prtileJI de1tr11ction, the buffalo, elk, deer, antelope and tro11t wr/1 10011 become extinct, and Colorado be robbed of one among the 111<111; a/lractrom 1he toda) po1seJJeJ I have heard persons uho oppo1e the paJJage of a game law say that J11ch an enactment 1t·o11ld be rueleu beca111e the s,.ll'age u·or,ld slaughter the game th111 protected. But thtI a.rsertion is not borne 0111 by facts; on the contrary, the Indian entirely lacks this one particular, the u•aste/111 auelt) and rmsportsma11lrke allrtb11tes u·hrch 1eem to characterize the profeJJional hunter and the orthodox tourist." That year the Assembly passed an "act for the protection of wild game in the Territory of Colorado." The act protected a number of birds and animals. At this time fines ranging from not less than $2 nor more than $10 could be imposed for each grouse or prairie chicken, wild goose, wild duck, curlew, snipe, plover, lark, dove, wh ippoorwill, f inch, th rush, sparrow, wren, snowbird, martin, swallow, woodpecker, bobolink, starling or robin, unlawfully taken, killed or destroyed; $10 for each wild turkey and $25 for each buffalo, elk, deer, mountain (bighorn) sheep, antelope or fawn. Possession of carcasses of any of the above would be considered prrma facie evidence of having killed the game. In the act passed in 1872, orioles, fly-catchers and ravens were included in the protected list. It is no surprise to find this law in the books. In 1866 grasshoppers by the tens of millions had swept over a vast portion of Colorado to such an extent that in some areas surplus army clothing and even food for man and livestock had to be provided by the government. Statehood - and a Fish Commissioner rado by Governor John L. Routt in March 1877. Sisty applied himself vigorously to learning everything about fish culture. His early reports reveal his problems with fish hatching and rearing; with lumbermen stream-pollutors, fish law violators and uncooperative law enforcement officers. A closed season extending from December through June of the succeeding year was passed by this Legislature, as was an "act for the protection of wild game and insectivorous birds." Only grouse could be taken and those only from October l to November 15. No bag or possession limits were provided. Partiality, as in previous laws and in many of those to come, was shown the fish of the state. Penalties ranging from $5 to $50 were injected into the act COLORADO attained statehood in 1876 and in the first state Legislature appointed a "Fish Commissioner." Seemingly, the new position was considered so insignificant that it was not listed with other commissioners in early legislative reports, as far as could be discovered. Compensation for the new commissioner was to be only for time "actually engaged in service of the state," not exceeding "in any one year $100 and such expenses as may be incident to proper care and distribution of such fish into the possession of the state, but not to exceed $100 therefor." Wilson E. Sisty, mining man, businessman, rancher, of Brookvale (which he founded), above Evergreen was chosen first Fish Commissioner of Colo7 �$2650 was appropriated for the purchase of grounds and the erection of buildings thereon for the purpose of a fish hatchery. An act had also been signed which created a board which included a Governor, whose duty it was "to select and purchase a suitable site for the location of a state establishment for the breeding and propagation of the better class of food fish." Sisty's 1881-83 biennial report to the governor stated that several sites were inspected. A plot of 11 acres "eight and a half miles from Denver" was chosen. This was the site of the state's first hatchery. It is still in operation today. In November of the year 1881, the work of erecting the hatchery was begun and in the middle of December of the same year the first lot of ova, consisting of a hundred thousand eastern brook trout eggs, was received from Plymouth, Massachusetts, and placed in the hatching troughs. Sisty's record of the progress of pisciculture (which by the typesetter's design or error was spelled "pisiculture") for two years, contained this added information: "Fish culture has been in 110 sen.re experimental for a number of Jears. It has reached the dignity of a science. Given certain materials and certain co11d1tio11s, there ,s an absolute assurance of rewlts which may be co11fide11!ly predicted." He reported that 99.2 per cent of the eggs planted in the new hatchery during December 1881, had hatched. In April 1882, 240,000 of the little fish were distributed to the various streams of the state and 40,000 were sold to individuals. It is not difficult to imagine what happened to the majority of the nearly quarter of a million little trout in the rough waters of Colorado's streams. In November 1882, Sisty received 20 mirror carp from Professor Spencer F. Baird, U. S. Fish Commis- prohibiting takiug fish by other than hook and line. Specimens for taxidermists to mount could be taken at any time. For some strange reason, this profession was exempted when it came to killing any species of game and mounting them for museums or exhibits. It may have been so these people could preserve enough of the variety of wildlife in this area to show posterity what had existed in Colorado in the way of wildlife before all of it had been exterminated. Hunting within an enclosure without the owner's consent was made illegal. This law also was to be enforced by all county commissioners, sheriffs and constables, and violators were subject to fines of $25 to $100. Two years later, in the General Assembly of 1879, Governor Frederick W. Pitkin signed a law which restricted the fish commissioner to "the sum of $1000 in any one year to ship and distribute fish, fry or ova in his discharge of duty and must distribute fish in an equitable manner to different portions of the state." It became illegal to take, have or possess trout or other food fishes taken or killed in the public waters of the state during the months of December through June. Not long afterward the governor signed another law, "An Act Making the Stealing of a Dog a Felony." Dumb animals were not being altogether overlooked. During 1878 a number of fish law violators apprehended by Sisty were fined $50 each but appealed to another court where the fines were sustained. This encouraged Sisty and discouraged the wrongdoers. Going to Sandusky, Ohio, Sisty bought 459 bass which were brought to Colorado with a loss of but one fish. The bass were planted in a variety of lakes from Fort Collins down to Cucharas. During the Third General Assembly, a sum of 8 �sioner. Sisty conjectured that the carp did not spawn that year because they were moved from one pond to another too often. Ponds were maintained at the hatchery for spawning purposes, but there is no record of rearing ponds at this period. Fry had scarcely absorbed the egg sac before they were put in lakes and streams to fend as best they could. Sisty also received 41 black bass from eastern Kansas and 100 "croppy" which were placed in a lake formed by the springs on the hatchery grounds. Dynamiting ot fish waters continued as Sisty's comments indicate: "Explosfres are not only cr11el and barbarous, but they work a i·ery 1erio111 m;ury to the fish interests of the Stale." It must be remembered that no "department" had yet been created, only the "position" of Fish Comm1ss10ner. The duties of the commissioner were beginning to expand, at least in the fish raising field, but still no department, as such, existed. He was given the authority to appoint deputy commissioners throughout the state, who were clothed with full power and authority to enforce the fish laws. (No mention of game laws.) "This they hai·e done," reported Sisty, "but in spite of the clousJ watch there are strll many t•iolatiom of the laws." For the salary of the commissioner and general expenses of maintaining the hatchery, paying for ova, etc., the sum of $3500 was appropriated for the first year and $3000 for the second. In winding up his report, Sisty proposed, "/ would suggest that the approprialton for the hatchery be placed al $3.500 a year. The 111cce11 which has attended ii thu1 far ha1 been 10 great that i11 u1ef11lne11 can no longer be questioned. Thi1 u1ef11/neu should be extended." He also mentioned, "A horse and wagon 1hould be p,mhased for the uu of the hatchery: ii will be a measure of economy." Sisty seems to have done well in this term. By law he could draw a salary of only $500 per annum and his expenses could not exceed another $500. This money was drawn out of the general fond. Further income was to be derived from fines, half of which would still go to the informers, but the other half, instead of going to the county treasurer for school funds, was to go to the state treasurer for the fish commissioner's use. To actively administer the resource, the fish commissioner was given the authority to appoint a superintendent of hatcheries at a salary of $1000 per annum, twice that of the commissioner. In the biennial report of 1883-1884, Sisty appealed for funds to enlarge hatchery facilities •and here history begins to repeat itself. He claimed that the demand was far in excess of the hatchery's ability to produce fish for lakes and streams. State waters received plantings of 472,000 fish 9 and 127,000 were sold to owners of private ponds. At $4 per 1000, 60,000 fish brought $240; 61,000 at $3.50 per 1000 brought $213.50; and 700 pounds at 60 cents per pound brought $420. The superintendent of the hatchery disbursed another $23 7 worth for a total credit to the state of $636. "In c/01ing," Sisty wrote, "/ would 1ugge1J that as the f i1h commiJJioner 11 the only J/ale offteer who ha1 110 office al the Stale Houu, that q11arler1 be provided for him." This may be taken as an indication of what people thought of conservation when the commissioner was not accorded the courtesy of a small office in the State House. Sisty had served under three governors, Routt, Pitkin and James B. Grant. His successor, John Pierce, served under Governor B. H. Eaton during 1885 and 1886. In a report, Pierce said 300,000 brook trout, 20,000 rainbow, 10,000 lake and 8000 land-locked salmon were hatched during 1886. He pointed out that a trout cost the state one cent to hatch and put in the water. At the age of one year that fish would increase in value to 10 cents, and that there would be a 10 cent yearly increase in its value until four years old or until caught. Fishermen would leave the state with about $150,000 in its till while the market value of the fish caught during the season would not be far from $60,000. The amount left by fishemen would be for tackle, clothing, meals, transportation, but not fishing licenses. They had not yet come into use. Compare that $150,· 000 figure with the millions of dollars spent annually by today's fishermen. Because of dynamiting, the fish commissioner stated, "Only one fi1h in 10,000 can be recoi•ered. Under thiI state of thmgI the commiuioner ha1 put young trout only in such stremm as he was aJJured by the people in the local,ty wo11ld be protected from illegal depredatiom, and the ocmrrence of a 1ingle blast of d;namite in any stream has been comidered mff1cienJ cause to refuu the slockmg of the Jlream." At this period fish protective associations were formed, and Pierce reported, "They hai·e done more lo protect the tro11/ than all other mea,u." Various fish were described in Pierce's biennial report. Among them were the Twin Lakes trout and the orange trout. Twin Lakes trout were described as yellow in color with yellowish flesh, otherwise like the black speckled trout found in all mountain lakes and streams. It grew to a weight of 10 pounds and spawned before the ice on the lake had melted, probably in March or April. The fish were found nowhere but in Twin Lakes. Unsuccessful plantings were made in Island Lake on the Grand Mesa. This fish was a subspecie of the �native trout. This was the yellowfin cutthroat. Backs of the orange trout were dark brown with black spots. The lower sides were bright orange. One of these fish had been known to weigh 27½ pounds. They were very destructive to young trout. This may have been a description of another subspecie of native trout - the Rio Grande cutthroat. Looking ahead, Pierce made an estimate of costs for the year 1888: enlarging the state hatchery, $1000; assistant, $500; feed and incidentals, $500; salary of superintendent, $1000; salary of commissioner, $500; commissioner's expenses, $500; distributing and obtaining fish from abroad, $1000. Pierce suggested building five new hatcheries at a cost of $400 each, a total of $2000; assistant superintendents at salaries of $400 each per year; and feed cost and expense of distributing the fish, $1500. Dynamiting continued to plague the commissioner, along with netting, trapping and set lines. When brought to justice, one dynamiter was released as not guilty by a justice of the peace on the dynamiter·s plea that he was ignorant of the law against dynamiting. "The law 1s sufficie11tl; strmge11t but mea11s of rmforcement are lacking," said Pierce. "The fish commmioner has 110 power, nor is it part of his d11ty to enforce the law, nor is he allowed to," he continued. He further stated, "The value of trout to the state is 110I how much in po1111ds of food they will produce, as 111 the atlr,1c/1011 they afford lo strangers 11 ho enjoy the sport of catchmg them." Pierce estimated that each fish cost a tourist $1 to catch, and each one of these fishermen will spend $10 a day while in the state. But with the mines and farming and livestock, as well as industry beginning to come into their own, who needed tourists? During Pierce's administration the Legislature empowered the county commissioners to appoint special wardens who "shall hold their offices during the pleasure of the board." This was for the more certain detection and punishment of violators. Bounty laws on wolves, coyotes and mountain lions, as well as "premiums" on hawks' heads, were removed by legislative action. But more limitations were placed on hunters. Antlered elk and deer could be taken only from October 1 to November 15 in 1885. At the time the wildlife resource decreased, the range became over-utilized by enterprising stockmen. Cattle and sheep ranchers believed the greatest profit resulted from quantity rather than quality. The result was overstocked ranges and lands desperately deficient in food for game or domestic stock. In 1888, Commissioner G. F. Whitehead, reporting to Governor Alva Adams on his activity through 1887 and 1888 said, "If any officials in Colorado eam the,r salarin, the fish commissioner is one of them." He also stated, "Owing to the stinginess of the la1t two Legulat11res of Colorado m withholding funds for experiments in 11nproved hatchery apparatus, we hai•e been compelled to cling to the old methods uh,ch hai·e had wch gratifying wccess." Amendments to the law prohibiting marketing of food fish in the state had excellent results, it was reported, and the commissioner went into considerable detail on fish-raising techniques. He told about receiving huge stacks of mail from people wanting to buy public fishing land. One man wanted to know if he could lease seven or eight miles of public fishing streams stocked by the state. Whitehead's thoughts on the economic value of fishing agreed with those of a former commissioner. "It ,s safe to say that al leas/ $150,000 1s dropped in Colorado by visitors enticed here by the speckled bea11/1es 111 011r streams. With this fact before 11s, u•otdd it not be good policy 011 the part of the state lo spend ten lo fifteen thousand dollars annually, to keep up and infl'ease the allt'aclion?" Session Laws in 1887 created a ten-year closed season on bison, an eight-year closed season on mountain (bighorn) sheep and a ten-year closed season on ibex or the Rocky Mountain goat. (The reference to Rocky Mountain goats is strange since, as far as can he ascertained, there were no wild goats in Colorado until their recent introduction.) Deer and elk could not be taken between December 1 and September 1 of the next succeeding year. Only antlered deer or elk could be taken. No provision was made for licenses of any type. When Gordon Land turned m his biennial report to Governor Job A. Cooper for the years 1889-1890, he told of the rebuilding of the Denver hatchery building after more than eight years of service. Land estimated that there were 500 high altitude lakes at that time which were, for the most part, entirely barren of fish life of any kind. "Echo Lake was barren 11111,l four or five years ago; now it is m a remarkable co11d1tion with lots of fish." Railroads were commended for their cooperation in distributing fish in Colorado waters. Good reports came in on all planting, but "the cry is only for more fish," - a cry that is still echomg down the corridors of time. During the early part of Land's tenure, an appropriation of $7700 was signed by Governor Cooper. This was for the salary and necessary expenses of the state fish commissioner and for work at the state fish hatchery- for erecting and maintaining of new hatcheries, salaries of assistants, and the expenses of d1stnbuting and obtammg food fishes from abroad (which seemed to mean out-of-state) for the year 1 10 �ending December 31, 1889, and the swn of $5600 for the same purposes for the following calendar year. Continuing, the wording of the bill was puzzling, "It shall be the duty of the Governor, the State Fish Commissioner and the President of the Colorado State Fish and Game Commission to determine upon three places in different sections of the state at which place the Superintendent of Hatcheries shall establish hatching stations. Each of these stations (as requested by Fish Commissioner Pierce, some years before) shall cost not to exceed $400 and shall be in charge of an assistant who shall receive for his services $400 per year." Apparently the "Commission" and "President" mentioned in the foregoing existed in print only. It was not until almost 50 years later that they came into being. Land was opposed to bounties on bear and mountain lions; although bounties on the latter are supposed to have been lifted several years previously. At long last a greater interest was shown in game animals of the state as the governor created the first game districts. "The First District shall be composed of the counties of Boulder, Lanmer, Grand, Eagle and P1tk1n. The Second D1stnct shall be composed of Garfield, Rio Blanco and Routt counties. The Third D1stnct shall be composed of the counties of Huerfano, Custer, Fremont, Gunnison, Delta, Mesa, Montrose, Las Animas and Chaffee counties. The Fourth District shall be composed of La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta, Rio Grande, San Juan, Dolores, San Miguel and Hinsdale counties." It must be remembered that Colorado did not consist of 63 counties at that time, so these districts covered much more territory than they would at the present time if only those counties were included. This took place in 1889. But Land attacked "the stupid law that at present mars 011r statutes.'' meaning the one dividing the state into districts and having, "an army of paid partisans for wardens beca11se of the likelihood of 'patronage and political preferment.' " Land declared that, "One well-paid officer or Stale Marshal with tu·o deputies can, if the proper man IS selected, enforce the game and /uh laws 0t'er the entire state, he hai·ing no f 1xed 1ect,on m u·hich to reJ1de and become too well-k11ou·11. Such an off!Cer tuo11ld comm,md the re1pect of the people and would render t·1olat1011s of the game laws extremely hazardous." Land found fault with the game laws, too. " There are so many m,mifest errors, I wo11ld ask that the enl,re law relating lo 011r four-footed game be repealed and a new and less di//imlt law enacted m its stead." He recommended a law to restnct or prevent trafficking in game, hides, heads and horns and did not favor a law permitting the killing of "animals of the deer kmd as early as the month offuly." He was also opposed to the business of capturing live animals and selling them. "More than 90 head of elk i11 Routt County alone have been disposed of m one season." In 1889 it became illegal to snare, trap or take ducks or geese by the use of nets. This was the first law protecting any migratory waterfowl. A penalty of not less than $10 or more than $50 for each duck or goose so snared, trapped or netted was imposed. And game could no longer be killed for the skins or horns alone. Land received an additional $700 as salary and $1000, "or as much thereof as he may actually need, for prosecution and other contingent expenses." He was also empowered to appoint "district fish and game wardens for each district" and two deputies 11 �wining and dining with sportsmen and /011rists, and who II co11sta11tly acceptmg their courtesies, cannot expect a p11bl1c senlimen/ among the masses different from u'htJI I f ou11d it 011 my i11cep1io11 mlo office." He believed that trout fishing should not begin before July l as the native trout spawn in May and June; that the season should close November l as the brook trout spawn in November and December. Callicotte said the demand for fish by the public exceeded the supply by at least three million. During Land"s term, 1891-1892, trout cost $8.40 per thousand to produce. Under Callicotte the cost dropped to $4. Callicotte waded into the task of stopping the illegal killing of game, but was not fully successful in gaining the cooperation of other states - into which violators often took their game, no doubt. "111/ e organized lhe .rports111e11 of the stale 111/0 an orgt111izal1011 knoll'n as The Colorado Sportsman's A.rsoc1atio11," he reported and "lr/e .remred to some exle11/ the cooperalmn of lhe press." As a result, most of the professional hunters left the state. Some were arrested a second time and sentenced lo jail. Two hundred and eighty-five violations were investigated, 104 arrests were made and he secured 78 convictions. Fines ranged from $2.50 to $300. In a few cases jail sentences were meted out, the longest being 90 days. Ranchers protested that they were too busy to go into the mountains during the regular big game season, from August 15 to November 1. They contended that sportsmen secured a law for their own benefit and the ranchers were not favorable in complying with the law. They insisted on getting their "winter's meat" in NO\·ember when the game came down out of the higher areas. Indian depredations had been a source of trouble, Land state<l, but admitted that they had been exagerated. "Indians in the S011them Ute ReJervatio11 ht11'e the nghl 1111der the Bm110 Treat; of 187 3, to h,mt in the11· own 111,11111er and fa.rh10n 011 their resen,alion. ThtJ i11c/11de.r abo11I all the game co1111lrJ' i11 so11/h11·ertem Colorado. We made 110 effort lo preserve the game m th,s 1ectio11 as it would be useless lo an-es/ white men and allow the Indians to kt!/ the game.'' This period of history was marred somewhat by the panic of 1893 when unemployed miners became a problem. Many of them took guns and fishing rods to provide themselves and their families with food in or out of season. Navajoes, Northern or White River Utes had no right to hunt in Colorado, but they were at this time making regular excursions into the northwestern part of the state to kill game. "They are encouraged by the citizens up there to could be appointed in each of the districts on the recommendation of the district warden. A biennial appropriation of Sl9,600 in 1891 made up the first game and fish resource appropriation in Colorado, fifteen years after it became a state. The utter inefficiency of local wardens who were governed by their friendships irked Land as did some other inhabitants of the warden's areas - those people who were unwilling to inform upon their neighbors or in any way aid in game law enforcement and protection of game. Land also recommended that no bounty laws embracing premiums on mountain lions or bear be passed because there was more game in the state before these laws came into existence. " ... as far as lhe ktllmg of rlock b; mo1111/a111 !tom. I am of lhe op1111011 1hr1/ lhe zl'orlhleJJ bemgs. I 1nll 110/ call lhem men, u·ho p11n11e t111d h,1111 th,·re a111111t1ls with dogs solely for the reu·ard. are f,11' more deslructl/'e lo the liveslock interests than ,1re these soltltJrJ be<1J/J of pre;." But he was in favor of higher bounties on wolves and coyotes because of the1 r destruct ion of Ii vestock. Speaking of demands for more fish and more hatcheries, Land said, "/ h,we been import11ned by man; penom to eslab!tsh sl,1/e fish hatcheries III the 11ar1ot1r sect,011.r . . . " but "J a111 unable lo recall a single instance u·here any of the places mentioned had e1 e11 one of the pmne requisites lo j11sl1/J its .releclio11." Jn 1893, W. R. Callicotte followed Land. The Legislature added the duties of law enforcement to the "Fish Commissioner" title and now Callicotte became the first and perhaps the only "Fish Commissioner and Game Warden" with a salary of $1200. C. M. White of Grand Junction was deputy warden as were W. M. Cardnell of Glenwood Springs and F. E. Moo<ly of Monte Vista, all at $1200 per annum. T A. Callicotte was named supenntendent of fisheries at DeO\er at a salary of $50 to $75 per month. His relationship to W. R. Callicotte, if any, is not mentioned. Four assistant superintendents to be stationed at Denver, Twin Lakes, Gunnison and Durango were appointed. Callicotte, the commissioner, was critical of the poor locations of the fish hatchenes when so many good location were available. "Ir' ,th the amount of mane; expended 1he Jlale .rhould 110111 be able lo produce ,1I leas/ 5 mt!l1011s offJJh per year." He found public sentiment so strongly against spawn-taking in some areas that guards had to be posted at those points. Guards had to be posted day an<l night al Twin Lakes. "/ am .rall.rfied," said Callicotte, ''that much of this oppos1l1on II but a just criticis111 upon the former commissioner. "A fish commissioner U'ho spends a great portion of his time 1 12 �come, as the killing of deer sai·es the stockme11's haJ1tack1," Callicotte said. Callicotte went on to attack still another of the early day menaces to wild game and fish, "Huntmg touriJts and speomen hunters are becoming loo 1111merouJ for J11cceJJf11/ game presef!'allon. 1\fan)' have croued the ocea11 and tra1·ersed a great portion of the co11ti11ent to secure an elk head. H1111dreds are illegallJ killed each )ear b)' nonreudent aristocratic nabobs 1cho care 110/hmg about game prese/'l'ation. They also mortally wound more than they k,11 and save It is d,ffimlt lo make a case agamit these fellows a1 the; keep within the prol'isions of the la1v.'' Callicotte went on to say that those not residents of the state must be prohibited from hunting or our big game will soon all be destroyed. "The latl'J should be dfrested of a/J md,catrom of partiality to the sportm,en a1 the game must be preserz·ed, if at all, b)' those u·ho reside m the game countrJ," he said, and continued, "A c/01ed 1ea1on on elk, lastmg for f it·e year1 tvould be an excellent meatu of agam re1toring this f i11e animal to his old ha1mt1. ""101111/ain sheep are not allou•ed to be killed at all; hence, they increased a h11ndred-fold m the past three years," the comm1ss1oner said. Then he ob1ected to the work of a game warden being imposed on the fish commissioner because he had enough to do in supervising the hatchery work and distribution of fish. "I believe the interests of the public would be better sened b) placi11g the whole matter of fish, forest and game tmder the supervision of a commission of three. The fish business co11/d be placed under a competent It1permtendent appointed by the com- mission. Under the present law, the comm,uioner m,tJ be a figurehead drawing a salary while the other me11 do the work. It is now a 011e-man pou·er and t·ery like!) to be used in the interest of some clau rather than for the state. 1\fost of the slates have a fish commission composed of three members." Thus spoke a man whose insight into the situation was several decades ahead of his time. Gordon Land returned to the role of fish comm1ss10ner in 1895 after serving two previous terms. He turned in a brief report of 15 pages at the end of 1896 which said that in spite of appropriations made to impro\'e three of the state fish hatcheries, they were in a "filthy, deplorable condition and out of repair." The Twin Lakes hatchery was closed down by Land although 1t was said to have been the best place in which to raise native trout. Land preferred one or two good establishments to a "multiplicity of state fish hatcheries." There had been trouble at Twin Lakes. Residents in that part of the state objected to the taking of spawn and two sets of screens maintained for the purpose of obtaining spawning fish had been blasted by dynamiters. Land and his assistants were inconvenienced from September 1895 to February 1896 when the state auditor refused to release their expense and salary checks pending a decision from the Supreme Court. Besides this, Land had to worry about the "lndwu and skin hunters who still persist m killing for the profti u1hich the market afford1 . .." "These people," he said, "continue Jo create a demand for game law enforcement. The methods of 13 �game destruction now emploJed by the Indians are JUch as to remit in entire destruction of 011r deer and elk in a ver; few )'ears if they are permitted to p11rsue them. The)' are by far the worst hide hunters m the slate. In closing his second report, Land said, "The laws that fma/Ly passed the la.rt General Assembly were so ml to pieces b; ame11dme11/s as lo render most of them i110 peralive." One of the bills made it illegal to take trout less than six inches in length. Another took away the rights of county commissioners to appoint special game wardens. These rights were transferred to the governor. An affidavit by any reputable citizen accusing another of game or fish law violations was suffi. cient cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest. During Land's second term, Governor John L. Routt signed legislative acts prohibiting: 1. Emptying sawdust or other substances into streams containing food fish. 2. Having in possession and offering for ~ale, fishes that were taken for scientific purposes. ( By this law the fish commissioner was authorized to conduct scientific studies.) 3. To take fish by other means than hook and line. 4. Possessing fish during closed season, or taking fish at any time for other purposes than for food. 5. To receive, ship or transport fish taken in waters of this state that were under ~1x inches long. It also became illegal for common carriers to accept such shipments. Land criticized the General Assembly which had added the duties of game warden to those of the fish comm1ss1oner. As a result, they were dropped in this second term. "So imperfect and cr11de rm Act," he said, "rare!; fmdJ a place upon lh1; pages of Cl'ell fro11lier legnlalion." In 1897, the General Assembly changed the "Fish Commissioner and Game Warden" title to "Forest, Game and Fish Commissioner," and created the "Department of Forestry, Game and Fish."* When Forest, Game and Fish Commissioner J. S. Swan reported to Governor Alva Adams in 1898, he took issue with the bill enumerating the duties of the commissioner in relation to forest areas of the state in the clause: "He shall have the care of al I woodlands and forest which may at any time be owned or controlled by the state, and shall cause all such lands to be located and recorded in a book to be kept for that purpose." This, he contended is, or is close to being, in direct conflict with the provision of the State Constitution which gives this power to the Board of Land Commissioners. Swan was also critical of the enforcement of game laws. Juries, often containing men who themselves violated game and fish laws, could not be counted upon to convict violators. Judges and justices of the peace were also criticized for their indifference to game and fish laws. He reported that because of dryness, vast and valuable forest areas have been destroyed by fires of "exceptional fierceness and destructiveness." The commisswner put the blame on the "annual camping population." Taking a slap at game laws, Swan said they were made for city "dudes and tourists" not for ranchers or other residents of the counties. Swan did more than complain about the Indians. He went to the agent, Captain Beck at Ft. Duchesne, Utah, in early 1897, accompanied by Utah Game and Fish Commissioner, the Honorable John Sharp. Captain Beck was the agent for both the Uintah Ute Indians and the Uncompahgres. Through interpretors the commissioners explained to the Indians why they should not go into Colorado on their raids and warned them of the consequences if they did. The older Indians understood and took the advice as inevitable; the young bucks did not. Captain Beck also spoke to the council of Indians and warned them that if they persisted in going on these raids, he would have to send troops to bring them in. Soon after his return to Colorado, Swan learned that the Uintahs had invaded Routt County again, and the Uncompahgres or the White River Utes had raided wild game herds in Rio Blanco County. He notified General Otis, commander of the department ( Indian Affairs, perhaps) troops, with the assistance of Sheriff Wilber, of Rio Blanco (adept in the Indian language and customs) along with Warden J. T. McLean, moved the Utes back out of the state without any trouble or bloodshed. The Indians did not have any hides or carcasses. The Uintahs were more difficult. Warden W. R. Wilcox told of a band of Indians in Lily Park bent on obtaining their usual winter supply of meat. Swan told him of his talks at the Indian agency and told him to move them out. Swan said, "I told him to exercise extreme patience and forbearance in dealmg with the Indians. I have 110 rea.ro11 to doubt that lr/ilcox followed these 111str11cl1ons w fa,· as he was able lo do so." On October 24, Wilcox, accompanied by ten special wardens, went to the camp of the Indians, and after an unsuccessful effort to induce them to leave the state in peace, an attempt was made to arrest some *Edi1or·s Note; Even thou_gh the new title indicated a trend toward mu lt,ple use of forests, fish and ,i:ame. it was a~ain chan_ged in 1899 to 'Department of Game and Fish." But in writin~ this history of the department we have settled on the yt·ar 1897 as th<: rear when the Game and Fish Department c.1me into be,n,:. Even thou~h the respons1bil1t1es of fon,stry had been added to it, the creation of this departmt'.nt ,n I 897 was concerned with _game as well as fish 14 �of them and take them to the county seat for trial on the charge of having violated the game laws of the state. The result of the attempt is now a matter of state history. In a fight which followed, two male Indians were killed outright and two female Indians wounded, one seriously. Both of the latter recovered. Shortly following the fight, troops arrived from Ft. Duchesne and the Indians were taken back to their reservation." The wardens were exonorated by a commission appointed to study the case. Federal authorities were criticized for negligence by the commission. In 1898 the Indians were back again. The Indians may have looked on these raids as a game just to see how much they could get away with. The number of animals taken was incidental. Swan said it was known that the Indians do not hesitate to kill range cattle. "This involves a per1011al loJS to the settlers," said Swan, "but for them to attempt to resent it, would more tha11 likely put them and their families at the mercy of the savage instinct for re11enge." Swan went to great lengths to impress the authorities with the amount of damage Indians were doing to game herds. "If it again becomes necessary for the settlers to get after the Indians, Swan predicted, it is likely to be in a manner the Ind1a111 will find a lasting leJSon. 11 Talking about big game, Swan said, "There are yet a few buffaloes in the state, but their number is so small that Li!tle is known of them, and to many rt will be a sm-pr11e to learn that even a single specimen of this noble game which once roamed the parks of Colorado m large herds is still to be fou11d ,n the state." Swan said that a brief elk season would benefit the state, and that a large and desirable class of sports- men would be attracted to Colorado each year. "They would come to the state if they add an elk head to their string of trophies," said Swan. He spoke of mountain sheep (bighorns) saying that as they could not be hunted at any time, their numbers should show a satisfactory increase, but a slow one. Commenting further, he said, "I have heard it asserted that the greatest ob1tacle to their more rapid increase is d11e to the destruction of many young lambs by that noble bird, the great American eagle." This he attributed to the fact they both inhabit high altitudes. "It has been mgge1ted for that reason," he said, "that a bou11ty should be placed on eagles." This had been suggested by others besides Swan. Swan felt that bear should be protected and that a season on them should be set. He was not, however, prepared to say that a law was necessary to protect from extinction "that gamey species of game that is genera/I)' reputed lo be able to protect it1elf.n "The grizzly, or silver tip bear, is plentif11l in western Colorado, and the same may be 1aid of the brown and black bear," he added. Organized game counts were unknown at that time, of course, so the commissioner had to rely on estimates by observing inhabitants of areas where game congregated. One of those persons was a Frank S. Wells of Marvine Lodge in Rio Blanco County, described by Swan as "an old time resident of that section and a guide and hunter of experience," who gave his opinion that in the counties of Rio Blanco and Routt, last summer (1897) there were as many as 4000 to 5000 elk; at least 80,000 deer and 10,000 to 15,000 antelope and that game of all kinds has increased since then." Swans terms this a "fairly reliable" estimate. He adds, "It i, safe to say there are not leJS than 7000 elk and 100,000 deer and 15 �2 5.000 antelope in Jhe JIate; aaording to 1'1)' judgment there are full)' ar many mountain Jheep (bigh'ln, ) aJ there are elk." for the first time, as far as Swan could tell, in the White and Bear rivers and in Grand Lake. These waters had not been stocked because of their distance from railways, and fish populations 10 them had dropped seriously. Swan suggested that all heads, hides and scalps found in stock or held by taxidermists and glove makers be couponed or tagged. This was also suggested for hunters, and that separate coupons be provided for each type of large game. Open seasons declared in 1898 were: wild turkeys, prairie chickens, grouse and sage chickens, August 15 to November I; doves, August l to October 1 ducks, geese, brants, swans and other waterfowl, September 1 to May 1; deer and antelope with horns ( for food and 1mmed1ate use only), September 1 to October 15; trout and other food fish ( over 6 inches Jong), June l to December I. Only one deer or antelope, twenty birds ( dO\·es exccpted) and 20 pounds of fish per day per man were allowed. Fishermen were urged not to waste any fish The taking or killmg of bison, mountain sheep, elk, pheasant ( first introduced in 188 5), ptarmigan or quail was prohibited. Swan set forth arguments in favor of licensed J:,>uides 10 Colorado as a means of attracting sportsmen 's money and quoted a report on the success realized by Maine which was already , 1pitalizing on its wildlife resource. The guides, Swan said, could be charged with the responsibility of protecting game. Swan found opposition to bag limits.. Said Swan, ''Thu nppoJition 11 baud 011 the fa(/ th.ti du,J .re migra/01;, b11t p11blic Je11time11I, i11 my j11dgme11I, II m·uu·hel111i11gl)' 111 f at•or of a Iimil regardIns of the migrttlory characle,· of the game.·• He pointed to the complete disappearance of countless millions of doves. Undoubtedly, he had passenger pigeons in mind. Regard mg laws, Swan said, "There IJ con r,dei-able de111t111d th,11 th,• /11111/ of 20 lmdr per day be takm off d11ckr ,md gare, for tht• re,lf0II that there b11·dr ,/re migr,1/ory, t111d thdl 110/ 11"111) other 1/,1/e.1 1h11 protect them. It 11/tf!.hl be u·e/1 to r,1i1e the limit 111 1111111ber to be in po1.1ers1011 of one pa,011 al any t1111e lo. Jtl), 50 bll'dI." Plants of fry from the Demer hatchery were made The Turn of the Century IN 1900, Game and Fish Commissioner T. H. Johnson reported to Governor Charles Thomas that sentiment in farnr of protection of game and fish 111 Colorado had greatly increased, and he met with very little diffKultr m securing com·ictions upon proof of guilt. Indians were still up to their usual denlment every fall, and Johnson seemed to be the first of the commissioners who smelled a rat 111 the office of the Indian agent. On learning that the Indians had invaded Colorado's Western Slope, Johnson wired Wash111gton, telling the Intertor Department that they were 111 Colorado. He received the reply from the Indian agent tn Utah th.it there WC're no Indians off the resen·ation. Johnson, thereupon, made a trip into the area and found al I sorts of evidence th:it the lndi,1ns had been in the area. When Johnson leit, the Indians came back in force He again wired Washmgton and received the assur.1nce that the Indian police were out after thcm. ''Th,, h,1 1 1;- deJ1<1rl11re of tion, who had been stationed at the border, wired Johnson that several hundred Indians, fully e9uipped for hunting were on their way to the hunt mg grounds. Johnson hurriedly left for the area and found the Indi,1n police roundmg up the Indians. Johnson had wired the Intertor Department. But settlers told him that the Indian Agent had given the poltCc 10 days 111 which to round up and return the Indians. The year before thC' police had done the job 111 48 hours. This caused Johnson to bel1e\'e that "the !nd,,111 age11/ l,1Ck, ,i11cer1I) 111 his promi,er dlld agree111e111 lo ,1111JI in kee/1i11g the lnd1a11J 011/ nf the 1/,1/e, and lht1t but a feeble efJori rs made lo prer·en/ them lea1 mg the re erl'a/1n11s. ' ·' On November 19, Warden Jay mformed Johnson the Indians were agam in western Colorado. Johnson left for the area again, dcc1d111g to "gather an armed force sufficient to arrest all Indians found violating the game laws." Game laws empoweed the comm1ss1oner with this authority. In Meeker, Johnson arranged to meet the warden and see the sheriff of Rio Blanco County for assistance. They scoured the country but found only slight cndence that the Indians had been there. The redmen had again escaped before the wardens got to them Johnson reported. ''O.,re of the /11.l1a111 co111 mre,l me th,11 the fe.ler,i/ ,111thor1l1er h,1d them III p,,,-Jecl co11/rol. and 1h.z1 the !ndi.i11 agent ulo11e u-,11 re,ponuble for the,,· 1111/au/11/ raids i1110 Colnrado. The Indians returned agam m the fall of 1900 and Chic£ Game Warden B. F Jay, of Grand June- the abandoned c,1111ps 1hou-ed th,11 ii had co11ta111ed 16 �,ill of fift; tepees. In sco11r111g the co1111try U'e fo11nd a 1111111ber of A1ormom from Utah UJtth game III the,r pos1essio11, uhom u·e arrested and ca11red to be fined. IFe also fo11nd other parties of 1\formons commg into the stale u•1/h am11111111to11 and wagons, e1•1dently bent 11po11 hrmtmg, u·h1ch 1N /11rned back." Further, Johnson says, "/ U'a.r told by settlers at Three Sprmgs. a 1mall se1tltme11t about 60 miles ll'est of Meeker, that Indian Agent iHJton hmuelf fre~111ents that locality for tht pmpose of h1111t111g, a11d that 111 October 1899, he, wilh a11 escort of colored soldiers, killed and c,11ned 0111 does and fau·n.r. This year, it is reported, he again violated our game l,m• by carrJmg game killed m thiJ state by him into Utah 11•ilho11/ a permit. Cert,unl), if these acw.r,1tions ar:aimt the Indian agent himself are /me, there is 1111/e hope in depending upon his declaratiom to arsist in keeping the fod1a11J 0111 of 011r state." Johnson could not report on the number of cases brought in for game and fish violations because justices of the peace, clerks of the courts and special wardens were not familiar with the law and did not report the cases. He attributed this to "the lack of familiarity u·ith the fall' 011 the part of the justices of the pe,ue and principally 01 ewght 011 the p,1rt of wme of the special u·ardem, of uhom I appointed 3 I 5 d11r111g my term of office." Most of these wardens did not care to make any arrests. They often reported violations and violators, but asked that their names be withheld and they did not want to appear against any offenders to press charges. However, there were some businessmen and professional men who worked diligently to protect game and fish and Johnson recommended their appointment as special wardens in the future. Johnson was given the authority to hire 10 deputy game wardens for a l1m1ted penod of time and to pay them not more than $100 per month apiece. However, the Legislature neglected to appropriate the necessary funds to take care of these salaries, but appropriated only the amount pro\'lded for by the old law. " Th1J," Johnson said, "of co11rse left the finances of the department III such shape as lo req11ire co11sta11t economy a11d 1111rsi11g." "The amo1111t of fees, f mes, etc., collected by the department d11rmg the lll'o fiscal ;e,1rs amo1111ted to $2621.18 a11d romtit11ted the game c,nh f 1111d," the comissioner reported. Turning his attention to game laws, Johnson said, "I am sal1Jf1ed that smce the going into effect of the 11eu fall' makmg it a pe111tentiarJ offense lo kill or ,1ttempt lo kill buffalo, no nolat1011s of the law 111 thlf respect hat·e occmred. There are at preunt 21 b11ffalo i11 the range of 11101111/aim betu-een Egeria Park and i\f1ddle Park These haz,e been seen a 111,mber of times during the pmt tu·o ;ears. In Lo. t Park there are nme b11ffalo a11d lu·o ca/us.'' Speaking of deer seasons, Johnson said he was in favor of confining the season to the period from August 15 to September 30. And he said that the slow increase among bighorns made it necessary to protect them for some years to come. A great many ducks bred within the state, but it ~as admitted that the flights were not what the} had been some years before. "If the right giz,en by the present law to kill f1f ty d11cks in one da;, should be 17 �"In October of last year I received informaJion that the Indians were h11nting in the vicinity of White River in Rio Blanco County. I went there and succeeded III arrestmg seven Indians who had in their possession a wagon load of "jerked" vension, one hundred and forty odd deer hides, some fawn and doe heads and hides and the Jnd,ans' rifles. The Indians, with their bootJ, were co,weJed forthwith to Meeker in Rio Blanco County and brought before a justice of the peace. A j11ry was ,ailed and evidence presented u,hich u;ould convict in any other co11rt in the land, b11/ for reasom which al that lime I did not understand, they were found not guilty. Thu unlooked-for verdict led me to make some investigation to the probable cause and I was soon enlightened." Harris found that property owners took the raids for granted. They did not wish to incur the enmity of the red men whose territory they often had to travel through. It would be foolish to anger the Indians by finding them guilty and making them subject to fines or imprisonment. The confiscated meat and hides were sold and proceeds went to the game cash fund. The rifles were confiscated. Harris said that the history of the department for the past few years satisfied him that the only way to stop the Indian depredations would be to place a force of at least 20 wardens in the locality when necessary. Switching his thoughts from Indians to hunting seasons, Harris said he favored a closed season on elk for about fiYe years, at least. Elk were not holding their own, as they should, he said. Antelope, too, should be protected for a similar period, he thought. The antelope season then was from August 15 to November 5. Bag and possession limits were not mentioned. The law making the killing of buffalo a penitentiary offense resulted in an increase in the two known herds. Harris, however, apprehended four people who had killed four buffalo in Lost Park in 1897. " . . . 11po11 learning the facts," wrote Harris, ''I arranged to have them proJemled. They u•ere arreJted in August 1901, and the case IJ now pending 111 the d,strict court at Leadz·ille." Chinese (ringneck) pheasants, 15 pair of them at $5 a pair, were released in Pueblo, Larimer, Delta and Morgan counties. "There should be a proviSTon added to the present /au• reqtm·mg enry hunter to procure a hunting license. On the theory that those u•ho hunt should p,,)' all or a large share of the cost of pre.rervmg the gt1me instead of burdening the general taxpaJet'S, a great majority of u·hom derit-e no benefit from game protection, a fee for a state license should be required from ei·ery person de11r,ng to h11nl. Such l,cemes limited lo twenty-five ducks in one daJ, and spring shooting be stopped ent,re/y, ducks may hold their own for some time," said Swan. Requests have been received to stock topknot (Gambels) quail from western Colorado on the Eastern Slope. They were imported by county commissioners in Mesa County in 1893. The quail were not hunted for five years and increased so rapidly they became a menace to the gardens along the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. Because dove hunting season encroaches on the breeding period, Johnson suggested an open season from August 1 to September 20. During the year a total of 6,455,000 fry trout were planted in public streams in Colorado. In this way Johnson set the stage for the next fish commissioner, Charles N. Harris. Harris in his biennial report of 1901-02 to Governor James B. Orman, noted that securing convictions in game law cases was easier on the Eastern Slope than it was on the Western Slope. Local opinion on the Western Slope seems to have been opposed to laws which prohibited the killing of game in limited seasons. Many of the people living over there had taken game at all times of the year for domestic use. Hams said it would be a "thouJandfold simpler ,111d more effectual to bring civil s11its instead of criminal prosecut1011s agt1111st the 1·10/ators. A f me of $JO 011 each ,md el'erJ' .~ame b,rd and fowl, $50 011 e,1Ch and e1·e1) deer and tmtelope, $200 011 each and e1•e1} elk. and $500 on each and every mountain sheep ,md bu/ falo." The slaughter of deer by the Uncompahgre, Uintah and White RiYer Utes continued. Repeated efforts to preYcnt the raids or compel the federal authorities to keep the Indians in check failed. Harris, too, believed that the raids were encouraged by Indian agents. He stated, "Rations are thus s,11·ed d11ri11g the ra,ds and for some time afterll'<1rd. UnleJS .rteps are t,1ken lo prez·enl the.1e raids, money paid out by the state for the protection of deer w,11 h(lt'e been expended onlJ for the benefit of the agent, ,111d the lnd,ans." Harris continued, "The insincerity of the many prom,.res made by Jnd1a11 Agent Myton to prez ent these raids may be.rt be judged by the fact that I had the pleas11re /<1st )ear of apprehendmg the gentleman himself for L'1ola1111g the game /au;. Havmg received the i11/onnat1011 that hf: u·a.r on a huntmg trip and wr1.r e11c,1mped ll'ithin 011r .rtate, I quietly made a per1011,1/ 11.11t to his crunp and U'as forl1111ale 111 coming 11po11 him ar he u·,t.r m the act of com•eying two deer 011/ of the .rlale 1nthoul the required perm,,. A fee of $10 ll'a.r collected from h,m and the permit ,smed, a.r c1/1pears of rHord in my office 1mde,· date of Nol'ember JO, 1901. 18 �should be is111ed b) the commi11io11er on blanks f11r11ished b)' the comm1Jsio11er. A resident's license sho11ld be m11ed 011 the pa;me11t of $1 and a 11011reS1dellf's license should be issued 011 the payment of $20. Applications for resident's licenses should be accompanied by evidence of residence satisfactory to the commi11io11er." Therewith, Harris wound up a colorful two years. John M. Woodard, whose first term covered 1903-1904, followed Harris as commissioner. He took office, as he put it, "co11/ro11ted with z ano11s obstacles of more or less serio11s naf11re." Courts were not friendly to the department, he said, and it was practically impossible to get any convictions of game and fish law violators. The amended law which went into effect July 12, 1903, changed things. This law brought about an improvement in court procedures which resulted in more convictions. He said, " ... I feel exceedingly grateful lo the courts for the prompt ,md effi6ent manner III which they have handled all cases of violations for this department ... Heretofore, I haze found that the department had been handled strictly in the i11terest of politics, and the game commisS1011er and his wardens were powerless. Even tho11gh they might have had a disposition to enforce the /au•, it seemed almo1t 0111 of the question to do so. It ,s a fact that 1 am the /mt game and fish comt111.rsione,· that was ever recognized by the Go1•emor a.r the head of the department. and was treated as such b;• bemg held strictly responsible for the operations of the department." He found the game wardens a bit too friendly and 1 19 said, " . . . there has been a little too much 'Hello, BiJ/.'' and exhibitions of friendship." He felt that bonding wardens and having them account for all the money taken in would help the department. He felt, however, that he had the best lot of game wardens ever connected with the department, most of them being . . . "honorable gentlemen and willing at all timeJ to do thetr duty." Woodard found game populations increasing. Mountain (bighorn) sheep have increased to "a marked degree, a.r also have the grorue and sage chickens. And to say that q11ail are mcreasing wo11/d be p11tti11g it 11e1y mildly. "I wish lo make special mention of elk as these animals are not mrreasing in this stale. In fact they are rapidly disappearing, and never can increase, so long as an orde,- known as the 'Elk's Lodge' is paJing a premium for their teeth. It is a fact that there have been hundreds of elk killed in Colorado and Wyoming for no other purpose than to secure their teeth to sell for the use of members of said lodge. "Some of 011r newspapers hat'e assumed that the Elk Lodge is protecting the elk. This assumption is erroneous, and should 110/ be recognized by thinking people. When any order demands the destmctio11 of Colorado's most noble animal fo,· no other purpose than to secure its teeth to wear as badges, it is folly to presume that this self-same order is protecting the elk . . ." He called for stringent regulations of the Legislature to prevent the evil. (It should be mentioned that the Elks Lodge was only a few years old at this time.) �David E. Farr, of Walsenburg, was named commissioner for 1907 and 1908. He had a deputy commissioner, Carlos W. Lake of Golden. In his report to Governor Henry A. Buchtel, Farr said, "There is a great danger i11 this (killing loo m11ch game bec,111se of lo11ger ope1! seasons) and 111 Ill) opi111on our last Levsle1t11re made a lamentable mJStake in ex1e11di11g the season 011 deer and 111 allo!l)ing the k,lling of fau·nr; hou·ez•er, l shall make recommendahon.r in regard to the1e matters la/er 011. 11 He then pointed out that the deer harvest proved him right. The harvest of 1908 was 687, compared with 79 in 1903. Twenty-seven deer were shipped from Rifle in 1903. In 1908 there were 520 deer shipped from this town. Deer shipped out of New Castle totaled 34 in 1903 and 160 in 1908. Glenwood Springs showed a reduction of one in the I 908 figures with seven deer shipped from this point. "From these obser11atio11r and careful est1111ates and 1·epor/s .rent me I am of the opinion that during the la.rt open season 011 deer probabl; 2 500 zcere killed within the slate.'' Farr reported. "This i.r probabl; d11e lai'f!,ely to !he facl !hat 1111der 011r present l1ce11se splem a man can, and probribly doer, take out a license for each member of the family and then kills a deer 011 all of the 1'ce11se.r h11nself; wherear, the law proz,ides that only one deer can be killed 011 one hcel/Je. "On my last trip lo the deer country, I met one part; where a license had been 1SS11ed to a six-,ear old boy. The coupon from the l1ce11re u•ar detached a11d placed on a carcaJS of a deer, and the members of the part; actually told me that the deer was killed by the boy." Taking a look at licenses issued by the department, the year 1908 shows up 9uite well with 37,855 resi- The department had considerable trouble with people capturing young wild animals--deer, antelope and elk-to raise them as pets. When found doing so, they said, in most instances, that they intended to get a permit. Woodard said he never issued a permit and that the department never should. The report contains comprehensive figures on the planting of trout in state waters, including the numbers of fish, locations and dates. Nonresident big game licenses were $25 each. Nonresident bird hunters paid $2 for 1 day's hunting and $1 for each additional day. Nonresidents also paid $3 to fish in Colorado. Hunting licenses, as approved by the Legislature April 13, 1903, were $1 for residents. Nothing was mentioned about fishing licenses. Indians were still giving a lot of trouble ... not enough wardens to take care of them and prevent their raids. Wardens were difficult to procure because not many men wanted to leave steady jobs to take warden jobs for a few months. The Indians, however, were causing progressively less and less trouble, and during the fall of 1906, Indians caused less trouble than in any of the previous years Woodard knew of. But they still engaged in sporadic but small raids through the fall and winter months. During 1905 and 1906 there were more convictions for game law violations than in any other corresponding period in the department's history. In 1905 there were 60 convictions and 2 ac9uittals. In 1906 there were 56 convictions and 2 ac9uittals. A total of $5075.53 was collected - $3310.02 in fines and $1765.51 in costs. By appropriation for the fiscal years of 1905-1906, Woodard's salary was $3600. Traveling expenses were set at $1200 for the two-year period. 20 �dent licenses compared with 29,377 the year before and 15,184 in 1903. Nonresidents bought only 27 licenses in 1908 compared with 70 in the previous year. We find the old timers interested in exotic birds, even if some of them may have encountered some trouble in pronouncing their names, as Farr reports, "Our /art Legi1/at11re made an appropriation of $2000 for importing and bringing into this 1tate capercai/zie, or black game birds," natfres of Noru,ay and Su·eden, but difficulties arose. The appropr,ation was not immed1ately available. When it became avai/ble, it was found that the b1rd1 could not be obtained until early the followmg year or the last of the current one (December or Januar)). But the mone; would not be available after November 30, the dose of the biennial period." Thus ended this venture. Farr was concerned over the slaughter of elk. Complaints were made against "persons who from their ac//0111 seemed w,l/mg to kill what few remaming elk there were, if it was within their power to do 10." Routt County, he estimated, had more elk than any other part of the state, with several herds of 150 to 200 elk. He felt that with the number of young elk seen by many people, the animals would increase satisfactorily if they were allowed to go unmolested for a few more years. Bighorn sheep, too, were reported doing better. Several successful prosecutions of sheep killers had helped to discourage hunters from trying to get away with this illegal slaughter. Antelope, too, were doing well and rumors that Kansans were coming across the border and killing them were not well founded, in the commissioner's opinion. Indians continued to amuse themselves by raiding the Colorado herds, but Farr saw no need to go to Washington to clear up the trouble. " I have thought it best to try to handle the 1llua11011 entirely from this office," he said. "Whatever rights the Ind1a111 may have to take our game, I have deemed it my duty to enforce the law in regard to them, just the same as with other persons." As a result, the Indians did not indulge in any heavy raids during Farr's term. He handled the trouble by putting extra wardens into areas where raids were most likely to occur. He felt that the money was well spent. The only trouble he had was in La Plata County and that didn't seem to be serious enough to warrant any details. Receipts for the 1907-08 period were $49,112.36 compared with $35,115.67 in the 1905-06 period and $25,489.23 in 1903-04. The appropriation for the 1907-08 period included $300 to J. M. Woodard, $3300 to D. E.· Farr plus another $1200 as Farr's traveling expen·ses, of which he used all but 20 cents. Traveling expenses come into the picture more prominently as the record shows that $405.15 was spent to send delegates to the International Congress of Fisheries in Washington, D. C. Another $238.60 was spent to send the commissioner to attend the Fish Wardens National Convention in Yellowstone National Park. Farr l?elieved "that a /1ceme 1hould be req11ired to f11h as well as h11nt. I am i11dined to think that the public would not object to paying a nominal fee for the r,ght to flfh u·hen the) realize that by 10 domg more revenue tl'dl be created and, consequently, better protection afforded the game and fish. I beliet•e that a license 1hould be req111red, which would include both hunting and f11hi11g, to· be m11ed to rnidents of Colorado, and that the fee therefore should be one dollar." Farr also believed that the fishing season should open 15 days earlier because he was bombarded by letters, telegrams, telephone calls and personal visits from people wanting to know if the fishing season would open on Decoration Day whtCh was only two days before the regular opening of June 1. A new hatchery and superintendent's residence was built near Del Norte and a residence had been built at Glenwood Spnngs. The hatchery at Del Norte caught fire after an explosion and burned to the ground. It was replaced later, the cost covered by insurance and the new hatchery improved over the original design. Farr witnessed an increasing interest in the state as a mecca for hunters and fishermen before leaving office. Taking over in 1909 was Thomas J. Holland as the commissioner and James A. Shinn as deputy commissioner. Both were Denver residents. This seems to have been a fairly uneventful period, judging by Holland's report to Governor John F. Shafroth on the 1909-10 biennial period. Some attempts at game counting were made, but Holland admitted, " J can see 110 way in tl'hich a person could make an e1timate that would e11en approximate the correct number. " So he turned to harvest figures. "Bam1g mJ judgment 011 close observa//011 and caref11: estunate," wrote Holland, " . . . durmg the Jear 1909 about 500 deer !l'ere killed in 1h11 stale and during the Jear 1910, m the neighborhood of 700." Holland complained because ''lAws (game and fish) hal'e been biem1ittll) enacted, and j11st as reg11larl) repealed at the folloll'mg se11io11." There was also the complaint that department employes are underpaid. Game wardens should get $100 a month and travel expense, not to exceed $25 per month with other salaries in proportion. 21 �cost $1. For one week of this sport the nonresident paid $2. A nonresident fishing license cost $2 and residents could hunt whatever game they chose for a $1 license fee. Taxidermists and guides paid $5 for their licenses. Each license not provided for above, it was noted, would cost $1. Cash receipts for the year amounted to $53,729.65 of which $38,903.60 was from resident hunting licenses sold by county recorders; $7019 from the commissioner's office, $1473 from nonresident general hunting and bird hunting licenses, and $1001 from nonresident fishing licenses. Game and fish salary recommendations for the next two years: $4000 for the commissioner plus $1200 traveling expenses and $3000 for the deputy commissioner plus $960 for his traYeling expenses. Walter B. fraser of Denver became the com missioner for the years 1913 and 1914. His deputy was J. L. Gray of Fort Collins. There haYe been, as you have witnesseJ, some unhappr moments within the department and not all of them were caused by Indians, poachers or legislators. Walter B. Fraser had his moment~ of unhappiness ... as well as his pleasant ones. In making his biennial report to Gmernor Elias M. Ammons, he wrote, "/ ha1 e had ,111 e.wept1011ally pro.,perou.r and bus) )Ml' and nothu i1h,1,111d111g the i11co111·e11111J1ce.r a11d lo.rs of 1'al11,1ble /1111e ,11rh1111ed hJ url11e of the ,1Cl10J1 of Ill) predaeJJor 111 .1/lc111ptm.~ lo hold the offire aftr:r my appomtmmt h,1d her:11 111,11/e. b) reaiOII of II hich I u·ru forced iJllo l//1gaflo11 co1·eri11g 11e<1rly fo11r and one-half 111011th1, th<! ;e,1r h,lf, m,fral. b,,e11 a Jilea.r,111/ one. f-ras<:r then went on to say that, 'The pr111op,il d11t;t:1 of tht colllll/frr1oncr 111,1y he d11·ide.l ll//r1 l11·0 cl,1He.r; 1·1z.: fir.rt, the prop(lg(l/1011 ,md di.rtnb1111011 of /l'f)/1/ and game birdr; •econd, th, ,u/miwr/r,1/1on of the /,rn·.r J!.Ol'Cllling the protec/1011 of 011r game and f1Jh" Through most of the early history of the dcrartment there had been a heavy emphasis on fish. Fraser's admin1strat1on did not deviate too far. He reported tnree ne\\· hatcheries located respectively. :it An ton1to, Aspen and Georgetown were eqlllpped and placed in operation during 1914, thereby making a total of nineteen hatcheries that were operated during the past summer by the department. Twenty-two h1tcheries are listed, many of them pri,·,itely owned and operated. These hatcheries were located at Denver, Emerald L1ke, Marvine, Boulder, Aspen. P1tk111, Durango, Glenwood Springs, Grand Mesa. Estes Park, Fort Collins, Grand Lake, Gunnison, Collbran, Buena Vista, Cherokee P,1rk, Electra L1ke, Cedaredge. Routt, Glenwood, Molina, Antonito, Georgetown. The Pitkin hatchery replaced the one in Gunnison . James A. Shinn, former deputy commissioner in 1909-10, took over as commissioner in 1911-12, with Rudolph Borchardt of Denver as his deputy. Shinn opened his biennial report by stating that Colorado's first laws covering game and fish were drawn up by the Honorable D. C. Beaman of Denver in about 1899. Shinn deplored the fact that the state was divided into five districts with a chief game warden in each of them. Each one had too much territory to cover, he contended. He was a great believer in advertising the resources of the state. "I have tried to do my pa,-/ 111 sending an exlJJbit of over 400 trout to the land shou• held at Kansa.r Cit; la.rt Febmary. •·1 also J11cceeded in geltmg two nry important ro111'e11lio11r lo meet in Colorado ... Ir/ e secured the co111e11lion of the Amniran F1Jhe,ies Soriet; ... and the co111·e11l1011 of the United Stales Game and f11h Comm, r.r1011en." Elk were reported increasing since the season had been closed. They were reported numerous in the northwest part of the state. But Shinn believed that the season on deer should be closed for a period of not less than six years to let herds increase. "Probablj 1101 01 er 400 deer u·ere killed du,-mg the opm season of 1912, u•ht!e ii is est,maled there 1n1re from 700 lo 800 kt/led durmg the )l!al' 1911." Mountain sheep were increasing satisfactorily but he would lea\'e to the lawmakers the opening of the season. Many hunters were pre\'ailing upon him to open a season on sheep. Antelope were already under protection although ... "11 ,eem.r ,ilmo.111111powble lo pro/er! thi:: •t ,111i1tl(J/r, d.r the cotmh) i, bei11g ldke11 up by the ho111rnte,uler and it u·i/1 he 0111) a 1horl /1111e bc:fon there 1nll be 110 r,111ge for the.re hea1111ful a11im,dr 1111/ers the st,1/e .rho1dd co11rl11de lo .1ec11re a /nae nf l,111d u·,th grarr and ll'ate,· and 1ue ti a.r a g,une presen•e," said Shinn. Indians were still causing some trouble in Rio Blanco, La Plata and Dolores counties slaughtering animals. "/ beliffe Indian agents sho11/d me more Cdre III seemg that the lnd1t111J are kept 011 their re.rer1 .1/,o()IJ,." s,:ud Shinn. Among those con\'icted of game law violations were 40 for hunting without a license, 5 for hunting on private property without permission, 2 for dynamiting fish. 7 for killing antelope, 12 for killing game birds out of season, 2 for seining without a permit. 2 for killing song birds without a permit. During 1911, 30,484 resident hunting licenses were issued, 56 nonresident hunting, 16 combination hunting and fishing, 14 bird hunting and 483 non• resident fishing licenses. By 19 l I, a nonresident hunting Iicense sold for .$10; a nonresident bird hunting license for one day 22 �lar matter had been handled in a satisfactory manner. A new size hunting license was discussed. The 4½" x 5½" was thought too big. A card, the size of a railroad pass, would be better, Fraser thought, and the cost would be $7 less per thousand cards than the old style. During the two years there was a total of 179 arrests and 168 convictions. Fraser and Gray retained their positions of commissioner and deputy commissioner, respectively, and the 1915-16 report was turned over to Governor George A. Carlson. Rank and file employes fell by the wayside, as was practically the rule when new administrations took over. Civil Service had not yet come to Colorado. Included in this report was the most elaborate department roster to date containing the names of chief and deputy game wardens, superintendents of hatcheries, hatchery assistants, spawn takers and their assistants. Fraser reported, "In brief, 1 will state that all prev1011s records have been broken, both in the propagation in the distribution of young trout in the public 1,•aters of the state, a11d also as to the number of arrests and convictions. Wh;Je the increased efffriency is apparent, the expe11.re.r mc111·1·ed have been materially decreased as compared u·ith former periods." An estimated 200,000 tourists visited Colorado's mo11111ai11 regiom d111·i11g 1916. A large percentage of these 111Jitors enjoyed the fishing. How could om· slate be belier adt·ertised than by satisfactorJ 'catches' of trout by these follou·ers of Izaak W a/ton? More than 60,000 l1Cemes were sold in 1916 and the twenty-three hatcheries turned out 30,000,000 fry in this year alone," said Fraser. Fraser recommended having bear placed on the Thinking of the tourist business, Fraser said, "lt is estimated that at least five thousand a11tomobiles - visitors from other states - spent from three weeks to three months within the borders of Colorado during the past summer. At an average of three perso11s to each car, fifteen thousand tourists spent the summer in 011r hills, fishing and enjoying the scenery." Fraser reported that deer, elk and bighorn sheep were increasing in numbers but antelope were decreasing. This was attributed to the fact that automobile hunting parties killed large numbers of them and left them in the field. The automobile became a new method for eluding the law. Indians from the Uintah and Ouray Reservations in Utah started coming into Colorado in bands, hitting the areas near Rangely and getting the deer as they came down from their summer range. Early in October a band of 100 Indians with wagons, tents and a large number of horses was reported to have crossed the Colorado-Utah border. Fraser reported that incident to the Bureau of Indian Affairs at Washington and dispatched several wardens to the Indian camp with instructions to persuade them to leave Colorado. The Indians were located about 60 miles southwest of Meeker, and it was found that they had killed but two deer. Wardens from the department gave the Indians forty-eight hours in which to leave the state, pitched their own camp a few miles distant and awaited developments. On the eve of the second day the wardens were happily surprised in noting that the Indians had decided to leave and escorted them to the Utah border. Assurances were received that the Indians would be kept on the reservation. Aside from some inconvenience to the department, Fraser felt that this particu- 23 �fish, sunfish, catfish, perch and "croppies"; that the commissioner be permitted to select individuals as deemed advisable to sell hunting and fishing licenses and provide for a payment of not more than 25¢ on each license to the seller. Civil Service entered into the Constitution of the State in 1918 and immediately bitter litigation broke out as to who should be certified to positions with the Game and Fish Department. Walter B. Fraser emerged as the first certified comm1ss1oner, but 1t was not for long. Some said the strife of litigation had broken his spirit and had influenced his health. He died m California while on lea\'e of absence. Governor Oliver H. Shoup appointed Roland G Parvin to take the pos1t1on as Fraser's successor and, although it was 1919, Pardn's report, still called the "Biennial Report," covers a period from about 191 7 to 1922. Another name was added to the department's payroll in 1919. It was that of I 8-year-old John D . Hart, who was Jestined to see the department through 40 years of its colorful history His salary. as a seasonal employe, was $75.00 a month and remained at that b·el until 1927 when he became a full time employe at S25.00 more per month. He had to furnish his own horse, gun and uniform. Parnn spent approximately $25,000 on black bass, ring perch and sunfish during I 921 and I 922. They were planted m lakes east of the Rockies so farmers could have good fishing without having to go to the mountains. These people, Parnn pointed out, pay thousands of dollars a year into the Game and Fish Department and are entitled to this service. list of game animals instead of being on the predator list. He classified them as scavengers and recommended a season of seven months, beginning September 15. And he named homesteaders as the antelope's worst enemy. Deer herds were growing, thanks to a four-year closed season which Fraser hoped would be extended. He commended the newspapers of Colorado without exception - for the favorable and impartial reports covering activities and operations of the department and for their courtesy in publishing circulars and information to hunters, fishermen anJ tourists. Receipts for the department topped $100,000 for the biennial period for the first time in the department's history Receipts in 1915 were $49,779.01, the receipts in 1916 brought the two-year total to $106,424.79. Among other offenses, people were fined during these two years for killing rabbits out of season, selling li,·e antelope, fishing at night, shooting at night, selling trout, selling game birds and killing song birds. Fraser, m his previous term, recommended that rabbits be protected and the open season on them to extend from October 1 to February 28. He thought the Legislature erred in closing the season entirely on bass and catfish. Also, he recommended a fifteenpound limit on fish for one day and a twenty-five pound possession limit, a ten-bird limit per day in aggregate and fifteen birds m aggregate m possession Fraser recommended seasons on ducks from Sep• tember 1 5 to December 31 to conform to the new fed eral act; an absolute closed season on sage chickens for six years at least; an open season on bass, white- The Roaring 20s-and the 30s A NF\X' system for financing the department was worked out during Par\'ln's tenure. Prior to December I, 1920, the department's act1vit1es had been fmanceJ in two ways. by the fees and fines collected by the department and through appropriations by the General Assembly from the General Fund. The appropriations by the Gc:neral Assembly averaged ahout $25,000 a year. Became it was thought the department should be self-supporting and because of a need for stringent economy, the 23rd General Assembly eliminated all appropriations for the department. To offset the decrease in the department's re"enue, the assembly .1mended the statute go"erning the sale of licenses for hunting and fishing by substantially increasing the fees for these licenses. Hunting anJ fishing license fees went from SI to $2; "foreign licenses" (non- resident) from $2 to $5 a year. A greater number of the combination licenses wew sold after the increase. The number of "foreign·· licenses sold Jecrcased slightly, but the increased price more than m.1de up for this. FeaVi that the department would be crippled by the lack of funds pro,·ed groundless. By rigid economy the department made the funds go farther than usual and many new impro,·emcnts, which had been put off from year to year, were made. New positions of field superintendent with a sal • ary of $1800 and license im·estigator at S 1800 were created. The bag limit on clucks was reduced to IS per day and in possession and two pheasants per day. with not more than thrte in possession at one time Transportation beyond tht state borders, of trout taken from public fohing watc:rs except m fl\·e-pound lots accompanied by the owner, was prohibited. 24 �It was decreed that coyotes, mountain lions, wolves, bobcats and lynx were not big game. The Colorado Antelope Refuge and the following three game refuges were created. Denver Mountain Parks, Pikes Peak and Spanish Peaks. Waterfowl populations increased since the spring shooting season was abolished. Birds go10g north were then stopping (in many instances) 10 Colorado waters where they nested and raised their young. The 23rd General Assembly set aside $25,000 for the eradication of predatory animals, and a considerable number of coyotes, wolves and mountain lions was killed. Parvin felt that better results could be obtained if the state resorted to "the rn-called botmf) I)Ifem." P.irvin noted that "a cat,1i11 Colorado 11eu-Jpaper, one of the ou·11er1 of u·h1ch, ,w ardent sportsm,m intere.rted m the protect1011 of /!.•IIJII!, offer1 a bounty 011 mo1111tai11 /10111 killed Tht record Jhou-s that this paper has paid borml) 011 more mormt,1i11 /10111 than hai·e been 1/,1i11 b) the /!.0t·ernment and Jhtte-paid hunters." A hundred Hungarian partridges were brought from Hungary. They were first placed in the zoo to acclimatize them, then they were released in Yuma, Weld, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Las Animas, Chaffee, Rio Grande, I.a Plata, Dolores and MontelUffil counties. Released in I 922, they did well. Five dozen blue or scaled quail were obtained from New Mexico and were released 10 Sedgwick and Yuma count1e~, and 1200 pheasant eggs were received and hatched at the "experimental farm" maintained at the Denver City Park by the department. After hatching and rearing the birds to a suitable size, they were released in areas where they were requested. California mountain quail were also released m other parts of the state. Elk from Routt County were caught, crated and shipped to Leadville and Ouray by train. They were released near these towns. Other releases were made near Aspen, fates Park, Grand Junction, Hermosa. It is believed that other plants were made on Danyon Mesa and Mt. Evans at this time. In the 1918-22 period, 848 violators were arrested, 783 were found guilty, paid fines of $9255.11; 42 got jail sentences and 23 were acquitted. Thousands of deer, elk and mountain sheep were helped through the winters of ·21 and '22. Twentytwo thousands dollars was spent on hay during the two winters in add1t1on to wages paid to the men who distributed the hay Snow ranging from eight to ten feet in depth covered the animals' winter range in Grand, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Pitkin, Gunnision, Rio Grande and Boulder counties. Bighorns near Ouray and Glenwood Spnngs were also fed Special deputies hired for the occasion often carried the hay into inaccessible places on snowshoes. The new concrete-block hatchery at Denver was built in the last half of 1922 with the department's employes doing the work. These men had formerly been in the building craft and put up a $30,000 building at a cost of 18,000. Their skills were utilized to e::rnt other similar build10gs with the Denver hatchery buildinR as a pattern. Instead of a capacity for hatching 2,000,000 eggs, the new hatchery could handle 6,000,000 twice a year. Department income in 1922 was St 73,914.01. Resident fishing license sales produced $117,903.25. Resident hunting, $34,265. Nonresident fishing, $11,127; nonresident hunting, $1220. 75; sale of beaver hides brought $8842.75. Parvin's biennial report covering the period from 1923 to 1926 described the work done on fish hatch25 �did breeding grounds and which can be secured al compar,11frely small cost. Both federal and state machinery should be set in mo//on at once lo do this, with a defenite propagation and protec/1011 plan in mind. It ,s a big undertaking and cannot be accomplished u·1tho11t determined effort on the part of our citizens, b11t ,t can be accomplished and must be unless tl'e u•a11t to do away w,lh waterfowl shootmg m the f11tt1re." In 1929 a special season was declared in Grand, ery buildings, six in aU, at Bellvue, Cedaredge, Pitkin, Walden, Trappers Lake and Buena Vista. The one at Trappers Lake could be used only in the summer months. This and the one at Walden were not built of concrete. The one at Buena Vista was given a big play with its 200 acres adjoining the reformatory. An additional 100 men were hired as wardens during the deer hunting season of 10 days. As a result, Jaw violations were infrequent. With many mines reopening, pollution became a problem again. Eight additional game refuges were created by the 24th General Assembly. With the five later created by the 25th, this made 18 in all. A total of 3,200,160 acres was included in these figures. Special permits were issued to people hunting or trapping predatory animals with111 the boundaries. Unless plans miscarried, a carload of elk from the Yellowstone National Park was to be shipped to the Buena Vista Park and several of the bulls were to be turned out with the wild herds where needed. A shipment of buffalo cows was also being sent from Yellowstone. The few remaining antelope in the state were doing well. Like the bighorn sheep in the Ouray area, they were considered community property and everyone protected them. Bighorn, it was reported, were preyed on by mountain lions and eagles. As a result they did not increase materially. Grouse, prairie chicken and sage hens did as well as could be expected. In May 1923, some license fees increased. Nonresident hunters paid $25 for a license, $5 for a small game hunting license and, starting January I, 1924, $3 for fishing licenses. Residents' license fees went up to $5 for the b,g game hunting license and $2 for the combination fishing and small game hunting license. The increase in license fees reduced license sales in the next few years but 1925 saw the department regain the lost sales and the 1926 sales exceeded those of any previous years. Nonresident license sales showed a steady increase each year. The annual meeting of the Association of Western States Game Commissioners, organized in 1922, and includ111g the states of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado, was held in Denver in the summer of 1925. At the same time the conventions of the International Association of State Game and Fish Commissioners and the American Fisheries Society were held in Denver. And Parvin wrote: "/ us/ as the time is ripe for Gilpin, Routt and Boulder counties for the hunting of elk to relie\'e farmers of damage by the animals and to scatter the herds over wider territories. A special license was to be issued, but at the last minute, it was found that the commissioner did not have a right to do this so the hunting was allowed on the regular big game license. It was the first elk hunt in 26 years so more than the expected number of hunters showed up, many without the proper elk hunting rifles. The season was only three days long. There were many \ iolat,ons and many of the animals were crippled without being killed. "There were many violatio11r and strong evidence of ,msportsman-like methods,'' Parvin reported. "In this t'espect it was a most u111/lccessf11I seaJon . . ." About 300 animals were killed and crop damage was cut down. Game hogs were a problem and Parvin said, ''Spor/J111e11 m11J/ p111 their Jtamp of disapproval upon mch ac/1011 drastfC,ill; m order to stop ,t." Idleness in the early '30s caused trouble as it had done in 1893. Game and fish law violations increased as 300 convictions in 1930 attest, and close to that number in the first few months of '31. Game and fish law violators were not the only ones picked up by the wardens of that era. Through the 1920s and into the '30s many a "rum runner" and bootlegger was apprehended when they were picked up on suspicion of game law violations, according to John Hart. Most bootleggers in the wilds, he reported, were also guilty of killing deer. Usually when a still was discovered, well-stocked larders of deer meat were also uncovered. And Hart often wondered if illegal beaver trappers were bootleggers on lhe side or if bootleggers found beaver trapping a lucrative sideline. In those days beaver pelts brought high prices. Not only was Hart concerned with local illicit brewers and distillers, ChJCago gangsters of varying degrees of notortety also used a portion of his area for their playground and hideout while the "heat" was on. One time when Hart spotted a car slinking along a country road he gave chase. The fleeing motorists tossed several objects which looked like white geese from the car. Hart did not stop to examine them but cooperalit-e agreement between l,mdou:ners and 1porls111e11 in the 111/ere.rl of game prod11c/Jo11, so is it ripe for a na/101111'/de cooperatit-e effort to propagate waterfowl. There etre plenty of available land and waler areas u•luch can eaJfl) be conl'erted mto splen- 26 �ran down and stopped the speeding car. On taking the men back to the scene of the jettisoned white objects, Hart discovered that they were pillow slips, containing counterfeit bills. Instead of nabbing violators for the Game and Fish Department, he made a good catch for the federal authorities. Parvin said, "There is stro11g sentiment prevailing among fishermen that /icemes shall be required of women and boJ'S 11nde,- 16 as the) a,-e constant offenders in taking ,mdersize fish, and it is a diffimlt matter to put. a stop to it. This group is accused of catching and 1101 ret11mi11g to the stream 11ndersize, fresh/)' pla11ted trout. If they do not stop this practice, they are fast inviting the day when protection will be sought by charging a lice11se fee." A special open season on elk was declared in 1931 from November 5 to 10, inclusive. Male elk having antlers with two or more prongs could be taken in Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Hinsdale, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Pitkin, Routt and Summit counties. Quail could be hunted from November 14 to 18, inclusive. Limits were 10 birds per day or in possession at any one time in Mesa, Delta and that part of Montrose County lying east of the Uncompahgre Divide. Pheasants could be hunted in Mesa County only, from November 14 to 18, inclusive. Limits were two birds a day and not more than three in possession at any one time. Drought was depleting the numbers of waterfowl seriously. Pheasants which were becoming well established in Las Animas County were practically wiped out by paris green which farmers used against an invasion of grasshoppers. Hungarian partridges which had been imported in considerable numbers a few years before had practically disappeared. They seemed to be taking very wel1 to their new home, but suddenly vanished. Unexplained appearance of Hungarian partridges in Wyoming led some people to believe they were the ones from Colorado. Farmers were learning the value of beaver as the dry spell continued. In 1931, Parvin reported, "It is estimated there are 17,000 elk and 45,000 deer in Colo,-ado at this time and they are increasi11g rapid/)'. The a111111al kill of buck deer atierages 4000. It is est,ma/ed that the lives of about 5000 deer 1/'ere saved through the killing of 175 mo1mtai11 lions since the bo11nty latv of 1929 was enacted. It is declared a special elk license will be issued in 1931 at a fee of $7.50 and restl"iclions will be made strict enough to prevent a recurrence of the happenings of the 1929 open Jeason." As deer, elk and other forms of protected wildlife increased under the stabilized and increasingly efficient management, game damage became a problem. Ranchers and farmers demanded some form of restitution for damage inflicted by protected game animals and furbearers. This was taken care of by the General Assembly of 1931 which passed the law stating that, "From and after the passage of this act the State of Colorado shall be liable for any and all damage done to the real or personal property of any persons, firm, association or corporation, hereinafter referred to as 'any person,' in this state, by any wild animal protected by the Game and Fish laws of the state, such damage to be determined and paid as provided by this act." Section 2 of that law provided that, "Whenever any person has sustained damages by any wild animal 27 �protected by the Game and Fish laws of this state, he shall, within 10 days notify the Game and Fish Commissioner of such loss and claim for damages, and file proof thereof on such forms as shall be prescribed by the said commissioner, and said commissioner or his duly authorized agent, shall, within 30 days from the filing of such proofs of loss, make due investigation of such loss and shall, if possible, agree with such person upon the amount of settlement, and, if such agreement shall be arrived at, the said commissioner shall pay such claim in the manner hereinafter provided." A list of 16 hatcheries, their size, location and superintendents was presented in this report. Total capacity of these hatcheries was 75,000,000 eggs annually. No report was made for 1932-34 due to a lack of funds . Employes took a 25 per cent pay cut for four months, losing one month's pay as a consequence. The commissioner was to request from the governor permission to restore these funds when the income rose, but found this could be done only by legislati,e action. Par\'in encountered insurmountable difficulties in the way of acquiring casements f com landowners. [very year the numbers of fishermen and hunters increased as more private land was being withdrawn from puhlir use. Many sportsman-landowner plans had been considered but none, so far, seemed adapta• ble to Colorado. Drought plagued the department. Birds migrated or perished. Fish died as streams dried up and water was used for irrigation. Sportsmen and department men worked frantically to get fish out of impoundments where they were threatened and moved them into the higher country where water was less scarce. About 15,000 game animals in the Gunnison area were fed during the winters because of heavy snows. An estimated 27,000 elk and 50,000 to 60,000 deer were believed to be on the Colorado ranges, after a careful survey of both summer and winter ranges was made. About 225 whitetail deer were believed to exist in southern and southeastern Colorado. An a\·erage kill of about 400 head of elk per year showed the season was not too popular. Letters demanded an earlier or later season. October 12 to 18 was too early became most huntc:rs did not know how to care for the meat. Antelope were increasing in spite of po1chers. In 1933 the department's income hit its lowest ebb and the Game Cash Fund was tapped for unemployment relief as 20 per cent of the small game and fish license fees was set aside to create an easement fund . fortunately, this law was repealed as soon as the crisis was over. As a result of the finanoal diff1cult1es, no new proiects were undertaken although the \ / ,.;; .£!8j. ~ ;:.;;--=-~-~ ""' ', 28 �20-year hatchery building program was completed in its 17th year. Some compensation was gained when in 1933 President Roosevelt's Emergency Conservation Work program was formed. It provided work in conservation and development of natural resources for needy young men. The Civilian Conservation Corps succeeded the organization in 193 7 and continued to make tree plantings to curb erosion and to provide wildlife habitat until 1942 when the tree planting program was turned over to the Soil Conservation Service. The original Administrative Code was passed in 1936 which placed the Game and Fish Department directly under the Executive Department of the State of Colorado. The department was still administered by a commissioner, assisted by the chief game warden and license inspector, a field superintendent and a superintendent of hatcheries. All details of salaries, expected revenues and expenses had to be passed by the governor and the executive council. All revenues collected were deposited in the state treasury for exclusive use of the department. In 1936, John Hart became the department's deputy director and he held this post until his retirement in 1959. His interest in the welfare of game and fish, his constant efforts in behalf of conservation, and his thorough knowledge of all branches of the department's activities made him a "natural" for the position. Because of his penetrating studies in conservation and the goals for the department to aim at, Hart's influence on the shaping of department policies cannot be overestimated. The 18-year-old rumor of the creation of a Game and Fish Commission to administer Colorado's wildlife management program had grown stronger in 1931, but the motion to establish such a commission was defeated by one vote in the State House of Representatives. By 193 7, there were strong pressures by sportsman groups throughout the state to adopt a commission form of administration for the department. However, the completion of the Model Game Administration Law earlier, in 1934, by a committee appointed by the president of the International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners may have been the straw that broke the camel's back. This was made possible only after all the spade work had been done by local sportsmen's groups, which have always been encouraged by department heads. This committee drafted a model plan for state administration of wildlife resources. It was headed by Harry B. Hawes and consisted of 12 top men representing sportsman groups and conservation societies in the U. S. The report's main conclusion was for each state to have a commission of five members ad- ministering their game and fish resources. Colorado adopted this plan, and in 1937 Governor Ammons appointed six commissioners from various districts in the state, and as was prescribed by Colorado statutes, no more than three were of the same political party. The governor served as an ex-officio member, and all commission meetings were open to the public. The former "Game and Fish Commissioner" became the "Director" and administratively answered to the commission, which established department policy, rules and regulations, seasons and bag limits, refuges and the sex of game animals to be legally taken by hunting. A movement to abolish the Game and Fish Commission was defeated by only one vote in 1939, but the commission survived and developed into an efficient management tool. The commission, undaunted by this near defeat, in the same year enacted a complete set of fur laws, dealing primarily with the beaver. The laws provided for inspection and management of Colorado's rich fur resource and adequate personnel for trapping and control. Along with the new beaver laws which canceled all beaver permits and recommended a state force of trappers for damage control, the commission closed the season on all species of grouse. The department in 1938 started publication of a magazine, Colorado Consel"l'ation Comments. This publication was printed quarterly and was given free to anyone requesting it. Leadership was rather unstable during the 193941 biennium with three directors serving during this period. Director R. G. Parvin retired in 1939 after pressure was brought to bear by the newly formed commission regarding Mr. Parvin's poor health. Dean S. A. Johnson of Colorado A & M College was appointed as a temporary director, and on April 10, 1940, Mr. C. N. Feast was appointed. A step forward was the passage in 1939 of the Enabling Act which made the Pittman-Robertson Bill a part of Colorado's wildlife program. The Congress passed this bill which created a 10 per cent excise tax on all sporting arms and ammunition sold in the United States. Later this tax was raised to an 11 per cent tax. These monies were collected and administered by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and apportioned to the states for research, land acquisition and development, and maintenance of lands for the purpose of making them more suitable for the production of wildlife. The department had anticipated the use of federal aid funds, and on December 1, 1938, the position of federal aid coordinator was created and A. H. Carhart was the first to hold the new post. New research projects were initiated in almost all phases of game and fish management as a result of the "P-R" Bill. 29 �The 1940s-Vears of Progress THE 1940s were years of progress. During this period the department's administrative and management principles were studied by other states. New positions of an assistant director, an educational manager and a superintendent of fur resources were created in 1941. In the same year a large stone building at 1530 Sherman, Dem·er, was remodeled and has provided office space for the department ever since. The emphasis of "protection" and "restriction" on hunting in the years past had created a psychological barrier in the minds of many sportsmen. When big game populations pyramided in the late '30s, the public was opposed to liberalized seasons. By 1940, many critical areas were overpopulated with elk and deer, especially on the Western Slope. Deer were e\·cn seen out on the plains in areas that had been void of bu(kskins since early market hunting days. Either-sex seasons, lenient bag limits and broad research programs were badly needed. Extensive feeding programs were carried on during the '30s and early '40s in 17 critical big game areas. All programs were unsuccessful as feeding concentrated the deer, increased disease outbreaks. Besides, the program~ were expensive. During the years that feeding operations were practiced, thousands of dead deer were found on feed grounds with rumens full of hay. The department concluded that the only advantages to winter feeding programs were to control g.une movements and to develop better public relations as winter feeding tended only to satisfy the public cry to save the game animals. Therefore in 1943 and 1944 all feeding operations were discontinued and were to be resorted to only in extreme emergencies. In the biennium of 1939-41 two men were employed as deer herders. They worked through the winter months fencing haystacks and croplands, killmg some problem animals, and herding others to prevent damage to ranchers and farmers. As game management methods improved, game counts reached high importance. Colorado began using the airplane in february of 1939 to obtain trend counts and censuses of elk, deer, antelope and beaver. The first Colorado P-R project on mule deer had been initiated in 1938. The Sapinero deer herd was selected and intensive range analyses were made. Elk investigations were conducted along with deer research. In these early studies, however, mule deer rccei,·ed the bulk of attention due to the extreme deer winter range detcnoratJon. The mule deer population reached about 248,000 in 1941- a tremendous increase from the 1913 low of about 16,000 head. Realizing the only solution would be to reduce deer herds to the range carrying capacity, the department issued the first doe permits since 1907. Public opposition was great, but by issuing only a few permits the harvesting of females gradually became accepted game management practice. Then, in 1945 an either-sex license was created. The trend since has been toward increasing flexibility in types of seasons. For example, in 1947 post and extended seasons came into vogue. In 1948 preseasons were established to give desired heavy kills in overpopulated ranges or areas receiving heavy damage claims. Two-deer areas originated in 1948. Elk seasons followed similar trends and were liberalized in the late forties. Hunters were able to obtain cow ( antlerless) validations in I 940 by submitting an application to the Game and Fish Department. Either-sex seasons were used in 1948. In 1909 the state's antelope population was estimated at 1200 animals. The herds increased to nearly 4000 by 1939, but there were many suitable areas without antelope. In 1940 and 1941, the department trapped and transplanted antelope from the Warren I ivestock land in northeastern Colorado to depleted areas on the eastern plains. By 1940 there were about 7860 antelope in Colorado with about 1000 to 2000 moving back and forth across the Wyoming border in northwestern Colorado. A hunting season requested for the fall of 1940 by department biologists was turned down by the commission. The first antelope season since 1899 was finally obtained in 1945. In 1939 the State Legislature had passed a law gJ\ ing complete protection to all fur bearers not classed as predators. This new law enabled the department to manage more complete!}· Colorado's valuable fur resource. Before 1941 landowners could trap up to 10 beaver per year with the department receiving 50 per cent of the proceeds. However, the beaver law which was passed in 1941 gave the commission complete control of the fur resource. Under the new law, landowners requested control when needed and recei,·ed half of the gross price of furs trapped on their land. A program of transplanting beal'er to drainage headwaters for the purpose of stabilizing stream-flow to improve fishing was instigated in 1939. Another valuable fur animal, the marten, became very scare by 1940 and the trapping season was closed in 1940 and 1941. It was opened in 1942 and then closed until 1945 The fur han·est of all species was down during the war years probably due to a lack of trappers. Other species of big game present during the 30 �early '40s were a few moose in remote areas of northcentral Colorado. Negotiations with Montana were completed in 1941, and in late 1947 the department traded 16 bighorn sheep for an equal number of mountain goats. Grizzlies had been losing ground m Colorado and by 1941 only five were estimated to exist m the state. In that year black bear were declared big game which made collection for bear damage possible by landowners. Originally turkeys were found in nearly all southern Colorado and extended up the front range of the Rockies as far as Buckhorn Mountain west of Fort Collins. Early market hunters made good profits trapping turkeys. In the Tnnidad area, turkeys sold for about 50 cents apiece, mostly to coal miners. Loggers in southern Colorado lived off the land and contributed greatly to the decline of turkey populations, as well as to that of other game. In 1910, turkeys were declining in number and by 1925, existed only in three major areas m the southern portion of the state. At that time it is doubtful if there were over 1000 birds During this low point the department made its first effort to raise turkeys using brood stock from an eastern state. From 1923 to 1934, efforts to preserve the species were limited to occasional feeding during severe winters. In 1934 the first turkey plant was made on Grand Mesa near Kannah Creek and at Sunny Slopes on the Uncompahgre Plateau near Gateway. A few plants and trans- plants were made again in 1937 and 1938; however, survival was poor because most of the releases were pen-raised birds that had lost their vitality due to semi-domestication. In 1940, turkeys were still limited to the Trinidad, Pagosa Springs and Durango areas. Colorado began extensive research and a transplanting program of wild turkeys near Pagosa Springs in 1942. In 1944, the first season since closure of grouse hunting in 1937 was held on sage grouse. Then in 1945 a one-day season was held on all species of grouse. Grouse hunting was agam closed until 1953 but has remained open since. Blue grouse, sharptailed grouse and ptarmigan have not figured as high m the bag as the hardy sage grouse. Chukar partridge, small quail-like birds adapted to semiarid regions, were introduced in 1934. During the 1939-41 biennium, chukars had been planted in all counties, but survival was poor. By 1939, pheasants had been estimated at a million birds. The population declined in 1949 on the Eastern Slope due to winter blizzards. Dunng 1939, 1940 and 1941, duck numbers increased and then remained steady through 1945. The goose population showed good gains in 1945 and some snow geese were wintering in Colorado. Fishing pressure in the '40s increased faster than fish production. This was partly due to a lack of department personnel to maintain adequate fish distnbution during the war years. With the return of 31 �Jen. In the Conservation-Education Division, Dr C. E. Hagie became the first education and information manager; R. M. Andrews, state fish manager in the Fish Management Division; A. D. Coleman, the first supervisor of fur resources in the Fur Division; and J . H ~form, personnel director in the Personnel Division. Kleis Brown replaced Arthur Carhart as federal 11d oordmator and John Hart continued as deputy director of the department. servicemen in 1945, fish production operations took a healthy stride forward. The department was reorganized by the Game and Fish Commission in 1948 into a line organization located centrally in Denver. A branch of administration c~"1e mto being as well as other top positions. Gilbert N Hunter headed the new Game .Management D,\ s10n as state game manager. William F. Hunn continued in his position as Chief Game War- Highlights of the 50s By 1952 there were 25 individual hatchery rearing units of which 23 were exclusively for trout production. These units planted about 11,000,000 foh in 1952 a far cry from the output of only 700,000 fry from three hatcheries in 1891. More th,rn half of the 11,000,000 fish wc:re under thrc:e inches ,ind were c:itht:r packed or flown into back country 1.ikes and !x:.ner ronds. E,·err effort was made to plant 8 -9· ind1 trout 111 arc.is rcccinng hea\'y fishing pressure. Admmistrators looking ahead in 1952 and 1953 saw that facilities for fish production must continually be c:xpanded. Dur mg the: winter of I 954 and 195 5 the new elaborate Rifle Creek Fish Hatchery began produting trout. This hatchery with its 36 hatching tanks and a c.ip.mtr of 1O million eggs cost approx1matel) $1,067,000 and w.is built 18 miles northeast of Ri fle the largest st.ite-opc:rated hatchery m the world. Departmc:nt biologists were constantly 1m·est1gating habitat ,1nd environmental conditions affecting fish espenally smce the passage of the D-J Bill. In 1952, kobnee salmon were introduced into several reservoirs. At the same time, a warm water fish man,1gc:mcnt program began to gam importance. Bighorn sheep hunting was remembered only by fortunate old timers who were able to hunt sheep before 1887 In 1953 the department created a bighorn hunting season and issued 169 licenses in 18 areas, The public was shocked and protested the season vigorously, callmg department biologists names and accusing them of w.1nt111g to wipe out the bighorn sheep m Colorado. Nevertheless, 58 sheep were h.m·ested m 1953 which scattered many hc:rds saving them from c:p1zoot1cs. Unfortun.itelr, the Tarryall herJ was too far gone, due to lungworm infestations, to be hc:lped. As wildlife management became big business, better methods were needed to keep records and to analyw kill dat.1 and census methods. By 1953 new methods of handling data, including additional bust• ness machmc:s, were 111 use. DURING the 19-!0s and early 1950s, C N. Feast pronded the guiding hand for the department At the same time he served as president of the International Association of Game and Fish Commissioners. In 1952 Feast w.1s sent to J,1p.1n b) the asso(1at1on to assist in rebuilding J~panesc wtldltfe resources. He rc:t1red when he returned from Japan. Thom.is L Kimball succeeded hun as director of the department Kimball came to the department from the Anzona C,ame .ind F1,h Dep.irtment where he h.id been the director. He proved except1onallr c.1pable in contmuing the progress1,·e work of former directors. In 1950 the l 'mted States Congress passed the Dingel l-Johnson Bill, which was destined to be the running mate of the Pittman-Robertson Bill. This new bill le,·ied a 10 p<:r cent tax on all fishing equipment and provided for researth, land acquisition and maintc:nance of acqu1rc:d lands, mud1 as did the P-R Bill, but was designed specificallr for fishmes use. In 1951 c;o,ernor Dan Thornton signed Chapter 184, Colorado Session Laws, creating eight g.imc and fish districts thus addmg two commissioners to the Game and Fish Commission, one for each new district. The law prondcd th.it no more than four commissioners be of the same political p,1rty. In October 1951, the department"s magazine, Color,i.lo Co111erl',1tio11 Co11111u•11t•, was changed to a bi-monthly publteat1on and ··commc:nts · was dropped from the title. In 1951 a 1.iw \Us p,1ssed which provided th.it the magazme should be self-supportmg on a paid subsrnpt1on basis. In 1955 the title was changed to Color,1do 011/doors. A motion picture program was started br the In form.ition and Education Di, 1sion in 1952. The first production was entitled, " Goin' Fishing?.. Since then, a total of IO motion pictures has been produced. In 1957, the ,c.-nate Bill 185 was passed giving ;.:ame violators the option of pa} lllJ:: a pen.1lty assessment in I 1eu of going to court. This was advantageous to out-of-st.ite hunter\ became they could pay their penalties in the fic:ld without travc:ling to the nearest court. 32 �In the fiscal year of 1953-54 the administrative heads in the department decided that every effort should be made to combine the duties of wardens, trappers and game damage control officers into a new position with higher salaries and smaller districts. The minimum qualifications were a degree in wildlife management or a closely allied subject or four years of qualifying experience. The position was designated "Wildlife Conservation Officer." A special bear season was established in 1955 during the spring and summer months to help keep damage claims to a minimum. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service cooperated with the department, and control work was done in problem areas. The Soil Bank Act of 1956 took croplands out of production in east central Colorado and helped pheasants nesting in some localized areas. However, since the bulk of the acreage retired from production was not good pheasant habitat, the main pheasant population was not helped by the idle weed-producing lands. Big game has predominated Colorado's history of wildlife management due to its ecological influence upon the range and high economic value as hunted prey for sport and food. In 1961 the highest deer kill in the history of the department, 147,341, was recorded in Colorado. The duck kill continued to increase until 1959. In that year, the harvest was nearly half of the 1958 bag. In 1960 the harvest was a little higher but was 29 per cent lower than the six-year average. Geese increased through 1959, although the 1960 bag was down from the 1959 high of 21,972. There had been few dull sports in the career of John Hart who retired in 1959. He is still leading an interesting and active life in retirement on Colorado's Western Slope. He can truly be referred to as "Mr. Game and Fish Department," because his term with the department witnessed its growth from 26 men to a force of 350 people. He saw the department grow from confusion and instability to one of the nation's most efficient and effective game and fish conservation units. The Legislature, under the urging of GO\·ernor Stephen L. R McNichols, created the Department ot Natural Resources m 1959, which consolidated various state agencies into four divisions water, land, mineral and recreational resources. The Game and Fish Department was placed under the Recreation Resource Division. Dr. Edward Clark was named by McNichols as the state's f1CSt Director of Natural Resources. Under Clark's direction the new department did an exceptional job of coordinating the activities of the four divisions while administrative determinations were left to the individual divisions. In 1959, Ira W. Gabrielson was asked to study the problems and policies of the department. Gabrielson recommended that Game Management, Federal Aid and Fur Resources divisions be consolidated. The recommendation was carried out and by 1960 the reorganization was in operation resulting in an enlarged Game Management Division. In 1960 a group of sportsmen from various sportsmen's clubs organized the "Conservation Council" to back an amendment to the state constitution which 33 �ward who replaced him, came from South Dakota where he had served as director of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Woodward's broad experience proved valuable when the Game and Fish Commission in 1961 effected a reorganization plan approved by the Governor, the Director of Natural Resources and Director Woodward. Under this plan the department was set up to operate under two branches. The new plan created another assistant director, separating research from management activities. One assistant director was placed in charge of research activities at the new wildlife research laboratory in Fort Collins. Law enforcement, fish management, game management and the four regional game and fish managers were placed under the assistant director in charge of management. A new Division of Land Acquisition and Development was created. they claimed would insure good hunting and fishing for themselves and future generations. This move was sparked largely by 1959 legislative findings that 1.4 million acres of public land were blocked by about 236 landowners and lessees. They sought to provide legal access to this land. In addition, they wanted a five-man commission; department control of game and fish funds with General Assembly control over license fees, fines and penalties for game and fish law violations, and other points which they contended would improve hunting and fishing in Colorado. This was one of the mostly hotly contested fearures of the 1960 election but the amendment, along with all others on the ballot, was defeated. Director Kimball left the department in 1960 to become executive director of the National Wildlife Federation in Washington, D. C. Harry R. Wood- A Look Ahead 4. Public Lands: The department should continue to work for the opening of National Parks and Indian Reservations (the latter objective has been attained) to hunting and fishing; the identification of federal and state lands through uniform fencing and marking; the identification of free public access routes to hunting and fishing areas; the opening of certain state school lands to free public hunting and fishing; the acquisition of rights-of-way and construction of more key roads to public lands; the resolution of access problems through improved understanding between sportsmen and land-owners. 5. Land Acquisition: The land acquisition program of the department should be strengthened. The public should be assured that there is no disposition on the part of the department to become a major landowning agency, but that there is a definite need to acquire certain areas for hunting, fishing and wildlife production. 6. Managed Hunting Areas: There is an obvious need to develop rather large managed hunting areas, especially near population centers, where game birds and waterfowl can be produced in adequate numbers to offer hunting opportunities to more persons. 7. Water Development: Every possible means at the disposal of the department should be utilized to encourage water-using and water-developing agencies to design and operate diversions 10 such a manner that the least amount of damage is done to our fish and wildlife resources. 8. Fish Hatcheries: Continuing efforts must be made to improve and modernize our fish hatching SINCE the department's 1910 income of $50,000, a phenomenal economic growth has occurred. In 1933 the gross income was $185,602.72; 10 1943, $617,963.04; with a jump in 1953 to $3,435,226.33; and an all time high in 1960 of $4,526,190.93. In 1960 hunters and fishermen spent $90 million in Colorado, in addition to license Fees, and in 1961, $102 million. The prospects for an increase each year are almost certain with the staggering population expansion the United States is experiencing. Shortly after assuming his duties as director of the department, Harry R. Woodward submitted 12 detailed long-range objectives and recommendations for improving the department. This will serve as a guide for the department"s operation in the ensuing years, subject to revision in keeping with allied conditions. The objectives and recommendations were: 1. A Ten-Year Plan: A long-range plan should be developed covering all phases of department operations. This plan should reflect in detail the magnitude of practical expansion, clarify department policy where feasible, and define future program emphasis. 2. Office Facilities: The over-all efficiency of the department is impaired by the very nature of the Denver office building. A new building should be constructed on the site. 3. Public Relations: The departmenfs public relations program should be redesigned to achieve more efficient cultivation and maintenance of public good will, and to obtain support and understanding of department programs and policies. 34 �and rearing facilities. This must include the acquisition of desirable water supplies and the termination of units which are short of water and inefficient in operation. 9. Deer Populations: While the overpopulation of many of our deer ranges may be a temporary matter, failure to adequately harvest deer now could be disastrous to these ranges for many years. Every possible effort should be made to plan seasons in such a manner that more hunters will be attracted to these problem areas. If this fails, a more drastic method of control should be considered. 10. Recreational Development: It is imperative to ensure the integrity of the use of game and fish funds in the future. This can best be accomplished by formulating a policy whereby such funds would be allocated for recreational development only when directly attributable to hunting and fishing. 11. Federal Aid Funds: It would be advantageous for the department to provide for increased utilization of federal aid monies and services in construction and development projects. 12. Hunter Safety: Colorado's hunter safety program should receive greater emphasis through an intensified training program for instructors and students. Legislation should be requested to make it mandatory that all persons obtaining hunting licenses must first take some form of hunter safety training, and that all juveniles be required to take the hunter safety course prior to purchasing a hunting license. The Game and Fish Commissioners will continue to meet the issues in managing the state's wildlife with the same competence developed and used in the past. The difficulties of managing such an extensive resource are almost insurmountable, although with public education and cooperation, new horizons will appear and new goals will be determined. Fish and game are here to stay and will continue to be an economic asset to Colorado, perhaps the number one industry in Colorado. The department is truly in the last phase of game management, that of environmental control and management, but the era of public education, and perhaps "human management," is matching strides with resource management. This has been a resume of the past and should provide an index to the future; that is, a continual process of improvement, better management and an increased importance of Colorado's wildlife resource. The game and fish are held in trust for all the people by the Colorado Game and Fish Department, an agency dedicated to wise use of natural resources. With a guiding hand, Colorado will retain its lofty position that Teddy Roosevelt forecast so many years ago when he acclaimed Colorado the "Recreational Playground of America." 35 �Historical Highlights 1861 First Territorial Assembly met and pas~d law prohibitin,iz the talc:in,iz of fish by seine, net, basket or trap; specifilxl penalties for same. 1870 Territorial Assembly passed three laws. ont prohibiting the taking of fish by poisonous, deleterious, stupefying drugs. explosives; another specifying that fish-ways be provided around dams, weirs and other obstructions; the last makin,iz it illegal to hunt quail un• til October 1, 1873. 1872 Terntonal Governor Edward N. McCook warned settlers that pme and fish were in dan.izcr of bein,iz extermi• nat,-d, mainly by market hunters; fa. vored strong laws protecting wildlife. A law passed gave some protection to a variety of birds, plus buffalo, deer, elk and bighorn sheep. Constables and sheriffs expected to enforce laws . The State'i finl fi1h hJtrhuy u•.t.r built in 1881 . lt u.>aJ rebuilt in 1922 and JJ 1111/ in use. /1 ii locJled north of De111a neJr Henderion. 1876 Colorado attained statehood. Bounty laws placed on coyotes and wolves 1877 Wilson E. S1sty named first commissioner Position of fish commissioner established . Salary set at $100 per year 81,izhorn sheep protected by law as they were near extinction 1880 1889 Buffalo declared extinct an North Park State"s first fish hatchery built north of Denver. Gordon I.and named fish commissaoner Salary and expenses for comm1ss1oner totaled $"700 Governor created four game districts. Waterfowl ,'liven ,greater protection 1882 1893 1881 S1sty planted 2-10.000 newly hatcht-d trout from fish hatchery. sold 40,000 to private individuals . Sisty introduced mirror carp to state. 1885 John Pierce named comm1ss1oner. Dynamiting trout prevalent in state ~e.i.son on antlered deer and elk set October I through November l ~. Bounti,-s removed on wolves, coyoks. lions, hawks 1886 Sportsmen formed game and fish protective associations throughout state 1887 Wilion E. Silly, Colorado'i firit firh commiu1onu ierved three tenni. C, F Whatehead named commissioner B1,llhorn sheep protected year round County commissioners empowered to appoint special wardens. Season on antlered deer and elk, September I - D,,cember I. 36 W R Callicotte named ""Fish Comm1ss1oner and Game Warden" Panic of 1893 created problem with poachers. Indians raided Colorado mule deer herds 1895 Gord, ,n I.and named Fish Comm1ss1oner and Game Warden J S Swan named "Forest, Game and Fish Conmissioner." 1897 Le~•islature changed tatle of "State Fash Commissioner and Game Warden" to " Forest, Game and Fish Commissioner," and created the "~partment of Fort-slry, Game and Fish."' 1898 State antelope population estimated at 25,000. Troubles with the Indians continued �Market hunters su,h as these brought Colorado's wildlife dose to extin,tion in many areas of the state. This photo was takm 011 the west side of North Park in 1889. 1899 T . H. Johnson appointed first "Game and Fish Commissioner." Legislature removed " Forestry" responsibilities from department and changed title from "Department of Forestry, Game and Fish" to "Depart· ment of Game and Fish." 1901 Charles W. Harris named Game and Fish Commissioner. Harris wounded while attempting to stop Indians from poaching deer. 1903 John M . Woodard named Game and Fish Commissioner. Elk season closed. Hunting licenses created. 1904 Congress established National Forests. Rangers assisted in enforcing game and fish laws. 1907 David E. Farr named Game and Fish Commissioner. 29,377 hunting licenses sold. Game and Fish Comminioner, John M. Woodard, poses with an illegally taken elk, whfrh was killed only for its teeth. 37 �Ute Indian police from the White River Agency, 1900. A couple of pioneer fishermen try their luck. Note the hand nets. 38 �A load of wnfiscated deer hides, Rio Bla11co County, 1902. 1908 Fish hatchery constructed near Del Norte. 1909 Thomas J. Holland named Game and Fish Commissioner. Deer kill estimated at 500 by Holland. 1911 James A. Shinn named Game and Fish Commissioner. Bighorn sheep increased. Cash receipts amounted to $53,729.65 . 1913 Walter B. Fraser named Game and Fish Commissioner. 1914 Fish hatcheries built at Antonito, Aspen and Georgetown, making a total of 19. Indians from Utah continued raiding deer herds. 1918 Civil Service became part of State Constitution. Fraser first certified commissioner. Antlered only deer season opened. A trio of lion hunters with their kill, circa 1902. 39 �One of Colorado's disringuiihed non-resident hunters, Teddy Roose,,elr, with his hunring parry near Meeker, 1905. - - - - -IISIOUT - - IUWL IDWTIIG AID RSRIRS UCEJISE NC? 24831 STATE OF COLORADO $1.00 DEPARTMENT OF G AME A N D F ISH Denv•_'• Colo.• ------~ -:?.. __, 1914. 7 ~-~~ Tlllacertlfteatbat •• wboae }lll&nature appear• hereon, and w~'lepr\••~~,,-•lt to Te■ldent be a or-~ ~::-_/"~--- ln the State of Colorado, Is entlUed to hunt and fllb Jn th Slate ■ ot Colorado, In contorrnlty wJtb law. dudng tbe aeuon ot uu. This Llcenae UI bot transferable. does not authorise tra.n.aporta- • Uon or ■ale. and la void unlea signed by. and tn tbe actual poue.aa1on of, tbe Jlcenaee. Opportunity to ln•pect and copy muat be a.fforde4 to any om~r a.atborlsed to demand lhe •a.me. e8 Tbls Lieus, Is aot good after December 31st, 1914, ud t o D11.SCRIPTION OF UCII.NSDt !! h 4•--? f _ye&n, fbelg -. t...:f~ ~~..:::;;,•t. welgh~t ./.6-!1-!b•. color of eye•-- lor ot haJr....-.:::2 ~ i ~ mast be In rour possession1h11 Hunll1g or Flsblng. O ae,x_______ ---- - -- ------ otber dla I Ive marks -------- -·----------- ---------------- ---- A 1914 resident hunting and fiJhing license. A "Typical Colorado Game Warden," 1915. 40 �Surr.11 of /1,, e,,,., and I ult J)tpa,tmcnt ~I The organizational chart of the Game and Fi1h Department from the biennial report of 191.5-1916. 1919 Roland J. Parvin replaced deceased Fraser as Game and Fish Commissioner. 1920 Game Cash Fund created, department became self-supporting. License fees increased by Legislature. Four game refuges created. 1921 Elk, deer and bighorn in certain areas fed through the winter. 1922 Department income reached $73,914.01. Hungarian partridges scaled and California quail planted. 1923 Taking spawn was an importam part offish cNllure acti11itie1. 41 License fees raised. Eight more game refuges established. 160 acres purchased in Larimer County for reservoir. Land purchased in Durango area. �1925 State's wild turkey population estimated at less than 1000 birds. 1929 Season for antlered deer or elk opened First elk season since 1902. Two-bird bag limit and three-bird possession limit for pheasants established for Weld and Logan counties. 1930 Pheasant season closed until 1933. 1931 Legislative move to establish a Game and Fish Commission defeated by one vote. State game damage law passed. 1933 Department revenue estimated at a low point due to depression. Department's Game Cash Fund tapped for unemployment relief. Gross income estimated at $185,600. Black bass and yellow perch were distributed in many Eastern Slope waters. The Denver hatchery was rebui/1 in 1922 by department labor. Note truck. 42 �Deer pop11/atiom had pyramided in the 30J. Feeding deer in the Glenwood Springs district, 1931. 43 �1934 25 per cent of personnel laid off due to depression. Fi rst turkey plants made on west slope tn Kannah Creek and U ncompahgre areas. Chukar partridge introduced into Colorado 1936 20-year hatchery development program completed in 17 years. Admtnistrative Code adopted. Game and Fish Department placed under executive branch of the state government. Salaries, revenue and expenses to be passed on by governor and executive council. A ll revenue to be kept tn state treasury fo r exclusive use of the Game and Fish Department. 1937 Roland G Parvin named .. Game and Fish Department D irector.'" Game and Fish Commission plan, drafted by committee appointed by International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners in 1937. adopted by Legislature. Six commissioners, representing six state dis- FiJhi11g was good i11 back-country lakes in the 30s. FISH COMMISSIONERS AND D IRECTORS Year 1877-1884 1885-1886 1887-1888 1889-1892 1893-1894 1895-1896 1897-1898 1899-1900 1901-1902 1903-1906 1907-1908 I 909-1910 19 11-1912 19 13-1918 19 19-1936 1937-1939 1939-1940 1940-1951 1952-1960 1961- T itle Name Fish Commissioner Fish Commissioner Fish Commissioner Fish Commissioner State Fish Commissioner and Game Warden State Fish Commissioner and Game Warden Forest, Game and Fish Commissioner Game and Fish Commissioner Game and Fish Commissioner Game and Fish Commissioner Game and Fish Commissioner Game and Fish Commissioner Game and Fish Commissioner Game and Fish Commissioner Game and Fish Commissioner Game and Fish Department Director Game and Fish Department Director Game and Fish Department Director Game and Fish Department Director Game and Fish Department Director Wilson E. Sisty John Pierce G. F. Whitehead Gordon Land W R. Callicotte Gordon Land J S. Swan T. H . Johnson Charles W . Harris John M. Woodard David E Farr Thomas J. Holland James A. Shinn Walter B. Fraser Roland G . Parvin Ro land G Parvin S. A. Johnson C. N Feast Thomas L. Kimball Harry R. Woodward 44 �tricts, three Democrats and three Re• publicans, appointed by Governor .Am• mons. •·Game and Fish Commissioner" became "Game and Fish Department Di• rector." Predatory bird trapper employed to take magpies and crows. 1938 Department magazine "Colorado Conservation Comments," began quar· terly publication. Position of federal aid coordinator established. A. H. Carhart first appointee. A fiJherman gel! ready to land a &at,h. Note the large rree/. Roland G. Parvin, director, 1919·1939, 1939 Beaver transplanting program started. Legislature adopted law protecting fur bearers including beaver. Pheasant population in Colorado es• timated at one million. Start of program to plant chukar partridge in all areas of state. Use of airplanes for annual big game census started. Two deer herders employed by department to fence, shoot and rally and herd deer from ranch and farm lands. Movement in Legislature to abolish the Game and Fish Commission de• feated by one vote. Game and Fish Commission adopted set of fur regulations. Grouse season closed. Legislature passed Enabling Act to make Robertson-Pittman Bill part of Colorado Wildlife Research program. Antelope populatjon estimated at 4000. R. G. Parvin retired as director. S. A. Johnson appointed temporary director. As times ,hanged, so did eq11ipment. 45 �C. N. FeaJI, director, 1940·1951. Elk f urnhhed 1port and backbreaking labor for hunters. 1940 C. N. Feast appointed permanent director in April. Department owns under 2000 acres of land. \X'dd turkey still found only in Trinidad, Pagosa Springs and Durango areas. First mourning dove season held Tolal harvest 36,373 doves. Martc:n trapping season closed in 19/40 anti 1941 Det.:r and elk ovc:r-populated the \X'estern Slupe and deer se<:n out on r·la1ns Antkri<:ss elk penn1ts on lottery hasis first issued. Antelope trapped and transplanted fro1•1 thtc northeast to areas depleted un •he t·astern plains. Antelope pupul.1111111 e~tli,ated at 7860 including .,lw,. t .::ono moving back and forth bet we, 1 \\yomi'lg and Colorado. 1941 P,1s•twns uf assistant director, e<lu,at1n11al manager and superintendent of fur res,ll. rces establishc-d. Head'l' .ut~rs for department establi,ht:d at 1 ~ ,o ',!,err.,an after extensive remodel Ill~ Dc:1.:r and elk licenses separated Mule Jeer population in state est, makJ at 248,000. F1 rst anrlerless deer permits issued SID(t' I 9(f7 Estimate only 5 grizzl)' bears left in state Beaver laws passed by Legislature _g1v1n_.: rnmplete control over b<·avcr to Gamt· ,ind Fish Department Dept1rlme111 .ulmi11i1tratite per1omiel in 1940. Top row, left lo right: "Pat" MacDonald, AJJiJlant Superi11te11de111 Fur Re10urce1; A. Dean Colem,m, Supaint01de,11 Fu, Re10urce1; Ted Su·em, W'i/dlife Techmcian, Gilbert N Hunter, M1111,tger of Gdme a11d Fnh. Bollom row: John D. Hart, Auhta111 Director, C. E. Hagie, Educ.1tio11.1/ Ma11.1ger; R. G. Haviland, S11p,r1111e11de11t of Hatcheries; Cleland N. Fea11, Director. 46 �1942 Intensive research program begun into wild turkey near Pagosa Springs. Marten trapping sea.son opened again after two-year closure. 1943 Bear declared a big game animal. Legislature passed law that no commissioner may succeed himself and that at least one commissioner must be actively engaged in livestock. Department's gross annual income $618,000 1944 All department programs for feeding wildlife stopped except in the case of extreme emergencies. Sage grouse season held; first since 1937. Marten trapping season closed again. Colorado's dur herds ,onlinued lo mushroom. 1945 Either sex deer season opened for first time. First antelope season since 1899 held Sage grouse season closed. Goose population reported showing good gains and flock of snow geese observed wintering in the state for the first time. First season held on band-tailed pigeons in many years. Season closed later by Fish and Wildlife Service due to inadequate populalion of birds. 1947 Post and extended hunting seasons 1mtiated. Colorado traded Montana I 6 bighorn sheep for 16 Rocky Mountain goats. Goats released near Mt. Shavano an Salida area 1948 Two deer areas created for hunting season Either sex elk season held Department purchased Tamarack Ran h for waterfowl hunting, research and development area. Department reorganized with cen• tral control in Denver. Department of administration created; also game mana,1tement division with G . N . Hunter as game manager. A ,oni·erled hom, al U30 Sherman Strut, Dmver, hllI bun 1he depar1me111' s headquarters for more 1han 20 years. 1949 Because of research and transplant• ing, wild turkey populations found in many areas of both east and west slopes. 1950 Bighorn sheep population estimated at 3~00, the hi,1thest in the nation . 47 �1951 Editor Charles Hjelte wins MCI award. Game aod Fish Department made a part of new Natural Resources Department. Dr. Edward Clark appointed first Natural Resources Director b) Governor Steve McNichols. Rocky Mountain sheep sighted at Mt Harvud Sheep part of 1947 plant at Mt. Shavano Chapter 18-1, Colorado Session Laws, passed creating eight Game and Fish Districts in state, adding two. Eipit commissioners, one from each district, appointed, increasin,1t size of commission from six to eight. No more than four of the ei,1tht commimoners may be from ont: political party. Wann water fish management gains importance Dep.trtment magazine changes name to "Colorado Conservation" and is publish<:d six times a year. Also beor ,es s<: f-supporting by State law. 1960 1952 Thomas L. Kimball named Gamt: and Fash Departmc:nt Dm,dor E1tht·r sex elk season held 25 fish n·.1ring units in state - all hut two dc:vott·d solelv to trout I I 000,000 f,sh pla~tt:d an Colorado i,shan~• watc:rs Kok.inc:e s.1l111on first introduct·d to statt fishing waters. Mutwn picture pro_i:ram startt:d br D<:p.irtment First dq,artmt:nt-prnduced film ent1tlc:d Goin' Fishing" 1953 Dt·partmt·nt'llj ~ross annual income:, .S "\,-l "\ 5,226. Mult iple litt·nse issu<:d for first time for ,ker season . First sc:ason held for bighorn shttp since I RIP 58 sh<:<:p har,tsted Sage grouse season hdd for first tune 'ln<t· 19-17. Depul) D1ra1or John D. H.zrl al h11 1eru,~- re1tre111e111 ti/Jer 40 Jeur1 of 11u1e 1954 San Juan Grizzly Refuge tstablished Rifle Crtek Fish Hatchery, largest in world, 1->t·gins producing fish for plant, ing in st.He fishing waters Built at cost of $1,067,000 ''\X'ildl1fe Re\lew," first TV pro• gram conducted hy depannwnt, be,i:un on KREX Grand Junction Later in year, program started on educational TV station. KRMA, Den, ver Wildl1ft- Conservation Officer rosition creattd in dtpartment hr comhinini; old rositions of warden. game d.1magt control officer and trapper 1955 Sp,- 111 lx11r season initiated Department magazine chan.i:<:s nanw tn "Colorado Outdoors .. 1956 Mournin,-: dove season harvest, 210.0% hirds 1957 Senatt Bill IRS adopted hr I.eg1s• lature creating penalt,· asst·ssrnent option for game law violators ,n lieu of '" rt a 1 •pea ranee 1958 F,rst hukar partridse season held D<:p.....nent starts Hunter Safet)' program . 1959 Thom.11 L. Kimball, d,rutor, 1952-1961. G, "' harvest total, 21,9~2 h1rds Off,,t of consult,tnt created in derartment for conservation education in schools . Cartoon Series · Wildlife Willie" b) 48 Amendment 3 ( a proposed bill to cut number of commissioners, to gain access to public lands, and to spend license money without appropriation) defeated Game management, fur resources and federal aid consolidated into game management division Publication, • Antelope of Colorado," wans top AACI award Department movie, Realm of the Beaver," takes sernnd place AACI award. 16 South Dakota and Montana Ro,kr Mountain sheep released in Mt. Ev,,ns area of Eastern Slope. Plwasant harvest 200,000. Mourning dove hal'\est 151,386. 2-1 million fish planted in state fish 1ni; waters. ·Eight ol->,,,lete rearan.i: units closed Cmt of hatc~t:f}' fish down to i'O cents per pound. Dt·partment's gro" income S-1, 526,· 190. Hunters and fishermen src:nt total of $90 million 1n state in 1960 Dc:partmtnl owns ov<:r 111 ,000 acn·, of land, 3- Likes and reser\'oirs and ha, wnstructed another 32 since ,kpartment came into being. 1961 Dt:<:r harvest I 17,3-11 - highest an nation an 1961 and highest in Colorado h1storv. Dt:partm.rnt reorganized hy new d1rt·,t<>1, Harry Woodward, with apprm al of Governor and Diredor of N.1tural Re,ources. Research separated from manai:;ement, and position of 'A,s,stant Director for Research" created Laurence Riordan first to fill posatton "A~s,stant Director for Man.ti;<:mt-nf cn·ated, Rnl->trt Elliott first to hold pos1t10n . Di, 1sions of law enfor<ernent, game management and fish m.tnagement plared under m.tnager,ient division State di\'id('d into four reg ;ins with regional offices at Fort Coll ans, Colurado Springs, Montrose and Grand Junction Four rt·gional "Game and Fish Manager" position~ created, all under assistant d1rettor for management "Operation Respect," program aimed at developing better sportsman-land owner relallons, instituted. �GAME AND FISH COMMISSIONERS 1937 Dr. H arold Watson, D istrict I N Dean H enry, District 2 H . G . Kendall, D istrict 3 Otis E. McIntyre. District 4 B. H . Jorgensen, District 5 R G . Lyttle, D istrict 6 1946 Carl A Nor~ren, D istrict I E. T Hall, D 1stnet 2 H . G . Kc:ndall. District 3 Otis E McIntyre, D istrict 4 H arry M organ, D istrict 5 R. G Lyttle, D istrict 6 1938 Dr. Harold Watson, District N . Dean H enry, D istrict 2 H . G Kendall, D istrict 3 Otis E. Mclotrre, District 4 B. H . Jorgensen, District 5 R. G . Lyttle, District 6 1939 Dr. Harold Watson, D istrict N . Dean H enry, District 2 H . G . Kendall, District 3 Otis E. McIntyre, District 4 B H . Jorgensen, D istrict 5 R. G. Lyttle, D istrict 6 1940 Dr. Harold Watson, District N . Dean H enry, D istrict 2 H . G . Kendall, D istrict 3 Otis E. McIntyre. District 4 B. H . J ors ensen, District 5 R. G. Lyttle, District 6 194 1 Dr. Ha rold Watson, District N D ean H enry, D istrict 2 H . G . Kendall , District 3 Otis E Mcintyre, District 4 B. H . J orgensen, District 5 R. G Lyt tle, District 6 194 2 D r. Harold Watson, District N Dean H enri•, D istrict 2 H . G Kendall. District 3 Otis E llfclnt}' re, District ,j B. H . Jorgensen, District 5 R. G. Lyttle, D ist rict 6 1943 Carl A . Norgren, District I N . D ean Henry, D istrict 2 H . G . Kendall, D istrict 3 Otis E. McIntyre, D istrict 4 Harry Morgan, D1stnct 5 R. G . Lyttle. District 6 1944 Carl A . Norgren, District N . Dtan H enry, D istrict 2 H G. Kendall, D istrict 3 Ous E Mclntvre. D istrict 4 H arry Morgan, District 5 R G Lyttle, District 6 1945 C:irl A Norgren, Dismct 1 E. T H all, D ,stnct 2 H G KenJ,ill, District 3 Ot,s E. McIntyre:, District 4 HJrrv Mo rl!an. District 5 R G Lyttl;, District 6 1947 Carl A. Norgren. District 1 E. T H a ll, D istrict 2 Roy Eckles. District 3 Theo dore V. Eck lt:s. D istrict 4 Harry Mo rgan, District 5 R. H . Hubbard. District 6 I I 1 1 L 1948 Carl A. Norgren, D istrict l E. T H all, District 2 Roy Eckles, District 3 T. V. Eckles, Di strict 4 H arry Mo rgan, D istrict 5 R. H . Hubbard, D istrict 6 1949 Dr. Harold Watson. District E. T Hall , District 2 Roy Eckles, D istrict 3 T. V. Eckles, D istrict 4 Clair Hotchkiss, D istrict 5 R. H . H ubbard, District 6 1950 Dr. Harold W atson, District I E. T . H a ll , D istrict 2 Roy Eckles, D istrict 3 T . V . Eckles, D istrict 4 Clair Hotchkiss, D istrict 5 R. H . Hubbard. District 6 1951 Dr. Harold Watson, D istrict I H . A Roberts, D istrict 2 Harle)' Rhoades, Distnct 3 Roy Ecklt·s, District 4 T . V . Eckles, District 5 E. H .Mullins, District 6 Clair Ho tchkiss, District 7 R. G Little. District 8 1952 Dr. Harold Watson, District 1 H A. Roberts, District 2 Harle)' Rho ade:;, District 3 Roy Eckles, District ,1 T . V Eckles, District 5 E. H M ullins, D istrict 6 CIJ1r Ho tchkiss. D istrict 7 R. G Lyttle, D1s1rrct 8 1953 Dr Haro ld Warson, D istrict H A Roberts. District 2 Harle}' Rhoades. District 3 Jo hn llfcClel!Jnd, D"tnc:t 4 H enry l..1r,ue, D1 stnct 5 Earl H M ullins, District 6 Clair Hotchkiss, D istrict 7 Richard G Lyttle, D,~tnct 8 49 1937-1960 1954 Glen B. Clark, D,smct I H A Roberts, D1stnct l Harley Rhoades, D istrict 3 John M cClelland, D istrict 4 Henry Lague, District 5 Earl H . Mullins. District 6 Clair H otchkiss, District Richard G . L yttle, D istrict 8 19 55 Clarence Baker, District 1 H A . Roberts. Disuict 2 Harley Rhoades, District 3 John McClelland, D ist rict 4 H<"nry Lague. District 5 Earl H . M ullins District 6 D r T O P lummer. D istrict 7 RtChard G . Lyttle:, D istrict 8 1956 Cllrcnce Baker, District I H A. Roberts, District 2 H enry BleJsoe, District 3 Jo hn M cClellJnd, District 4 Henry Lag ue, District 5 Dewer Brown, District 6 D r. T. 0 Plummer, District 7 Richard G Lyttle, D istrict 8 1957 Clarence Baker. District 1 Pni Griffin, District 2 H enry Bled~oc. District 3 J o hn .McClelland, District -1 Henry LaJ<ue, District 5 Dewey Brown, District 6 D r T . 0 Plummer, D ist rict 7 Ralph L. White, District 8 1958 Chuence Baker. District I PJt Griffin. District 2 Henry Bledsoe, District 3 John J\fcCldland, D istrict 4 H enry Lague, District 5 D ewey Brown, District 6 Dr. T . 0 . Plummer, District i Ralph L. White. Distriu 8 1959 Clarence Baker. District I P.11 Griffin, District 2 Henry Bledsoe, D1slrict 3 Roy Eckles, Di strict 4 P.uker Sooter, District j Dl•wei· Brown, D istrict 6 Dr T . 0 Plummer, D1slnct Ra.lph L \Xlhttc:, Dism c1 8 1960 Clarence Bakt:r. Distnct 1 P.ll Griffin. D1stm t 2 Ht:nf\' Bled,oe. D1S1rill 3 Rn} Eckles D1s1r1ct 4 Parker Sooter, District 5 Dt·wey Brown, District 6 Dr T O Plummer, D1strtct ~ R..1 lph L White, D istrict 8 �Annual Report for 1961 The Game and Fish Commission THE policies under which the Game and Fish De- may be members of the same political party. At least one member of this governing body must be a rancher. The commission members receive no compensation for their services but they are entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred by them during the discharge of their official duties. The setting of policies under which the department operates and the establishment of regulations concerning the management of game and fish are the principal duties of the commission. partment operates are set by the eight-man Colorado Game and Fish Commission. Each member of the commission, representing a district of the state, is appointed by the Governor, who is himself an ex-officio member of the commission. The eight appointments are for staggered sixyear terms. No member of the commission may succeed himself but may be reappointed at a later date and no more than four of the commissioners C. Dewey Brown District 6 President Pat Griffin District 2 Vice-President C. Dewey Brown (Republican) is publisher of the award-winning Monte• zuma Valley Journal and the Cortez Sentinel and a past president of the Colorado Press Association. He is a member of many ci"ic and sportsmen's associations. He was elected president of the commission in May 1961, and retires in May 1962. Pat Griffin (Democrat) of Fort Collins is a petroleum and tire distributor and a recent appointee to the Executive Board in the Petroleum Section under the War Manpower Act. He is a graduate of Oklahoma's Southwestern State College and will serve on the Game and Fish Commission until May 1963. Ralph White District 8 Secretary Henry Bledsoe District 3 Ralph White (Democrat) of Craig has been Clerk of the District Court in Moffat County since 1911. He is the president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Craig. White, a n.1ti\e Coloradoan, has served as mayor of Craig. His term with the Colorado Game and Fish Commission will expire in May 1963. Henry Bledsoe (Republican), Yuma rancher, served as a county commissioner and was a member of the State l!.egislature from 1945 to 1951. His business duties take up much of his time, but has love of the outdoors keeps him interested in game and fish affairs. Bledsoe wall serve on the commission until May 1962. 50 �Roy Eckles District 4 Parker Sooter District 5 Roy Eckles (Republican) of Lamar is currently serving his second term as a commissioner. Appointed first by Governor Knous in 1947, Eckles was reappointed by Governor McNichols in 1959. Eckles, a tire and appliance dealer, is active in several sportsmen's groups and in civic affairs. Parker Sooter (Democrat) is currently a restaurant operator in Alamosa, but was previously associated with the Monte Vista Potato Growers Association and the Department of Agriculture where he was a farm planner and land appraiser. Sooter is an avid sportsman. Augustus P. Hann District 1 Melvern Renfrow District 7 Augustus P. (Gus) Hann (Democrat) of Denver is a retired General Motors official and a retired U. S. Army Colonel. Born in New Jersey, Hann grew up in Kansas and Texas. He was appointed to the commission in May 1961 by Governor McNichols. Melvern Renfrow (Republican) is owner of two stores in Delta. He was born in Oklahoma, but came to Delta 22 years ago. He is treasurer and director of the Delta Sportsmen's Association. He was appointed to the commission in May 1961 by Governor McNichols. Retiring Commissioners - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dr. T. 0. Plummer District 7 Clarence W. Baker District 1 Dr. T. 0. Plummer (Democrat) of Montrose is a physician and surgeon, a certified flight surgeon and a civil aviation examiner for the Federal Aviation Authority. He is presently a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Plummer finished his term as commissioner in May 1961. Clarence W. Baker (Republican) of Lakewood is a past superintendent of the Ford Motor Company and a retired automobile dealer. He has participated in educational and civic affairs. Baker, who is a Deputy U. S Game Warden, retired from the commission in May 1961. 51 �Department Organization T HE Colorado Game and Fish Department, in its forcement Division, Federal Aid, Fur and Grune Damage sections. The four regional offices are headed by regional managers who supervise the work and plans of area supervisors in their region and also the fieldmen or wildlife conservation officers and aides and the hatchery and rearing units personnel who come under the area supervisors. Wildlife research is headed by an Assistant Director for Research who supervises the plans and work carried out in the numerous research fields involved in wildlife management. In all, there are 342 employes in the Game and Fish Department. operations and planning, is guided and administered by the director who 1s responsible to the commission. In the director's administration of the department are five distinct sections of operations . . . Wildlife Management, Wildlife Research, Business Administration, Information and Education and Land Acquisition and Development. Wildlife management is headed by an Assistant Director for Management who supervises the Game Management and Fish Management DiYisions, the four regional offices located at Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Montrose, the Law En- GC>vemor I I 0.rector of Natural Resources I Commission Director Au.istont Attorney General I I Assistant Director ASStstont Director Monogement Research I pi.,.ision of Law EnforceMCflt Division of Game Mmogetnent Dtrision of fisll Mono,tment Game Manoge.r Chief Worden Fish Manager Season Recommcndotions Hunter Safety Season R.ecommendotions : Lake and Stream Hobttot land Monogc-ment Nv...,,. ,----------- ----------· '' '' Public Hunting Anos '' , ___________ ,''' Oomoge CJouM hgioaal Monogtta Goma Manotemtnt Fish Monogement Gome R.,....,h laboratory Trvut Small Gome Colorado State University Relations Worm Water Fish Waterfowl Spoclal Studies Hotc.hfflft Fur lleort"rs fltJu ng Acceu A.root Predators ------------ Law Enforcement Land Monogeme,it I OiY'ilion of lnfonnotion Dm11on of AdministrDhon Ckitf of Ed1.1Cotion lulinesa Monog.er Publications 0.visfOfl of Land Acqu1s1tion ond Dtvelopment Engineering Fi1eol Control land A.cqui11tion lnformotion Uc•• W°'"' Right, Educ:oho• p.,.,nnfl Leases and Controctl VIIUGI Aids FedffOI Jud Regional Educators Purchosin41 Phototrophy ln•ento,y Tron.sportotiOft 52 Fish bseotch Cooperahve Units Ii; Gome �Management areas, recommendations for the setting of hunting seasons, operation of check stations, and the administration of game damage claims. A LTHOUGH wildlife management and wildlife research are two separate and different functions of the Colorado Game and Fish Department, they are closely related and, of necessity, closely integrated. From the standpoint of game and fish management, 1961-62 was an outstanding year for the department, record setting in some aspects. There were more hunters and fishermen in the field than ever before, the department received more revenue from license sales than ever before and record harvests of game animals were realized in some areas of the state. Records set by the state's outdoorsmen which brought national attention were the following: A record mule deer kill, 147, 341, which put Colorado first in the nation in this respect. The certification of an elk head from Colorado's Anthracite Creek area as the world's record by the Boone and Crockett Club. The certification of a Middle Park mule deer head as the third ranking head in the world by the Boone and Crockett Club. The establishment by the commission of the most liberal mule deer hunting seasons in the nation. The catching of a state record brown trout from the Animas River last October by Jesse Brown of Durango. The trout was 36 inches in length and weighed 23 pounds. The 1961 Big Game Season In 1961, over 63 per cent of all Game and Fish Department income came from big game hunters. Of this total amount, 61 per cent was derived from nonresident hunters although they bought only 33 per cent of the deer licenses sold and only 18 per cent of the elk licenses sold. And 141,590 deer hunters in Colorado in 1961 harvested a record total of 147,341 deer. Under Colorado's first and second deer license system, a total of almost 197,000 licenses was sold. 11,743 elk were taken in Colorado's elk areas in 1961 by 44,243 elk hunters. The total elk harvest also set a state record. Deer During the 1961 big game season, 88,623 hunters took only one deer. 18,841 hunters took two deer. 7012 hunters took three deer. Based on the number of licenses sold, the success ratio of 75 per cent means that three out of every four hunters got a deer. Based on the number of hunters in the field ( a smaller number than the total licenses sold as many hunters had both first and second licenses), the success ratio of 104 per cent means that every hunter in the field took slightly in excess of one deer. The kill figures and the success ratio figures for the 1961 season are impressive and were made possible by the fact that a large portion of the Western Slope of the state was open to the taking of three deer. In addition, almost ideal conditions existed for the opening of the season on the Western Slope. An early snowstorm drove the animals down out of the high country, holding them down low for the hunting season and making them accessible to the hunters. Based on the final figures compiled for the 1961 season, Piceance Creek with a deer harvest of almost GAME MANAGEMENT Deer and elk are the most abundant big game animals in the state and are the largest sources of license revenue on which the department depends to finance its operations. In addition, there are numerous species of small game, upland game birds and migratory waterfowl available to the hunter in Colorado. The protection, guidance and management of these wildlife resources embraces the many and varied functions of the Game Management Division. These functions include the management of public hunting 53 �12,000 deer was the top single deer hunting area. Rio Blanco County was the top county with a deer kill figure of over 25,000. Some 25 per cent of the state's deer harvestalmost 38,000 - came from the area of the state north of the Colorado River and west of Highway 13 between Rifle and Craig. Seven counties on the Western Slope, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Moffat, Mesa, Montrose, Eagle and Gunnison, accounted for 63 per cent of the total deer harvest or almost 94,000 deer. And the Western Slope including the San Luis Valley reported over 90 per cent of the deer kill in the state. On the Eastern Slope, the top county was Larimer County and the top area was the Poudre game management unit. Elk Colorado, with a 1961 elk harvest of 11,743 animals, ranks among the top three states in the nation for successful elk hunting. The total kill figure also represents a record harvest of elk in Colorado. With its elk herds well dispersed throughout the mountain country of Colorado, this state shows four counties recording a kill figure of 1000 or more. They are Gunnison with 1236, Rio Blanco wilh 1112, Routt with 1068 and Archuleta with 1006. In 1960, only two counties could claim such kill figures. 44,234 elk licenses were sold in 1961, with a resulting success ratio of 27 per cent, meaning that more than one of every four elk hunters bagged an animal. Gunnison County saw the heaviest pressure on elk with 3827 hunters in the field. Denver County supplied the greatest number of resident elk hunters with 5397, while the State of Texas supplied the greatest number of nonresident elk hunters with 2178. And 9025 hunter's choice elk permits (cow elk validations) were issued in 1961 compared to 8820 the year before, and a cow elk was taken on 96 per cent of the hunter's choice permits. Because the elk is a much-sought-after animal by hunters, and as this large, regal wild animal has become a potent factor in the department's revenue and also in that of the state, game management keeps a constant and attentive eye on the state's elk herds. from the Black Forest area near Colorado Springs. Transplants were made in the Great Sand Dunes National Monument, the Sego Springs area south of Alamosa and in the Basin area of the Southwest near Dolores. Bear The bear harvest in Colorado in 1961 was 586, or 31 more than in 1960. 800 special bear licenses were sold, enabling hunters to take bear through the summer months. During the big game season, hunters were entitled to take a bear, using the bear tag on the first deer license or on the elk license. A total of 168 bear were taken during the special bear season and 418 were bagged during the regular big game season. Bighorn Sheep Field studies, conducted by both the Game Management Division and the Research Division in 1961 and the spring of 1962, have indicated that the bighorn sheep population in Colorado is on the increase. A total of 210 bighorn sheep licenses was issued in 1961, an increase of 44 over the previous year, and the harvest figure was 45, five more over 1960. Turkey Colorado, in 1961, had a regular turkey season and also a postseason in certain areas of the Western Slope. Hunters were required to buy an original license for the regular season, and then obtain a second turkey tag free of charge on the Western Slope to hunt the postseason. A total of 543 turkeys was harvested during the regular and postseasons with 482 of them being taken during the regular season. Some 1034 licenses were sold and 229 second turkey tags issued with a resulting success ratio of 53 per cent. Also during the 1961-62 year, 97 turkeys were live-trapped and transplanted in a number of areas in the state to begin other build-ups of this choice and clever bird - much prized by veteran hunters. 1961 Small Game Season The smallest waterfowl harvest since 1957, when the random survey of waterfowl hunters was started, was recorded in 1961. A combination of fewer hunters, shorter season and small bag limit resulted in a sharp drop in the duck harvest, and fewer hunters in the field recorded a goose harvest about comparable to that of 1960. Ducks: 22,920 duck hunters were in the field, bagging more than 86,408 ducks, crippling an additional 23,608 birds, for a total hunting loss of 110,016 ducks. The average bag per hunter was just under four ducks, and a little less than 25,000 Coloratlo duck stamp buyers were listed in 1961. Antelope In 1961, 2153 antelope licenses were sold, an increase of 330 lteenses over the previous year. And 1905 antelope were bagged during the threeday season, giving a success ratio of 90 per cent. In the 1961 -62 year, three transplants of antelope were made to attempt to start or build up herds in other areas of the state. 100 animals were live trapped 54 �During the 1961-62 year, 35 damage claims were submitted with 30 of them being paid and five denied. A total of $10,943.70 was paid to the 30 successful claimants. Of the 35 claims submitted, 18 were reported to have been caused by deer and elk, 15 by bear, one by antelope and one by wild turkey. In addition to the handling of damage claims, the Game Damage Section arranges different methods of preventing damages resulting from protected wildlife. These methods include fencing, removal of animals from the area, rallying and herding of the animals and others. The Eastern Slope accounted for 87 per cent of the ducks taken, and Weld County was the top duck hunting county in the state. Geese: 11,245 goose hunters bagged a total of 14,056 birds in 1961 for an average of a little more than one bird per hunter. With another 4568 geese wounded, the total hunting mortality was 18,624 geese. As in the past, the southeast section of the state was the top goose hunting area with about 90 per cent of the goose harvest recorded there. Kiowa, Baca and Bent counties were the top individual areas in the state. Pheasants: The total bag of 211,828 pheasants, taken by 94,990 hunters, in 1961 exceeded the harvest figures of the six-year average. The number of hunters also was up over the six-year average. Doves: The dove harvest was below the six-year average as 17,201 hunters reported bagging 104,410 of the birds. Quail: Significantly below the six-year average also was the harvest of doves. 23,817 birds were bagged by 6747 hunters. Sage and Sharp-Tailed Grouse: The harvest of sage and sharp-tailed grouse in 1961 showed an increase over the six-year averages. 14,034 of the birds were taken by 63 79 hunters. Blue Grouse and Ptarmigan: Also over the sixyear average was the 1961 harvest of blue grouse and ptarmigans. 9119 hunters bagged 13,426 birds. Chukars: Fewer hunters and a smaller harvest of chukars, compared to the previous year, were recorded in 1961. 1274 birds were taken by 1202 hunters. Rabbits: 191,028 rabbits were bagged by 39,145 hunters in the state in 1961. Although the bag total is a large one, it still represents a substantial decrease over the six-year average. Fur Management Several changes were made in the beaver regulations by the commission during the 1961-62 year. The charge for beaver tags was eliminated as the commission found that the revenue realized did not pay for the costs of administering the program. In addition, the commission approved a change in the regulations which now allows the trapping of beaver on private property the year around. During the past fiscal year, 3172 beaver were trapped by the Game and Fish Department and 3120 by private landowners. Also, 154 were taken on private permits. In all, 6446 beaver were taken in the state during the year. The fox has posed some problems for the department in pheasant and bi rd areas, and also the raccoon in some agricultural regions. It is felt that the fox and raccoon should be removed from the list of fur bearers under the fur law and be reclassified as game animals which would then allow hunters to take them on a small game license. Predaror Control The predator control program of the Game and Fish Department is conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with $50,000 of the total funds used supplied by the department. Of the $50,000, $35,000 goes to the federal agency for its work in the predator control field in the state and the remaining $15,000 is used by the department for its specialized work and control in the state's critical areas. $1900 was paid in the 1961-62 fiscal year for 38 mountain lions killed in the state. The mountain lion is the only predator on which the department pays a bounty. Although the number of animals and the amount of bounty money paid out has been declining since the 1956-57 fiscal year, the figures took an upturn during the past year. The kil1 figure is seven over the previous year, while the total bounty money paid is an increase of $350 over the year before. Game Damage "62-2-34. STATE'S LIABILI1Y FOR DAMAGES. - The State of Colorado shall be liable for any and all damages done to the real or personal property of any person, firm, association or corporation, in this state, by any wild animals protected by the game and fish laws of the state, such damages to be determined and paid as provided in sections 62-234 to 62-2-41." This is the section of the state statutes which establishes game damage liability on the part of the Game and Fish Department. All damage claims are thoroughly investigated by the Game Damage Section, and a certified report made to the commission. The commission then decides if the claim is a just one or not and authorizes either payment or rejection of the claim. 55 �FISH MANAGEMENT and Fish Commission voted to establish a year round fishing season for all species in 1962. The results of such a season in spreading the catch and the fishing pressure remains to be evaluated. The year 1961 was one of change for the Fish Management Division. Fish research was split out into a separate departmental function, a year round fishing season was established and departmental reorganization aligned regional fish management personnel into area management within the four regions. These changes should reflect better service to the sportsmen in future fishery management programs. Fish Management Division is charged with statewide coordination of fishery field activities. All hatchery acti\'ities involving feeding, nutrition, egg and fish allotments and stocking rate schedules are set at the division level and supervised at the regional level. The Fish Management Services Section operating out of the Denver office carries out large-scale field activities requiring specialized equipment such as seining and salvage, spawntaking, application of fish toxicants and herbicides, and stream and lake improvement device construction and installation. This section works statewide and assists with regional field management work as scheduled. In 1961 the Fish Management Services Section seined 282,000 fish weighing 101,500 pounds. Of this amount, 20,000 pounds of fish were transplanted to other waters, 3 500 pounds were stored and stockpiled for broodstock and future stocking, and 78,000 pounds of rough fish were destroyed. Spawntaking operations yielded 2. 300,000 eggs. Population inventories were made on 14 waters. Aquatic weed control was done on six waters. Reclamation of 7 waters using fish toxicants was also carried out. The largest of these was the cooperati\'e rotenone reclamation project on lhe lower San Juan, Piedra and Los Pinos RiYers carried out with the State of New Mexico and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in connection with the new Navajo Reservoir. Rough fish were removed prior to impoundment of water in Navajo Reservoir to assure a good start for trout introductions. Hatchery trout distribution increased hy 9000 pounds and 1,800.000 fish in 1961 over that of 1960 for a total of 17,200,000 trout weighing 1,250,000 pounds stocked. Noteworthy in this increase is the fact th.it hatchery food costs drop/>ed S20,000 over 1960. This reflects constant improvement in hatchery nutrition and diet work. A new modern hatchery building was constructed at the Mt. Shavano unit in Salid.t .ind is now in operation. It will hatch approximately 6,000,000 trout eggs annually. Two outstanding lakes came into full fishery production in 1961 Lake John near Walden and Vega Reservoir near Collbran. lake John was constructed with Game and Fish Management funds and Vega Reservoir 1s a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation project. 1fany trout in the two to six pound category were caught from these lakes in 1961. Construction was started on 72-acre Spring Creek lake near Almont and I 66-acre Lester Creek Lake near Clark. Both these lakes will he completed in 1962 and enter the f1sh1ng picture in 1963 and 1964. A big step was t:iken in the state's fish management progra,n in December 1961 when the Game THE LAW ENFORCEMENT T HE Law Enforcement Division of the department coordinate5 all game and fish law enforcement activities. Enforcement is a necessary part of any successful wildlife management program, for as the hunting and fishing public continues to increase, stricter comp I iance with the laws and regulations will become necessarv. At present, the department's 18 area supervisors and 85 wildlife conservation officers work throughout the state under the administration of the four regional game and fish managers. This number will, of necessity, need to be increased in order to cope with increasing numbers of sportsmen in the field. The duties of the WCO's are varied, but they spend about 40 per cent of their time enforcing the game and fish laws and regulations of the state. The responsihil ity for the hunter safety program was added to the enforcement division in I 961. During 1961 there were 503 instructors and 2874 students trained in the hunter safety course. This course has been added in many schools in the state and is growing. There is a demand from the Boy Scouts of America for this program. and it should grow to at least 5000 students or more being graduated each year. The communication section under the Law Enforcement Div1s1on now has 203 cars, pickups and fish trucks equipped with radios. There are five packsets. This makes a total of 208 radios. Breakdown of Violations !\umber .,f V nlJt1nn, Hunting .. fishing 56 1,334 912 Miscellaneous 301 Total . . . 2,547 Fines collected . ..... . S74,676 �Research Q NE of the Game Bird Survey, in which research studies were conducted on nine species, including pheasants, sage grouse, blue grouse, scaled quail, chukar partridge, Hungarian partridge, Spanish red-legged partridge and the lesser prairie chicken. Material for a publication on pheasant populations was assembled and a rough draft of a technical publication on sage grouse was completed. Wild Turkey Investigation and Development, in which range maps were refined, a guide for selection of release sites was prepared, and a study of environment on wild turkey ranges on the Uncompahgre Plateau was conducted. Wildlife Habitat Improvement Studies, in which more than 4000 trees and shrubs including 17 species of exotic, hybrid and selected plants of value to upland game birds and animals were transplanted from the experimental nursery to test plots in different sections of the state. This brings to 50 the number of test plots established by the department in Colorado. Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations, which included surveys of goose populations in the Arkansas Valley and Yampa Valley-Brown's Park area; the banding of 2429 ducks of 15 different species and 1125 Canada geese; a wetlands survey of northeast Colorado; the release of 96 Canada geese on Terry Lake, a mile north of Fort Collins, increasing to over 200 the number of birds in the local breeding flock; and a study of goose trapping techniques. Evaluation of the Effects of Habitat Improvement on Wildlife, which included studies of the effect of environment on pheasant populations. It was found that the most important factor in pheasant production is the presence of small grains including over-winter stands of stubble. Good cover and certain types of pasture lands were also found to be important. Further studies are planned on perennial grasses which appear to offer the greatest potential. primary changes of the early 1961 reorganization of the Game and Fish Department was the separation of wildlife management operations from those of research. The move was made to place greater emphasis on the department's research activities; and to coordinate and administer these activities, the position of Assistant Director for Research was created. Another event of great importance to the Research Division in 1961 was the formal dedication and opening of operations of the department's Research Center at Fort Collins, a newly-constructed building housing the offices and laboratories of the Research Division as well as the offices of the northwest regional headquarters. Next, an intensive evaluation of all the department's research projects was carried on, with priorities being set up for existing projects and also those being planned for the future. The evaluation work was done by the newly-formed Research Advisory Council and those projects with the highest priorities were included in the budget for the coming year. GAME RESEARCH Financed by Pittman-Robertson Act federal monies, eight research projects dealing with game problems were carried on under the Game Research section. They included: Game Range Investigations, in which studies were conducted of competition between wildlife and domestic animals for range feed. Deer-Elk Investigations, in which elk were trapped and banded to study their migration habits, elk herd game range studies conducted in the White River Drainage, and continuing studies on highway mortality among deer were carried on and statistics compiled. In addition, a cooperative range survey of the Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre National forests was carried on with the U.S. Forest Service. 57 �Brook and Native Trouc High Lake Studies, a study in which it was determined that brook trout. with a great reproductive capacity, have an adverse effect on the native trout population in high country lakes, with the result that these lakes offer a great number of small fish. When the brooks were removed, the native trout, though fewer in number, were larger in size. It was also determined that although native trout do not reproduce sufficiently, they could be maintained as a desirable fishery with a moderate stocking program. The study resulted in the recommendation that, wherever appropriate, brooks should be removed f com high country lakes and an appropriate stocking program of native fry be carried out. Rawah-Mclntyre Lakes Scudies, which include an investigation of the natural fish foods and a compilation of data concerning fish populations at the Upper Camp Lake area. Lake T rout lnvescigacions, in which 50,000 mackinaw trout were introduced to the waters of Twin Lakes and Grand Lake, and follow-up studies begun. Also, the first plant of this species was made in Granby Reservoir. A study of the hatching of mackinaw eggs suspended in the waters of Twin Lakes, showed that the natural hatching dates for mackinaw in T win Lakes are March and early April. Also a study of the 15-inch size limit and fourfish bag limit on Twin Lakes was made and it was found that these restrictions had been generally accepted by fishermen. As was hoped, the take of small lake trout was reduced and the illegal process of "chwnming" was nearly eliminated. G ranby R eservoir M anagement Studies, initiated in 1959, was continued in 1961. Studies are made of fish populations, age and growth, food habits, reproductive potentials and life history factors. A new method introduced in 1961 in these studies was the locating and tracking of schools of kokanee s,1lmon with sonar equipment. Included in the project were the construction of artificial spawning beds, the planting of fertilized kokanee eggs in a special hatching device, and a new method of marking and recapturing to aid in estimating the adult salmon population at Shadow Mountain Spillway. The Colorado Game and Fish Department is one of a number of groups supporting Colorado State University's Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit. Projects undertaken by this research group in 1961 included the following: Evaluation of Splake Trout, The Biological Ef- An Ecological Investigation of the Cache La P oudre D eer H erd, a long-term study of the specific deer herd, conducted at five different altitudes ranging from 6000 feet to 10,000 feet. The study has included the compilation of an histoncal review of the herd, the establishment of environmental measuring stations, vegetative studies, physiological and morphological studies, analysis of the hunter harvest in this herd, and reproductive studies. The Colorado Game and Fish Department is one of four agencies which financially support the Cooperati,·e Wildlife Research Unit at Colorado State University. Studies being carried out by this group include: Food-cover Relationships on Mule Deer Winter Range; Determination and Implications of Age Structures in Selected Browse Stands; Wildlife Habitat and Population Analysis, South Platte Management Area; The Role of Artificial Water Development in Chukar Establishment and Increase; Effects of the Environment of a Wild Deer Population; and Distribution and Behavior of Radionuclides in a Mule Deer Environment. FISH RESEARCH Colorado's ever-increasing population and everincreasing number of tourists are exerting ever-increasing pressures on the fishing waters of the state. Intensive development of the efficiency of the state's hatcheries and rearing units aimed at higher fis h production is only part of the answer to meeting the problems created by the extremely heavy pressures. Colorado has long enjoyed advanced fishery practices which are geared to newer and more efficient means of providing better fishing for sportsmen based on scientific facts developed through research. Through the imaginative research work of its Fish Research section, the department hopes to continue to provide the type of fishing m the waters of the state which anglers in the state and from out of the state have indicated they want. Fish research projects conducted in 1961 included the following: Parvin Lake - Quality Fishing Studies. This is a continuing study designed to improve the quality of fishing. It has shown that fishermen approve fishing areas where the sport of fishing is emphasized rather than the killing of fish . At Parvin Lake, fish under 14 inches are returned to the waters. In 1961, 550 keepers were taken at Parvin Lake and 17,500 fish under 14 inches were returned to the waters. The study is in the form of a feasibility investigation with the ultim1te aim the extension of this type of fishing to numerous areas of the slate. Already, five other fishing waters in the state enjoy this concept of "Quality Fishing." 58 �fects of Evaporation Retardants on Reservoirs, The Vertical Distribution of Fish in Horsetooth Reservoir, Cutthroat Trout at Trappers Lake and Hepatoma in Rainbow Trout. The study of hepatoma in trout, a two-year project financed primarily by a grant from the National Cancer Institute, will determine the effects of temperature, genetic strain and diet on the incidence of hepatoma. The transmissibtlity of the liver tumor will also be determined. Land Acquisition and Development HE creation of a Land Acquisition and DevelopTment D1v1S1on in 1961 was the direct result of a 440 acres added to the Delaney Butte Lakes site. 3000-acre Cherokee Park Management Area, northwest of Fort Collins. 640 acres added to the Billy Creek Management Area, ~outh of Montrose. Addition to Lake John. Acquisition of the Beaver Lake site in Rao Blanco County. The purchase of additional land at Two Buttes Reservoir. And the purchase of Beaver Lake on the Crystal Raver. Lakes completed include Horseshoe and John Martin lakes near Walsenburg. Waters brought under the management of the department through lease agreements with irrigation companies in the eastern half of Colorado included: Skaguay Reservoir, near Vactor; Wright Reservoir, west of Colorado Sprangs; Turquoise Lake, west of Leadville; Brush Hollow Lake, east of Canon City; Carter Reservoir, west of Berthoud; Horsetooth Reservoir, west of Fort Collins; Prewitt Reservoir, southeast of Sterling; Jackson Reservoir, north of Wiggins; Empire Reservoir, northwest of Wiggins; Jumho Reservoir, northeast of Sterling; North Sterling Reservoir, north of Sterling. Mostly these leases were obtained in exchange for the department securing liability msurance on the lakes. Rights-of-war in four areas of Rao Blanco County and one in Las Animas County were acquired by the department either through purchase or agreement, opening up in excess of 120,000 acres of public land to public use. pressing need to acquire, develop and manage vanous areas for hunting, fishing and game production in order to provide and preserve wildlife recreation for future generations. The department now owns or controls more than 110,000 acres of land, whereas 20 years ago, it owned less than 2000 acres. The department does not intend to become a major land-owning agency - it hopes to own only those key lands and waters which, when developed and managed, are essential for game and fisheries perpetuation. The vaned uses of these lands and waters are to (a) provide rights-of-way for access, (b) provide lakes and streams for fishing and waterfowl hunting, ( c) provide areas for pubIic shooting, and ( d) provide elk and deer winter range as well as habitat for upland game birds. In addition to acqumng land and water rights, the Land Acqu1s1tion and Development Division furnishes development services, ranging from design and supervision to land boundary surveys and water control repairs. During 1961, about 7000 acres of land were acquired by the department compared to 6500 acres in 1960. Much of this acreage was for valuable lake sites and the remainder was for game habitat and public shooting areas. Among the land purchases completed during 1961 were: Part of the land required for the Rock Creek Reservoir on the west side of Gore Pass. Additional land and water for the Bellvue Hatchery, Fort Collins. 59 �Information and Education A NUMBER of honors accrued to the Information Three technical publications, A Resume of Big Game Research Projer/J, The B,ghom Sheep of Colorado and B,g Game Management in Colorado, 19491958, were produced. Two other publications, Game Birds of Colorado and Game A11im,il.r of Color,ulo. were revised and brought up-to-date. And other miscellaneous small publications, information sheets and maps were published for distribution to the public. Personal Appearances: In 1961, department personnel made about I 200 personal appearances before groups of al I types throughout the state. Over 300 television shows and about 1000 radio shows were presented. In addition, department information personnel represented the state at four out-of-state sports and lraYel shows in Chicago, two in Los Angeles and one m Kansas City. and Education Division of the department during 1961. International acclaim was accorded the department's conservation education program by the American Association for Conservation Information. It was terme<l the ''broadest and most comprehensive youth program in the nation." The department's offinal magazine, Colorado 0111,foors. was given honorable mention in its classification hy the AACI. Special mention was made of 0111tloou ,\ewr. the department's weekly newsletter. In its da>-to-day operations in 1961, the I and E Division offered the following services in the information and education fields. INFORMATION News: Weekly news releases concerning department operations and programs were distributed to newspapers, radio and television stations in the state. Also, stories reguested by me<lia both in stale and out of slate were supplied. The weekly newsletter. Outdoor News, was published each week and 25 special feature stories with photographs and other illustrations were produce<l. C:oYerage of the department's activities by the state's newspapers, radio and TV stations was adjudged to be excellent. Publications: The following regulations were produced in 1961: f-ishing Regulations (470,000 copies). Big Game Season Inform,1t10n ( 27'i.OOO copies). Game Bird and Small Game Regulations (200,000 copies). Grouse and Migratory Bird Regulations ( 5000 copies). Tr.i.pp1ng Regul.i.t1ons ( 2000 copies). 1960-61 Annual Report (22,000 copies). Colorado Outdoors, the department's offici.i.l magazine, wa~ published on a bi-monthly basis. In addition to receiving national recognition from the AAC I, the Colorado Outdoors increased its circulation from 28,000 to 30,000. EDUCATION Conservation Education: The division's conserYat,on education prowam consisted in 1961 of a wellrounded, coordinated program in the public schools wherein the G,une and Fish personnel served as curnculum consultants. During 1961, d1Yision personnel attended and participated in 30 teacher workshops and assi~led in the preparation of a guide for conservation education in Colorado schools. Visual Aids: Two new films were produced by the department in 1961, "The Young Conservationist," dealing with conserYJ.tion education in the schools, and "The Praine World of the Kit Fox." In 1961, there were about 3000 bookings of these two and the other 28 department films for group showmgs. lt 1s estimated that 900,000 Coloradans saw department films in 1961. Special Projects: Operation Respect was organized and mstituted 111 1961 by representatives of sportsman and landowner groups and with the cooperation of the Game and Fish Department. The ye,1r .t.round outdoor educational program in the Jefferson County Schools was continued with the department's staff and field personnel participatmg A four-year pilot program 111 4-H hunter safety 60 �was completed and a bulletin prepared for use in the course. The revision of the science curriculum in the Westminster School District was participated in by the department's regional information officer. The new curriculum includes conservation education and will serve also as a guide for the Adams County school system. Successful sportsman-landowner relations programs were carried out in the northwest and south- west regions with the assistance of the regional information officers and field personnel. Training programs in wildlife and fish management were given at the Air Force Academy, Trinidad Junior College, the Pre-Parole Center at the State Penitentiary, regional agricultural councils and Colorado Boys Town. Direct Inquiries: During 1961, the division answered 20,400 pieces of correspondence and handled some 54,000 telephone requests for information. Business Administration T HE Colorado Game and Fish Department is a of other nonresident licenses. In 1961, resident fishing and small game license sales increased by 7000 licenses while nonresident fishing license sales decreased by 2000 licenses. On the other side of the coin from revenue are expenses. Almost 70 per cent of department expenditures are accounted for by the costs of law enforcement, field personnel and general administration. Law enforcement .................... 34% Field personnel ..................... 20% General administration ............... 15% Other expenses ...................... 14% Land Acquisition and Development . . . . . 6% Information and Education . . . . . . . . . . . . 6% Management administration . . . . . . . . . . . 4% Aerial operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 % The department land acquisition program has come under fire in some counties of the state for the withdrawal of land from the county tax rolls. However, the department pays school fees in lieu of taxes on department-owned real property. In addition, counties benefit by the receipt of one-third of all fines collected from game law violators, the money going to the county in which the violation occurred. In 1961, the counties' share amounted to in excess of $23,000. ' The department's detailed financial report, compiled on a fi~cal year basis, rather than the calendar year basis, is being published as a separate report this year. It will ooavailable for distribution the fall of '62. self-supporting state governmental department receiving no tax monies for its operations. Revenue realized from sportsmen, through license sales and Federal Aid monies, is used by the department to provide hunting, fishing and recreation for sportsmen. It results in an equitable arrangement wherein those persons using the wildlife and recreational facilities of the state directly pay for them. A breakdown of department revenue shows that license sales and Federal Aid monies accounted for 97 per cent of the department's income. Hunting license sales ................. 58% Fishing license sales .................. 26% Federal Aid monies .................. 13% Magazine subscriptions, Law violation fines, etc........................ 3% License sales, which provide 84 per cent of the department's income, were up $419,000 in 1961 over 1960, resulting from an increase of 37,000 in license sales. The major increases in license sales revenue were accounted for by the following: Nonresident deer ........... $76,000 increase Nonresident second deer . . . . . 48,000 increase Resident second deer . . . . . . . . 45,000 increase Resident deer .............. 41,000 increase Nonresident elk . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,000 increase Resident elk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,000 increase The sale of fishing licenses reveals a paradox in that it shows a reversal of the trend shown in the sale 61 �Department Personnel Staff Officers Woodward, Harry R. - Director Riordan, Laurence E. - Assistant Director Elliott, Robert R. - Assistant Director Melvin, Guy - Business Manager Seaman, Wayne R. - Fish Manager Tanner. Howard Fish Manager ( Research) Shaw, Ed - Senior Construction Engineer Coleman. A Dean - Assistant Game Manager Hunn, William F -Chief Game Warden Hunter, Gilbert N - Game Manager Moms, John H. - Departmental Personnel Officer Tolman, Carwin D - Education Chief Figge, Harry J . - Land Acquisition and Development Chief Regional Game and Fish Managers Teague, Richard - Northeast Region Till. Clois E. - Southwest Region Evans, Robert L. - Northwest Region Office and Field Employees Adams, W J. - Fish Culturist Adams, Bill B - Inventory Clerk Albers, B. Maxine - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Anderson, Allen E. - Game Biologist Anderson, Marvin C - Fish Culturist Andrews, George D - Wildlife Photographer Andrews, Jack F - Area Supervisor Andrews, Robert A. - Fish Culturist Andrews. Ro)' M - Fish Culturist Archuleta, Amadeo - Fish Culturist Archu Ieta, Ernie - Fish Culturist Archuleta. J Archie - Fish Culturist Ary. Sylvester Ray - Fish Culturist Avery, Henry H Mail Clerk Aydelotte, Ernest - Fish Culturist Baker. Bertram D - Senior Game Biologist Baker, Delbert H F,sh Culturist Fish Culturist Baker, Elbert L. Barber, Laurl,e A - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Barker, Foster M . - Senior Fish Culturist Barnes, W Tom - Wildlife Conservation Aide Barnhart, Roger A. - Senior Fish Biologist Barrows, Paul T. - Senior Fish Biologist Bartling, Almon P. - Fish Culturist Bassett, Gene W - Wildlife Conservation Officer Becker, Joyce M . - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Beckley, James 0. - Fish Culturist Bt:11, Ada M. - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Belmear, Lucy A - Account Clerk Benedict, F ranees E. - Senior Administrative Secretary Benson. Donald V.-Wildlife Conservation Officer Bessire, Scott E - Area Supervisor Betts, Romayne W. Airplane Pilot Betz, John - Wildlife Conservation Aide Blankis, Edward - Fish Culturist Blankis, Frank J. - Fish -Culturist Blankis, Louis J. - Fish Culturist Boddy, John T. - Fish Culturist Boeker, Harold M. - Superintendent Game Experimental Station Bogart, Donald F. - Area Supervisor Boyd, Gail B - Wildlife Conservation Officer Boyd, Raymond J - Senior Game Biologist Bray, Harvey Wildlife Conservation Officer Britta, n, Harold F. Storekeeper Broux, Leo L - Wildlife Conservation Officer Brown, Charles E. - Fish Culturist Brownin,s::, Herbert H - Fish Culturist Bruhlman. Emily B - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Brun, Aileen K - Bookkeeping Machine Operator Buckner, Jerome D - Senior Storekeeper Burdett, Pauline J. - Personnel Clerk Burdick, Harold E - Wildlife Conservation Officer Burget, Martin L - Senior Game Biologist 62 Burggraff, Leo J. - Automotive Mechanic Burke, Pat - Wildlife Conservation Aide Busch, Frank W. - Fish Culturist Cain, Nelson - Utility Worker Cannell, Alice B. - Junior Duplicator Operator Carl, Leonard M - Fish Culturist Carlson, Leslie G - Senior Fish Culturist Chesler, Phillip G. -Accountant Chisholm, Earl R. - Fish Culturist Clark, Wilma ).-Senior Account Clerk Clifford, Samuel K. - Airplane Pilot Cochran, Earl F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Coghill, Marion C. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Cole, Ethel M. - Administrative Secretary Colley, Frank A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Collins, Marion H. - Clerk-Steno Combs, Wharton J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cook, Eugene P. - Fisheries Project Supervisor Cooper. Rex G. Fish Culturist Cordo,·a. J Frank - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cox. Harvey E - Wildlife Conservation Officer Crabtree, Robert A. - Automotive Mechanic Crandell, George E. - Wildlife Con~ervation Aide Crawford, Gurney I. - Wildl,fe Conservation Officer Curtis, Lyman L. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Darrah. Kenneth E - Senior Fish Culturist Davidson, Corrio B. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Davies, Oscar M - Fish Culturist Davis, Margaret M - Intermediate Clerk-Steno DeGuelle, Arthur - Area Supervisor Denney, R,chard N. - Principal Game Biologist Denton, Bryan L - Area Supervisor Denton, B Lester- Wildlife Conservat,on Officer �DeSanti, Joseph G. - Fish Culturist Dobbs, William Harry - Area Supervisor Dolph, Lewis K. - Fish Culturist Downer, Earl R. - Area Supervisor Dunham, Furman W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ekberg, Glen R. - Fish Culturist Ellis, Jeanne C. - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Evans, Lester E. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Fairchild, Ethel G. - Senior Clerk Feltner, George - Editor Finnell, Larry M. - Senior Fish Biologist Fischer, Bill K. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ford, Clark - Wildlife Conservation Aide Fraser, David - Senior Account Clerk Forgett, William J . - Wildlife Conservation Aide Fullenwider, Holmes J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gamble, Hugh M. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gates, Vivian W. - Senior Addressograph Operator Geiger, James J. - Senior Fish Culturist Gentry, James - Area Supervisor Gibbs, Howard - Fish Culturist Gilbert, Paul F. - Area Supervisor Gill, Charles E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Glaviano, Stella C. - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Goosman, William E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gore, Clarence H . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gore, Donald H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Graham, Millard E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Grant, Lester W. - Janitor Greer, A. M. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gresh, Arthur J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gresh, L. Harold - Senior Fish Culturist Grieb, Jack R. - Wildlife Statistician Grove, Geraldine L. - Senior Account Clerk Guy. Elwin R. - Fish Culturist Guyer, J. Brownlee-Wildlife Conservation Officer Haldeman, Myrtle B. - Junior Accountant Hamilton, Alexander - Area Supervisor Hansson, Peter T. - Information Chief Harris, John T . - Game Biologist Hart, Charles C. - Fish Culturist Hatch, Pat - Fish Culturist Hawker, Philip A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hawkins, Walter B. - Fish Culturist Hay, Keith G. - Educator Hazzard, Lloyd K. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hector, Charles - Wildlife Conservation Officer Heins, Alfred J. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Henderson, William - Senior Fish Culturist Hess, Richard W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hild, Dorwin - Senior Account Clerk Hildenbrand, Fred C. - Fish Culturist Hill, James G. - Fish Culturist Hinshaw, Thomas F. - Truck Driver Hjelte, Charles E. - Senior Editor Hlavachick, William - Senior Fish Culturist Hobbs, John R. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Hocevar, Ignatius - Fish Culturist Hodges, Merle L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hoffman, Donald M. - Senior Game Biologist Hogue, Jack E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Holmes. Richard L. - Fish Culturist Holton, James - Fish Culturist Hood, Harold J . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hoover, Robert L. - Educator Houston, James D . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Howlett, John C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hudick, Joseph - Senior Storekeeper Hughes, Norman L. - Airplane Pilot Hurd, Clifford A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hutmacher, Otto S. - Principal Accountant Imes, Sandra K. - Clerk-Steno lvarson, Betty L. - Senior Account Oerk Jackett, Ruth E. - Account Clerk 63 Jackson, Neil R. - Fish Culturist Jerome, Dudley C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Jones, George - Game Biologist Jones, Hayden E. - Fish Culturist Jones, Hugh R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Jones, Robert A. - Senior Fish Biologist Johnson, Lois E. - Senior Account Clerk Jordan, Albert C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Kanode, William L. - Equipment Operator Kempers, Bert A. - Supervising Wildlife Photographer Kennell, Howard H. - Area Supervisor Kenney, Willis - Senior Fish Culturist Kent, William L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Kinghorn, Glenn - Supervising Nurseryman Klein, William D. - Fisheries Project Supervisor Kohl, Pauline- Account Oerk Kleinschnitz, Ferd- Assistant Federal Aid Coordinator Knight, Eugene T. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lemons, David G. - Senior Fish Biologist Lenard, Clifford H. - Fish Culturist Lengel, Donald E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Leslie, John A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lewis, Willard H. - Senior Fish Culturist Likes, John L.- Wildlife License Supervisor Lillpop, Lawrence R. - Fish Culturist Little, Raymond L. - Senior Fish Culturist Lobato, John F. - Fish Culturist Lowery, Marion W. -Wildlife Conservation Aide Lynch, Thomas C.- Wildlife Conservation Officer Lynch, Thomas M. - Fisheries Project Supervisor Lyon, L. Jack - Senior Game Biologist Magill, Richard W . - Fish Culturist McDonald, Dalton R. - Senior Fish Culturist McDonald, Richard - Wildlife Conservation Officer �McGuire, John F. - Fish Culturist McKean, William T. - Senior Game Biologist McLaughlin, Ina Rae - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Mangus, Robert L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Mansfield, Willis G. - Experimental Bird Farm Superintendent Marvin, Katherine - Library Assistant Mason, William A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Maxon, Kenneth - Plumber Maxwell, Harry H. - Junior Buyer Mefford, Elizabeth - Inventory Clerk Medin, Dean - Senior Game Biologist Merkle, Velma B. - Senior Statistical Clerk .Metsger, Francis A - Senior Game Biologist Mink, William W. Wildlife Conservation Officer Mitchell, Fred - Senior Fish Cultunst Mock, Bettie Intermediate Clerk-Steno Moore, Richard L. - Fisheries Project Supervisor Morgan, Clarence- Wildlife Conservation Aide Morgan, James T. - Senior Fish Culturist Morgan, Dallas - Wildlife Constrrntion Officer Morris, Nathalie - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Moser, Clifford A. - Senior Game Biologist Mustain. 0 W. - Fish Culturist Myser, L Max - Fish Culturist l\iash, \X'ill,am Wayne - Area Supervisor Navarro, Rose M. - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Naylor, Ethna - Senior Account Clerk Nelson. Wesley C. - Senior Fish Biologist Nicholls, Arthur R. - Truck Driver II N,ckerson, Lois D Senior Account Clerk Nittmann. Rolf B Senior Fish Biologist Nol tin,:, Donald H - Sen10r Fish Biologist Intermediate Oatney, Vera B. Clerk-Steno Ogilvie, Stanley R. - Area Supervisor Olson, Perry D - Wildlifo Conservation Officer Orlosky, Alfred F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ottinger, Lennis L. - Fish Culturist Overmeyer, Harold W. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Owens, Dwight E. - Wildlife Observer Palm, Sigfrid S. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Papez, Joe - Fish Culturist Paul, William A . - Fish Culturist Pearson, William D - Senior Fish Culturist Peaslee, Charles M. - Fish Culturist Perritt, W W. - Fish Culturist Peters, Melvin L. - Fish Culturist Peterson, Oscar C. - Senior Cook Pickens, Howard C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Pitton, Ethel K. - Receptionist Pognrdz. John M - Wildlife Conservation Officer Poplin, Robert ]., Jr. - Fish Culturist Potts, Daniel F. - Fish Culturist Pratt, Clifford J. - Equipment Operator Quick, Terrell - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ray, Robert A. - Senior Fish Culturist Reigan, Robert R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Reser, James E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Reynolds, Robert S - Wildlife Conservation Officer Richards, George L - Fish Culturist Richardson. Harry L - Fish Culturist Ridgeway, W. 0., Jr. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Riggs, Nathan D - Wildlife Conservation OffJCer Roberts, Charles H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Roherts, Melvin C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Roµers, Glenn E Senior Game Biologist Roland William I - Wildlife Conservation Officer Rose, Norman G - Fish Culturist Rosette, Robert K - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ross, Joe H - Senior Fish Culturist Roy, Carl A. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Rutherford, William H - Senmr Game Biologist Ryland, Errol - Wildlife Conservation Officer 64 Sanchez, Sara C. - Account Clerk Sandfort, Wayne W - Principal Game Biologist Scarpella, Frank A - Wildlife Conservation Officer Schaub, Paul J. - Wildlife Revenue and Supply Officer Schmid, Arnold - Fish Culturist Schuett, Walter H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Schultz, Herman P. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Schultz, William G. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Scott, Chester M - Wildlife Conservation Officer Scott, Beverly A . - Senior Account Clerk Searle, Lloyd W. - Area Supervisor Sheldon, Mitchell G. - Senior Game Biologist Shepherd. Harold R. - Senior Game Biologist Siever, Gerald O - Fish Culturist Simson, Jack M - Construction Foreman Slonaker, Clyde C. - Area Supervisor Smith, Charles A. - Senior Fish Culturist Smith, Donald G. - Senior Game Biologist Smith, E. Donald - Senior Fish Culturist Sm,th, Montana - Parks Project Engineer Smith, Marvin W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Smith, Richard K. - Fish Culturist Smith, Richard A - Editor Smith, William B. - Utility Worker Snowder, Stella D - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Stambaugh, E. Ruth - Senior Account Clerk Stead, J Kenneth - Supervisor Fish Culturist Steele, George E. -Area Supervisor Steele, Preston C. - Wildlife Cunservation Officer Stevenson, John - Wildlife Conservation Officer Stiehm Howard A - Educator Strieter, Ernest F - Senior Fish Culturist Stull Robert D Principal Accountant Sutton, bvern R - Fish Culturist Swope, Harold Area Supervisor �Talces, Richard T - Senior Game Biologist Taliaferro, Rex I. - Principal Fish Biologist Taylor, Charles S. - Senior Fish Culturist Terrell, Harry N Wildlife Conservation Officer Terrell, Robert - Wildlife Conservation Officer Tirrell, Harry - Senior Storekeeper Triplet, Lloyd W - Wildlife Conservation Officer Tucker, Coy- Equipment Operator Tully. Robert J - Wildlife Conservation Officer Turner, Vernon L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Van Gaalen, Charles - Fish Culturist Van Gaalen, Neil - Fish Culturist Vavak, Charles H. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Verrier, Edward - Fish Culturist Vidakovich, L. D. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Vigil. Audenago, Jr. - Offset Duplicatinit Machine Operator Wagner, Elvy J - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wagner, Kenneth C. Wildlife Conservation Officer Wailes, Irven A. - Fish Culturist Waldron, J. 1.- Wildlife Conservation Officer Walker, Lucile A - Senior Account Clerk Ware, Lola B . - PBX Operator Warner, Robert - Fish Culturist Wuren, Orval B - Fish Culturist Waters, Patrick G . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wau,1th, Francis L. - Educator Webster, Lawrence A Nurseryman Weese, Carl D - Fish Culturist Wells, William B. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Welsh, Carl R. -Area Supervisor Wescoatt, Ivan I. - Senior Fish Biologist Weyerman, Dean A . - Fish Culturist Wheeler, John A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer White, Claude E - Supervising Nurseryman White. Dean A. - Account Clerk Wiewel, Clara - Account Clerk Williams, Jesse E. Educator Wilson, Edwin T. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wilson, Herman R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wilson, L. Keith - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wiseman, Ed R. - Farm Manager Wixson, Harold F - Wildlife Conservation Officer Woodward, Walter B. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Worden, Alvin E. Fish Culturist Wurm, Donald W Biologist Senior Fish Zimmermann, Geor,1te P. Conservation Officer e 1961 ANNUAL REPORT • COLORADO GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT e PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION BY THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION DIVISION e EDITED BY PETER HANSSON, CHARLES HJ ELTE AND GEORGE FELTNER • DESIGNED BY CHARLES HJELTE • ART BY GENE ELLIS e HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE STATE DIVISION OF ARCHIVES AND PUBLIC RECORDS AND THE WESTERN COLLECTION, DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY • PRINTED BY THE A. B. HIRSCHFELD PRESS OF DENVER e PUBLISHED FOR FREE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION, SEPTEMBER, 1962 65 Wildlife �� https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/634ab29cd512f48737300af0fb7d4478.pdf 4462a83f0b05ee7531dc1ce2e107be49 PDF Text Text Principles of Game and Fish Management �letter of Transmittal Honorable John A. Love Governor of the State of Colorado Denver, Colorado Dear Governor: I am pleased to submit the annual report of the Colorado Game and Fish Department for the year 1962. The report's major theme is an explanation of the basic principles used in game and fish management. It is designed to give the state's citizens an understanding of the complexities involved in managing our valuable wildlife resource. And it is the commission's sincere hope that this understanding will enable them, through their elected representatives, to support the department's present and future management needs and programs. The resume of department operations for 1962 is presented on a calendar year basis. The fiscal year financial account will be presented in a separate publication. Respectfully submitted, Parker D. Sooter Commission President October 15, 1963 Contents PRINCIPLES OF GAME AND FISH MANAGEMENT Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Game and Fish Regulations . . . . . . . . 4 Game Habitat . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 6 Game Refuges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Game and Predators .............. 11 Game Stocking .................... 12 Fish Habitat ...................... 14 Fish Stocking ..................... 16 Using the Tools ................... 18 Suggested Reading ................ 19 1962 ANNUAL REPORT The Commission .................. 20 Department Organization .......... 21 Managing the Hunting Resource ... 22 Managing the Fishing Resource .... 23 Management ...................... 24 Research ......................... 30 Land Acquisition and Development .34 Business Administration ........... 35 Information and Education ........ 36 Department Personnel-1962 ..... 38 �Foreword H HARRY R. WOODWARD UNTING and fishing is big business in Colorado. More than 150 million dollars was spent by hunters and fishermen last year in pursuit of their sports, and of course we can't ascribe monetary values to the intangible side of hunting and fishing- their value to our general health and well-being. Over 200,000 hunters and over 400,000 fishermen were benefited by participating 111 those sports in Colorado last year. Truly our game and fish resource is worth proper management, and many lessons have been learned from the past. Early efforts at managing game and fish were often based on public misconception and personal guesswork. Sportsmen, game and fish administrators, legislators, "nature lovers" and many another categor y of would-be and well-intentioned wildlife enthusiasts frequently thought like human b eings and not like the creatures they were trying to manage. They often saw only the surface of conservation problems and became concerned with methods rather than with ground-level causes and effects. Since then there has been much p rogress in many states. Game and fish management has become more of a science and it is now realized that it is just as complex as medicine or mechanical engineering, although we are still behind those fields because of our failure to insist on the technological approach. Wildlife is a renewable resource that must be managed if we are to have continued benefit from it. To have progressive management requires bold thought and action upon the part of the commission and the department. Responsible citizens know there are decisions to be reached and they often take sides - sometimes w ithout adequate facts or a good background for judgment. It is hoped that this publication will give Colorado citizens some understanding of the science of game and fish management and an insight into some of the facts upon which the commission and the department must base their decisions in managing the state's valuable wildlife resource. It should point the way toward some wildlife needs of the future. -1- 14~ Harry R. Woodward Department Director �Prlnciples of Game and Fish Management By CHARLES HJELTE Introduction G AME and fish management has had an interesting development. H ere are some of the major points in its evolution , shorn of the many qualifying statements which would normally be made if space permitted. The evolution is interesting partly because of its uneven development: In some states it has progressed much further than in others. In pioneer days game and fish were abundant. The land had been settled only sparsely by Indians, and their methods of taking game and fish were crude and inefficient enough to prevent depletion. So in the -2 - early days there were plenty to ser ve as a major supply of fresh meat for the settlers. There were no conservation measures. None were needed. In time, there was local evidence of depletion of game and fish r esources. Locally, some regulation of the fish seemed desirable. Emphasis was on allowing brood stock to spawn. The regulations, therefore, mainly involved closed seasons on game and fish. The emphasis was stric tly on r egula tion . The laws were imposed by the legal bodies generally the s tate legislature. Enforcement called for a special set-up, �usually consisting of a chief warden and field wardens. And as more and more laws were imposed, more wardens were hired. As there were no organized fact-finding programs, the regulations were usually set more or less arbitrarily. Some wardens, though, did attempt to give counts of game, as well as reporting the abundance or scarcity, especially of game birds. As time passed there were new developments in game and fish management. For instance, it was found that fish could be produced in hatcheries and rearing ponds. The artificial hatching and stocking of fish fry became a craze. The expanded "game and fish conservation" program called for the spending of considerable sums of money. To pay for the costs of the state programs, sportsmen volunteered to purchase licenses. Here the taxation was directly on the "consumer." The income from licenses was generally turned over to the general fund. The legislature then decided on how it was to be used. But sportsmen did demand that their license money be spent to improve hunting and fishing, and it generally was. This was a milestone for it set the precedent for basically financing state game and fish management programs. But the prevailing attitude of sportsmen concerning the number of game and fish was still based largely on their personal observation. The obvious was often the erroneous, especially to sportsmen who could see the game only during the short period of harvest rather than through the winter surviva] period, the production period through the spring, the summer growing period, etc. So sportsmen, dissatisfied after a few poor days afield, turned to other panaceas. Some felt that there was too much inbreeding, and asked for new stocks. Some blamed the predators, with predator control programs resulting. Almost invariably the anglers wanted any species introduced which were not already present; a program of introducing all sorts of species in all sort of waters followed. There was argument over which laws should be imposed, leading to the passing of innumerable local laws. To keep the sportsmen further contented, biologists were employed, usually biology professors who had time to spare from their teaching during the summer months. They served a worthwhile purpose from the start as trouble shooters. But the biologists weren't content with the trouble-shooting roles. Typical of their breed, they were conscientious people who wanted to find the answers. In time they found some. They tended to demonstrate that the methods of game and fish management which were in vogue were ineffective. They discovered more and more, that the medicines in use did not cure the ailment. They failed at first to come up with new remedies, but they did begin to recognize, for instance, that game populations fluctuate whether hunted or not and that the condition of the habitat was more important than hunting pressure. Most important was the observation that a lake or stream or a parcel of land is really a pasture with extremely prolific "livestock," and with the rate of growth depending on the amount of food available. It was found that game and fish needed more than just food and water, that other conditions needed to be favorable, too. It was discovered that a small fish wasn't necessarily a young fishhe might be an underfed old-timer! The technical fellows learned about food chains; a bass eating small fish which eat insects which subsist on microscopic food isn't equivalent to a sheep eating grass. It's equivalent to a super-predator eating a wolf which eats a sheep which eats grass. It was found also that heavy hunting and fishing pressure was often the key to increased production. In Colorado, for instance, liberal hunting seasons actually improved the quality and quantity of deer hunting. In many states liberal limits on warm water fish actually increased production along with the take. In the interesting evolution of game and fish management, the need for formally trained men is now generally accepted following the same evolution we have had in medicine, engineering and other specialized fields. The tendency is, more and more, to put formally trained game and fish men in charge of the state programs. Game and fish management is now a science. Let's look at some of its basic principles. -3- The organized sportsman should insist that a state have a modern fish and game program, handled by wellpaid, competent personnel, free from politics. R. W. Eschmeyer �Game and Fish Regulations OR as long as men have hunted or fished in North America, wildlife has belonged to the people. And since game and fish belong to all, hunting and fishing is controlled through public agencies charged with managing this resource for the common benefit. Let's talk a little about regulations and how they affect both the hunting and fishing resource. We use the term "regulations," incidentally, synonymous with law. Laws, as a rule, give power to the administrators to set regulations. Most modern hunting and fishing regulations should be based on "biological balance." This exists where all losses to a wildlife population are replaced by natural r eproduction or artificial stocking. If hunting is to be in accord with the annual game crop, this biological balance must be determined by continous inventories of game supplies. The welfare of most game birds and mammals hinges on complete protection during the nesting or breeding seasons, and on specified h arvest of the annual game crop during the hunting season. Regulations imposed to preserve the brood stock of fish, though, are generally not needed. A few brood fish can furnish a lot of young. Furthermore, even when a lake is "fished out" from an angler's standpoint, it usually still has a good population of brood fish left. Game and fish departments have the responsibility for knowing the relative abundance and location of game, and this basic information is valuable to the administrators F w ho set the hunting seasons. In a year of bumper game crops, the shooting season may be extended and limits increased. In a poor year , the shooting season and limits may be curtailed. Because wildlife concentrations may vary greatly within a state, biological balance may best be maintained by setting several hunting seasons and limits for a game species. So we have a flexible system of pre, post and extended seasons according to area, "two, or three deer areas" and split hunting seasons. But it takes time for field personnel to gather and process game and fish population data and the past season's kill data, and the administrator may not be able to wait. He has many pressures: hunters and fishermen who want to plan vacations: resort owners who must plan for the hunters and fishe rmen; the job of drafting administrative orders; and an early printing deadline so that the new regulations are available to the public well ahead of the hunting and fishing seasons. The wildlife administrator has other problems in making regulations. Because of local hunting traditions, it may b e impossible to set seasons at the t ime of greatest game abundance. Hunters may b alk at rabbit hunting before the first snow, even though the rabbit crop is much smaller later in the year. Farmers balk at an early pheasant season when the corn is still standing, and some hunters may complain that early season cover is too heavy. And yet biological -4- �balance demands a hunting season when game is most abundant, which may be in late summer! The men who set our seasons and limits must consider many things, yet never lose sight of the fact that good regulations must always attempt to provide equal hunting opportunities for all. If regulations don't give all sportsnien an even break, or if they sap our wildlife "capital," they are not sound 1·egulations. Game and fish regulations, however, made and administered by professionals are usually sound regulations. Poor game regulations and laws usually result when pressure groups or private interests promote legislation of such things as sweeping bounty payment programs, ill-advised stocking projects or pork-barrel lake, marsh and refuge schemes. The average hunting or fishing regulation is restrictive, as opposed to the rarer "bonus regulation." Restrictive regulations say "Thou shalt not." The more liberal bonus regulations say: "Thou may, by certain methods at certain times." Most restrictive regulations stem from the past when some American game species were waning and national conservation was an austerity program. Many of our most restrictive regulations, however, have become liberalized as game and fish management methods have improved. The newer "bonus regulations" promote greater harvest. They may extend waterfowl seasons in areas of crop depredation, or may allow more than one deer of either sex in areas where the herds are too large. These regulations may be temporary - set during times when wildlife populations erupt and can tolerate an increased harvest. Or they may become permanent, allowing "either sex" deer seasons in many states that once had only "buck laws." A relatively new type of regulation - an outgrowth of modern population pressures - is the "incentive regulation." Such regulations attempt to stimulate private interest in production of game for the purpose of increasing hunting opportunities. This is done by paying the landowner to produce game and game habitat - the only known way intensive game management can be conducted on expensive private farmland. Incentive regulations may be temporary plans that provide payments to landowners who permit public hunting on their property. Or incentive regulations may be permanent. One example is the new shooting preserve regulations now in effect in 41 states - laws under which the rearing, stocking and harvesting of game birds for profit are controlled by the state. These regulations protect the interests of the public and the shooting preserve operators, and provide a legal foundation for the development of hunting opportunities by private enterprise with a profit motive. They also create sixmonth game birds seasons in states when the natural game supply permits only short bird seasons or none at all. These shooting preserves also reduce hunting pressure on private lands. But regulations are of little value unless folks obey them. The presence of an enforcement officer in a general area does not prevent violation if people tend to ignore the regulations. The mere fact that a state has wardens (conservations officers, rangers) offers no assurance that violations will decrease. Even a doubling of the warden force will not prevent violations from taking place. We do obey those regulations which we respect. There are few people who would knowingly drive through a red traffic light, even though there was no traffic, and even if it were obvious that there was no traffic cop in the vicinity. It all adds up to one thing. We obey a regulation if we believe in it. If we don't believe in a regulation, we tend to ignore it even though an enforcement officer might be somewhere in the county (though obviously not in sight at the time of the violation). We want to be well thought of - that's human nature. If it's unpopular to violate, we'll tend not to do so. The poacher is stealing from the sportsmen, and if less violation is wanted, sportsmen can bring it about; the warden alone, without active support, can do very little. In the more progressive states, emphasis now is on prevention of violation, rather than on detection. Prevention is brought about mainly through ·these two activities: 1. A sound fact-finding program to de- -5- The best habitat cannot produce good hunting, fishing or trapping without regulation and enforcement. William F. Sigler �termine which laws are really needed. 2. A sound, effective education program aimed at enlightening the public on the need for the regulations. Once the public recognizes the need, violations will decrease. The modern warden must be a policeman with flair for public relations. He is firm, but he directs most of his activities toward enlightening the public on good sound game management. Game Habitat HE most basic of modern game management methods - and the one that comes nearest to being a "cure-all" for dwindling wildlife - is game habitat restoration. Game habitat is the complex of soil, water and plants, commonly called "cover," in which game birds and mammals exist. It is the "life range" that must include escape cover, winter cover, food and water, cover to rear young, and even cover to play. A lack of one or more of these cover requirements must be corrected if habitat is to support game in harvestable numbers. The condition of the soil and its plant covering determines the wildlife yield of any area. Although this concept has been extolled many times in the past quartercentury, it is not yet widely appreciated. To the average hunter, the bulldozing of a brushy fence row will always lack the spectacular drama of a Cooper's hawk striking a covey of quail. However, the loss to the h awk is temporary; the loss to the bulldozer is permanent. Generally, the increased habitat requirements of modern man have worked to decrease the available game habitat and the quantity of most American game species. Man has profoundly changed the types and T distribution of game food and cover and has generally destroyed, created or shifted the tenable habitats of game species. The classic example of this is the prairie chicken in northern Missouri and northeastern Colorado. Originally, much of this land was prime habitat for this grouse, but as the land was plowed and put to grain, the prairie habitat - and the prairie chicken - swiftly vanished. The birds disappeared first from the most fertile soils and then, with advancing land use, from many second-rate soils. Today's remnant prairie chicken population is fo und in the poorest parts of the original range. Game habitat is dynamic. Cover conditions constantly change, and these changes influence the quantity and distribution of game. The most important of these changes is plant succession, as demonstrated by the evolution of a grassy field into brushland. Game management attempts to direct plant succession in the right direction at the right time and place. Planting, fencing and fire protection advance the plant s uccession; cow, axe, plow and fire reverse it, although controlled burning can be beneficial to plant succession on big game range. The most important single tenet of game -6- �management is that if there is any breeding stock at all, the only thing that we can do to raise a game crop is to create a favorable habitat. Population pressure guarantees a rapid spread of a game species to all accessible range - if that range fills the species' needs. For example, on Protection Island in Washington where eight pheasants- six hens and two cocks - were liberated in the spring of 1937, an inventory in the fall of 1941 revealed more than 1500 pheasants. There are several great deterrents to widespread habitat restoration of private lands: 1. Cost of initiation and maintenance of habitat. 2. Lack of immediate results. 3. Limited knowledge of habitat requirements of many game species. The high cost of effective game habitat improvement usually discourages extensive private projects. Quail habitat on large southern plantations may result in fall population densities of one bird per acre, but the cost may be as much as $50 per quail, and has been known to exceed $1500 for each quail harvested. This high initial price is only part of the expense, for plant succession inevitably takes place and maintenance is required to sustain a habitat type. Habitat restoration programs may require five years or more to produce marked increases in local game supplies. In addition to this, game production may be curtailed by adverse weather conditions during spring and summer. And so, as it is an American trait to want immediate results, such shortrun game management techniques as stocking and predator control are the most warmly embraced by the average sportsman. But although habitat improvement is the most important single game management principle, we have much to learn of game physiology and the social tolerances of wildlife. The more we know of the life history and habitat requirements of a game animal, the more efficiently we can manage this species. Much basic research on game and habitat requirements is still needed. Game habitat resoration can never succeed on a broad scale if it conflicts with agricultural interests. If, however, habitat restoration is conducted concurrently with farm improvement programs, it can be an effective and economical way of increasing farm game supplies. A tree and shrub planting, for example, is both wildlife cover and windbreak; such a planting is a cheap way of holding snow and providing wildlife a travel lane between a source of food and escape cover. In short, the future supplies of farm game depend on the economical development of acceptable game management practices that are compatible with modern agriculture. In connection with habitat, the artificial feeding of game should be mentioned. Many well-meaning sportsmen have often insisted on feeding deer or pheasants in a bad winter where there is a shortage of natural food. The first human reaction to starving deer is artificial feeding. This, many sportsmen reason, is the most logical way of bolstering a basic lack. For years, baled hay, alfalfa, grain, molasses cakes and sundry other items have been strewn all over the U. S. in an effort to save deer. In spite of all the fuss, this winter feeding has had almost no effect. Not only is deer nutrition usually unsatisfied by such diets, the cost is staggering. In Michigan it was estimated that it would cost $800,000 to feed deer adequately for one year. Deer will take food offered by man, but they prefer browse. Artificial feeding concentrates deer in an already overbrowsed deer range. Deer, being unused to this new type of dry food, usually cannot adjust to it because of their weakened condition. Compaction usually results and the deer die. In 1942, as an example, in the Gunnison area of Colorado, 6000 deer died, unable to utilize the artificial food which was fed to them. When deer populations outstrip their food supply there are only two alternatives: to decrease the size of the herd or improve the herd's range. Artificial feeding does not work for pheasants, either. In 1961 South Dakota had some of the heaviest snows in history in its primary pheasant range. As hunters and farmers began finding dead pheasants, a clamor arose for state pheasant feeding. Game managers tried vainly to convince the hunters and farmers that winter feeding was futile. How would nine million birds in -7- In e:rploring methods by which wildli/e crops can be most efficiently produced, it is appropriate that we start with the earth itself. Durward Allen �perhaps thirty million acres of range possibly be fed? In the face of in tense public pressure, the game department finally consented to do what it could, but went on record as being opposed to large-scale winter feeding in both principle and practice. Some 400 tons of surplus shelled corn was distributed in pheasant concentration areas. No one will ever know if it helped or not. But as a pheasant needs about four ounces of food per day, the 400 tons of corn would have fed about a third of the nine million pheasants for only one day. It is most doubtful that all this work had the slightest measurable effect on the over-all survival of South Dakota pheasants-just as wildlife people predicted. Acquisition and development of land for primary use as game habitat is now an important phase in any good game management program. Such land is not considered a "game refuge" as such but rather land on which a certain type of habitat or range exists which may be used primarily to support an important game species. Colorado has acquired 93,000 acres for big game range and 21,000 acres for the benefit of pheasants, quail and waterfowl. Consideration must be given to game range on public lands by the federal agencies. Within the 140,000,000 acres under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management there are 22,000,000 acres predominantly covered by the big sage, a primary mule deer food. The U. S. Forest Service estimates that within the national forests there are 3,500,000 acres of sagebrush which "need reseeding." Sage and associated "brush" types are being destroyed in the hope that land on which they grow will produce grass for the benefit of livestock owners who graze their animals on these lands under federal permits. The blow in this changed environment-sagebrush destroyed by burning, spraying, uprooting - falls most grievously on mule deer and sage grouse. To protect critical range, the best approach by game and fish agencies is to bring moderation into this program which is unassailable from a stockman's viewpoint. It is only where the ranges have been badly overgrazed and there are no grasses left to naturally reseed, that artificial reseeding is necessary. Give Mother Nature a chance, give the grasses an opportunity to produce seed, and they will return in high ratio to the important brush plants. Certain game may require obtuse values other than cover and food. One such case is the requirement of wilderness-type country. The areas classified as wild and primitive areas by the U. S. Forest Service in Colorado, support the state's largest elk herds. It is obvious that natural factors of isolation in these more or less roadless areas, combined with ample cover and food, give elk the environment which is essential during the period when they are rearing their young and preparing themselves for the winter ahead. Permanent status for existing primitive and wild areas is highly desirable from an elk management standpoint in Colorado. But if it is not feasible to improve a habitat for game, it may be possible to find game that can succeed in the habitat as it exists. This may be done by introducing an entirely new game species, or by developing a different strain of resident game. Introducing a new game species entails trapping and transplanting. This is not "stocking" in the usual sense, for it is not a replenishment of resident game but an actual establishment of a new species that exists in a similar habitat elsewhere. "Elsewhere" may be an adjoining state, or a mountain on the other side of the world. This game introduction may involve native or foreign game. It is often useless to introduce a native American game species that has never existed in the area of release - for instance, releasing pronghorn antelope in northern Maine. It is often possible, however, to re-introduce a game species successfully into an area where it once existed, even though that may have been before modern memory. For example, wild turkeys have been successfully re-introduced into South Dakota after an absence of many years. Even this can backfire though. Arizona transplanted deer from the northern part of the state to the southern. The deer all starved in what appeared to be excellent range. It was found that the northern deer did not have the right bacteria in their system to digest the food that appeared plentiful. It may also be possible to introduce for- -8- �eign game birds. Some state conservation departments have set up special breeding stations in an effort to develop strains of foreign game birds that can sur vive in areas where those b irds have never before succeeded. The most spectacular type of game introduction occurs when a foreign species is immensely successful and partly or wholly fills vacancies caused by the disappearance of native game. The dramatic success of the ring-necked pheasant is a classic example. As the virgin prairie was put to crop, oats and wheat, the native pinnated g r ouse or "prairie chicken" faded. A new habitat had been created, and it was unfilled by any large upland game bird. With the introduction of the ring-necked pheasant in the United States this new habitat was filled by an amazingly rugged, spor ty and colorful game bird that was hailed by sportsmen and game managers a like. Concurrent with the success of the ringneck were the intr oductions of the chukar and Hungarian partridges. These three exotic game birds have at least reinforced native bird populations, and in some cases have entirely r eplaced certain native game birds which found the changing habitat intolerable. There was no biological investigation to determine the ringneck's fitness for Nor th American tenancy. The bird was simply introduced, and it took. Flushed with success, many American sportsmen and some game managers h ope[ully began to release other game birds: African guineas, fra ncolins, Capercaillies, coturnix quail, sand grouse, and golden, Reeves' and Lady Amherst pheasants. None of these became well established, and the r ingneck's phenomenal success story has not been repeated. Most of these foreign game birds simply vanished soon after their r elease, for they were placed in habitats that were inadequate or even hostile. However, the possibilities for these and other species have not been exhausted, even though many game introductions have been disappointing. Game Refuges The basic /u.nctio1t of a refuge is to produce an otttjlow of game to surrounding range. Aldo Leopold T HE history of game management includes a long roster of cure-all remedies such as restocking, restrictive laws, predator control, h abitat improvement and game refuges. At some time, each has been hailed as the final solution to game scarcity, but to date none has b een effective in increasing game under all conditions. - 9- One of the most ancient of these principles, the game refuge, can be highly effective when applied properly to certain situations. It is not, however, a cure-all for game scar city. A r efuge may be an inviolate sanctuary intended to preserve a rare or vanishing wildlife fo rm. F or the purposes of this dis- �cussion, however, a game refuge is an area that provides breeding ground, sanctuary or other vital services to game in an effort to cause and support a larger game supply. A better, more modern, term for a refuge, however, is "management area." Such a term is less restrictive and may allow a game manager to set seasons if needed. The effective refuge or management area corrects or alleviates the most serious defects in the adjacent range - defects that depressed the game supply in the first place. If, for example, game is limited by excessive hunting pressure, a refuge could be set up in an area naturally used by game as a refuge during the hunting season. Or, if the game range is deficient in food, water or cover, the refuge could be set up in an area where these necessities can be assured. Game managers recognize three general types of refuges or management areas: 1) big game, 2) small game, and 3) waterfowl. The goal of a big game refuge is to protect basic breeding stock and increase the big game population. But in doing this, the refuge can defeat its own purpose. Deer and elk, for example, may build up a breeding momentum that is difficult to retard, and they may increase to the point where the available food supply is exhausted. As an example, the Colorado Refuge was set up in 1920 to protect deer where the deer population was scarce. The refuge was the area northwest of Denver, bounded on the north and west by the Poudre River and the Continental Divide. The deer multiplied so fast during the ensuing years that they spilled over north of the Poudre. The refuge was abolished in 1938; it had served its purpose. By and large big game refuges have not proven to be highly successful. Incidentally, one might even consider the National Parks as a type of refuge. No hunting is allowed and this creates problems. In Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Parks, elk have had to be shot by park rangers to keep the herds in balance with available range - a job that could be done just as well by licensed hunters in a controlled season. Regulations which govern any big game refuge should be quite flexible and permit game managers to open special hunting seasons for the good of herd and habitat alike. Refuges for small game can make some increases in the game supply if they contain adequate food and cover for year round use. Such refuges should be small - seldom more than a few acres - so that close-ranging small game animals can easily move out of the refuge and become available to hunters. Unfortunately, most ideal small game habitat is in premium farmland, where initial costs and longe-range expenses prohibit the development of extensive refuge systems. A waterfowl refuge may be a breeding area, wintering area or flyway refuge. Breeding and wintering areas are concerned with reproduction and survival until the next breeding season. The flyway refuges provide rest, food and safety during long migration flights. They are of immediate interest to the hunter, for such waterfowl way-stations strung between breeding areas and wintering grounds cause ducks and geese to linger in districts where they might otherwise be quickly "burned out" by hunting pressure. Of all types of refuges, waterfowl are generally the most successful. Although a game refuge or management area is usually a legal unit with fenced or posted boundaries, another type of refuge is a natural covert inaccessible to man and policed by nature. It may be a remote tableland far from roads, a dense swamp, a tract of virgin forest, or simply a blank, open range where game is protected by sheer space. This unofficial refuge may even be heavy cover within city limits where shooting is prohibited, or safety zones around farm homesteads. Where such natural refuges exist, the wise game manager may limit his refuge acquistion and development, and channel his funds into other game management efforts. The game refuge is not the only answer to greater game supplies, just as predator control and other management devices are not panaceas. The refuge is simply one tool which, applied in conjunction with other basic principles, may increase game. But blind reliance on refuges alone can waste money, time and effort, and dampen public enthusiasm for game management programs. -10- �Game and Predators A PREDATOR'S character is painted with a broad brush. Most hun ters paint it black ; naturalists may paint it white. In reality, the predator chara cter is shades of mottled gray. Under some conditions predators can destroy a game population, but they usually co-exist with game and prey on surpluses without reducing breeding stock. The predator is an animal that lives by killing all or part of its food . By this definition, man is the greatest predator of all. He is certainly the one th at most resents competition. But in spite of man's resentment, most predators compete successfully with him and defy human efforts to exterminate them. There are four basic factors that control the extent of predation on a game species: 1. The quality, quantity and distribution of available escape cover. 2. Abundance of the game species. 3. Abundance of predators th at prey on that game species. 4. Other food available to predators. Lack of escape cover is the biggest factor in excessive predation. H ealthy game u sually exists in adequate game h abitat which, by definition, also includes adequate escape cover. In good habitat , predators rarely depress game supplies. Both predation and predator control are spectacular, and capture the imagination of the average sportsman as the obvious problem and solution of dwindling game supplies. The quiet removal of an osage h edger ow or a brush patch is not spectacula r, but its effect on game populations, like death, is final. Game cannot exist without adequate escap e cover, and if such cover is present there can be a co-existence of prey and predator. Most game population s greatly outnumb er their predators. Nature creates prey surpluses that are expendable, and only a relatively small number of breeders need to survive. The surpluses are doomed to die under beak, claw or gun, or by disease, weather and starvation. For this reason, predation on high game densities- which have large surpluses - has little net effect on the game population. It is possible for a large number of predators to be harmful to a small number of game animals. In some cases with big game - such as a remnan t antelope population and a large number of coyotes - control of the coyotes may be necessary. However, coyote predation is rarely a factor in determining survival of normal, established antelope herds. Most predators a re opportunists that take the most available prey, and predation tends to be in proportion to the amount of available game. If the density of a prey species is light in relation to the density of its predators, those predators u su ally turn to more easily caught food. Altern ative or "buffer" foods may distr act a predator from the game supply most desired by man. A classic example of this is - 11 - A predator is any creature that has beaten you to anorher creatu re you wanted yourself. Werner Nagel �the predation of skunks on snapping turtle eggs around a marsh . Skunks prey on the turtle eggs and ignore the eggs of groundnesting ducks. But if skunks are removed, the increased population of snapping turtles may begin preying on ducklings. Rabbits a re a famous buffer food; they may protect pheasants from foxes and antelope kids from coyotes. Here again, adequate cover is important in produ cing more game and also more buffer foods to protect that game. The basic premise of predator control is: predators kill game; therefore, if predators are killed there will be more game. If cost is no object, it may be possible to control predators on a limited area for a time. But does the control warrant the cost, and is hunting benefited? In New York State, two a reas were selected for a predator control study. One was heavily-trapped for 20 months; the other was not trapped. At the end of the study, foxes had been reduced by at least 751/o on the trapped area. Yet, there was little change in pheasant numbers on either area, and hunting was no better on the trapped area than on the tract that had four times as many foxes. The best predator control is good game habitat which may rear more predators. But even though predators increase with the rising game supply, their net effect on that game supply will decr ease and there will be more prey s urpluses fo r more predators, including man. To many hunters, such an increase in predators is desirable. Species such as fox, racoon, bear, cougar, bobcat, lynx, coyote and wolf provide excellent spor t and are considered game in many areas. Both the benefits and detriments of preda tors have been overemphasized. There are ins tances where pr edators have n early wrecked a game population, and other cases in which they have benefited game by preventing overstocking of the available habitat. Normally, predation is a healthy function of nature and if it is s uppressed other natural functions will act to control surplus game animals. Predator s can preven t spread of disease by removing infected carrion. While predator control may be the most spectacular game management tool, there a re few good examples of such control leading to substantial increases in game. There ar e countless examples of predator control wasting money with no apparent change in the game supply. As a practical game management technique, predator control is seldom effective. Game Stocking G AME stocking is man's effort to increase a game supply on a range by obtaining game elsewhere and releasing it on that range. This principle of game management was most prevalent in this country between 1930 and 1950, when many state game farms poured pen-reared game into areas where existing game supplies could not meet the demands of hunting. Impressive stocking -12- �statistics were compiled and released each year by state game departments - "numerical evidence" of an effective game management effort. But many of these early stocking programs were unsuccessful, and great numbers of game birds and animals were stocked with no visible increase in autumn game supplies. In such cases, man tried to second-guess Nature and beat her at her own game. But Nature herself normally overstocks her game ranges; large numbers of game are born into an area each breeding season, but fatal "limiting factors" usually trim this bumper spring game crop until it is in harmony with the capacity of the game range to support it. A game habitat is capable of supporting just so much game and no more. Good range can usually support a large game population; poor range can support only a small game crop, if any. Every game habitat has a limited capacity for game and if man introduces game beyond that capacity the stocked game simply evaporates from the habitat. It must be remembered also that game habitat or range may be shared by domestic livestock, and this factor may dictate its game capacity. Good game range may not be good cattle range from a cattleman's view. Game supplies can be depleted by severe weather but can recover automatically when conditions improve. Although stocking may hasten that recovery, it is usually unnecessary on good game range. On a southern Iowa game area, a severe winter resulted in a spring quail population of only 90 birds. This increased to 501 birds by fall. Two years later - with good weather - the fall population had risen to 2316 quail. Nature's method of restocking a receptive habitat was sufficient. On the other hand, a suitable habitat may be empty of game and cannot be stocked by nature because of distance or physical barriers. In parts of Pennsylvania, the wild turkey was nearly extinct for many years because of broad changes that civilization had caused in the original forest. But through the years, that forest matured from a grousedeer habitat to a squirrel-turkey habitat and when the proper forest stage finally evolved, turkeys were successfully restocked by man. In some areas, suitable game range still exists but the original breeding stock has been extirpated. Under modern protective law, original game can often be successfully stocked in these areas. This has resulted in the re-establishment of beaver, antelope, deer and wild turkey in many parts of their original ranges. But indiscriminate stocking in inadequate habitat is often a waste of time and money. Such stocking may not only fail to increase game supplies, but may divert money: from valuable management programs. In Indiana, it's been estimated that each stocked quail that survives to be bagged by the hunter costs $40. In Michigan, each summer-stocked pheasant bagged by hunters costs about $16.50. The story is much the same in other states; wholesale game stocking usually results in retail birds. Game stocking is most practical: 1. When a good game habitat has been depopulated by severe weather or other temporary factors. 2. When such a habitat is suitable for a game species that does not exist there, or near there. 3. When a small game range is heavily stocked and heavily hunted shortly after stocking. -The last may be a state-operated public hunting area, a form of subsidized hunting that can provide good shooting on a limited game range for a short time. In many states, however, these "put-and-take" shooting areas are being replaced by commercial shooting preserves that may be operated by private individuals at a profit. Private enterprise has always been more efficient than public agencies, and in this case it protects state game departments from the criticism of "playing favorites" among license holdersan inequity of hunting opportunity that no public game agency can justify. A basic weakness of stocking is that a pen-reared bird is usually expected to survive in an environment that is too hostile for even the wild birds that were born there. In many cases, it is more effective to trap and transplant wild game from areas of high population. Although even wild game is at a disadvantage when not orr its native range, it may have a better chance of survival than pen-reared game. -13- No other property of game species has been explored with 48 much persistence, and with as little guidance from either science or ex- perience, 48 that of susceptibility to transplantation. Aldo Leopold �Fish Habitat O thrive, fish need water. This was the extent of our thinking some decades ago insofar as habitat is concerned. Now we fully realize that there are other habitat needs. The fish must have proper water temperatures and the waters must be suitable chemically. F ood must be available in suitable amounts. Spawning facilities must be present if we expect to have natural propagation. Some species do not remain in an area unless they have places where they can hide. Each species has its own environmental needs. These must be recognized if our habitat programs are to be effective. Unfortunately, for many species, we still don't have as complete a picture of these needs as we should have. In laying out our streams and lakes, Mother Nature showed no particular interest in supplying all the needs of the creatures which would inhabit the waters. But the species themselves, over long periods of time, became adjusted lo the situation, or disappeared. Consequently, desirable species of one kind or another were adapted to most of our water when settlement began. Though there are instances where we can improve on the habitat which Nature provided, most of our environmental improvement work is really restoration - correcting deficiencies which we, ourselves, created in the fish habitat. In instances where man has not tinkered w ith the watersheds, habitat improvement is usually not needed. Here, except in arid and T semi-arid regions, the stream flow tends to be relatively constant, because of permanent flow of springs. Gravel riffles and deep pools are generally available, and there are plenty of hiding places fo r fish. This observation gives us an important clue with respect to proper stream management. It's pretty much a matter of watershed use. Where the soil is kept on the land t hrough proper land use, and where a substantial part of the rainfall soaks into the ground to appear later as cool spring water, a stream will usually restore itself - provided wildlife and livestock grazing animals are controlled. Where we have heavy siltation because of poor farming, improper forest use, overgrazing or faulty road building, and where we have excessive run-off resulting in high waters at times and little or no flow at other times, the use of stream improvement s tructures is of little or no value. There are numerous instances where stream improvement structures such as V-dams, covers, deflectors, etc., are helpful. There are also many instances where these artificial improvements don't justify the costs involved, either because they are not needed or because they do nothing to correct the basic problem of siltation or highly irregular stream fluctuation. Too, some amateur attempts at stream improvement may actually do more harm than good. Before stream improvement (by ins talling devices) is attempted, the situation -14- �should preferably be studied carefully by someone familiar with fish needs and with water-flow and siltation problems. We are not trying to minimize the value of stream improvement devices. We are implying that where such devices seem to be badly need~d, the basic trouble usually lies in the watershed, not in the stream bed itself. We can channel silt downstream, but this is not a good substitute for preventing its entrance into the stream in the first place. We can create pools in streams which have very low water stages, but that's no substitute for the rapid and constant flow of springs resulting from having much of our rain soak into the soil. We can remove obstructions to migrations of anadromous fishes, but no amount of "improvement" will restore good habitat so long as the water is polluted by industrial or domestic wastes. And protection of existing fish habitat from industrial pollution and domestic use is important. Big reservoirs with fluctuating water levels and stream draw-downs are a controversial subject. Some reservoirs have been highly beneficial to fishing; some have been harmful. You can't generalize on the effect of dams on fishing; each dam or potential reservoir must be considered separately, along with the present or proposed operation program for that particular body of water. For example, dams built for other purposes have greatly increased the fishing in the South. They have been detrimental to fishing in other areas, particularly in the Northwest. Here, construction of high dams threatens extinction of important anadromous species of salmon and trout. Highway and road construction can ruin fishing streams by rechanneling, creating siltation problems, etc. Game and fish departments must work closely with governmental agencies and private enterprises - those engaged in developing water resources, building roads or dumping waste to protect the fishing resource. Numerous attempts have been made to improve habitats in lakes or reservoirs by use of such devices as brush shelters, spawning beds, planting of aquatic weed beds, fertilizing, etc. Some have been helpful; some haven't. Brush shelters do attract young fish. But all too often, the fish which find shelter there are species such as sunfishes and perch, which tend to be overabundant and stunted. The value of sheltering young fish is subject to question. But big fish of some species (such as black crappie) are attracted to the vicinity making possible a greater harvest of these fish. In big waters particularly, only small percentages of these fish are harvested. Here, concentrating them to simplify their capture is a good conservation measure. We once believed that weed beds in lakes and ponds were vital to fish life. This observation was erroneous. Today, farm pond specialists don't want coarse aquatic vegetation in ponds. Too, large storage reservoirs have produced good supplies of fish without aquatic "weeds." From the standpoint of fish production, w~ed beds in general may do more harm than good. They protect the young pan fish from their predators and thereby cause overpopulation. But in all except small lakes, weed beds (unless too abundant) help decidedly in harvesting the adult fish. The weed beds tend to concentrate the catchable fish, so that anglers can take more of them. Fertilizer has been used effectively for weed control in some instances, and certain herbicides have also been used extensively. There's no simple, universal method for control of overabundant aquatic vegetation. Some states have been hounded by sportsmen wanting weed control in all waters. And it is often economically impossible to consider weed control on a large scale basis. Fertilizing with commercial fertilizer has greatly increased the fish crop in ponds in some areas. In some northern and mountainous areas, though, the application of commercial fertilizers has produced esthetically noxious conditions which have resulted in winter kill because of increased oxygen demand. Water-level management offers a number of possibilities, such as raising the level to provide better marshy border for northern pike spawning; or lowering the level for a period to permit land vegetation to grow on the temporarily exposed shoal. Lowering the water level at carefully selected times can also control rough fish such as carp. -15- Two very necessary prerequisites to providi11g favorable conditions for an abundant fish life are the abatement of pollution and the prevention of excessive sedimentation - in other words soil conservation. Ira Gabrielson �There are other lake improvement possibilities, such as adding lime to overacid waters, or pumping nutrient materials from the deep bottom (where they are of little value) onto the food producing shoal areas (where they are valuable), or removing ice cover to prevent winter kill. But each lake must be evaluated upon its own merits. Like stream improvement, lake improvement offers definite possibilities. And, like stream improvement, it has definite limitations, expense being one. One of the tools u sed in connection with the fish habitat is "population manipulation." We don't like the term "population manipulation" bu t use it for want of something better. It involves managing fish populations in s uch ways as to provide optimum numbers of catchable-size fish. It may involve playing predatory game fish species against their prey (the pan fishes ), or controlling the less desirable species, preventing overpopulation; and, in some instances, eradicating entire fish populations and starting over by restocking with more desirable, sometimes not native, species. Obviously, we can't manipulate fish pop- ulations intelligently unless we know what species are present and the relative abundance, size-classes and rates of growth of these species. We a lso need to know what species can contribute the most fishing under various amounts of fishing pressure. We need to know, too, what species are desired by the angler. Often, a fish which is a "weak" species in one area is a highly prized species in some other region. There's the question, too, of the r elative "catchability" of a species. For example, brook trout a re more catchable than brown trout; the chain pickerel is more catchable than the largemouth bass. We also need to know the individual habitat needs of the various species. As an example, the objective in some waters may be to produce continuing supplies of both catchable-size bass and bluegills in reasonable numbers. This can be done only if the bass keep the bluegill population reduced in numbers (by eating them) to where there's adequate food for the bluegills which survive - and only if enough young bluegills are produced to give the bass enough food to permit rapid growth. Fish Stocking T HERE'S one basic fact that needs to be understood if we are to properly determine the role of fish s tocking. Fish are prolific - much more prolific than most animals we deal with. We can 't give accurate figures on egg production b ecause a big female lays far more eggs than a small female of the same species. However, in gen eral, a trout may lay 1000 eggs, a bass 10,000, a bluegill 20,000, a wall- - 16- �eye 50,000, and a big carp might lay a million. Under suitable conditions, a big percentage of these eggs hatch. One study on a 150-acre lake showed that the number of fry produced naturally by four species (largemouth, bass, bluegill, rock bass, common sunfish) was slightly over 500,000 per acre. The water would support only a few hundred adult fish per acre. We have had instances where the limited brood stock present in the original river was more than adequate to provide all the young fish needed to stock big impoundments. Though there are still exceptions, more and more sportsmen recognize the fact that stocking has limitations. In general, the public still looks on stocking as a cure-all only in those states where the top people have been disinterested in public enlightenment. A lot of advances have also been made in the field of fish culture. It is a form of animal husbandry which requires as much technique and modern methods as beef production and poultry raising. Many significant advances have been in nutrition and disease control, but there is still much to be done. Stocking does have major limitations. But, it's one of our important fish conservation tools. Properly used, stocking plays an important role in improving our fishing. For warm waters we must rely on planting small fish. Raising game fish to adult size in hatcheries costs a fortune. Rearing a bass to twelve inches would cost an estimated two to four dollars. Not more than half the planted fish can be expected to be recaught. This raises the average price of each bass creeled to four to eight dollarsmore than the average price of a fishing license. But one of the cheapest ways of obtaining fingerling warm water species is by seining surplus ones from natural waters. Planting warm water fingerlings serves a good purpose in a number of instances: 1. To stock new waters, especially farm ponds and new public fishing lakes. 2. Reintroduction of fish in lakes depleted by winter kill. 3. Introducing species not already present, where such introduction is desirable. 4. Restocking of waters from which existing fish populations were removed through use of chemicals or by draining. 5. In some instances stocking will help fishing in waters where the fish are already present, but where conditions for spawning are inadequate. The stocking picture for warmwater fish and coldwater fish differs rather decidedly. Trout can be raised to catchable size at a much lower cost than would be needed to raise bass or other game fish to a size where they would be attractive to anglers. In numerous waters we can now have good trout fishing only by planting catchable size fish. The cost is high. A single legal limit may cost more than the price of a license. But, such stocking may be justified if the trout fisherman is willing to pay the bill - and sometimes he isn't. In many trout waters, the question is one of having putand-take stocking, or having no fish at all Of course, such stocking is justified only on heavily fished waters where a big percentage of the planted fish will be retaken by the angler. In general, stocking with coldwater species may be expected to benefit fishing under these circumstances: 1. Stocking lakes where conditions are suitable, but where the trout have no spawning areas. Usually finger lings may be stocked under these conditions. Many trout lakes provide good fishing only because of periodic fingerling stocking; others have adequate natural reproduction. 2. Restocking lakes with fingerlings after removal of existing fish populations by use of rotenone or by draining. 3. Stocking with catchable-size trout. This is the last resort but sometimes the only method of providing good trout fishing in many very heavily fished waters, either because they are not good trout waters or because they cannot raise enough fish naturally to take care of the demand. For the best results the fish must usually be planted at intervals just before and during the open season. Most studies show a low winter survival of these fish. 4. Stocking with anadromous fishes. Planting of small salmon is helpful where the spawning habitat has been destroyed by the building of dams or by other activity. Too, stocking with steelhead on the west coast has greatly improved the runs of these fish. -17- Stocking isn't a cure-all .. . It's only one of the various fish management tools. R. W. Eschmeyer �Using the Tools Up to this point we have discussed, briefly, the general management picture, and the use of the major principles or management tools. In those states wh ere these tools are used wisely, hunting and fishing appear to be improving instead of continuing downhill as pressure increases. The problem seems lo be one of being able to use the tools effectively and of making them constantly more useful. A look at these management methods tells an interesting stor y . We were frequently off base on stocking - until research brought us to our senses. Even then, we still had the problem of bringing about a change in public concepts, an admittedly difficult problem. Many of our regulation practices were ineffective or did more harm than good until fact-finding came along to point out our errors and put the regulation matter on a sounder ba5is. Then came the problem of informing and educating the public to realize that more and more restrictive regulations and ever-increasing protection migh t not be the answer. Basic game and fish conservation has progressed, then, primarily because of two items - research and education. Its future depends on expansion of these same two items. This situation is not unique, it parallels development in other fields of science. Medicine has made immense strides; the average life expectancy has been rising constantly and impressively. Why? Because medical research has p ointed the way to b etter diag- -18 - nosis and more effective remedies, and because our health education programs have caused public enlightenment. The change in farm ing methods and crop production can be attributed to these same items - research and education. A look at other sciences tells the same story. There's a third item in all instances professional standards. The specialists must know how to use the tools, how to get the proper facts, and how to educate the public in sound programs. The best of medical research would do us little good if we were to have a "quack " treat our ailment. In both research and education, progress depends partly on the amount of money available for the programs. But it depends very much, too, on the caliber of the people who handle those programs and on the organization of a total state program. In Colorado, for instance, much credit must be given to the "commission set-up." Th is policymaking group with broad powers, did not wait until the public clamored for sound game management - it backed pioneer research programs and set seasons which led the nation in making Colorado one of the top b ig game states in the nation. It migh t be indicated, too, that in one respect the two activities, research and edu cation, are inseparable; the one can't be effective without the other. Facts are of little value until th e public accepts them; education, without basic facts provided by sound research, may be mis-education and may do more harm than good. �Suggested Reading who would like to delve further FORintothose the science of game and fish management, we recommend the following books. There are others, of course, including many excellent field guides and life history studies for all species. These books, if not readily available at your local library, may be obtained through its inter-library loan service. Allen, Durward L. Our Wildlife Legacy. Funk and Wagnall's, New York, 1954. Allen, Durward L. Pheasants in North America. Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Pa., 1956. Beckman, William C. Guide to the Fishes of Colorado. University of Colorado Museum, Boulder, 1952. Bent, A. C. Life Histories of North American Gallinaceous Birds. U. S. National Museum Bulletin #164, Washington, D. C., 1932. Coker, Robert E. Streams, Lakes, Ponds. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1954. Curtis, Brian. The Life Story of the Fish. Harcourt, Brace and Co., New York, 1949. Edminster, Frank C. American Game Birds of Field and Forest. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1954. Einarson, A. S. The Pronghorn Antelope and Its Management. Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Pa. Feltner, George. A Look Back. Colorado Game and Fish Department, Denver, 1962. Gabrielson, Ira N. Wildlife Conservation. The Macmillan Co., New York, 1952. Hunter, Gilbert N., Keith Hay and Larry Robbins. Big Game Management in Colorado. Colorado Game and Fish Department, Denver, 1961. Kortright, F. H. The Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America. Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Pa., 1953. Lagler, Karl. Fresh Water Fish Biology. Brown Press, 1952. Latham, Roger M. Complete Book of the Wild Turkey. Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Pa. Leopold, Aldo, Game Management. Charies Scribner's Sons, New York, 1948. Munie, Olaus J. The Elk of North America. Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Pa., 1951. Penmark, Robert W. Fresh Water Invertebrates of the United States. Ronald Press, 1953. Rounsefell, George A. and W. Harry Everhart. Fishery Science, Its Methods and Applications. John Wiley and Sons, inc., New York. Seton, E. T. Lives of Game Animals. Literary Guild of America, New York, 1937. Sigler, William F. Wildlife Law Enforcement. William C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa, 1956. Smith, Guy - Harold. Conservation of Natural Resources. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. Taylor, Walter P. The Deer of North America. Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Pa., 1956. The National Geographic Society of America. Wild Animals of North America. The Lakeside Press, Chicago, Ill., 1960. Trippensee, Reuben E. Wildlife Management. McGraw Hill Book Co., Inc., New York. American Forestry Series, 1948. Two volumes. Young, Stanley P. and H. H. Jackson. The Clever Coyote. Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Pa., 1951. Conservation precepts succeed only in proportion to the effort people are willing to put forth. Ernie Swift Ackno"Wledg1nent T HIS endeavor of simplifying and explaining the basic principles of game and fish management is really the work of many. Special appreciation is expressed to Dr. Edward L. Kozicky and John Madson of the Conservation Department of the Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation for the direct use of material from their publication Principles of Game Management. Appreciation is also expressed to Dick Stroud of the Sport Fishing Institute for material used from the institute's publication Fish Conservation Fundamentals by the late R. W. Eschmeyer. Special credit should be given artist Oz Warbach and the Michigan Department of Conservation for the use of the cartoon illustrations. The author also wishes to extend his thanks to the members of the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department who assisted in preparing the written manuscript - Harry R. Woodward, Robert Elliott, Larry Riordan, Harry Figge, Howard Tanner, Gilbert N. Hunter, Bob Tully, Wayne Seaman, Jack Hogue, Tom M. Lynch, Dick Klein, Wayne Sandfort, Cliff Moser, Dick Denney, Con Tolman and Bettie Mock. -19- �1962 Annual Report of the Colorado Game and Fish Department EDITED BY PETE HANSSON PHOTOS BY BUD SMITH The Commission HE policies under T which the Game and Fish Department operates are set by the eight- man Colorado Game and Fish Commission. The hunting and fishing regulations are also set by this commission. Each member of the commission, representing a district of the state, is appointed by the Governor, who is himself an e x-officio m ember of the commission. The eight appointments are for staggered six -year terms. No member of the commission may succeed himself, but may be reappointed at a later date, and no more than four of the commissioners may be members of the same political party. The commission m e mbers receive no compensation for their services, but they are entitled to reimbursement for actual expens es incurred by them dw-ing the discharge of their official duties. wno .. "' ""' lOCAN l"tfllLIPS @ lrll0RG,O1 1'UWA. WAS HINGTON Al>AMS ""'" AJU,PA.MOC ELBERT ,CIT cAASOH LIHCOl.N MESA CHEYENNE KIOWA BENT COMMISSION DISTR ICTS -20- AA OWERS �COMMISSIONERS-1962 Pat Griffin President Pat G1·iffin of Fort Collins is a native of Granite, Oklahoma. A graduate of Southwestern State College at Wea therford, he came to Colorado 29 years ago, and became a jobber for the Phillips Petroleum Company in Fort Collins. In add ition to this, Griffin now owns a string of Gaseteria Service stations and is a distributor of LP gas and n ms a ti re re treading and distribution business. Griffin also serves as director on the boards of two banks and is active in civic and fraternal work. He is a member of the National Outdoo1· Rec reation Resources Commission and U1c Execu tive Reserve, Petroleum Section. He was appointed to ilie Commission in 1957 as representative of District 2. �COMMISSIONERS-1962 Ralph L. White Vice-President Ra lph L . White of Craig is a nati ve son, born in R edcliff wher e he r eceived his early education. After a short time in college, White moved to Craig where he became District Cou1·t Clerk in 1911; a posi tion he still holds. He is also president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Craig and ser ved for one term as mayor of that town. White, who has always been an enthus iastic outdoors ma n, is c:ctive in the Masonic orders, Elks Lodge, Woodmen of the World , Odd Fellows and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Craig Game and Fish Club and the May bell Sportsmen's C lub. White was appointed a member of the Commission from District 8 in 1957. �COMMISSIONERS-1962 Parker Sooter Secretary Coming to Colorado in the late 1920s from his native Oklahoma, Parker Sooter, of Alamosa, first engaged in farming before going to work for the Department of Agriculture. There he served as a land appraiser and farm planner in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Later he worked with the Monte Vista Potato Growers Association before acquiring a cafe in Alamosa which he still operates. Sooter is a s killed £ishe1·man and hunter and is a member of several sportsmen's clubs. Even before becoming a commissioner in 1959, Sooter worked extensively with the department in promoting better sportsman-landowner relationships. Sooter represents Disti-ict 9. �COMMISSIONERS-1962 Augustus P. Hann M ember Augustus P. Hann of D enver, District 1, was appointed to the Commission in 1961. He was born in Washington, New J ersey, and g rew up in Kansas and wes te rn Texas. He is a retired regional manager of the General Motors Acceptance Corporation and a retired Colonel of Infantry. H ann saw service in both World Wars. Since he retired, Hann has been active in the Izaak Walton League, beginning as secretary of the Denver Cha pter, he rose to the position of State President of the Colorado Division. He is now on the national board of the league. Besides that, he is active in several Masonic orders. He likes to hunt and is an avid fisherman. �COMMISSIONERS-1962 Melvern Renfrow Member District 7 is represented by Melvern Renfrow, Delta merchant and sportsman. Starting as a sto1 e clerk, Renfrow became the owner of the store within a few years. He now operates two stores in Delta. Besides being an active sportsman, he works closely with the Delta Sportsman's Association, and the town's Chamber of Commerce. He is a past president of the county, city and junior Chambers of Commerce and past president and lieutenant governor of the Delta Kiwanis Club. He is a member of the Elks Club and is on the County Airport Advisory Board. Renfrow, who represents District 7, was appointed to the Commission in 1961. �COMMISSIONERS-1962 Roy Eckles Member Now serving his second term on the Commission, Roy Eckles of Lamar was first named a commissioner in 1947, se1·ving a six-year term. He was appointed again to the Commission in 1959. Eckles completed his schooling, including Denver University, in Colorado · after movi ng here from Oklahoma. He is engaged in the tire and appliance business in Lamar, where he is also active in the Masonic orders, sportsmen's clubs and civic work. He is a skilled hunter and a fisherman who prefers the high country. Eckles was appointed lo the Commission from District 4. �COMMISSIO NERS-1962 Bob Hendricks Member Bob H endricks was born in McCook, Nebraska, ten days befo1·e his parents brought him to Colorado where he has lived ever since. He is a mo1·tic ian and rancher in Burlington, was appointed to the Commission in 1962 and serves District 3. Hendricks, who ser ved almost three years in the Air Force, where he rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, is a graduate of Colorado State University. His ranching interests are near Stratton. His hobbies include fishing, boating, water skiing and skin diving. He is a membe1· of the Izaak Walton League and is active in civic and commercial activities in his area. �COMMISSIONERS- 1962 Marshall Hughes Member B or n in Montrose, Colorado, and a graduate of Western State College at Gunnison, Marshall Hughes now operates a ra nch near Norwood. Hughes is a past president of the San Miguel Wool Growers Association and is on the state board of the Colorado F arm Bureau. He is a lso a m ember of the Natu1·al Resources Development Council of the National Wool Growe rs Associa tion and the Colorado Cattlemen's Association. He has taken an active part in the San Miguel County Hunte r Courtesy Prog ram. Hunting and fishing arc Hughes' most frequent diversions. Hughes became a member of the Commission in 1962 and represents District 6. �Department Organization T HE Colorado Game and Fish Department, in its operations and planning, is guided and administered by the director who is responsible to the commission. The director of the department administers five distinct areas of operations ... Game and fish management, game and fish research, business administration, information and education and land acquisition and development. Game and fish management is headed by an assistant director for management who supervises the state game manager, state fis h manager, chief of law enforcement and four regional game and fish managers. The four regional managers, one for each quarter of the state, supervise the work and plans of a regional fish biologist, a regional game biologist, an airplane pilot and four to five area supervisors who in turn supervise the wildlife conservation officers, fish culturists and other fieldmen within the region. Wildlife research is headed by an assistant director for research who supervises the plans and work of two divisions, game research and fish research headquartered at the department's Research Center in Fort Collins. In all, there are 342 employes in the Game and Fish Department. Governor I I I Director of Notvrol Resources Commission I Director Assistant Attomcy Generol I I I Ass.istont Director As.sistont 0irtctor Management RHearch I 0tri.sionof GomeMonogement piYision of La.., Enforcetnt"nt IDiriJ.ion of Fish Management Gome Research Gome Manager Chief Warden Fisll Mono~, Seoson Recommendations Hunter Safety Scou,n Recommendations Small Gama : Lako and Stream Hobitot Waterfowl Land Monogemont Nursery :···········l··········· Hatcheries Fur Beare-rs Domoge Ooimt : Fishing Ac.ens Areas Predators Publk Hunting Areot1 ' :,___________ ,:' Regional Managers Gamo Monog«nent fish Monagtmtnt Laboratory Coo~rotivc Unitt Colorado State University Relations Special Studies Big Gomo -----------· Law EnforctrMnt Land Management I Division of Information DMsion of Administration Public Relations Officer Busint'SS Monagc-r Di•ision of Land Acquisition and Development Engintt,ing Pc.blications Fiscal Control Information Ucenao Wot~ Rights Leoses and Controcts E.ducotion Pcrwnncl Vlwol Aids Federal Aid Rt,gional Educator$ Purchasing Photography lnvtntofy Transportation -21 - Land Acquisition Fish RHCOrch Trout Warm Water Fish �Managing the Hunting Resource OLORADO has a variety of game which C is managed. Game species include deer, elk, bear, antelope, bighorn sheep, pheasants, grouse, quail, chukars, ducks, geese, rabbits; furbearing species include beaver, marten, mink, weasel. At present, some 281,000 persons hunt in Colorado. Their hunting activities overlap but 162,000 hunt big game; 119,000 hunt game birds. Approximately 1000 trap the forbearing animals. The department manages game with the goal of maintaining the wildlife resource and providing good hunting. To do this, the department is engaged in: 1. Surveys. 2. Applied reseach. 3. Transplanting game. 4. Acquisition of land and development of land for game purposes. 5. Creating access to public land. 6. Regulations. 7. Information. All these activities are related in game management, but here is a breakdown and explanation of each: Surveys: Game seasons and regulations are based on continuing surveys. Most big game (primarily deer and elk) is counted from the air in certain key trend areas throughout the state. Ground counts and comprehensive range surveys play an important part in setting hunting seasons. Applied Research: Under the department's federal aid program, (75% paid by federal government from a tax on arms and ammunition) game biologists are engaged in basic research which will be applied to game management activities. Some of the present research projects concern: (1) Deer-Elk Investigations, (2) Game Bird Surveys, (3) Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations, (4) Wild Turkey Investigations, (5) Evaluation of the Effects of Habitat Improvement on Wildlife, (6) Game Habitat Improvement Studies, (7) Game Range Investigations, and (8) An Ecological Investigation of the Cache La Poudre Deer Herd. Past research projects have contributed greatly to the sound management of antelope, bighorn sheep and beaver. Stocking and Transplanting Game: The department stocks or transplants certain game to start new herds or flocks in suitable areas. Antelope, bighorn sheep, turkeys, partridges have been trapped, then transplanted into new areas throughout the state. New species which have been introduced are pheasants, chukars and Rocky Mountain goats. Acquisition and Development of Land for Game Purposes: The department buys land for the main purpose of creating game habitat for game and using the land for public hunting purposes. Much of this land is bought with federal aid money. Development of land includes planting cover and food, dam construction and fence building. Winter range for deer is critical in Colorado and much land acquisition is aimed at providing more of it. Creating Access to Public Land: The department has bought rights-of-way and has built a number of access roads to public areas for the primary purpose of making the land accessible to hunters so that they may adequately harvest the game. Thus far, 38 access roads have been constructed. Regulations: Game seasons and regulations are based on sound surveys and applied research. Seasons and regulations are designed to protect the basic breeding stock, and to harvest the surplus of game, not to hinder the hunter. Regulations, under law, are set by the commission. Information: This is necessary to inform and educate the public of the purposes behind the regulations and game management procedures and, in general, build confidence in the department. The public is reached through a variety of media - news releases, publications, radio and television, etc. -22- �Managing the Fishing Resource M ORE than 400,000 persons fish in Colorado every year with more being added to that number each new season. Population is booming, and with it, more people are seeking recreation in the form of fishing. Keeping the fishing good for this many fishermen poses problems. This means that good or "quality" fishing as the fishermen of the "good old days" knew it is on the decline. It is the purpose of the Colorado Game and Fish Department to slow down this decline and provide as many fish as possible for the fisherman's creel. To do this the department is engaged in: 1. Stocking. 2. Applied research. 3. Population manipulation. 4. Development of new fishing waters. 5. Creating access to fishing waters. 6. Improvement of existing waters. 7. Regulations. 8. Information. Stocking: Hatchery-reared fish are expensive and the widespread stocking of them is governed by research findings as to where they will provide the greatest benefit to fishermen. Costs of raising trout in the department's hatcheries and/or rearing units average 70 cents per pound. Twenty-two trout stations and one warm water station are now being operated by the department. Two federal fish and wildlife stations also allocate a large share of fish to state waters. Each year approximately 600 tons or 15 million trout of which 6 million are catchable size (8" -10") are planted in public fishing waters. In addition more than 12 million small warmwater fish are planted. Applied Research: Fisheries research projects at present include (1) Quality Fishing Studies, (2) Stream Surveys, (3) Cutthroat Trout Investigations, (4) Basic Productivity of Reservoirs, (5) Hepatoma in Rainbow Trout, (6) Lake Trout Investigations, (7) Reservoir Management Studies, (8) Evaluation of Hatchery Trout, (9) Alkali and Salinity on Production Capacity. Past studies have aided in introducing the kokanee salmon into Colorado waters, raising hatchery trout at lower cost, protected fisheries in water development projects. Population Manipulation: Certain waters throughout the state are seined or poisoned so that a better balanced fish population may be re-introduced or so that new species may be introduced. Regulations help control the population balance. All of this is designed to provide more fish or bigger "quality" fish, or different fish. Development of New Fishing Waters: Many of Colorado's finer fishing waters are on private land not open to the public, so the department has started a program of constructing new fishing waters. These are really small reservoirs for fishing purposes only. Construction of these reservoirs is a continuing program with one to three being built every year. Up to the summer of 1963, 36 of these lakes had been constructed. The department has also opened up 37 formerly private lakes and reservoirs totaling 39,800 acres by purchase, lease or management agreement. Creating Free Access to Public Fishing Waters: The department builds roads to fishing waters on public land where these access roads may not exist or where they may be blocked by private land. Improvement of Existing Waters: Because erosion control and lake and stream improvement is becoming more important all the time, several projects are now underway on an experimental basis. These include fish shelters in lakes and shelter devices in streams. Regulations: As in game management, seasons and limits on fish are designed to protect the fish and not to hinder fishermen. Information: Information is necessary to inform the public of the purposes behind regulations and fish management procedures. -23- �Division Reports - 1962 Management ROBERT R. ELLIOTT T HE management operations of the Colorado Game and Fish Department saw several major events take place in 1962. Colorado went through its first year round fishing season, a major change from the seasons of the past. With the elimination of opening day, the pressure on the streams, lakes and reservoirs was more evenly spread throughout the year. Another event of major importance to the state was the culmination of a number of years of effort with the declaration by the federal government that the area of the state west of the Continental Divide would be placed in the Pacific Flyway for the migratory waterfowl season. Deer and elk, the prime attractions in Colorado for hunters, both resident and nonresident, presented a banner year for hunters, despite uncooperative weather conditions. The harvest of mule deer animals in 1962 was behind the record year for Colorado, but it was great enough to place the state at the head of the nation in both categories. The organization of the management branch continued to function smoothly. The aerial section (an airplane and pilot in each region) serviced the entire department. Robert Elliott Assistant Director, Management Game Management T GILBERT N. HUNTER HE year 1962 saw one of Colorado's most successful hunting years. Mule deer and elk harvests were tops in the nation, with more hunters in the field than ever before, more money realized from license sales than before, and with an increased amount of money spent by big game hunters in the state for things other than licenses than ever before. Big game hunters totaled 166,729 and small game hunters totaled 118,255. The waterfowl season showed a decline over previous years due mainly to the restrictive nature of the season set for ducks in the Central Flyway which takes in the East- -24- �ern Slope of Colorado where traditionally most of the ducks are taken. Even though the kill runs close to several hundred thousand, pheasants are definitely underharvested. Studies have demonstrated that approximately 70 per cent of the cocks could be harvested without danger to the next year's breeding potential. Dove hunting could become of more importance in the near future, especially in the Arkansas Valley where the best hunting does occur. Following is a resume of kill and hunting pressure figures, along with pertinent facts on management operations for each species of game managed. Included also is a report on the operations concerning game damages, forbearer management and predator control. Deer: Colorado again led the nation in mule deer kill, harvesting 142,798 in 1962. The success ratio, determined by total license sales, was 66.7 per cent. However, as 59,692 second licenses were sold, the success ratio, based on actual numbers of hunters in the field, was 92.6 per cent. There was an increase of almost 15 per cent of deer taken on the second deer licenses in 1962 over 1961 and an increase of more than 8 per cent of actual number of hunters in the field. Garfield County was the most productive in the state for deer hunters while the Grand Mesa area was the top Game Management Unit for deer harvest. Archery deer hunting again showed a large increase in number of persons participating. 3806 archers, an increase of almost 1000 over 1961, took 628 deer for a success ratio of 16.5 per cent. Elk: Although the harvest did not equal the 1961 record of 11,743 elk, Colorado was one of the top states in the nation with a kill of 10,353 animals. Over a period of years, approximately one of every four hunters bagged an elk. 47,106 hunters purchased elk licenses in 1962. A record number of 9330 hunter's choice permits was issued and of these successful hunters, only two per cent took antlered elk. Gunnison and Rio Blanco counties claimed a kill of more than 1000 each; however, the animals are well dispensed throughout the high mountains and many of the other counties have very substantial elk herds. Gunnison County, with 4453 hunters in the field, saw the heaviest hunting pressure, followed by Routt, Rio Blanco, Garfield and La Plata. Denver and El Paso sent the most hunters into the field. Texas and California supplied the highest number of nonresident hunters. Antelope: Colorado enjoyed a very high ratio of hunter success. Out of 2903 antelope licenses issued, 2588 antelope were harvested. As in previous years, close to 70 per cent of the total kill was made on the first day. All pronghorn seasons have been on a limited permit basis and restricted to residents only. Postseason and winter counts show that with the intensive management given to this species many of the herds are rapidly increasing. Bear: 832 special summer bear licenses were sold in 1962, and 175 black bear were taken during the April 1 to September 15 season. As hunters are permitted to kill a bear on their regular deer or elk license, 303 bear were bagged during the big game season. Mesa and Delta counties were the top areas for bear hunting. Bighorn Sheep: Through the intensive management efforts of recent years, the bighorn sheep herds have shown a gradual increase. The 1962 harvest of this magnificent state animal was 61. This is the greatest harvest since 1954 when 79 were taken. All of the 229 licenses allowed in 1962 were rapidly purchased. Although the hunting of sheep is extremely difficult, there has been an increasing interest in this type of trophy hunting. Wild Turkey: The annual harvest of the wild turkey is relatively low, although recent information shows that Colorado could harvest several times the number of birds it has been. Turkeys continue to gradually increase in number and expand their range. Also, through trapping and transplanting to promising locations or historical range, the birds are developed in more areas each year. 143 turkeys were trapped and released in new areas in 1962. 18 of these birds were traded to Idaho for Rocky Mountain goats. There were 1024 turkey licenses sold and hunters -25- �enjoyed a success ratio of 47 per cent on this much-prized species. The total harvest was 523 of which 30 per cent were large toms. Las Animas and Montrose counties are credited with approximately 60 per cent of the total state harvest. Ducks: The estimated total harvest in 1962 was 38,499 ducks, a 79 per cent drop from the eight-year average. The season which was short, reduced bag limit and resulting substantial drop in numbers of hunters in the field resulted in the drastic drop in harvest. With only one mallard in the bag allowed, many duck hunters didn't feel it worthwhile going out and the sale of duck stamps also took a nose dive. Stamps sold totaled 17,701 whereas in 1960 it was 30,592 and in 1961 it was 24,854. This factor, incidentally, affected the hunting pressure on other small game species, as many hunters did not purchase a small game license beca use of the shortage of ducks. The Eastern Slope, which was in the more restrictive Central Flyway, accounted for 76 per cent of the total kill in the state, whereas in 1961 it accounted for 87 per cent. Weld County was the top duck hunting county on the East Slope while Mesa County led the West Slope. Geese: Although the total harvest of geese in 1962 was down from 1961, 13,671 as compared to 14,055, the average season bag of 1.5 geese showed a slight increase over the previous year. From this it can be deduced that the quality of the goose season was high while the number of hunters in the field was down. As in previous years, the southeast section of the state was the top goose hunting area. Top counties were Prowers, Kiowa, Crowley and Baca. In 1962, Colorado continued to cooperate with the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in the nationwide waterfowl surveys. This job includes banding studies, habitat evaluation, breeding ground estimates, midwinter population inventories and the hunter harvest survey. Doves: The average season bag was 7.5 compared to 6.1 in the previous year. There was a slight increase in number of hunters and the kill reported was 149,002 birds. Doves are present throughout most of the state although most of them are taken in the area near Denver where hunter activity is greatest. As with other migratory birds, the state cooperates with the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife on population and harvest studies. Quail: There was a substantial decrease in both hunters and success for the second straight year. Only 7450 hunters participated in hunting quail for an average season bag of 4.3 birds. 32,035 birds were harvestedabout half of the annual take when compared to the seven-year average. Blue Grouse and Ptarmigan: The harvest of these two species did increase due to the slight increase in hunter success. 13,426 birds were taken by 9119 hunters with an average bag of 1.8 birds compared to 1.4 in previous years. Chukars: An increased number of chukar hunters compared to the previous year resulted in a harvest of 1987 birds. 1419 sportsmen hunted the canyons and rim rocks of western Colorado for this interesting species. This exotic, which has created intense interest in many areas, is still being released in suitable habitat that is deficient in game birds. Rabbits: There was a big decrease in number of rabbit hunters in 1962 - 35,304 compared to the seven-year average of 55,078. Only 137,955 rabbits were taken over the entire state. This is quite a reduction from the 280,000 average, considering that there probably isn't a square mile of the state that does not contain either snowshoes or cottontails. Pheasants: Since 1955 conservation officers have annually gathered data to detect seasonal and annual changes in the pheasant population. Throughout the winter and spring, sex ratio counts are made. When combined with crowing counts, the game manager has a good idea of the breeding population in the key pheasant areas. Then during August, brood counts are conducted and the fall population status can be estimated and related to the previous year's population trend. IBM facilities are used to rapidly and efficiently summarize all information. This information is then used as a basis for estimating potential hunter success and establishing proper hunting seasons. -26- �Although the pheasant population was down slightly in most areas of the state, 97,560 hunters took to the field and bagged some 195,120 cocks. The average season bag was 2.0 birds compared to 2.2 birds in 1961. The greater portion of the pheasant harvest came from the northeast and central portions of the Northeast Region. Sage and Sharptailed Grouse: Population surveys, which include strutting ground counts and production or brood counts, are conducted regularly. Status or trend reports are then compiled from this field information. Computer analysis again is used to evaluate both the population and the harvest trends. The average bag was 2.2 birds in both 1961 and 1962, although the number of hunters, 4967, and harvest, 10,927, did drop considerably. The northwest portion of the state produced the greatest number of birds harvested. Game Damage: State statute provides that damages done to private property by protected wildlife will be paid for out of the game cash fund of the Game and Fish Department if the claims prove to be valid and substantiated. The Game Damage Control Section of the department investigates each claim submitted and makes its recommendation to the commission concerning validity of the claim and what amount should be paid. The commission, in official action, then denies or tables payment of the damage claim. The Game Damage Control Section does preventative work in the game damage area by arranging for fencing against wildlife, herding and rallying and removal of the animals from private property. Approximately $100,000 per year is spent in this control work in spite of the fact that special hunting seasons are set in real problem areas. A total of $12,088 was paid by the Game and Fish Department to private property owners for damage done to their property by protected game in 1962. The number of claims filed totaled 63 of which 46 were allowed, 12 were denied and 5 were tabled. The damage claims fell into four main categories- deer, elk, bear and beaver. Deer caused the most claims to be filed, while beaver caused the least trouble. Fur Management: The number of beaver trapped by Game and Fish Department personnel declined sharply in 1962 as compared with previous years while the number trapped on private lands increased sharply over previous years. It has been the goal of the Fur Management Section to shift the business of trapping beaver from the department personnel to the private trapper, a goal which is near attainment. In 1962, 1398 beaver were trapped by department personnel, about 3500 less than in 1958. At the same time, 5579 beaver were landowner trapped compared to a little more than 600 in 1958. ·In all 7449 beaver were taken in 1962 by all methods, an increase of 1000 over the previous year and just under 2000 more than in 1958. An increase in the harvest of beavers on private and public lands is anticipated for the 1963 year. It is hoped that about 9000 beavers will be removed, a necessity for proper management of these animals. In 1962, field personnel spent a total of 28,905 hours working on beaver, predator and fur problems. A total of $21,720 was realized from the sale of pelts resulting from the taking of beaver, predators and other furbearers. Predator Control: Predator control work in Colorado is done by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Colorado Game and Fish Department. The department, through a $35,000 appropriation to the federal agency, finances a portion of the federal program of predator control. In addition, $15,000 is appropriated to the department for its specialized work in critical areas of the state. Some 1710 animal predators plus 4082 predator birds were taken by department personnel in 1962. Of this total 1133 were taken by federal predator control men which included 752 coyotes, 207 bobcats, 73 porcupines, 33 bear, 30 foxes, 24 badgers, 6 mountain lions, 3 skunks and 3 raccoons. A total of 1842 man-days were spent by the federal personnel with about 60 per cent of that total represented in the May through September period. $1370 was realized from the sale of pelts taken from predators in 1962. -27- �Law Enforcement JACK HOGUE HE Law Enforcement Division in 1962 divided its efforts between two main categories, the supervision and expansion of a statewide hunter safety program and the enforcement of the game and fis h laws. Colorado's hunter safety program, as established, designed and conducted by the Colorado Game and Fish Department, is young in years but already rated among the top ten in the nation. The Law Enfor cement' Division's presen tation of its program of hunter safety in 1961 received honorable mention in the competition among the states at the 1962 International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners' convention at Jackson Lake. It was the first year in which the state has submitted a presentation. This program, already one of the ten best in the country, was further expanded in 1962 with major emphasis being made in the schools of all the counties in Colorado. H unter safety courses were incorporated in the regular curriculum or were presented as extracurricular activities in many of the junior and senior high schools in the state. At the same time, the groundwork was laid for starting the program in many other schools. Perhaps the most ambitious plans made in 1962 involved plans to present hunter safety courses in the sch ools of Denver and Aurora, potential contacts with over 30,000 future hunters. Toward this end, then, the hunter safety courses are designed with quality of materials and personnel for instruction in mind. Most of the department's fieldmen are trained h unter safety instructors and almost all of them participated in the presentation of hunter safety courses during the year . They trained not only students in h unter safety principles but also trained others as T instructors so that the program may be continually broadened in scope until these courses are available in every area of the state. There are now more than 700 qualified instructors in Colorado for hunter safety programs. In the enforcement of the state's game and fish laws, the Enforcement Division has found that less than one per cent of the nonresidents who hold hunting or fis hing licenses violate the state's game and fish laws and that less than one-half per cent of the resident hunters or fishermen do so. During the course of the year, department fieldmen spent almost half of their working time on law enforcement. 11 per cent of the time was devoted to game management, 6 per cent each to information and education and fish management, 5 per cent to fur management, 3 per cent to game damage and 20 per cent to other facets of their work. Some 2411 cases were made by fieldmen during 1962 for game a nd fish law violations, with $67,093 in fines resulting. Over 2½ m illion miles were dr iven by department men on law enforcement work and more than 100,000 contacts were made in the course of this work. One of the most pressing problems of the L aw Enfo rcement Division as it looks to the future lies in th e increase of duties and responsibilities assigned the division w ithout a commensurate increase in personnel to carry out the expanding obligations. With th e number of hunters and fishermen in the field continually increasing, the effectiveness of the fieldman in his assigned area is threatened. - 28- Jack Hogue Chief, Law Enforcement �Fish Management T WAYNE SEAMAN HE year 1962 inaugurated th e first year round fishing season for all species in Colorado. Fishing seasons of some type had been in effect since 1879 when the fishing season was closed during the months December th rough J une. The major benefit of the year round opening to date h as been spreading of fishing pressur e during the spring months. Winter ice-fishing on lakes and reservoirs h as begun to achieve popularity under the new regulations. Other r egulation changes in 1962 broadened the scope and areas set aside for fl y fishing only and fly and lure fishing only . These areas have proved to be quite popular with some segments of the fishing public. Hatchery trout production increased 27,000 pounds in 1962 over the previous year (from 1,070,250 pounds 1961, to 1,097,400 pounds in 1962). Fish plantings totaled 14,955,000 trout and 9,708,000 warmwater species during the year. F ield fish ery managemen t crew s seined 126,700 fish weighing 15,850 pounds in salvage and transplanti ng operations. Spawntaking operations yielded the following numbers of eggs by species: Kokanee Salmon .... . .. . . .. 6,750,000 Walleye Pike .. . ..... . . .... 6,540,000 Northern Pike . . . . . . . . . . . . . 580,000 Brook Trout .. ... .. . . . . .. .. 2,000,000 Cutthroat Trout .. . ... .... . 1,600,000 Rainbow Trout .. . ......... 2,000,000 Koka nee salmon egg s urpluses wer e traded with other states for supplies of rainbow, golden and la ke trout, and northern pike. Population inventories were m ade on 25 waters. Aquatic vegetation control using ch emical application was done on 2 waters. Three waters were reclaimed with fish toxicants. Colorado crews cooperated with Utah and Wyoming personnel in the application of detoxification chemicals to the Green River near the Colorado state line during the Green River rotenone reclamation project. This rough fish r eclamation project was one of the largest ever attempted in the United States. Approximately 600 miles of the Green River and its tributaries in Utah and Wyoming were treated with r oten one to rid the waters of undesirable fish prior to the closure of Flaming Gor ge Dam. The treated waters will be restocked with game fis h species, primar ily trout. Settling of silt and clear cold water r eleases in the Green River below Flaming Gorge Reservoir will a llow for fut ure trout fishing in the Colorado por tion of the Green River. Experimen tal stream improvement devices were ins talled in Fish Creek near Dolor es and Trout Creek near Buena Vista. These structures will be evaluated in subsequent years to check th eir effectiveness in bettering fish h abitat. The lake construction program progressed well during 1962. Spring Creek L ake (88 acres) near Almont, Lester Creek L ake (166 acres) near Hahns P eak , and H orseshoe L ake (172 acres) near Walsenburg were constructed. The dam and spillway on Dowdy L ake near R ed Feather was reconstructed for safety reasons. Hatchery modernization constr uction included pipelines at the Rifle, P itkin and Chalk Cliff units and new r aceways at the Drake, P oudre and Wray units. New lakes that began to rea lize good fishe r y benefits in 1962 included L a J ara, P aonia and Crawford reser voirs. Many limits of trout were taken from La J ara. The year 1962 saw fishing license sales increase to 432,292. Of this figure 301,658 were resident license buyers. Wayne R. Seaman State Fis h Manager -29- �L. E. RIORDAN Research T WO developments of major importance were recorded in the Research Branch of the Game and Fish Department in 1962. Two men wer e selected through Civil Service examination to head the Game Resear ch section and the Fish Research section. And a complete review of the staffing pattern of the R esearch Branch was started and brought close to completion with the ultimate aim the improving of salaries offered so Colorado's wildlife and fish research efforts could compete on an equal footing with other states for qualified, competent research scientists. The review of the staffing pattern of the Research Branch was conducted by the State Personnel Department. Under the existing salary schedules and staffing patterns, it was impossible to recruit qualified fish and wildlife research scientists. Other agencies offered more money. But with the review almost completed at the end of 1962, it is hoped that the Colorado Game and Fish Department will be able to offer salaries and positions competitive with other research units, both private and public. L. E. Riordan Assistant Director, Research WAYNE SANDFORT Game Research I N 1962 a staff of 20 biologists studied over 80 specific problems relating to more than 25 game species. These studies, financed by federal monies, were organized under eight major research projects. Highlights for major research projects are as follows: Game Bird Survey: Work was initiated to develop techniques and management procedures for scaled quail and chukar partridges. Studies of mourning dove migration patterns were initiated. Attempts to obtain Hungarian partridges for trial introduction were unsuccessful. The first year of study of -30- �greater prairie chicken ecology was carried out in Yuma County. Wild Turkey Investigations: An intensive study of wild turkey ecology was undertaken on the Uncompahgre Plateau to develop better census procedures and to determine methods for maintaining and increasing populations. A major publication, "The Wild Turkey in Eastern Colorado," was published in July, 1962. Wildlife Habitat Improvement Studies: Five plantings to test suitability and adaptability of specific woody plants, grasses and legumes for wildlife habitat improvement were made and maintained, and two older plots were partially replanted. Evaluation of the Effects of Habitat Improvement of Wildlife: This project included studies of the effect of the environment on pheasant populations and was terminated when the project leader accepted a new position with the U.S. Forest Service in Montana. Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations: A highly important contribution was the compilation of information which permitted management of western slope waterfowl populations under Pacific Flyway hunting regulations. Along this same line was initiation of a study in the San Luis Valley which will evaluate the need for special hunting regulations in that area. A job designed to determine development methods to provide better nesting sites for Canada geese was completed, and a similar type of study was initiated for ducks. Significant progress was made in the compilation of information for the Arkansas Valley Canada goose flock management plan. The Fort Collins breeding Canada goose flock firmly established itself with the building of over 25 nests in the wild and production of more than 75 young birds. Deer-Elk Investigations: Detailed studies were carried out on elk in the White River Plateau and Rocky Mountain Park areas to determine seasonal ranges, movements, vegetative types and condition of winter ranges, herd structure as to sex and age classes, production and mortality, and effect of hunter harvest. More than 1077 deer, 11 elk, 5 antelope and 1 bighorn sheep were reported killed on Colorado highways. Areas of concentrated kill have been located and studies will be undertaken to determine means of minimizing this wildlife loss and the potential danger to motorists. Grune-Range Investigations: The degree and effects of competition between livestock and big game were studies in pastures and paddocks at the Little Hills research station west of Meeker, on controversial summer and spring ranges in Cat Creek Park, in 48 special exclosures located on big game range throughout the state, and in various other special studies. A study of chemical control of rabbitbrush in Yellow Creek, Rio Blanco County, was initiated in 1962. The second year of the cooperative statewide big game range analysis was completed. The Forest Service, and in some· cases the Bureau of Land Management, assisted with this survey. An Ecological Investigation of the Cache La Poudre Deer Herd: The fourth year of this long-term study was completed in 1962. The climatic, vegetative and topographic characteristics and the population structure, density and distribution of the deer population are being studied at five different altitudes ranging from 6000 to 10,000 feet. Study emphasis has been on the winter range. Cooperative Wildlife Studies: The Colorado Game and Fish Department is one of four agencies which financially supports the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at Colorado State University. Studies carried out by the research unit group in 1962 included: Food-Cover Relationships on Mule Deer Winter Range; Determination and Implication of Age Structures in Selected Browse Stands; Wildlife Habitat and Population Analysis, South Platte Management Area; The Role of Artificial Water Development in Chukar Establishment and Increase; Effects of the Environment of a Wild Deer Population; Distribution and Behavior of the Radionuclides in a Mule Deer Environment; Seasonal Movement Patterns of Mule Deer of the Cache La Poudre Deer Herd; and Mourning Dove Production and Cooing Behavior in Larimer County. Wayne Sandfort Chief, Game Research -31- �Fish Research T HOWARD TANNER HE year 1962 marks the first full year of activity for the newly created Division of Fis h Research. This year has seen increases in s taff, budget, facilities and a gr eatly expanded program. The decision to expand fisheries research with Dingell-Johnson Act federal monies has permitted the initiation of several new studies and the expansion a nd continuation of existing projects. In addition to the projects described in the following paragraphs, major research activity is planned with the objectives of improving the quality of hatchery trout, determining the effects of water development projects on trout streams and describing some of the unusual chemical characteris tics of the waters of Colorado's eastern plains. Quality Fishing Studies: Parvin Lake and a section of the Poudre River, both located in the mountains to the west of Fort Collins, h ave been set up for experimental work in connection with the maintenance of quality fishing under conditions of heavy fishing pressure. The work at Parvin, started in 1961, was continued in 1962. Fishing methods, size limits, harvest and stocking are controlled in an attempt to improve on the qua lity of the fish. Artificial lure fishing only is permitted so that small trout may be returned to the lake without the undue mortality associated with bait fishing. A check station is operated throughout th e fishing season to permit a thorough evaluation of the results achieved by the special regulations. Nearly 9000 fishing trips were m ade to Parvin in 1962, thus providing evidence that heavy fishing pr essure will continue even though bait fishing is prohibited. A 4.7 mile section of the Poudre River was selected fo r quality fishing studies in the sprin g of 1962. Stream Fishery S tudies: A variety of stream studies are necessary to provide adequate information for the proper management of this portion of the fishery resource , of the state. Rou tine management procedures will no longer suffice on a majority of the streams. Increased fishing pressure, reduced stream area and altered stream conditions prevail throughout the state and pr oposed and authorized water development projects will add to the critical problems n ow in existence. The complex problem of integrating the stream fishery r esource with other often conflicting uses of water and land must rely on facts fo r eventual success. To obtain these facts th e department had three crews in the field engaged in stream sur vey work. As this w as the initial yea r of this project, their primary assignment was to establish permanent survey stations on several of the ri vers which have impending water development projects that will alter the flow of the streams. Cutthroat Trout Investigations at Trappers Lake: Trappers Lake is the largest and most important cutthroat trout fisher y remaining in Colorado. A study at this lake of the size and characteristics of the spawning run and numbers of fry produced was begun in 1958 and has continued since that time. Since 1960, a measurement of the h arvest of trout by fishermen has been carried out and is continuing. In 1960 fishermen made an estimated 5400 fishing trips to Trappers L ake and creeled more than 11,000 cutthroat trout. A substantial increase in fishing pressures and harvest has occurred and is ex pected to continue. During 1962, it was estimated that fishermen made 7900 fishing trips to the lake and ha rvested more than 20,000 cutthroat trout. -32- �Granby Reservoir Management Studies: Studies of the Lake Granby fishery in 1962 were basically follow-up investigations of those initiated in previous years. Both game and rough fish populations were sampled periodically to determine characteristics of age and growth, food habits, reproductive capacities, competition and general life history patterns. Studies of environmental factors affecting the fish were designed as were studies of changes in water chemistry and lake temperatures. Fishing techniques were again examined in an effort to facilitate a more complete harvest of the kokanee salmon. In conj unction with these operations, sonar equipment was utilized in locating and tracking the salmon schools. Lake Trout Investigations: Studies conducted at Grand Lake to evaluate the 1960 introductory plant of mackinaw trout showed that the plant was successful and that the growth of the introduced fish was good. Investigations at Twin Lakes to determine the success of the 15-inch minimum limit size and the restricted bag limit have shown these regulations to be successful in reducing the excessive harvest of mackinaw and in curtailing illegal catches by chumming. Investigations, also at Twin Lakes, to study the effects of winter ice fishing and the new year round fishing season have shown that fishing pressure and harvest of mackinaw were both low during the first winter season. Rawah-Mclntyre High Lakes Project: Three summer field trips were made in order to continue the post-fertilization study. Several lakes were visited and limited sampling was conducted. This completes the field work aspects of this project with the exception of limited sampling to be done in Upper Camp Lake in 1963. While the analysis of the data collected is continuing, some tentative conclusions may be stated. The study shows that fertilization of our high altitude lakes will not be a useful management tool. Also, it was found that most of these lakes will support relatively constant size fish populations but are underexploited. Under these conditions, stocking rates of 100 two-inch trout per acre, or less, are adequate. Basic Productivity Studies: The purpose of this new study is to investigate the dynamics of a plankton-fish food chain in Horsetooth Reservoir. It has been found that the water flea, Daphnia, is the most important fish food item in many of our fluctuating reservoirs. Thus, we are attempting to find out something about the conditions of the interrelationships of its life with fish. Hepatoma in Rainbow Trout: Much of 1962 was spent in preparing for this research project. A number of courses in chemistry, anatomy, embryology, limnology, physiology, fish diseases and foreign languages were taken by the chief of fish research, who will conduct the hepatoma study. Equipment was purchased, assembled or constructed according to specifications and experimental work done in the use of this technical equipment. Preliminary work was done on identification and classification of white blood cells in the blood of the rainbow trout as there is very little literature on this subject. And the raising of hepatoma bearing rainbows to be used in the study was begun. Cooperative Fisheries Studies: In addition to the regular activities of the Fisheries Research Division, the Colorado Game and Fish Department has continued to support the Graduate Student Research program of the Colorado Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit. One of these student projects is designed to measure the effect of sediments on the capacity of a stream to maintain a trout population. Another is supported by a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and is concerned with the biological effects of evaporation suppressing films applied to reservoirs. We are nearing the completion of a study of hepatoma, or liver cancer, in rainbow trout which has been in coordination with the Veterinary Department of Colorado State University and supported by funds from the National Cancer Institute. One other graduate student has been working in cooperation with department biologists on problems related to the cutthroat trout of Trappers Lake. Howard Tanner Chief, Fish Research -33- �Land Acquisition and Development LAYING ostrich by sticking our heads P in the sand will answer none of the problems arising from changes in public demands on wildlife resources that are now facing us. Certainly, unless an effort is made to find answers, the problems will not go away. One of the more significant projects of 1962, and one which will in the future have far reaching effects, was the beginning phase of the establishment of a large fish hatchery unit at Bellvue. The purchase of Watson Lake, enough land around the lake for the hatchery complex and the acquisition of sufficient water for the hatchery operation began in 1962. When completed, this hatchery will be able to take care of the greater part of the fish planting requirements of the northeast region, thereby relieving the Rifle Hatchery of the costly job of transporting fish from the West Slope to the East Slope for stocking purposes. Three new fishing lakes, creating an additional 430 surface acres of fishing waters, were completed at a cost of $340,000. In addi tion, Dowdy Lake was drained and the unstable dam was rebuilt at a cost of $47,000. These lakes include Spring Creek Lake in Gunnison County, an 88.6 surface acre lake which is 44 feet deep; Lester Creek Lake, in Routt County, which is 167 surface acres and is 83 feet deep; and Horseshoe Lake, in Huerfano County, which is over 170 surface acres in size and is 25 feet deep. Even with considerable opposition to the department's land acquisition program, approximately 2500 acres of land in 11 important key areas were acquired in 1962 to help alleviate the growing demand for public recreation areas. Seven of these sites were for HARRY FIGGE fishery purposes; Barbour Lake, Sylvan Lake, J ackson Lake, Stalker Lake, Watson Lake, Rifle Hatchery, Coke Oven. Two for waterfowl: Two Buttes, Sedgwick Bar (½ mile of river). And two for deer winter range; Escalante, Radium. 0£ course, all of the 113,000 acres owned by the department are open to the public for h unting and fishing except for hatchery and office sites. Hunters and fishe r men continue to sen d in complaints because of denial of free access to public lands. Some progress was made in 1962, particularly along the line of cooperation with the county commissioners in several counties. A road into Lily Park and a bridge across the Yampa River was completed in cooperation with the Moffat County Commissioners. The Heeney purchase near Radium, Colorado, gives access to public lands for hunting and fishing along the Colorado River. During the year 1962, the Engineering Section designed and awarded 95 miscellaneous small contracts for construction of access roads, boat ramps, sanitar y facilities, hatchery improvements, waterfowl and fishery improvements, recreation developments, boundary fences and numerous other improvements for a total expenditure of approximately $200,000. Additional water supply and hatchery expansion were completed at P oudre Ponds, Bellvue Hatchery, Mt. Shavano Hatchery, Rifle Falls H atchery, Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit, Dolores Rearing Unit, Bel Aire Rearing Unit, Estes Park Hatchery, Las Animas Hatchery, Pitkin Hatchery, Crystal River Rearing Unit and Wray Hatchery for a cost of $265,030. Harry Figge Chief, Acquisition and Development -34- �Business Administration GUY V. MELVIN EW realize that the Colorado Game and Fish Depar tment is a self-supporting state agency. Its major income is derived from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and a federal tax on hunting and fishing equipment (allotted to the states based on their license sales and land area). Miscellaneous income is derived from fines, special permits, magazine subscr iption sales and land leases. The department's in come for the calendar year 1962 was roughly $6,000,000. L icense revenue accounted for $5,854,000 of this amount. The total number of licenses sold came to 741,000. Generally speaking, game license revenue accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the income. Fishing licenses account for 30 per cent ; federal aid, 8 per cent; other, 2 per cent. Expenditures a re u sually held below income so that the department may have a safe reserve. The operations budget generally runs 70 per cent for management; 13 per cent for general administration; 6 per cent fo r info rmation and education; 5 per cent fo r land acquisition and development and 6 per cent for research. All income goes into the Game Cash Fund. Money from this fund is appropriated by the s tate legislature each year for the department's operations. As the hunting and fishing pressure grows so do license sales. It is interesting to compare the sales in 1962 with 1961. The total number of licenses sold in 1962 increased approximately five per cent (37,000 licenses) resulting in an increase of over one-half million dollars in the amount of revenue from the sale of licenses, or a 9½ per cent increase in revenue over 1961. The approximate increase in the amount F -35 - of r evenue from the different categor ies of licenses sold in the year 1962 is as follows: Resident Fishing and Small Game . . $ 18,000 Resident Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,000 Nonresident Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,000 Nonresident 5-day Fishing . . . . . . . . 33,000 Resident Deer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,000 Resident E lk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,000 Nonresident Deer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306,000 Nonresident Elk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,000 Resident Antelope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,000 Nonresident Second Deer . . . . . . . . . 41,000 Resident Bow and Arrow Deer . . . . 3,000 Nonresident Bow and Arrow Deer. . 2,000 In 1962, the sale of nonresident licenses accounted for over 80 per cent of the increase in revenue, while the sale of r esident licenses accounted for less than 20 per cent of the increase in revenue. The only noticeable decrease in revenue from the sale of licenses is as follows: Resident Small Game .. . . .. . .. .... $ 2,000 Nonresident Small Game .. ... . .. .. 2,000 Resident Second Deer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,000 The $2000 decrease in revenue from the sale of r esident small game licenses represen ts a decrease in 1000 licenses which appears to be the res ult of more resident small game hunters purchasing the combination fishing and small game license. The nonresident small game license sales are made up mostly of duck and goose hunters. Many of these are hunters from bordering states and the sales were down approximately 200 licenses. There were approximately 4000 more resident deer hunters in 1962 than 1961, but it appears that fewer of them bought a second deer license. Guy V . Melvin Business Manager �Information and Education C. D. TOLMAN T WO national first place awards from the American Association for Conservation Inform ation and one state award from the Colorado Broadcas ter's Association capped the 1962 efforts of the Information and Education Division. The department's 1961 annual report, A Look Back, was j udged to be the outs tanding special publication in the nation by the AACI. The department's education extension program in the J efferson County public schools was judged to be the top program in this field in the nation by the AACI. " Conoco Outdoor Time," the department's television program on KREX-TV, Grand Junction, was named as the outstanding public service program in Colorado in 1962 by the Colorado Broadcaster's Association. At one time or another, almost every phase of the department's Information and Education program has received recognition in the form of awards from the AACI, the professiona l organization for conservation informationists. Following is a resume: 1962 - " Operation Respect" program First Place, Public Relations. Big Game Management in Colorado - Second Place, Publications. Colorado Outdoors magazine Second Place, Magazines. 1960 - Conservation Education Program -First Place, Conservation Education. Colorado Outdoors magazine - Second Place, Magazines. 1959-Antelop e of Colo ra do - First Place, Publication. R ealm of the Beaver Second Place, Wildlife Motion Pictures. 1958 - W ildli fe Willie Cartoon service First Place, Conservation Education. The two awards received by the Colo-36 - rado depar tment in 1962 from th e AACI marked the first time in AACI history that a state game and fish department has won more than one major first place award m one year. 1962 saw a continuation of efforts to upgrade the quality of department publications while at the same time producing a greater variety of publications with larger press runs. The department's official magazine, Colorado Outdoors, published bi-monthly increased its circulation by 1419 subscriptions, giving it a total paid circulation at the end of 1962 of 30,484. Two issues contained special inserts, and for the first time a fullcolor center spread was featured in one of the issues. A total of 1,218,000 regulations of all types for general distribution to the public was printed. They included: big ga me (375,000); fishing (500,000); small game (200,000); and trapping (5000). One technical and two information publications were completed, pr inted and distributed in 1962 and four existing publications were revised, brought up-to-date, printed and distributed. In the field of information, a continued expansion w as carried out in the department's program of dissemination of game and fish news to the state's newspapers, radio and TV stations and to technical publications. A number of na tionally known outdoor writers were assisted in their efforts in Colorado. These included among others: L ee Wulff, Outdoor Advisor to CBS-TV; Tom McNally, Outdoor Editor, Chicago Tribune; Jack Griffin, Outdoor Editor, Chicago Sun; Dave H arbour, free lance writer; Ted True- �blood, Field and Stream; Joe Linduska, Remington Arms; and Ed Kozicky and John Madson, Olin Mathieson (Winchester). These writers, and others, did a great deal to publicize Colorado's outdoor attractions in the fields of hunting and fishing. The monthly publication of Willies Roundup continued through the year. This is an inter-departmental newsletter aimed at providing the employes with policy information, administrative directives and miscellaneous news. Two regular television programs were conducted on a weekly basis in Denver, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction-Montrose by department personnel of the I & E Division. Programs for civic organizations, sportsmen's groups and youth organizations were given by all department personnel, from the director to the WCO in the field. Several fishing schools were presented in the Denver area by the supervising wildlife photographer, assisted by personnel of the Fish Division. And many thousands of feet of movie film and thousands of still pictures were taken of wildlife and habitat in Colorado by the photographic section. These pictures and films were used in all phases of the I & E Division's work and were made available to all who had a reasonable use for them. In the field on conservation education, the department's Conservation Consultant continued work on a comprehensive conservation guide which will be published in 1963. It will be used in the state's schools along with a packet of materials. The Conservation Consultant, incidentally, works under the State Department of Education but his salary is paid by the Game and Fish Department. The department also cooperated with the National Audubon Society in planning nature centers, a new concept in outdoor education being introduced to the Rocky Mountain Region. Two conservation centers are in the planning stage in the state, the Plains Conservation Center near Denver and the Outdoor Laboratory Center near Estes Park. The Estes Park Center is being planned by the Nature Centers Division of the National Audubon Society, and Colorado State College. The Plains Conservation Center is being planned by the Nature Centers Division in connection with a private group of citizens. The organization and public relations work has been done through the Conservation Consultant. The Centers, coupled with teacher workshops at all major colleges and universities, make Colorado's conservation education program one of the most effective in the nation. It should be pointed out that the department's youth education program deals not only with the public schools but with organized youth groups as well. For instance, in many communities, department wildlife conservation officers serve as merit badge counselors for the Boy Scouts of America. They have also taken the lead in developing the wildlife management and hunter safety program as a part of the 4-H program conducted by the State Agricultural Extension Service. During the year 1962 the Denver department's Denver area informational representative finished writing and editing a wildlife management study guide, setting up this phase of the 4-H program in Colorado. The guide is being printed by the Agricultural Extension Service, while the cost of illustration is being borne by the Game and Fish Department. The guide was developed as a result of a 3-year pilot study conducted jointly by the two agencies. A special 4-H workshop in conservation and wildlife management was conducted by a department informational representative at the U.S. Forest Service Experimental Station, Manitou Springs. "Operation Respect," a program sponsored by the Sportsman and Landowner Association of Colorado, made considerable progress during 1962. Approximately 3000 groups are now eligible for participation in the program. A new phase is being developed wherein the members of the association will employ an executive director to further organize and implement the program. The Game and Fish Department will continue to foster and promote better sportsmanlandowner relations and will work closely with the association. C. D. Tolman Chief of Public Relations -37- �Department Personnel-1962 Staff Officers Woodward, Harry R. - Director Riordan, Laurence E. -Assistant Director Elliott, Robert R. - Assistant Director Melvin, Guy V. - Business Manager Hunter, Gilbert N. - State Game Manager Sandfort, Wayne L. - Game Research Chief Seaman, Wayne R. - Fish Manager Tanner, Howard A. - Fish Research Chief Shaw, Ed - Chief Engineer Hogue, Jack E. - Law Enforcement Chief Morris, John H. - Personnel Officer Tolman, Carwin D. - Public Relations Officer Figge, Harry-Land Acquisition and Development Chief Regional Game and Fish Managers Teague, Richard D. - Northeast Region Till, Clois E. - Southwest Region Evans, Robert L. - Northwest Region Welsh, Carl R. - Southeast Region Office and Field Employes Adams, Bill B. - Inventory Clerk Adams, W. J. -Fish Culturist Anderson, Allen E. - Senior Game Biologist Anderson, Marvin C. - Fish Culturist Andrews, George D. - Supervising Wildlife Photographer Andrews, John F. - Area Supervisor Andrews, Robert A.-Fish Culturist Archuleta, Amadeo - Fish Culturist Archuleta, Ernie - Fish Culturist Archuleta, J. Archie-Fish Culturist Ary, Sylvester Ray-Fish Culturist A very, Henry H. - Mail Clerk Aydelotte, Ernest - Fish Culturist Baker, Bertram D. - Senior Game Biologist Baker, Delbert H. -Fish Culturist Baker, Elbert L. - Fish Culturist Barker, Foster M. - Senior Fish Culturist Barnes, W. Tom - Wildlife Conservation Aide Barron, Melvin - Pilot Barrows, Paul T. - Senior Fish Biologist Bartling, Almon P. -Fish Culturist Bassett, Gene W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Becker, Joyce M. - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Beckley, James 0. -Fish Culturist Bell, Ada M. - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Belmear, Lucy A. - Account Clerk Benedict, Frances .E. - Senior Administrative Secretary Benson, Donald V. - Area Supervisor Bessire, Scott E. - Area Supervisor Blankis, Edward - Fish Culturist Blankis, Frank J. -Fish Culturist Blankis, Louis J. -Fish Culturist Boddy, John T. -Fish Culturist Bogart, Donald F. - Area Supervisor Boyd, Gail B. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Boyd, Raymond J. - Senior Game Biologist Bray, Harvey - Area Supervisor Brittain, Harold F. - Storekeeper Brown, Charles E. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Browning, Herbert H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Broux, Leo L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Bruhlman, Emily B. - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Brun, Aileen K. - Bookkeeping Machine Operator Buckner, Jerome D. - Supervising Storekeeper Burdett, Pauline J. - Personnel Clerk Burdick, Harold E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Burggraf£, Leo J. -Auto Mechanic Burke, Pat- Wildlife Conservation Aide Busch, Frank W. - Fish Culturist Cain, Nelson- Utility Worker Carl, Leonard M. - Fish Culturist Carlson, Leslie G. -Senior Fish Culturist Chisholm, Earl R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cochran, Earl F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Coghill, Marion C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cole, Ethel M. - Administrative Secretary Coleman, A. Dean - Assistant Game Manager Colley, Frank A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Collins, Marion H. - Clerk-Steno Cook, Eugene P. - Fisheries Project Supervisor Cooper, Rex G. - Fish Culturist Cordova, J. Frank - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cox, Harvey E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Crabtree, Robert A. -Auto Mechanic Crandell, George E. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Crawford, Gurney I. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Curtis, Lyman L. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Darrah, Kenneth E. - Senior Fish Culturist Davis, Margaret M. - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Davis, Oscar M. - Fish Culturist Davidson, Corrin B. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Deets, John D. - Land Negotiator Deguelle, Arthur - Area Supervisor Denney, Richard N. - Principal Game Biologist Denton, B. Lester - Wildlife Conservation Officer Denton, Bryan L. -Area Supervisor DeSanti, Joseph G. -Fish Culturist De Sciose, Ouida - Junior Duplicating Machine Operator Dobbs, William Harry - Area Supervisor Dolph, Lewis K. - Fish Culturist Domenick, Don - Wildlife Photographer -38- �Downer, Earl R.-Area Supervisor Dunham, Furman W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ellis, Jeanne C. - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Ekberg, Glen R. - Fish Culturist Evans, Lester E. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Fairchild, Ethel G. - Senior Clerk Feltner, George - Editor Finnell, Larry M. - Senior Fish Biologist Fischer, Bill K. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ford, Clark - Wildlife Conservation Aide Forgett, William J. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Fullenwider, Holmes J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gamble, Hugh M. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gates, Vivian W. -Senior Addressograph Operator Geiger, James J. - Senior Fish Culturist Gilbert, Paul F. - Area Supervisor Gill, Charles E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gibbs, Sandra K. - Clerk-Steno Glaviano, Stella C. - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Goosman, William E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gore, Clarence H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gore, Donald H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Graham, Millard E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Grant, Lester W. -Janitor Green, Eugene E. - Game Biologist Greer, A. M. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gresh, Arthur J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gresh, L. Harold - Wildlife Conservation Officer Grieb, Jack R. - Wildlife Statistician Gross, Daniel L. - Fish Culturist Grove, Geraldine L. - Senior Account Clerk Guy, Elwin R.-Fish Culturist Guyer, Brownlee - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hackett, Naydene R. - Intermediate ClerkSteno Haldeman, Myrtle B. - Junior Accountant Hamilton, Alex - Area Supervisor Hansson, Peter T. - Department Information Officer Harris, Guy - Farm Manager Hart, Charles C. - Fish Culturist Hatch, Pat - Fish Culturist Hawker, Philip A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hawkins, Walter B. -Fish Culturist Hay, Keith G. - Information Officer Hazzard, Lloyd K. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hector, Charles - Wildlife Conservation Officer Heins, Alfred J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Henderson, William - Senior Fish Culturist Hess, Richard W. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Hild, Dorwin - Principal Clerk Hill, James G. - Fish Culturist Hinshaw, Thomas F. - Truck Driver Hjelte, Charles E. - Senior Editor Hlavachick, William- Senior Fish Culturist Hobbs, John R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hocevar, Ignatius - Fish Culturist Hodges, Merle L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hoffman, Donald M. - Senior Game Biologist Holmes, Richard L. -Fish Culturist Holton, James-Fish Culturist Hood, Harold J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hoover, Robert L. - Information Officer Hopper, Richard- Game Biologist Houston, James D. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Howlett, John C. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Hudick, Joseph - Property Accountant Hughes, Norman L. - Airplane Pilot Hurd, Clifford A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer I varson, Betty L. - Senior Account Clerk Jackett, Ruth E. -Account Clerk Jackson, Neil R. - Fish Culturist Jerome, Dudley C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Johnson, Lois E. - Senior Account Clerk Jones, George W. - Game Biologist Jones, Hayden E. -Fish Culturist Jones, Hugh R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Jones, Robert A. - Senior Fish Biologist Jordan, Albert C. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Kanode, William L. - Equipment Operator Kennell, Howard H. - Area Supervisor Kenney, Willis - Senior Fish Culturist Kent, William L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Kinghorn, Glenn - Supervising Nurseryman Klein, William D. - Fish Project Supervisor Kleinschnitz, Ferd-Assistant Federal Aid Coordinator Kohl, Pauline - Senior Account Clerk Knight, Eugene T. -Area Supervisor Lemons, David G. - Senior Fish Biologist Lenard, Clifford H. - Fish Culturist Lengel, Donald E. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Leslie, John A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lewis, Willard H. - Senior Fish Culturist Likes, John L. - Wildlife License Supervisor Lillpop, Lawrence R. - Fish Culturist Little, Raymond L. - Senior Fish Culturist Lobato, John F. -Fish Culturist Long, Wayne P. -Pilot Lowery, Marion W. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Loveless, Charles M. - Assistant Wildlife Leader Lynch, Thomas C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lynch, Thomas M. - Fish Project Supervisor McDonald, Dalton R. - Senior Fish Culturist McDonald, Richard - Wildlife Conservation Officer -39- �McGuire, John F. -Fish Culturist McKean, William T. - Senior Game Biologist McLaughlin, Ina Rae - Intermediate ClerkSteno Mahaffey, Barbara A.-Intermediate ClerkSteno Mangus, Robert L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Mansfield, Willis G. -Experimental Bird Farm Supervisor Mason, William A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Maxon, Kenneth C. - Plumber Maxwell, Harry H. - Junior Buyer Medin, Dean - Senior Game Biologist Mefford, Elizabeth - Inventory Clerk Merkle, Velma B. - Senior Statistics Clerk Metsger, Francis A. - Land Negotiator Meyer, Romaine - Receptionist Mink, William W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Mitchell, Fred- Senior Fish Culturist Mock, Bettie - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Morgan, Dallas - Wildlife Conservation Officer Morgan, James T. - Senior Fish Culturist Morris, Nathalie - Intermediate Clerk-Steno Moser, Clifford A. - Senior Game Biologist Mustain, 0. W. -Fish Culturist Nash, William Wayne-Area Supervisor Naylor, Ethna - Senior Account Clerk Nelson, Wesley C. - Senior Fish Biologist Nicholls, Arthur R. - Truck Driver Nickerson, Lois C. - Senior Account Clerk Nittman, Rolf B. - Senior Fish Biologist Nolting, Donald H. - Senior Fish Biologist Ogilvie, Stanley R. - Area Supervisor Olson, Perry D. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ottinger, Lennis L. -Fish Culturist Orlosky, Alfred F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Overmeyer, Harold W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Owens, Dwight E. - Wildlife Observer Palm, Sigfrid S. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Papez, Joe - Fish Culturist Paul, William A.-Fish Culturist Pearson, William D. - Senior Fish Culturist Peaslee, Charles M. - Fish Culturist Perritt, Wiley W. -Fish Culturist Peters, Melvin L. - Fish Culturist Pickens, Howard C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Pitton, Ethel K. - Receptionist Pogorelz, John M. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Poplin, Robert J. Jr. - Fish Culturist Potts, Daniel F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Pratt, Clifford J. - Equipment Operator Quick, Terrell - Area Supervisor Ray, Robert A. - Senior Fish Culturist Reser, James E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Reigan, Robert R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Reynolds, Robert S. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Richardson, Harry L. -Fish Culturist Ridgeway, W. 0. Jr. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Riggs, Nathan D. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Roberts, Charles H. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Roberts, Melvin C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Rogers, Glenn E. - Senior Game Biologist Roland, William L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Rose, Norman G. - Fish Culturist Roy, Carl A.- Wildlife Conservation Aide Russell, Wayne L. - Pilot Rutherford, William H. - Senior Game Biologist Ryland, Errol E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Sanchez, Sara - Account Clerk Scarpella, Frank A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Schaub, Paul J. - Wildlife Revenue and Supply Officer Schmid, Arnold - Fish Culturist Schuett, Walter H. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Schultz, Herman P. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Schultz, William G. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Scott, Chester M. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Searle, Lloyd W. - Area Supervisor Shepherd, Harold R. - Senior Game Biologist Siever, Gerald 0. - Fish Culturist Simson, Jack M. - Construction Foreman Slonaker, Clyde C. - Area Supervisor Smith, Charles A. - Senior Fish Culturist Smith, Don G. - Senior Game Biologist Smith, E. Donald - Senior Fish Culturist Smith, Marvin W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Smith, Montana - Parks Project Engineer Smith, Richard A. - Editor Smith, Richard K. - Fish Culturist Smith, William B. - Utility Worker Snyder, Warren D. - Game Biologist Snowder, Stella D. - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Stambaugh, E. Ruth - Senior Account Clerk Stead, J. Kenneth- Supervising Fish Culturist Steele, George E. - Area Supervisor Steele, Preston C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Stevenson, John - Wildlife Conservation Officer Stiehm, Howard A. - Information Officer Strieter, Ernest F. - Senior Fish Culturist Stull, Robert D. - Principal Accountant Sutton, Lavern R. - Fish Culturist Swope, Harold M. - Area Supervisor Takes, Richard T. - Senior Game Biologist Taliaferro, Rex I. - Principal Fish Biologist -40- �Taylor, Charles S. - Senior Fish Culturist Terrell, Harry N. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Terrell, Robert - Wildlife Conservation Officer Triplet, Lloyd W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Tucker, Coy - Equipment Operator Tully, Robert J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Turner, Vernon L. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Van Gaalen, Charles-Fish Culturist Van Gaalen, Neil-Fish Culturist Vavak, Charles H. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Verrier, Edward - Fish Culturist Vidakovich, L. D. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Vigil, Audenago Jr. - Offset Duplicating Machine Operator Wagner, Elvy J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wagner, Kenneth C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Waldron, J. L. -Wildlife Conservation Officer Walker, Lucile A. - Senior Account Clerk Wailes, Irven A. - Fish C1_1lturist Warner, Robert- Fish Culturist Warren, Orval B. -Fish Culturist Waters, Patrick G. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Waugh, Francis L. - Information Officer Webster, Lawrence A. -Nurseryman Weese, Carl D. -Fish Culturist Wells, William B. -Wildlife Conservation Aide Weyerman, Dean A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wheeler, John A.- Wildlife Conservation Officer Wescoatt, Ivan L. -Senior Fish Biologist White, Claude E. - Supervising Nurseryman White, Dean A. - Account Clerk Williams, Jesse E. - Information Officer Wilson, Edwin T. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wilson, Herman R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wilson, L. Keith- Wildlife Conservation Officer Wixson, Harold F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Woodward, Walter-Wildlife Conservation Officer Worden, Alvin E. -Fish Culturist Wurm, Donald W. -Senior Fish Biologist Zimmermann, George P. - Wildlife Conservation Officer 1962 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COLORADO GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT PREPARED BY THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION DIVISION PUBLISHED OCTOBER, 1963 ~49 �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Annual/Biennial Reports Description An account of the resource Agency annual and biennial reports beginning with the 1877 Fish Comissioner's report. Reports are grouped by title, which changed over the years. There are time periods when no report was issued; for example no reports were issued from 1965-1985 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/">IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Annual report, State of Colorado Department of Game and Fish, 1952-1962 Description An account of the resource <p>Eleven reports covering 1952-1962.</p> <p>Varying titles:</p> <ul> <li>1952-1957, 1958-1959 (6 reports): Annual Report, Fiscal Year <em>YEAR-YEAR</em></li> <li>1957-1958: 1957-1958 Annual Report of the Colorado Game and Fish Department</li> <li>1959-1960: Annual Report Colorado Game and Fish Department Fiscal Year 1959-60</li> <li>1960: Game and Fish for the Future, 1960 Annual Report of the Colorado Game and Fish Department</li> <li>1961: A Look Back, a 65-Year History of the Colorado Game and Fish Department, 1961 Annual Report of the Colorado Game and Fish Department</li> <li>1962: Principles of Game and Fish Management, 1962 Annual Report of the Colorado Game and Fish Department</li> </ul> <p>For more reports in this digital collection see:</p> <ul> <li>Preceding set:&nbsp;<a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/445">Annual/Biennial Reports of the Game and Fish Department, 1926-1948</a></li> <li>Succeeding set:&nbsp;<a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/448">Annual Report Game, Fish and Parks Department, 1963-1964</a></li> </ul> <p>Print copies in CPW Library: SH 11 .C58</p> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/">IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf