https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/33b3d3eb0e46f9e13c0ec34d0166d608.pdf 444ba6b9e96ad12b978e9335f7ff826a PDF Text Text �Letters of Transmittal Honorable John A. Love Governor of the State of Colorado Dear Covernor: I am pleased to submit the 1963 Annual Report of the Came, Fish and Parks Department. "A Look Ahead" is designed to alert the people of Colorado to the problems that lie ahead in the future of outdoor recreation in thh state, how the Came, Fish and Parks department proposes to meet these problems and the rewards that lie ahead if intdligent, planned action is taken. The operations of the department for the 1963 calendar year are also presented in the publication with the complete financial report on a 6scal year basis to be presented in a separate publication. Respectfully submitted, 11?-r~ R. T. Eckles Coordinator of Natural Resources State of Colorado Mr. Richard Eckles Coordinator of Natural Resources State of Colorado Dear Mr Eckles: It is with pride that I submit the Came, Fish and Parh Department\ 1963 Annual Report. The report pinpoints the problems that lie ahead for Colorado in the development of its outdoor recreation potential. It sums up experiences of the past, takes stock of the present and uses this information to predict methods and approaches for meeting the problems of the future. The reward, for suc<.-cs.sfully planning for this almo,t limitless future in outdoor n·ueahon in Colorado are also pre,ented. The publication, then, is one which identifies problem areas, describes the paths to solution and is a call to action to the people of the state. Also included is a presentation of department operations for 1963, A finnndal at'eounting, on a 6scal year basis, is presented in a separate publication Respeetfully submitted, ~ ~ Melvern Renfrow President Came, 1''hh and Parks Commission Contents A LOOK AHEAD Fon·word . . ·-·· ........................... The Promise of Outdoor Recreation Parks Came ............................... . ..... Fhh . . . ........................... The Wholt• Prohlt·m THE 1963 AJl.1'.UAL REPORT 1 3 6 12 30 36 Management ............. ............ ..... . 40 Research .. .... ....................... ......... 43 Acquisition and Development ... .. . 45 Bu,iness Administration . . ........... 46 Information and Education ......... 47 �Foreword Harry R. \\'oodu:ard I :'\ THE FIELD of outdoor recreation, we can never afford to stand still. If we live in the past, the future is gone, never to be regained. If we live only for the present, \ve are late for the future. The game, fish or parks manager can live only in and for the future, for here is where the great promise of achievement is to be found. It is only by working for the future that he can fulfill, effectively and efficiently, his role of public trust. The Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department's annual report of 1961-A Look Back -took stock of the department's past. We did this to take stock of past experiences on which to base plans for the future. The department's 1962 annual report- Principles of Game and Fish ,\fanagementwas presented in an effort to take stock of what we arc doing in the present. This, again, was done to sum up our present knowledge and practices in preparation for planning for the future. This publication-A Look Ahead-is a presentation of what the department sees in the future for the game, fish and parks of Colorado. And what is seen in the future, I think you will agree, presents exciting possibilities for making a great state even greater. The future role this department will play, as seen in A Look Ahead, will provide a most substantial economic contribution to Colorado. Its role in the development and management of outdoor recreation will be of great importance for outdoor recreation is destined to become the most important factor in this nation's leisure time activities. There are problems ahead for game, fish and parks in Colorado, created almost entirely by a mounting human population-an increasing number of outdoor recreationists visiting Colorado, creating the necessity of developing opportunities for this ever increasing number of people. -1- Colorado is known throughout the world as a great hunting and fishing state. It is considered potentially the greatest of outdoor recreation states. And all this is true todav. But will it be true tomorrow, next year, in the year 1980, or when our great grandchildren are growing up? Herein is described the opportunities that lie ahead. The path that leads to achievement is still to be plotted. The rewards are identified and they are great indeed. In this publication, the future has been predicted and the rewards identified by careful examination of information and experiences of the past and present which were then projected into the future. Impending problems and the suggested solutions were determined by trained research and management people using their knowledge of the past and applying their imaginations to the future. :\'owhere in A Look Ahead has any exact science of projection or statistical determination been used. The sole purpose of the publication is to focus attention on the general areas of future concern through the use of logic and reason and overwhelming evidence. Generalizations have been drawn and numbers rounded off. It is not a scientific treatise but rather a call to action to the people of Colorado. The only question that remains to be answered is-is Colorado ready and willing to roll up its sleeves and go to work, to make the sacrifices that will be required to exploit this promising future? If it is not, then the future is bland indeed for Colorado. If it is ready and \villing, then Colorado's future in outdoor recreation is almost unlimited. ~t~. Department D1redor �A LOOK AHEAD By PETER T. HANSSON "The elements u;ere so lively and active, and he felt so sympathetic with theni, that he could not sit while the wind went by." HESE \\'ORDS were written by Van \\'yck Brooks in his Flotcering of Neu; England in describing Henry David Thoreau, one of America's earliest conservationists and a famous author. Thoreau's great passion for knowledge and an understanding of nature and its mysterious ,vorkings compelled him to spend a lifetime in the field, observing, understanding and drawing conclusions from what he saw. This great compelling motivation was what Brooks had reference to when he said, "he could not sit while the wind went by." The realm of conservation, which encompasses all the known forms of outdoor recreation, stands at the crossroads today. Unless fun.m' generations can say of today's conservationists or resource managers, as Brooks said of Thoreau, that they could not sit while the T wind went by, then these future generations will not have the chance to see wildlife in its many forms. fish the high country streams, hunt the aspen and sagebrush country, camp in the tall timber or swim, boat and ski. They will not be able to <lo this for the outdoor resources necessary for these activities will either have ceased to exist or will exist in such small quantities that there will not be enough to go around. Those in resources management today must become sympathetic with the elements; they must recognize and understand the nature of things as they exist and must act with courage and determination if future generations are to enjoy the outdoor recreation resources that we have today. \Ve cannot afford, today or tomorrow, to sit while the wind goes by. -2- �The Promise of Outdoor Recreation T HE FIELD of outdoor recreation is the fastest growing industry in the nation with a potential scarcely realized. It is especially unrealized in Colorado for this state has not geared itself in planning and development to meet this huge bonanza ready to descend. Of all the states in the nation, with the possible exception of Alaska, Colorado has the greatest resources in their natural state to attract outdoor recreationists, to realize the benefits from this promising potential. Statistics, however, show that Colorado's resources are attracting visitors at only slightly more than hall the average national increase each year and this has been true since 1960. It is a strange situation, one must admit, when the state with the greatest potential for attracting outdoor recreationists is losing more than its share of these people to other states w ith fewer areas of attraction. Consider the following credentials presented by Colorado. Of the nation's 63 peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation, 54 of them are located in this state. Colorado contains 1143 mountains over 10,000 feet in elevation. About 14,651,566 acres of land are federally or state-owned and may be readily developed for outdoor recreation. The Game, Fish and Parks Department owns 107,500 acres of land and over 8000 surface acres of water. In addition, the department manages or controls another 20,000 acres of land and 16,000 surface acres of water through management agreements. Few other states can boast of such an impressive list of natural resources, all of which lend themselves to outdoor recreation. At the same time, few other states can show a record of reluctance to develop these areas as can Colorado. The University of Colorado's Bureau of Business Research has reported that in 1963, an estimated 3,272,000 tourists visited Colorado. In addition, another 735,000 hunters and fishermen were in the field in the state in 1963. A total of almost 4,000,000 persons, then, were in Colorado in 1963 indulging in some form of outdoor recreation and spending money in the state's business communities to do so. The Bureau of Business Research also estimated that about $255,000,000 were spent by the over three million tourists in the state in 1963. Hunters and fishermen spent almost $130,000,000 in pursuit of these two forms of outdoor recreation in Colorado in 1963. This means that outdoor recreation brought almost $400,000,000 into Colorado in 1963. Using the yardstick of one dollar out of every 12 spent finding its way into the state treasury in the form of tax money, it means that outdoor recreation brought about $35,000,000 into the state treasury last year. Pretty impressive statistics, you might say, and indeed they are. But when one realizes what these figures could be 10 or 20 or 30 years from now, the totals are staggering, dealing in the billions of dollars instead of the millions. One indication of what is in store for Colorado if Colorado is ready to meet the challenge, comes from the planning division of the Colorado Highway Department. At five points of entry, 750,000 persons drove into the state in 1963. The Highway Department estimates that when the interstate highway system in Colorado is completed in 1973-74, about 3,300,000 persons will be entering the state at these five points. This is an increase of almost 500 per cent over the present-day figures in less than 10 years time. To realize this startling potential of outdoor recreation in Colorado, however, work will have to be done to develop areas of attraction. There is already keen competition among the states for this tourist and his dollars. Other states are already in the development process. The State of Nebraska is on record as challenging all neighboring states for this tourist industry. Nebraska already is moving ahead to make this challenge stick, spending money to develop areas of attraction, promoting and publicizing the state and actively going after this mobile section of America that takes to the highways, rails and airlanes each year. In this state we find the strange paradox of the populace decrying the fact that so much of the state is under federal and state ownership with a resulting heavy burden on the property tax and at the same time firmly refusing to spend money to develop these publicly owned areas so that they will become, directly and indirectly, revenue producing. While we lament a situation of inequity, we actively work to perpetuate this situation and resist violently anything that might change the inequity. In the field of outdoor recreation, today, it -3- �is generally accepted as \·ery conservati\·e to estimate that a dollar spent today in development will yield about $100 over the next 20 vcars, and at the end of that time the dollar is still existent and will continue to cam more and more revenue. This is t•specially true in Colorado. We have the natural resources. \Ve must have the financial resources to invest todav so that we can realize the tremendously high interest rate that this investment \\ill yield over the next 20 }Cars and more. The People and Politics Tlw influences t•xerte<l by the people and th<' politician on 011~.door resourcc>s managenwnt comprise a gray area" which by tradition has remained um·xamincd, unevaluatt•d and unexplained. In looking to the future, howevt'r, this area looms larger and larger in importance, for il is in this "gray area" that management people \\ ill draw t•ither acceptance or opposition to their theories and practices in attempting to cope,\. ith the problems of the future. And it is of vital importance that the management people secure the support and not tlw opposition of the people and the politician; for \\'ithout approval from the public, managt•ment can do nothing. Right or ,vrong, thinking or unthinking, public opinion, traditionally, is paramount and all-conquering. This is so lwcausc of th<' n'r} nature of the c:lose rC'lationships among the public, the politician and the outdoor resources management groups. The management groups serve th<.• public and its interests. The politician is the sC'lectcd reprcsentati\ e of the public through which the public acts and the politician \\'ields the legislative controls over the management groups. This, in theory, is right and c>quitable, for tlw people arc the go\'ernment, and the gm·ernment in its entiret:, and in its integral parts, exists only to sen-c the people. But in practice. this is not al\\'ays right. The people arc not always informed and knmdeclg<'ahlc. The politician does not always act in response to the will of the people for the political conscience is not solely motivated by its representative responsibiliti<.•s but also hy personal ambition, prejudices and desires. Resource managenwnt groups, too, arc not infallible as history shows, for they, too, are mack up of indi\'icluals with ambitions, biases and preferences. \fanagement must concern itself with this problem of the public and the politician and the enlisting of the support of both entities. With these supports, management is well equipped to attack the problems of the future. Without them, it is powerless and nothing. Although it is incumbent on the politician to seek knowledge and information before acting, it is even more incumbent on management people to sec that the politician is supplied with the required information and e\planations in ample time to aliow study. If management wishes to gain approval and support of its policies and programs, it must take the initiative in the information effort. This procedure must also e,tencl to the publit· for the public cannot rl'act intelligently if it is not \\'CII informed. It is too late in this stage already to be presented with the spectacle of, say, a doctor, a lawyer, a merchant or farmer, telling the men \\'ho ha, e spent a lifetimt' in training and research how to manage a game species and making it stick through political pressurl's. At thl' same time, it is too late in this stage for management, under the misguided theory that "the public will not understand," to conduct its projects in private, disclosing them only when they ha\·e been provC'd successful. In thesC' complex clays of highly de,·doped and refined communications. there arc no secrets and the resource manager who l)('lit'ves so is onlv courting trouble. Perhaps the greatest task facing the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department, then, is the development of sound, energetic, intl'lligent public relations, hased on far-reaching and effccti\'e information and education efforts. Tht•st' efforts 11111st center around three objecth·es: informing and explaining practices to the public, telling of projects at their inception, their de, elopment, their r<'stilts and the importance of these results; informing and acting as rc>source people to tlw IC'gislators so tlwy will han' the necessary information and background on ,, hich to make wise decisions; C'Clucating the pl'ople to the various practices of conservation, explaining what these practic-es arc, \\'In thev arc necessan and what they accomplish. . . On the other side of the coin. the public and its ek•cted legislators must make an effort to understand and support the things that the ,kpartnwnt is doing and plans to do. It must recognize department personnel for the professionals that they are, highly trained and skilled in their fields, the possessors of more -4- �knowledge and skills in the fields of outdoor resources management than the layman. Selfish interests and personal motivt•s must be laid aside, for the stah•s are too high to endanger them. Durward Allen, in his book Our Wildlife Legacy, has opined: ..The word politics will lose much of its sting when the things people ask for and demand from their representatives arc largely for someone else.'· The Three Basic Truths The total reason for the existt•nce of the Colorado Came, Fish and Parks Deparhnent, or for that matter am wildlife conservation or recreation manageme;,t group, is to effect the fullest utilization of all resources for the benefit of the maximum number of people and in such a way that these resources "·ill continue to exist in sufficient quantities to accommodate future generations. This inn,hes the astute and sagac.:ious management of all the resources of outdoor recreation in all its c.:oncepts. To do this, one cannot lin• in tlw past or even the present. Om• must live in the future with all faculties, abilities and senses marshalled not only to foresee what the future holds hut also to devise wan and means of meeting the future challenges: \ \'e must first dett•rmim· ahead of tinw the probll'ms that will accompany an e,·er-expanding population that exerts great pressures on, and threatens to outstrip, all resources. It must then he determined at what period of time in the future this multitude of outdoor recrcationists will require that people engaged in management apply curbing measures that will ensure ec1ual opportunities for all and at the same time ensure the survival of our resources. At the same time, we must devise wa,·s of actively and fully utilizing our present (esources for the benefit of all and to determine those wars in which man can increase and improve those resources not yet fully de,·l'loped. Only in this way can man and his environment both sun·in~ ham1oniously. And onlv in this wav can a static or slowly diminishing set of resources, both natural and manmade, sun·ive to provide a huge, mobile, demanding public with some semblance of ec1ual recreational opportunities. If we wait until the problems that result from a scarcitv of resources and o,·erahundance of pop~tlation seeking to use these resources arc upon us. they will he insoluble. If, on the other hand, we work to discern and understand the problems ahead, lay plans to meet them and prepare the public tu understand the prohlt·ms and accept the solutions. then the problems can he met more cffectivclv and succ:essfullv. Thore:1u once propos~d that tll<' order of things be re,·ersed. The sc, enth day should be man·s day of toil, wherein he should earn his living by the sweat of his brow. The rest of tht• wel•k he should keep for his joy and wonder. E, er since he made that proposal, the world has been moving in this direction. Leisure time accorded to each man is increasing with each decade and this process is releasing an ever-brrowing number of people seeking the use of outdoor facilities and resources. It is putting a hea,y strain on outdoor resources management. In looking into the future of game, fish and parks in Colorado, some problems looming on the horizon an• so c, idcnt that thev cannot be ignored. Others soon become evident when a series of facts are put together and a logical c.:onclusion drawn. Still others arc discerned through reasonable supposition. The solutions to some of the problems, for there arc not vet e,·idcnt solutions to all the problems, are the result of imaginath·e thinking-some of cold, calc.:ulating reasoning: somt' of pure dreaming. Some of the solutions, \\"hen examined in the light of present-day laym,m·s knowledge, may seem pretty far out. Ho"e,·er, the seemingly irrational and illogical thought processes of today ha,·c a \\'ay of turning up as the unimpeachable truths of tomorrow. There are three truths of todav on which \\e must base our dch·ing into tl1e future in search of problems and solutions: 1. The number of J><'OJ)le $eeki11g opport1111i/ics i11 the 011tdoors is i11crcasi11g al " faster rate th"n any other factor affecting outdoor recreation in its numy and wried forms. 2. Outdoor rcso11rces are being dcr:eloped at a pi/if111/y slotc rate, far behind the demands emanatini.: f ram the mass of outdoor recrcatio11isls u-/wsc i11creasin.i.: lcis11rc lime is procidi11g them 11:ith more and more opport1111ities for outdoor actir:ities. 3. Habitat for 1dldlife. 1chich has a cletermi11a/Jle maximum, is slotdy disappearing under the adumces of ·'cii:ili:ation." And it is with the abo,·e set of three basic truths in mind that we attempt to determine the future for outdoor recreation in Colorado hy taking a critical "Look Ahead." -5- �Parks I N NO AREA of Game. Fish and Parks Deparbnent operations is there such a promise of rewards for forward-looking planning, development and management as in the area of parks and the recreation therein. For many years, Colorado's outdoor resources have remained relativelv unchanged and undeveloped. In the past, there has apparently been no reason for concern in this area because of this wealth of outdoor resources. N'ow, howe, er, the potential economic impact of tourism and outdoor recreation in all its forms has assumed such proportions that it no longer can be ignored, and the consequences of the short-sightedness of the state, in the years following \\'orkl \\"ar II, now are being felt seYcrely. Colorado's state park responsibilities have been legislatively recognized only since 1957. The vear 1959 saw the first concrete results of p,irk and recreation efforts in the state ,, hen Cherry Creek, Antero and Vega reservoirs were placed under the adminisb·ation of the state's newly created Park and Recreation Department. In 1960, the first planning program was approved-a program which already is out of date, so fast is the scope and range of recreation planning changing today. In 1963, the Park and Recreation Department was merged with the Game and Fish Department and a system of state parks and state recreation areas designated-one state park and 16 state recreation areas. In addi- tion, a program was started for the development of roadside parks in cooperation with thc departments of highways and institutions. The state park and recreation system, at that lime, consisted of the following: STATE PARK 1. La th r op State Park, \\'alscnhurg, Huerfano Countv a. Purchased b)' state funds prior to merger b. 1114 si tc acres c. Surface acres water-~lartin Lake, 180-Ilorseshoe Lake, 172 STATE RECREATION AREAS I. Cherry Creek Reservoir, Denver, Arapahoe County a. Acq11ire<l through agreement with Corps of Engineers. b. 3765 site acres c. 90.t surface acres water 2. Bonny Reservoir, Burlington, Yuma Countv a. Ac(1uirecl through agreement with Bureau of Reclamation. b. Agreement terminates 1977 c. 4949 site acres d. 2400 surface acres water .3. Green J!otmtain Resen;oir, het\Yecn Kremmling and Dillon, Summit Co. a. Acquired through agreement with Bureau of Reclamation b. 2.5 year agreement, renewahle e. 3.563 site acres d. 2125 surface acres water -6- 0 �4. Crawford Reservoir, Crawford, Delta County a. Acquired through agreement with Bureau of Reclamation b. 25 year agreement, renewable c. 821 site acres d. 397 surface acres water 5. Paonia Resen;oir, Paonia, Gunnison County a. Acquired through agreement with Bureau of Reclamation b. 25 year agreement, renewable. c. 1482 site acres d. 334 surface acres water 6. ·willow Creek Reseruoir, north of Granby, Grand County a. Acquired through agreement with Bureau of Reclamation. b. 25 year agreement, renewable c. 800 site acres cl. 303 surface acres water 1. Vega Reservoir, Co 1 I bran, Mesa County a. Acquired through agreement with Bureau of Reclamation. b. 20 year agreement, renewable c. 2730 site acres d. 900 surface acres water 8. Sweitzer Lake, Delta, Delta County a. Acquired by lease prior to merger. Owned and constructed by former Game and Fish Department. b. 206 site acres c. 137 surface acres water 9. Lester Creek Reservoir, Clark, Routt County a. Acquired through merger of departments. Owned and constructed by former Game and Fish Department. b. 389 site acres c. 167 surface acres water 10. Sylvan Lake, Eagle, Eagle County a. Acquired through merger of departments. Owned by former Game and Fish Department. Purchased with Game Cash Fund monies. b. 155 site acres c. 42 surface acres \vater 11. Ramah Reservoir, Ramah, El Paso Countv a. Acquired through agreement with Big Sandy Soil Conservation District. Financed jointly by District and former Game and Fish Department with monies from Game Cash Fund. b. 550 site acres c. 150 surface acres water 12. Golden Gate Canyon, Central City, Gilpin County a. Part of land purchased by former Parks and Recreation Department prior to merger. b. 2157 site acres c. When fully acquired and developed will become State Park. 13. Antero Reservoir, near Hartse!, Park County a. Acquired through agreement with Denver Water Board b. One year agreement, terminating March 1, 1964. c. 2861 site acres d. 2571 surface acres water 14. Eleven-Mile Reservoir, between Hartse! and Florissant, Park County a. Acquired through agreement with Denver Water Board. b. Agreement for one year, terminating March 1, 1964. c. 4911 site acres d. 3169 surface acres water 15. Williams Fork Reservoir, near Parshall, Grand County a. Acquired through agreement with Denver Water Board. b. One year agreement, terminating March 1, 1964. c. 3630 site acres d. 1630 surface acres water 16. Gross Reservoir, west of Eldorado Springs, Boulder County a. Acquired through agreement with Denver Water Board. b. One year agreement, terminating March 1, 1964. c. 2021 site acres d. 421 surface acres water In addition, long range planning for parks in Colorado was started in 1963, and will continue through 1964, scheduled for completion at the end of that year. One of the big problems in attacking the job of state park and recreation development in Colorado is financial. It is apparent to anyone that if these highly desirable areas of attraction to the outdoor recreationist are to be acquired, developed and managed, it will take money to do the job. This money, according to the thinking of the Game, Fish and Parks Commission, could come from three sources: the user, the federal government and the state government. In this -7- �way, all entities that have responsibilities to the people in the outdoor recreation area will be shouldering a portion of the financial load. It is also the accepted thinking of the commission that state and federal monies should be used mainly in the acquisition and development phases and that management should be finance<l by the people who use the areas through a use fee. Revenue bonds to be paid out of profits and use fee monies could be used for certain development projects. To give an idea of the kind of money that will he required to do the job, consider the following. Colorado has about 36,000 acres of land under its management and designated as park or recreation · areas. The accepted standard for development is that 20 per cent of a park or recreation area should he developed intensively. Therefore, this means that in H.16,3, 7200 acres of this total of land sl1ould haH' been intensi\·ely de\'l'loped. lf \\C spend $1000 for each intensi\'C:ly developed acre, which is a figure so comen·ath e that it will scarcely do a minimum job, th<' cost of this cl{'\ elopmcnt \1·oulcl he '37.200,000. \ \ ·e are near!~ this far behind right 110\\' for \1·e ha,·e hut fr,\. intemi\ eh den•loped acrc-s in our 5 ta te syst<'m. Putting it another way, 11 western states are spending an a\ erage of 63 cents per visitor while Colorado is spending about 1-! cents per \ isitor for park and recreation operations. Keeping this very inadequate figure as the yardstick. hy 1980 the park an<l reerPation operations budget would he 88-10,000 per year, a ,·ery consen·ati\·e figure for the job that needs to he done. The budget in 1963 for park and recreation operations \\ as 8226,000 and in fact the entirr budget for this dh·ision \\'as 8366,000 for operations and capital construction. So it is apparent that if we are to ha,·e a state park and recreation system in Colorado that will attract ,·isitors in the numbers that it should, it \\'ill take money and quite a bit of it. It is conceivable that with the passage of the new Land and \\'ater Conservation Fund bill , and assuming that the state wishes to fac(' 11p to its obligations in the outdoor recreation field , in exct·ss of $-1 million could he a,·ailahle annually in the future to get the job off to a most substantial start. l; nder federal legislation, Colorado e\·ent11all) could qualify for about $2 million in federal funds on a matching fund basis. 'With the state acting as an administering agency for the funds, part of the money received would be available also to the political subdh,i sions of the state for work in the field of outdoor recreation, acquisition and development. The subdivision's plans for development \\'Ould have to he a part of the statewide plan and the subdivision would have to supply matching money for the federal funds to qualify. Thus, the state and its subdivisions \\ ill have to put up $2 million with the result that 84 million could be available for the de\ elopment of a state plan for outdoor recreation. In addition, through the use of revenue bonds, an additional, substantial amount of ll'orking capital could be realized which would he paid out through revenues produced from a LIS(' fee established 011 the parks and recreation areas of the state. Referring back to the conservati, e measure of each dollar spent now yielding 8100 0\'er a 20 year span, it would mean that if we raised and put into our park and recreation system, tor instance, $6,000,000 in the 1965HJ,O period, it would result in re\enues to the state of a total of $600,000,000 from the spending of outdoor recreationists between 1%.5 and 1990. $.50,000,000 of this amount " ·ottlcl accrue to the state in the form of tax monies, and the rest would go to commercial interests in the state. \\'hen one realizes that $-! millio11 could he rene\,·ed each year, making a total of ,$20,000,000 0\'er the fi\'e year period that could hr put into a state park and recreation systt'm at a cost of SlO million to the state, the resulting re\'enues to commerce and governn1ent in Colorado could reach a total of over 82 billion in the 20 )'C'ar period. This would yield almost Sl70,000,000 in tax monies to the state. The multi-hillion dollar figure, bandied about so casualh· here, seems like a fantastic amount on ll'hich a state the size of Colorado can take aim. But upon reflection , the figure hecomes more an<l more feasible. For instance, tourists and hunters and fishermen in Colorado spent at the rate of almost S-!00,000,000 in 1963. Without taking into account the numbers of other persons , isiting tlw state for recreation-connected purposes and considering that there are only a frw areas partially de\ eloped for recreation and none fully developed. one can imagine, \\'itho11t too much strain, the multi-billion do!- -8- �Jar mark. \\'e are already realizing almost half a billion dollars with only a few facilities in various stages of development. So it becomes apparent also that if the Game, Fish and Parks Commission faces up to its responsibilities in the field of outdoor recreation through long-range planning in advance and preparing itself to undertake the task of park and recreation development at the earliest possible time, and if the state faces up to its responsibility of providing financing on a matching fund basis, a top notch state park and recreation system is most feasible in Colorado. In addition, it is apparent that if such a system is developed and intelligently managed, it will pay for itself many times over, both directly and indirectly, and will have a most profound effect on the economy of this growing state. In the area of long-range planning, Colorado is in an enviable position for we can draw on the experiences and approaches of other states to the problem. California, for instance, is undergoing the problems of population pressures that outstrip its developed resources with which Colorado can expect to be faced in the next ten years. California has spent millions of dollars in the field of outdoor recreation planning and its approaches and methods are available to Colorado for study and use. Oregon is also in the process of planning and developing. Eastern states, such as Pennsylvania and Ohio, have had long experience in this field and the whole process from beginning to end is available to Colorado for study. In this aspect, Colorado is in a position that will enable it to move ahead more quickly in planning for the future than if it had to start from scratch. In addition, Harold Lathrop, the first director of the former State Park and Recreation Department, drew up a long-range plan that was approved by the State Planning Commission in 1960. This plan, of course, is somewhat outdated now, but much of what Lathrop determined is still applicable and can he used in drawing up a more far-reaching, more inclusive plan for Colorado. Department thinking in the area of state park and recreation planning must be concerned with where do we need to build recreation areas, what type of areas do we need, how are these areas to be developed once acquired and when are they to be acquired and developed. Planning by the department, as it is de- veloping now, calls for a major state park in each of the four regions into which the state is divided, and an adequate number of recreation areas within an hour's drive of all the significant population centers of each region. State parks and state recreation areas differ in description and also in purpose for which they are established. The Game, Fish and Parks Commission, so there would be no confusion, officially adopted the following descriptions for the two entities. State Park-"State Parks shall be relatively spacious areas of outstanding scenic or wilderness character, oftentimes containing significant historical, archaeological, ecological, geological and other scientific values, preserved as nearly as possible in their original or natural condition and providing opportunity for appropriate types of recreation where such will not destroy or impair the features and values to be preserved." State Recreation Area-"State recreation areas shall be areas selected and developed primarily to provide nonurban recreation opportunities to meet other than purely local needs but having the best available scenic qualities." In short, state parks are established primarily for recreational values of a passive nature while recreation areas have as their primary purpose recreational values of an active nature. Each entity, in addition, has a secondary purpose that makes it a well rounded park or recreation area, but the secondary purpose in each instance can exist only insofar as it docs not conflict with the primary purpose of each. It is estimated that to provide a state park in each region of the state and an adequate number of recreation areas within a one hour drive of each population center and to develop all of them to their fullest potential will take from 15 to 20 years. Each would have to be done in stages with one recreational development program developed and completed before beginning on another. As a state park ideally would probably have facilities for several dozen different recreational pastimes, it is apparent that time will be required to fully complete the minimum park and recreation area developments that the people are demanding. These areas, however, can and will be in use, serving their designed purpose to a greater or lesser degree during the long period leading to full development. It is also planned that in selecting sites and determining the facilities to be built, the -9- �department will coordinate its activities with those regional planning groups in the state which are now coordinating park and recreation planning and development of regions, counties and municipalities so that a minimum of duplication of facilities is created. Only in this way can a sensible and orderly statewide plan for recreation be forthcoming. Sites for the establishment of state park and recreation areas will depend on the following factors: 1. Location of population density areas. 2. Accessibility to heavilv traveled roads and highways, ·especially to the interstate highway which will travel east-west and northsouth in Colorado. To comply with this requirement, however. it may be necessary to find sites that lend themselves to the needed requirements and then develop access to these sites from the interstate highway system. 3. Location of fedcralh constructed \\atcr impoundmcnt projects. Tlie initial im estment of federal funds and the presence of water make these impoundment projects most desirable and feasible for recreation development. They arc best fitted for recreation development. 4. In the case of roadside parks, which are a valuable part of the state park and recreation plan, there arc three criteria that must he kept in mind along with other factors. They are (a) adaptability of the land to roadside park use; ( b ) where the need is evident; ( c) strategic distribution of the roadside park areas throughout the state. Criteria for selection of ideal sites for parks and recreation purposes would include the following r('q11isitcs: 1. A hocl~· of water large enough to support all actidties without conflict, for water is the heart of a well developed outdoor fa. c:ilitv. 2. There must he snfficient land around the hoclv of water to accommodate without conflict 'all the land-based recreational programs to which the site lencls itself. .1. The topography must he such that the site selected can he used or developed for all types of recreation required at that location. ..J.. C tilitil·s such as electricity, sanitary fa. ciliti1•s and drinking waler must be available. Sanitary facilities are the biggest problem and should be located on high ground so gravity flow can he used for disposal without the neccssit} of pumping. 5. Outstanding scenic beauty. 6. Historical interest. 7. Scientific interest. Once a site is selected, then the planning of area development must take place. Facilities that arc desirable in a park or recreation area, and again not necessarily in the following order, are: 1. A marina which would include: (a.) launching, retriedng, sen-icing and repair facilities; ( b.) mooring facilities. ( c.) docking facilities; (cl.) sales or rental of equipment and supplies. 2. A swimming area with proper underwater topographical features. Although in some areas swimming will not he a major factor because of the cold temperature of the water. such areas must still be provided for there are always somt' peopk \\'ho will want to S\\ im despite cold temperatures and also there always \\'ill be a multitude of people ,, ho will want to sunbathe on the heac:h areas. \\'ith the C'stahlishment of an intensivelv used swimming area will come also the recp1irement of providing bathhouse facilities. 3. A skin diving area should he provided at each ,,ater-oriented site to accommodate the fast grO\\'ing numbers \\'ho indulge in this sport. This nn•a shoHld be marked off and no other type of recreation allowed within those boundaries. 4. Shoreline fishing areas should he pro,·iclecl. These should he set aside exclush e from camping or swimming areas, should have sanitary facilities nearby and also a parking area to sern· the fishing area. Picnic-type facilitit•s, s11c:h as fireplaces and tables and benches should he located near this area. ,5. Campground areas \\'hich will accommodate the tenter and those \\'ho 11se trailers and campers. These areas should he arranged in such a \\'a\' that central facilities-electrical sanitarv and· water-can serve a number of \ites 1;1cated in proximity to these facilities. Cluster or loop-type arrangements. predomina11tly 11sed in park development in many states and federal campgrounds, arc the most useful. Fireplaces, tables and benchs, centrallv located fire\\'ood supply and topography that lends itself for either tents. campers or trailers should be present at each site developed. A uetwork of roads should link these clusters or loops with main feeder arteries, and a plan of foot paths should he developed that will connect the camping areas " ·ith the other fa. cilities in the park area. -10- �6. ,\ system of trails, multi-purpose in nature, arc highly desirable in and around any park or recreation area. These de, eloped trails should be made for use bv all interests ranging from tlw hiker and climber to the bird ,, atcher and photographer. These trails mav he so located as to serve many purposes at thC' sanw time, such as access for the fisherman and hunter, a trail for hikers. naturalists. rock-hounds, horseback riders and many others. 7. Parking areas must he provided at each outdoor recreation area. Parking areas, desirably. should be located on level ground. The number of parking spaces to he provided ,, ill he determined by the number of people ,, ho can use the developed facilities present. /:,. Development of all facilities attendant on a park or recreation area should he guided ancl controlled hy the philosoph} that calls for only those things that supplement, complement and are consistC'nt "·ith the natural outdoor resources found in the ar<:>a. \\'h<:>n considt•ring the acquisition of sites for outdoor recreation areas. certain guiclt> lines must be kept in mind. In descending order of desirability, the following arc what park and recreation d('velopcrs and planners look for in selecting sites. 1. Adequate water and land to accommodate all outdoor interests the vear around. The d<:>velopment of such an area provides the ideal in park and recreation ar<:>as. The \\'ater r<:>source can he rcpr<:>scntecl by a pot<:>ntial ,,ater impounclm<:>nt site. 2. Water and land areas that will sen e rcc:rcation interests most of the vear. An example ,niuld he a reereation ·area in the plains section that "·011ld provide most uses c•xe<:>pt skiing and such snow-oriented sports. .3 ..\n area that prO\·ides adequate watl'r for all such oriented sports hut which lacks suffieient land area for real multi-purpose 11st'. -1. Reereation lands \\'ithout sufficient \\'atcr that ean provide for all land reereation uses. 5. Historical areas, with which Colorado abounds. will rccein• considered attention, for more and more the public is turning to places of historical value. These arc primarily sightseeing areas but can be combined in many eases with other rec:reation ust'S. :\fcsa Verde '\ational Park is a gocxl example of this combination of purposes. 6. Scenic dri\'es and parhvays also have a definite place in state park plans and perhaps they haw a much higher priority than accorded here. These would serYe mainlv the drh·ing puhlic, whieh is a huge segment of the rec:n•ationing public. Colorado, with its generous portion of the nation's scenic attractions, is a state that lends itself magnifict•ntly to the scenic drh·e and parkwav c:oneept. This is also a most logical approac:h to recreation de, elopmcnt in and near large metropolitan an•as, and for location near the interstate highway artc>rit•s. 7. Roadside parks and "ayside areas, although secmingly of lesser importance than the large parks and rcc.n•atio11 areas. \\'ill probably he used by more people than any other category. These areas are for one purpose only. that of resting and those activities that make up the process of resting during long dri,·ing trips. Located along he,n ily tra,·eled highways, they "ill lw constructed cooperath ely by tlw Game. Fish and Parks Department, the State Highway Department and the State Department of Institutions. ~. Community cooperation in recreation planning also occupi('S an important place in park and rec:rcation de,clopment in Colorado. Department assistance in the areas of planning and limited supply of facilities will play an increasingly important role in community efforts to de,·elop recreation facilities on a locali/cd basis. The main ingredient required to achie,c a great parks and recreation system for Colorado is, of course, adequate financing. But also of great importance is intelligent, effecti,,e planning. \ \ ithout this, all the mom•y in the world will not prO\ idc a great parks system. Prodsion of an adequate, qualified planning staff then, is a must. This staff would knc to inventory and en1luate present areas and potential areas for future dt·,·clopment; dra\\' up a master plan for the state; draw up a master plan for each site; de\·elop accurate cost estimat<:>s; and establish dcn·lopmcnt priorities. De\·clopnwnt would begin, upon provision of adequate financing, on the prcs('ntly o,,ned or controlled areas. At tlw same time, additional, suitable areas would he acquired for future dc,·clopment. Evaluation and clc,·clopnwnt planning \\Ould he conducted on futun• sites as soon as an adequate planning staff could he assembled. The cost "'ill h<' high but the benefits e, en grl'ater. A great potential source of revenue and husiness for the statl' is awaiting tlw public's determination. -11- �Game ERHAPS nowhere in the whole scope of outdoor recreation is the increasing presP sure of population, coupled with a gradual disappearance of resources, so severely felt as in the field of game management. It is a field in which "people management" and harvest controlling measures are looming large in future years. Even now some experiments are underway to assure that only a specified number of game animals are taken by hunters from specific areas, and in an even more refined technique of game management, that only a predetermined number of males, females and young of the species are taken. But this is also a field in which certain species, mostly among small game and upland game birds, are harvested in numbers not even approaching their full potential. The crises that will arise will be mostly among those species which are forced to compete with man for habitat. The elk and the deer must compete with man's cattle and with man himself for critical winter range. \Naterfowl must compete with man for wetlands, and man is draining the land at an alarming rate so he can raise more crops. The sage grouse is losing its habitat to operations designed to change the nature of the land for agricultural or grazing uses. When and where man sets out deliberatelv to alter the character of the land, he upsets th~ delicate balance maintained by nature. Frequently the result is that wildlife is affected with disastrous consequences. One break in the series of factors and circumstances provided by nature to maintain an even balance between wildlife populations and available food supplies affects all other factors and circumstances involved. Big Game Elk: The elk of Colorado are considered the state's most highly prized game animal, attracting hunters from all over the nation and from all counties of Colorado. A decided factor in the state's economy, elk hunters contribute almost $1,000,000 to the Game, Fish and Parks Department game cash fund through license purchases and spend many time~ that amount in the communities of Colorado during the three week hunting season. Found almost entirely west of U. S. Highway 85, the state elk populations occupy an estimated 17,500 square miles of land. 6,000,000 acres of this land are elk winter range, most critical in the sustaining of elk herds, with 70 per cent of this amount found on public!> owned land. Almost 2,000,000 of the 6,000,000 acres of winter range are in poor condition, heavily used and of highly critical significance to Colorado's elk management program. There is little range in Colorado not now occupied by elk which could sustain any elk populations. Game biologists point to the Danforth Hills section and the Douglas and Blue ~fountain areas as marginal lands that might -12- �carry a relatively few number of elk. But outside of these three areas, no others in Colorado can be singled out as capable of carrying elk. As available habitat is the decisive limiting factor that determines how many elk can exist in any state, and because this habitat is being used nearly to its practical limit now, it can be deduced that Colorado elk herds are close to their maximum numbers and will not be found in appreciably greater numbers in the fut11rP. In fact. it is in this area that game managers are experiencing their greatest concern. :\Ian, with his ability to construct homes and roads and to change the nature of the land. is causing critical winter range to disappear, which means that if man does not devise wavs in which a given area of land can he made to carry more elk than it does now, then the game manager will have to effect a reduction in tlw number of elk on that area or nature will do it for him. This is perhaps the most critical prohlC'm in elk management. Other factors taking place that must h<' faced to maintain the present number of elk in their habitat include: l. The closing of the "canop>·" in timberlanch, a canopy that was opened by the widespread beetle kill of Englemann spruce. With the canopy opened, forage species of plant life were able to emerge and the timb<•rland became good elk habitat. Now, with second growths emerging. the canopy is beginning to close again, the forage species of plants is disappearing and the nature of timberland as elk habitat is changing. 2. Competition for range with cattle and sheep. because of the n'ry nature of this competition, can limit the number of elk in the state. As cattle and sheep are managed by man for profit and a living, then the range which is being competed for will go into commercial grazing. This problem will not be solved quickly nor will it be solved until public pressures dictate that some of the most critical federally controll<>d public lands he designated for the primary use• of wildlift•. \Icanwhilc, wildlife managers and rescarcht•rs arc looking for ways in which game and li\'estock can both use the same range to the b<•nefit of both to some degree. Studie~ of this nature are, and have been. underwav at the ckpartment's Little Hills Experiment Station near \Iceker for a number of years. It would appear that part of the answer lies in the manipulation of the forage species introduced to the range. Hopes are high that ways may soon be found through this approach to allow wildlife and livestock to forage in harmony on the same range. Also, outright purchases of critical elk range are being undertaken by the department. But this is a slow and very costly process and brings with it problems of a public relations nature. \\'hen lands are to be withdrawn from countv taxrolls, local citizens demand that this loss of revenue be replaced through some systf'm of paym<'nts in lieu of taxes. If this is not <lone, then local opposition to department purchases arises and in many cases blocks the acquisition of severely critical range for wildlife. Clear cutting of timber in most cases and selective cutting in some will solve the problem of the closing of the forest canopy. Just as the beetle-kill of Englemann spruce opened up the canop}·, so too will clear and selective cutting keep the canopy open enabling the forage species to emerge and provide new and productive elk range. This is one of thosl' happy areas in which commercial interests and \\ ildlife can cooperate most beneficially. All the foregoing has been concerned with maintaining and developing elk range in the face of pressures that would reduce it. But there is still another factor to consider in the management of elk. Hunter pressures and harvest exert an influence on game management techniques and on the elk herds thc•msc•lves. Pressure and harvest also are limiting factors, factors which have been used to good effect by the game manager in the control of the herds in relation to their available range. Colorado has no limit on the number of elk licenses sold. It limits only the number of cow elk that may be taken each year through a permit system. The elk harvest ,,,as about 12,000 animals in 1963, or approximately one-fourth of thC' estimated total number of elk in the state•. Game biologists consider this a safe and healthy percentage. However, with the number of elk now near its maximum and the numbers of hunters constantly increasing, it is obvious that controlled limiting factors must be brought to hear on the elk harvest, or hunting success will dimini~h to an unacceptable point for most sportsmen. \\'hat limiting factors and when are the two big questions. It is C'Stimated that some curbs will have to be brought to hear on the harvest of elk in Colorado no later than 1970. Sometime between now and 1970, statistics indicate we will -13- �reach the maximum harvest allowable. Beyond that point, the taking of additional animals will begin to reduce the herds below the lcwl desired by game management. This problem then, e,·oh·es itself to a question of controlling the number of animals han ested. Some of the tcdrniqut•s contemplated are the following: 1. Distribute hunting pressures to effect the ma\imum allowablC' harvest of all the state's elk herds. Because of the difficultv of the terrain ol some areas and the accessibility of otl1ers. l111nting pressures are not even!) distributed \\'ith a result that some herds are tlirl'atl'ned "ith an oH•rhant•st, "hile others rna~ he underhan t·sted. Hunting presslllTS can lw t'qually distributed thro11ghout all the L·lk areas through an information program that ,,ill promote tl1e lightly hunted areas and also thrrn1glt the institution of a LWrmit system such a~ 11m, p,ists onh- for co\\ elk. 2. Establish ,-i permit system ,, hid1 \\ ould spt·cif~ the numl>l'r of hulls, co,,s and spikes that c01 de! be taken f rorn defined areas. \\'hen tl1e ga1ne managn can specify the number and typl' oi elk to he taken from an area and this is carril'd out ln tl1e huntt'r, then we are dosL' to the t1lti111atc• · in game management. In this \\ ay, l1crds can he accurately manipulated according to the findings of research, and the l'lk IHTds can hl' kept in ahsolult' balance with the ckn1ents surrounding them and the range 011 which tlwv feed. At the same time, because of the selecti',·t· !tan est, the breeding potential of the l1erd can be smtained with almost absolt1te confidence. Colorado\ g.11nc· ma1,agenwnl and research. in a c:oopL'ralhe ,e11t11re, hope to hold just such a sl'let'li\ c· han est waso11 perhaps as early as HJ6,'5 on a segnwnt of tlie \\'hit<' River hn<l llr tlw Hio Grande Forest herd. or hotli. The plans for adrni111stl'ring sucl1 a season are alrl'ad~ clra\\ 11 and the methods of e, al11alion ha, e l>l'en determined. Bnt here again is a prohlem of a pu hlic relations nature, for those ,, ho make thl'ir Ii, mg packing am! e;11iding elk hunters 111a, oppose' tl1<' season for the effect it ma, lia\c' 011 their business. Tlwse people 11111st hl• ,t?;i\ c·n the chance to understand "hy the season is h\'i11g held. the kno,, ledge \\ e hope to gain from it. and tlH• 11sc to \\'hich this kncm ledge \Yi]] lw put for the ultimate hc1wfit of all. It 1s ohvio11s to all connc'cted \dth gamt' n1anag(·nwnt that \\·e must at some tinw in tlw li1tme coml' to this kind of elk managc·nwnt. Our dk IH"nb cannot 1)(' ~mtaincd at the prest'llt len•l in the fal'e of an e\'<'r-mounling number of elk hunters and an e,·er-decreasing amount of range. Selective and controlled han·est is the only answer and before 19i0, we must know how to conduct such a season and how to use this type of season in the scientific manipulation of the elk herds. The basics of selective harvesting have been used in the Cold Spring '.\lountain area successfully since 195:3. There is one bright area in tl1e management of elk, according to biologists. This bright area is disclosed in recent findings of research being done in the \\'hite River country which indicate that elk, at least in the White River area, have a greater n.'producth e capacity than previous)> had been thought. It was found in the "'hite River studies that cow elk could breed and calve at t,\ o years of age. L1ntil this finding, it had been thought that a cow would not calve until her third year. This find mg ,, ould indicate that an Plk lwrJ can sustain itst'lf more readily in the face of hunter pressures than pn'\ iousl 1 had been believed. It means that the n111nber of elk that can he taken from a h<'rd each year may hl' mon· than all<l\\ ed up to no,,. Department biologists and managc>rs han' \l't to e, aluale this finding and dl'terminl' \\ lwther or not this applies only to the \\'hitt' Rin·r area .. It is bC'lie\'C·d now that in the typl' of bro\\ sc lo11nd on the \ \ 'hite Ri\'er area, and found in limited quantity and quali ty elsewhere. ma) lie the reason for the greater reproclucti\'t' capacit) of this herd. Studies ,1·ill be made of the Rio Crandl' For<"st herds to determine if this capac:it~ is present there too. It is lwlie, eel that the n11tritin' \'a]ue of tlw soil differs heh\ cen the \ \ 'hite Rin·r and the Rio Grande areas. Lf this is found to be true, tlwn 1wrhaps some' form of soil treatment through the use of fertili;,ers is possible lo bring the Hio Grande soil lo the sanw nutrith·e t"omposilion as tltat \\ hich e,ists nn the \\'hite Riwr. Fertili..-:ation of tht• soil lias been done suc:cessfull~ in Oregon lH1t it is an expt'nsh·e process that m11st lw rqwated en'r: tltrl'e )·cars. If this pro\'es to lw too <'\pensi\e, perhaps other methods of incrl'asing the nutritive> ,·alut> of the wil t"a11 he found. I l is also possible that ti IP e(·onomi(' \ al1H· of hunting elk \\ill justify the high c:osls of mc-rc'asing the n'productin• (.'apacity o~ th<' elk herds through fertilization of the soil. \lanipulation of thl' hro,,·se species follcm ing fertili;,ation of the soil is also a part of the prohl<'m under stud\'. The more nutrit1\'l' browse species found im the \\'hite Riwr ma~· he artificiall~ introduced on the Rio -14- �Grande ranges in quantities sufficient to enable cow <•lk tlwre to reproduce at two years of age rather than three. At any rate. there is a good diance that res<>arch may provide the answers for scientifkally increasing the reprocluctiH• capaeity of the elk herds in Colorado which will then r<'sult in larger harvests of the animal being possible. Deer: Deer arl' the most numerous and prolific of Colorado's hig game species. They arc found in even· area of Colorado, whitetailed deer in small numbers in the bottom land country of the eastern plains and mule deer in large numh<•rs elsewhere in the state. As with elk, the critical factor in the manag<·ment of mule deer is rangP which is both shrinking and cletPriorating. The reasons arl' the same as for elk range-the t'ncroachment of ci\ ilization and the grazing intensit) of domestic livestock. \\'ith more than :200.000 persons hunting ck·er in Colorado and the number increasing each yc•ar, this species represents a ddinitl' economic factor to the state. Hunters, most of whom ,n·re <leer hunters, spent over $80,000,000 in Colorado in 1963 exclusive of license costs. Practicalh c'verv communitv in the state felt the financiai impact of the ht~nting season and if this impact should disappear because of detc·rioration of deer hunting through mismanagement, the results on many communities would he catastrophic. Ahout 1-18.000 mule deer were han-ested in Colorado in 196:J. ,, hich represents about om· out of e,·en three and a half deer. Came biologists hold 'this to he a safe and healthy har\"(•st l><'causl' of the prolific reproductivt' capacity of the mule dPcr herds and because this size of a harvest is required to keep the herds in balance \\ith their availablt> rangt'. It is now hdien·d that -10 per cent of the total deer population can be taken each year or :200,000 animals. This figure should he reached b\· HJi5 or earlier. Bccau;e the range. and especially critical winter range, is the strongest limiting factor for deer herds, and as just about all the available range in Colorado is alrt>ady carrying deer. 1t has bl'l'n determined that our <leer herds arc at their maximum now. or ncarlv so. with onl\' a small margin left for increase. · Thcr~fore, the ma;agcment of deer in Colorado in tlw face of increasing hunter pressure and decreasing range will call for some refined and effecti,·e techniques. The people and har- vest must be controlled and the range must he preserved. Controlling people will be the easier of the two requirements for it can he accomplished in many regulatory ways. About the onlv area in which an increase in the deer hards· can be looked for is the n'cent white-tailed population on the eastern plain sections of Colorado and possibly on the front range as thc·y replace mule deer. \\'hitt'taill'd deer hav<' been building up in the bottom areas of the Republican and South Platte rin•r drainages. It is reasonable to expect this build up to continu<' for a number of years until it represents a significant huntahle species. ln summary then, we can e\pect an increase in the total number of deer in Colorado mosth through a build up of white-tailed deer popuh{tions. Our annu,tl harve~t of deer can climb by an additional ,50,000 as long as ,, e hold our presl'nt herds in their current numbers and condition. At that point. which will be 197.5 or somwr, wt' will have to start imposing restrictions on the harvest of deer. Evcntuallv. ill also ha,·e to get quite selective in tilt' animals harvested, taking specifit·d numbers of bucks, does and fawns from eaeh herd. \\ e ,, ill have to continue to fight tht> battle of deer range, securing for the deer a favored position over livestock and sheep in those areas where the range is critical to the maintenance of the ck•er lwrd. and also ,n· will han' to find wa\"S in \\'hich liv('stock and sheep and deer can feed on the• same range area effectiv<'ly. Studies along these lines. as mentioned in discussing elk. are being conducted ewn nm, at the department's Little Hills Experiment Station and through the use of 50 hig game-liwstock exdosures throughout the state. \loose: There are, perhaps, fi, e or six moose in Colorado from time to time. Occasionallv, some hunter kills a moose ··mistaking" it fc,r an elk. It is believed that these moose wander down into Colorado from \\'yoming. \\"hen looking to the future, howe,·er, this species must he considen•d and game managt>ment and game research people in Colorado arc anxious to study the possibility of transplanting some of the animals into appropriate areas in this state. There arc a number of art•as in Colorado which it would appear \\'ill sustain moose. Ilowe,·er. since moose are sekctive feeders, using only certain typ<'s of willo,,·s. these prospecti\'e areas must be im·estigated for the pn•s<'nce of these specific types of ,·egetation. Researchers also contend that the areas selected must be ones that can be closed to ,,·e ,, -15- all �elk hunting for a number of years to give the moose a chance to build up. Here again is a public relations problem, for good elk hunting an•as arc not so numerous in Colorado and elk hunters may not take kindly to the closing of one or two of them, e,·cn to establish another huntahlc species of game animal. It could hL•, that with good fortune and hard work through an active program to establish this spec:ics, moose might be added to the hunter's hag i11 Colorado hy 19S0 or 1985. Barbary Sheep: Herc again we ha,·e a species that dol's 11ot t•:xist in Colorado hut which must he co11sidt•red when taking a long look ahL•acL Carne 111anagcme11t and research both view this with a jaundiced eye for Barbary sheep arc \'oracious eaters. They will L·ornpl'tt• ,,ith any species of ga11a' a11i111al for range and could, if pn·sl'nt in large enrnq.d1 n11111l>l'r:-., cause a wrio11s threat to thl' t•xistt•nct• of thl' bighorn sheep a11Cl m11k• dt•t'r in parts of Colorado. Hest•arch, not rnling 011t the possibility of llt'i11g forc:t·d to 111anagc thL• harhary sheep i11 Colorado, ca11tions that 111uch stuch· must Hist he clont· and tlw rt's11lts of this stud~- t·, aluatl'd , c•ry carefully and \\ ist•l~, to prL'[);IIT for ,my l'\ t•11tuality. The Barbary shel'p may be ,\ ·"l)('Cil'\ not "antl'cl in Coloraclo. Antelope: The antdopt• i, a spccic·s that shmn what ea11 ()(' ac:crnnplislwd with scnsiblt• ga111t• 111a11agt·111e11t practiu",. This a11in1al "as thrn1ght 011 tll(' \,·a~ to l'xtinctio11 not too long ago. It \\as clisap1waring from tlw plaim hdorl' ga111l' 111,u1agl'111l'nt stepped in to takl' o\'er. :-.-ow, the· antl•lopl' is a l11111t.1hl<' sp<'cil's in ( :nlorado, ocLup~·i11g al111mt all the range a\·ailahll• and in a ll<'althv c:nndition . So11ll' •ISOO a11tcl1;pe hu11ting [)l'r111its werl' a11thori✓l·d in HJfn, a 1111111hn toppe·cl only h y th<' l lJCil figun• of .5GOO. It is cstin1akd that thl'n' an· 3S.OOO squarl' 111ill·s of su1tabh· rangl' for antelope in Colorado. This ' animal alrl'adv occupies 30.000 sq11an• miles, ll'a\'ing SOIIH' room for expansion of tlH' a11tdopl' lwnls. It was <'Stirnatcd in 19.57 that thl'rl' Wl'r<' 10,000 antelop<" in Colorado, a 111u11l}('r that ha, i11cn•ast•cl since thl'n to hctWl't'll 1,1.()()() and 1.3,()()(). Canw n'sl'ard1 has said that a ·15 per cent han <"St of tl1<· total h<•rcl is sale and lwalthv. Ilu11ll"rs in Colorado took jmt mTr 4000 a~,lt•lopt' last ~ l'ar. Tlw year h<'fon·, whl'n the 1111111hl'r of permits was ahont two-thirds those of HJCi3, about :WOO antelopt• "e·n· hant·st<'d . Frrn11 the ahm·c figmcs it is cli,ce•rnihlc that Colorado\ 111,111age•nH•11t of its antelope herds and antelope hunting has been consen·ative. But it has been so for good reason. It was not too long ago that the species was on the way out and the process of bringing it hack must be a slow, c:onsidcred an<l consLn·ati\'e one until a good degree of permanancy is reached. Ilowe,·er, in looking to the future, one can see that antelope herds can increase in number to bet\\'l'l'll 15,000 and 20,000 and the har\'est of the animal can safl'l\' be increased to about 7000 before the len•lling off process must begin to maintain both the herds and the han·t•st at the maximum allo\\·ahle. According to ~tatistical forecasts, this maximum allowable han 1•st should lw reached hy 19S0. From that point on, till' control of tlw herds will ha\'L' to lw clone through rang<' 111,magt'llll'llt almost l'.\ c:lusiH•l~. To control tlw han <'Sl will require 110 change from the pn•s(·nt ,1s h1111tini?; in Colorado for anlt•lopt• has .1lways hl·1·11 011 a p<"r111it snkm. Tlw control of the han est is acc,m1plished hy incn•asing or dl'creasing thl' 1111111lin of permits issued. Tlw trappi11g and transplanting of a11tclop<' into 11no<·c11pil·d rangl' has be<'t1 , er~ l'f:frctin• in tlw past and sho11ld aid in till' spl'cil'S i11creasing to its maximum in the futurl'. Bear: Colorado's hear population , after n•111ai11i11g static tor a rn1111her of years, shows l'\ l'r)' sign ol deereasmg, and t•xce·pt for wildlife pe·ople and a few h11ntl'rs, no one seems to can•. The probability of d1·cn•asL' in the hear pop1ilat1011 is cll'le•rn1i11ed hy tll<' fact that although big ga11w h1mtl·rs ha, l' mon• titan do11hlecl in 1111111lwr in thl• past t1·11 y<'ars, and thl• aclditio11al pn•ss11n·s of a spring hear sl·aso11 han· t•,isted for tlw past st·n·n ~ ears, tht• ban t·sl figure's cluri11g tlw last 10 \l'ars show a elm, 11\\ a rel tl'lldt•nc\'. . lkcamt· the lwar i, taken hv hunters as 11 ho1111s a11imal whilt• hunting othe~ speci('S of big gallll'. and l'\<:C'pt for the special spring bear season is not the primary objl·ct of l111nters, tl1<·n· is an apparent lack of concern on·r tlw plight of tlw black hear. Carne rt•,e•archns, studying tht' !war in this stall', ha, t' l'!>li111ate•d that of a possible ha1Yt•st of 1200 !wars, ,5 00 "ill ht' takl'n h) hunters, another 500 by thml' protecting herds of shet'[) and eattll' 011 tlw s11111n1l'r and wint<'r rangl's and 200 by fed1•ral prc'<lator control men. In managing the hear pop11latio11s of tlw state in tlw f11t11n· then, th<' han t•st h\' lm11t(·r, ca11 ht' c:ontrollnl hy i11stituting a perniit system and .s topping tlw prattic<' of allowing a hl'ar to hc> taken on P\ cry deer or elk lic:ensl' sold. Tlw -16- �loss of bears to federal predator control could be eliminated through a rec1uirement that bears be trapped and transplantc·d to other areas of the state instead of being killed. This leaves onlv one area over \Vhieh the department has little control, that being the killing of bear in the defense of prirnte property which is permissible according to state law. In the future, when game managers bt'gin intensh·e management of hear in Colorado, this uncontrollable segment of the total han·est will have to be kept in mind when setting seasons and total allowable harvests. It is estimated that there are 16,000,000 acres of good to prime bear range in Colorado. Civilization and the hunter have forced the bear back onto an estimated 2,800,000 acres of this range. The current trend if continued-and there seems to be no way of halting it without instituting rigid controls-will force the bear into the remotest areas of the state, and the hear, although present in somewhat adequate numbers, \\'ill not be seen by the average person in the future. Of the 16 top bear kill counties in Colorado, 15 of them arc on the \ \ estern Slope. The largest concentrations of bear seem to be found in the San Juans, the Cncompahgre area and the Gunnison region. Current thinking on hear management inclicatt's no" that controls on the harvesting of hears will have to come around 1970 or earlier. Some of the management ideas being studied include: l. Reducing the harvest of hears by hunters to 250 to 300 a year. 2. Require the trapping and transplanting of bear taken in control work. 3. Special protection, h~ legislation if necessary, should he gi\ en to hear cubs. 4. Issue a license for the hunting of bear separate from deer and elk licenses. 5. Permit system for bear hunting to ha, e absolute control on the numher of hear taken each year. Bighorn Sheep: Colorado's state animal, the Hoch ~lountain bighorn sheep, presents probably the greatest challenge to Colorado game management techniques and practices because of the animal's fatal susceptibility to pneumonia brought on by the ravagt•s of lungworm and bt•causc of the relatively slow n•producth·e capacity of the bighorn. There arc roughly estimated to be 6000 bi~horn sheep in Colorado li,·ing on -!-100 square miles of range. This range includes summer, intenncdiate and wintt·r range with a good deal of the winh:r range evaluated to be in poor condition. Individual bighorn herds must be kept somewhat small in numbers for it is when the lwrd density increases that the lungwormcausecl pneumonia strikes resulting in large <lie-offs. Lungwonn is taken into the animal's system by the ani111al eating a specific: species of snail as it browses. The lungwonn passes to the bighorn's lungs and some arc passed out through the feces. Snails feed on the feces and the cycle of lungworm transmission is continued. The lung,vorm in the animal, while held bdow a certain densit\-, docs not affect the animal to any great dcgr'ee. But when the lungwonn builds up in the animal, its resistance is lowered and pneumonia strikes with fatal results. It is "hen the animals arc bunched up and the density of tlw herd is great that tlw lungworm continues to build up in the animals and it is for this reason that large munhers of animals in one herd will die during a winter. Also, \\'hen tlw herd density is high the build-up of snails i11cn·ases, for bighorns are creatures of habit coming hack to the same heclcling grounds year after year unlt•ss driven off. Thc last large die-off of bighorn sheep occurred in the Tarryall-Kenosha ~lountains herd in HJ53. The effects of <lie-offs can be gleaned from population figures for sheep in Colorado. It was estimated in 1915 that then• were i2.30 sh<'ep in the state. In 1953, the estimate was 3.300. The herds have built up from 195.3 to tlw present clay estimate of 6000. In the past 40 years, the statt-'s population of bighorns was cut in half from lungworm-induc<'d pneumonia and then rebuilt almost to its original size. Problems facing game managt•nwnt in caring for the statc,.s slwcp would appear to be then. to make sun· that no herd builds up to the point that it is in danger of heavy lung\\·orm infestation and possibility of a large dieoff, to keep the lwr<ls somewhat scattered and to trap and transplant sheep into other art•as of the state where range t·xists to build up the state\ sh<•ep population. Sheep ca11 ne, er exist in this state in great e11011gh numbers to support unlimited hunting lwcause of the limited available range, both s11111mer and wint<•r. Tlw bighorn sheep faces serious competition for his range from domestic she<'P and cattle. B<•causc• of all the limiting factors, it is beliewd that bighorn sheep may rw,·t•r exist again in the same numbers as in -17- �HJ15 in Colorado. Howe, er, there is room for e,pansion from the current population estimate. '.\lanagement people feel that under present conditions. the han·est of bighorns can rise to around 150 which should be reached no later than 1975. The harn:st, controlled through permit-only hunting. should then remain at aho11t ISO for about the nc>xt 1.5 vcars bv which time tlwrt· should be sufficient acldition;,1 herds cle, eloped through trapping and transplanting lo again consider raising the total harvest figure. As trapping of bighorn sheep is a ver~ <lilficult. arduous and tinw-eonsuming process. the establishment ol other herds in range not nm, oceupit•d or occupied in small enough numbers to sustain additional animals will take sonw lime. Hefinenwnts of trapping lechniqut'S for this skittish aninial will he stuclied. Another somcc for additional animals is through trades "·ith other states and Canada. Hange i1npr0\ emenl and the proteet10n of bighorn "intl'r ranges ll1rnugh designation h, feckral land-use agencies for bighorn use exclush ely "ill he 111ajor ohiecth es. ,\]so, department purchases of those areas considered to he ,·l·n- critical wi11tcr range for the bighorn will be prillle objective. Researeh "ill he called on to study the life c, ck of the lungwonn and lo de,·ise methods o·I ccrntrolling the infestation of the sheep. Some of the possibilities would he the determination ol some c.:hcmieaf tliat co11ld hl' sprayc<l on the sheep areas that \\"ould 11ot be harmful to the sheep but that would kill th(' host snails. :\nother. \\ hic.:h is alreaclv under study. is the clisc.:m er\" of sonic antiho.ch that could be put i11 salt lit:h so that as the ~hecp licked the salt the, \\Oulcl take i11 this a11tihoclv that would tlwi1 attack the lungworm in , the animal. \nother possihility is the de-termination of some hird species that "oulcl ft-eel on the specific species of snail and import this bird into thl' sheep range. ll will be the job of public relations men to prm ide more information ahout the hunting of bighorns, tlw areas in which they are found aml directions for th<' hunter to reach these areas. This "ill he an important part ol the job alrc-ad, for control of bighorn populations in Colorado depends to a great degree on the hunter's hancst of this noble state animal. Finalh·. research has listed 1--t areas in ""hieh bighorn sheep can be transplanted, for these areas either support no sheep now or are supporting herds smaller thai1 the carrying capacity of the range. These areas an•: ;t 1. Lizard Head Peak, near Ophir. 2. San '.\liguel River Canyon, Ophir to Telluride. 3. American Flats-L'.pper Cimarron River. 4.. Pyramid Peak-Little Flat Tops. 5. South Fork of the \rhite River Canyon. 6. Big \larvine Peak. ,. Inclcpenclence Pass-.\lt. Massi\ e. 8. \\'illiams Fork "\lountains-l1tc Pass. 9. \\"oocls \Iountain-\\'est Clear Creek. 10. Park Range north of Buffalo Pass. 11. Sheep .\lountain, Saguache Park. 12. Trout \lountain-\letrcll \lountain. 13. Lo" er Arkansas Rh er area. 1-l. Battlenwnt .\ksa-'.\Ia111 Peak. Mountain Goats: The mountain goat is not a nat1, e of Colorado hut rather has been introduced successfull, through transplanting. ln Hl-lH, 1-l goats "ere released in the Collegiate Rangt•. They are now estimated to number mer 100. In HJ61. 16 more goats "ere released in the \It. Evans area hut no report is available on this herd because of the short lapse of time i11\"!ihcd and because no adequate censusing technique has been established. Colorado hunters "ill hold the first open se,1son on mountain goats in HJ6-l. the season hl'ing r('(:ommc·nded after it was del<'rmincd that ther(' \\"as an adequate number of animals in the Collegiate Range to support a small han t'st h,· hunters. States in which mountain goats are- a l111nlahlc species report that tlw animals should lw hu11led thre(' ,·ears after lhe, ha, e become established in aii" area. 'nccause of the apparent inability of mountain goats to reprodun• consistent!~ and dlec:tin•I) , the mortality rate among the kids liei ng higl1, the allo""ahle har\'l'st of the animals through hunting "ill. of necessity, he 1cm for a numlwr of years to l"Ollll'. One billv for eac-h ten animals i11 a herd SC'C'l11S lo he tlie ac.:c<'ptccl li~me unlil more krnl\dedge is gained about tlw life rcc111ire111ents. habits, range neecls. mortalit\ rates and other fac·tors necessarv tor lll'rd managenwnt. · Censusing techniques seem to h<' one of tlw more• immediate needs. At prPsent. the animals arP counted from aircraft hv ohsC'rvers hul limitations and inaccuracies arc' recognized in this eurrent tt'chnique. Counts of animals e,isting on different ranges an• needed before the fnll allo\\"ahle hanest of these animals can he realizc>d. As mountain goats seem to prefer to live al or abo\'<' timhNline in tlw cragg, mountain areas. coming belo" this. gerwrally, only to move from one mountain to anolll('r, and as -18- �Colorado abounds with suitable areas abo,·c timberline. it "ould appear e\'ident that there an· manv areas in the ~tate to which this animal ean be transplanted to establish new lwrds. There arc rcquirem(•nts, however, that eliminatt' a good portion of the state's lands ahon• timberline, for the range cannot be huried under hl•av\' sno\\ s in the wint(•r nor can it be subjected to se,·cre winter storms. SC'condly, goats do not exist in numbers plentiful enough yet in Colorado for trapping goats out of existing herds for this purpose. I lence. animals for transplanting in the immediate future must come through trades with ollwr states. Thirdly. trapping techniqul'S must be de,·elopcd and rl'fined for use here in a state that has had no expnicnce with trapping this high alpine speciC's. \fountain Lion: The mountain lion in Colorado at the present is inc:luded among the predator species with a 850 bounty on his head. The n•stdt is that the mountain lion is l)('corning an increasingly rare animal in Colorado, seldom seen, and hunted mostly I)\ professional guides and by predator control people. Tlw mountain lion. according to game management pcopl<>, is a wasted species under these circumstances ,, lwrl'as it should lw a prime ··once-in-a-lifrtime" priz<' for tlH' hunter. In 1H62, -!9 of tlwsc animals were killed in Colorado, 13 by predator control men and 36 b 1 bount1 hunters. \lost were taken by hunters using dog pad.s and only four were taken in stl'd traps. Came managt•ment people in Colorado are of th<.' unanimous opinion that good planning for the futurl' can restore this animal to huntahll' populations. Titer recommend that: 1. The hountv of $50 bl' removed, therein rcli('\"ing the animal ot the pressures brought to hear bv bountv hunters. 2. Th~ mountain lion be added to the list of protected game animals. :3. A permit system of hunting be establishl•d "lll'n the lion population can support a hunting season so a rigid control on th<.' harvest can be maintained. -!. The take of mountain lions by predator control persons should Le halted. This is becoming more and more possible. for livestock inten•sts art.' coming to the opinion that the lion poses no s<.'rious threat to their herds. Came management people feel the lion to he beneficial as he breaks up large cll'er concentrations in the winter and remo\'es only the \\'t'ak. General opinion is swinging from the concept that the mountain lion is an animal cletrirn<.'ntal to the commercial and wildlife herds to tll(' belief that it should become a prized. protected, huntablc game animal species in Colorado. Small Game Rabbits: Of all the huntable spec:il's in Colorado, be it game birds or game animals, none presents the potential to the hunter as does the rabbit. '\or arl' any of the other species so completcl) undcrharH•sted now as arc the cottontail and sno\\ shoe. \pprO\imately 162,000 rabbits were harvested in Colorado in 1963. Game res<'archers ha, e l'stimated that the potential maximum harvest of the snmvshoe rabbit alone is 1,600,000 a year. Tlwy also estimate that the potential maximum har\'cst of the cottontail rabbit, whose populations ar(' cyclical, ranges between -100,0()() in the low cycle of population to the astonishing number of -!,000,000 in the highcycle years. The basis for these evaluations is that the snowshoe c,ists in large hut unknown numbers and is not huntl•d because the high country habitat of this species is closed in hv snow and is inaccessible to the hunter during the rabbit season. lt is helien·d that this snowy high c:ountr)- in Colorado contains snowshoe rabbits in n11mlwrs far beyond our higlwst estimates. Cottontails, which arc found in almost ever, area ot the state below 3000 f<•ct elevation, and even in a good number of areas abo"e this altit11de, arc not hunted in Colorado as intensh ely as in more eastern states. It is believed that because Colorado is a big game hunting and fishing stat(', that the rabbit has never !wen subjected to the pressures that the spl'c:ics could sustain. Habbits must be considered an exceptional sped<'s in this state for management and research cannot identify anything needed in the way of habitat. The numbers of rabbits do not need to he increased to sustain heavier hunting press1m·s. '\;othing is needed since this huntahk species exists 111 fantastic numbers, which arc s11hjec:tecl to relatively little hunting pressure. The reproductive capacity of this species would indicate that it can stand far grcatf'r harvests than yet realized in Colorado. The problems for this species are quite the opposite as for others in that it is a problem of interesting tlw hunters in pursuing this species to provide a reasonable han·cst, especially in -19- �:,.Tars of high population levels. The problem, then. is esscntiallr one for the public relations people from whom is needed a complete and effective information program to popularize the hunting of rabbits. . Fr~m the management standpoint, only one thmg 1s needed-an earli<·r opening date for the season so tlw hunters can get into the high country hdorc the snO\\.'S set 'in to har\'est the snowshoe rabbit while he is still accessible. Besid<• the two abo\'e requirenwnts, it is desirahl<• to develop adequate c<'nsus and population l'stimatc t<•chniques, so that manag<·rs l'an more accurately formulate programs to han est this untapped resource. Squirrels: The fox squirrd is th<· only huntahlP species of squirrel that exists 111 Colorado in appreciable 11111nlwrs. Th<'\ <·xist mosth in till' South Plattl' H.1\·<·r drainaie and th<' l1iw('I' Po11dn· Ri\ er area. Some fox squirrels han· h<•<•n n·corded in the Lamar-Hockv Ford-La Junta area whic.:h indicates that th<:\ ar<' also <·stahlished in th<• lo,\<'r \r\..:ansas Rin•r drainag<' in smaller numbers. The ah<•rt sq11irrl'I is also to lw found in Colorado's mountain areas hut 1s a prot<'clt'd sped<•s with no hunting seasons 1wrmitted. At present fO\ sq11irr<'ls are found onh on the Eastern Slope although there is lwlit' n-d to lw considerable suitable habitat in the \ \'estt·rn Slopl' agricultural valll'y ar<'as. The main factor limiting thl' squirn·l population is available food. Crop rl'sidues and cottonwood buds make up most of their diet. The harn·sting of crops makt•s the sq11irn•l"s life a tenuous on<'. As the squirrel is nut a protected or man,tg<"d game arnmal. little is known of population figurl's , harvest, range conditions and other factors having a hearing on this species. I low('\'Cr, it is n·eogniz<•d that b('r<' is a potential l11111tablc spl'cies that could afford th<' h1111l<'r many hours of sport hunting ('x1wril'nC('S if brought undl'r suitable gam<' managenwnt program-.. All that is known now, in gl'neral. is that the squirrel's habitat is shrinking in some areas, holding its own in others and intn•asing in no areas. It is also belil'wd that thl' harvest of sq11irrels as unprotected gaml' is nowlwr<' near what it <.:ould and should he. Futurl' recommendations for squirrel management wifi contain the following steps: l. Place the squirrel on the prote<.:ted ganw list and hold hunting seasons. A three month season, covering October '\oveml)(.'r and De<.:emlJl'r, is recommended with a thrl'e to five sq11irrd bag limit 2. De\·elop habitat by introducing foodproducing plant life and other forage foods. ~lost important, maintain large cottonwood trees which art• irwaluabk• for nesting, feeding, protection and their general welfare . ,'3 . De\'ise ml'thods for gathenn~ census, pn•ssun• and kill data for the use o( managt•mt•nt in recomnwn<ling seasons a11d managing the species. •1. A program of information to the public: about thl' fox squirrel, habits, habitat, and the hunting of the specil's. This is a potential ganw animal that can he supplil'd in numbers adequate to sustain good hunting pn·ssures. It does not do so now. \\'ith good game manag<'ml·nt and thl' i11n·stigati, e l'fforts of r<'sl'arc:h, tlw squirn·l can hl'c:onw a desirabk·, huntahll' sp<'cies in this state. Upland Game Birds Upland game bmls pn·s<·nt a eomhination of spl'cies that arc• mosth underharH·stecl in Colorado. Thl' upland gai{ie bird species, with propPr managenwnt. rang(• managl'ment and an cff1·<.:ti, e information program, will provide hunt<-rs \\ 1th many y('ars of sport. It is entirl'l)' c:ont·ph·ahl(• that as hig game hunting hits its pl'ak sonwtinw in thl' futur<' and ll'\l'ls off. prohahl) ne,cr to go any higlwr, gaml' birds and small ganw will h<•eoml' tl.w l~ac:kb1'.ne of Colorado's \\ ildlifl' hunting. I•or 1t 1s 111 thesl' specil's that thl'rl' is thl' greatest margin for imn•ased harn•st and hunt<"r pr<•ssun•. \ \ 'hl'n th<' dqJartn1e11t's ganw and fish incomt• 11•, els off as hunting and fishing opportunities l<•vel off. it is obvious that an increasl' in l'l'H'nue will han• to lw found as all spl'cil's will requirl' morl' intensiv<' and more exp<•nsin· m,lllag<·nwnt than at pn•5<•nt. It is in the ar<'a of the d<'partnwnt's small gamt• license that \\ (' can look for a good shan• of tlw additional Tl'\'Clllll' . The small game license authori1<·s th<· huntl'r to take all ~mall game: upland ganw hircls, migratory game birds and 1s on<' n•quisite for hunting migratory waterfowl. The cost of this licl'nse is now $2.00 and for $,5.00 thl' indi\'idual gets the m11ltit11d<' of opportuniti<'s in small ganw huntmg in addition to a \\ hole year ' of fishing opportunity. It S('<·ms only reasonahl(• that an increase in tlw cost of the all-embracing small game licl·nse t·,m hl' l'XtWded in the not too distant future. Turkey: The wild turkey is a game bird -20- 0 �species that has a great potential for hunting in Colorado. It is now un<lt•rde, eloped and underhan-ested. \\'ith intensified game management programs, .\Ierriams wild turkey in Colorado will sustain much greater hunting prPssures and much l,1rger han·ests than 110\\" exist. About 700 turkevs were harH'sted in 196:3 in Colorado. An additional st'ason on turkevs ,, as recmnmen<led for the spring of 196-!. Tl;is searnn wa~ proposed so the tom turkeys could be harvested exclusin•ly. During the spring wason, the toms arc• the only ont'S moving ahout, the hens being secrdi\'C <luring this mating and nesting period. Since 60 to 80 per cent of the toms arc l'\.cess (the species is polygamous and breeding responsibilities arc handled by a relatively fo,, toms), a spring season effects an cxclusiYe harH'st of the tom population not achieved during the regular or postseasons in the fall. This management program provides three hunting seasons for turkey hunters, in \lay, October and :\o,emher. \t present, 1:2,000 turkeys are estimated in Colorado occupying about 10,000 square miles of turkey habitat, mainly in the southeast, tht• San Juan country around Pagosa Springs, the l'm:ompahgrc Plateau area around Dclta-.\Iontrose and the Glenwood Springs area. Turkeys can be e,pan<led beyond their present status by trapping and transplanting into unoccupit'd range. Present flocks can be increased by breaking them up into smaller flocks in the areas \\hich they now occupy. .\nd a fuller harvest of the present flocks can he realized by taking more toms which are excess and also by more effective har\'est of the hens and young. Both management and research believe that if intensive turkey management, based on a series of fi\'e-year plans, is undertaken between 1965 and :2000, the harvest of these birds can hit .3500, or five time's the present harvest, by the vear 2000. These series of five-year programs would include the following objectives: l. A program of trapping and transplanting, to use to its fullest the available range, to k<•ep the flocks healthy by reducing continued inbreeding, and to greatly increase the turkey population in the state. 2. A program of supplemental feeding of turkeys on the winter feeding grounds to keep the flocks healthy and to increase the breeding potential. This supplemental feeding should be effected through raising of unharvested crops, left to stand solely as prime turkey fl'Cd. Studies are now underwav to dt•tcrmine the , alue of this approach to ,irtificial feeding. :3. A program of rang(' irnpro,·pmcnt where m•c.·<.•ssary 111 the face of compl'tition from livestock uses. -1. Continued n•sear<:h studies into the habits, movemt•nt patterns, diseases, and other much needed information for intt>lligent management of this gam(' bird. Pheasants: The Chinese ring-nccl-ed pheasant is the hackhom• of the upland game bird populations in Colorado. It supports the hea, iest hunting pressures of any rt•sident game bird in the state. In the face of mounting criticism by lan<l0\\ 1wrs and huntt•rs that there are not so manv pheasants in the field as there used to be, department gam(' management people and researchcrs claim that tlw pheasants arc not being harvested to tlw e,t<•nt the, should be. At the sarnt' time they strongly support and urge• sound habitat improvement programs on Colorado farm lands. In 1963 some :2:39,000 pheasants were taken. Department men claim that with the present population we should be han·esting at least 180,000. This points out the path that the department will he taking in the future. Steps to be taken are as follows: First, an efficient harvest of cock pheasants. The total harvest in 1963-239,000 birds-was entir<•ly from the cock pheasant population as the taking of hens has been illegal for many vears. Game bir<l researchers claim that the total potential harvest of cocks alone should be ,320,000, or 80 per cent of the rooster population. Second, the addition of the hen pheasant to the bag. Game biologists report that many hen pheasants are surplus, losing their lives to man's mechanical devices or the weather before producing a brood. They estimate, and experiments have proved in some areas, that as high as 40 per cent of the hen population can be harvested without damaging the reproductive capacity of the total flock. Department men, who attempted to hold an experimental, tightly controlled season in a specific area in which a hen was to be added to the bag, set a conservative harvest of 20 per cent of the hens until more e,perience could he gained with hen seasons. Third, the department must work for better relations with the landowners. The landowners in the area of the proposed but ill-fated experimental hen season in 196.3, with help from those political, succeeded in getting the season -21- �c:anl·l'll('d. Tht>y, in l'ifl'ct, tol<l thl' <l,•partment n :warc:h men an<l game managers that tlwy, tlw landowners, km·,, more about pheasants than the <lepartnwnt men who had spent a lifetime i11 game bird mauagl'llll'nt. Better rclatious are abo nec:essarv so that landowners (·an understand that tlw~: c:an help phl'asaut protcdion h~ cle,eloping l)('th•r 1w:.ti11g eo, t'r 011 lands out of production or in areas cle\"(>tcd sole!~ to pheasant cm·l'r. :\<.•sting cm l'T is the critical lad or i11 phl'asant production for with good c:o\'l'T \\'t' ha\\' good populations aud poor cm·t·r l'Onditions n·still in flower hirds in tlw field. Tlw critical phase of di ic:it•nt phl'asanl manage111t•11t is the addition of the hen to th<· hag. \\'ithin the next few ,cars, the depart111e11t rnmt he allmn·d lo lwicl a tightly eontrollt·d, l'\[)l'rirnental .s<·ason in a11 Ml'a where the rt•sttlts ohs<·n ·<·d and tlw information am! kno\\ l1•clgl' gai1l!'d \\'ill lw ol real signific.inc<•. Only ·in this \\'a~ can \\ t· <'slahlish ,, hat pen:r·nt,1g1· of lt·111all' han <·st c:an he incorporated into Colorado's plwa!'>ant 111a11,1g1•1111•nt program l ntil "l' can do this, t•,·,duate the information and possibly sd such a hag limit that includes tl1<• hen, W<' nwv 111·, t·r realin• the full potential harn·st from· this spel'il's that good game managt·menl c:alls for. To int·n•asl· tlw harn·st of roosters. the use of dogs in hunting sho11 Id hl· prornotl'd so that the loss of <:ripples ean ht· cut down: ,111 mc:reaw in the hag limits 11111st constant!) lw c:ons1<lerl'd a11d 1·,·ah1att•<l: a11d long1•r and perhaps split ·" ·asons should hl' set. ,\!arming to tl1c game m,rn,1g<•1m·nt 1woplt· has bt·1·11 tlw cl<·<-r<'a!->t' ol pheasant hah1tat ht•· ea11sl' of tl1t· cwhtant t·11t-road1nw11t of farming practin·:-.. To eomhat this diminishing of habitat, managenwnt has calll'd for the dc\elopnwnt of smalll'r land arl'as l'xch1si, ely for pheasant h,1hitat, t•spt·eially for nesting c:mer. It is known tl1at nwn· phl'asanb ca11 be c:unct·ntrated on small!'r arl'as of land if that land area is devl'lop!'d !>OlPly for pheasants. Thl' conu•ntrating of plH'asants will also makl' hunting easier and will H'st1lt in higlll'r han<•st figun•s ,\II the ahon· indicates that there is much that managPnwnt and rl'seMd1 c:an do to keep plwasant h11nting orw of Colorado\ top sports for al lc·ast thl' 11t·\t :W \ l'ars But to do it, tlw dl'partment must \)(' aflowecl to institute tlw programs it feels ,lrt' m•c.·essary to build up total, polt•ntial populations and to effect ma:1.1111un1, safe harn:-sts of pheasants. ,\ larg<' portion of the hurclt'n must fall on the public relations people of tlll' d<•partnwnt. On their skills, to a large degn•t•, will rest the succ:ess or failurt· of pht•asant n1.111agenw11t in Colorado for man\' , c·ars to c.·omc. Quail: ··n,e quail in Colorado present two prohk•ms, both of ,, hic:h can he soh·ed with adequatl· l'ffort and atll'ntio11. Quail populations, at pH':,t•nt , an• both underliarH•sted and 1111der<ll'\ doped-S:3,000 quail ,, l'l'l' taken during Color.1do's 19(i.'3 hunting season, or an estirnatt-cl ,50 1wr cent of lhl· numlwr that coul<l haH' bet·11 l1an·t·stl'll. There are tl11t·<· s11ggc•stions bl'ing; considPn•cl for i111plt•nwntation during tit<' coming yt•,us that should hring about gn•att·r t'ffic.-i<·11cy in q11ail 11rnnag1'llll'llt and hanTst in the futun·: 1. I111prm e thl' habitat h) artifil'ial nwans sud1 as g11ulers, ln11shy endosurl's. r!'\ting sl,elters and othl'rs. :2. Promotl' till' l11111ling of thb sportmg hird l'sp1·ciallj d11rn1g tlic• years of high pop11lation. Tlw l11111ter pn·ss11n' on this bird is considerahh- lwl<l\\ that ,, hich it could and should lw. · :3. Encouragl' and promote the ttSl' of dogs i1, quail h11nting. A great numhl'r of dow1wd birds an· m·n·r rt•con·recl by quail hunters. If \,·e can ad tic, e s11cc:ess in all three of these areas. q11ail hanests around the turn of tht· c:e11tun should he around 150,000 birds. Chuka~: Thl' chukar partridge 1s a relati,ely Ill'\\ game bird in Colorado, being first introd11cc·cl herl' in tlH• late l~HOs. The introduction of this bird probably has bce11 the most s11c(·<•sslul of an) species of game animal or bird in the state's histor1 from all \ie\\'points. II11nlmg s<·asons ha, e bt•t•n lwld on chukar!'> since HJ.5S. ll inh,il>ils an area that fpw if anv other ganw birds or ganw animals uw, the <l~y. arid call) on lands and it is a lrnt• sporting gaml' bird pn•s<•nting the hunter ,, ith a gr<'at challl'llg1•. II is too soon, actual!) , to pn·clict tlw future of this hird for ,,·ithoul compll'te information and data on tlw d1ukar. predictions for the futun• could pro\'e to l)(' highly c.-onst•n atiH' and therl'for<' nwaningll'ss 10 or :20 years from 11()\\', B11t th<'rl' an· some h,1sic: facts that w1• do know that indicatl' soml' procedurPs that must lll' lollm,·ed in the f11t11n• to impro,·e the managc·rnent of tliis species. First. ,, t· know that n·prod11c:tion of chukars is prolilie whl'n the fall and spring seasons prod11c<' good amounts of rain, and suhseq11ent growth of green grasst's, primarily dwatgrass. This is an almost inlallihle baroml'l<·r of chukar pop11lalion trl'nds. Therefore, in ~etting dmkar -22- �hunting seasons, the length of the season and the bag limits c:ould be determined basicall) on the amount of rainfall in the chukar an•as during the prccPding fall and spring. Since the rainfall is measurable, the hag limits and season lengths should always lw in accurate proportion to the number of birds to be found in the field. In this mamwr, we will he able to sd and hold the chukar seasons earlier in the war than at present. · \\'hc•n one considers that populations of this species can vary as much as -IOO per cent from good to had years, one can easily understand how important is the relationship hetwet•n rainfall, feed, reproduction success and populations. The second valuable pic•ce of knowledge ,,·e have of this bird is the definite detcnnination of its habitat. This allows us to c:learh· identify other areas in the state into which can plant chukars and kno,, they will becon1l' established. Alreadv identified .1re the lower \\'hite RiH•r area, the art'as southeast and southwest of Rangely, the \IcElmo and Yellow Jacket areas, Browns Park and tlw lower Yampa RiVC'r area east of Dinosaur ~ational \[onument. As pressures on this bird mount, we should he able to increase the chukar populations somewhat hy starting ne,\ flocks in additional portions of the generally identified areas during the ne,t few years. The stocking of the> remaining potential chukar range should he completed by 1965. A third very favorable factor in chukar production in Colorado is the fact that this bird encounters little or no competition for its habitat and food. Few other animals or b irds are to be found on the chukar's home range for few other forms of wildlife can sustain themselves in this hot, dry, baked-out country. Chukar are now found in \loffat, Rio Blanco, Garfield, \lesa, Delta, \lontrose and Ourav c:ounties. Some 2700 birds were taken b, hunters in 1963, far below the potential harvest. The low harvest figure is due mainly, to the difficult terrain in which the birds arc found. Contributing factors would include the general lack of information on the part of the bird hunting public about the chukar, its habits and how to hunt it; the actual difficulty in harn•sting the bird; and the fact that other bird seasons are held concurrentlv on other species which can be hunted in easier, more pleasant terrain. \[en engaged in research on this bird have also reported another fact about chukar that ,,e c:011ld bcc:onw an important part of a managt'mt·nt program for this species in the futur<'. Ch11kars, for some undctl'rmirwd reason, do \'ery ,,·1·11 in the first, second and third ve,lrs after planting in a nt•,,· area ..\fter the ·third year, 1·,1wrie11c:1• has :-.ho,, n the initial population influ, tn.1\' dPcn•ase and level off. Knowing ti1is then. ma11agenwnt c:an plan to stod-.. th<' birds and provide thn·<· years of e.\cdknt hunting. \\ hen the numlwrs drop, a ne,,· plant could he mack to proviclt' good hunting again for three mon• years. Lt ,,·01ild lw analogous with the put and t,1k1• stocking done with fish in Colorado's streams with onlv a tlu-t•e year span between rcstoekings. · Although this thH•t• year surge is not yet a proH•n them, hut mereh· tlw result of experienc:c• with tiie birds ow·r a rdath el, short space of time, it would appear to lw the basis for dt>termining this bird to he a highly cksirable species for Colorado and one \\ hid1 ,, ill lend itself admirahl: to rdined game management techniques that ,, ill lw deq_,Jopcd in the m·,t fe\\' ,·ears. Sage Grouse: Pt·rhaps the t,rn greatest problems facing sage grouse in the future in Colorado invoh·c rangt· management and information. Sage grouse, being a cyclic bird, inhabits between 6000 and :2000 square miles in Colorado in an, gh en year. It is t•stimated that there arc 9000 square miles of potential sage grouse range in the state. From this it ,, ould appear there is room for t>,pansion of this specic•s to )rovide greater numbers of the birds for Hinters. And this is true toda,. But consider this frighteni~g, limiting factor: Sage brush eradication, carried on hv the federal government and private lan<lowm:rs, is remo, ing 50 square miles of this potential range or occupic'd range each year. If this eradication continues at the present rate-and there is ewrv reason to believe that it will even increase for 'it is only in its e,perimental stages now-it means that in 60 years sage grouse habitat will be reduced to onlv that amount of habitat that is occupied today. Therefore, probably the most pressing job for managers in the future will be to get ke) areas of the sage grouse range withdrawn and its use dedicated primarily to this species. The hanest of sage grouse in 196.'3 was 16,000. Tim is about 50 per cc•nt of the potential harvest of the present populations. L' nder present conditions, it is believed that the present status of sage grouse, if the trend of disappearing range can be halted, is satisfactory to carry us as far as 1980. At that time, f -23- �if 111on• int<•nsi\ l' managenwnt techniques arl' applil'cl, suc:h m, l'nsuring an ad<·<p1at<• harvest of all flod,s in tlH' state, tl1<' species should ht• harv1•:-tablt· without limitations until 1990. After t·n•n with id1•al conditions. tht·ri· will ban· to lw a 11·, elli11g off 111 tht· lian est through n·str-it-th t' mt•asun·s to control hunting. Aflt•r that year, it is <·sti111atccl the population- of sage grouse in Colorado \\'ill lw able to stand no additional l11111ti11g pn·ss11n•s. Ont• of the n•aso11s sag1• grouse an• not har\'(•st1·d to tlll'ir full poll'11tial now is that som<· of 1111' pop11latio11s are found i11 n·moll' an·as of tire stall' to \\ hid1 l111nll-rs do not go 1111 0111• n•aso11 or anotlll'r. To soh l' tlris prohlt-111. lo11ger "'aso11s aml larger bag li111its should lw established for thest• rnon· n·moti-. 1mderl1an 1·sl<•d an·as. 111 addition , an·t'ss into th1•:-.1• an·as, \llllll' of \\ hi cir 1111• dosed h~ prh·all• land bl()(:kag1•. sl1011ld lw 01w1wd b} pmd1as1· or 1•as1•rn1·11t agn•1·1n1·11t. ,\ml finally. a11 i11lon11ation job is 1wcclt•d lo wll tilt' p11lilil 011 l1an1•sti11g tlll'st' hirds in all areas of tl1<· slate in "liid1 th1•,· an· fuuncl. 0111• prnbh-111 tl1at i11lormalio11 d l o;.ls can soke is tl1e puhlil' notion that tl11·s1• birch clo not make good <·ating. tlrat tl11·~ t,tst1· ol .sag1·. Y01111ger hinb make fi111· t•ati11g and do 1101 l1an· tl11• sag1• tast1· that the older birds mm· It.I\ l'. E, 1·11 lll!' oldv r birds ii c:ookC'd propc·rl~:. ta11 m,tkl' .t fi11!' dish Im th(' sportsman. Bluc Crom e: Thl' h l11<· grome is one of thl' pri1111' lmds 111 ( .olorado, difficult to hunt and almost compl1•tel~ 1111d1·d1an c·stecl today. Pop11latious arl' cydic:, allll in tl1l' higl1 pop11latio11 yt'ars t'o11lcl allorcl h1111t1·rs all tlrl' sport tlw~ "a11t. 111 acld1tio11, tire speci<•s could sta11cl all tll!' pn·ss111e• h1111t1•rs ean bring to !war. Tlii.s is partie11!.1rl} lrnl' if /(llll'S or rna11agt•11w11t units "e•n• established to distrih11t(' li'1111ti11g prc·ss11n· thro11gho11t th1· rang<' instc•acl of it hl'ing <·011fi11ed to thl' c111-rt•11th localin·d and 111on• a<-c<·ssihll' h1111ti11g ar<'as. · ',0111c· 1~000 hh1<' gro11s1• \\ <·n· lranest1·<l in (<JG3. \ccorcli11g to ganH· 111,uiagcrs ,m<l n•s1·ard1l'rs . this han t•st figm\' co11kl lw tripled "itlu1t1l damaging the s[)('tl<'s. Bhlt' grous<', "hosC' hallltat is locatl'<l in the tinrhl'rl'd areas of the hight•r countn . an• found Ill .rJ of Colmado's countil's. . Fo11r s11ggestio11s an· gin•n to inc.n•ase· the tak1· of this last\· game hird: I. J>ro\'ide ,ll'l~<·ss into the an·as of hl11<' grollSl' c:onn·11t ratio11s. 2. Pro,·idl' a split s1•aso11 one in August',<pll'mlwr and tlH' s1·c·011el in (ktoh<·r-~m emhl'r Thi-. \\Oulcl l'<>mh1111• tlw hh11· grouse sc•asm1 umo, en \\'ith otlwr seasons that hring the hunters into hlu<' grouse habitat. 3. Longt•r seasons. -l ,\ more inl<•nsi, l' public information program about this s1wciC's. If tlll'w four suggestions an• followed ullll th<' results arc as anti<:ipatcd, the u1rn·11t hlu<· gromc• populations should be ahk· to sustain hu11ter pn•ssurc•s .111d liarn·sh until 198.'5. II the han·(•st figure's stay proportionall'ly as th1·: all' 110\\' at aho11t one-third the potential, tlw species should need 110 s1wc:ial 111<111agl•111e11t u11til St'\"C'ral dl·<·adl's into the• ~ht ct•ntun·. If h,ir, <'st fig11n•s inn<•ast' as is ho1wcl by gan;t. 111anagc•111<·nt 1wopl<·. then intensi\(' rnanag<'nw11t lt·d111ic1111•s ,, ill hl' hro11ght to !war in th(' 19\0s. Sharp-Tailed Grouse: Littl1• is k110\\'n hy most hu111l'rs aho11t tlii, sp(·ti<'s of grnuw. \ltho11gl1 a spc•Lil's of 111i11or importa11(·c·, ganw n·s<·ardH'rs ha,T l1•,1111e·cl a gn·at lkal aho11t tl1is bird Tl,c bird is not lnmt<"d lwa, ih-, and it " not in clangl'r of e•,ti11dion at the• 1>rewnt tilllC'. Bel'at1s<' tll!' hircl li,·1·s in d('IISl' grass<•:-. and hrnsll\' arl'as i11 n·lativ1•l\ remol(· n•gions. Ill' is 1101 t,;o oflC'll SC'l'll hv tlw h11nl<'r, ' and \\'h('n S<'l'll may not lw nTogrn/cd for the hircl lw is. I 11 addition. ,di grouse· wasons arl' held conl'llrr(·ntl: so !.(rouse· h1111ll'rs in g1•1wral an• afl<'r th1· sag!' and hh1e grom1• and not tl11· sharp-tail I IC'ncc·. thl're is little eo11t('rn for the• \\'l'llh('ing of the• sharp-tailt·cl grousl'. Th<•, ar(' doing nil'!• l: "itho11t lwlp fron1 man <;r th<' l'Olll'<'lltratc·d altl'11tion of l11111t1-rs. Ilo,, t•,·c·r, this "ill not last. for th<' 11111 IIS<' of all S[WtiC's will h<• r<'q11ir<'d lo nw<•t all th1· demands of tlw Jutmc·. lh-cogni✓ ing this. ganw ma1rn1.w1111•nt all(l rc·search are llO\\' ,,·orking on man<1g<'lll<'11I tC'chniqucs for this hir<l. tcdmicpa·s that ,, ill lw tH'Pckd in tlH' futnrl'. ,\ n·nsus of all the• sharp-tails i11 tlw stat<' was h<'g1111 in th<' 1•arlv HJ IOs and \\'as n·s11111C'cl in HJ61 the first stagl' of which is to dC'n•lop an dfc•c'.tiH·. tt<·curate ml'thod of dl'lC'rmining pop11lation fignres It is ohdo11s that this spetic•s· popul,ttion c-an h<' intn•asccl, can lw hanest<·cl in greater n11rnhC'rs (<'stimat1·cl MlO in 1003), and will IP11cl its1•lf to more· int<'nsin· manag<'m<'nt l<'d111iq11c•s PtarmiS?;an : l h•rt· again is a species that is not har\'C:stl'cl to its fnllt•st. About 2.50 ptarmigan \\ ere taken in HJ6:3, a figure that is cstirnatl'd to lw about one-fifth of a reasonable· total han t·st of this hire!. To eff<•d a foll<'r hancst of this hird, thC'w s11ggl'stiom will lw ac:kd on: - 24- �l. Establish a season on ptarmigan earlier than at prl•sent so hunters can get into the high c:ountry bdon• the <lel'p snows arrive. :2. Set spec:ial seasons that <lo not conflict with the more popular grouse, chukar and early <leer and arc:hery seasons. :3. Public information program to popularize this bird which is fine table fare. Prairie Chicken: The prairie chicken, both the il'sser and greater, is a species in trouble in Colorado. It is in trouble because it is competing "ith agric:ulture and ranching for its habitat which is, ob\'iously. a losing battle. The prairie chicken needs tall grass grasslands for e\istence and there is practically no s11c:h thing in Colorado now. Other land uses han~ eliminated the tall grass from the rangt•. There is no hunting season on the prairie chicken now and there has not been one for many years .. \n<l to he realistic about it, there ,, ill probably newr he another unrestric:ted season held in this state on this species. If held. a prairie chicken hunt would most certainly he managed through a carefull~ controlled permit svstem. , To illustrate what is happening to the prairie chicken in dramatic terms, consider the following census figures taken only 10 years apart. ln 195:2, one bird per 3S acres density was reported and an m erage of :27 birds per booming ground \\ as found. ln 1962, one bird per land section densit} \\'llS reported and an average of six birds per booming ground ,,·as found. In 10 years, the prairie chicken population was reduced to about one-fifth of its 1952 figure. Intensive management with ne" techniques will be required in the years to come if this bird is not to disappear altog('ther from our prairie hm<ls. Hange practices must be changed in specific areas where the prairie chicken remains, a difficult task when one realizes that man will lw asked to give up a part of his livelihood in changing range use practices. \ lore realistically, it would appear that the only thing that can b<.• <lone by the department is to bur 11p some of the key range left and maintain the prairie chicken flocks in at least token numbers so the species will not become e\tinct in Colorado. Research information indicates that the minimum acreage to insure perpc•tuation of the species should be at least 40 acres per section. The species has' fallen prey to civilization and onlv uns<.•lfish efforts will maintain the prairie chicken in even token numbers. Exotics: One of the bright hopes for increasing hunting opportunities for sportsmen in the future lit·s in the field of introducing exotics, or those spPcies not nati,·e to Colorado. Pheasants. chukars and Hungarian partridge presently pro\'i<le 7,5 per cent of all game bird shooting in the nation and all three species ,, ere introduced to the United States as exotics. Colorado hunts ring-necked pheasants, chukars, Gambel's quail and bobwhite quail, all introduced birds. Introductions of the Spanish red-legg('cl partridge, coturni\ quail, and the California quail have been discontinued for it has been found that these exotics have no habitat in this state. Introductions that ,, ill he continued for evaluation inc:l11dc• the Hungarian partridge and c:oppt·r pheasant. To lw considered for future introduction will be the French red-legged partridge, Ilimalayan snm, cock (giant chukar of Ilunzn), Tinamou ( a grassland bird ), white-winged pheasant, sand grnuse and mountain quail. To forecast when each species might he established hen• is an impossible task. Consider that the following steps must first be taken hc·for<' an actual plant is made: 1. Locate vacant habitat. :2. Ernluate condition of vacant habitat. 3. Locate analogous areas in other parts of the world. -1. Study resident game birds in these analogous areas. ,5. Select species that appear suitable. 6. \ rrange to g<'t birds to United States. 7. Determine how to plant and manage the birds. The seven steps will take from 6 to 10 vcars to complete at which time the plants can' then be made. However, it is being proposed that the department begin the process on one species every two years. In this way, 10 species could hr evaluated and planted or discarded in 20 years or by 1985. The process of introducing C\otics is a time-consuming and costly one, and one that is filled with considerable uncertaintv. But it is also a process that holds great promise for future hunting generations in Colorado. Migratory Game Birds The field of migratory game birds is one in whfch it is not easy to define future department actions and management techniques for the -25- �regulation of these birds is done by the frdcral go,·en1rnent. Colorado's ability to manage these spc·t-it>s of birds lies mainh- in those arl'as that fit within the franH:,nirk oi the fech·ral limitations impow<l regionally on•r tlw United States. \lost ckparllm·nt efforts in th<· futml' for these s1wcies \\·ill im·ohl· thC' popularizing of the hu11ti11g of those hirds that are not a<lt•quatt·ly harn•sted now and thl' manipulation of the hu11ti11g seasons so far as frderal a·gulations permit. Do,cs: The hunting of mourning clml'S in ( :olm,1do should ht• ont· of the morc popuh1r sports for tlw rn1tdoor rcneationist. hut 1t 1s not. Tlw 11111nlwr of l11111tt'rS in till' fi<·lcl has :t\'l'nlgl'cl about IS,O()() sint·1• HJ.'56 and tlw han<•st li.1' 111ai11tai1wd a stead\' ratio to till' 11111nlll'r of l11111t<•rs. lll'lm, what it sho11lcl lw. It 1s lwlit·H·d that tlH' pn·ssun• 011 tl1is hinl. l1<1\\ t'\ c•r, \\'ill st1•aclil) imn·as1· as thl' pn·ssun· of com1wtitio11 for othl'r ganH' hircls 111ou11h. I lunkr.s ,, ill turn to tlrl' sporting 111011r11ing elm c· ,, hcn c:ompdition lon·1·s n·strid1011s 011 till' hnnting of otll('r birds. It \\'ill also m01111t stt•aclil)· as tl1t• puhli(' lw('onws lwttt•r inlornwcl ahout tlrl' methods of hunting dm es, the sport inn>h cd, th<' location of conce·ntrations and wlH-re• this S(W<'i<•s of bird fits into Colorado's ma11agt'ment picture. It is l'stimatcd that 1111d<·r prest'nt conditions ,, ith a11 op<'ning clatt' at th<' !><'ginning of St'pkmlH'r e•ad1 y1•,11, the populations of dm·e·s i11 Colorado at that timl' ,, ill IH' s11Hit'ient lo carr~· don• l11111ti11g 11p to HJ'i,5. l ' ndcr pn•s1•llt L·ondit iom. tlm t· populations in Colorado crndd stand an ,1dditional .50 pe·r l e•11t of tlw n1nc•11t Iran t'st figme of 13,,000 111 l!-)6:3 ,, ithoul li111ti11g tl1t• flocks in this state·. \s dO\ es an• migratory. thl'y ll'an· tlw stat<' dming tl1<· fall and their d1•partmc• is almost e·ompll'lcly triggned hy tlw ad\'t'lll of tll(' first ('old ,, t':tlher Lndc•r tlll'se conditiom. it is lwlil'n•d that tlw S1•pll'ml><'r opt'ning date• is too late• for tlH' sp1·c11·s in tlm state•. Data from n·se•ard1 sho,,·s that <>H·r per ce•nt of tlw birds ha, c· flm, n 011 into mon· southern stall's hy till' ope·11i11g of tlw sC'ason lwre. Tlwrdore, om· of tlrl• ohwc:tiq•s for th<' flt tun• b to con, illcl' tire l .S. State• D1•partnwnt a11d Fish anti \\ ildlifo Ser\'in· lo provide for all l'arli<'r opc·ning datt• 111 Colorado for hunting dm I'S t hrm1gh an anwndment to tire \I igratory Bird Tn•at\:. It is IH'lic•H·d that tht• opC'ning datc•s for 1:ad1 stat,· sho11ld he st't according to th<"ir climat1• so tlH' hunll'rs co11ld try for 0 oil tll('sc sporty hircls lwforc they migrate south ,, ith tire first cold s1wll. If Colorado can obtain an earlier op<'11i11g <lalL' (,\ 11gust 15 ,, 011ld lw ick•al) then it is e·stimatt'd that hunters co11ld tak<' up to ,560,000 don•s each n·ar without anv tl11c•at to tliP don· populations: This is most · ft•asihlt• since tlw don• has from two to thrl'e hroocls 1wr )'t'ar and can stand a s11hstantial, l'ffe•di\'l' hant'st e·ad1 season. Band-Tailed Pigeon: This is a .s1wci1•s of gallle· hird tl1at dt'part11w11t ga1111· 11ia11agc•rs and n·sc·arclr 1woplc• f1·e·I is c·rnnpll'le•ly \\'astl'd in Colorado Tlwn• is 110 l11111ti11g s1·aso11 011 thl' hand-taill'cl pigl'on and tlH'n' ha~ he•1 •n none• for mall~ ) l',ll'S. It is a 111mn1tai11 sp1·tws ol hird ,, lrich ma, 1•,ist in largn populations tl1,111 s11spPt It'd. Th;• pop11latiom of this spl't'H's fli1d11all' sl1arpl~ ,111d quilt' rapidly and tlll'y arl' frn111d mostly at tlw 11wd111m e·lt'\ atiom of thl' mo1111tain an•as. ~lud1 ,,ork m11st hi' clrnw 011 this spt'cit•s in Colorado ()('Ion· rt <'all lwnlltH' a lr1111tahl<• hircl and till' main l'l'(JUin•mt·nt is information. \\'e• kno\\' \<'ry littl1· ahrn1t tlw hand-tail!'cl pigl'on 110w. \\'1• need to know its habits , lift• c,-ck. ,, hat l'h·nwnts aff<'et it. its lll'sting n·q;1in·111e•11ts, food r<'q11irc•111e•11ts. and just \\'hat it is th,1t makt·s tlw populations I liwt11at1· so 11urkl'dh-. Once• tliis i11formatim1 has b1·<·11 gathen·cl. and this process is .iln·ach uncle•n,·m ·. th<' deparlnH·nt ('an cl<•, elop ma;1ag<•1111·11t t1•c:l111iq111·s ,, hidr ,, ill t·nhanc·c• thc spt•de•s in till' stall' a11d \\'ill 1·11ahll' it to lw adclt-cl to the list of h1111table gamt' birds in Colorado. At th<• pn•se•nt li111c•, hO\\<•,·t·r. 1t is a potential ga111<' bird hl'ing wast<·d It is hop<'d that ll\· ! 1)'iO, \\l' will lra\l' the nec·P.ssarv information l< > cl1·,·dop 111a11agt'111c•11t tedrn1q;1es and that st'asom 011 this bird can lw lidd in Colorado in tlw I f)'iOs Rail<; and Gallinules: Hails and galli111rlt•s an• speci1•s of marsldand birds \\'hiclr arc lo I)(' fo11nd in Colorado in h1111tahl1• mm1hl'r.s , ,,·hid1 an• opt'n to hunting 1111dl'r frclc-ral n•g11latio11s h11t which ar<' not harn·stcd in this state to any rC'asonahl<' ckgret•. This is hecause tlH'Y art' O\l'rshadO\n'd hv tilt' mourning don· as· a more popular gam;. bird, not many peoplt> kno\\' they e,ist in the stat1· or ,, ht'rt' in tire state tlwv can lw found, and the sl'ason on rails ancl gallinules c·omes at tlw same timt• as tlrt' gro11.s e sp1•ci1•s. \\'ilcl turk<•,·. t'arlv season eke•r hunts and the arc:l1c•n· wa~o;1 Tlll'-Y are lost in th<' sh11fflc•. · -26- 0 �Work in the future on this species will be centered around an information program that will educate the public to the availability of the species, how to hunt them and where to find them. Wilson's Snipe: Herc, again, is a species that exists in Colorado in huntable numbers but which is not hunted. A\'ailability of the snipe, how to hunt him and where to find him is information that is lacking and is the main work of the department in making this bird a popular hunting species in the future. The greatest hurdle to overcome here is the old wives tale about snipe hunting with a sack and flashlight and the practical joke aspect. The public, in general, doesn't really belie\'e that there is such a bird as a snipe and is reluctant to go snipe hunting for fear of becoming the butt of a practical joke. The hardest task to achieve in the future will be convincing the public that there really is such a bird as a snipe, that it docs exist in Colorado in adequate numbers to hunt and that the harvesting of the bird is an enjoyable and sporting experience. Migratory Waterfowl \ligratory waterfowl arc regulated by the federal government and can be managed by the individual states only within the framework provided by these federal regulations. In Colorado, however, there arc some techniques of waterfowl management that are not affected by the federal regulations. These in\·olve primarily increasing the number of birds in Colorado thus enhancing the waterfowl hunting season for more hunters each year. The establishment of resident flocks, manipulation of hunting pressures, establishment of special seasons in specific areas \vhen permitted by federal regulations and the management of waterfowl in Colorado on a flock basis rather than a flyway basis, are techniques of great promise. Colorado is well on its way toward management of its waterfowl by individual flocks under the maximum bag limits and hunting dates set by the federal government. The establishment of resident flocks has already begun. And the establishment of special seasons on specific areas has already been in effect for one year. Colorado is well on the way toward the successful management of waterfowl for the increasing number of waterfowl hunters in future vears. It i; important to the state that waterfowl management be achieved effectively and efficiently for it is one of the most popular forms of hunting in Colorado. It is so because the waterfowl resource appears in the state each year, attracted by the large bodies of water on the eastern plain sections of the state and because of the liberal bag limits of the Pacific flyway on the Western Slope. \\'atcrfowl hunting always will be one of the more popular forms of hunting in Colorado, and Colorado's game management techniques and personnel must keep it so in such a manner that it will exist for future generations. Ducks: Colorado's duck management program is moving toward the theory and practice of flock management rather than flyway management. Department research people see this as the only way in which the total duck population can be managed in an intelligent and thorough manner, harvesting or protecting the birds in areas where either approach is necessary. Concentrations of these birds, especially on the Eastern Slope, make the theory of flock management most desirable and feasible in Colorado. These birds, when migrating south, select Colorado's large water impoundments on the eastern plain sections as resting and feeding areas. In so doing, they divide themselves up into definite flocks that need different and individual management techniques. \\'hen this theory is put into practice completely, separate regulations, hunting hours, hag limits and other techniques of r<>gulating can be established for each flock depending on its needs. This can be done only within the framework of the federal regulations. But if the bag limit, for instance, allowed by federal regulation is high enough, then the bag limits for each individual flock can be set, provided that the highest bag limit docs not exceed that imposed by the federal agency. In this way, hunter pressure can be manipulated for it is now a proven fact that the duck hunter will go where the bag limit is largest, everything else being equal. In this manner, those flocks, in any given year, that need protection to build up, can be protected to allov,• this, while other flocks i11 the same given year that need harvesting to reduce numbers can also receive this kind of management. Put in simple terms, duck management can no longer be done on a flyway basis if we arc to manage efficiently the duck populations in this state. The techniques of man- -27- �agcment must be refined so that individual flocks can receive the attention they need and must have. It must be done on a flock basis. This will occur first on the Eastern Slope for it is here that the majority of ducks concentrate and where the majority of duck hunters concentrate. By the year 2000, it is expected that flock management \\ill have been achieved also on the \ \'estem Slope or that area of the state lying in the Pacific flyway. Flock management in the Pacific flyway \viii not be a difficult thing to accomplish for the bag limits there arc liberal enough nov,: to allow almost any, more restrictive set of bag limits for different areas of the Western Slope. The establishment of special seasons for specific areas has alread} been startl•d in Colorado. In 1963, the state had a special duck season in the San Luis Valley as approved by the U.S. Fish and \\'ildlife Service. The season was held in advance of the regular season and the hag limit was considerably more liberal than the regular central fly,rny season. The season was a success from the hunter's standpoint, and research has concluded after examination and evaluation that it was a success from the management and research standpoints. The federal agency has been requested to continue this special season. Because of the lessons learned in the special San Luis Valley season, the department is convinced that there are other areas in the state that would lend themselves harmoniously to this type of management. Information on which to base future requests for special seasons now is being sought and compilecl for the following areas of Colorado: '\orth Park, Middle Park and South Park. The information should be compiled and evaluated and the requests readied in no more than five vears. It is hoped that special seasons can then be established through federal regulations no later than 1975. To further enhance the populations of clucks that make Colorado a port of call during the migration season, management plans to provide protection and resting areas in key locations in the state. It is a fact that these types of management arc•as attract an increasing number of clucks year by year. Attempts will be made in the near future to inventory key water areas for waterfowl and an effort \\ ill be made to haH' them set aside for use primarily by waterfowl. The multiple use concept for these waters will be followed for it is possible, with intelligently devised and strictly enforced closure periods, to use the waters for fishing and other forms of recreation before the waterfowl arrive on their migration south. But primary concern in these areas would have to be for waterfowl and waterfowl habitat development. Thcr<• are a fe,v areas in the state in which this is already being done and more can be expected in the future. The addition of more species of ducks to the Colorado hunter's ba,g is also an object for achievement in the future. :\lrcadv, an effort is being made to provide a special, earlier teal season in 1965, and it is the belief of deparhnent men that this will be accomplished within the next several years. An earlier opening season date for this species will he required for most of these waterfowl have left the state h~ the opening of the regular cluck season. :\o species. howe,cr, will take the {lace of the mallard as the main component o any cluck flocks that come into Colorado. Land uses prevalent in the state and tlw adaptability of the mallard to change will ensure that he is alwavs the most common cluck in Colorado come the hunting season. Other things bl'ing considered to make the most eHicient use ot the cluck flights in Colorado include the following: 1. Ammunition development which would cut down or eliminate entirely the loss of waterfowl to lead poisoning. 2. Promote the use of dogs by hunters to eliminate a portion of the crippling losSl's or losses of- unretri<.'\·ed birds. 3. Education of the hunter to the proper and most efficient methods of hunting. 4 . \ \ ork on predator control under specific circumstances in specific areas. It has been found that specific methods of predator control in the nesting areas where large duck concentrations occur and only during the nesting period will result in greater nesting success and therdore greater populations of ducks surviving to fly south in the fall. Experiments ha\·e shown that where predator control was lacking, 30 per cent sur\'ival was the average hatching ratio. \\'here predator control was exercised, sun-ival rate climbed to 60 per cent. Colorado's inten•st in this type of management technique, then, would extt.•nd not only to its own nesting areas, such as in the San Luis \'alley, '\orth Park and the water areas of the high country, but also to the nc•sting areas of Canada's pothole coun- -28- �try, where cooperation with federal and pri• vate concerns in this approach could be instituted. Geese: In much the same manner as for clucks, flock management of geese is being planned for the future in Colorado, and in fact is already underway. There are five separate concentrations of geese in Colorado, and there are three different management approaches applied to these concentrations. The geese of the short grass prairie lands, the Western Slope and of the South Platte Valley arc managed on the general fly\vay stipulations. The geese of Moffat County, where newly established flocks exist, have a more restrictive hunting season and bag limit than exists in other areas of the Pacific flyway. And the resident flocks, established in the Fort Collins-Boulder-Denver triangle area, are protected to give the flock a chance to build up. So in actuality there is a flock management plan in Colorado that is already being carried out. It could be that in future years, different management programs would have to be applied to the three flocks that are being managed under general flyway regulations. Flock management of geese is, perhaps, more feasible than for ducks. Geese are creatures of habit, coming back to the same area year after year unless their habits are broken bv some traumatic occurrence. And geese lend themselves more readily to the efforts of management people. In the future of goose management in Colorado is the establishment of resident flocks in various areas of the state in which this type. of management is possible. Work on the establishment of these resident flocks is already underway and has been since 1958. Several flocks have been established and have taken hold in the Fort Collins, Denver and Boulder areas and this work is being extended year by year to other areas. The triangle formed by Denver-GreeleyFort Collins will be thoroughly exploited for the starting of resident flocks and their protection until they become adequately established during the next decade. Other places in which this work is to take place on a planned schedule are ;'\Orth Park where good water exists and where history has shown it to be a traditional nesting area for Canada geese, and ~foffat County where some resident flocks already exist with more to be established. Of promise for the future also is the pending construction of some large water impounding projects, such as the Narrows Project on the South Platte and several in the northwest section of Colorado and southwest section of Wyoming. Department biologists predict that if proper waterfowl management and development occurs in and around the Narrows Project on the South Platte River, the northeast could become the top duck and goose area of the state, perhaps greater even than the Two Buttes area of southeastern Colorado. The large water areas of the state, as they are created, will attract an ever growing number of waterfowl to stop in Colorado on their way south or even to settle here to spend the winter rather than wintering in the south. The future of goose management in Colorado is indeed a bright one, limited only by conditions on the northern breeding grounds of Canada and federal stipulations. The intelligent and effective management of the geese that come to Colorado is probably more feasible than for any other species of migratory wildlife in the state. Sandhill Cranes: The addition of sandhill cranes to the list of huntable birds in Colorado is one of the aims of game management. This bird appears in Colorado in great numbers but is restriced from the legal hunting list by federal regulations. The sandhill crane is similar to the goose in its migration habits and it is believed that it might be as susceptible to management techniques as are the geese. Their migration pattern is not so regular as the geese, however, and they sometimes do not stop over in Colorado on their way south. They have been found in Colorado in numbers up to 60,000, and should be able to sustain hunting pressures if allowed to do so. This species is hunted only in parts of Texas and New Mexico and only a few of them are harvested now in those areas open to hunting sandhill cranes. It is a good sporting species but it should be hunted to some extent in Colorado for the sandhill crane provides fierce competition to ducks for food in a number of areas of this state and is a species that causes serious crop depredation when left undisturbed. It is hoped that within five years this species of waterfowl will be added to the list of huntable birds in the state and that this waste of a natural wildlife resource will end in Colorado. -29- �;il;Ot'&--- ~ ... _...... ', Fish HE Fl1Tl'RE of fishing m Colorado presents a strange paradox. This state is knO\\.n as one of the fine trout fishing states in the nation and yet it is losing fishing streams faster than many states, acquiring fishermen on its streams at a frightening pace. The deIJartmC'nt's fish hatcheries are already geared to capacity production and there are practically no rC'maining hatchery sites in the state that will support production of the kind that is now needed. This all means that there arc some hard and fast decisions to be made soon concerning Colorado's fishing future. \\ ill we attempt to proYide all the fishing demanded by the public or will we convert to a quality fishing state stressing the sport of fishing with size limits, restrictions on methods of angling and a stress on return to the waters of fish not meeting size requirements. This is the first, most important and most difficult decision that has to be made. And this decision will ha,·e to be reached no later than 1975 and most probably as soon as 1970. The other decisions facing fish management ·will depend on which war it is decided that the state's fishing future \Vill goquantity or <1uality. It is the opinion of fisheries research people and also many management people that the sport of fishing should be stressed in the future. In other words, the decision to be reached should be to go the quality fishing route in the future and gear all Colorado's production, research and harvest to this end. T If the quality route is the path chosen, then much work has alread,• been clone hv hoth research and management m establishing, evaluating and drawing conclusions from this purist's approach to angling. Quality fishing, which includes fly fishing only or the use of artificial, single-hook lures, or both, is a reality in Colorado. Fly fishing only is permitted on stretches of the Roaring Fork, Rio Grande, Lake Fork of the Gunnison, and Conejos rivers and on Henson Creek. Flies and single hook lures only are allowed on stretches of the East River, Poudre River, South Platte River, Parvin Lake, Butts Lake, Bull Creek Reservoirs 1 and 2 and \\'oo<ls Lake. Originally done on a trial basis several } ears ago in these areas, the proiect is no longer in the experimental stage. It is no\, an established proven method of fishing that has met with the approval of the public that uses these areas. The extension of this type of fishing has met also with some opposition from those who would like to fish where they please and in the manner in which they please However, factors have been identified for determining what types of waters lend themselves to these types of quality fishing; operation of, and enforcement of regulations on these areas has also been tried and successfully proven; the qualities of not only the fishing but of the fish caught have also been proven. Quality fishing provides a possible answer to the problems looming in the future of a -30- �shrinking state fishery and an increasing number of fishermen on the state's waters. Quality fishing, which now has become a technique of fish management, insures that a stable number of fish will serve increasing numbers of fishermen up to a reasonable limit. With the fish more difficult to catch, fewer are taken by individual fishermen despite the established bag limit. A premium is put on skill rather than a big supply of revolving tin, shiny beads, an abundance of hooks and baits of all kinds. With the accent on the skill of the individual fisherman, the sport of fishing begins to evolve and supplants the desire for qua,ntity, or meat fishing. It has also been found after three years of evaluation of fly fishing only areas, that the fish, in general, coming from such a restricted stream after several years tend to be markedly larger than those coming from a similar stream on which any type of fishing is allowed. So the term "quality fishing" becomes a real truism, applying to not only the method of taking, but also to what is taken and who is doing the taking. Another refinement on quality fishing is the establishment of size limits. This is done now at Parvin Lake where most of the quality fishing experimentation has been carried out, Bull Creek Reservoirs 1 and 2, Butts Lake, East River, and the Roaring Fork River for all trout. It is done on stretches of the Poudre and South Platte rivers for rainbow trout only and it is done for Mackinaw at Deep Lake, Grand Lake, Twin Lakes and '.\:icholson Lake. In all cases except those applying to mackinaw, these size limits are on quality fishing areas. Because it is found that the mortality rate among hooked fish is lowest when using flies and single-hook lures, it means that a majority of the fish under the size limit are returned to the waters alive to grow bigger before they become keepers. This is the reason that quality fishing areas are now yielding larger fish, on the average, than other areas on which there are no restrictions. By extending quality fishing concepts covering all manners of taking to the waters of the state that support trout, a great strain can he taken off the state's hatchery production. It is even conceivable that some of the production could then be converted to supplement the warm water fish production for planting in the large bodies of water to be found on the plains areas. Actually, this would provide a compromise between the quality and quantity fishing concepts, for trout would be converted to quality fishing and warm water species would continue as quantity fishing species. To further enhance the quality fishing areas, stream improvement and preservation projects would be undertaken to not only ensure that the streams and lakes continue to exist as fisheries but that they improve as fisheries. It is also conceivable that a considerable portion of those anglers not included in the above two descriptions will convert themselves to one or the other. But it is also likelv that a large segment of the fishermen will be unhappy. As a practical matter, it is conceivable that public demand will dictate that the department follow the quantity path in the future. In this instance, public demands will exert heavy pressures and quite possibly will have the final say, for in the last analysis the department exists to serve the public and its needs. Another fact that may innuence the final decision in this area is that if the department turns to the quantity approach, it can still set aside areas, as is done now, for the quality approach to fishing. As has been mentioned, the establishment of "fly fishing only" or "artificial lures only" areas has met with approval in the state and definitely will be continued and expanded in the future. Before this final decision is reached, it must be determined what is going to be required to supply the amount of fish that the demanding public will require. Is it possible to meet these demands for quantity with our present methods of supply? The obvious answer is no for we are close to capacity in fish production with our present facilities and there are no possible areas into which fish production of any consequence can be expanded. How, then, can fish production be increased in Colorado? There is a development in its infancy that may provide the answer. This development is the search for a closed water system for hatcheries. In this system, the same water would be used over and over, being treated artificially between each use. In this area seems to lie the future hope for adequate hatchery production in many states and especially in Colorado where water is limited. -31- �Work on the closed hatchery system is being clone experimentally now by the State of California and Colorado research and management people are closely observing the results. Colorado, itself, will have to get into the development of the closed system soon, perhaps even before 1970. If this closed system hatchery can be developed, then the only limiting factor will be money, for the system will be expensive and the more fish required of the hatchery, the more personnel and equipment will be needed. It is estimated that if fishing revenue can support a hatchery production cost of $1.50 per pound, over double what it is now ( under $0.70 per pound in 1963 for the first time in history), then the development and operation of a closed system of hatchery operation are feasible. Fisheries revenues have never supported fisheries production completely nor is it likely to in a future geared to a quantit) production designed to meet the ballooning demands of the public. To partlv meet the financial demands that will arise in the future, some changl' in th<.> fishing license structure will he needed. To get into the development of the closed system, it has been suggested that Colorado develop such an installation at its \\ atson Lake Hatchery at Fort Collins. This is a hatchery that does not have an overahundancc of water but its physical set up would lend itself well to a closed water recirculation system. Two other possibilities that will come up for consideration in determining how to increase the number of fish available to fishernwn in Colorado are the purchase of hatchery site's in other states and increased purchases of fish from commercial raisers. At first, buying hatchery sites in other states seems to he rath<.>r ridiculous. On closer cxamiuation. however, this possibility shows considerable merit. Idaho, for example, contains unused hatchery sites with almost unlimited supplies of water. It would appear that a Coloradom,n<'d hatchery in Idaho could hatch and rear fish which would then he transported to Colorado for stocking purposes. To realize that this is feasible one has only to consider that this is precisely what commercial fish farms are doing now and have been doing for vears. Greater purchases of fish from commercial interests arc also possible. \\'e now purchase eggs and fish from commercial interests and so increasing these purchases is limited only by money available. \Vork in the field of genetics is one area that is lagging far behina. It is lagging far behind because of the preoccupation of all concerned with the problems of fishing pressures and how best to cope with them, how to tum out more fish and how to tum them out more economically. It is time to tum to the problems of improving the various species of fish now found in the state. It is reasoned, for instance, that kokanee salmon which mature in the fifth or sixth year are larger than those that mature at four years. \Vhy, then, should we not develop the species in our hatcheries to mature over the longer period of time. It is reasonable to believe that this can he done, for kokanee originally matured at fi\·e vears and through hatchery operations designed to meet the rising pressures from fishermen, a strain was dc\'eloped that matured at four years. Cannot the process he reversed so that we can raise kokanee that mature at five to six years. The difference between the two strains is startling and the larger, more matured fish is highly dPsirable. Some method of altering the trout's reproductive organs or the effecting of sterilization could he developed so that fish could grow to a larger size in a shorter period of time. If such a method could be found, the food a fish cats each day would all go to growth whereas trout normally use food for growth until reaching maturity and then the food C'nergy is divided between growth and reproduction. \\'hen considering the above, of course, it must he recognized that only a small per cent of the fish species in Colorado could be so treated for a large percentage would ha, e to he retained in normal physiological condition to maintain breeding stock. Another area of genetics that could be explored would be selective breeding of fish to produce strains that would improve the individual species and also Colorado fisheries in general. In fact, the whole field of animal husbandry as it could he applied to the world of fish should he investigated, not just the one area of selt>ctive breeding. One of the great needs of fish managemC'nt at the present time is the development of methods for gathering adequate ancl accurate information about pressures of fishermen in all parts of the state. This information would then become one of the main tools -32- �of management. At the present, most lakes and streams in the state are either understocked or overstocked. With the proper information available, it would be possible to stock properly each body of water so that fish would not be wasted and so that some waters would not receive inadequate numbers of fish to sustain the pressures to which they are subjected. The selection of applicable management techniques and methods, too, is dependent on accurate pressure information. Another area of concern that can be dealt with now is the intensive management of fishing waters to result in maximum yield. For example, fish stratify in the waters of large reservoirs and lakes. That is, different species use specific levels of water depending on temperatures and food content. Many strata of water are not used for lack of a species that will inhabit it or become acclimated to it. If we can find game fish that will use the unoccupied strata in our reservoirs and lakes, we can use more fully our resource to the benefit of fishermen. Another problem of full utilization of a resource concerns the lack of adequate numbers of predator species in our warm water fisheries. \Ve have an abundance of prey species such as gizzard shad, yellow perch, minnows, green sunfish, etc., but lack sufficient predator species to make use of the prey species of fish. Such fish as northern and walleye pike, large-mouthed and white bass and channel catfish are present in our waters but not in sufficient numbers. An investigation of new predator species that could be introduced into Colorado warm waters is underway. Being considered are muskellunge, yellow bass, small-mouthed bass and sauger. Another management technique that needs more development and which will become increasingly vital to good fish management is the method of pressure manipulation. It is important to fish management that waters are not overfished and also important that they are not underfished. To achieve this, the pressures must be shifted about to gain the maximum pressure that each body of water can reasonably support. This manipulation of pressure is a technique usually involving the information arm of the public relations set-up. However, there are probably other methods that could be devised, refined and employed to achieve this purpose. Finding these methods and learning how to use them is a task that must be done 9uickly in the near future. The elimination of water pollution in Colo- rado is also a problem that needs solution in the near future. The enforcement of antipollution laws, the education of industry and commerce to the theory that waters should be kept clean for its many other uses and work toward more stringent laws governing pollution are some of the areas that can be attacked now. Another theory put forth concerning pollution is that it will eventually take care of itself. The reasoning goes this way. As water becomes scarcer in Colorado, public opinion and reaction will force the commercial interests to keep the waters clean for domestic uses. As water becomes even scarcer, industries will have to go into closed water systems such as is proposed for the department's hatcheries. When this happens, the problem disappears. This will occur when the closed system is cheaper to sustain than the cost of polluting the waters. An aspect of fish management that is facing the department is the inevitable change from the trout fishing approach to warm water fishing. This is being brought about by circumstances beyond the department's control but it is a development that must be anticipated and planned for. Trout fishing waters, which include the streams, rivers and high country lakes, are disappearing at an alarming rate as huge reclamation projects convert them into reservoir waters. Already the Gunnison River is doomed and 18 miles of it will cease to exist by 1966, replaced by the huge Blue Mesa Reservoir of the Curecanti Project. Other projects being planned or underway will continue to remove trout river fisheries. Looking to the future realistically one must accept the fact that warm water fisheries will have to take the place of what is lost from trout fisheries. This means that management will have to devote a major share of its efforts, money and thinking to warmwater species and their development and mirnagement and less and less to trout. One thing that can be done to replace some of the lost trout waters is to convert a number of reservoir waters for trout management. A number of these bodies of water in the near vicinity of large population concentrations are convertible to trout fisheries and this should occur within the next five to ten years. A number of reservoirs between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs would lend themselves readily to this conversion. One serious threat ominously hangs over -33- �a decision to tum to mass hatchery production to provide the number of fish required by all fishermen rather than restricting so that the number of fish available are shared by all fishermen. This threat, and it is considered a very serious one, is a disease that has been detected in hatcheries of three states and about which very little is known. It is called Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis, a virus disease found in fish that is fatal and extremely contagious. One fish can infect a whole hatchery and when this disease is detected in a hatchery, the only solution known at the moment is to kill and bury all the fish from the hatchery, thoroughly clean out the installation and disinfect it before starting over with production. The disease can not be detected in its early stages, as it is identifiable only after the fish shows visual signs of it, the visual sign usually being a dead fish. This means that it cannot be detected in a shipment of fish before they are placed in the hatchery, only after the hatchery has been infected. The disease, eventually, is almost 100 per cent fatal to fish although it has no effect on humans. t-.laking the picture more ominous is the fact that it is not known how the disease is transmitted. In the long run, there is no reason to believe that science cannot come up with a cure for this disease and a method of preventing its infection of whole hatcheries. But this type of research is time-consuming and expensive. It has not yet occurred in Colorado hatcheries, but if we are realistic about it, we can expect it sooner or later for there is no way to avoid undetectable, infectious fish entering our hatcheries. Every precaution is being taken to avoid this here, but there is no assurance that these precautionary methods will be successful. In looking at the future of Colorado's fisheries, let us touch on each species of significance to be found in state waters, on those fish recently introduced and on those fish which will be introduced in the next ten years. Rainbow Trout: This species is the backbone of the Colorado hatchery program. It seldom reproduces naturally but is a desirable game fish that is very adaptable to Colorado waters. Therefore, hatchery trout production is given over almost entirely to rainbow trout. Brown Trout: This species is well estab- lished in Colorado and maintains itself by natural reproduction. It is a desirable species of game fish for it inhabits the larger streams and rivers and lakes and grows to large sizes. It is a favorite with fishermen for it is a difficult fish to catch. It will continue to be a prime species of game fish in Colorado at no significant cost to fish management or research. It is mainly vulnerable to habitat failure and pollution. Brook Trout: This species of trout needs little assistance from research or management for it reproduces itself prolifically and often to its own disadvantage. Brookies will continue to supply pan fish in mountain lakes and headwater streams for many years to come in Colorado and it could become a most important fish in reservoir management. Cutthroat (Native) Trout: Natives supply about two per cent of the total trout harvest in the state. The species can be reestablished in many of the state's waters "vhere it formerly was found, if this is determined to be desirable. It is reasonable to suppose that this will be desirable for at least some of the state's waters for this is a good game fish that supplies the fisherman with much sporting challenge. However, the native, if it is to he maintained or even expanded in Colorado, will need protection to a considerable degree. Mackinaw (Lake) Trout: The excitement of an occasional large fish caught will keep this species alive in Colorado and the object of a certain segment of fishermen. This fish will probably be maintained in tl1e waters in which it is now found and perhaps introduced into a few more, but it will never become a popular game fish like the rainbow for it is hard to catch. It must be fished deep in the cold strata of waters in deep lakes except early in the spring as the ice leaves and the top waters are still cold. However, if conditions should change and it becomes desirable to spread this fish to other waters in the state, this can be done for experiments conducted by research already have proved that it can be done and how it can be done. Kokanee Salmon: This species provides management with its best hopes for sustaining heavy pressures on the higher cold water reservoirs. \\'hen waters cannot maintain high populations of rainbow trout, they can maintain high numbers of kokance. Because of its peculiar life habits and life cycle, kokanee -34- �provides the fisherman \\11th two types of fishing, the regular type and the fall madness known as "snagging." There is much that can be done with this fish according to research and it is believed that it can be artificiallv altered to become a most desirable game fish from the angler's viewpoint. This has been discussed above when touching on the genetic improvement of fish in the future. Whitefish: Whitefish receive only limited acceptance now, for reasons unknow~ to management and research. It is anticipated, however, that as pressures increase and hatchery production falls behind demand, the acceptance of whitefish as a game fish will increase. It is mostly limited to the drainages of the \\'bite, Poudre and Yampa rivers but should and could be extended to other areas. Fishermen, not acquainted with the whitefish now, on catching one throw it away thinking it to be some form of trash fish. An education and information job is needed to bring this species to its deserved place on the list of popular game fish in Colorado. Northern and Walleyed Pike: These species are most important ones in Colorado both from the angling standpoint and from management too. They are the most effective predator species we have in our warm water fisheries and are much needed to make effective use of the prey species found in the same waters. They are becoming more and more popular with the angler as game fish and should be extended to other warm water lakes of the state. These fish must be hatchery raised in Colorado for there is no natural spawning habitat for them. They require marshy areas in which to spawn and hatch, and these areas do not exist in the flat-land areas. If hatchery production cannot keep up with demand for these fish, marshy areas could be developed for the pike, but presently, hatchery production is surer and cheaper. ~fanagemcnt of these fish, according to research, should never be mixed with trout management for the pike feed on trout. Crappie and Large-,touthed Bass: Thest' two species are to be found in almost all our warm water lakes and reservoirs east of the foothills to the Kansas border. They provide excellent to fair fishing depending on the time of vear and can sustain enormous amounts of fishing pressure without help, for they reproduce naturally in great numbers. Perch and Bluegills: ;\'o or Httle management is planned for these fish in the future for they require little. Despite lack of attention, they will continue to provide fishing opportunities for many fishermen indefinitely and in increasing numbers. Perch, however, should be kept out of trout waters for they are detrimental to that species. Silver Salmon: Just introduced into the state in 1963, little is known of this species. Some states have successfully landlocked this salmon and it is hoped that this can be accomplished here, too. It is nahirally a migrating fish but it is not inconceivable that through work in genetics a strain of the silver salmon could be produced that would adapt its life cycle to these waters. To do this, however, a dependable source of supply of silver salmon eggs must first be found. So far, this has not been possible. Golden Trout: The eggs of this fish are verv hard to obtain and suitable waters are hard to find for they are very limited in Colorado. One problem with this species is that in planting it in a lake, all other trout species must first be eliminated from the water. Although some were planted in Colorado waters in 1963, even a small supply of eggs with which to sustain and build up populations of this fish are highly improbable. There is little chance that the golden trout will become even a minor game species. Muskellunge: This species is not yet found in Colorado \vaters but work is being done to prepare for a trial introduction. If an adequate source of eggs can be found, an experimental program on muskies soon will be undertaken. Sauger: Here again is a species that is not yet found in Colorado waters but most probably will be in a few years. The sauger has been successfully introduced into waters similar to Colorado's reservoirs in other states When established, the sauger will provide Colorado fishermen with a good game species that grows to considerable size. The sauger closely resembles the walleyed pike and it usually takes an expert to ilistinguish between the two. Sacramento Perch: This is another species that will soon be found in Colorado. It is a fish that can lh·e in alkaline waters such as are found in the plains areas. -35- �The Whole Problem T HE RESOURCES of the world, irreplaceable, limited and precious, are caught in a struggle, political and powerful in nature, between two unequal entities, one intent on "making the earth bald before its time," and the other just as intent that this shall not happen. On the one hand is the incredibly enormous and ever-increasing mass of people whose demands are subjecting the natural resources of the world to powerful, unreasoning pressures that cannot much longer be withstood. This entity is composed of those who would gain possession of these resources for profit and those who demand use of these resources for personal pleasure. Both elements are forcing the natural resources of the world toward inevitable extinction, a destination fearful to contemplate but one toward which man is racing at a constantly accelerating pace. On the other hand is a growing band of conservationists intent on preserving as many of these diminishing resources as possible. The conservationist side is made up of three different entities. They are: l. Conservation-minded commercial interests that trade in natural resources or their byproducts. Their conservation practices, originally designed to maintain their wholly-owned natural resources in a constantly renewable state, now include the multiple use concept for the benefit of the public. 2. Conservationists who are charged with the management of the country's natural resources in the name of the people. This group calls for the use of resources in such a manner that the rate of replenishment by nature or man is equal to the rate of use to which they are subjected. 3. Preservationists who advocate the absolute protection of our natural resources in their natural, primitive statP unaffected by the presence or manifestations of man. It is to the conservation side that most people charged with the responsibility of managing resources belong, for to the management people falls the responsibility of seeing to it that these resources exist in sufficient quantities to be enjoyed hy al1 those who wish to, not only today but also in the infinite future. It is obvious, then, that the theories of all three factions of the conservationist group have a place, in varying degrees, in the common goal of preservation of natural resources. This struggle between those who would overuse and destroy natural resources and those who would wisely manage them for the use of all is not a recent development. It has been going on since man first discovered that he could use natpral resources in one way or another. But in Colorado all the harsh aspects of this struggle are evident for anyone who wishes to look about him. Colorado is young as a state, just about one century old. It is a state endowed with all the natural resources one could hope to find in one area. It has mountains, plains, rivers, lakes, streams, heavy timber, sage brush country, dry canyon lands and snow-capped peaks. Although blessed with all these natural resources, Colorado is a state that is losing its natural attributes at an inescapable and steady pace. ~Ian, with his earth mover and concrei:e mixer, is tearing out the habitat of the game animal, bird and fish, and covering it with a sterile, indigestible apron of unreasoning progress. His bulldozers are tearing out roads in the wild, unspoiled areas forcing the wildlife into an ever-diminishing range. The mountain stream is being dewatered to fill the lowland reservoirs, and the lakes have water levels that fluctuate, killing the natural reproduction of fish. The character of the landscape is being changed by killer sprays, heavy chains, disc and harrow, motorscooter and jeep. The demands of the population pressures that have struck Colorado with such terrifying force are pushing wildlife steadily back into the remoter areas whose boundaries even now are shrinking. Outdoor recreation facilities are greatly overcrowded and overused, grazing lands overgrazed, pollutants contaminating more and greater stretches of water and natural habitat is disappearing under fire, water and concrete. Concern for the outdoor future of Colorado is growing and those groups and agencies involved in the management of Colorado's out- -36- �door facilities and resources are predicting a dismal and unhappy future if intelligent and effective management measures are not instituted quickly and firmly. It is in this atmosphere of concern for the future of outdoor recreation in all its forms and a determination to develop wisely and effectively ways and means of halting the journey down the path to extinction that the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department has taken "A Look Ahead." A Look Ahead is not the work of merely one person but rather the work of many. One person, the author, was merely the cataloger. compiler, arranger and reporter of the information given him. This publication is the work of many in the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department who had the courage and concern to gaze into and predict the future and to call on their imaginations in forseeing future problems and solutions. It is to these men that the credit must go. In many cases, this involved a conflict with conscience for most of these people are engaged in wildlife research and management, trained only to deal with specific, statistical ponderables. The author can express only his appreciation and admiration for these persons who laid aside the disciplines of their training for a moment to delve into the intangibles of the future. For whatever value is derived by each individual who reads this publication, credit must go to the following department men: The Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Commission, which authorized this publication; Harry R. Woodward, Director of the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department whose determination it was that this story needed telling; Robert Elliott, Assistant Director for Management; Lawrence Riordan, Assistant Director for Research; George O'Malley, Assistant Director for Parks and Recreation; \Vayne Sandfort, Game Research Chief; Howard Tanner, Fish Research Chief; Gilbert Hunter, State Game Manager; Wayne Seaman, State Fish Manager; Richard Denney, Assistant Game Manager; lack Grieb, Assistant Game Manager; Haro cl Swope, Principle Game Biologist; Don \Vest, Parks and Recreation Planner; and Charles Hjelte, Publications Chief. THE WHOLE PROBLE~l "If a man walks in the woods for the love of them . . . for half his days, he is esteemed a loafer; but if he spends his whole day as a speculator, shearing off those woods, he is esteemed industrious and enterprising - making the earth bald before its time." Henry David Thoreau his "Journal", 1953 -37- �The 1963 Report of the Colorado Game Commission Organization The policies un<ler whic:h the Came, Fish and Parks Department operates are set by a ten-man commission. The hunting, fishing boating and parks regulations arc also set by the commission. Previous to July l, 1963, the Ganw and Fish Dc-partment's commission consisted of eight mcmhers, eac:h representing a district of the state. \\"ith the merger of tht· Game and Fish Department with tlw Parks Department, hy an act of the State Legislature, the three-man parks commission was dissolved and two additional commissioners were appointed to a nC'w Came, Fish an<l Parks Commission. These memhers were appointed by GO\crnor John A. LO\e to represent the state at large. The governor is an t·x-offic10 member of th<· t·omrnission. Laws gon•rning the appointrn<"nt ,tncl terms of commissioners wen· abo changed at the timl' of tll<' nwrgl'r. This \\·as <lone to provide an equal opportunity for each politieal party to he fairly represented on the commission. As tlw terms ran pn·\·iously, th<' lt•rms of hn> Re-publicans or two Democrats would expire at the sanl<' time and it \\ as mandatory that members of tlw sanw party he appointed to sm·c:c.•c.•d them. Terms of the commissioners, beginning in 1969, will he for four years instead of the previous six y<'ars. Terms will lw staggered so the terms of two Repuhhc:ans an<l two Democrats will expire at two year inten als after that. \. o pl'rson may he appointed to succeed himself for rnorl' than ont• t<·rm and no mort' than four of the commissioners rnav he of the same political party. , The commissioners rec:t'ivl' no t'<>mpcnsation for their wrvict•s, hut tht•v are t"ntitlecl to reimhurwnwnt for ,Klual expenses incurr<"cl I)\ tht•m dm.ing the discharge of their official clutirs. , The Commission :',I El\ Ell'\ HE::SHIO\\· Aec;csn.:., P 11.,,s Bon lhsnR1c:K, Prcsiclt-nt Vice-Pn •.,frl1·11t D"trict i Delta Di,trid l D1·nn·r S1-crt·tarr1 Oi,trid 3 Burlini:ton -38- Ho:sALO II. STR.<11u: .\frmbcr At Lar~e Ft. Collins 0REST CERIIAZ .\Iember At Lar~e A,pt•n �fish and Parks Department Department Organization The Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department, in its operation and planning, is guided and administered hy the director ,, ho is responsible to the commission. The director of the department administers six distinct areas of operations ... game and fish management, game and fish research, parks and recreation, 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 Rsh manager, chief of law enforcement and four regional game and fish managers. The parks and recreation program is headed by an assistant director who administers the parks and recreation program throughout the state. 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 live area supervisors who in turn supervise the wildlife conservation officers, fish culturists and other Reldmen within the region. Each region also has a parks manager. Wildlife research is headed by an assistant director for research "ho 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 400 employcs in the Game, Fish and Parks Department. The following pages contain the dhisional reports on the department's operations for the calendar year 196,3. The parks operations, however, have not been included as these operations were not a part of the department until July 1, 1963. ~1uch of the merger accomplishments have been included in the section on parks in A Look Ahead. p ARKER SOOTER .\!ember District 5 Alamosa HvcH£S ,\ !ember District 6 '\orwood ~1AR~HALL Rov ECKLE~ .\Iember District 4 Lamar -39- H. AVGl:ST .\fem/Jer District 2 Brush \\' JLUAM C. !\1. Ft:RSEA\/X Member District 8 Walden �Management T OOKING AHEAD in game and fish m~nLJ agement and attaining successful hunting and fishing programs depend upon many things, not the least of which is sound legislation. Operation of the department is dependent upon the state general assembly for approval of funds and proper statutory authority to carry out the wise management of Colorado's wildlife resources. In 1963, the 44th General Assembly enacted over 30 bills concerning the commission and the department. This legislation ranged from changing the statutes regarding tagging of big game to authorizing purchase of new office and warehouse buildings and merging the Parks and Recreation Department with the Game and Fish Department. In the years to come, changes in the laws must be achieved to keep abreast of the changing times and the ever-demanding hunting, fishing and recreation-minded public. Imminent development of recreational facilities at the Curecanti and Navajo impoundments will have considerable impact upon fisheries and game management. A first for Colorado occurred in 1963 with the special experimental duck season in the San Luis Valley October 1-18. Waterfowl hunters were provided this early shooting through com- Game Management H E HARVEST of mule deer and elk in Colorado in 1963, makes this state one of the top three in the nation, and it is very possible that our harvest of both is tops in the nation. Deer harvested totaled 147,848, and elk 12,120. Considering the extremely dry weather that was experienced in 1963 in this state, as well as other western states, the harvest of both deer and elk was remarkable, as it is the highest kill of both deer and elk in Colorado history. A definite trend in out-of-state hunters was noted in the increase of California sportsmen. For many years, Texas has been the number one contributor of out-of-state hunters. However, in 196,3 California exceeded Texas by some 4640 hunters. License sales continued on the up trendparticularly nonresident licenses. It is helived that the kill of antelope will remain very constant, between 4000 and 5000 T bined efforts of department personnel and biologists of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. The teamwork of research findings and management control will do much to enhance waterfowl hunting in Colorado. The 1963 big game season shattered records, with the deer and elk harvest surpassing previous years. An experimental season was proposed for hunting hen pheasants in northeastern Colorado during the fall of 1963. Due to opposition from landowners, who control access in the counties set up for the hunt, the season was withdrawn. An accomplishment of interest to most sportsmen was the completion of a new memorandum of understanding between the Game, Fish and Parks Commission and the U. S. Forest Service through the Regional Forester in Denver. This amounts to an agreement of what each organization will do regarding fish, wildlife and recreational resources in Colorado. The memo can be construed as an instrument of trust, and it establishes the basis for sound wildlife management in the national forests of this state. Robert Elliott Assistant Director, Management animals, and the same thought exists relative to bighorn sheep. The bear kill is quite variable, and this primarily is due to the weather conditions experienced during the big game season. It would appear that in the future, about the same number of bear will be harvested as in the past. In regard to turkey, we are not harvesting the full potential of our crop, and the turkeys are taking a wasteful loss due to natural causes. Possibly a spring gobbler season will increase the hunting pressure to a point nearer the amount desirable. In the very near future, it would appear that we will be able to have a very limited mountain goat season, as the transplanted mountain goat herds seem to be doing very well. In the over-all picture, our deer and elk herds, as well as other big game, experienced a mild winter. As a result, the winter loss was below normal. Duck seasons were generally improved over the previous year as a result of some re- -40- �laxation in hunting regulations. The San Luis Valley experimental season was highly successful both in terms of hunter participation and harvest of mallards. Although there were fewer than normal hunters in eastern Colorado, average seasonal bags were only slightly down from other years , ...·hen limits were higher and seasons longer. Hunting was good in Colorado, and duck populations average and well distributed. The West Slope enjoyed a longer season with more liberal bag limits, but nevertheless, harvest was below normal in this area mainly because of a continued low number of participating hunters. The harvest of Canada geese showed an upswing in the state last year. This was the result of an increase in hunters and in average season bag over the previous year. Geese were in normal numbers with increases noted in the Fort Collins area. Birds in the major hunting area of southeast Colorado were well distributed which appeared to improve harvest over past years. Hunter pressure and harvest for pheasants, quail and rabbits showed a substantial reduction in 1963 as compared to the eight-year average. Doves sustained an increase in hunters, but a small decrease in the dove harvest from the average was noted. Sage and sharp-tailed grouse showed a downward trend in hunter pressure and harvest. while blue grouse, ptarmigan and chukars showed a good increase in hunter pressure and harvest over the average. State statute provides that damages done to private property by protected wildlife will he paid for out of the game cash fund of the Came and Fish Department if the claims prove to be n1lid and substantiated. The Came Damage Control Section of the department investigates each claim submitted 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. Tlw Came 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 $17,656.90 was paid by the Game and Fish Department to private property owners for damage done to their property by protected game in 1963. The number of claims filed totaled 44, of which 40 were allowed and 3 were denied and 1 was tabled. The damage claims fell into four main categories- deer, elk, bear and beaver. Deer caused the most claims to be filed , while the beaver caused the least trouble. The number of beaver trapped by department personnel was about the same in 1963 as 1962, while the number trapped on private lands increased over previous years. It has been the goal of the department to shift the business of trapping beaver from the department personnel to the private trapper, a goal which is near attainment. In 1963, 1315 beaver were trapped by department personnel; 6811 beaver were landowner trapped at the same time. In all, 9842 beaver were taken in 1963 by all methods. an increase of 2400 over the previous year. The legislature changed the law in regard to the selling of beaver. We now have authority to sell heaver in the round. This means it is not necessary to skin and stretch. This has been quite an incentive to both state and private trappers to take heaver. In 196.3, field personnel spent a total of 19,249 hours working on beaver, predator and fur problems .. A total of $6945.65 was realized from the sale of pelts resulting from the taking of beave r, predators and other furbearcrs. Gilbert ~. Hunter Fish Management Hatchery production remained steady with an increase in trout plantings from 14,955,000 in 1962 to 16,350,000 in 1963. A total of 23.000,000 fish of all species weighing l ,26.'3,000 pounds was planted during the year. (See table for sizes, pounds and numbers). Silver salmon eggs were obtained from Alaska and after hatching and rearing to three inclws were planted in Granby and Skaguay reservoirs and ~tounment, San Cristobal and L'RI:'\G 1963 the fishing license sales of various categories totaled over 440,000. The vear round fishing season was continued and fishing regulations remained virtually the same as those in force in 1962. Special "flv and lure onlv" waters were continued with sc,·eral addition·s. These waters are becoming increasingly popular. D State Game Manager -41- �Total Fish Distribution 1963 - All sizes, All species 3" - 6" Under 3" Lbs. Cold Water Species \Vann Water Species Total Both No. Lbs. Over 6" No. Lbs. 22,847 10,606,566 9,118 949,626 348 6,120,161 3,174 445,027 2.3,195 16,726,727 12,292 1,394,653 No. 1,210,426 4,794,26.3 17,390 Totals Lbs. No. 1,242,391 16,350,455 101,617 20,912 6,666,805 1,227,816 4,895,880 1,26.3,3().3 23,017,260 Parvin lakes. The progress of these fish will be watched with interest to see if they grow well in our lake environments. Plantings of smallmouth bass were made in the lower Animas, Colorado and Green rivers for the first western slope river stockings of this game fish species. Rainbow trout were also planted in the Green River in Brown's Park. '\ow that Flaming Gorge Reservoir in l'tah is completed, the clear water releases below the dam should provide many miles of new trout river fishery on the Green River. Fish management fielcl crews seined 211,100 pounds of fish as follows: 14,140 lbs. suckers (destroyed); 170,435 lbs. carp (destroyed); 12,800 lbs. warm water game fish (planted oth<>r waters); 13,725 lhs. ·wann water game fish (held for future planting). Spawn-taking operations yielded 18,000.000 eggs as follows Kokance-7,000,000; Cutthroat - 1,500,000; Rainbow- 500,000; Brook- 500,000; \\'alleyt•-8.500,000. Surplus kokanee eggs were traded to other states (California, Oregon, Arizona, \linnesota, :\lanitoba) for supplies of mackinaw, rainbow, kamloop, northern and walleye eggs. Field cn..•,.,:s also installed 50 tons of material in reservoirs for fish slwlters. One water was c.:hemicallv treated for weed control and one rehabilitated with rotenone. Lake construction for the year resulted in two m·w lakes and reconstruction of three existing lakes. The new lakes are 66 acre \"orth .\lichigan Lake in Jackson County and 87 acre Ralph L. White Lake in \foffat County. Reconstruction, including dam repair and height inc.:reascs, occurred on 65 acre Haviland Lake, La Plata County; .51 acre Lake Irwin, Gunnison Countv; and 106 acre ::\orth Lake in Las Anima.~ Countv. Hatchery ~epairs and constrnction were clone at the Chalk Cliff. Crystal River, Durango. '\orth Fork Thompson. \fount Shavano, Finger Hock, Pitkin and the new Watson Lake units. \V. R Seaman Stale Fish .\lall(lger Law Enforcement rccl'i\'!•d honorable mention and placed among the top ten in the Hunter Saftey competition. The awards arc present<'d by the International Association of Game. Fish and Conservation Commissioners Convention. In 196.3 the Hunter Safety program trained 6.528 students and 360 instructors. The sale of resident and nonresident small game hunting licenses. resident and nonresident big game licenses all showed an increase in 196.'3 over the prPvious year. yet the number of fatal hunting accidents in 1963 remained constant at 11. However, the nonfatal hunting accidents rose from 21 in 1962 to 31 in 1963, indicating a need for further expansion and more co\'eragc in the Bunter Safety program. Although tlw hunting and fishing pressure HE \lERGER of the Colorado Game and . Fish Department with the Colorado Park and Hccrcation Department on July 1, 196.3, created a greater enforcement problem than e,·er before on the ficlclmen in the department's law enforcement division. \\"ith the merger came the responsibility of enforcing the boat licensing law, boating regulations, water safety, park regulations and water and Janel use restrictions in the state parks and n•t:reation areas. This responsibility is in addition to the existing duties of fieldrnen in enforcing the game and fish laws, game management, fish management, fur management, information and education, etc. The law enforcement division again in 1963 T -42- �in the state was greater in 1963 than in 1962, the number of cases made by the fieldmen for game and fish violations was down from 2411 in 1962 to 2100 in 1963. The amount of money received from fines also was down from $67,093 to $62,242. This is attributable to two factors, one being a tighter budget requiring a reduction in travel by the fieldmen and the other reflecting a more thorough job done of edu- eating the sportsmen in conservation and game and fish management. The department fieldmen drove 45,000 less miles than in 1962, contacted 4000 less people than in 1962, gave 800 more information programs than in 1962, and made preparations to get the raptore license program underway. Jack Hogue Law Enforcement Chief Research ORK has continued through 1963 on a program initiated in 1961 to strengthen W the research effort of the department. This marks the completion of the first full year of operation with our fish and game research projects organized in divisions of Fish Research and Game Research each headed by a chief of staff officer grade. This new organization has resulted in a marked improvement in the planning of our projects and in the execution of the field operations. Progress has like,,:ise been made toward the development of more adequate research facilities. At the year end, preparations were almost complete for accepting bids for the installation of a necropsy room and aquaria in the groundlevel portion of the laboratory at our Fort Collins Research Center. At the same location a concrete block storage building was complt•ted for protection of field equipment. Game Research IOLOGISTS worked on 91 separate jobs in seven major research projects during 1963. B Research was carried out on ten important upland game bird species; ducks, geese and sandhill cranes; and big game species including deer, elk, antelope and mountain sheep. The 1963 program included the continuation of many studies previously carried out, and the important addition of research on: 1 Effects of controlled harvest of hen pheasants. 2. Effects of sage1?rnsh eradication on sage grouse populations. 3. Relationships of wild turkey roosting behavior to official sunrise and sunset times and current hunting regulations. Some progress has been made toward the implementation of our plans for the staffing of the Research Center. \\'e were able to hire ~fr. Robert E. Keiss to direct our laboratory. Mr. Keiss came to us from the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, where he had previously served as a consultant on game and fish disease and law enforcement problems. \Ve were fortunate to get a man with his training and experience for this important post. Several new investigations were begun during the year, and field work on others was concluded or was nearing completion. More details concerning some of these specific research projects are contained in the sections which follow. Laurence E. Riordan Assistant Director, Research 4. Antelope census, population dynamics and behavior. 5. Mountain goat census, distribution and ecology. 6. Effects of hunting on the resident waterfowl population in the San Luis Valley. 7. Effects of hunting pressure and mortality of eastern Colorado mallard populations as related to sources of hunting pressure, with the aim in mind of establishing a western division of the Central Flyway and generally improving management practices. 8. Paddock studies to determine effects of various grazing intensities on both mule deer \\foter range and the species itself. Results of research ,vere published in 28 reports included in Conference Papers, Tech- -43- �nical Journals, Special Department Reports, Master's and Ph.D. theses, and the department magazine, C olorad o Outdoors. Lists of these publications are available at the Game and Fish Research Center, Fort Collins, along with reprints of most publications. In addition to publications, personnel participated in chairmanships and attendance at many conferences and technical committee workshops and presented over 30 special programs to various civic groups and organizations. Additional work included preparation of long range species plans for over 80 game species. Research efforts have been translated into several significant management programs including: l. The early duck season in the San Luis Valley. 2. Establishment of a sizeable Hock of Canada geese in north-central Colorado. 3. Improvement of census systems for prairie chickens, scale<l quail, sage grouse and chukar partridge. ..i. Improved management of the wild turkey. 5. Better census techniques for antelope, mountain goats, cleer and elk. 6. Developments to alle, iate highway losses of big game, damage to vehicles and injury to motorists. 7. The general improvement of management practices and evaluation of harvest programs for big game species. The Colorado Game and Fish Department is one of four agencies which financially supports the Research Unit at Colorado State University. Highlights of research conducted there concerned: l. An antelope behavior and activity pattern study to provide information useful in the development of better management techniques. 2. A study of the seasonal movements of the Cache la Poudre deer herd to determine the rela tionship between winter and summer range. 3. An ecological investigation of the mountain goat to determine numbers, seasonal distribution and range requirements. 4. A behavior study of mule deer on winter and summer ranges to assist in the development of improved han·est techniques. .5. A study to determine the t'ffccts of sagebrush control on the distribution and abundance of sage grouse as the result of increased interest in the development of range land through treatment of brush with herbicides. 6. An investigation of mourning <love production and cooing behavior in an effort to increase the accuracy of the census. 7. Foocl-cm·er relationships on mule deer winter range. \\'ayne Sandfort Game Research Chief Fish Research ha, e begun our first attempt at understanding how the high concentrations of salts and ions limit or deny succcssf ul reproduction of walleye pike, largemouth bass and other game fish species in eastern Colorado reservoirs. The second biologist has begun a study of Denver's entire water collection and delin'ry system. Objecth e is to better 11nclerstancl difficulties of maintaining acceptable fish populations in the streams and reservoirs of this svslem and to find solutions that \\'ill permit u; to maintain rC'crcational fishing in most of these \\'aters. In 1963 certain projects ,, ere completed or nearly completed. They include the following: Lake Trout Studies, designed to evaluate the ust'fulness of lake trout in Colorado's lake and reservoir management plans. Rawah-\fclntyre High Lakes Project, due for completion in 1964, \\ hich has shown indications that high countr) lakes can maintain good populations through proper stod.ing. :\STALLATIO:\ of additional e<1uipment at the department's ne,, research laboratory at Fort Collins during the past year has made it !>ufficiently well equipped for most fishery research needs, while budgets available for fish research have permitted the planning of facilities to he used in evaluating , igor and well being of hatchery produced fish. An experimental hatchery at Bellevue was begun. and in time a complete experimental hatd1er) will pnn idc> necessary means to solve problems i11 trout nutrition and disease. The new field laboratorv at Parvin Lake was designed and financed in 1963 and is sdwduled for completion in 1964. A research aquarium at the Fort Collins laboratory was planned and begun. Our professional staff has been inc,·eased h~ two more biologists. \\'ith one of these we I -44- �Hepatoma in Rainbow Trout, scheduled for completion in 1964, which has yielded information concerning the developmental process of this type of tumor, its affects on blood and liver functions, its noncontagious nature and differences in genetic susceptibility in hatchery raised trout. Stream Studies, the largest project being carried out by Fish Research. It is designed to determine the impact of man's activities, both recreation and construction, on the state's fisheries This is considered a most important project in light of the rapidity with which the state is losing fisheries to the encroachment of all types of construction that alter stream flows. Cutthroat Trout at Trappers Lake, designed to collect information that will enable the maintenance of Trappers Lake as a native or cutthroat trout fishery through natural reproduction. Collection of this basic data was completed in 1963 and some restrictive regulations applied to this fishery to protect its natural reproduction potential. Quality Fishing, an investigation and experiment into one possible way of meeting the tremendous fishing pressures expected in the future in Colorado. This is an investigation, essentially, into the basic approach of spreading the fish available through the state's fish production capacity among all fishermen. To date, the quality fishing approach has met with approval in the state and requests have been received to extend this concept. Basic Productivity Study which is designed to yield information about the dynamics of plankton-fish food chain in large fluctuating reservoirs. The importance of this study is realized when one counts the large number of fluctuating reservoirs existent and being planned for Colorado. Full utilization of this fish food could mean larger populations of many species of fish. Granby Reservoir where basic studies into fish management techniques are being conducted. These include such things as the stocking of rainbow trout and kokanee salmon, competition between sport fish and rough fish for food and the survival potential of rainbow trout in this type of environment. In addition, the stocking of silver salmon and increased plants of mackinaw trout were carried on under this project. Evaluation of Hatchery Trout, in which the fish we produce in our hatcheries are being studied with the aim of improving the species turned out by the state's units. With increasing demands being made on the state's hatchery production of fish, this study takes on added significance. In addition, the Colorado Cooperative Fishery Unit at Colorado State University, supported partly by Game, Fish and Parks monies, is conducting research into several species of fish to determine potential introduction of new species into Colorado waters, into various watershed usages of fish life in the high mountain drainages, into the importance of predatory fish in conjunction with prey species, into the subpopulations of salmon and into the natural reproduction of warm water species in saline lakes and reservoirs of Colorado. Howard Tanner Fish Research Chief Acquisition and Development HE MAJOR project of land acquisition carried out by the department in 1963 was the obtaining of the Lumber Dealers Inc. Building and site at 6060 Broadway, Denver for the location of the department's new headquarters. With this acquisition, the Denver headquarters was all placed under one roof with ad<•quate space for future expansion present. Before this acquisition, the Denver operation was located in three different places making administration and coordination extremely difficult. The cost of this acquisition was $900,000 part of which was recovered through the sale T of the former headquarters building on Sherman Street in downtown Denver. Other major accomplishments of this division in 1963 included the obtaining of water and land for two new major fish hatcheries ( at Watson Lake near Ft. Collins and the Roaring Judy site near Gunnison); acquisition of almost 560 acres for Golden Gate Canyon State Recreation Area near Central City; five new lake sites including the Big Beaver site near Meeker for the construction of a major lake and recreation area; 86 acres added to four existing fish hatcheries to increase production facilities; and five areas that opened access to lakes and public lands. -45- �A total of $1,746,635 was spent for land acquisition during 1963, $900,000 of which was for the purchase of the Denver headquarters building and site. In addition, the department leased 60,000 acres of land mostly for management of lakes and reservoirs and the recreation land around them. 9'; Oe:,c, In all, a little more than nine ~ acres of land were acquired by the department in 1963 for hatcheries and rearing units, lakes and lake sites, headquarters building, stream fisheries, parks and recreation, big game management, upland game bird and waterfowl management and for rights-of-way for access and a<.:c<'ss improvement. :\fajor construction projects for which money was allocated during the 1963 year and which wen• either completed or partiallr completed during that y<•ar include the following with their actual costs: Fortification and :\'orth :\fichigan Creek reservoirs, 200 surface acres of water, $199,000. Reconstruction of Haviland Lake and Lake Brennand, $89,000. lmpro\'ement work at eight hatchery and rearing units, $23i,OOO. Construction of the ~fontrose Regional Office, $63,000. Construction of a work station at Two Buttes Reservoir, $li,OOO. Six hunter access roads constructed, totaling 44 miles, $21,000. 116 miscellaneous small projects, designed, put out for bid and constructed, $263,500. These included such things as hoat ramps, access roads, sanitary facilities and recreational improvements. In addition, bids \\'Cre awarded for the construction of the new hatchen near Fort Collins This is the Watson Lake Hatchery. Harry Figge Chief, Acquisition and Dei;elopment Business Administration T HE SALE of hunting and fishing licenses is tht• primary source of rt•vcnuc for the department. There was an approximate increase of almost five per cent in the number of licenses sold in 1963 owr 1962. The n•venue from the sale of licenses increased at the rate of almost ten per cent. The department's income for the calendar year 1963 was roughly Si,000,000. The sale of hunting and fishing licenses accounted for $6,402,000 of this amount. The total number of licenses sold was ii3,000. The approximate increase in the amount of re\'enm· from the different <.:atcgories of licens<•s sold in the year 196.'3 is as follows. Resident Fishing and Small Game . .. . . . $ 1,600 Resident Fishing .................. 2,,500 Resident Small Came 2,000 '.\onresident 5 clay Fishing 20,600 :\onresident Small Game 1,200 Resident Deer ............ 4,000 Resident Elk 38,000 Resident Second Oeer . .. 2,000 Resident Turkcv 1,000 Resident Bow and Arrow 1,600 Resident Antelope 16,000 '\onrcsident Deer ... 349,000 \onrcsiclent Elk '\onrcsi<lent Second Deer 4i,800 62,100 1,700 '\onresiclent Bow and l\rrow . In 1963, the sale of nonresident licenses accounted for 88 per cent of the increase in revenue, ,, hile the sale of resident licenses accounted for approximately 12 per cent of the increase in re,·t•nuc. The only noticeable decrease in revenue from the sales of licenses is the \onresident Fishing which decreased $4160 or 416 less lic.·ens<·s sold amounting to less than 21 2 pt'r cent decrease. The Game and Fish Department and the Parks and Recreation Department were merged July 1, 1963 and are now known as the Colorado Came, Fish and Parks Department. Tlw following revenues were received from July 1, 1963 through December 31, 1963 as the result of merger and arc properly applicable to the Parks Operation: Boat licenses and decals $18,000; internal improvement $29,500. The need for additional facilities for parks is quite urgent and with the proper means of financing the program, the revenues and expenditures for this section could become greater than that of the game and fish operation. Guy V. Melvin Business .\tanager -46- �CORRECTION On Page 46, paragraph two in the left hand column, the statement should read: In all, a little more than nine thousand acres of land were acquired by the department in 1963 . . . �Information and Education WO MAJOR events marked 1963 for the Information and Education Division, one a top national honor and the other a significant achievement. The Game, Fish and Parks Department's annual report Principles of Game Management received the top national award from the American Association for Conservation Information for information publications. Written, edited and designed by Supervising Editor Charles Hjelte, this publication was judged the best in the nation for 1963 and promptly went through two printings so heavy were the requests for copies. It was the second consecutive year that the department's annual report had won this top award from the AACI, A Look Back having won the award in 1962. The major achievement was the completion of a film on Colorado's wildlife entitled The Game Animals and Birds of Colorado. Written and produced by Bert Kempers, a former member of the department, this film has proved to be one of the most popular in the deparbnent's film library. It depicts all the game animals and the game birds of Colorado in their natural habitat and even has produced a growing demand for this film in states other than Colorado. It can be used as a 26 minute film, two 13 minute films - one on the animals and one on the birds - or it can be used in sections for TV presentations. Another accomplishment of note was the production of the publication, Sage Grouse Ini:esti{!,ations In Colorado, written by Senior Game Biologist Glenn Rogers. This publica- T lion has already been acclaimed by many as the finest work of this type done on the sage grouse in this country. Besides the division's duties of getting out news releases, newsletters, deparbnental information leaflets, game maps and regulations, TV shows, the department's magazine Colorado Outdoors, etc., a stepped-up effort was made to accommodate outdoor writers and photographers from all over the nation in their efforts to gather material in Colorado. Public relations work also received more intensive efforts. The promotion of better relations between sportsmen and landowners in Colorado came in for considerable attention as did conservation education. Attendance at sport and travel shows, promoting the state's natural attractions and hunting and fishing, also occupied much of the time of the division, with attendance noted at shows at San Francisco, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Dallas, Chicago and two shows at Los Angeles. A reorganization move of significance was also achieved during 1963 as the four regional information officers were placed under the primary supervision of the regional managers. This was done to coordinate more effectively the information efforts in the individual regions. This made the regional information man a more effective arm of the information efforts and the management programs being conducted in each region and has resulted in a more complete job being done over the state. C. D. Tolman Public Relations Chief A LOOK AHEAD Published by the Information and Education Division of the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department, December, 1964. Written and edited by Peter T. Hans!,On; Design by Charles ll1elte; Art by Gene Ellis; Photos by Bud Smith and Don Domenick. Printed by the Smith-Brooks Printing Company of Denver. State code: GFP-G-A-1. -47- �Department Personnel -1963 STAFF OFFICERS Woodward, Harry R. - Director Elhott, Robert R. - Assistant Director Riordan. Laurence E . - Assistant Dtrector Melvin, Guy V. - Business Manager Coleman, A. Dean - Assistant Game Manager Figge, Harry J . - Land Acquisition and Development Chief Hogue, Jack E. - Chief Game Wa.r den Hunter. GIibert N. -Game Manager Morris, John H . - Personnel Officer Sandfort. Wayne W - Game Manager Seaman. Wayne R. - Fish Manager Shaw, Ed - Seruor Construction Engineer Stark, Jack W. -Assistant Attorney General Tanner, Howard A. - Fish Manager Tolman, Carwin D . - Public Relations Officer REGIONAL GAME AND FISH MANAGERS Teague, Richard D. - Northeast Region Evans. Robert L . - Northwest Region Welsh, Carl R. - Southeast Region Till, Clois E. - Southwest Region OFFICE AND FIELD EMPLOYES Adams. Bill B - Inventory Clerk Adams. W . J . - Fish Culturist Anderson, Allen E . - Principal Game Biologist Anderson, Marvin C - Fish Culturist Andrews, George D - Supervisinir Wildltfe Photographer Andrews, Robert A - Fish Culturist Andrusko, Eleanor - P .B .X. Operator Archuleta, Amadeo - Fish Culturist Archuleta, Ernie - Fish Culturist Archuleta , J Archie - Fish Culturist Ary, Sylvester Ray - Fish Culturist Avery, Henry H . - Mail Clerk Aydclolte, Ernest - Fish Culturlst Baker, Bertram D . - Senior Game Biologist Baker, Delbert H . - Senior Fish Culturist Baker, Elbert L - Senior Fish Culturist Barker, Foster M. - Senior Fish Culturis t Barnes. W. Tom - Wildlife Conservation Aide Barron. Melvin - Pilot Barrows, Paul T . - Senior Fish Biologist Bartling. Almon P - Fish Culturist Basset, Gene W . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Bechaver. Edward J . - Wildhfe Conservation Officer Becker. Joyce M - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Beckley, James 0 . - Fish Cultunst Bell , Ada M - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Belmear, Lucy A . - Account Clerk Benedict, Frances E. - Senior Adnumstrative Secretary Benson, Donald V . - Area Supervisor Bessire. Scott E. - Area Supervisor Blankis, Edward - Fish Culturist Blankis, Frank J - Fish Cultur1st Boddv. John T . - ~'ish Culturist Bogart, Donald F Area Supervisor Boyd. Gail B. - Wildhfe Conservation Officer Boyd, Raymond J . - Principal Game Biologist Bray, Harvey - Area Supervisor Brittain. Harold F - Storekeeper Brown Charles E - Wildlife Conservation Officer Browning, Herbert H . - Wildlife Conservation Offtcer Bruhlman , Emily B . - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Brun . Aileen K . - Senior Account Clerk Buckner. Jerome D - Supervising Storekeeper Burdett, Pauline J - Personnel Clerk Burdick, Harold E . - Game Biologist Burggraff, Leo J - Auto Mechanic Burke, Pat - Wlldltfe Cons_ e rvation Aide _ Burdhard. Walter T. - Senior Fish Biologist Busch, Frank W . - Fish Culturist Cam, Nels on - Utllltl' Worker Carl. Leonard M . - Fish Culturist Carlson. Leslle G - Semor Fish Cultuns t Chisholm. Earl R . Wildlife Conservation Officer Cochran Earl F . - Wlldll!e Conservation Officer Coghill, 'Marton C . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cole Ethel M - Admimstrative Secretary Colley, Frank A . - Wildltfe Conservation Off.teer Collins. Marlon H. - Clerk-Stenographer Cook, Eugene P - Water Resource Specialist Cooper. Rex G . - F"ish Culturist Cordova, J Frank - Wildltfe Conservation Officer Corey, John F . - Fish Cultunst Cox . Harvey E . - Wildllle Conservation Officer C rabtree Robert A . - Auto Mechan1c Crandell, George E . Wildll.fe Conservation Aide Crawford, Gurney I. - Wildhle Conservation Of!icer Curtis. Lyman L. - WUdllle Conservation Aide Darrah, Kenneth E. - Senior Fish Culturlst David,;on, Corrin B. - Wildlile Coru.ervatlon Afde Davies, Oscar M. - Fish Culturist Davis, Margaret M . - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Deels, John D. - Land Negotiator DeGueUe. Arthur - Area Supervisor Denney. Richard N . -- Assilitant Game Manager Denton. B. Lester - Wildlife Conservation Officer Desanti, Joseph G . - Wlldllie Conservation Officer DeSciose, Ouida - Addressograph Operator Dobbs, Wm. Harry - Area Supervisor Dolph. Lewis K . - Senior Fish Culturist Domenick, Don - Wildlife Photographer Downer, Earl R. - Area Supervisor Drummond, Robert A - Senior Fish Biologist Dunham, Furman W. - Wlldife Conservation Officer Ekberg, Glen R . - Fish Culturlst Ellis, Jeanne C . - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Elmer. Sam A - Fish Culturlst Evans, Lester E. - Wildlife Conservation Afde Fairchild, Ethel G . - Senior Clerk Feltner, George - In(ormatlon Representative Finnell, Larry M . - Principal Fish Biologist Fischer. Bill K - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ford, Clark - Wildltfe Conservation Aid~ . Forgett, William J . - Wildlife ConservatJon Aide Fullenwider, Holmes J . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gamble, Hugh M . - Wildli!e Conservation Officer Gates, V1v1an W. - Senior Addressograph Operator Geiger. James J . -- Senior Fish Culturist Gilbert. Paul F - Area Supervisor G1ll, Charles E - Wildlt.fe Conservation Officer Giltz, Janet L . - Dictaphone Machtne Transcriber Glaviano Stella C , - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Goosman', Wm. E . - Wildlife Conservation O!Cicer Gore, Clarence H. - W1ldhfe Conservation Officer Gore. Donald H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Graham. Millard E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Grant. Lester W . - Jamtor Greene, Eugene E - Game Biologist Greer, A . M. Wildlife Conservation Officer Gresh. Arthur J . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gresh, L . Harold - Wildlife Conservation OfClcer Grieb. Jack R - Assistant Game Manager Gross, Dame! L . - Fish Culturist Grove. Geraldine L. - Senior Account Clerk Guy, Elwin R. - Fish Culturist Guyer, J Brownlee Wildlife Conservation Officer Hackett, Naydene R. - Clerk-Stenographer Haldeman, Myrtle B . - Accountant Hamilton. Alex - Area Supervisor Hansson. Peter T . - Principal Informat10n Representative Harris, Guy E. - Farm Manager Hart, Charles C. - Fish Culturist Hatch . Pat - Fish Culturist Hawker. Philip A - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hawkins. Walter 8. - FJSh CulturJSt Hay. Keith G - Senior Information Representative Hazzard, Lloyd K . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hector, Charles - WIidiife Conservation Officer Heins, Alfred J - Wildlife Conservation Officer Henderson, Wilham - Senior Fish Culturist Hess. Richard W . - Wildllfe Conservation Officer Hild, Dorwtn Principal Clerk Hill. James C. - Fish Culturt t Hmshaw . Thomas F - Truck Driver HJelte. Charles E . - Editor Hobbs. John R - Wildlife Conservation OCflcer Hodges. Merle L . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hoffman, Donald M - Principal Game Biolo gist Holmes. Ric hard L. FJSh Cultunst Holton, James - Fish Culturlst Hood. Harold J - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hoover. Robert L. - Senior Informatio n Representative Hopper. Richard M . - Senior Game Biologis t Horak, Donald L . - Senior Fish Biologist Houston, James D . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Howlett. John C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hudick. Joseph - Property Accountant Hughes, Norman L . - Pilot Hurd, Clifiord A . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hutt, Nina -- Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Ivarson . Beth L . - Senior Account Clerk Jackett. Ruth E. - Account Clerk Jackson. Neil R. - Fish Culturlst Jerome, Dudley C. - Wlldllfe Conservation Officer Jewell Wayne W. - Fish Culturist Johnson, Lois E . - Senior Account Clerk -48- �Jones, George w. - Game Biologist Jones, Hayden E . - Fish Culturlst Jones, Hugh R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Jones, Robert A . - Senior Fish Biologist Jordan, Albert C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Kanode, William L. - Equipment Operator Keiss, Robert E . - Assistant Wildlife Research Kemman, Janet - Library Assistant Kennell, Howard H. - Area Supervisor Kenney, Willis - Senior Fish Culturlst Kent. William L. - Wlldllle Conservation Officer Kinghorn, Glenn - Supervising Nun;eryman Klein, William D. - Fisheries Project Supervisor Klelnschnitz, Ferd - Assistant Federal Aid Coordinator Knight, Eugene T. - Area Supervisor Kohl, Pauline - Senior Account Clerk Lanning, Harold L. - Wlldllle Conservation Officer Larkey, Charles A. - Fish Culturist Lemons, David G. - Principal Fish Biologist Lenard, CtiUord H. - Fish Culturlst Lengel, Donald E . - Wildlife Conservation Outcer Leslie, John A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lewis, Willard H. - Supervising Fish Culturlst Likes, John L. - Wildlife License Supervisor Lillpop, Lawrence R. - Fish Culturlst Lobato, John F. - Fish Culturlst Long, Wayne - Pilot Loveless, Charles - Associate Wildlife Research Lowery, Marlon W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lowry. Chonita - Dictaphone Machine Transcriber Lynch, Thomas C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lynch, Thomas M. - Fish Project Supervisor McDonald, Dalton R. - Senior Fish Culturlst McDonald, Richard - Area Supervisor McGuire, John F. - Fish Culturlst McKean, William T. - Principal Game Biologist . McLaughlJn, Ina Rae - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Mahaffey, Barbara - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer 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 - Principal Game Biologist Meer, Barbara -Account Clerk Mefford, Elizabeth - Inventory Clerk Merkle, Velma B. - Senior Statistics Clerk Metsger, Francis A. - Land Negotiator Meyer, Romaine - Receptionist Miller, Pauline H. - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Mink, William W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Mitchell, Fred - Senior Fish Culturlst Mock Bettle - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Morgan, Dallas - Wildlife Conservation Officer Morgan, James T. - Senior Fish Culturlst Morris, Nathalie - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Moser, Clifford A. - Principal Game Biologist Mustain, O. W. -Fish Culturlst Myers, Gary T . - Senior Game Biologist Nash, William Wayne - Area Supervisor Naylor, Ethna - Senior Account Clerk Nelson, Wesley C. - Fish Project Supervisor Nicholls, Arthur R. - Truck :Orlver Nickerson, Lois D. - Senior Account Clerk Nlttman, Rolf B. - Principal Fish Biologist Nolting, Donald H. - Senior Fish Biologist Ogilvie, Stanley R. - Area Supervisor Olson, Perry D. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Orlosky, Alfred F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ottinger, Lennis L. - Fish Culturlst Overmeyer, Harold W. - Wildlife Conservation O!flcer Owens, Dwight E. - Wildlife Observer Palm, Sigfrid S. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Pepez, Joe - Fish Culturlst Paul, William A. - Fish Culturlst Pearson, Wm. D. - Senior Fish Culturist Peaslee, Charles M . - Fish Culturlst Perritt, Wiley W. - Fish Culturlst Peters, Melvin L . - Fish Culturlst Pickens, Howard C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Pltton, 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. - Supervising Fish Culturlst Retgan, Robert R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Reser. James E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Reynolds, Robert S. - Wildlife Conservation OUlcer Richardson, Harry L. - Fish Culturlst Ridgeway, W , 0 . Jr. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Riggs, Nathan D. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Roberts, Chas. H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Roberts. Melvin C. - Senior Fish Culturlst Rogers. Glenn E . - Senior Game Biologist Roland. Wm. L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Rose, Norman G. - Fish Culturlst Rosette, Robert K . - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ross, Joe H. - Senior Fish Culturist Roy, Carl A. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Russell, Wayne L. - Pilot Rutherford, Wm. H. - Principal Game Biologist Ryland. Errol E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Sanchez, Roy L . - Utility Worker Sanchez, Sara - Account Clerk Scarpella, Frank A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Schaub, Paul J . - Wildlife Revenue and Supply Officer Schmid, Arnold - Fish Culturlst Schuett, Walter H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Schultz, Herman P. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Schultz, William G. - Wlldllfe Conservation Officer Schumacker, Richard R. - Fish Culturlst Scott, Chester M. - Wlldlife Conservation Officer Searle, Lloyd W. - Area Supervisor Shepherd, Harold R. - Principal Game Biologist Sievers, Gerald 0. - Fish Cultur1St Simson, Jack M. - Constructlon 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. - Area Supervisor Smith, Montana - Parks Project Engineer Smith, Richard A. - Information Representative Smith, Richard K. - Fish Culturlst Smith, William B. - Building Trades Maintenance Man Snowder, Stella D. - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Snyder, Warren D. - Game Biologist Stambaugh, E. Ruth - Senior Account Clerk Stead, J. Kenneth - Supervising Fish Culturist Steele, George E. - Area Supervisor Steele, Preston C. - Wlldlife Conservation Officer Stevenson, John - Wildlife Conservation OUlcer Stiehm. Howard A. - Senior Information Representative Strieter, Ernest F. - Senior Fish Culturlst Stull, Robert D. - Principal Accountant Sutton, Lavern R. - Fish Culturlst Swope, Harold M. - Principal Game Biologist Takes. Richard T. - Principal Game Biologist Taliaferro, Rex L. - Fish Project Supervisor Taylor, Charles S. - Senior Fish Culturlst Terrell, Harry N. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Terrell. Robert - Wlldlife Conservation Officer Triplet, Lloyd W. -WIidlife Conservation Officer Tucker, Coy - Equipment Operator Tully, Robert J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Turner, Vernon L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Van Gaalen. Charles - Fish Culturlat Van Gaalen, Nell - Senior Fish Culturlst Vavak, Charles H. - WIidiife Conservation Aide Verrier, Edward - Fish Culturlst Vldakovlch, L. D. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Vigil, Audenago Jr. - Offset Duplicating Machine Operator Wagner, Elyy J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wagner, Kenneth C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wailes, Irven A - Fish Culturist Waldron, J. L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Walker. Luelle A. - Senior Account Clerk Warner, Robert - Fish Culturlst Warren, Orval B. - Fish Culturlst Waters, Patrick G. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Waugh, Francia L. - Senior Information Representative Webster, Lawrence A. - Nurseryman Weese, Carl D. - Fish Culturist Wells, William B. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Wescoatt, Ivan L. - Principal Fish Blolol1ist Weyerman, Dean A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wheeler, John A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer White. Claude E. - Principal Game Biologist White, Dean B. - Account Clerk Williams, Jesse E. - Senior Information Representative Wilson, Edwin T. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wilson, Herman R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wilson, L. Keith - Wildlife Conservation OUlcer Wixson, Harold F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Woodward, Walter - Wildlife Conservation Officer Worden. Alvin E. - Senior Fish Culturlst Wurm, Donald W. - Principal Fish Bloloclst Zimmerman, George P. - Wildlife Conservatlon OUlcer PARKS DIVISION-(,luly J, 1963) O'MaUey, George - Assistant Director West, Don - Parks Supervisor Foster, C. C. - Chief Boat Warden Cheney, Wm . R . - Parks Project Engineer Smith, Clyde L. - Principal Engineering Technician Griffis. Jim H . - Senior Parks Manager Morrison. Mrs. Albert - Admlnlstratlve Secretary �� https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/7eab1e9a1ac4193202df2e6ec2a17c48.pdf 57b906e95b8674b5e5b461038c1354c7 PDF Text Text COLORADO GAME, FISH and PARKS DEPARTMENT 1964 Annual Report �Contents THIS IS YOUR GAME, FISH AND PARKS COMMISSION .................. 2 l\ilelvern Renf ro,v . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Augustus P. Hann .................................................. 8 Bob Hendricks ..................................................... 10 Roy Eckles ........................................................ 12 Parker Sooter ...................................................... 16 Bill August ........................................................ 18 Orest Gerhaz ....................................................... 20 Ron Strahle ....................................................... 22 Chris Furneaux .................................................... 24 1964 ANNUAL REPORT ................................................ 26 Management ....................................................... 27 Research .......................................................... 30 Information and Education .......................................... 32 Acquisition and Development ........................................ 33 Business Administration ............................................. 34 Parks ............................................................. 34 Department Personnel, 1964 .......................................... 35 Letter of Transmittal Honorable John A. Love Governor of State of Colorado Dear Governor Love: Herein is submitted the 1964 Annual Report of the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department. In addition to the reports of the accomplishments of the various department divisions for the calendar year 1964, we present to the citizens of Colorado a detailed explanation of the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Commission - its personnel, duties, responsibilities and accomplishments. It was felt that since the Commission's responsibilities to the people of the state and the importance of its deliberations to the state's well-being are both substantial, that there should be an opportunity for the people of the state to meet and underEtand the individual members who make up the commission and to more fully appreciate the selfless dedication that characterizes these unpaid public servants. Respect£ully submitted, Richard T. Eckles Coordinator of Natural Resources State of Colorado Marshall Hughes President Grune, Fish and Parks Commission �Horry R. Woodward Foreword A COMMISSION is a body of commissioners, according to definition, empowered with authority to act for, or in behalf and in place of, another. This is what the Colorado Game. Fish and Parks Commission is - a group empo,1;ered to acl for, in behalf and in place of, the people of Colorado. Its authority to act is broad in those specific matters that have lo do wi th the management, propagation and restoration o f wildlife as well as the ad ministrati on of outdoor recreation in Colorado. Its responsibilities are many and varied. A commissione r is, of necessity, a conscientious and unselfish person, for the demands made on his time and resources by his commission responsibiliti es are severe and heavy. He pa ys dearly fo r the opportunity to serve on the commission in terms of time and effort spent away fr om his principal occu pation. He receives no stipend for his public services. He must, at one and the same time, be a friend of the sportsman and the landowner; a guardian of wild, protected l!ame and fish and of domesti c an imals; judge and jury; a protector of the public interests and a friend to the private interests. It is not an easy job. It is a difficult job to do well. Colorado turned to the commission form of authority in this field in 1937 when it became apparent that the job to be clone was more tha n the department and its organization at that ime could handle. It was evident th at a reorganization was necessary and that a new, more effective form of control would be needed to efficiently opera te a reorganized department. Experts were enl isted to investiga te, study and recommend. The State Legislature wifely accepted these recommendatio ns and incorporated them into legislation establishing the commission form of governmental control over the department. Tt in effect, put co ntrol of the Game and Fish Depart- ment in the people of the state and made it responsive to the interests of th e Colorado general public. It was a sharp change from the one-man fo rm of rule but it was readily accepted by those kn owledgable in the field of conservation. The legislati on also called for the appointment of a director for the department to act in place of the commission when il was not in session but subject to its approval in the conduct of th e ever yday affairs of the department. As was inevitable - th e commission grew as its responsibilities to the people of the state grew. More members were added to give broader representation to the heterogeneous regions of the sta te and also to the broad interests of outdoor recreation. Obviously, as this g rowth occu rred. so too did the department. The Parks and Recreation Depart ment was merged into the Game and Fish Depar tment, adding the responsibilities for outdoor recreation to those already being handled in the f ield of wildl ife admin istrati on. The importance of wild life and outdoor recreati on to the State of Colorado is inestimable, and it is destined to become even greater in fu. ture years. The economic impact of wildli fe and outdoor recreation is clue lo assume a major role in the fi nances of the sta le. It is highl y probable that in the future almost ever y Coloradan will enjoy at least once during the year some form of outdoo r recreation which is possible only because the Game, Fish and Parks Commission made it so. It is because of this most impor tant role that is bei ng played by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission in Colorado, a nd because of the obvious effects that its work, decisions and accomplishments are havin g now and will h ave in future years o n the lives o f each citi zen of Colorado that this annual report for 1964 is presented. It is to engender an understandin g and appreciation of the work and accomplishments of the commission a nd to furth er acquaint the public with the members of the commission that th is annual report is presented. As the chief professional in the depa rtment and as the line between the commission and the department, it has been my privilege to wor k with these men and others wh o preceded them. With humility and sincerity I commend the Game. Fish and Parks Comm ission to the people of Colorado with the assurance that their dec isions a re conscientious and are made in the best interests of the state as a whole as well as its diversified regions. Colorado is a better place in wh ich to 'ti ve because of these men. -1- ~t~ Harry R. Wood ward Director �~ AN ACT CONCER ·1 ·c GAl\ [E AN D FISH AND TO PLACE THE CAME AND FlSH DEPARTMENT UNDER THE CONTROL OF A NON-SALARIED BI-PARTISA GAi\IE AND FISH COMMISSION DEFJNJNC THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIO 1 : ABOLISH! 1G AND CREATll'iG CERTAIN OFFICES OF THE GA}IE A:\ D FI SH DEPARTMENT. AND PROVll) ll\"G FOR THE PROTECTION: PROPAGATION, RESTORATIO 1 AN D JNCREASE OF GA \I E. BIHDS. Fl H AND FL'R BEARING ANliVIALS, PROV! DING PENALTfES FOR THE VIOLATIO.l\ Or THIS ACT AND REPEALI l\G ALL ACTS A.\ D PARTS OF ACT IN CONFLI CT TH ER E\UTIJ. Be it enac:lerl by the General Assembly of the State o[ Colo rado : Section 1. l a l The Gam e and F ish Department is hereby placed unde r the jurisd iction of a commission lo he known as the " Game and F ish Commission." hereinafter referred lo as the " Commission ." wh ich is hereby created. Such Commissio n sha ll consis t of seven (7 ) members one of whom shall be the Governor of this Stale as an Ex-Off icio member of the commissio n a nd the remaining six (6 ) members of tlie commission ~ha ll be chosen as hereinafter p rovided. For the purpose o f this Art, the Sta te of Co lorado is hereb) cli viderl into six (6/ game and fish cl isLricls. to be numbered fro m one Lo six. U CH is Lh~ N tf Chapter 153 of the Session Laws_pf Colorado · ~,-..,.....:,:I its first se o1'rns-~.he basi h rn~t-,9f th ·<-sio, • t}f1.> a , •- ~ • IU • n~ • 1 ~ _ O"r o ~'f • , , ''n ,.,,.. I ~1rij~ the tfa. 1e ict The.i:&re- :f fecti"/f'ns in ChapleT •f.s: - th~ t l-trtien rrrcl-p1rtwir . ot-th~ ~ ls recto r. all of whi ch a re sfi117 Jasicall y in Jo rce Oday. Sena le Bill \ o. 216. introduced by ] 0 Senators and J 2 Representati ve~, " ·I, icl, after adoption b y the leg:islatu re. became Cha pier 153. was not a q uickl y conceived piece of leg:islation. but ra ther the res ult of a long slurl y of the conservation problems in the slate a nd of th e existing department at tha t Lime. The s tud y was conducted th rough the I nterna tiona l Association of Came. F i~h a nd Conservatio n Comm iss ioners and it was the lisl of recom mendations coming from this o rga nization tha t is re flected in Chapter ) 53 . In 1937, R oland P a rvin was named Director b y ,,,, ' /~/, } ,, ,. .. ,· ~ l/!.Wf ftt f �the Commission. He had been the Game and Fish Commissioner before Senate Bill 216 was adopted. The first six Commissioners in Colorado were Dr. Harold Watson, N. Dean Henry, H. G. Kendall, Otis E. McIntyre, B. H. Jorgensen and R. G. Lyttle. R. G. (Dick) Lyttle has the distinction of having served more years than any other commissioner. He put in 16 years in all on the Commission, from 1937 through 1946 and from 1951 through 1956. Since 1937, the commission membership has been increased twice. In 1951, the commission was increa!:ed to nine members with the Governor an ex-officio member, and again in 1963 it was increased to 11 members with the Governor still serving in an ex-officio capacity. In the 1963 expansion, the two new members added were to he appointed at-large and would represent park and recreation interests in the state, reflecting the merger of the former Parks and Recreation Department into the Game and Fish Department. Restrictions placed on the appoinhnent of commissioners, as listed in the statutes today, include the following: "No person shall be appointed as a member of said commission to succeed himself for more than one term." "Not more than five of such appointed commissioners shall be of the same political party." "Each of such districts shall be represented by one of such members of the commission, who shall at the time of his appointment and at all times during the term of his office, he a bona fide resident and citizen of the district for which he is appointed." "No person shall be appointed a district member of the commission unless he shall be weII informed on the subjects of wildlife conservation and restoration and outdoor recreation." At least one member of the commission shall be a landowner who is actively engaged in the business of raising livestock in the district from which he is appointed." "No person shall be appointed a member from the state at large unless he shall he well informed on the subjects of parks and outdoor recreation." The state is divided into the following districts: 1. ( Augustus Hann, Denver) Denver, Jefferson, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Douglas, Park, Lake, Chaffee and Teller counties. 2. (William August, Brush) Larimer, Boulder, Weld, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, and Phillips counties. 3. (Robert Hendricks, Burlington) Adams, Arapahoe, Washington, Yuma, Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, El Paso and Cheyenne counties. 4,. (Roy Eckles, Lamar) Pueblo, Crowley, Kiowa. Otero, Bent, Prowers, Huerfano, Las Animas and Baca counties. 5. (Parker Sooter, Alamosa) Fremont, Custer, Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Conejos and Costilla counties. 6. (Marshall Hughes, Norwood) San Miguel, Dolores, Ouray, Hinsdale, San Juan, Montezuma, La Plata and Archuleta counties. 7. (Melvern Renfrow, Delta) Eagle, Mesa, Delta, Pitkin, Gunnison and Montrose counties. 8. ( C. M. Furneaux, Walden) Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Rio Blanco, Grand, Summit and Garfield counties. Commissioners representing the state at large in 1964 were Ronald Strahle of Ft. Collins and Orest Gerbaz of Aspen. Commissioners serve with no compensation for their services "except that each commissioner shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary traveling and other expenses and disbursements incurred or made by him in the discharge of his official duties, to he paid from the game cash fund." It has been estimated by several commissioners that expenses incurred exceeded reimbursements by about $1000 during a six year term. By Statute, the commission is required to meet quarterly, but because the work load of the department has increased tremendously since Chapter 153 was written and adopted, the commission meets each month, and on occasions has met more often. The commission elects its own officers. In 1964, Melvern Renfrow of Delta served as president, Augustus Hann of Denver as vice-president and Robert Hendricks of Burlington as secretary. The greatest area of responsibility handled by the commission is that of the administration of the department. The commission administers the department in its every day operations through the director who carries out the instructions, directives and policies which emanate from the commission as guide lines. The director carries out the administrative wishes of the commission, acting in their behalf and with their approval. This area of administration covers the daily activities of each division, its methods and its purposes; personnel problems; the expenditures and revenues of the department as directed by the commission and within the scope of the yearly budget; department accountability as handled by the business section of the department; preparation of reports and supplying of information to the commissioners in preparation for their actions; and the handlin~ of the department's relations with the public of Colorado with the federal and state governments. So, although responsibility for the administration of the department belongs to the commission, the operation of the department is exerci5ed by the commission through director who acts in behalf of and at the pleasure of the commission. -3- �Perhaps the most important, internal responsibility of the commission is that of policy making, for it is by these policies that the department is guided in its operations. Not only does the commission guide and direct the department through its established and adopted policies but it also defines its own operating procedures through these policies. Little known but of tremendous importance is the responsibility of the commission to recommend, to the state's governing body, legislation that enables the commission to better manage the wildlife and parks and recreation facilities of Colorado. To do this, close liaison with the Game and Fish Committees of both the House and Senate is maintained as well as with other legislators. Proposed legislation is presented along with explanations of the purpose of the legislation, its mechanics and what it will achieve. If the reaction to the legislation is favorable then the commission has the department's legal staff and the Chief Game Warden draw up the proposed legislation in legal form which is then presented for final approval and further action by the introducing legislators. The importance of this responsibility of the commission is obvious. Without intel1igent and effective laws, the control, propagation, restoration and research of wildlife and parks and recreation is impossible. Since· times and methods are constantly changing, it is imperative that the laws also keep abreast of the requirements of the changing civilization. Budgetary demands are perhaps the most vexing area for the commission for, since the department operates on a fiscal year starting July 1, the entire operations of the department must be laid out a year in advance in drawing up a budget. The budget as proposed must be realistic and at the same time it must provide the means for progress and for efficient management. To make up a budget of proposed expenditures, the commission must also predict income through license sales which is an exact science at best. The budget is prepared by the department in accordance with specifications and limitations laid down by the commission. This budget is then gone over by the commission and adjusted until it meets with the approval of the commissioners. The commission then presents it to the Legislature's Joint Budget Committee and discusses it with the committee, providing explanations and justifications for each expenditure provided for in the budget. The department's operations and ability to act depend on this budget and although it is based on prediction, once it is approved by the Legislature it guides and limits the department in its operations for the coming fiscal year. It is the responsibility of the comm1ss1on to make sure that the proposed budget is accurate and adequate. The responsibility for which the commission is best known is in the area of setting hunting and fishing seasons. It is the commission's duty to officia1lv set the seasons for big game, small game, upland game birds, waterfowl (in the limitations set forth by the federal government) and fish. Here is an area where a commissioner must have the wisdom of Solomon and a strong ingredient of courage for there appears to he nothing that the commission does that stirs up as much public interest as the setting of seasons. The commissioner, of course, is beseiged at home by local opinion, based on home-grown game management techniques. He is well versed on local opinion when he comes to the season setting meeting, but then he must hear the recommendations and reasoning of the department's mana~ement people and research personnel, reconcile the feelings of his district with that of the department's professionals, weigh the one against the other and then try to come up with some kind of a decision that is in keeping with a statewide responsibility, a local responsibility and at the same time in keeping with sound principles of game management. He must keep uppermost in his mind that he is charged with the management, propa~ation, protection and restoration of the game and fish. The seasons are then set by the establishment of regulations covering the hunting or fishing of various species and these regulations then must be published and distributed to the general public. This, too, is a responsibilty of the commission, to see these regulations are published in the form of legal notice and also in the form of general information to the hunting or fishing public. This must be done speedily, accurately and must contain enough information to enable the public to hunt in a knowingly legal manner. They must be widely distributed and must be available to all who wish to secure them. In the areas of land acquisition and development are important commission responsibilities. Much land and water is owned by the department, all of utmost importance for management, production or research. As pressures become more intense in the fields of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation, more lands are needed of specific natures for the commission to discharge its duties and responsibilities. The addition of parks and recreation responsibilities alone, with its attendant mandate to develop a state park and recreation system, has put great pressure on the commission in the area of land acquisition and development. The commission must weigh need against reasonable cost, determine required acreage, and decide to buy or not to buy, to exchange or not to exchange, to lease or not to lease, to trade or not to trade. -4- �Automatically coming hand in hand with some land purchase decisions is public excoriation by resident landowners in the area of purchase for removing private lands from their county's tax rolls. Justification of purchase, in such cases, never seems to carry much weight. An area of growing concern, and therefore of growing responsibility, is the area of water development and the department's concern with federal and state water projects. It is the commission's responsibility, according to statutes, to provide for the management, propagation, protection and restoration of wildlife, including fish. Some of the water projects of the federal and state governments have a detrimental effect on fish. Some have a similar effect on wildlife. All should be so planned as to have a beneficial effect on outdoor recreation. It is the commission's responsibility to see that the fish of the state, which by law belong to the people of the state, are protected in such a way that they can be managed, that they can propagate and so that they can be restored when necessary. Lack of jurisdiction or authority in the areas of federal and state development of water projects has made this a critical area in commission considerations. On the other side of the coin, however, water impoundments usually make ideal sites for recreation development. The commission rqust strive, through mutual agreements, leases, purchases or trades, or other methods to acquire the authority to develop outdoor recreation facilities at such impoundments in accordance with a statewide plan of development. Payment for damages done to private property by protected wild game is another area of commission responsibility which is described by State Statute. The law provides that the Game, Fish and Parks Department shall pay for these damages. The commission, after receiving reports and recommendations from department personnel, must determine the eligibility of each claim and then authorize payment for those it holds to be covered by the Statute. It must turn down those that do not qualify and it must go through an arbitration procedure if the denied claimant is not satisfied with the decision. The commission, to carry out its stipulated duties, has provided a research branch on which it depends for information and recommendations in almost all fields of its obligations to the public. Contending that research is the basis on which progress is realized, the commission has authorized the staffing of this research branch, equipped it and financed it and relies on it heavily for needed answers and directions. The commission must approve the research projects to be carried on each year to ensure that the projects are set up and carried out for specific purposes that fit into the requirements of the commission for information, management techniques or tested theories of propagation and restoration. One of the areas of responsibility of the commission, and perhaps one area of greatest frustration, lies in the charge by Statute to provide public access to public lands. It is a charge given the commission for which it has no tools for achievement. It has no legal authority to force open access for the public to some of its lands but must instead purchase, trade, lease, or agree with the landowner. Its ability to acquire public access is entirely dependent on the landowner. Overriding all that has been written above of commission responsibilities is the whole, general area of public relations that pervades every field of endeavor of the commission. The commission can do only that which the public will allow it to do. Therefor. it is the commission's job to see to it that the public is well informed and kept up-to-date so that when it reacts, it is in a manner that is based on knowledge and sound basic principles. This the commission does through its program of public relations in which close contact is kept with the public so that not only can public reaction be determined and interpreted, but also so that commission policies and actions can be interpreted to the public. The area of public relations is vital to the commission's ability to aet in the discharge of its duties. Without a good public relations program, the commission is powerless to act for the best interests of wildlife and recreation in areas of public controversy or disagreement. This responsibility for public relations: because of its overriding importance in every area of commission authority and action, is probably one of the more critical commission responsibilities. Appointed to their positions by the Governor of Colorado, the ten-man commission represents many fields of endeavor. In 1964, the commission had as its members a restaurant owner, retired General Motors executive. mortician. retired cattleman, appliance and tire dealer, two active sheep and cattle ranchers, department store owner, banker and attorney. Although they all came from different walks of life, different locations of the state and earned their living in different ways, they all had one thing in common - an understanding of and concern for the fish, wildlife and recreation facilities in the state. Having now become acquainted with the legal basis of the commission and with the commission's responsibilities and duties, it is time to become acquainted with the members who made up the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Commission in 1964. -5- �Melvern Renfrow PREsI oeNr, 1964 ELVERN RENFROW of Delta, Colorado, was M appointed to the Colorado Game, F ish and P arks Commission in 1961 for a 6-year term. H e is a Rep ublican. At the time of his appointment Mr. Renfrow's a mb ition was, and still is, to help bu ild the overall favo rable image of the department. As Renfrow put it, "I felt that the public relat ions oi the Game, Fish a nd P a rks Depa rtment could be improved and I fe lt that al that time I could help in th at area." Due to the large numbers of big game in District 7. and the entire s tate, Re nfrow is extremely interested in seeing that p rese rvation of the herds is maintai ned for p resent and future genera ti ons alike. Another Renfrow goal was to see if th ere was some way that fishing could be better mainta ined and improved fo r Colorado. Melve rn Renfro w, age 48, was born in Woodward. Oklahoma, in 1917. He, his wife "Jackie" and their 16-yea r-old da ughter, Rena, make their home in Delta, Colorado. Renfrow moved Lo Colorado from Oklahoma in 1937. Ile g radua ted from high school in Balko, Oklah oma . Renfro w is ideall y s uited for his duties with the Game, Fish a nd Pa rks Commissio n. He is a successful ma nager and administrator of two junior depar tment s tores-the Garrett Mercantile in Delta and a secorrcl store in P aonia . Renfrow has been active in the business world for 26 years. While he is active in business. he is also ac"tive in ma ny civic a nd service cl~bs in addition to his Ca me. F ish a nd Parks Comm ission work. which takes al most a full work week of each rnontl1. H e is a membe r of the Delta E lks Locl!!e. Kiwanis Cl ub, ( of which he is pas t president acllCI past li eutena nt gove rn or of th e Rocky Mounta in District ), Delta City and County Cha mber o f Commerce. Delta Sports man Associa tion and the Delta Gol f Assoc iation. Wh en th ings a re not going well a nd Mel seems to be among the missing, his wife " Jacki e" can usuall y locale him in his fa vo rite cubby-ho le unde r the basemen t sta irs where he loads his own sho tg un shells. Also in the hobby depa rtment, Renfrow loves to play golf. He is an avid f ishing enthusiast. enjoys h untin g a nd trap shooti ng. H e says the biggest fish he ever caught was a fi ve a nd onehalf pound nal ive, which is a mighl)' ni ce fi sh in any m an's la ng uage. R enfrow summed up his feeling concern ing - 6- the Colo rado Game, F ish a nd P arks Department this way : " I have always wo rked closely with s po rtsmen, fa rmers, ranchers a nd conse rvati onists. 1 a m awa re of their a tt itudes toward hunting and fishing. l respect th eir alt itudes and a lso those of the people who never hu nt or fish. but are interested in the prese rvation and ca reful ma nagement of ou r wild li fe resources. These a re the people, alon g 1r ith the ded icated hunters and f ishermen, who have made hunting and fi shing possible today. Had it no t been fo r their kind. the ma rket h unters and fishermen a nd tr igger-h~ppy s hooters. who could neve r be call ed sportsmen. would have extermin ated most wildlife decades ago. " I would a lso like to say that altho ugh J am the Co mm iss ioner from Distri ct 7 representing this a rea, I have been do ing my best not o nly to help my d istr ict but to wor k on game, fish a nd pa rks problems on a statewide basis. As 1 see it, in most insta nces, whatever helps one pa rt of the state will help the s tate as a whole." �Mel relaxes at home with his wife Jackie and daughter R ena. On Delta golf conrse Mel shows family his skill on the green. He is a/,50 an ardent fish erman. Mel keeps store hours, too. Here he helps a customer in his Garrett Mercantile store in Delta. -7 - �Augustus P. Hann vIcE PRESIDENT, 1964 P. (GUS) HANN, retired General AUGUSTUS Motors official and Denver resident. was named a commissioner by Governor Stev~ McNichols in May 1961, succeeding Clarence W. Baker of Lakewood fo r District 1. District 1 is composed of Denver, Jefferson, Douglas, Teller, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Park, Lake and Chaffee counties. Hann, 76, a former regional manager of the General Motors Acceptance Corporation, has been active in the Izaak Walton League since he retired. Starting as secretary of a Denver Chapter, Hann rose to State President of the Colorado Division, and he is also a past national director of the league. Hann was born in Washin1?;ton, New Jersey, and grew up in southwestern Kansas and south Texas. He served in both World Wars. I n World War II, he was elevated to the rank of full Colonel of Infantry. Throughout his life, Hann has been interested in the outdoors. " My interest in the outdoors," he said, "stems from my boyhood in western Kansas where I saw the prairie vanish. Since that time I have been concerned over the nation's dwindling wildlife. "After my retirement I decided to do something about h. I became an active member of a sportsman's grou p, believi ng this to be the best way to help restore a nd prese rve wildl ife. With our growing leisure and increased interest in hunting and fishing, this is a vital mailer which should concern everyone." As commissioner, Hann has worked with both sportsmen and lan downers in bringing about what the late President Kennedy and Secretary of Interior Udall so often talked about and that is. a multiple use of the land. Hann said, " I want to lend whatever support T can Lo their plans lo utilize both the recreational val ues and the resources of the public lands and still preserve as much as possible of the wilderne;;s characterictic,.'' Hann believes there is a tremendous amount of work ahead in the area of developing parks and recreation if we are to meet the demands that will be created by the coming population explosion. He put it this way, " the more people we can keep off the highways on weekends the better off we will be. There will be fewer fatal accidents. To do this we must develop many more parks and recreation a reas within an hour's drive of Denver. I am a strong advoca te of more development along these lines in the Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo areas. Not because they are the big metro- politan areas, but because by so doing we can decrease the rate of fatal weekend acc idents that occur when people are forced to drive long distances for their recreat ion." As for the big game hunting in the fu ture, Hann sees the day coming when a fixed n umber of hunters will be allowed in any given a rea. He feels this will help lo maintain balanced herds for generati ons lo come. Hann believes, as do most authorities on the subject, that con tinu ed good bird hunti ng will only be achieved if a method is devi~ecl whereby habitat a reas can be set aside lo perpetuate the adequate cover needed to sustain bird life. Gus said, "any good farmer worth his salt will tell you that most of the b ird loss is clue lo mowing ma- -8- �ABOVE: Gus has an cibuling interest in Cherry Creek Reservoir State Recreation Area, southeast of Denver. RIGHT: Gus was active in bettering the Denver Mountain Parks as part of his Ike l eague work. This Denver P ost photo was taken ten years ago. chines and harvest eq uipment. The loss does not come about by hunter harvest. Therefore, if each farm could set as ide some small area that would not feel the mower's blade, the habitat would be assured and thus the bird population wou ld prosper." Hann is a Democrat and a member of several masonic orders. His fa vo rite sport is fishing and he used to follow this sport all over the country whenever his du ti es with GMAC permitted him lo do so. Hann is marr ied and has one da ugh ter. - 9- �Bob Hendricks sEcRETARv, 1964 of 1962, Bob Hendricks of BurINlingTHEton spring was busy circul ating a petition in Kit Carson County, nom inating a friend for the Colorado Came and Fish Commission. A week later, Bob H endricks. the petition circulator, was himself namerl lo the commission instead of his petition's nominee. Former Governor Steve McNichols had decided to appoint a young, aggressive. energetic businessman-sportsman-water enthusiast lo the commiss ion lo r epresent District 3-that part of eastern Colorado co mprised of Adams, Arapahoe, Elbert, El P aso, Washington, Yuma, Lincoln, Cheyenne and Kit Carson counties. A s l rong beli ever in hard work and lo ng hours, Hendricks has compiled a record of achievement for outd oo r recreation in a ll its forms in his district. H e mentions. with clue pride. that 14 dams a nd waler impoundments have been constructed in eas tern Colorado since he has been on the commiss ion. He is equally proud of the commiss ion's record of achievement in other parts of the slate, for he reco;mizes a responsibility, not only to his district but lo the entire state's o utdoor recreati on facilities and resources. Bo rn al McCook. Nebra~ka. on J uly :-W, 1928. Hendricks was a I O-day r esident of the Cornhusker state, then moved lo Burling ton. Colorado, \\·he re he is cons idered an "almost" nntive. H e g raduated from CSU in 1950 with a premed d eg ree and then attended ".\forlician's School in Dallas, Texas. Tn the Ai r F orce from 195] th rough 1.953, he was the general's .private "whipping boy." otherwise known as th e Personnel Service~ Officer for the 8th Air F orce. nom in all v s lationerl in Austin. T exas. • Unl ike most Air Force o fficers. Hendri cks lea rned lo fl y after he got o ut o f the servi ce. and now docs considerable flyin/!: in pursuit of his nrious voca tions and his Came. F ish and P arks Commi ssio n avocation . Upo n return fro m the service, he jo ined his father in the operation of the mo rtua ry in Burlinp:ton. a business th at th e Hendr icks fa mil y has operated for 25 years. Wlicn business dictated that the mo rtuary be expanded. a contractor was hired to d o the constructi on . Hend ricks awarded the construction contract lo the builder and al the same time bought the bu ilde r out of the milk delivery bus iness. For a number of yea rs he woulrl deli ver a m ilk route in Burlin!!:lon· and th e s urround ing area ea rly in the morning. then report to the mortua ry for a full clay o f work. - Hendricks later got out of the milk business and into the monument bus iness whi ch occupies much of his time and th ought. He travels ex tensively Lo all parts of the co untry inspecting various types and shapes of stone for the monument b us iness. Tn addition lo h is main lines of work. h e also is Co unty Coroner for Kit Carson Cou~ty, s ucceedi ng his fa the r in the post whi ch his father had held fo r a lo nge r term th an any other public official in the history of the county. T he Hendricks famil y also owns and operates a farm at S tratto n which his brother J oe m ana/!:es. T wo facets of this farm op eration fascinate the Commissioner. quarter hor~es and o il leases. H endri cks has an inna te love of horses. having grown up with them, fJ Uarler horses of the raci ng va ri ety occupyin g a special place in his life. At an earl ier a!!c. he used lo be known as one of the best fJ~arter horse racers in th is r egion. When Hendricks got into the irons of one of the Hendricks fam il y's quarter horses, the betting got downri 1?:hl lively. He is still a hard man to keep up with when th e q uarter' hor~es are running at the Kit Carso n Count y F a ir al Burlington. As if the already described acti vities were nol JO- �~ Come on nnder; the water's fine, says Bob, as he prepares to go scuba diving at Bonny Reservoir. Commissioner Hendricks inspects a new boat dock with a friend at Bonny Reservoir State Recreation Area, located just north of Burlington. • enough, H endricks serves as chairman of the Kit Carson County Republican Central Committee, is a member of th e Elks, Rotary Club, Masonic Lodge and of the chambers of commerce of Burling ton and Stratton. He was an avid participant in sports activities until overtaken by a horrible football accident. He was leveled in his backyard by his young 5year-old son, Rand y, durin g an informal scrimmage and the result was a gimpy knee that has cut do wn on his a ctive participation. A helmet lo the hinge during a head-on tackle did the job. The Commissioner, his wife Nelda, who m he met a t a military dance in Austin , Texas, and married, all in 1951, and his four children, Vicky Lynn, 12; Terry, 8; Tammy, 7 ; and Rand y, 5 are a ll familiar figures in Kit Ca rson Cou nty and its center, Burlington. While express ing deep concern for some of the problems that ari se in department operations, while "shilling" fo r his beloved eastern Colorado, while pushing and promoting facilities for out- The family talces time, too. Busy Bob relaxes with three of his four chiulren, Tammy, Vicky Lynn and Randy. Wife and olher boy were elsewhere. door recreation and its water-oriented spo rts, H endricks is genuinely appreciative of his oppo rtunity to serve on th e Game, Fish and Parks Commission. l t has helped him keep his life in balance and has been a warm and rich ex perience for thi s energetic, go-go-go man from Burlington, Robert Hendricks. -11- �Marshall Hughes MEMBER, 1964 HUGHES is perhaps best deMARSHALL scribed as the typical ha rd working, soft spoken westerner. Hughes, not only sounds like the general conception of a western rancher, but talks and acts like one. Marsh all Hughes was born 39 years ago jn Montrose, Colorado. He attended grade school and high school in Montrose and th en Western State College at Gunnison, Colorado. During World War II, Hu ghes served in the United Stales Navy from 194-3 through 1945, and was released from the service as an Aviati on Ca· det. The fli ght trai ni ng h e received in the Navy was to serve him well in the subsequent operation of his ranching business. The H ughes b roth ers, Marshall and Charles, own and opera te a business th at stretches in a tria no-le from Norwood to Olathe to Silverton and back"'to Norwood. The bas ic product is sheep, 12,000 head, also 211.00 cattle and 210 horses. In conj unction wi th the ranching business, the Hugh es brothers operate a feed lot at Olathe where they fatten sheep a nd cattle for market. A recent addition to the Hughes Brothers Corp. is the Silverton Dude Corral. Inc., where they pro• vide pack trips for hunters, fishermen and fam ily vacations. The Hu ghes brothers also raise 350 acres of co rn and 1000 acres of hay. Wi th a business that rambles over approxi• matel y 2450 square miles, Marshall Hu ghes discovered ten years ago that th e best way to keep in constant contact was to fl y and use a two-way radio. In addition to the radio in his Cessna 180, th e Hughes rad io system consists of two base stations and ten mobi le units. H is wife Jean acts as chief dispa tcher from Norwood. I n this way, he keeps in touch wi th the summer ranch on Lone Cone Mountain, the winte r ranch headquarte rs in Dry Creek Basin, the feed lot in Olathe and the dude ranch at Silverton. Marshall and his wife, Jea n, have two child ren, Sandra 17 and Howard 9. Marshall Hughes is very well qualified for his position as a member of the Colorado Game, Fish and Pa rks Comm ission. He has ma ny years of first hand know ledge of the big game situa tion in sou thwestern Colorado as well as the entire stale. Hu ghes has long been active in landowner· hunter rela ti ons programs. He was instrumenta l in sta rting the courtesy card program in San Miguel County and was involved in the ea rl y forma ti on of Operati on Respect. the Sportsman and Landowner Association of Colorado. Game animals abound on the H ughes ranch. i There are several th ousa nd deer, 200 elk, plus quite a few antelope and bear. The Hughes ranch is one of the few places in the west whe re the wild horse still roams. At this point it would seem that Marshall Hughes has plenty of work to keep him busy. But, in add ition, he is Republican County chairman for San Miguel County, a director of the Producers Li vestock Credit Corp. of Denver, directo r of dis• lrict 9 of the Colorado Farm Bureau, active mem· bcr and past president of the Colorado Wool Growers Association, a member of the Colorado - 12 - �Marshall Hughes rounds np some stray sheep on his high-country range. ( Marshall works closely with Wildlife Conservation O/ficer Bob Mangus who is stationed in Norwood. ✓ . • ' ( ~~\ Cattleman's Association. He also belongs to the Norwood Lions Club and the Elks Club. The old adage, " If you want someth ing done, give the job to a busy man" was made to order for Marshall Hughes. - Marshall's helper at headquarters is his wife Jean. Some 40 persons are employed to run the operations. 13 - �Roy Eckles MEMBER, 1964 S OME of the finest goose hunting is found in southeast Colorado, as the geese heavily populate the large water impoundments of this area. Duck hunters ca n find all the sport they want in southeast Colorado. Quail hunting found along tJie Oklahoma line in Colorad o, will compare with any area in the state. A large portion of the ante· lope hunters in the state can be found in this part of Colorado come the antelope season. The best turkey hunting in Colorado. that found around T ri nidad , is located in this southeast reg ion as is represen tative big game hunting in the Twin Sisters and Wet Mountain Valley a reas of this reg ion. Tn add iti on, warm waler fishin g has grown in popularity in the water a reas o f the reg ion. The respo nsibility for representing this south· east portion o f the s tate on the Colorado Game, F ish and Parks Commission, District 4, falls on the shoulders of Roy Eckles, tire and appli ance dealer at Lamar. S ince th e middle of 1963, Eckles also has had responsibility for represen ting the o nly state park in Colorado's park and recreat ion system , Lathrop State Park outside of Walsenburg. La throp State Park is also the planned location of the first stateowned buffalo herd. E xperience is an important factor in a person's ability to hanclle r esponsibilities of this magnitude a nd Roy Eckles is highly qualifi ed in this respect for he has served on the comm ission lon;rer than any o ther person with the exception of Dick Lyttle of Meeker. E ckles was fi rst appointed to the commiss ion in 194-7 and served to ] 952. H e was agai n appoi nted to the Commission in 1959 and ~ervecl Lo 1961-. He spent a total of 12 yea rs on the Game, Fish and Parks Commission. That th e Game and Fish Commissioni ng business seems lo run in the Eck les family is attested to by the fact that his brother. Ted. also served on the commission, representing the San Luis Valley from 19-J.7 through 1952, mak ing this th e only set of brothers to serve not o nl y on the comm ission but on the commission at the same time. Eck les was born in Waurika, Oklahoma, making him one of four comm issioners who were native Oklahomans on the co mmission in 1962. He came lo Colorado in 1915 and is a graduate of Lama r Hi gh School and the Uni vers ity of Denver. His life in the Arkansas Valley has instilled in him a love for the wild animals and birds and fish found in hi s region. He is an avid hunter and fisherman , fav oring the Two Bullcs a rea for goose hunti ng and warm wale r fishin g and the hi gh co untry fo r trout fishing. His favorite fishing spots • a rc the Gunnison and Rio Grande rivers. He has a cabin in the Two Buttes area, south of Lamar, which he has owned for some 15 years. In that time he has had a rings ide mat al the build-up of the goose populations for which he played an instrumental part in his actions on the Commission. He points with pride. when reflecting on hi s 12 years on the co mmission, to thi,, development of goose and cluck hunting in the Two Buttes area, a build-up which he has witnessed from practically no geese to the current population of honkers that numbe rs about 40,000. Other hi ghlights th a t Eckles remembers with pride include the first turkey season, the first bighorn sheep season and the first fishin g for walleye pike. But it is the goose build-up in southeastern Colorado of which he is the proudest for it is thi s build-up and the resulting hunting pressures it has b ro ught to the Arkansas Valley th at has played a definite part in the economy of the a rea. Goose seasons now mean bus iness to the mercha nts of the Arkansas Valley. �Yon can bet luwting and fishing in the Arkansas Valley is the conversation topic around the stove. Roy Eckles an d his attractive wife Alma are active in many of the civic projects in and around Lamar. Ca rrying hi s high esteem for wildlife over from his commissio n 11·ork lo his private life, Eckles is a member of the Southeas t Colorado Game and Fish Club, the C. F.&1. Fin and Feather Cluh and Lhe La mar and Color ad o trap clubs, among other wildlife affil iations. I n addition, his civic activities incl ude membersh ip in the La mar Chambe r of Commerce, Rotary Club and the Maso nic Lodge, Scottish Rite. Eckles and his wife, Alma, are active in many of the civic projects in and a r ound Lamar. Altho ugh his term o n the commission ended this year, Roy Eckles will not turn off his interest in wi ldlife and the outdoors. H e wi ll continue to be a staunch s upporter o f those wi ld li fe projects that are sound a nd that will benefi t his A rkansas Valley. And you can be sure that when the cold weather ro lls in late in the fall a nd the honkers start head in~ into th e Two Bulles area of Colorado, Roy Eck les will be in th e vicinit y, watchin g the fl ights intently a nd pla nn ing his goo~e hu11ti11g for that year. Roy sells tires, appliances and firearms. Some sound (/,(lvice 011 goose !11wting accompanies this sale. -15 - �Parker Sooter MEMBER, 1964 winter of 1959 the Alamosa Game D URandINGFishtheClub comprised of some 180 mem· bers circulated a petition Lo have P arker Sooter named to the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Commission ( then known as the Game and Fish Commission ) . The club secured 1225 signatures and in May 1959 Governor Steve McNichols ap· poi nted Parker Sooter, a Democrat, as the Com· missioner from District 5. He was appoin ted for a six-year term which ended in May 1965. Sooter, who was born July 2, 190,i, is 61 yea rs old. He g raduated from Fort Gibson high school in Oklahoma. H e spen t the first 33 years of his life on the fa rm. raising cotton, feed and livestock. He moved lo Colorado from Oklahoma in 1929, and sta rted farm ing in the An imas Valley above Durango. It was at this time that he became interested in the big game of Colorado. In 1933 Sooter worked with the area co unty agen t on various and s undry ex tension projects and was then appointed Coun ty Supervisor of the Ag riculture Adjustment Administrati on. He was later transfe rred to the Farm Security Administration in charge of land loans in the State of Colorado. At this time his office was located in Fort Collins. His principal work consisted of appraising farms for purchase and working ou t various farm pro· gram operations. In 1939 Sooter was transferred to the Den ver office of the Agri culture Adjust· ment Administration, and put in charge of a much larger territory comprised of Wyoming, Montana and Colorado where he acted as the assistant to the Ch ief of Land Programs for the three stales. ln 1946 Parker Sooter left government work to become a salesman for a tool compan y where he remained for four yea rs. In 1950 Sooter and his wife Helen, bought the Campus Cafe in Alamosa. At that time, as P arker Sooter puts it, "the only experience I ever had in the restaurant business was eating out front." Parker Sooter is well qualified to ~erve as a Commissioner on the Game. Fish and Pa rks Commission of Colorado. In addition to his vast ex· perience and knowledge gained from the time spent with the Department of Agriculture, Sooter is also active in many other organizations. He is a member of the Farm Bureau, Odd Fellows, Lions Club, Elks Club, a member and past president of the Alamosa Co unty Rod and Gun Club, past president and member of the Animas Valley School Board , past president and member of the Animas Valley Grange, and now a past president and member of the Colorado Game, Fish and Pa rks Commission. Mr. Sooter has been interested in hunting and fishing all his life and is a skilled archer. He became interested in conservation and the improve• ment and restoration of wildlife resources after moving into the San Luis Valley. Even before becoming a commissioner he worked extensively with the Colorado Game and Fish Depa rtment to c reate hel te r spo rtsman-landowner rel ations and lo develop better hunting and fishing areas. His wife, Helen, also likes to hunt-primarily deer and pheasants. Parker likes to tell the story of the first time she bagged a deer. lt seems that she started ou t in the morning neat as a pin and ready for the field. Parker sat he r on a rock at an advantageous location, then made a big circle with the idea in mind of driving a deer past her stand , but when he got back to where Helen had been sitting she had moYed. The co nve rsa ti on wh en next they met, was not related but as th ey were wal king back to their cabin Parker spotted a big buck down in a draw. Helen took her time, took a im in the off-hand position, that didn't feel -16- �After a bu,sy day in the cafe, Parker and his wife Helen look over their favorite magazine - what else but department magazine, Colorado Outdoors. The friendly Campcts Cafe, owned and operated by Parker, is often the place for swapping stories. Parker shows Helen where to cast for the big one. quite right so she tried kneel ing, still n ot steady enough she tried silting, and finall y dropped the deer with one shot. There was, however, one thing that Mrs. Sooter had not planned on, and that was cleaning the deer, so while Helen returned to the cabin just as clean a nd neat as she started Parker cleaned the deer. According lo latest reports she still doesn't clean them. Mr. and Mrs. Sooter work hard at the Campus Cafe. More o ften than not th ey put in a 16-hour day, but once a week they try to get up to th e cabin, perhaps more appropriately called their summer home just west of South Fork, Colorado, near the Rio Grande. The cabin also acts as hunting headquarters in the fall. As Sooter puts it, " getting a wa y to the cabin once a week helps keep one on an even keel." Mrs. Sooter is also one of the cl i recto rs of the Colorado and Wyoming Restau rant Association. In addition to th oroughly enjoying his work while on the Game, Fish and Parks Commission, Sooter enjoys all forms of hunting and fishing and trap shooting, he enjoys all kinds of flowers and likes to raise gladiolas. While most men tell of the big one that got away Sooter likes to tell about the big one he actually ca ught in the Gulf of Mexi co- a 186pound Marlin. -17- �Bill August MEMBER, 1964 AUGUST was appointed to the Color ado B ILL Game and Fish Commission (now Game, Fish an d Parks Commission ) by Governor Joh n Love, in May 1963, to serve a fou r-yea r term as Commissioner from District 2. He is a Democrat. Mr. August, who is 59 years of age, was born in Avoca, 1ebraska, January 23, 1906. and g raduated from high school in Nehawka , Nebraska, in 1923. He is ma rried and the fa ther of three children, Kathleen 38, Jean 36 and Leo 3ll.. He and hi s wife, E sther, make their home on an 1800-acre farm 12 m iles south of Brush, Colorado. If Bill Aug ust has one big aim in life, that a im is to preser ve the gr eat outdoors of Colorado for future generations. Mr. August has been a farmer all of his life. He started in the fa rm business in eastern Neb raska and mO\·ed to \Vashington Coun ty, Colorado, in 1934-, and to his p resent home in Mor ga n County in 1939. T he farm, south of Brush, is made up of 360 acres o f irrigated land with the balance of the property in grass land. The basic product of the Au gust farm is callle and feed . They buy and sell cattle, also feed cattle. and will average ab ou t 300 head on hand at any given time, plus o ne saddl e horse. Bill la ug hingly cal ls it. "a onehor~e ran ch." Bill was one of th e orig inal mechanized farmers, getting r id of his horses in 1928 . H e was also one of the or iginal users of tractors and rubber tires on tractors in r elation lo his farm operations. August is in partnership with h is son Leo, and as Bill pu ts it, it's stri ctl y a son-fa ther operation in the tru e sense of the word. During the fall a nd winter mon ths Bill spend s two o r three days a week a ttending va rious cattle sal es. According to August he devotes f ive to s i:, days a m onth on Game. Fish and Parks Comm iss io n work. which irwol ves actu al comm ission ,,·ork in Denver o nce a month. plus num erous trips representi ng the commission a t va rious nati onal and local ~eelings th ronghoul the U nited States. August is a pas t mas te r of the Masonic Lodge 1umher 123. Brush. Co lorado, R oyal Arch Masons of Fort Morga n, 32nd Degree Mason. El Jebel S h rine. Denver, past pres id ent o f the Brush Fish and Game Club, pas t president a nd charte r member of Brush Rule Fi re Protecti o n Dis tr ict. trustee Brush Community Hospital, past president and current secretary-treas urer of the Mo rga n Cou nty Cattlemen's Assoc iation. fo rmer d irecto r of Washingto n Co unty School Distr ict. Colo rado Cattlemen's Ass'n ( on the beef promotion comm ittee), and a charter m embe r of Operat ion Re- I spect. the Sportsman and Land owner Association o f Colorado. When asked what he likes to do best Aug ust said he li kes to travel, take pictures and v is it wi th people heller than anythingelsc. He also is a hunting and fis h ing enthusiast. bu t as he p ut it, " I would just as ~0011 stand on the bank and watch the other fell ow catch the fish. And b y the same token . wh il e l have h unted extensiveiy, I would just as soo n shoot a deer o r elk wi th a camera as with a gun." August no w fi gures tha t he has clorn lo 12.000 slides, most of them depicting outdoor scenes. Aug ust says he enjoys nothing m o re than a good pack trip with lots o f visitin g b y the camp· fire at nig ht. He has a close affinity to people in the o ut-of-doors. As he puts it, " l like people but 1 don't like 'em ja mmed up like in a Fo urth o f Jul y celebratio n." August feels th at a fell ow hasn't lived until he has pa rked a tra iler or a tent beside a mounta in stream anrl listened lo the brook g urgling at ni ght. 18 - �Bul and Esther both like high-country camping, taking many trips in their camper-type pickup. Active in community projects, Bill helped obtain a fire engine for the Bmsh Fire Protection District of which he is past president and a charter member. Farm life proves ,:nteresting to Bill's grandson . He says, "th is plus a liber al dosage of good conversation besid e the campfire jusl can' t be beat." To c ite an exa mple, fo r the last two big game seasons Aug ust has pu rchased an elk license bu t hunted only one day and spent the rest of th e tim e v isiting hunting camps a nd talking to people. One of the hig hlights of a hunting tri p abo ut 13 yea rs ago was when Au gust shot a black bea r on the north side of S leep y Cat Pea k about 25 miles no rtheast of Meeker. It was a b ii:r bear, th e g reen hide measuring 7 ft. by 7 ft. and August cla ims that the fat on the back was five inches d eep from head to ta il. Some say th at had the sku ll been saved it probably would have qual ified as one of the all Lime record bea r taken in Colorado. Mr. August is well q ualifi ed fo r his work on the Color ado Game, Fish and Pa rks Commission. He has a broacl background of wo rking wi th fa rm anima ls, he has ow ned and operated his own business all of his ad ult life and as he puts it, " I have ridden both sides of the fence. both landowner all(! spor tsman." He feels that he can look at a problem fr om three views-busi ness, la ndowne r, a nd sportsman. Because of his ex tensive travels he knows good parks from fi rst hand experience and he feel th at Colo rado is laggi ng beh in d some o f the other states as fa r as parks a re concerned . August feels that Colorado is relying too heavil y on what Mo ther Nature gave us, th at 1,·e didn ' t gel started early enough wi th ou r pa rks system, but that we are now making good headway. He bel ieves in a conservat ive att itude and proceeding on a sound basis. - 19 - �Orest Gerbaz MEMBER, 1964 A PITKIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER for almost 30 years and a sheep and ca ttle man for almost all of those years is one of the Game, Fish and P arks Commission's two represen tatives at large, Orest Gerbaz. When the State Legislature in 1963 merged the State Parks a nd Recreati on Department into the Stale Game and Fish Department and increased the resulting Game, F ish and Parks Commission from eight to ten members, with the two new commissioners to be elected at large, Governor John Love tapped the "bounding Basque from Woody Creek" for one of th e new posts. With the whole state to pick from , Governor Love could not have called on a more able candidate. A man with a keen sense of political feasibility, with a gift fo r getting quickly to the core of a problem and with a tal ent for expressing his mind in clear, unmistakable expleti ve, liberally sprinkled with humor, Orest Gerbaz filled his position on the commission so well for two years that he was reappointed in 1965, this time to a full four-year term. Gerbaz h as brought with him to the Game, Fish and Parks Commission a wealth of knowledge of his rep;i on and its natural resources and facilities on which to base decisions. His first name acquaintanceship with almost everyone in the Roaring Fork. Frying Pan and Colorado River valleys of the Western Slope stands the department in good stead when its programs need explaining to the public or when discussing game, fish, parks or recreati on on the west side of th e mountains. A true western sloper, Gerbaz was born. raised and has lived most of his life in or near Woody Creek, a qu iet haml et, downstream on the Roaring Fork from Aspen. mostly populated by Gerbazs. Orest a nd three b rothers operate a sheep and cattle ranch on lJ 00 acres wh olely owned, another 900 acres leased and a 20,000 acre National F orest grazing pe rmit. The four brothers have been working together all of their lives. and Ore•t knows the true mea ning of give and take. Although run ning 1000 head of sheep and 45 o f cattle, the Gerbaz operation has for many yea rs left several hundred acres of leased land for wi ldlife grazing, mostl y by elk. He doesn't feel that thi s is especiall y unique. knowing of many other ranchers wh o do the same thinp: in varying degrees. "You ca n't be rai sed and l ive in g reat game country as I do." Gerbaz comments, "without feeling compassion fo r these wild game animals. lt's sort of reassuring and a never-ending thrill just - 20 - to be able to see them dose by." He acids, "The~e wonderful animals deserve breathing and feeding room and during ha rd times deserve a helping hand." Althou gh he has been among big game an imals most of his life, he doesn't feel he kn ows all about the~e an imals. He listens intently when the department's trained and experienced personnel speak. We ighing thi s with his own personal knowledge of the game in his region and what he believes to be their needs, he is usually a ble to arri ve at a sound decision. The unofficial mayor of Woody Creek and his wife. Helen, have a da ughter, Beve rley, who is a fi rst grade teacher in Oregon. His wife, also a native of Colorado, was b orn at Erie and moved Lo Aspen in 1919. She and Ores! met by ch ance in A~pen in 1927 and were married in 1930. In add ition to a strenuous working day that �A Pitkin County Commissioner for almost 30 years, Orest talks over a road problem with county worker. Orest and his wife Helen look over ranch hol,dings. usually runs from daylight to dark and frequen tly longe r, Gerbaz finds time lo be active in the following organ izations: Democrati c chairman of Pitkin County for 20 years, P itkin County Commissioner since 1936, Colorado River Conservation Board , State Advisory Board of Land Management, Co_loraclo Wool Growers Association, Colorado Cattlemen's Association, Local Elks Lodge since 1923, Mason ic Lod ge, d irector Ri fle Producti on Credit Association for 23 years, Natural Resources Committee of the Nati onal Associati on of County Officials. No doubt about it. the "outspoken and dy namic Ger baz'' has brought new li fe lo the commission. His emplo yment of two equall y effective meth ods, the devestating ly direct approach and the humorously devious route, has brought a new dimension Lo the not always weighty delibe rat ions of the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Co mmission. Orest met Helen at a dance. Now she is the offi:cial assistant to the unofficial mayor of /Poody Creek. -21- �Ron Strahle MEMBER, 1964 is 43 years old, having been RobornSTRAHLE December 16, 1921, in Stanton, cbras1 ka. He a nd his wife, Emma Lue, li ve in Furl Collins with lheir three children, Wynn, age 12; Ann, age 10. a nd Richard, age 8. Mr. Strahle was ap· pointed lo the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Commission in May 1963, lo ser ve as a m embe r at large for a period of fou r years. "When asked where and when he met his wife, he sa id, ":Vly first recollection is of her 4th birthda y part,· in Stanton. l\ebraska. where 11·e acqu ired a mutual dislike for each other lasti ng until we were fi fteen when we both developed better taste ." Strah le was g raduated from high school in Stan ton. Nebraska. r eceived his AB degree from the Uni1·ersity of Nebraska in 19-1-7 and his law degree from ihe same school in 19-1-9. ' Ron Strahle is th e only m ember of lhc Colorado Came, Fish and Parks Comm ission who does not liunl or fish. He is a ham radio operato r, likes to read. is deeply in volved in civic activi ties and enjoys good music. Mr. Strahle is the legal-eagle of the commis• s ioncrs. He has bren a lawyer fo r 16 years, much of hi s practice in volving irri gation and water law. At lhe present time he is the sec retary of 12 different mulual irri ga tion companies. The firm of William & Strahle. Attorneys at Law. is located in F o rl Collins. with offices on the third flo o r of the Firsl National Bank Building. Tn Mr. Stra hl c's opi nion th e principal fun cti on of th e Colorado Came. F ish and Parks Commission is policy making rather than actual mana/!"e· ment. Ile feels th at the commissioners are to the deparlment as a board of directors is to a la rge corpora tion. Strah le is particularly interested in the further developm!'nl o f parks and outdoor rec· reation for the state of Colorado. Tn addilion to his dut ies as a commissioner at large for the Colo rado Came. F ish and Parks Depa r'.tment, Strahle is a member of the Colorado, Nebraska and Amer ican Bar Assoc iations; Elks Cluh: :Wasonic Lodge : Colorado Wi ldl ife Federation: i\"orthern Colorado Rod and Cun Club: pas t pres ident of the Fort Collins Roc k Il ounds Club: forn1er Cha irman. Larimer County Red Cross : past president , Larim er Cou nty Ama trur Radio Club: vice-p resident of the Fort Collins Lib rary Boa rd:. form er member of the board of directors of Fo rt Collins In dustrial Foundation: sec retary. Fort Collins Beet Groll'C rs Association, and is currently publi c trus tee for Larimer Coun ty. He is a Re publican, was cha irm an of the Colorado Youth for Eisenho11·er in 1956. has been chairman of the Larimer Counly Repuhlican Central Committee from 1958 until lhe prescnl d ale, d elega te to lhc l{cpublican )/ational Convention in 1960, chairman of the second Congressional District Rcpub1ican Central Commitlee from 1960 lo 196~. and a d irector of the Colorado Republi can United fund. Ron S trahle put in lwo to u rs of duty with the armed forrc;s. He served with the Mar ine Corps from 1912 to 1916 in the Central Pacific and Chinese theaters. He was recalled lo acli ve duty in 1951 and se rved ll'ilh the Coun te r lntel ligence Corps in the northeastern stales during lhe Korean war. lle was discharged as a first lieu· tenant. When General Eisenho11·er got the Republican nomination for President, S trahle went to work o n Tke's personal ·slaff in Denver. As the election drew near it was necessary Lo move Ike's personal staff headqua rters lo the Commodore H otel in -22- �R on and par/11er Lloyd Williams are experts in waler law - a valuable asset to a commissioner. Everyone has his day in court. Attorney Strahl,e presents cu1. c1,rgume11t before f ndge William Smoke. New York City and Strahle accompanied them. Mr. Strahle was in cha rge of all of Ike's mail and , as he recalls, they received as many as 4000 pieces of ma il per day most of which were answered. T his mail came from all over the world. from Indian Reservations in the sou thwestern U nited Stales, fro m Queen Eliza beth and W inston Churchill, lo name a few. It was Strahl e's job among other things, lo receive and cat alog unsolicited g ifts sent to Ike. Such things as a pair of white geese. p ureb red dogs an d at least 100 b irthday cakes were included. During the campaign these cakes were sent lo orph anages, chilrl ren's hospitals, and s imilar institutions. But Strahle recounts tha t after th e electio n the Secret Service made them destroy all cakes o r any food item received because of the possibil ity of po iso n. St rahle remembers one leller in particular, from a ma n in Lebanon who claimed lo be a seer and said that fo r one million dollars he wo uld g uaran tee Ike's electi on. The money wasn' t sent, obviously, but a fter the electio n they received When not i11 his office at night, Ron is at home with wife Emma Lue and children Wynn , A11n, R icha.rd. ano ther leller from the same man who said that since " I ke was such a good g uy he had had him elected anyway-now please send the million dollars." It would appear that for a man with Ron Strahle's obli ga tions there just a ren' t enough ho urs in the day. He is up b y seven in the morning, in his offi ce by eight, where he wo rks until fi ve. In add ition lo this he wo rks at least three ni2:hts a 1reek and ei ther Saturday or Sunday. beca~se of the demands of Came, Fish and Parks Commission activities. - 23 - �Chris Furneaux MEMBER, 1964 b ank president, civic leaderSPORTSMAN, such a m an is Chris Furneaux, Colo rado Game, Fish and Parks Commissioner f rom Walden, representing District 8. Chris Furnea ux was born 45 yea rs ago on September 12, 1919, in Lubbock, Texas. He g rew up in Texas and attended Texas Tech College. Furneaux mel his charming wife, Ruth , while he was working in Dallas. She was attending SMU at the time. Accordin g to Furneaux, it was a typical " blind dale" to a fra ternity dance. The end result of th at " blind date" is 25 wonderful yea rs of marri age. The F urneauxs will celebrate their 25 th wedding an niversary on June 29, 1966. In Februa ry 194,2, Furneaux entered the United Sta tes A1my where he served with d istinction until he was d ischarged in July 1946. He saw action in wa r torn Europe as a major. He was Batta lion Command er of the 3rd Battalion, 41 st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division in France and Germany. His was one of Lhe first American units into Berlin. Immediately following the end of Lhe shooting, Major Furnea ux was in charge of a displaced persons camp in Ge rmany with the task of bringing some sembl ance of order and help to 6000 di splaced pe rsons. Mr. Furnea ux is a Democrat and was first appointed to the Colorado Game, Fish and P a rks Commission May 8, 1963, for a two-year lerm. He was reappointed to the commission fo r a fo uryear term May 8, 1965. Chris Furnea ux is extremely well qual ified to serve as a commissioner of the Game. Fish and P a rks Department. H e actively operat; d his own ranch for 11 yea rs. At the same time he has been active as a sportsma n and conservationist. At the present time, Furnea ux is President a nd Chairma n of the Board of the North Park State Bank at Walden, Colo rado. As "Boss" of the ba nk. he is consta ntl y deali ng with la ndowner ranchers in the No rth Pa rk area, ma king and servicing loa ns, inspecting livestock and overseeing the general operation of the bank. In add ition to his bank duties, Furneaux is a member of the Lions Club, National Rifle Association. Nationa l Wildlife Federation, Colorado Wildlife Federation, Elks Club, Izaak Walton League, Colorado Cattleman's Association. Colorado Wool Growers Association, Operatio~ Respect - Lhe Sportsman -Landowner Association of Colorado, North P ark Came a nd F ish Club, No rth Pa rk Stock Growers Association, Nati onal Chamber of Commerce a nd the Walden Merchants Association. His main interests, in addition to the dail y business of banking, are his many act1v1t1es in co njuncti on with the workings of the Colorado Game, Fish and P arks Comm ission, civic associa tion projects and hunting a nd fishing. Furnea ux and his wife, Ruth , a re both outdoor enthusiasts and spend a good deal of their spa re time at Lhe cabin just north of Walden. They both enjoy deep sea fishing. One of Lhe greatest events of his fishing career took p lace near Mazatlan, Mexico, when Chris ti ed inlo a 230-pound blue ma rlin. Even with a trophy like tha t, Chris still admits tha t his wife out-fishes him about h alf the time. Another big moment, this one on a hunting trip. happened in the fall of 1952 near La Veta, Colorado, in T racy Canon when he shot a black bear. Furneaux and his wife, Ruth, both have dem• onstratecl their ability to keep a cool head under - 24 - �Chris and his wife Ruth at their home-away-from-home, a, mountain retre(/,t near W(/,lden , Bear mg is a favorite troph y , Chris shot the animal 011 a hunt in the southern part of stale. Chris Furneaux checks an account in his North Park Suite Bank with cashier Jo Ann Emigh. adverse circumstan ces while in th e out-of-doors. Both were los t on Grand Mesa during a b lizzard while on a deer hunting trip. Like all l);OOcl outcloorsmen they s imply sat clown. built a fire and waited 'ti! the storm subsided. Chri s Furnea ux's abi li ty to evaluate an y given problem or set of circumstances, makes him ideally sui ted to administering the complex bus iness encountered by the Colorado Game, Fish and P arks Commission, -25- �The 1964 Annual Report of the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department T HE Colorado Game. Fish and Parks Department, in its operation and planning, is g uided and admini stered by the director who is responsible to the comm issio n. The director of the department administers six distinct a reas of operations game and fish management, game and fis h research, parks and recreatio n, business administration, information and education, a nd land acquisit io n and development. Game a nd fish ma nagement is headed by an assistant director for management who s upervises the slate game manager, sla te fish manager, chi ef of law enforcement and four regional game and fish manage rs. These four regional managers, one for ea ch quarter of the s tale. s upervise the work and plans of a regional fish biologist, a reg ional game biologist, an information officer, an airplane pilot and four to fi ve area s upervisors who in turn supervise the wi ld life conservation officers, fish cultu rists a nd othe r fieldmen withi n the regio n. Each region a lso has a parks manager. The parks and recreation program is headed by an ass is tant director who administers the parks and recreati on prog ram through the s tate. This assistant directo r has a sma ll planning staff in Denver and works closel y with fo ur regional parks managers. Wildlife research is headed by an ass istant director fo r research who supe rvises the plans and work of two d ivisions, game research and fis h resea rch, headquarte red at the depa rtment's Resea rch Center in Fort Colli ns. Business administration is headed by a b usiness manager who supe rv ises the accounting, license a nd personnel secti ons, bu ilding maintenance, etc. Th e department's chief of public relatio ns administers the I nforma tion and Education Division with a cent ralized s taff. Activities include publishing a number of news releases, the department's official magazine, regulations, miscella neous publications; producing still photographs and motion pictures ; organiz ing and presenting prog rams, etc. The Land Acqui sition and Development Division is headed by a chief, who, with two land negotiators and a large eng ineering staff, acquires land and water rights, a nd. with the cooperati on of the four reg io ns, develops areas fo r wildlife management, fis hing and/ or gene ral rec reational use. There is a \Valer Reso urces sta ff wh ich ha nd les the lia ison wi th state a nd fed eral agencies concerning cooperative projects. In all, the re are slightl y more than 400 permanent ernployes in the Game, Fish and Parks Depa rtment. The following pages contain the acti vit y reports for th e calendar year 1064. Th e reports are rou ghly in the order of department organization. No fina ncial repo rt has been inc luded as this is based on a fiscal year and is publ is hed separately. - 26- �Division Reports Management THE F IRST m ountain goat hunting season in Colorado's histo ry, the firs t sp ri ng turkey season in its history and the h ighes t elk kill recorded in the s tate were three highlights of the 196 I, year in the slate's wildlife management. Mountain goats, an introduced sp ecies in this state, were opened to hunting in a section of the Coll egiate R ange, and although the beginning of hun ting fo r this prized species was small and well controlled , it m a rked a mil estone in prog ress for wildlife management in Colorado. Six permits were approved for which over 80 people applied . Four g oa ts were taken. Spring hu nting fo r wild turkey was instituted in an effort to gel a greater and more effecti,·e h a rvest. It h as been determined that we arc failin g to h arvest a s uffi cient number of the o ld , male turkeys, considered b y managem ent p eople to be s ur plus since o nl y a few of the ma les handle the breed in g of whole fl ocks of hens. The sprin g season was set for this time when ih e female is nesting and only the Lough, smart toms are mov ing about. Alth ough the harvest in this first spring season was small. it is hoped that with more expe rience with th is type of season we can inc rease our take of these surplus b irds. The h igh est elk kill in the s tate's hiHory, a lm ost 15,000 was r eported in the 196 I. b ig game season. It is b elieved that this was caused by the dryness of th e season, a llow ing hun ters to move the ir mechan ized m ethods of transpo rtation into th e higher regions where they had never been able lo get before. The res ult was a reco rd elk k ill and a sharp decrease in the h a r vest o f mule deer. Damage claims from priva te landowners during th e winter mon ths o f 1961 were aho ut normal. bu't a huge in cr ease in these cla ims is expected for th e balance of the winter because o f the apparent sever it y of the win ter conditions b eing experienced. Tn th e field o f fish man agement, Co lo rado continued its yea r around fish ing season but the pa rt icipatio n in ice fishing fell off from 1963. A reco rd number of kokanee sa lmon and wa lleye pike eggs were taken by th e state's spawnin g crews a nd Sacramento perch were introduC'erl lo the sta te's wate rs for the first ti me. These fish. whi ch adapt more readil y in alkal ine waters. were stocked in some of the waters of the cm-tern plains where 110 other fish have been able to Iive. If these Sacramento perch will take hold in these oth erwi se barren wa ters, ano ther resource will have been added where none p rev io usly existed. Two new major hatcheries were p ul under co n- struction in 1964, the R oaring Judy Hatchery near A lmont in the Gun nison Valley and the Watson Lake H atchery near Ft. Coll ins. I t is hoped that the p rodu ction from these hatcheries when completed will s ignificantly aug men t th e total fish prod ucti on of the state's hatchery system a nd help Lo reduce the stock ing load on the Eastern S lope that is now carri ed b y some of the Western S lope hatcheries, namely the Rifle Falls unit. ROBERT ELLIOTT Assistant Director, Management Game A S THEY have for m an y years, Colorado b ig game hunte rs were quite s uccessful in harvesting an animal o f their cho ice. The elk harvest set a nc\\· record for the state wit h l i.l-,975 a nim als, a reco rd rank ing among the tops in the nation. Th is excellent harvest can partia lly be attributed Lo the ver y mild weather during the season. Hunters were able to eas ily atta in a ny altitu de o r area they wished wit hout suffering from hem·y sn ow or muddy roads. Over-all s uccess for elk license buyers r ~n 28 per cen t which is co ns idered by all as excellent. Li cense sales for this species also increased abo ut s ix per cen t. Deer hun ters were not quite so lucky, al though the seasons were liberal. The harvest ran ] 18,8-W compared to the- p revious Yea r ':; ha rve,t o f 117.8 18 . Deer were not at all lacki ng . The weather a ffec ted the ha rvest by no t moving the an imals to th eir usual fall h aunts b y the opening of the season. Hu nters returned to their favorite areas and th e animals had not yet moved in from the h igh Limbered summer range. Nevertheless the depa rtment was q uit e satisf ied in most areas. Overall dee r license sa les remained stable. Nonresident sales increased s lil!'htl y and resident second deer li cense sales dec reased s ig n ifi ca ntly. Nonres iden ts came from all other sta tes lo hunt in Colora do and a lth oug h they take fewe r animals th an the res ident. the o ut-of-slate hunter plays a very impo rtant pa rt in the economi cs and m anagement of bo th deer and elk. Califo rnia a lone sent o,·er 17.000 big game hun ters lo Co lorado. I nterest in a rch ery hunting increased cons iderably 11·ith approx imately 5550 hunters a ttempting Lo take a dee r with bow and arrow. The re were 672 bl ack bear reported taken by h unters in ]961. Some 360 of these were taken d uring the special April through September summer seaso n with the r emainde r taken by ricer and elk hunters d ur ing October and l'iovcmher. The b ea r populat io n appea rs lo be holding fa irl y steady and approximately -100 lo 600 may be taken annually. - 27- �Fifty-nine of Colorado's most prized species, the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, were taken by 207 resident license holders. Sheep hunters have been quite successful with 28 per cent success. Interest in hunting the bighorn has been building and at present there are more than twice as many applicants as there are licenses issued. The first Rocky Mountain goat season in Colorado's history was held in 1964. Eighty applicants applied for the six licenses issued. Four of the six hunters were successful in harvesting a mature goat with over six inches of horn. Recent surveys have shown that the goats in three areas of the state-the Collegiates, Mt. Evans and the Elk Mountains-are doing quite well. It appears we will be able to hold a limited season at least every other year or perhaps annually. A total of 5785 antelope licenses was issued. During the mid-September three-day season, 89 per cent of all hunters were successful. 4885 antelope were taken, thus the highest harvest in recent history was attained. Under present management, nearly all antelope herds have been increasing. Big game management in Colorado remains tops in the nation. With the steady increase in recreational hunting, management personnel are constantly bringing forth new and advanced changes designed to meet the future. With this sound wildlife management, harvest of all species will continue to be high, yet the big game species will be protected for future generations. The estimated wild turkey kill was 624. The first spring gobbler ~eason in history was held in May. Few bearded birds were reported killed, yet this season has been a success in that the majority of hunters very much enjoyed this quality hunt. Another important aspect of this type of season was that it provides additional opportunity for recreationists to get afield at a time when the majority of seasons are closed. Although license sales are unlimited, few hunters take advantage of the several turkey seasons. Harvest of Canada geese in 1964 was the highest ever recorded in Colorado. An estimated kill of approximately 29,747 geese by 13,700 hunters was possible by a record number of birds being distributed on many lakes of the eastern plains. Good water and fair food conditions helped improve the harvest over previous years. As usual the southeast counties accounted for more than 75 per cent of the total hag, with Kiowa, Baca, Prowers and Bent the top harvest counties. Duck seasons were similar to the previous year, both in regulations and participation. Duck stamp sales were up about ten per cent over 1963. This can be attributed to the highly successful San Luis Valley experimental season. In the Valiey, liberal limits of mallards were frequently taken during this special early October season. The number of ducks present in the state throughout the season was above average although the warm sunny days contributed to a lack of daylight movement which in turn meant generally poor hunting. Although the west slope season continued for three months -as compared to 40 days on the east slope-few people, other than local residents, hunted these areas. There was a general increase in average bag sizes on the Wes tern Slope. The total estimated retrieved kill was 85,855 of which some 59,600 were mallards. 65,000 or more than 80 per cent of all ducks were taken in the Central Flyway on the east slope. Hunter pressure and harvest on pheasants and quail showed a substantial reduction in 1964 as it did also in 1963. The average season bag of pheasants remained at sli~htly over 2 birds. Only 132,791 pheasants were brought to bag as compared to the average of 178,700. An estimated 38,390 quail of three species were taken throughout the state. Yet the scaled quail which are present in good number throughout the southeast are barely noticed by most upland bird hunters. A good interest in dove hunting continued with 130,790 of these hard-to-hit birds taken. Hunters also took an above average number of grouse and ptarmigan, with the harvest of blue grouse nearly double that of other species of grouse. Interest in hunting the dry canyons for the chukar partridge increased considerably. Approximately 6600 chukars were harvested on the Western Slope. The rabbits are presently on the increase in the state. More than 269,000 cottontails and snowshoes were taken during the four-month winter season. 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, Fish and Parks Department if the claims prove to be valid and substantiated. The department investigates each claim submitted to the commission concerning validity of the claim and what amount should be paid. The commission, in official action, then denies or authorizes payment of the damage claim. The department does preventative work in the game damage areas by arranging for and installing 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 heavy problem areas. A total of $16',775.92 was paid by the department to private property owners for damage done to their property by protected game in 1964. -28- �The number of claims filed totaled 60, of which 56 were allowed and 4 were denied. Indications are that in 1965, the payments of damage claims and the expense of the control program will be extremely high due to unusually heavy winter and spring storms. The damage claims fell into four main categories-deer, elk, bear and beaver. Deer caused the most claims to be filed, while the beaver caused the least trouble. It has been the goal of the department to shift the business of trapping beaver from the department personnel to the private trapper, a goal which is near attainment. In 1964, 572 beaver were trapped by department personnel; 7373 beaver were landownertrapped at the same time, and 1823 by permits. In all, 9768 beaver were taken in I 964 by all methods. The number of beaver taken by department personnel in 1964 declined while the number trapped on private lands and by permittees on public lands increased. In 1964, field personnel spent a total of 13,600 hours working on beaver, predator and fur problems. A total of $4817.50 was realized from the sale of pelts resulting from the taking of beaver, predators and other furbearers. GILBERT N. HUNTER State Game Manager checks showed approximately 18,500,000 trout and salmon and 4,500,000 warm water fish were caught during the year. Approximately 17,000,000 trout and salmon weighing 1,231,000 pounds and 13,500,000 warm water fish weighing 39,000 pounds were planted in public fishing waters of Colorado in 1964 ( See table). New species stocked included Sacramento perch obtained from the State of Nebraska. These fish were placed in Nee Gronda and Two Buttes Reservoir to see if they are better adapted to the high saline environment in these lakes during drought periods. Smallmouth bass fry were also obtained from Nebraska to further experimental plantings of this desirable game species. We were unsuccessful in obtaining silver salmon in 1964 but will continue negotiations to get further experimental stocks of this species. Record egg takes were made by state spawntaking crews on kokanee and walleye. Approximately 10,000,000 kokanee eggs and 27,000,000 walleye eggs were taken. Surpluses were traded to other states for needed species. Trophy size northern pike in the 15 to 25 pound category began to show in the catch at Boyd and Bonny reservoirs. Northern pike fingerling were obtained from North Dakota on a trade for wild turkeys. Lake construction during the year included the following: Lake Creek (Limon) ............. 27 acres Haviland (Durango) ............. 65 " North (Trinidad) ............... 105 ,, Clay Creek (Lamar) ............ 286 " Flagler (Flagler) ............... 215 " Rio Blanco (Meeker) ............ 115 '' Fish F ISHING license sales in 1964 totaled over • 445,000; 308,300 resident licenses and 136,700 nonresident. The year around fishing season remained in force and fishing regulations were virtually the same as in 1963. Ice fishing use declined because of heavy snows in the high country and lack of safe ice on the plains lakes. Creel census data compiled from field bag Two new modern hatcheries were under construction: Roaring Judy near Almont and Watson Lake near Bellvue. Both will be in partial production in 1965-66. TOTAL DISTRIBUTION OF FISH 1964 Size Groups Under 3 Inches Pounds Number 3 to 6 Inches Pounds Number Cold Water Species distribution 20,397 11,910,166 2,513 136,480 Warm Water Fish distribution 803 13,137,504 1,485 293,026 21,200 25,047,670 3,998 429,506 Total of all species, all sizes -29- 6 Inches and Over Pounds Number Total All Sizes Pounds Number 1,208,858 4,899,751 1,231,768 16,946,391 101,837 39,122 13,532,367 1,245,692 5,001,588 1,270,890 30,478,758 36,834 �Repairs and additions to existing hatcheries included work at the Bellvue, Chalk Cliff, Crystal Ri ve r, La J ara, Mt. Shava no, North Fo rk Thomp• son and W ray U nits. The long ter m hatche ry im• p rovement program is shaping up well and the fish productio n plant sys tem should he in full operation by 1967. WAYNE SEAMAN Stale Fish Manager Law Enforcement T HE: YEAR 1964 was a busy year for the Law Enforcement Division. License sales in al l categories were up over the prev ious year, c rcatinp: g reater hunting and fishing pressures, and the violators con tinued at work. The fieldmcn drove a total of 2,723,717 miles du ring the yea r 1964-; they made 2577 cases in 1064 compared to 2207 in 1963. The total amount of fines assessed in 1964 was $71,422.50 as co mpared lo $62,242.50 in 1963. In addition to the game a nd fis h contacts, field. men contacted 684- boaters in 1964 on the waters of the state, and issued 176 ci tations for vari ous boating violati o ns. I n ~the department's hunter safety program the La w Enforcement Di vision was once aga in in the nation's lop ten. The department received from the l ntern ational Association of Gam e. Fish and Conservation Commissioners an awa rd for honorable mentio n, a nd an awa rd for ha ving trained a total of more than 25,000 students. The program during 1964- trained 8120 s tudents and 365 instructors. l nstru ction was p:iven for the first time in the R.O.T.C. prog ram in all of the nine sen io r hig h schools in the Denver school system. Big game fatal hunting acc idents cl roppecl to 3 in 1964, fr om 7 in 1963. Big game non-fatal h unting acciden ts dropped lo 10 in 1964 from 13 in 1963. Th e total fatal hunlin!!" acc idents including both big and ~mall game rdi sed to 12 in 1964 as compared to 11 in 1963. With the passage of a new boating law by the ge neral assemb ly in 1965 which requires the fiel dmen to enforce the boating laws on all waters of the slate beginning January 1. 1966. greater re• sponsibil ities than ever will be placed upon the division. This means that unl ess more personnel is obtained fieldm en will have to devote le,s tim e to the fields of management, game and fish enforcement. infornrntion and ed uca ti on a nd public relations, and more in th e fields of pa rks and recreation. JACK HOGUE La.w Enforcement Chief Research T HE YEAR 1964 brought plans for improve• ment of the research program somewhat nearer to fulfillmcnL in all but one ca tegory. Physical facilities have co ntinued to be developed in co nform ity with lo ng- range plans as is detailed more full y in the division reports which follow this introduct ion. The o ne area where very little prog• ress has been made is in the s taff ing of the Research Center at Fort Collins. As orig inally conceived the plans for the Fort Collins research facility included three key positions of techni cal ed ito r, libra ria n and biometric.:ian. The combina ti on of a sho rtage of ava ilable money and difficult admini strati ve problems has prevented the filling of these positions, thereby caus ing us to resort lo makeshift arrangements that have on ly partially met the needs in the~e areas. Near the encl of the year, the research pro• gram suffe red a maj o r setback th rough th e loss to th e State of Michigan of Dr. H oward A. Ta nner. d ynam ic chief of the Fish Research Divis ion. The vo id left in the research s taff by this resigna• tion will not be easil y filled. It serves to point up a serious problem that con tinu es lo plague the department. This is a n inability under existing salary sched ules lo compete fo r the services of trul y outstanding people . It is a wasteful and shorts ighted pol icy indeed that permits the fed eral agenc ies and prog ress ive states lo lure away ou r finest minds time after time jus t when they are corning into the most productive periods of their careers. Brief s ummaries of Fish Research and Game Research D ivision programs, as prepared by the division chi efs are included in the following sec· lions of this report. For those persons who desi re g reater detail than is provided here concerning these act ivities, m ore comprehensive reports are avai lable o n request. LAURENCE E. RIORDAN Assistant Director, Research Game Resea rch planning received maj or allention in 196..J., with increased effort placed on identifying problems, stating objectives mo re clearly a nd outlin ing procedures whe reby ans wers would be obtained faster and mo re efficiently. Actual research work related to more than 60 s tudies organized under seven major research proj ects. Field, labor• ato ry a nd office work were directed toward solution · of management problems involving deer, elk, antelope and mountai n goats; eight species of up• land game birds including the pheasant, sage -30- �grouse, blue grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, H ungarian partridge, scaled quail, mountain quail and wild turkey; and ducks, geese and mourning doves. Particular attention was placed on developing programs to disseminate research findings in a more effective manner. Designation of five types of department publications for use in distributing research information and developing or improving formats for these was one of the major programs. The five selected types are the following: Game information leaflets-which will contain facts and recommendations from research work which will be useful in game management programs. Special reports-which will contain results of literature reviews, questionnaire synopses and special surveys, not adaptable to the Technical Publication series. Technical Publications-containing resuhs of a major, completed research effort. Game Research Reports-which will he annual job completion reports required by Federal Aid. Game Research Review-which will contain a summary, well illustrated with photos, tables and graphs of the 1964 program. Readers desiring more information on g-ame research may obtain this publication from the Denver or Fort Collins offices of the Game, Fish and Parks Department. A second program, relatinµ; to the department, or internal publications described above, involved preparation of articles for professional journals, preparation and presentation of papers at conferences and technical committee workshops, and otherwise disseminating- research findings through talks to sportsmen's clubs, civic. student and other groups, and by participation in radio and television programs. In 1964 game research personnel prepared 11 technical reports and publications, 18 papers for conferences and other meetings, wrote 11 popular articles for Colorado Outdoors, participated in 14 radio and TV programs, gave more than 21 additional talks, and were active at 10 conferences and workshops. Plans were completed in 1964 for transfer of our experimental game farm to the experimental nursery site northeast of Fort Collins. Habitat experiments and propagation of waterfowl and exotic g-ame birds for restoration and introduction will be carried out here. Plans for big game paddocks near our research center laboratory were completed. These will permit continued study of drug dosaµ;es for immobilization of big game animals; attachment and effectiveness of miniature radio and other tagging devices for use in determining animal movements; and nutritional problems and solutions relating to winter feeding. Long range plans were developed for range and wildlife studies at the Little Hills Experiment Station. Through cooperation of the commission and the entire department information from a number of research studies continued to be translated into, or made available for, active management programs during 1964-. These included: (I) the experimental early duck season in the San Luis Valley; (2) development of a flock of over 4000 Canada geese in north-central Colorado; (3) better census techniques for antelope, mountain goats, deer and elk; (4) development of improved live traps for use during tagging and banding elk; ( 5) improvement of census procedures for prairie chickens, scaled quail, sage grouse and chukar partridges; (6) selection of a site for experimental introduction of mountain quail; (7) developments to alleviate highway losses of big game, damage to vehicles and injury to motorists; (8) improved management of the wild turkey, and (9) the general improvement of management practices and harvest program evaluations. The Colorado Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at Colorado State University receives support and is a cooperative venture among the University, the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, the Wildlife Management Institute, and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. During I 964 significant research was carried out on: ( 1) the seasonal movement of mule deer to associate various winter segments of the herd with their respective summer range; (2) behavior of mule deer to evaluate deer activity with such environmental factors as weather, topography, vegetation and deer population density; (3) social groups and activity patterns of pronghorns to better understand behavior, ecology and population dynamics as related to refined management; ( 4) ecology of the mountain goat to determine the population status, location, movements and behavior as related to weather, terrain and vegetation; and (5) effects of sagebrush control by herbicides on sage grouse, designed to provide guidelines for sage grouse management in relation to modern range improvement techniques. WAYNE SAND FORT Game Research Chief Fish L ABORATORY equipment, supplies and manpower needs were effectively sati~fied during the 1964 year to adequately put the fish research portion of the Ft. Collins research center into full operation. In addition, the Parvin Lake field laboratory was constructed and put into use and the only remaining construction needed is the research hatchery at Bellvue. -31- �The following projects were active in 19611-: 1. Basic Productivity Studies. This project is d esigned to provide information that may p ermit an increase in zooplankton p rodu cti on ( a basic fish food ) in lakes and r eservoirs. 2. Str eam Fishery Stud ies. To provide fa cts on the biological and physical potential of streams to fos ter the maximum inco rpor ati on of fishery valu es in multiple- use water projects. 3 . Protein Metabol ism in Fish Sperm a tozoa. To provide information on limitations to natural reproducti on assoc iated with water qualities. 4 . Cutthroat Trout Investigations at Trappers Lake. To provide data on natural reproduction and fisherman harvest that will permit proper m anagement of T rappers Lake. 5. Preimpoundment In vestigation of Curecanti Unit. To provide preimpoundment data on ph ysical, chemica l and biological feat ures of the reser voirs in the Curecanti complex lo form a bas is for future management policies there. 6. Rearing and I ntrodu ction o f Predator Species In to Selected Warm Water Lakes. T o prov id e an und erstandin g of populatio n d ynamics of plains lakes be fore and after introduction o f predator species. 7. Evaluati on o f Hatcher y-Rear ed Rainbow Troul. To provide an improved hatcher y prod uct as rega rds s urvival, stamina, table qu a lities a nd production costs. 8 . P ollution Studies. To provide data on actual strea m damages, and determine causes as related Lo industri al operations. 9. Granby Reservoir Studies . Continued eva luation of s tock ing procedures and regula to ry measures correlated with phys ical, chemical and bi olog ical data as related Lo fishery management. 10. Parvin Lake and P oudre River Quality Fishing Studies. J\n evaluati on of specia l regul atory a nd s tocking approaches in attemp ting to improve fishing in te rms of larger trout. WAYNE SEAMAN Fish R esearch Ch ief ( Acting) Information & Education T HREE international awards a nd a new information service marked 1964- fo r the I nformati on and Educa tion Division. The Game, Fish and P arks Department magazine, Colorado Ou tdoors, received the J\meri ca11 Association fo r Conservation Informati on award as being the best magazine published by a natural resource agency in the Un ited States and Canada fo r 196-J.. The m agazine is edited by Cha rles Hj elle. I t h as long been one of the outstanding conserva ti on m agazines in North Ameri ca. A new informa tion service to all radio sta ti ons in Co lorad o consisting o f a series o f well p la nned prog rams and information spots was taped a nd put into th e ha nds of a ll stations by Ri chard Hess, Seni o r In form ati on Representative. This seri es of prog rams was also chosen by th e American Association fo r Conservati on I nforma tion fo r the best radio series ong1nal ing with a natural r eso urce agency in the U nited Stales and Canada fo r 1964-. T he AACI special public rela ti ons award was a lso g iven to this department fo r its over-all prog ram in prom otion of parks and recreati on prog rams, es pec ially in the area of the uFer's fee fo r pa rks. The judges g ave the public relations program regarding pa rks a perfect score in a ll ten ca tego ries. This PR campa ig n g rew from the need to make the s ta te " park conscious." I n other words, the people of Co lorado we re made aware o f what an adequate park system would m ean lo them. All medi a outlets a nd info rmati on techniques empl oyed by th e department were coo rdina ted toward thi s effort. The s ix followin /r approaches we re put into operati on through publicit y ( mass media , such as TV, r adi o. newspapers, magazines, etc) : organizational appr o a c h th roug h organ izat ions o f discuss ion g roups, conferences a nd g roup participation ; outdoor edu cati on-organ ized action programs in the schools : use of indus tri a l la nds -promoti on o f public recreatio n use o f pri vate lands; commu n ity partic ipati on- offeri ng plann ing b y personnel of Parks Branch for local and reg ional pa rks; coope ration -working with the S tale Highway Depa rtment and other stale governmental dep a rtments th ro ugh an inter-agency plannin g commillcc. In add ition to the acti vities o utlined above in tho,:e prog r ams receiving acclaim the d ivis ion ca rried on its regula r d uties p romo ti ng the policies and precedures of the department through news releases, news letters, .i nformation leaflets, m aps a nd regulati ons, TV shows and with m or e than 200 printed items processed b y the di vis ion. A stepped up effort was made to s upply outdoor write rs and photographers all over the nation with interesting news concerning huntin g, fishin g and other outdoor recreatio n activities in Colorad o. The public relations e ffor t was intensifi ed by the prom otion of bette r relat io nship between landowne rs and s po rts men, a revamped a nd better outd oo r educa ti ona l p rog ram for th e schools and a belier p rogram a imed at fos tering understandi ng of the department's leg is lati ve needs d irectl y with the legislature a nd also through s uch g roups as garden clubs, league of wo men voters. bird cl ubs. sportsmen's clubs,. and other gro ups associated wi th the departmen t's problems. A special effo rt was made to work with county commiss ioners on depa rtment p roblems and with othe r local g roups. -32- �Attendance at sport and travel shows was re· duced by red uced travel budget. This was more than compensated for by o ur intensified prog ram of news releases. The state's natural attracti ons of hunting and fishin g were promoted at onl y a few shows but co nsiderable work and special se rvices were given to out-of-state newspapers and magazines as well as TV shows, through special photog raphs and written a rticles fo r national magaz ines a nd other mass media. The division also answered approximately 60,000 out-of-state mail inquiries. C. D. TOLMAN Public Rdations Chief Acquisition & Development HE PURCHASE a nd constructi on of four stale T recreatio n area sites, the purchase of a sizeable block of important deer and elk range in the Frying Pan Ri ver valley and th e beginning of construction on a new major fish hatcher y we re the most important accomplishments of the Ac· quisition and Development Division in 1964-. Purchases a nd development for recreation area sites included the Johnnie J ohnson property for the construction of R io Blanco Lake Stale Recrea• tion Area in Rio Blanco County; the Flagler Lake Sta te Recreation A rea site, in cooperati on with the city of F lagler, in Kit Carson Co un ty; th e Ral ph L. Wh ite State Rec reati on Area site and development in Moffat County; and the Summit Reservoir Stale Rec reation Area (S ummit, Joe Moo re an d Pruett reservo irs) in Montezuma County. Of outsta nding importance to the department also was the acqui sition of the Lucksinp:er prop• erty above Basalt whi ch was renamed the Christi ne Managem ent Area. This land was sorely needed for dee r and elk ran ge, for hunting access, for small game hunting an d for possible water development. And the start of a new. maj or easte rn slope fish hatchery at Wa tson Lake at Bell vue is of prime signifi cance to the depart1n ent's fish management prog rams. The list of the 1964 land acquisitions are as follo ws: 1964 ACQUISITIONS P roperty Charles Redd (Coke Oven) Bliss Lucksinger Al Sherlock Empire Reservoir land Jackson Lake !and N. Ster ling Res. Access J ohnnie J ohnson Jim Wag ner Maxwell (Watson Lake) Butte Lakes land Rock Creek Res. site Parks-Vance-Davis Ho mer Braddock J ohn Davis (Wa tson Lake) J ustin J ones Flagler Reservoir site American Game Assn. Ralph White Res. site Murphy Oberto ( Wa tson Lake) Poudre Wa yside Escalante Big Thompson Ponds S ummit Res. Compan y County Use Acres Cost Date 130 S 10,000 1/17 / 64 Water·dcvelopment Pitkin Deer and fi sh Elk, d eer, small game, water Waterfowl Waterfowl Wa terfowl Fishing access Lake d evelopment Addition to Cherokee P ark Mgmt. Arca Access to Hatchery Fishing access Water d evelopment Access Waterfowl Hatchery site Larimer Eagle 563 2,149 130,000 127,200 1/ 24/64 2/ 11/64 Logan Morgan-Weld Morgan Logan Rio Blanco Larimer 147 539 210 40 383 1,720 5,000 1,271 525 100 108,956 108,150 2/11/64 2/28/64 2/ 28/64 2/ 28/ 64 3/4/ 64 3/12/ 64 Larimer Jackson Roul.t Logan Logan Larimer 4 418 40 18 160 33 Exchange 3/13/ 64 3/19/64 3/26/ 64 5/13/64 5/13/64 5/16/64 Waterfowl Water development Waterfowl Water development Fishing access Hatche ry site Wayside Park site Game bird management Fish rearing ponds Recrea tion area Logan Kit Carson La rimer Moffat Hi nsdale Larimer La rimer Delta Larimer Montezuma 180 355 80 290 34 .26 27 392 51 440 -33 - 1,049 3,600 1,420 5,600 6,000 16,000 24,000 1 8,697 300 Exchange Excha nge Exchange 40,000 22,000 7/1/64 7/ 22/64 8/ 3/64 8/19/ 64 9/3/64 10/14/ 64 10/ 30/64 11/ 12/64 12/7 / 64 12/7/64 �Business Administration T H E SALE o f hunting and fishi ng li censes is the p r ima ry so urce of revenue for the dep ar tment. Th ere app ears lo be a levelling off in th e number of hun ting and fi shing licenses sold , for 196-i saw only a one p er cent increase in Lola] license sales O\'er Lhe pr evio us year. Th e one pe r cent inc rease in number of li censes sold resu lted in a fo ur and a h alf p er cent increase in revenue lo the department for much o f the increase occu r red in the nonres id ent elk a nd deer categories wh ere the cost of a license is hi gh. The increase in revenue amou nted to $287,000 in total. T ota l d epartment r evenue in 196-l- amounted to $6.637,000 and the n umbe r of licenses sold was 792.000. Listed be low are the ind ividua l inc reases in reven ue m·er 196:1 that va rio us types o f liccn, e!' yielded in 1964. Resident Fishing and Sma ll Game . . .. . . S 12,000 Resident Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,000 :\'on rcsident Fish ing (5-day) .... . ... . . . 4,400 Rf•sidcnt Deer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,000 Resident Elk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,000 Resident T urkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000 Resident Bow a nd Arro1\'.. .. .. . . ...... 4,000 Resident Ant!'lopc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,700 Nonresiden t D,·,·r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101,000 Nonresident Elk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81.000 Nonresident i\ lu hiple Dee r.... .. .... ... 7,000 Nonresident I.low a nd Arrow . ... .. . . . ... 4.700 l n 196-1-, the sale of n onresid ent licenses o f all k inds accounted fo r 76 p er cent of Lhe lolal inc rease in revenue realized by th e department. T he r evenue from n onresiden t fishing licenses was do wn about $8000 from 1963 and from res ident m ulti ple dee r licenses do wn S2J .000. Sizea ble decreases in license sa les were no t.eel in on ly these two categories in 1964 . Revenue rea li zed from the sale o f boa t use perm its totaled $39,800 for boats U$ing m otors both 10 h or~epo wer and ove r an d unde r 10 h orsepo wer. W ith th e advent of th e S tale Recreati on Use Fee in 1965, this boat use p ermi t is due to exp ire. T he Pa rks D ivision o f the depa rlment is due to tap a new so urce of revenue in 1965 wh ich in tur n will be used to produce yet ano ther new so urce o f revenue. The S tate Use Fee fo r use of the s tate p ark and rec rea tion areas will b e proposed in 1965. It is ho ped that the use fee will p rod uce abou t $75,000 d u r inir its first year. S ince th e first experience wi th the fee will only be for a half a year in 1965. it is expected th at the revenue th e fo llo wing year will be at least doub le. Much of this r evenue will b e used as m atching fu nds for fed eral monies availab le lo the Slate of Colorado und er the Land and Water Co nservation F und. T hat money coming to Colorado will be ad mi nistered by the Game, Fish and Parks Depar lmcnl, a nd a certa in percen tage o f the Iola] money accruing wi ll b e aYailab le Lo the vario us q ual ify ing political s ubd ivis ions of th e state government as well as to the departmen t. GUY V. MELVIN Business Manager Parks I N 196- J., THREE slate recrea ti on al areas were added to the stale system, S ylvan Lake, Lester C reek and the Navajo Reser voi r. AL the Navajo site. leased lo the depa rlrnenl b r the Bureau o f Reclamation. the Nationa l Park Service has built a la unchi ni ramp , entrance b u ildin g, sanitar y accom mod ati ons, picnic tab les a nd la ndscapi ng. A Roads ide P a rk Prog ram in coope rati on with th e State H i:rlmay Depa rtment, S ta te Histor ica l Society and Lhe S ta te Depa rtment of l ns litutio ns h as been started. Depa rt ment personnel have m ade on -s i le insp ecl ions of poten ti al roadside area$. App roved locati on s h ave been r efen ed Lo the Stale H ighway Department fo r approval and ac• qu is ilion or lease of th e p roperty. Out of some 66 s ites recom mended, the Hi ghway Dep a rtment des· ig nated nine fo r immed iate conslrnclion. T he Ga me. Fish and P arks Depa rtment is desig n ing the ~ite pla ns, the Highwa y Depa rtment does the ATTENDANCE AT STATE PARK AND RECREATION AREAS FOR 196 4 Arca Day Use Overnight Use Chcrrr Creek Reservoir . . ... .... . 1,010,341 Gross Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,000 Vcga Reser voi r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,655 Green Mt. Reser voir. ... . . ... .. .. 61,10.'l Williams Fork Reservoir. . . . .... . 30,271 Wi llow Creek Res!'rvoir. ... . . .... 7,868 Sylvan La ke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,639 Lester Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,337 Lathrop Stale P ark . . ... . . . . .. . . 74,151 Bonny Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81,129 Elcvt•n Mile Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . 26,449 Rama h Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,140 Ant cro Reservoir ( no water - under repa ir) Swei tzer Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134,606 Crawford Rescn ·oir .•.. .. . . .. . . . . 68,705 Paonia Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,115 22,645 500 11,840 8,981 3,836 1,560 3,366 1,368 12,742 12.964 13,319 2,920 1,650,509 100,549 1,260 1,750 1,498 �grading and pays for the materials that go into the facilities and takes the responsibility for maintenance of the Roadside Parks after construction is completed. Labor for construction is provided through the Department of Institutions Honor Camp inmates. Natural Fort, a roadside park located two miles south of the Colorado-Wyoming border was dedicated in the summer of 1964, and traffic counts indicate that the facility will have a heavy use. A program of Cooperative Agreements was initiated to encourage the political sub-divisions of local government to develop park and recreation facilities in their areas. Department involvement concerns consultation, planning and the provision of materials or facilities. Intensive work has gone into an inventory of all of the existing recreation facilities, private and federal, in cooperation with the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, in preparation for the required Statewide Comprehensive Plan for Outdoor Recreation which will have to be accepted by the B.O.R. to qualify the department for federal funds made available through the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. GEORGE T. O'MALLEY Assistant Director, Parks Department Personnel -1964 STAFF OFFICERS Woodward, Harry R. - Director Elliott, Robert R. - Assistant Director Riordan, Laurence E. - Assistant Director O'Malley, George T. Jr. -Assistant Director Melvin, Guy V. - Business Manager Coleman, A. Dean - Assistant Game Manager Figge, Harry J. - Land Acquisition and Development Chief Hogue, Jack E. - Chief Game Warden Hunter, Gilbert N. - Game Manager Morris, John H. - Personnel Officer Sandfort, Wayne W. -Game Manager Seaman, Wayne R. - Fish Manager Shaw, Ed-Senior Construction Engineer Stark, Jack W. -Assistant Attorney General Tolman, Carwin D. - Public Relations Officer REGIONAL GAME AND FISH MANAGERS Cook, Eugene P. - Northeast Region Evans, Robert L. - Northwest Region Wclsh, Carl R. - Southeast Region Till, Clois E. - Southwest Region OFFICE AND FIELD EMPLOYES Adams, W. J. - Fish Culturist Anderson, Allen E. - Principal Game Biologist Anderson, Marvin C. - Fish Culturist Andrews, George D. - Supervising Wildlife Photographer Andrews, Robert A. - Fish Culturist Archuleta, Amadeo - Fish Culturist Archuleta, 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. - Principal Game Biologist Baker, Delbert H. - Senior Fish Culturist Baker, Elbert L. - Senior Fish Culturist Barker, Foster l\t- Senior Fish Culturist Barnes, W. Tom - Wildlife Conservation Aide Barron, Melvin - Pilot Barrows, Paul T. - Principal Fish Biologist Bartling, Almon P. - Fish Culturist Basset, Gene W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Bechaver, Edward J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Becker, Joyce M. -Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer 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 Besser, Kathy Ann - Clerk-Stenographer 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. -Arca Supervisor Boyd, Gail B.- Wildlife Conservation Officer Boyd, Raymond J. -Principal Game Biologist Bray, Harvey-Area Supervisor Brittain, Harold F. - Senior Storekeeper Brown, Charles E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Brown, Lillian P. - Junior Accountant Browning, Herbert H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Bruhlman, Emily B. - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Brun, Aileen K. - Bookkeeping Machine Operator Buckner, Jerome D. - Senior Supply Officer Burdett, Pauline J. - Personnel Clerk Burdick, Harold E. - Game Biologist Burggraf£, Leo J. -Auto Mechanic Burke, Pat - Wildlife Conservation Aide Burkhard, Walter T. -Senior Fish Biologist Busch, Frank W. - Fish Culturist Cain, Nelson - Utility Worker Carl, Leonard M. - Fish Culturist Carlson, Leslie G. - Senior Fish Culturist Cervi, Arthur A. - Principal Engineering Technician Cheney, William R. - Parks Project Engineer Chisholm, Earl R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cochran, Earl F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Coghi1l, Marion C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cole, Ethel M. - Administrative Secretary Colley, Frank A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cooney, Judd A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Cooper, Rex G. - Fish Culturist Cordova, J. Frank- Wildlife Conservation Officer Corey, John F. - Fish Culturist Cox, Harvey E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Crabtree, Robert A. -Auto Mechanic Crandell, George E. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Crawford, Gurney I. - Wildlife Conservation Officer -35- �Curtis, Lyman L. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Darrah, Kenneth E. - Senior Fish Culturist Davidson, Corrin B. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Davies, Miriam - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Davis, Margaret M. - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Davis, Thomas R. - Junior Staff Assistant Deets, John D. - Land Negotiator DeGuelle, Arthur - Arca Supervisor Denney, Richard N. -Assistant Game Manager Denton, B. Lester - Wildlife Conservation Officer Desanti, Joseph G. -Fish Culturist Dobbs, Wm. Harry - Area Supervisor Dolph, Lewis K. - Senior Fish Culturist Domenick, Don - Wildlife Photographer Downer, Earl R. - Arca Supervisor Drummond, Robert A. - Senior Fish Biologist Dunham, Furman W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Eglitis, Adolfs J. -Engineering Technician Ekberg, Glen R. - Fish Culturist Elliott, Richard - Parks Manager Ellis, Jeanne C. - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Elmer, Sam A. - Fish Culturist Evans, Lester E. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Fahey, Edward J. -Senior Parks Manager Fairchild, Ethel G. - Senior Clerk Feltner, George - Junior Information Representative Fields, Florence G. - Microbiologist Finnell, Larry M. - Principal Fish Biologist Fischer, Bill K. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ford, Clark- Wildlife Conservation Aide Forgett, William J. - Wildlife Conservation Aide Foster, C. Charles - Assistant Chief Warden Friebel, Marjorie E. - Senior Account Clerk Gates, Vivian W. - Senior Addressograph Operator Geiger, James J. -Senior Fish Culturist Gilbert, Paul F. - Area Supervisor Gill, Charles E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Glasser, Elaine - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Glaviano, Stella C. - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Glenn, Janet E. -Library Assistant Goodson, Henry R. - Utility Worker Goosman, Wm. E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gore, Clarence H. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gore, Donald - Wildlife Conservation Officer Graham, Millard E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Grant, Lester W.-Janitor Greene, Eugene E. - Game Biologist Greer, A. M. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gregory, Richard W. - Wildlife Research Candidate Gresh, Arthur J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Gresh, L. Harold - Wildlife Conservation Officer Grieb, Jack R. -Assistant Game Manager Griffis, James H. - Senior Parks Manager Gross, Daniel L. - Fish Culturist Guy, Elwin R. - Fish Culturist Guyer, J. Brownlee - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hackett, Naydene R.- Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Haldeman, Myrtle B. - Accountant Hamilton, Alex - Area Supervisor Hansson, Peter T. - Principal Information Representative Hart, Charles C. - Fish Culturist Hatch, Pat - Fish Culturist Hawker, Philip A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hawkins, Walter B. - Fish Culturist Hazzard, Lloyd K. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hector, Charles- Wildlife Conservation Officer Heins, Alfred J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hess, Richard W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hild, Dorwin - Principal Clerk Hill, James C. - Fish Culturist Hinshaw, Glen - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hinshaw, Thomas F. - Truck Driver Hjelte, Charles E. - Editor Hobbs, John R. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hodges, Merle L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hoffman, Donald M. - Principal Game Biologist Holmes, Richard L. - Fish Culturist Holton, James- Fish Culturist Hood, Harold - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hoover, Robert L. - Senior Information Representative Hopper, Richard M. - Senior Game Biologist Horak, Donald L. - Senior Fish Biologist Houston, James D. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Howard, Merritt - Draftsman Howlett, John C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Huck, Lawrence W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hudick, Joseph- Property Accountant Hughes, Norman L. -Pilot Hurd, Clifford A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Hutt, Nina-Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer I varson, Betty L. - Senior Account Clerk Jackett, Ruth E. -Senior Account Clerk Jackson, Neil R. - Senior Fish Culturist Jerome, Dudley C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Jewell, Wayne W. -Fish Culturist Johnson, Lois E. - Senior Account Clerk Jones, George W. - Game Biologist Jones, Hayden E. -Fish Culturist Jones, Hugh R. - Wildlife Consnvation Officer Jones, Robert A. - Principal Fish Biologist Jordan, Albert C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Kanode, William L. - Equipment Operator Keiss, Robert E. -Assistant Wildlife Researcher Kennell, Howard H. - Area Supervisor Kent, William L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Klein, William D. - Fisheries Project Supervisor Kleinsclmitz, Ferd -Assistant Federal Aid Coordinator Kluherz, Carole - Dictaphone :Machine Transcriber 2 Knight, Eugene T. - Area Supervisor Kohl, Pauline - Senior Account Clerk Lance, Orville - Principal Draftsman Landon, James F. - Draftsman Lanning, Harold L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Larkey, Charles A. - Fish Culturist Lemons, David G. - Principal Fish Biologist Lenard, Clifford H. - Fish Culturist Lengel, Donald E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Leslie, John A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lewis, Willard H. - Supervising Fish Cuhurist Likes, John L. - Wildlife License Supervisor Lillpop, Lawrence R. - Fish Culturist Lobato, John F. - Fish Culturist Logsdon, Lorraine A. - Senior Account Clerk Long, Wayne - Pilot Lowery, Marion W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lowry, Chonita-Dictaphone Machine Transcriber Lynch, Thomas C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Lynch, Thomas M. - Fish Project Supervisor McDonald, Dalton R. - Senior Fish Culturist McDonald, Richard - Area Supervisor McGuire, John F. - Fish Culturist McKean, William T. - Principal Game Biologist McLaughlin, Ina Rae - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer McMillan, Mary E. - Intermediate Clerk-Typist 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 - Principal Game Biologist Meer, Barbara - Account Clerk Mefford, Elizabeth - Inventory Clerk Merkle, Velma B. - Senior Statistics Clerk Metsger, Francis A. ---:- Land Negotiator Meyer, Romaine - Receptionist Miller, Pauline H. - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Miller, Walter J. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Mills, Sam A. - Senior Draftsman -36- �Mink, William W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Minnich, Don - Wildlife Conservation Officer Mock, Bettie - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Morgan, Dallas - Wildlife Conservation Officer Morgan, James T. -Senior Fish Culturist Morris, Nathalie-Technical Stenographer Morrison, Elizabeth-Administrative Secretary Moser, Clifford A. - Principal Game Biologist Mustain, 0. W. - Fish Culturist Myers, Gary T. - Senior Game Biologist Nash, William Wayne -Area Supervisor Nelson, Wesley C. -Fish Project Supervisor Nicholls, Arthur R. -Truck Driver Nickerson, Lois D. - Senior Account Clerk Nittman, Rolf B. - Principal Fish Biologist Nolting, Donald H. - Senior Fish Biologist Ogilvie, Stanley R. - Arca Supervisor Olson, Perry D. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Orlosky, Alfred F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ottinger, Lennis L. - Fish Culturist Overmeyer, Harold W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Owens, Dwight E. - Wildlife Observer Palm, Sigfrid S. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Papez, Joe - Senior Fish Culturist Paul, William A. - Fish Culturist Pearson, Wm. D. - Senior Fish Culturist Peaslee, Charles M. - Fish Culturist Perritt, Wiley W. - Fish Culturist Peters, Melvin L. - Fish Culturist Petet, Gary D. - Mail Clerk Pickens, Howard C. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Pingree, Deanna - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Pitton, Ethel K. - Intermediate Clerk Pogorelz, John M. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Poplin, Robert J. Jr. - Fish Culturist Potts, Daniel F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Pratt, Clifford J. - Equipment Operator Probasco, George E. - Principal Engineering Technician Quick, Terrell - Area Supervisor Ray, Robert A. - Supervising Fish Culturist Reneau, Sharon - Intermediate Clerk-Stenographer Reser, James E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Reynolds, Robert S. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Richardson, Harry L. - Fish Culturist Rictor, La Vonna - Intermediate Clerk-Typist Riggs, Nathan - Wildlife Conservation Officer Roberts, Chas. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Roberts, Melvin C. - Senior Fish Culturist Rogers, Glenn E. - Senior Game Biologist Roland, Wm. L.- 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 Russell, Wayne L.- Pilot Rutherford, Wm. H. - Principal Game Biologist Ryland, Errol E. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Sanchez, Roy L. - Utility Worker Sandoval, Fred 0. - Senior Parks Manager 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 Schumacher, Richard R. - Fish Culturist Schuricht, Dale - Inventory Clerk Scott, Chester M. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Searle, Lloyd W. -Area Supervisor Seligmann, Carol A. - Dictaphone Machine Transcriber 2 S~epherd, Harold R. - Principal Game Biologist Sievers, Gerald 0. - Fish Culturist Simson, Jack M. - Construction Foreman Skipton, Wayne F. -Engineering Technician Slonaker, Clyde C. - Area Supervisor Smith, Charles A. - Senior Fish Culturist Smith, Don G. - Senior Game Biologist Smith, E. Donald - Senior Fish Culturist Sm!th, Gwendolyn B.- Intermediate Clerk-Typist Smith, L. Clyde - Principal Engineering Technician Smith, Marvin W. - Area Supervisor Smith, Montana -Parks Project Engineer Smith, Richard A. - Information Representative Smith, Richard K. - Fish Culturist Smith, William B. - Building Trades Maintenance :Man Snyder, Warren D. - Game Biologist 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. - Senior Information Representative Strieter, Ernest F. - Senior Fish Culturist Stull, Robert D. - Principal Accountant Sutton, Lavern R. - Fish Culturist Swaisgood, Geraldine A. - Addressograph Operator Swope, Harold M. - Principal Game Biologist Takes, Richard T. - Principal Game Biologist Taliaferro, Rex I. - Fish Project Supervisor Taylor, Charles S. - Senior Fish Culturist Terrell, Harry N. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Terrell, Robert- Wildlife Conservation Officer Thornton, William - Storekeeper Triplet, Lloyd W. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Tucker, Coy - Equipment Operator Tully, Robert J. - Principal Game Biologist Turner, Vernon L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Van Gaalen, Charles- Fish Culturist Van Gaalen, Neil- Senior Fish Culturist Vavak, Charles H. - Wildlife Conservation Aide 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 Wailes, lrven A. - Fish Culturist Waldron, J. L. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Walker, Lucile A. -Senior Account Clerk Warner, Robert- Fish Culturist Waters, Patrick G. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Waugh, Francis L.-Senior Information Representative Weber, Don - Wildlife Research Candidate Webster, Lawrence A. - Nurseryman Weese, Carl D. - Fish Culturist Wells, William B.- Wildlife Conservation Aide Wescoatt, Ivan 1.- Principal Fish Biologist West, Don - Parks Planner Weyerman, Dean A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Wheeler, John A. - Wildlife Conservation Officer White, Claude E. - Principal Game Biologist White, Dean B.- Account Clerk Williams, Jesse E. - Senior Information Representative Wilson, Delores - Senior Account Clerk Wilson, L. Keith - Senior Fish Culturist Wingert, Emmalou - PBX Operator Wixson, Harold F. - Wildlife Conservation Officer Woodford, Donna J. - Senior Account Clerk Woodward, Walter- Wildlife Conservation Officer Worden, Alvin E. -Senior Fish Culturist Wurm, Donald W. -Principal Fish Biologist Young, Jack E. - Senior Account Clerk Zimmerman, George P. - Wildlife Conservation Officer This is your Game, Fish and Parks Commission: Published by the Colorado Came, Fish and Parks Department, Dec. 1965; co11y by Pete Hansson, Arch Andrews; design by Charles Hjelle; photos by Don Domenick, Bud Smith; art by Gene Ellis; printed by The A. B. Hirschfeld Press of Denver under State Fiscal Rule 32, State Code GFP-G-A-2. �� 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 , Game, Fish and Parks Department, 1963-1964 Description An account of the resource <p>Two reports. <br /><br />Varying titles:</p> <ul> <li>1963: The 1963 Annual Report of the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department: A Look Ahead</li> <li>1964: Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department 1964 Annual Report</li> </ul> <p>NOTE: No annual or biennial reports were issued until 1986.</p> <p>For more reports in this digital collection see:</p> <ul> <li>Preceeding set: <a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/447">Annual report, State of Colorado Department of Game and Fish, 1952-1962</a></li> <li>Succeeding set: <a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/449">Annual report to the people of Colorado, 1986-1991</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