https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/0788f2937e0c699b8b26c26c7b91ca3d.pdf 2b32e6e880701ab047038d88b6d595ba PDF Text Text WILDLIFE IN THE 1980s1986 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE PEOPLE OF COLORADO Colorado Division of Wildlife 6060 Broadway • Denver, CO 80216 • 303/297-1192 COLORADO UIV. WILDLH E RESEARCH C[N,rn l lBRARY 317 W. PROSPCCT FOPT COL I.INS. co. ar.s"( �TITLE 33 Wildlife ARTICLE I Wildlife-General Provisions 33-1-101. Legislative declaration. (1) It is the policy of the state of Colorado that the wildlife and their environment are to be protected, preserved, enhanced, and managed for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of this state and its visitors. It is further declared to be the policy of this state that there shall be provided a comprehensive program designed to offer the greatest possible variety of wildlife-related recreational opportunity to the people of this state and its visitors and that, to carry out such program and policy, there shall be a continuous operation of planning, acquisition, and development of wildlife habitats and facilities for wildlife-related opportunities. Cover photos: Bull elk by Len Rue. Jr. Bighorn sheep by Irene Vandermolen Mule deer by Len Rue, Jr. Bull snakes by Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski Ferruginous hawk by Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski Coyote by Len Rue. Jr. Splake by Division of Wildlife Greater sandhill crane by Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski \ �THE DIVISION'S ORGANIZATION If t h e D ivisio n of W ildlife is to effect ively m a nage Co lorad o's wi ldlife reso urce - fro m th e G rea t P la ins a r o und W ray to t he ca n yon lan d s n ear Mon t rose - D ivisio n e m p loyees must be vir tua ll y everyw he re. In add it io n to th e headq ua r ters o ffi ce in Den ve r, th e D ivisio n is di vided into fi ve geog ra p h ica l r egio n s. Reg io n a l o ff ices in Den ve r, Fort Co llin s, Colorado Springs, Gra n d Junctio n a n d Mo nt rose ove rsee the agen cy's acti vit ies in th e var ious r egio ns, from law e n fo rcem en t to game manageme n t a n d re st ock ing progra m s. D ist rict wi ld li fe manage rs cove r t he en ti re s ta t e, wit h each officer assig ne d to pa r t icu la r areas. Colorado Division of Wildlife Regions Distri bution of permanent personnel by regions I I NORTHEAST 60• NORTHWEST 66· ll'HAY 1; LEJ'iWOOI) -70 I 21 SOUTHEAST 68.5 · SOUTHWEST 63.5* Colorado Division o f Wi ldlife l l atehc ries . . . . . ~ ..l ,. 0 u "' = "' _ _ _ _ _ _..J.,_,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __J__ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' ' Colorado Division of Wildlif<' Regional Offices Cent rul Hc!!ion 6060 Rrondwn, Dc o\\ er. CO 802 16 291.12:10 Northwc:.l RcJ!ion 7 11 l ndc pc nd Pn l A,cn11c Gran d J 11n rtion. CO 8150 1 2-111-7175 Southeast Regio n 2126 :for th Webe r Colorad o Springs, CO 80907 -i73-2945 i\ort heas t Regio n 3 17 Wes t Prosp ect A, c n11 e For t Co llins, CO 80526 484-2836 So uthwest Region 2300 S. Townsend ,\, e. Montrose, CO 8140 1 249.3,1:11 I l cndquarte rs Office 6060 Rroadwu ,· Dcn\'cr. CO •• 297-1192 E m p loyees Hatcheries 140. 5 4 1.5 91 TOTAL PERM ANENT EMPLOYEES 56 I Dem e r h caclq unrters Ft. Co llins research • Full-tim e permanenl e mployees 1 �THE STATE OF THE DIVISION OF WILDLIFE We are a vi ta l part of Colorado's economy with mo re than a billion do llars spent annua lly by hunt e rs and fi sh e rmen. Hunting and fi shing recreation accounts for an es t imated one-quarte r of th e slate's touri st industry Colorado's third larges t industry and an econo mi c mainstay. And th at doesn ' t even ta k e into account the d irect exp e nd itures Co loradans m a k e to wa tch, photograph, a nd othe rwise e njoy wildlife. By the sa me tok e n , the a me nity qual ities of wildlife whic h are suc h k ey components to th e quality o f life in the state are th e things that in th e lo n g run will attract and hol d p eople in Colorado. The key is to ma int a in support for wil d life as we m ove Colorado for wa rd into th e n e xt century, to m a k e it a focal point in d ecisio n making. It is criti cal th a t we maintain the space fo r wildlife, cre ating th e proper balance betwee n n e w development and the habitat wildlife nee d s to survive. It is c le ar that th e Division of Wildlife and the Wildlife Commi ssion have ha d the foresight to see this day coming. We we re right on. Habitat conservation is an area whe re we h ave excell ed . It is e xciting tha t the Co m missio n has tak e n th e lead in putting toge the r a miti ga tion policy w hi c h de al s effective ly wit h the bas ic qu es tions of balancing habitat an d d e ve lo pm e nt. In d o ing so, t h e Com mission has e nte re d into a muc h broa d e r public a r e n a t h a n e ver b e for e .... T h e se cond area o f focus I've been talking ab o ut ove r th e past coup le o f years is th e multi-faceted a re a of public und e rstandin g. The Commi ssion has, in th e la st year, 2 made it abundan t ly clear t hat public educa t ion is t he key to an effective wi ld life program. Thi s is being demonstrate d dai ly in the tre mendous success of Project Wi ld .... The role of the Division's fie ld emplo yees has al so b een e xpand e d to ensure they arc e nga ge d in public e ducati o n acti vitie s. The way o ur p e opl e in the field approach and co ntact th e publi c is a k ey e leme nt Lo the e ffecti ve fun ctioning of thi s age ncy. "A ccording t o our mission , our tasks are twofold p erpetuating the wildlife resource, and, e qually important, providing an opportunity f o r diverse w ildlife-related recreatio n in Colorado." We are also working to streamlin e th e huntin g a nd fi sh ing regu lat ions. This year, we wi ll pub lish two se parate big game hunting brochures so that hunters can choose th e one that covers their inte rest. . . . As e vidence of t he nee d for public e ducation a nd und e rstanding, our marke tin g survey last year r evealed th a t a lmost 40 p e rce n t o f all Colo radans b e li eve th a t th e Di visio n is fund e d b y gen e ra l tax revenues! Thi s lack of information about an agency th at d e pends on hunting a nd fi shin g li censes to o p e rate was pointe d t o b y th e Go vernor's Exe cutive Task For ce on the Future of Wild life as an esse ntial r eason for an increased public edu cation effort. Tha t leads me to t he th ird area of emphasis - funding. T he Task Fo rce's report is a key ite m in Governor Home r's agenda. I belie ve that thi s Wildlife Commi ssion wil l be a foca l point for that e ffort Lo broaden the base of support that is n e ed ed for Colorado to su stain the qualit y of its wil dlife r esource s into the n e xt ce ntury. A t a tim e o f fiscal cri sis in both federal a nd s tat e government, we hav e b een a ble t o Lighte n our b e lts and maintain our effectiveness. Und e r th e Commiss ion's guid a n ce, we ope rate d with a 2.5 perce nt increase in ex penditures last year, we handled the d rop in reve nue whi ch was pre dic t e d as part o f th e antl e r p o int restrictions, a nd we a re balancing o ur ex p e nditures with our re ve nues. W e are a lso m a kin g progress in the fourth are a o f focu s our inte rnal manage m e nt syste ms. W e have put in place t he elements necessary for a program budgeting syst e m that is th e first in the stat e. Accord ing Lo our mission, our tasks are twofold - pe r pe tuating the wildlife r eso urce a nd, e qually important, providing a n oppo r tunity for di ve rse wildlife-re la te d recrea ti o n in Colo rado. W ithin thi s mission we ha ve four m ajor program s: H unting recre ati o n, fi shin g rec re ation, wa tc habl e wildlife a nd sp ecies conservation. I n the future o f our huntin g p ro gram I se e the continuation of Colorado's ro le as the numbe r one e lk state and p o te ntiall y the numbe r one big game state .... �The u se of point restrict ions on e lk rath e r than simply turn ing lo limited licen ses whi ch would have e liminated the state's treme ndous co mpetiti ve ad vantage for nonre sid e nt recreation - has ca ught on. Now, we n eed to build on that e ffort. Knowing that crowd ing is a principal limiting factor for big game hunte rs, we must emphasize improved pub lic access to th e pub lic lands in Colorado. Finding crea tive alternat ives for the classic " lose-lose" ga m e damage situation is vital. We are a lso makin g he adway in o n e of th e areas o f great est concern, th e u se of private lands b y hunte r s and the mainte nan ce of hab itat on pri va te lands. Wildlife ranchin g, which offe rs th e potentia l for additiona l hunting oppo rtunities, is off to a bri ll iant st a rt. I am es pecia ll y hea rte n ed about the prospects fo r fi sh ing, a sport where stead y grow th is expected into th e n e xt ce ntury. Enthu sias m is bui ldin g al l ove r th e state for the n ew "Fish in g Is Fun" program .... In vestm e nts in the future of fi shing in Co lorado arc essential, but th e reve nue for fi shing must cove r these cost s. No longe r ca n we affo rd a program th a t does n ot pay for i t self. Th is will tak e a coo rdinated e ffort. It is impo r tant to re m e mb er that in the 1980s, wilrl life is more than a r·eso urce for hunte rs and fish e rm e n. "Watchable wildlife," an amcn[ty and visual d e light that is attracting more and more people, is a program where we a lready see an econom ic li nk. We hav e a lso mad e prog ress in another criti ca l area, species conse r va t ion. W e 've clone James Ruc h, Dircc-tor ve ry we ll, down-li sting s ix sp ec ies that had b een threa te ned. Now th e bigges t o b stacl e Lo more prog ress is th e lack of funding sources. Across th ese four major progra m s I ha ve di scu ssed Ii es th e importance of hab itat. Habitat includes a var iety o f lands and waters - from we tland s and riparian la nd s to co ld -water streams. We nee d to d e ve lop a n inde x, a way of m easuring the cond ition and tre nd s in these key habitats. We n eed t o ti c tha t toge th e r with posit ive, e nthus ias ti c approach es lo wi ld life miti gation a n d e nha n ce m ent as part and parcel of growth and d evelopment in the slate, th e very thin g that wild life co nse rvation is rea ll y al l about. To accomp lish th is, we need to do an e ff eel ive job of e ducat ion , reac h ing out to b e sure that Co loradans and nonreside nts und e rstand what these wildlife reso urces are and why they are so impor ta nt. We n eed to be ce rt a in t hat thi s resource is protect e d f rom il legal actions by th ose few who c hoose to ignore wild l ife laws. We a re findin g ways to b e more e ffective a nd more efficie nt in law e nforce m e nt. Recognizing the f init e number of people we can put in t h e fi e ld to e nforce t h ese laws, we a r e e mphas izi n g pos iti ve supportive, preventative e ffo r t s that are a public se rvice to the vasl m ajority o f sportsm e n who active ly s upport the prot ection of wildlife. We now und e rstand the ove ra ll hatch e r y syste m be tte r than eve r. We ca n target inves tm e nts ne e ded to m eet future fi sh ing needs. Fac ilities n eed to be impro ved rath e r than n e w ones constructed t o provid e th e additional fi sh to ser ve th e growing numb e r of fis he rmen projected in co min g years. We are still sea rchin g for ways to find m o re efficient, positive approach es for th e u se of th e lands and waters we own. T here are op p o rtuniti es we need to lake advantage of, and great bene fits that ca n be rea lized from i mprovin g our manageme nt a nd o ur la nd and water acquisitio n syste m s. There is n ew political le adersh ip , a new und e rstandin g of th e impo rtance of eco nomi c growth, and a c lea re r sen se that we are a n integral part o f th e st a t e we li ve in. The re is no ques tion that wildli fe pla ys a vital role in that eco nomi c future. To ignore that ro le wou ld b e to o pt out of the d i rec t ion our stal e is h eadin g. Because th e rol e of wild life is so ce ntra l, we need t o be in vo lved in the overal l process to mo ve th e state forward, taking advantage o f th e k ey posit ion we are in. Let u s never fo rge t , however, th e importance o f o ur wildlife resource as a m easu re of the quality of our li ves. If these wi ld things are not something we ca n and should afford, then our socie t y is tru ly diminish ed . .. . 3 �THE WILDLIFE COMMISSION The e i ght Wild life Comm issioners are appo in ted by t h e Governor from the four geographical region s of the state, representing the various interests of Colorado residents. The Commission is the Division's governing board, and enacts all the regulations for the management of the s tate's wildlife. T here must be two co mmissioners from each region, and no more than four people from a single p olitical party may serve. Fo ur n ew commissioners were appointed in 1987 b y new Governor Roy Rome r and a fifth was reappointed . Rebecca Frank, the forme r news editor of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, was appoi n ted to the Commission in 1985. The first woman ever to ser ve on the Wi ldlife Commission, Fran k was chosen as chairwoman of the Commission in March , 1987. William Hegberg, a Snowmass Village Rea ltor, was reappoin ted to t h e Commission in 1987. He is a member of Ducks Unlimited, the Natio n al Rifle Association, Trout Un limited, the Colorado Wildlife Federation and the Colorado Bowhunters Association. 4, George VanDenBerg of Dura n go is a ranch and land fi ll owne r/ oper ator as we ll as a lifelong residen t of the Western Slope. Appointed in 1985, h e is a past chairman of the Animas Regional Planning Commission. As a p ilot, h e has monitored w inte ring conditi ons of Colorado's big ga m e fo r many years. Robert L. Freidenberger, a ppointe d in 1985, is an electrician and co-owne r of A-Z Electric in La Junta. He is a hunte r safe ty instructor and was honored as "Education Instructor of the year" in southeast Colorado by t h e Division of Wi ldl ife in 1985. Richard L. Divelbiss is in the dairy b usiness in the Pueblo area. A Pue blo native, he is a m e m ber of Rotary Club 43 and pas t president of Chi Alpha Sigm a. Firs t appoi n ted to t he Comm ission in 1979, h is second te r m e xpi r ed in March, 1987. James T . Smith is past president of the Unite d Spor tsman's Council of Colorado. A real estate broker in Denver, he is also a d irector of th e National Rifl e Association. He was appointed to a seco nd term in 1983 and ser ved until March, 1987. Donald A. Fernandez of Alamosa is the owner of Fernandez Chile Co. and a former spo rting goods store owner. Active in t he Alamosa Chamber of Co mm e rce, he is a tn e mber of Ducks Unlim ited and Trout Un li mited. He was appointed to the Commission in 1979, and his second te rm ended in March, 1987. Timothy W. Schultz was a ppointed to the Comm ission in 1983. Currently Agricu lture Commissioner for th e state, he is a former bank vicepresid en t. Schultz is a selfe m p lo yed rancher and has se r ved on a numbe r o f loca l and state boards and commissions. He se r ved as c hairman of the Commission unti l he resigned in March, 1987. Four new m e mb e rs were appointed b y Governor Roy Romer in March, 1987. They include Larry M . Wright of Alamosa, Gene B . Peterson of Snyder, Dennis Luttre ll of D ivid e and E ldon W. Cooper of Brighton. �"Tim es ha ve changed in f if t y years a nd most state agencies f rcq uc ntly find them .<el ves a d ollar sh o rt when it com es to wildlife." Bug le Ma gaz in e WHERE THE BUCKS GO T h e Division o f Wi ld li fe is an anoma ly amo n g Colorado age n cies. Un like other d epar tm e nts o f the state, Wildlife d oes n' t d e pe nd on t ax m o ney ap propriated fro m the Ge neral F und. Inst ead, the D ivisio n re lies primarily on lice nse fees pai d by sports men to supp o rt opera tions. Bu t t h e econ o mi c benefit to the state is far g rea t er th an the income brought in from lice nse fe es and fe d e ral excise taxes. Fish e rmen a nd hunte rs inject more than a Sl bi ll io n an nu a lly into the sta t e, a figure that is exp ect ed to ri se into th e n ex t century. Only a single dollar of st a te m o n ey, pa id to the Division for specie s co n se r va ti o n work , co me s from th e Ge nera l Fund. Licen se revenues a cco unte d for m o re than 78 percent o f th e Division's reve nue dur in g 1986. S ixty percent o f that I ice nse reve nu e came from licen ses purchased b y o ut-ofstat e res ide nts who hunted a nd fish e d in Co lora do. During 1987, Colora do wi l l sp e n d S38.6 mil l ion to manage its wildlife re so urces. Non -reside nt hunters paid more than Sl4.4 million in license fees during 1986, whi le fi sh e rm e n from o ut of state sp e nt a n othe r S2.5 million for lice nse s. T h e o th e r p rimary source of funding is federal excise l ax d o lla rs collected on th e sale of hunting, fish ing and boating eq u ipmen t , lax m o ney paid by sportsm e n lo support progra ms fo r sportsm e n . The rest co m es from the spo rtsm en , with S29.5 mi llion earned from the sa le of huntin g a nd f ishing licenses, S2.4 mil lion from interes t, $6.3 mi llion fro m federal excise t axes on the sale of hunting and fi sh in g eq ui pme nt, a nd S400,000 from annual donation s lo the nonga m e income tax checkoff. Where the money goes FY 85-86 89.2% O pe rating (S3 J ,393.962) P ayme nts to other sta te agencies (S l ,9 18 .306) Capitol Construction (S 1.863.519) Tota l Expend itures s:35, 175,787 Where the money eomcs from R eve nue from lice n se sales CY 1986 FY 115 -116 84.2% 52 .7% Non-re sident hunting (S 14.402,076) Wildlife Cash ($32,798,414) 1.0% Income Tnx Nonl(ume Chc(·koff (8 374-,407) Non -resident fis hing (82,5 15,872) Reside nt fi shin g (85,908,2 45) Resident hunting (SS,,~:lS,943) Totul Revenue $38,950,936 Wi ld life Cash i nclud es li cen se reve nue, inte rest a nd other cash. Fed e ra l Aid in cludes Pill man-Rob e rt son a nd Dinge ll-Johnson funds, grants and other Federa l a id. Nongamc checkoff incl udes c.lonations anrl S I from ge nera l fu n d. Totnl Lice nse Sales 8 28,262, 137 5 �AN INCREASING DEMAND ON WILDLIFE The popula t ion of Colorado will continue its up wa rd spiral through the rest of the 20th century, increa sing the demand on a ll of t h e state's resources, including wild life. Whi le projections vary, the Colorado Department of Local Affa irs projects an additiona l one million people by the year 2000, bringing t h e state's population to more than fo u r million. T h irty-fi ve year s ago, in 1950, the re were 1.3 million people in Colorado. B ut th e population, dominate d by the baby-boom generation that has had - and will continue to have - a di sproportionate affect on Am e rican societ y, wil l age. Th e percentage of people huntin g will probably fa ll, t hough th e overall numb e r will ri se sli ght ly. Fis hin g, a less rigorous sport in most of its forms will grow more ra pidly. The bottom line is that the incre ase in populatio n will more than offset t he agi ng of th e baby boomers. The result: More demands on wildlife. Colorado Hunting and Fishing Participants T.., ..1 1t, 1111i11i r..1..1 1- ,.1.... , 269.0i:l 29(,.:;:ln 272.1)59 199.807 229.891 I 10.102 :l:Ul.:H,7 75'J.89 0 312.IJI) 707.02 I :, 10.:r;u :t:>H.a2:1 711.·1-IH 7 12.75ft :ll0.89H 720.1<.8 68-1,823 :ml,•19R 7-1 7.1(,6 :it.II ;;io il-1-0 l--- -- - - l - -- - -l - - -- -l - - - - - 1 - - - - -1 - - 5211 l--- - - +-- - - -+-- - - -1-----1--- 500 ~ - - - - - 1 - -- - --1---- - 1 - - - - - 1 - - - .uw 1--- -- -+-- - - - + - - - - - i - - - - 160 1---- - ~ - - 1 - - - - - + - - - - - i - - -- •l- 10 1 - - - - - - + -- - - -+-- - - -t - - - - :rno :1r.o :110 '•• !------+-----+---,._,.--+--➔~-~---·,t:..i=.:--~---_-_-11,, · ' .um - ,160 •' - 120 ~ IOO 1 - - 1 - - -11n-,:, ,_- t - - - - t""·•t--t :11111 >--+----< - :1 :160 ,,._ ...- 10 • , - - t - - - - 1. ~ - - - ' 1-1----r-~: - - - - 2Ro 2 IO 220 f-: 200 ,___ IHO ~ ,-- - 12(1 - 100 - HO 1 - t,() 10 ,-.-- 20 ~ - '= - r - 1-- ~1-- ..- 1-- 1-- 1-- 1-- 1-- 1-- 1-- 1-- 1-- r-- ff i~ - ¾, - 1- :..' ,.. .-- k 1,.n ~- 1- w- ;if'>- - ,__ I,; - ,__ ~,__ . - - 1, -- ,__ I 1Gl- It ,_. -- -- - HUi\TERS - Resident s Non~rcs i den Is lf@}0ffi&,e,j ••, I•· - :120 :JOO ~ - 2no -- t -1 - - - - ;1,·· t -t - - -lL,..M , ---1 2 10 1- , _ _ '£,: - - 1--t-- - 1- _ ~ - 1-- - i--- - - - I- ,_,.;>, %\ _ :J(:1- ,: , ,_-- :Wt ~ FISHERI\IEN Resident s An increasing numher of pe ople fro m throughout the United States now fis h and h u n t in Colorado. ......~ 220 200 1110 1,,0 - ~ - '«l.' O UL.J.!IL')_:;.n L-.LL-CJ.-"L-.U...-..-"1.1.-,.•11'-J...LI-O:.IL'l_l!_flL-LLa:c..;..L.II..JIIL...JLC...=L-aL-UL..a'-'c-'- --'-'C..-"-='cllc:'l__..._.__.._.-::11-=:;11.1 B~ 19h0 6 500 - 1 - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - + - - - - - t - - - - - i:Jl--+---l!!& - + - --fi••J--+- -~ .l - - l - - - l!. ·t,-+---i''l'f- t - --ll;Jf,-J :120 :\00 110 -.,o ,,_ -t---1!~ -t---lc,t-t---t:&t-t---f';,;'.1-- + - --llS:J-- + - --fla'-~--i-HO 120 1 - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - l -- - - - l - - -100 l= -!-----+----:=-Ir-- • --1--- -:: ll:-'I,___,_, I JO 120 IOO 110 Ml 10 20 0 �Color ado Pop ul a tio n G r owth 5.0 4 .5 4.2 4.0 3.5 The way we use wildlife is also expected to change. More people will e n gage in noncon• su mptive u ses. Instead of shooting an a nimal or catching a fish , they will watch or photograph. Ye t the Division of Wild life d e p ends on l icense r evenues from hunters and fishe rme n. The re is currently no m e thod avai lable to collect r eve nues from the nonconsumptive user , except the voluntary nongame t ax checkoff on the st a t e t ax form . The grow ing populat ion will also place increas ing demands on hab ita t, the critical e lem e nt in th e continue d exist- 3.0 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.3 1.5 1.0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1985 1990 2000 (Source: Colorado Department of Local Mfai,s) e nce of th e state's wi ldlife r eso urce. Population growth m ea n s more land for people a nd less for wildlife. If the curre nt su ccess ratio for hun t• ers a nd fish e rme n is to co n• tinu e, n e w la nds wi ll be n eed ed for hunting and more pro duc tive streams and lakes for fi sh e rm e n. The ch a lle nge face d b y wildlife officials is to find answer s to these questions at a time when there is incr easing co mpetitio n for tax r evenues. P rojected Deer Hunting Licenses 240 ~ - -- - - - - - 2301--- - - -- 220 1-- - 2 10 200 190 180 Projected E lk H unting Licen ses 210 ~ - -- - - - -~ liO 160 150 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 iO 60 50 40 30 20 10 1---1=""1---I 0 ,_.,__,___._......._.__.,__, 1990 1995 Residents Non-residents 2000 c:::::l 1,rn 130 120 11 0 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1990 1995 Residents Non-residents 2000 c:::::l Proj ected Fishin g Pa rlic ipa lio n 1,250,--- - - - - -- -, 1.2001---- - - - - ----1 I , 150 "---- - ----1 1, 100 "-- - - ---I 1.050 1---- -1,000 1 - - - - - 950 1 - - - - lll!o 900 1--i~ ~-l~/,,'IH I 850 800 750 700 650 600 5501-ll~~J..-lE~J500 450 400 350 300 250 - 0 '-'---'----'--..L...L.-L-1 1990 1995 Residents Non-residents 2000 c=J Hunting will g row s lowly while the numbe r of fi s h erme n will inc r ease more quickly throug h the r est of the century. 7 �THE THRILL OF THE HUNT When the mountain men began trapping beaver in what is now Colorado, th ey found huge he rds of ga m e t hroughout the stale. Within 100 years, most sp ecies, including deer, elk, bighorn shee p, antelope and b ear had b e'!n reduced to a fraction of their original numbers. But a remarkable co nse rvation effort has restored m a ny big game h e rd s lo h ealthy levels. And care ful wildl ife management by the Colorado Division of Wildlife is h elping ..______ __________ _~ ensure tha t species once preca riously poised on th e edge of ex tin ction are now thriving. Colorado now holds a sp e cial a llure for hunte rs. A quarter of all elk hunters in Nor th Am e ri ca co me Lo Colorado lo stalk th e majestic " wapiti," more than a n y othe r stale or province. Mule dee r are co mmon in n early all parts of th e state. The white-tailed d eer inhabits the creek and river bolloms of the Eastern Plains whi le h e rd s of antelope live on the prairie. Limited bighorn sh ee p, Roc ky Mountain goat a nd moose seasons also tak e place in Colorado. S mall ga m e - squirre ls and rabbits and birds including :: pheasant, quail, gro use, turkey ~ and wa te rfowl, such as Canada ~ geese and mallards, offer "' -' sm a ll ga m e huntin g opportune ~ ities throu ghout the st ate. § A few h earty individua ls "" still pursu e a va ri e ty o f fur- bearers u sing many of the sa me trapping techniques employed by th e first e xplorers of our stale. The Division is also working lo improve the quality of wildlife habitat through the Conservation Reserve Program. The federally funded progra m e n courages landowners Lo set aside farm land to b e established as permanent wild life cove r. The Division wi ll share the cost for selected ground cover that encourages wildlife production. Since the program began in March, 1986, more than 1.4 million acres o f land have bee n placed in the program. The Division has spent more than $300,000 for cover crops. The concept has the spinoff benefit of expa nding hunting beca use land own ers often allow hunters onto the gro und set aside for the program . Q a:; " ;c 0 "' -' A pronghorn antelope races across g rasslands while a bull e lk g razes in a meadow. 8 �"For its limit ed run , big gam e hunting m al.-es longe r seasonal recreations su ch n.< .<l,·iing, golfing, hiking and fis hi.ng loo!.- l ike co llage indu.<trie.,." The De n ver Pos t MORE SPECIES-NEW HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES The d ese rt bi gho rn , Roc ky Mo untain goa t , the moose and th e Rio Grande turk ey a ll have some things in com mo n - none of th e m arc nati ve t o Colorado, and a ll of th em now have he alth y populatio ns in the st ale. Tho ugh some species su ch as th e g ri zz ly b ea r a n d the wo lf a r e n ow e xtinc t in the stat e, th e re a rc a lso num erous su ccess s tor ies t ha n ks to cr ea ti ve approa ch es to ga m e ma na geme nt. T h e Co lorado Divisio n o f Wildlife regular ly t raps a nd " trad es" species suc h as mul e deer and a nt e lope that we ha ve in surp lu s for anima ls th a t ot he r sta t es have in excess n u mb e rs. An exa mpl e is a d ea l work e d o ut with Ka n sas wil d life offi cia ls that swa p p er! Kan sas Rio Gra nde turk eys for Co lorado mul e dee r a t th e rate of three l o one. T h e turk eys we re r e leased c as t o f Lamar a n d in th e Hue rfa no Canyo n sout h east o f Pueblo. P revio u s trad es had se nt Colorado a nte lope to Kan sas, T exas and Ari zo na in exch ange for turkeys, d esert bighorn sh eep and o the r species. Ot he r tra d es brought Wyom in g m oose Lo th e northern part of Colo ra do in 1986. Though trades we re common in 1986, th e co nce pt is nothing new. Rock y Mountain goat s, never a Colorado resident, we re trapped in So uth Dakota, Montana and Ida ho a nd re leased he re. Moose t rappe d in Uta h and Wyo ming were first brought to th e a rea aro und Ra nd in 1978, and have thri ved since the n . Eve n e lk, a Co lo rado na ti ve that was prac ti ca lly wiped o ut b y th e ea rl y 1900s, were re introdu ced from a h e rd n ea r Ye llowst o ne a ti o nal Park in W yo min g. More tran sp lants arc p la nn e d in 1987, inc luding add itio n a l r e introdu ction s o f Ri o G rande tur keys and d ese rt bi gh orns a nd in trastat e m ovem e nts of M e rri a m 's turk eys and Roc ky Mou nta in big horns to impro ve d istribut io n of th ese speci es. Rocky Mo unta in goat s a n d moose are two s pec ies introdu C'cd to Co lorado b y the D ivision o f W ildlift•. 9 �"I be lieve I.h e antle r restric tio ns are the great est thing that has been done for several years." Ralph E. Wa lchle Ridgway, Colorado NEW SEASONS IMPROVE HUNTING QUALITY The popularity o f Co lorado's hunting, combined with the e ffects of con secu live hars h winters, was b e ginning to have a te lling im pact on the numb e r of buck d eer a nd bu ll e lk in the mid 1980s. So many mature mal es were b e in g harvest ed that many fe lt the ratio of males to females was fa ll ing too low. Hunters a lso comp laine d that too many p e ople were crowded into too sma ll a sea son, r ed u cing the quality of the hunting experience. Divisio n of Wild life officia ls, a nd th e Colorado Wi ldlife Commission, realized tha t action was needed, bold action to e n sure that quality hunting co ntinued in th e sl a t e. The an swe r - a new season structure in 1986 that se t a ntl e r point res tric ti on s for d ee r and e lk and co mbin ed the main d eer a nd e lk season s into three separate periods. Tho u gh i ni ti a lly controversial, the season str ucture see m s to be workin g. Most hunters have e nthusiastica ll y e ndorsed the new stru cture as a necessa ry step to spread o u t th e hun tin g pressure whil e a ll owing more bucks and bulls to rea ch maturity. The season stru cture wi ll continu e in 1987, protecting i mma t ure ma les of both species. But hunting sh ould improve in 1987 because m o re bu lls a nd bucks will have r eac he d ma turi ty t h anks to last yea r's rest ri ctio n s. As the numb e r of mature ma les i nc reases, so w ill the numbe r o f hunters. T he three seaso n s a lso a llow grea t e r divers ity beca u se the taking of sp ik e bulls and bucks is al lowed in som e game units dur in g th e th ird co mbined seaso n. Division sta t ist ics show t h at hun ting press ure was more evenly d ist ributed because of t h e th rec seasons, with more o ut-of-state hunters o pting fo r th e first season and more in-s tate hunte rs ch oosin g the last season. New restrictions in 1986 req uired that bucks. such as this mule deer, have at least th ree points to be harvested in many gnnw units. 10 �REVISED BROCHURES WILL AID HUNTERS Hunters applying for licenses for the 1986 big game seasons were confronted with a single lengthy, complicated information brochure packed with facts and regulations. But during 1986, the Division of Wildlife began an aggressive effort to simplify the brochure and the application process. Now, thanks to that work, a number of improvements have been made that will make reading brochures, understanding regulations, and apply ing for Iicenses easier. Two brochu res will replace last year's single publicat ion. allowing h u nters to p ick t he one b rochure t hey n eed for the k ind of l icen se t h ey wa nt. T h e first will outl in e the reg ulat io n s fo r th e state's l im ite d IR.000 ,, 125 120 ,,, ., 1:15 105 ' "" " 1.000 90 2.000 1.000 85 5,:';0 80 500 70 10 0 65 3:iO ..• -~- 60 55 :;o 15, 10 ,.• • '.15 . .. -· .. •• ··"-•. (,0 j Q .1.000 ' ~ • I I 1.50 i, 55 I 5.000 I ~ 70 10 <,.ooo ~ 95 6 j 15 ' 10 0 75 20 7.00(I 105 RO ~ '° 2.; 8.0UU 110 I/ IOO R5 '' ,, 9.000 115 I I 111) 90 1,,1""' ., , , ~ 7 12.000 l l.000 10.000 "'- 120 ' 11:; 95 ' 1 1..000 1:1.000 1-IU '', '- I lii.000 Colorado Elk Hunting Li<•enses \ ~ 16.000 t:lO J r- IC.000 125 ~ Colorado Antelope Hunting Licenses 19,000 150 1.1a Deer Huntin~ Li<·enscs rnost species. includ ing deer, e lk, and an t elope. In 1986, ther e were differ e nt man agement units for b ig ga me, small game, and antelope. Now, the only separate game units are for the limited b ighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat seasons. Thanks to steps taken in 1986, applying for licenses will also be easier in 1987, wi th special phone banks set up to handle calls and personal checks accepted as payment for lice n ses. hunti n g li cen ses, comp lete with app lica tio n form s. The second wi ll co n ta in on ly information on the regu lar fall hunting seasons, and wil l be much simpler than last year's brochure. The new brochures, worked out after lengthy meeti n gs that drew on information gathered from the pub lic and private consulta n ts, will st il l contain the specific regulations to provide the precise game managemen t necessary in Co lorado. Another improvemen t is that n ew game m a n agem ent units will be t h e sa m e for .• • _ I 10 ,, :rn 20 15 IO 0 I i, 1 9(►0 250 •. ·- 200 ..... .... 150 _ :• : ... •.. I CJaO .. .•. J l-.'i 100 ,. .. • so 0 1950 1960 1970 : l'JiO 19 RO ... ... ...~--.. .. .. :.mo ~- HI H2 H:t HI H5 11)11() HI H2 n:t It.I n;; Bfi JU, • • () JC)SO 1960 1970 l 'Jll0 HI H2 K:l HI 8:i All Fe e inc reases a nd n e w antl er-point regulations have re duced li ce n se sa les, b ut sa le s a rc e xpecte d to incr ease in 1987. R es id e nts ~ on •re s iclc-n l~•••••• 11 �"Thanks for 1/i e chance 10 hunl in your .Hale." Don Kyle r Mo ore, 0 1./ahoma COLORADO'S HUNTING IS TOP-NOTCH Co lo rad o's d eer and e lk h a rves t was d o wn slight ly in 1986, a resu lt o f t he first yea r of a ntler res tri cti ons acr oss m uc h o f the sta t e. Bu t Division of Wild life experts say t h ey e xp ec t t h e harves t lo climb in 1987 as mo r e yo ung b ull s and b u cks re ac h m atur ity and t hus b ecom e lega l to hu n t. Vir tua ll y a ll o f the yearlin g buck s and b ull s n ot harves te d in 1986 will b e legal a nima ls in th e comin g season with fo ur p o ints or more o n each an tl er. Ha rvest fi gures dating b ack lo 1960 sh ow t h a t th e n umb e r o f e lk taken b y h u nt ers stead ily increased until it reach ed a peak of 30,652 a nima ls taken in 1984. T h e numb e r dropp ed in 1985 beca u se a n tler restr ict io n s were placed o n the W hi te R iver herd a n d d ropped m ore in 1986 beca u se o f st ate-wide a nt ler restri ctions. But t h e a ddi t iona l nu mber o f e lk availab le due to last ye ar's an t ier rest rictio n s sh o ul d increase th e h a rvest fo r 1987. T h e s ize of d eer herds is subj ect to greater flu c tu a t ions becau se t h e a ni ma ls are m o re su sce ptible to harsh winte rs. A se ri es of mild wi n t ers in t he la t e 1950s a nd earl y 1960s resulte d in a dra m a ti c incr ease in the st a te's deer popu latio n , a ll owing th e Di visio n to iss ue m o r e lice n ses a n d resu lti ng in a peak harvest o f nea rl y 148,000 an imals in 1963. S ince then , t he harves t numb e rs have fluctuated signi fi cantly but h ave not approach ed thi s p e ak level. T h e mi ld winte r of 1986-87 shou ld result in anot her increase in t h e s ize of t he herd and - coupled with the i m pact of antler rest rictions - resu lt in a n increased dee r harvest for 1987. T h e harvest o f p ro n gho rn a n tel ope h as a lso increased dra m atica ll y since 1960, when on ly 1,713 anima ls were taken by hu nt e r s. In 1986, nearly 7,500 a n te lope were cla imed by hun ters. T h e black bear h a r vest is a lso som ew ha t h igh er n ow t h a n 25 yea rs ago. I n t he 1960s, a b o u t 500 hu n t e r s cla imed bears in a n average year. I n 1986, 655 b ea rs were h a r ves ted . Colorado Deer Harvests II 0 105 100 95 ')0 11 0 ' ' 105 I 100 95 I 90 \ \ U5 110 ~ - l 75 '-"I / ,,. ' ,, '"'"' 70 65 W 55 50 0 1</60 1970 1980 RI 115 .. 82 ll.1 80 75 70 -- 81 .. i"O,,.. 115 10.000 55 9.500 50 0 9.000 8(, , II 8.500 6.500 31 ;10 5.000 28 4,500 26 2,1. 4.000 .... 22 :1.000 20 2.500 I ll 2.000 1.000 I 22 I 20 111 16 II I'.. I ,, I(, ,., I I 0 1%0 1970 1980 12 ' j 2-1- 12 10 'Iii. .- J 5.500 :11 :10 21l 26 ,/ 6.000 I,. \ ·I 7.000 ., ~ \ I 7..300 10 .000 '\ ~ 8.000 Colorado Elk Harvests - Colorado Ante lope Harvests 65 M 3.50 0 5.000 I I I I I I -1.500 -1.000 3.500 3.000 2.500 2.000 1.000 0 0 1960 1970 19110 9.500 9,000 8.500 8 .000 7.500 7.000 6,500 6 .000 S.500 RI R2 ll.1 11 1 85 116 12 10 0 81 82 1i1 111 85 116 Colo rado is the num ber one e lk state a nd one o f th e to p b ig -game states in the count ry. ·, �"You lw ue a g reat state and a great wildlife managem ent prog ram and st.aff. " Larry Satava Kirtland, Ohio PROTECilNG OUR WILDLIFE In December, 1986, three Fort Collins m en found o ut the hard way just how hard th e Colorado Di vision of Wildlife is working to protect the state wildlife resource. The three were c harged with a total of 26 felony and 26 misdemeanor violations of the state's wildlife laws following an investigation by wildlife officers. But the dramatic bust was only one success in a year that was a turn ing point for wi ldlife law en force ment in Colorado. Operation Game Thief, which encourages peop le Lo report violat ions of wi ldlife laws, resulted in 164 tips and 51 successful cases. More than $77,000 in fines were assessed for vio lations of state laws protecting wildlife. Other successes included: - A check station set up on Poncha Pass n ea r Sa lida that netted n ea rly $3,200 in fines in a single afternoon during the opening week of antelope and duck season. - More than $5,000 in fines and th e seizure of weapons va lued at $1,600 from six Louisiana residents who illegall y killed an elk and three deer near Buena Vista. - A S1,700 fine against a man stationed a l Fort Carson who illegally killed a bighorn sheep. - A check station in southeastern Colorado set up during pheasant season r esulted in 32 ci tations and fines of more than S2,800. The Division is also working with other state and federal law e nforceme nt agencies to n a b the small p ercen ta ge of people who violate laws pro· t ecting wild life. l\ew co mpute r program s will aid Operation Game Thief and manageme nt of investi ga tion s. And r esearch on huntin g tre nds is providing n ew insights into m o re effect ive a pproaches to law e nforce m e nt to e n sure that atte nti on is focu sed in the prope r areas. Huntin~ & Fishin~ Violation Fa<·t ~ Total 1111101111 1 of fines assessed in 1986 S470,750 Operation Game Thi ef rewards paid S 10.550 Operulio n Game Thi ef donalions S 18.080 P enalti es imposed as of 12-1 3-86 Viola tio rs apprehended us o f 12-31-86 276.6 I 2 592 District W ildlife officers su ch as R ic hard Weldon arc often in the field chec king lice n ses and answering questions . 13 �FISHING- A COLORADO TRADEMARK l\cw spe cies to o ur state s uch as wipers a n d tiger mu ski e ha,e added d ive rsit y and fi shin g opportu niti es in man y areas. But m os t importantl y, the D ivi sion is co mmitted lo kee ping Co lorado f ishing some th in g special and to expand the opportun ity i11 new direct io n s. Fishin g is ex pected lo grow in pop ul arity. T h e importance o f f ish in g lo the state's econo m y, through tourist and spor ts m e n 's dol lars, will gro w into the n ext ce ntu ry. Fi~h ing now brings more tha n S700 m illion in d i rect be nefits to the slate's eco n omy a nnu al ly. Mo re than o n e million people fish. J ust a s importantl y, f ishing is an aest he ti c intangibl e . an oppo r tunity that m a kes li,·ing in Co lorado something spec ia l. Conjure up an im age of a sc rapp y, a cro batic tro ut s plas hing o n the mirro rsmooth s ur face of a lo nely mo untain lake. Ad d a b reath ta king backdrop wort h y of a picture post ca rd. T he first sla te that wil l probably come to mind is Colorado. Ou r state is justly wo rth y of its reputation as a f ish in g a nd o u tdoor mecca. T he Frying Pan, So uth P latte . Arka n sa s and upper Colorarlo rive rs. all offe r fishing as good as any place in Amcriea. B ut the Colorado Division of Wild life isn't resting on its laurels. Instead. D ivi~io n employees a r c strivin g to mainta in that fi shing o pportuni ty and make i l e, e n bet ter. An expanding hatch e r y syst em is producing mo re catcha ble ra inbows a s wel l as othe r sp ecies for both wa rmwater a n d co ld-wate r fi sh eries. a nd a legacy we wan t lo pass o n to o ur c hildre n. .'.\1anaging Colorado's fis h eries is a hig task that requires a d iversity of ex p e r tise p ro virle d by biolog ists, researchers, e n gineer s a n d fish C" 11ltur ists. Toge ther, thei r expertise will ensure the future of fishing in th c slate. Miscellaneous Fis h Fac ts D 25 m il lion fish C!(!(S an• 111kc11 curl, ~-car from hu1rhcn fish and 96 ;n illion ci:gs from feral ("ild) fish eac h ycn r. D 5 mi llion troul (8 to 10 inc·hes) an' plant ed in publ ic waters each yea r. D 17 mil lion fini:crlin{! lrout a nd sa lmon arc plan ted in p ub lic wa ters cath ycnr. D 58 milli on fry. f ingerli n g a nd ycarl i n g warm-wat e r fi s h nrc plan ted in public wa te rs e ach ) car. D 1.700 Io n s of f ish food a rc used at D i\'i s ion hatche ries each year. D Colorado res ide nt fis hermen ca t ch 95 pe rcen t of th e fi sh 1akcn each year, whil e non-res iden t fi sh e rme n take the o the r 5 percent. Co lo rado F is hing Liec nscs 5 00 L,O ,,,,,...,, ,, ,100 :150 :IOO 2.>0 :.!0 0 150 100 , ./ ~ ...... -• .... -· .... .. ... .... ·- .... 30 0 1950 1%0 1970 l'lKO Ill 112 11:1 Il l 115 116 R csidcnls ' 'on-residents •••••• r 5 V :r. F ish i n g is n famil y activity ns this fathe r and son s how durin g n trip ton pond stocked b y th <' 0i··ision n e ur 1;011 lcl c-r. 14 �"We spend o ur vacation in Colorado every year . ... We fish rh e s rreams between Saguache and Cu 1111iso11 and always car cl, fi.<11." Clara Parke Waco. Texas MORE FISH FOR MORE ANGLERS W ith more than one million fi she rmen casting into Colorado water annuall y, demand would quic kl y out strip the suppl y of fi sh if the Division of W ildlife didn' t pro vide an adju n ct to natural rep roduction with r egular stocking. The Divi sion annually stocks 1,279 lakes and reservo irs and 383 streams that are open to public fishing. In 1986, the Di vision stock ed five to six million catc hable-size rainbow trout, 15 to 20 mi llion trout fin ge rlings, six to eight million sa lmon fingerlings and more than ;;;; million warm-wat e r fry and finge rlings. Fifteen hat c heries, rearing units and planting base stations are scattered throughout the state. Fish stocking begins in early F e bruary and continues into ea rl y fall. Popu lar lakes, reservo irs and streams are stocked seve ra l ti mes cl uring th e year. For example, E levenmi le Reservo ir in South Park was stock ed with 75,000 finge rling brown trout, one million finge rling kokanee salmon, and 500,000 rainbows under eight inche~ in 1986. The average cat ch per fi sh er man per day is 2.3 f is h in Co lorado, and the average ang ler spend s 10 days each year fi shing. To maintain that su ccess ratio and participation in the face of increasing f ishing pressure, the Division mus t produce more fi sh. The n ew Pue blo hatchery, incorpo- rating the late st design features to produce a va ri e t y of spec ies for lakes and strea m s, will open thi s spring with fu ll operation in 1989. With the new hatch e ry in operation, the Division will ultimately produce 43,000,000 more fish each year, a major ste p toward providing a qual ity fi shing experience for years to co me. Existing hatcheries have al so bee n up grad e d and made more efficient, with more work planne d to m ee t th e increasing d e mand for qual ity fish. Fis h Stocked in Colorado Waters 19 86 Brook Trout Brown Trout Cutthroat Mackinaw Rainhow Ra inbow (8"+) Chinook Salmon Kokanee Salmon Bass Bluegill Cutfieh Crappie Tiger Muskie Wullcy•· Wiper 500,151 896,S 1 1~ 2,025,56 1 133,387 6,338,780 5,,Wl,952 33,468 7,7:-l l,433 264,021 896,60:3 I ,75 1,2 lfl 456,290 5;3,;i93 53,073,870 1, 100,000 All colrl-wotcr spel'ies 23, 107,820 All warm-wotc r specie~ 57,626,557 , ;, C 0 ,. C: w L . _ - - - - - ~ = ~ ~ ~ ~ = = - ~===~~ - - _ _ J ii. Mel Rose, manager of thf' 1\11. Shavano Hatchery. hold s one of the catchable rainbows raised by the Division. 15 �FROM WIPERS TO WALLEYES A wip e r isn 't a tee nager working in a ca r wash or a window washe r c linging to th e side of a building. W ipe rs are a n e w species o f fi sh, a ga m e fi s h that thrills angle rs with its fi ghting ab ilit y, its size, a n d a vora cious appe tite that leads to rap id growth and a procliv it y lo sn ap at a varie ty of lures and bait. Create d in 1966 when two So uth Ca rolina biologists c rossed a s tripe d bass a n d a wh it e bass, the wipe r has b ee n a big hit in eas tern Co lorado reservoirs. A D ivisio n of Wi ldlife bio logist firs t su gges ted wipers for Colorado in 1981. The goal was to provide a n ew gam e fi sh for Eas tern S lope reser vo irs, one that would provide a new fi shing op portunity and incr eased dive rsity for fi s her me n. In 1986, n ea rl y o n e millio n wipe r fry we re re leased in Colorado waters. F illing a n eco logica l ni c he that a llo ws t h em t o gu lp dow n large amou nts of avai lab le food , the wipe rs can gr ow to a foot in le n gt h in t wo yea r s a nd reac h 12 p ounds in only five years. No o th e r Co lorad o ga m e fis h grows as qu ick ly. A second n ew arr iva l to Colorado waters is the t iger m uski e, a cross bet ween a northern pike a nd muske llun ge. T hi s hybrid has been Fis h Introduced into Colorado Wate rs YEAR SPECIES 1879 Blac k Bass (large mo uth ) 1882 Brook tro ut , ca rp , crap p ie 1Bll6 Rai nbow tro ut, lak e tro ut 1903 1921 1932 1941 194ll 1949 195] 1957 1958 1963 1964 1981 (Mack inaw), A tlanti c salmon (rlirl not accl imat e) Drow n t rout Ye llow p erch, s unfis h ( hlu cg ill ) Go lde n trout , grayling Kamloo p trout W h ite bass Wa lleye pike, p e rc h Kokan ec saln1o n , d r11n1, smallmou th buss N orth e r n pik e, r e clcnr e d sunfish Brown bu llhead S ilve r sa lmon Sacrament o perch , grayling (reint roduced ) W h it e ba ss, st r i ped ba ss hybrids (wipers) stocked into select e d wate rs and h as th e p o t e ntia l to easil y reach a wei ght of 40 po unds. Wa lleyes, another sp ecies introduced to th e slate, a r c a lso thri vin g in Colorado waters. Anoth er gam e fis h ca pab le of rea chin g troph y size, wa lleyes a r e a lso prized as one of th e bes t ta stin g fres hwat e r fish fo und a n yw he re. F ish bio logists from the Division " milk" th e eggs and milt fr o m wa lleyes capture d in gill n ets in st a l e reservoi rs. The eggs are th e n ha t ch ed at a sla t e hatc hery and th e fr y are re turn e d to Easte rn S lo p es lak es. Jn 1986, more than 53 mil lion wa lleye fr y we re re leased in Colo rado wate rs. Su c h tran sp lants of "exoti c" spec ies to ne w h omes in Co lorado a rc exa mples of the Div ision's co mm itmen t to co n stantly i mprove t h e fishing ex pe ri e n ce of Co lorad o an gle rs. These wi pers arr among tl1t· fis h introduced to Colorado lo provid e n ew fi s hing opport un iti es. 16 �NEW FISHING FOR COLORADO The random w hims of nature that produce ideal trout habitat as we ll as a perfect place to fi sh are ra rer than many imagine. The flow of wa ter m u st be adeq ua le a nd con sistent, yet the c urre nt can't be too strong. P lenti ful food is n eeded. Cover must b e well positioned, with riffles, bank cuts and dee p pools. The stream ca n ' t be di sturbed or polluted. To make the picture co mpl e te for fis he rme n , a breathtaking panorama of peaks, na rrow canyon wal ls or fores ted slopes shou ld b e part of the equat ion. Co lorado is lu cky e nou gh to have su ch treasures open to pub li c fish in g. B ut t he number of peo ple li ving and vacat io nin g in our state is inc reasing a t th e sa m e tim e m ore people wan t to fi sh. So wh e n a c lassic s tream chocked fu ll of lu nk er trout became ava il a bl e, Division o ffi cials wi th foresight jumped at the chance to acquire it. The Sp inn ey Mountain Ranch prope rty a long the So uth P latte in So uth Park is the case in point. Long a p ri vate fi shin g area, Division of Wildl ife officia ls learned in 1986 t hat the prime piece of property was ava il ab le. They acted qu ickl y. Wo rking with the Na tur e Conservancy, the D ivis ion acqu ired an e ase m e nt a long 6.5 miles of the South Platte above a nd below Sp inney Mou ntain Rese rvo ir. The Division spen t $ 1.25 millio n to acqu ire the easem en t. T h e Wi ldlife Com missio n , which had quick ly e ndorsed the purchase, th e n enacted e m ergency regu lat ions to protect the fi sh ery. D ivision ex pe rts consi d e r th e stretc h of ri ver o n e of th e top trout strea m s in the co untry. An<l th e a rea is withi n a day's drive of bot h Denve r and Co lorado Springs, making it access ib le to most of the people in the state. T h anks to quick act ion, Colorado anglers now have a new fi shin g reso urce to pursue big trout. Colorado Fisherme n Survey 19 8 6 WATERS CATCH PER CENT Co ld Lakes 8,675,000 44% Co lrl Strea ms 7,000,000 36'Jf 390,000 2% 2,565,000 13% 880,000 5% Cool Water Warm Wa ter SPEC I ES Trou l. sa lmon. g rayling. wh ite fish orth ern p i ke , walleye. ti~e r muski e Catfish , h l11egil l, su nfish , crappie Bass The Divis ion acquired top-quality trout habita t above and below Spinney Mountain Reservoir o n the South Platte River. 17 �"Be ing able to see and study animals in the ir natural habitat is one of the fringe ben efits of living in an area like Grand Count y." Sky Hi News Granby, Colorado A HOME FOR WILDLIFE As managers of Colorado's wildlife resource, th e Division of Wildlife does much m ore than r egulate hunting and fishing. In the 1980s, in a sta te where continued growth and t he p ro tection of wildlife are both important, findi ng and imple m e nting the correct bala n ce is a difficu lt task. Yet h ab itat protec tion is the factor that will determine ho w successful our state is in maintaining th e quality huntin g, fi shing and ot her wild I ife- 18 related recreation. Fishin g an d hunting a re both ca r efull y controlled, e n suring that there will be no over-harvesting of game or fi sh. The ultimate limiti ng factor for all wildlife is h abitat: clean, adequate flows of wate r for fish , nesting cover for birds, winter range for game, undisturbed big gam e mi gration routes and ot he r essentials. The Division has b een the lead agency in pursuing a program of screening criti cal habitat. During 1986, the Division obtained title to 5,300 acres of prope rty including land west of Gunnison important to big gam e m an agem e nt a nd an easem e nt alo ng the South P latte Rive r that opened up n e w, prime fi shin g waters. Nea rly 27,000 acr es of con servation easem e nts were donated to preserve wi ld life h ab itat. lnstream flow measurements were completed on an add itional 86 streams. Minimum flows, essen tial for the protection of fish eries, h ave now been established on 1,074 streams and include more than 6,600 miles of wate r. The r e were o the r accomplishments, including 75 con stru ction projects to maintain habitat. In add ition, th e D ivision ente red into a unique public and private sector partne rs hi p with the U.S. Fores t Service and Trout Un limited in 1986 designed to improve fi shing by increasing the amount of money ava ilab le to imp rove h ab ita t. The Division and Forest Service will inve ntory improve m ent proj ec ts for stream h ab itat while Trout Unlimited ra ises money fo r m a t e rial and manpower. W hat th e numbe rs add up lo is a co n sist e nt commitme nt b y the Division of Wild l ife to protect a nd maintain the habitat that wildlife can't do without. �"Keep up the good work and keep Colo rado as beautiful as ever.•· Jim S turdevcm Port Hur on. Michigan LESSENING THE IMPACTS OF GROWTH W he n the developers of land and water rights seek federal or state approval for p roj ect s, the Colorado Division o f Wi ldlife is often called o n to review the pote ntial impacts on the state's fish and wildlife resources. To ensure a co n sist e nt course of action, the Wildlife Co mmission requested that a mitiga• tion policy be d eveloped by the Division. T he goa l was simple: To ensure D ivision p e rsonne l approach projects in the sa me manne r und e r consistent direction, a nd to allow project propo ne nts to know - up front - about wildlife concerns. The bottom line for the D ivision is to make sure wildlife is give n "due consideration" as reso urces are developed. T h e commitm ent to our wildlife r esou rce is noth ing n ew. In the late 1800's, state leaders underscored the need for the preservation and prop· agation o f fish and wi ldlife. But the new demands placed on the state's resources in the 1960's, 1970s and 1980s ha ve rapidl y reduced the avai lable wi ldlife habitat. Since 1980, new highway construction, the co nve rsion of grasslands and inte nsive recreational u ses have resulted in an a nnual loss of 100,000 acres of habitat. T he Wi ldlife Comm ission a nd Division are aware of th e so m et imes competing n eed to develop a nd manage land a nd wa ter resources. The miti ga- Lion policy, deve loped af t e r 16 p ubli c meetings a nd the scru tin y of a 14- m e mbe r panel rep resen t ing sp ort sm e n, envi ron m en tal a nd deve lopment inte rests, will enable dec ision makers to be aware o f th e va lu e of hunting a nd fis hing as an important c leme nt o f the process. With the n ew policy, now b e ing implemen te d t hrou ghout the Division, information about fi s h and wild life reso urces wil l be r eadil y ava ila bl e and Di visio n policy wil l be consiste nt. At th e sa m e t ime, the Division of Wildlife will continue to serve as the " people's advocate" for their fis h a nd wildlife, h e lpin g to bala nce the desire for econo mic grow th with th e need to prot ect th e wildlife. ~ .., :.< ; ~ ._______________.....J ;..L.J Canada geese slop traffic and a dl'cr jumps a backyar d fence in Front Range communities whe re d evelopment and wildlife arc in connic·I. 19 �MANAGING THREATENED WILDLIFE The rapid deve lopment that has h e lpe d mak e Colorado _great h as produced a few lo se r s along the way, sp ecies of wi ldlife that have bee n crowd e d out of habitat and for various reasons - have bee n unabl e to adapt. That's why th e Division of Wild life initiate d its non ga m e manage m e nt effort in 1972. The goa ls remain th e sa m e today - to reve rse the declin e of threate n ed and e ndan ge red sp ecies, to prevent o the r species from slidin g into th ese categories, and to e ncourage ,, ,. ii: nonconsumptive u ses of wildlife. Thank s primarily to Colorado's nonga m e inco me tax checkoff program which a ll ows taxpa ye rs to co ntribute a portion of th e ir state tax refund or make a donation from their total tax bill, Colorado has becom e a national lead e r in non ga m e research a nd manage m e nt. T h e re are 16 endange red and five thre ate n e d species 111 Colorado. Some, suc h as th e gr ee nback cutthroat trout , ha ve been crowded out of nearl y a ll of th e ir habitat b y "exot ic" s pec ies su ch as brook and brown trout t h at wer e introduced into the state. Othe r s, such as the river otter and p e regrine fal co n, have bee n forced out of traditional habitat b y environmental degradation and loss of habitat. A number of e fforts are und e rway to protect and restore species. As part of a coo p e rati ve effort, the Di visio n of W ildlife h e lped sto ck n ea rl y 30,000 greenback cutt h roat trout, the o nly trout nati ve to Front Ran ge wate rs, during 1986 a lone. Since th e program began , more than 100,000 g ree nbacks have been stocke d. By th e end of the decade, the gr ee nback - once thou ght ext inct - ma y have recovered sufficientl y to become a viab le ga m e fi s h. More than 100 river otters - liste d as endange re d in Colo rado - have been acquired by the Division from o ther states a nd r e leased into remote waterways around the state. A n ew study wi ll u se tiny radio transmitte rs to track the move ment of the hi ghl y secreti ve, mobil e animals. l2 -' = .::': t...:::======::::..;.=:...:.::=:..:=, u Colorado Threalcm•cl and Endan/?ered Spct•ies ENDANGERED Plains s harp-t ai led grou se Grizz ly hear Colorado sq 11awfish Il lack-footcd fe rret Humpback chub Gray wolf Bon ytai l River ott e r Razor back sucker Lynx 20 A greater prairi e chicke n a nd 11 r iver oiler, two c ndnngeri·d spc<'ies th e Divis ion is helping to protect. Wolverine THH EATENED Peregrine falcon (America n ) Peregrine fal con (A rctic) IJald eag le Lesser prairie chi cken Whoopinir cran e Wood frog G rea ter sandhil l crane Grcenhack cutthroat trout Greater prairie chic ke n Arkansas darter �In cooperation with the P eregrine Fund and other fe deral agencies, more than 300 young peregrine falcons have b een r eleased through Division e fforts. As recently as 1972, the r e were no successful breeding pairs o f peregrines in Colorado. By 1986, there were a l least 18 breeding pairs. Aqual ic biologists continue lo document t h e ra n ge, abundance and h a bitat needs of several endangered "big river" fishes, includi ng t he Colorado squawfish , the humpbac k chub, the bonytail and the razorback sucker. I n its most far-reachin g n o ngame project eve r, th e Div- ision has undertake n a survey of hundreds of miles of river bottom land along four of Colorado's major river systems in an attempt to determine why these cottonwood r iparian lands are d eteriorating. Because these areas a r e of critical importance to wildlife richness and diversity in Colorado, b iologists are currently experimenting with art ificial propagation techniques in an e ffort to reverse the decline of cottonwoods and related vegetation here. Projects such as these, and many more, are funded from fe d e r a l funds ear mark ed for species conservation and from t h e state's nongame income tax ch eckoff. The Colorado Legislature, which once provided more than Sl 75,000 annually for species conservation, now allots only Sl for th e program. With new t ax checkoff items now competing with the nonga m e fund for taxpayer contributions, a nd federal money dwindling, the overall budget for nongame programs has fa llen from a peak of n early Sl.5 million in 1977-78 to the current figure of approxi mately $840,000 fo r 1986-87. The Division is continuing to emphasize the importance of species conservation in cooperation with federal agencies and conservation organizations so that more species can be reintroduced or protected and a llowed to thrive in the ir native ha bitat. Colorado Income Tax Nongame Checkoff FY ,; CONTRIBUTION 1978-79 1979,80 S350,000 501,000 1980,81 647,200 l 98],82 740,700 1982,83 1983,84 692,000 550,249 1984-85 458,758 1985-86 397,533 1986-87 372,660 The greenback cutthroat, the only trout native to the Front Range, and the bald eagle are both making comebacks. 21 �MEETING THE CHAIJ,ENGES 1986 was a busy year for the Di vision o f W ildli fe. For insta nce, 1986 saw th e com p le tion of 21 real estate t ra nsact ions resulting in th e ded icatio n o f a n additional 29,000 acres of lands and 16 mil es o f stream to the public good. The Division's real estate sta ff a lso co mple ted a n o the r 14 transa ctio ns involving addition a l u ses o f existing st a t e lands su ch as th e issuing of lease permits for rights of way on stale prope rti es. Similarl y, Division engineers comple ted 75 significant construction project s rang ing from the re novation of Spring Creek dam, near Crested Butte, to comple tion of the solar heating syste m for the Chalk C liffs Fish Hatchery. Di vision biologist s comple te d 86 more instream flow assess m e nts in 1986. As a res ult, more than 1,000 stre ams, to tallin g a lmost i ,000.miles now ha ve minimum flow leve ls es tabli sh e d for th e m. In a d diti o n , DOW biologists provid e d revie ws and recomme nd a tion s on d evelopme nts ra n ging f ro m hydroe lec tric pl a nts lo ne w hi gh way tran sp o rta tion sys te m s und e r th e Na ti onal En vironme ntal Policy Acl. Bio logist s al so inve nto rie d a nd m o n i lo re d aqua ti c and te rrestri a l wildlife popula ti ons and d evelo pe d a land u se m a nual to he lp loca l gove rnm e nts pla n the wise u se o f th e ir wildlife resource s. D OW vo luntee r hunte r educati o n instruc tors taught more th a r~ 18,000 ne w stud e nts in 1986. whil e Projec t W ild instructors p rovide d wo rksho p s for a lmos t 3,500 teac he rs who, in turn, will be ab le to p ass o n in fo rmati on abo ut wildlife a nd its h a bita t to more t h a n 100,000 Colo rad o schoo l chi Id rc n. During 1986, th e D ivisio n up gra d ed the forma l o f Colorado Out doors m agaz ine fro m di gest s ize t o 8 1/2 x 11 inc hes. Di vision info r m a ti o n o ffi ce p e rsonnel pre pare d a m! di stributed a four-a nd-on e-ha lf minute ra dio s how for 60 Colorado radio stations o nce a wee k and a one -and-one -half minute te le vision ne ws re port to nin e Colorado TV stations once a wee k. " Hunting and F ishin g in Colorado" b roc hures we r e upgrad e d a nd p rov ided t o the Co lo rad o To u r ism Board fo r use in in fo rming re sid e nts a n d n onreside nts a b o ut Co lorado 's wild life resources. Mo r e tha n t wo millio n regula to ry bro chures wer e a lso publi she d a nd di stribute d in 1986 . . . a ll wit h th e goa l o f edu ca tin g Colo ra da ns a nd vis ito rs to this sta te ab o ut th e ir wildlife reso urces. 1986 was a busy year for th e Di vision of Wildlife, ind eed. .. 0 0 T ead1ing yo1111gstn s how to u se fire arms suft·ly is one of the goal s of the Division 's H unte r Edu cation program. 22 �THE FUTURE-NEW OPPORTUNITIES 1986 may prove to have been a benchmark year for the Colorado Division of W ildlife. Severa l new projects with significant long-range implications for the state and the management of its wi ldl ife resources began d uring 1986. Two of the most significant of those we re the guberna torial appointment of the Executive Task Force on the Futu re of W ildlife and t h e initiation of a "watchable' wildlife" o r nonconsumptive wildlife recreation program. In late spri ng, fo llowing meetings wit h the state's legislative leadership, the governor's office appointed 18 business and corporate leaders from throughout the state to the Task Force and charged them with identifyin g trends that affect both hum an and wildlife populations, with examining the requirements for preserving and enhancing the state's wi ldlife resources into the next century, and wit h analyzing current and future fund ing bases for wildlife. After e ight months of stud y, the Task Fo rce concluded that, "The sum total of population, demographic, economic, and att itude trends presen ts an enorm ous challenge to all Colorado c itizen s and to those who manage the wild life resources if the wildlife experien ce in t he 2000 to 2025 time frame is to be co m parable or superior to today." For its part, the D ivision estimated add itional costs of managing the resource in the face of those trends at $300 m illion through th e year 2000. While Task Force membe rs expressed rese rvations about project ed costs, they did conclude that "the level of expenditure app ears realisti c if wild li fe resources are to be p reserved at present levels into the 21st century." W ith most o f the Division's annual revenue co mi ng from hunting, a nd specifically from nonreside nt deer and e lk hunting, a "finan cial cri sis ex ists," the Task Force report said. "The crisis is intensified by a leveling off of hunting participation, substantial increases in fishing demands, revenue limita tions t hrough li fetime licenses for senior cit izens, and increasing require men ts of passive users of wild life. " . . . The bases and so urces o f funding for wi ldli fe must be expa nd ed if t h e wild li fe he ritage of the state is to be preserved," the Task Fo rce concluded. To do that, the group recomme nded several short-term and long-term fundin g strategies. T hose ranged from a proposal to change the curre nt licen se fee struct ure to establish a base conservation or "habitat" licen se t hrough esta blishing a sm a ll tax on equipment used for outdoor recreation, to creating a Colorado W ildlife~Foundation. The Colorado Wil d life Commission is reviewing the Task Fo rce proposals and taking public tes tim ony on them before dec id ing which opt ions the D ivision of Wi ldlife should p ursue in dealing with issues raised by the Task Fo rce. Also in 1986, th e Divisio n t oo k the first steps towa rd es tablishing a "watchable wildlife" program. T he Division estimated that one million Coloradans participated in so m e form of wildlife-re lated recrea tion oth er t han hunting and fi shin g in 1986 - that is, activiti es such as bird watching, wil dlife p hotography, e tc. To deve lop a watcha ble wildlife program, t he Division revital ized the Colorado W ild life Adv iso ry Cou ncil. One of the specific requests was to focus pub lic inte r es t on watchable wildli fe and to help determine who th e pa rti cipants are and what se rvices they requ ir e. T h e Division believes that su ch e ffo rts will form th e first step in involving "passive users" in the economic respon sisibilities for the mana ge m e nt of the state's wildlife reso urces. Wa tchabl e wildlife so metim es wat.chcs hack 11s these raccoons peeking from a tree hollow s how. 23 �" I am su re that few of us realized the magnitude of the positi ve impact 011 the economy of the state of Colorado and the very uniqu.e 'non-public' f,wding of you.r an111wl budget. Yours is a message that should somehow reach all concerned Colorado citizens. " James H. Anderson WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR WILDLIFE According to Wildlife 21, the final report of the Executive Task Force on the Future of Wi ldlife, from now into the 21st century: • Colorado will continue to urbanize, increasing from its present population of a bout three million to four mi ll ion plus by the year 2000 and to betwee n five to six million people by 2025. • The aging of Colorado's population threatens wi ldlife funding so urces, both because of decreased participation in b ig game hunting as people ge t older, and expandin g use of senior citizen discount programs such as the $2 lifetime fishing and small game licenses for those over 64. • Wildlife wi ll co ntinue to be a major economic asset to the p eople of Colorado, with hunting and fishing adding more than Sl billion a year to the state's economy. That, the Task Force concluded, will continue to represent a significant portion of the $4.5 billion spent by tour ists in Colorado annually. • The attitudes of con sumptive wildlife users-that is, of the state's hunters a nd fish erm en are changing away from quantity toward quality experiences in both hunting and fishing. • Hunting (particularly by outof-state e lk and deer hunters) finances most wild life managemen t activity in Colorado, and that source of in come may level off and may even decline. • Fishing pressure, both warmwat er and cold-water , wi ll increase and with it the cost of providing more fish through the hatchery system. • Passive-user interest in wildlife will increase substantially. P ublic demand for the study, watching, feeding, and photography of both game and nongame species wi ll increase. • Human encroachme nt on wildlife habitat will continue, but pe rhaps at a slowe r pace than in the preceding four decades. "It's important to remember, however, that a ll human encroachme nt on wildlife habitat is cumu lative," the Task Force concluded. • The state's commitme nt to preventing any species from becoming extinct, threaten ed, or endangere d will increase future wildl ife management costs. If mountain bluebirds and pirturc~cp1e tro ut stream s are to remain for our children, we mu st a ct today tu pre~r n <' and p rolt•c·t llw m . 24 �""What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." Seattle, Suquamish Indian Tribe The last annual report the Division of Wildlife produced was in 1964. We have produced this new annual report to tell you about the status of your wildlife. We want to keep you informed. If you have any suggestions or comments on what we should include in future annual reports, tell us. �I • � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/1556e7a6ae5cdc38cee21ba4c1b0bd42.pdf b1ef372ef82791db7597396a71360a4f PDF Text Text 1987 Annual Report to the People of Colorado Colorado Division of Wildlife 6060 Broadway. Denver, CO 80216 • 303/ 297-1192 �Colorado Division of Wildlife Regions Distribution of permanent personnel by regions I NORTHWEST NORTHEAST 66* RUSTI C ,,-~ BELL 61* T. COLLINS --- ~ 34 WRAY 1-70 "\ ALMONT ■ \ MONTROSE~ ------~ -.../ \ so \ ~( ? SOUTHWEST 68* SOUTHEAST 69.5* i~ ~ DURANGO *Full-time permanent employees Denver headquarters Ft. Collins research Hatcheries TOTAL PERMANENT EMPLOYEES Cover photos: Mule Deer. Canada Goose, and Elk by Judd Cooney; River Oller by Leonard Lee Rue IJ.I; Antelope, Brown Trou~ Fox-Squi"el, and Black Bear by Judd Cooney Employees 138.5 42 91 568 �ERRATA P. 20, "DO\\' Close Up," line 27: P. 23, Headline: For Metro that read Metro area that For Watachable Wildlife read Watchable Wildlife �Organization of the Division The Division of Wildlife may be the only agency in the state of Colorado that has to have a presence on every square inch of land and water in the state. At least in theory, anyway. After all, whether you're talking about squirrels in suburban Aurora or the elusive eagles of the Colorado River, wildlife doesn't distinguish between public and private property. And in order to do its job, the Division has to be where the resource is. Three-fourths of the Division's roughly 560 staff positions are either field officers or support positions in local communities throughout the state. When you realize that those 400-plus people are covering the more than 100,000 square miles that is the Centennial state, you begin to get a sense of how big their jobs are. * The Division of Wildlife is a division of pickups and hay stack panels, saws and sidearms, traps and computer terminals. Add in a little self-reliance and initiative and you've pretty much described the tools of the trade needed to cover the territory. Administratively, the Divisio n is divided into five regional operations. Regional offices are located in F ort Collins, Grand Junction, Montrose, Denver and Colorado Springs. Area offices are maintained in smaller communities from G lenwood Springs to Lamar. The Denver headquarters provides program direction for statewide issues. Also, the Division maintains a research unit in Fort Collins and 15 fish hatc heries and or rearing units throughout the state. The Division administers four major programs statewide: hunting recreatio n, fishing recreation, endangered wildlife and watchable wildlife. Activities such as law enforcement, the provision of public information and education, research and others are undertaken in support of those programs. On a given day Division of Wildlife people may be stocking fish, trapping sharp-tailed grouse, teaching sixth graders, explaining how a hunter applies for a limited hunting license, fixing a pickup, planning a budget, checking fisherm an or doing any of the literally hundreds of other tasks that are necessary to make sure that our children' s children enjoy the varied wildlife resource that we enjoy . Colorado D ivision of Wildlife Regiona l Offices Central Region 6060 Broadway Denver, CO 8021'6 303/ 29 1-7230 Southeast Region 2 126 North Weber Colorado Springs, CO 80907 7 19/ 473-2945 Southwest Region 2300 S. Townsend Ave. Montrose, CO 8140 I 303/ 249-34 31 Northwest Region 71 I Independent A venue Grand Junction, CO 8 1505 303/248-7175 Northeast Region 3 I 7 West Prospect Avenue Fort Collins, CO 805 26 303/484-2836 Headquarters Office 6060 Broadway Denver, CO 80216 303/ 297- 1192 EDITOR'S NOTE: An organ izat ion is as good as the people in it T he Colorado Division of W ild life is very proud of its people and the work they do. We' d like you to meet some of them, as a result, the 1988 editio n of the D ivision's Annual Report includes a new feature, " DOW C lose-U p," which will introd uce you to some of the men and women who ma nage Colorado's wild life resources. Whether the profiles are of a national award win ner or of your next-door neigh bor, "DOW Close-Up" is a ch ance fo r you to meet our people and learn about the work they do. We hope you' ll find it an interesting glimp se at the human element of wild life management. �The State of the Division of Wildlife When it comes to the day-today work of maintaining the fish and wildlife resource and providing opportunities for recreation, the men and women of the Division of Wildlife did a fine job in 1987. Given all the difficulties we have had to overcome and all the changes we have undergone in the past few years, it's too easy to forget what a truly good job the Division of Wildlife is doing. If you want to hunt for big game or small or fish for trout or warm-water species, to see elk or bighorn sheep or eagles, or to feed chipmunks on your camping trip, Colorado is the place to live. You don't have to look any further than our recently compiled big game hunting season results for confirmation. We sold more than 370,000 big game hunting licenses last year for $23.2 million. That's an all-time record for license revenue and fifth largest in total numbers. Hunting and fishing remain a $1 billionplus industry in Colorado. We are doing something right. The success is a tribute to the work of the men and women of the Division of Wildlife and the policies of the Colorado Wildlife Commission who continue to do an outstanding job. The Wildlife resource in Colorado is not only good, but first-rate. The fact that hunting and fishing recreation opportunities are excellent today in Colorado and the state of the resource is good does not mean that there isn't a big job out there that needs to be done. The task of maintaining 2 what we have in Colorado now is immense, and keeping up with the changes that are taking place is even tougher. That puts a lot of pressure on the people of the Division. From district wildlife manager to property technician, from fish culturists to secretaries, in the field and across this state the outstanding professionals of the DOW know they have a big job to do and are dedicated to getting it done. In fact they have been running pretty hard to get it done. We have done our basic jobs well. In addition, we've taken on and met some new challenges. Recognizing the absolute importance of maintaining and conserving fish and wildlife habitat in partnership with growth and change in Colorado, we have trained all Division employees in implementing the Commission's new mitigation policy, and in working effectively with county government in the land-use decision process. From a time when some development interests were so upset with the D ivision that legislation was sought which would have prevented any involvement by the Division in mitigation efforts, we have in place a sound and effective mitigation policy and a provision for the first time in state law requiring appropriate mitigation in connection with water projects. We have an in-stream flow program carried out by the Colorado Water Conservation Board with our help that is strong and well supported, and the director of the Division even sits as an ex-officio member of that Board. We have gone from a time when our big game management By.Jim Ruch, Director was under critical attack to a time when we have solid support for our new, innovative big game structure. Despite drastically declining revenues, we have made real progress in our work on endangered wildlife. We have downlisted species and gotten a recovery plan in place for the endangered fi sh of the Colorado River. We have the first evidence of baby otters and the peregrines are coming to the canyons of Denver. As we look around the state, we can see signs of progress and outstanding fishing and hunting opportunities everywhere. In the southwest we have the incredible fishery developing on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir. We see deer and elk herds responding positively to season structure changes and good management, including such things as the resolution of the orchard damage problem through an accelerated fencing effort. In the southeast we have the tremendous fishing and public interest in the new Spinney Mountain properties, the great warm-water fis hing in the plains reservoirs and the tremendous increase in turkey populations and the interest of turkey hunters. In the northwest, we have not only the unbelievable fishing in the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork rivers, we also have the positive negotiation processes going with the ski industry and water developers in Summit County and in Aspen to ensure that the needs of wildlife are met in connection with development. And we have the exciting Garfield property experimental quality season. In the northeast, we have �completed the acquisition of the North Delaney Butte Area, Colorado's first gold medal trout fishing lake. We have cultivated a new and productive involvement with the urban core of Colorado's population. Through the work of the Central Region, we have teamed up with a variety of other entities-such as the Denver Museum of Natural History, the Children's Museum and others. We have worked with cities and park districts to open up new waters to fishing and to deal with wildlife management in urban areas. We have worked closely with three major school districtsBoulder, Cherry Creek and Denver- to implement Project Wild district-wide. We have become very effectively involved in major land- use issues in the Denver area such as the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Stapleton International Airport and both E-4 70 and W-4 70. The lessons we are learning here about cooperative efforts will be valuable in communities throughout the state. We have begun an exciting new watchable wildlife program, added five new properties to the wildlife ranching program, and put more than one million dollars to work to improve aquatic habitat and fishing opportunities through the Fishing Is Fun program. In short, we've seen a productive year. We expect the same for 1988. Our top priority, of course, wi:I be to continue to do our primary jobs of providing opportunities to hunt, fish, or watc h wildlife and protecting endangered species. /J Jim Ruch, Director We will continue to do well those things which we have always done well. It is vital that we strive to make the Division as effective and well coordinated as possible because, m addition to our basic job, two critical priorities will command our attention this year and for years to come. First is future funding. We are in the process of developing a comprehensive management plan for the next 15 years that is based not just on what needs to be done but also on how much it will cost to do what needs to be done. Clearly, we are going to have to increase revenues from license sales and find new sources of revenue in part by, increasing some license fees. We will need to actively pursue the efforts outlined in Wildlife 2 I, the report of the gubernatorially appointed Executive Task Force on the Future of Wildlife, in order to broaden our funding base. To do this, the participants in non-traditional types of wildlife recreation will need to become financial partners in the future of wildlife. Our second task is to reach out to the whole community of people in Colorado who are interested in wildlife, who care, who affect wildlife or are affected by it. This essential effort in external relations recognizes that we the Division and the Commission are not alone in our interest and concern for fish and wildlife. It includes private businessmen, legislators, county governments, water developers and the hundreds of thousands of Coloradans who enjoy seeing wildlife around as part of their every day lives. Each and everyone of these groups and individuals can and will help ensure a space for wildlife in Colorado if we include them through public service efforts and positive external relations in all our programs. In conclusion, as we face the challenge of reaching out, beyond where we are today, we should remember these things: The DOW is a " can do" agency with a lot of overachieving people who stretch themselves to the limit trying to get the job done. And finally , in the big job that's out there ahead of us we have to work hard to involve everyone in this state to develop the dollars, the will and the way to ensure a space for wildlife in Colorado's future. 3 �The Colorado Wildlife Commission Four new members were appointed to the Colorado Wildlife Commission in 1987. Governor Roy Romer added Larry Wright of Alamosa, Dennis Luttrell of Divide, Eldon Cooper of Elizabeth and Gene Peterson of Snyder to the four incumbent commissioners. Together the eight serve as the people's voice on wildlife management issues and are responsible for enacting the regulations that govern management and public use of the state's wildlife resources. By law the eight come from five geographic regions of the state, that is from northeastern, southeastern, northwestern, southwestern and central Colorado which includes the greater Denver metropolitan area. Three commissioners represent the public at large with the remainder appointed from livestock producers, agricultural growers, sportsmen or outfitters and the boards of county commissioners. During 1987, the Colorado Wildlife Commission included: Rebecca Frank, the former news editor of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, who was appointed to the Commission in 1985. Frank was chosen as chairwoman of the Commission in March, 1987; William Hegberg, a Snowmass Village Realtor re-appointed to the Commission in 1987. He is a member of Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, Trout Unlimited, the Colorado Wildlife Federation and the Colorado Bowhunters Association; George VanDenBerg of Durango, a ranch and landfill owner/ operator as well as a lifelong resident of the Western Slope. Appointed in 1985, he is a past 4 chairman of the Animas Regional Planning Commission. As a pilot, he has monitored wintering conditions of Colorado's big game for many years; Robert L. Freidenberger, appointed in 1985. He is an electrician and co-owner of A-Z Electric in La Junta. Freidenberger is a hunter safety instructor and was honored as "Education Instructor of the Year" in southeast Colorado by the Division of Wildlife in 1985; Larry Wright, a petroleum jobber and independent businessman. He is a charter member of the San Luis Valley Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. He was honored as the organization's " Sportsman of the Year" in 1977. An avid hunter and fisherman, Wright is a graduate of Adams State College at Alamosa; Eldon Cooper, president of the Colorado AFL-CIO. A long-time union official, he has also served as a lobbyist at the Colorado Legislature. He has also been active in the Democratic Party, serving as Adams County Democratic Chairman; Gene Peterson, experienced in dry land and irrigated farming and dairy ranching. He owns and operates a multifaceted operation near Snyder. He has worked to improve soil and wildlife conservation measures, including extensive wind breaks, and has worked with the Division of Wildlife on the local level. Peterson also serves on the Morgan County Farmers Protective Association and is president of the SnyderSmith Ditch, Milling, and Reservoir Company; and Dennis Luttrell, a member of the Teller County Board of Com- Rebecca Frank William Hegberg Gene Peterson Dennis Luttrell missioners and chief administrative officer for the county. As the county's chief administrative officer, Luttrell has supervised the budget-setting process and mill levies as well as planning, zoning and other land-use policies. He has also run his own business, completing the mapping of the Lincoln County portion of the Colorado State Land Parcel Identification System. �The Commission turns golden The Colorado Wildlife Commission hit the big "Five O" in I 987. Established by the state legislature on March 3, 1937, the first six-member Commission was appointed by Governor Teller Ammons and included Harold Watson of Denver, Otis McIntyre of Colorado Springs, B.H. Jorgensen of Gunnison, H.G. Kendall of Trinidad, R.G. Lyttle of Meeker, and Dean Henry of Wray. " Probably no group ... ever attacked their problems with greater enthusiasm," the editor of Colorado Conservation Comments, the predecessor to Colorado Outdoors magazine, noted in its inaugural issue. Even so, a little more than a year later the same Commission was being criticized for its " profligate spending" on such items as fish rearing ponds at Buford, the operation of a game bird farm near Colorado Springs, etc. That year, a move in the legislature to abolish the Commission was defeated by a single vote. In the 50 years since then, 70 Colorado leaders have served as members of the Wildlife Commission, helping the Division of Wildlife to become one of the most highly regarded wildlife management agencies in the country. Among the Commission's accomplishments are the introduction of species such as the Rocky Mountain goat, bass and kokanee and re-introduction of species such as the moose and river otter to Colorado. With the guidance of the Wildlife Commission, Colorado established the first nongame income tax checkoff to generate donations for threatened and endangered species; found treatment for lungworm disease in the state animal, the bighorn sheep; increased rec reational opportunities for hunters and fishermen; adopted one of the first strategic plans for fish and wildlife agencies; and much more. The Commission's accomplishments have been recognized by its peers many times, including recognition as " Commission of the Year" by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife agencies both in 197 6 and most recently in 1986. Colorado Governor Roy Romer took note of the Commission's efforts and its anniversary by issuing a special proclamation noting the anniversary. For its part, the Division of W ildlife erected a special cast bronze plaque in the Division of Wildlife office commemorating the event and held a special dinner to fete all current and former Commissioners. F ifty years of leadership gathered in Denver in the fall to celebrate the go lden anniversary of the Colorado Wild life Commission. Of the 70 men and women who have served, 20 were able to attend a dinner in Denver honoring their acco mplishments. 5 �The bucks: Where they come from In fiscal year I 98 6-87 (July I, J986 to June 30 , 1987), the Division of Wildlife actually incurred a deficit of almost $3 .7 million. Higher capital construction costs (primarily caused by the $ 1.6-million-dollar acquisition of prime trout habitat above and below Spinney Mountain Reservoir begun a year earlier) together with declining sales of hunting and fishing licenses in the last half of 1986 were responsible for much of the defic it. License sales, accounted for 76 percent of total revenues. Since the Division does not receive any state general fund tax revenue, the shortfall was made up by drawing upon reserves in the Wildlife Cash F und. In spite of the fiscal year deficit, the o utlook is encouraging. License sales revenues for the 1987 hunting season rose sharply on the strength of increased participation by nonresidents in both deer and elk hunting. Overall, hunting and fis hing license revenues increased by 11.7 percent in 1987 to $3 1.7 million- a record for the calendar year. Deer and elk hunting licenses produced over $21.8 million of that total while fishing Where the money comes from FY 86-87 Wildlife Cash/ Other: $34,479 ,6 I 9 Nongame Checkoff: $444 604 Federal Aid: $5 342 327 85 .6% 1.1 % 13.3% Total Revenue: $40,266,550 Wildlife Cuh includu license rc~·cnuc, interest and o ther cash. Federa l Aid includes Piuman•Robcruon and Oingcll•Johnson funds. grants and other Federal a id. Nongamc checkoff includes donaiio ns and S I fro m gcncr3l rund. Revenue from license sales CY 1987 Resident Hunting: $6, 168 833 19.4% Resident Fishing: $5,457,061 17 .2% Non-resident Fishing: $2 583 464 Total License Sales: $3 I ,696,962 6 8.2% contributed $8 million. Federal excise taxes, the second largest source of Division funding climbed 8.6 percent in FY 87 to more than $6.2 million. The excise tax, which is collected on the sale of hunting, fishing and boating equipment is used to fund a variety of resear ch, planning and restoration projects. O ther major sources of income such as interest from the Wildlife Cash Fund ($9 13,000) and donations to the Nongame Income Tax Checkoff ($444,604) either declined or remained unchanged during the fiscal year. �. ..... The bucks: Where they will have to go No one's been really sure what the long-term trends are for this segment of the economy, but one thing was clear in I 987: the state's wildlife resource was responsible for a lot of money changing hands. Updating a I 9 8 I Colorado State University study to reflect increases in the consumer price index, Division officials concluded that sportsmen in the state were spending about $ 1.3 billion a year. Of that, hunters spent $590 million and fishermen $688 million. Nonresidents alone spent $231 million to hunt and fish in Colorado in 19 8 7. Add in the fact that Coloradans may have spent as much as $2 million on birdseed, feeders and so on last year and you realize that the state's wildlife resources contribute to our lives in more than one way. So was the deficit of fiscal year 1987 a glitch? Or was the optimism arising from the 1987 hunt the bump in the curve? It's too early to tell, but the fiscal 1987 Sportsmen Expenditures for Hunting and Fishing in ·c olorado Resident Non-resident TOTAL HUNTING FISHING $656,668,000 30,95 I ,000 HUNTING $390,200,000 199,789,000 TOTAL $589,989,000 TOTAL EXPENDITURES FISHING $687,619,000 S 1,277,608,000 Source: J. Mckean and K. Nobe. Sportsmen Expenditures for Hunting and Fishing in Colorado-1981 Colorado State University. Ft. Collins. CO. 1983. adjusted for 1987 using the Dcnvcr•Boulder Consumer Price Index. year deficit did seem to suggest that the bears were capable of taking control. The future of wildlife is at stake. In 1987, the overall " slow" growth rate in the sale of hunting and fishing licenses was reflected in the Division's budget: the acquisition of land and water easements or habitat actually declined by a lmost $250,000 and operating cost increases were held below 2 percent- less than half the current inflation rate in the U.S. Where the money goes FY 86-87 Operating: $34,240,312 85% Payment to other state agencies: $ 1,760,654 4.4% Capital ,2_6_5___,5_8_4_ __ _ _ 10_._6_ %_ ----t_ _ Construction: _$_4 __ Total Expenditures: $40,266,550 7 �Wildlife and a growing state While at a pace that is less than that of the previous two decades, Colorado's population will continue to grow at a healthy rate for the balance of the century. Data from the State Demographer's Office indicates that Colorado will have an additional 800,000 people in 12 years' time. For the Division of Wildlife, the question becomes: can wildlife resources be maintained or even enhanced in the face of continued population growth that can, and often does, threaten the habitat so essential to the health of the resource? Economic development is vital to Colorado's future, but the state's fragile ecosystem requires careful attention to environmental needs. In the 2 1 West Slope counties that provide much of the state's fishing and big game hunting opportunities, the population is expected to expand by over 40 percent in the next decade. Most of this will occur in the narrow mountain valleys that are suitable for development and also vital for wildlife habitat purposes. Up to 600,000 new people will reside in the Fort Collins to Pueblo corridor by the beginning of the 21 st century. Not only will most of this development take place on land that is presently used for agricultural or open space purposes, but it will also require the Division to expand efforts to pro- vide " close-in" hunting and fishing opportunities for a much larger urban population. Another challenge facing the Division is expanding its revenue base to meet the growing needs described above. Presently, more than three-fourths of the Division's revenues are derived from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. In recent years, the growth in licensed hunters and anglers has slowed, partially as a result of Colorado Population Growth 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 . tt ft .,, 3.0 z 0 3 2.5 i ~ 2.0 2.2 1.5 1.0 .5 2.9 t~ 1.8 ..J ..J UJ u. 1950 1960 1970 1980 1985 1990 zUJ 2000 ~ 0 (So urce: Colorado Ocpanmcnt :.: u or Local Affairs) a As Colorado grows, connicts between wild li fe a nd people will increase. This big cat was treed in a back yard in suburban Golden, requiring a d istrict wildlife manager to tranquilize and remove it. 8 �Projected the " graying" of America. By the turn of the century, the number of people under 40 in the U.S. will decline in absolute numbers despite a projected IO percent increase over the current population level. This will most likely lead to some decline in the number of big game hunters (which presently account for close to 70 percent of annual license revenues). Thus the Division can no longer count on license sales increases to finance additional capital construction or operational needs. Finding alternative sources of funding is something that's going to have to be addressed if the Division is to protect and enhance the state's valuable wildlife resources in the future. Deer Hunting Licenses Projected Elk Hunting Licenses .!JO ~ - , - , - ~..--.--, 230 220 210 200 190 180 170 160 ISO !JO 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 JO 20 10 1 10 ,-,-- ,-,--,-.,.......,..., 200 190 180 170 160 150 IJO 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 900 tn;;~:=::~~:: ~~:::J 700 650 600 550 500 450 JOO 350 JOO u ,_,_,--u so 10 1990 1995 10 0 U...-L.-'--.U:= Rtsidcnis 2000 1.250 ~ - . ~ - . -.......~ 1.200 1, 150 1,100 1,050 1.000 950 850 800 750 ......_• .,..,.,____,..., 40 . 30 o .....- -u................... P rojec1cd Fishing Purt icipation 250 0 ......_................._....... .J 1990 1995 2000 1990 1995 2000 Ruidcnis Non•rtsidtn1s - Non•rtsidcnls Rcsidcn1s - Non·ruidcn ts Colorado Hunting and Fishing Participa nts Total Hunting 269.073 Total Fishing 296.538 540 520 500 480 460 440 420 400 380 360 340 320 300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 229,894 410.102 272,059 499.887 312,4 19 707.024 338.367 759.890 350,689 742.756 358.823 71 4,448 310,378 684.448 310.898 720.168 304,498 747.166 3 I 5.434 747,235 - ~ - It - ---~ -~ --- --- -- -- --- -- - - - - ~ - ::;1950 l HUNT E RS Residents Non- Residents - 11960 -- --- -I- ,,,- -- I- f-- f -- J= f-- 1970 1980 -------- - --'"81 - ---- --- - - - - -- -- - f-f-- -- -- - - --- - -- - -I- ,__ - I- --:- If-- f-f-- '- 82 - I_'• 1, - 83 ,__ - -- - f-- '"7 - - - - - - - - 84 85 86 87 f-- f-- f-- f-- 560 540 520 500 480 460 440 420 400 380 360 340 i 320 ~ 300 g 280 ~ 260 ~ 240"' 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 F ISHERMAN - Resid ents Non-Residents - 9 �"Just a note to compliment the Colorado DOW for .. . doing the extra work ... [that] goes a long way ... toward making the yearafter-year hunter and limited license applicant feel that the DOW is looking out for him." Russ McCoodwin CSU Terrestrial wildlife management1987 meant more More recreational opportunities for more sportsmen-those were the results of terrestrial wildlife management in Colorado in 1987. Whether you are talking about the opening up of five additional ranches totalling more than 375,000 acres to public hunting, about Division efforts to improve waterfowl habitat on the Eastern Plains, or about the big game hunting seasons themselves, bigger and better were the watchwords. Expanding on a program begun a year earlier, the Division was able to open up previously closed ranches in E lbert, Pueblo, Otero, Las Animas and Lincoln counties to public hunting for the first time through the Wildlife Ranching program. Colorado now has a total of seven ranches participating in the program providing new Colorado provides about one quarter of a ll the elk hunting opportunities on the North American continent each year. Colorado Deer Hunting Licenses 150 145 140 135 I 30 125 120 I 15 11 0 105 100 9S 90 8S ,. I ~ , ---- - " I I ~ ' ,, ' 10S 100 I ' '" ' 90 ~ - ,,.. 8S .. ... .. ., •• •• ..- 45 40 35 30 25 20 ....• IS 10 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 8 1 - Non-Resident • • •••• 82 83 84 l I so ... Rcsidcnl 80 75 70 65 60 ss 0 10 - -- 135 130 125 120 I 15 110 9S ss IS 10 " '' ~ 80 75 70 65 60 50 4S 40 35 30 25 20 ,,_ Colorado Elk Hunting Licenses 150 145 140 85 86 87 .. I I I I .. .... 1·• , -· j •. ~ ~ • :• • • ......-. • - 1950 1960 1970 1980 81 Resid,n1 Non- Resident • • • • • • 82 83 84 85 86 87 �hunting opportunities on a total of tribution will be matched with similar funds from 1 1 states, from almost 625 ,000 acres. Ducks Unlimited, and from the Small game and particularly U.S. and Canadian governments waterfowl also benefited from Division efforts as well during the resulting in about $ 10 million becoming available for the acquiyear as Division officials agreed sition, development and enhanceto invest $80,000 to develop ment of waterfowl habitat in I ,600 acres along the South Platte River near Brush in Canada. As for the big game seasons cooperation with the Ducks themselves, analys is of the 1987 Unlimited, Inc. MARSH H abitat hunt showed more deer and elk Improvement Program. hunters taking more animals than In addition in 1987, the they did the previous year. Colorado Wildlife Commission F or the record, last fall's contributed $50,000 toward 193,649 deer hunters was up 8 implementation of the North percent from the previous year American Waterfowl Manage(179,625). The 59,089 deer they ment Plan through a cooperative arrangement with Ducks Unlimited harvested was up 13 percent from 1986 (52,560) and represented a MARSH Program. This plan is 31-percent success rate, also up a an international effort to improve breeding, migration and wintering •couple of percentage points from last year. conditions for ducks, geese and swans, and ultimately provide continued and healthy populations of these birds. Colorado's con- Colorado Antelope Hunting Licenses 19,000 ,---,---,--..---r---,-,-----,---,---,-~ I8,000 r -+-- + -+--+--l- -la,,,l,q,-1--+--l 17 ,000 r-+--+- + - +- l-,lf---+'1.--1--+---l I6.000 t---+---+- +--+-~ +--l-~ -1--4---1 15,000 t---+---+-+--+-..- +--1-- -1--4---1 14,000 t--t---+-+--t-+ l--+--+----'!l.----+---1 I 3,000 l--+---t- -l-----W.__l--+--+- ~ -1---1 12.000 t--t---t- +-:,t-- f - --l--+- +--• q I 1,000 l--t---t- +#-t--f---l--+- l --+---1 I 0,000 l--t---t---,, --t--f---l--+- l--+---1 9,000 t--t---t-l-+--t--l--+--+- + --1---1 8,000 l--+--+l -+--t--1--+--+-+-+--I 7,000 t--t-----l'----+--t------,1--+--+- +--I---I 6,000 1--t-----lt- +--t------,f--+-- + - l --+---1 5.000 1--1--,,-~- + --t------,l--+--+- + -+--I 4,000 l -~ - + -+--t------,1--+--+- + -+ --I 3,000 l- -+---+-+--+---ll--+--1---1--4---1 2,000 r....l't--+- +--+---al--+--+-+-+--1 1,000 t--t---+- +--t------,f--+--+-l--+---1 550 l-+--+-+--+-----,1--+--+-+-+--I 500 l-+--+-+--+---al--+--+-t-+--1 450 t-+--+-+--+-- l -+--+-1--+---l 400 t-+--+-+--+--l-+--+-1--+---l 350 t-+--+-+--+--l-+--+-1--+---l Bev Motz Wildlife Bio logist Bev Motz, Terrestrial Bio logist stationed in Durango, enjoys her work in the San Juan Basin and the San Luis Valley. Her responsibility encompasses a variety of interesting jobs including the helicopter inventory of deer and elk, working up transplants of rocky mountain and desert bighorn , turkey, antelope and other trapping operations. Additionally, she works with threatened and endangered species such as river otter, peregrine falcon and bald eagle. Motz is a 1973 gradu ate of Grand Junction Central High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management from Mesa College in 1979. " I had no real goal to be a district wildlife manager, but the outdoor life was very appealing to me," said Motz. After being selected for the candidate program, she did want to be a district wildlife manager and served five years in that position in Colorado Springs. "For the past three years I have loved working with the diversity of species in the southwest and all the people," said Motz, but speaking of negatives, " I hate all the paperwork! " 3oorl-=~==+==t==6;~~~~~~t~~~~~=~ 250 • 200 r-+--+- ~ .~•..f"--l-+--+-l--~-~1501--+--+~~ - + - l -+--+-i---+---I 100 r - +-4.:•,::..+- i--+--+-+--+-+----l 50 l---t--f---l--l----l- + --4--1---1---l 0 L..._...J.._---1._L__.___,_.L_--1..__JL___L__ J 1950 1960 1970 1980 8 I Residrn1 No n· Ru ident • ■■• 82 83 84 85 86 87 • • II �"Hunted near Meeker. Saw many more bucks this past season due to the three-point or better antler restrictions-the new elk herd doing splendidly too." Madalene Farris San Luis Obispo, CA While the state's deer herds had biologists talking, Colorado elk hunters reported gains of their own during 1987. Again for the record, the 138,136 elk hunters represented an increase of 12 percent over the previous year (21,882 animals). The 23,086 animals those hunters took was up about 6 percent from the previous year (122,939 hunters). Though more hunters took more animals, the success rate for elk hunters actually dropped a percentage point to 17 for 1987. Game management unit 23, southwest of Meeker, produced the most elk harvested with 744 animals taken by 3,443 hunters for a 22-percent success rate. Game management unit 3, north- west of Craig produced the most deer harvested with 2,765 animals taken by 4,689 hunters for a 59percent success rate. The increased opportunities for sportsmen are an investment in the future. They also translated into increased revenue for the state of Colorado as hunters spent a total of $23.2 million for big game licenses, setting an alltime record. Those revenues will be reported during the 1988 fiscal year. Division reports for the fiscal year (which ended on June 30, 1987) will actually show a deficit for 1987 as the state paid the price for antler-point restrictions placed on deer and elk hunting a year earlier. Colorado Deer Harvests 110.------.----r---,.---r-,----.-~-.,..---,l l 0 I 05 ll---l---+---lf-----+--+----1--1--+---1 l 05 100~-+-+---ll---+--+----1--1--+----l l 00 .,, 9 51--1--+-+---ll---+--+----1--l--+----1 95 ~ 901---1.-+-+---ll---+--+----l--l--+----I 90 ~ 851--'1-+- Although Colorado elk may provide more ··glamorous·· during 1987 with more of the same predicted for the irr 4--f-----+--+----l--l--+-- 85 i5 ~ 80f--~ --+---lt---t-~"k--i- - + - + - - 80 7 51--- z 70r---11k--+---ll--:ai"'-+-+-~ - - + -+----, 65r--++--+-~F--t--+---l'l.:---I--+---' 601---+--+--6"-+-+--+-+-~ f---+---J 551---1---11q.._---1--l--+--+--+:!i...-+"""'~ --+---lf--~"--+-'lo.--l-- l - - + - - 75 70 65 60 55 501---1--+----1--+--+---+--l---''1-~ 50 0L...._--L-..I.----L._....,____._ 1960 1970 1980 81 82 83 _.__.____,______, 84 85 86 Colorado E lk Harvests "' 0 z < ::, "' 0 :,: 1- z 31 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 '" I'-. I'" I I I ~ I,"" " I , I 10 'f 0 1960 1970 1980 81 12 .. ,, 82 83 84 85 86 -- Colorado Antelope Harvests 0 87 31 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 0 87 10,000 9,500 9,000 8,500 8,000 7,500 7,000 6,500 6,000 5,500 ..... ,,, I/ - \ , \ ' - 85 86 \ J ~ ~ I j 5,000 I 4,500 I 4,000 3,500 I 3,000 I I 2,500 2,000 1,000 0 1960 1970 1980 81 82 83 84 10,000 9,500 9,000 8,500 8,000 7,500 7,000 6,500 6,000 5,500 5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2.000 1,000 0 87 �"Just a note to say you've done a good job improving the big game brochure ... " Shari Fraker Elizabeth, CO >UJ z 0 0 u 0 0 ::, opportu nities. deer hunters and harvest both increased :mediate fu1urc. Garfield State Wildlife Area In March 1987 the Wildlife Commission established an experimental elk season for the Garfield Creek State Wildlife Area in western Colorado to provide sportsmen with a low hunter density hunting experience. The experimental hunts consisted of two archery hunts of 10 and 12 days respectively, three muzzleloading hunts of five days and five regular rifle hunts of five days. The season was well received by hunters and the _concept will continue next year on an experimental basis as a means of providing a quality hunting experience on Division properties. The good news was that, coming out of the winter and into 1988, the state was reporting the biggest and best-looking deer and elk herds in recent memory. But • to finish the tale, here's how the rest of the 1987 big game seasons stacked up: D Plains Deer Seasons. 4,132 deer hunters took 2,719 deer for a 66-percent success rate. D High Country Early Buck Season. 27 3 hunters took 120 animals for a 44-percent success rate. D Archery Seasons. 19,439 archery deer hunters took 4,441 animals for a 23-percent success rate in 1987, while 13,497 archery elk hunters took 1,6 39 animals for a 12-percent success rate. During the fall hunting seasons, 884 archery antelope hunters took 272 animals for a 3 I-percent success rate. The figures for all three species for 1987 represented increases over the figures for I 986. During the 1986 seasons, 767 archery antelope hunters took I 43 antelope for a success rate of I 9 percent, while 17,705 archery deer hunters took 3,514 animals for a 20-percent success rate. 11 ,671 archery elk hunters took I , I 89 animals for a success rate of I 0 percent. D Antelope Seasons. 11,113 antelope hunters in the field in 1987 was up I percent from the 10,989 hunters in I 986. The 7,522 animals harvested last fall represented a 5-percent decrease from I 986 (7,89 I animals) and the success rate dropped 4 percentage points to 68 percent. D Muzzleloading Seasons. 3,679 muzzleloading deer hunters took 1,915 deer for a success of 52 percent, up 4 percentage Results of Big Game Season Released If you're wondering which of Colorado's three combined deer and elk seasons were the most popular or the most successful or whatever, here's how those seasons broke out: In the first combined deer and elk seasons, generaJly expected to be the most attractive to nonresident hunters because it's first, 36,935 hunters (up 4 percent from 1986) took 10,204 deer for a 28-percent success rate, and 22,493 elk hunters (up IO percent from 1986) took 3,792 animals for a 17-percent success rate. During the second and longest of Colorado's combined seasons, 59,008 deer hunters took 16,574 animals for a 28-percent success rate, and 50,577 elk hunters (up 20 percent from 1986) took 9,111 animals for an 18-percent success rate. In the final season, when weather can be the hunters' biggest ally- or enemy as it was during 1987- 68,913 deer hunters took 22,025 deer for a success rate of 32 percent, and 44,929 elk hunters (up 6 percent from 1986) took 6,400 elk for a success rate of 14 percent. points from 1986 when 3,653 hunters took 1,757 animals. 4,694 muzzleloading elk hunters took 1,378 elk for a success rate of 29 percent, up 3 percentage points from 1986 when 4,6 I 2 hunters took 1,203 elk. 13 �In Colorado, fishing is fantastic Late in the winter, Colorado fish biologists predicted that the heavy snow pack and full reservoirs the state enjoyed then would produce a great year for fishing in the spring a nd summer. Those predictions came true for more than one million anglers in 1987. Whether they stood streamside in the high Rockies or fished a high plains reservoir in the summer sunset, 1987 provided a true bright spot for Colorado anglers. Imagine fly fishing for trophysized cutthroat trout below McPhee Reservoir in southwestern Colorado, or rainbows from the Fryingpan River that were too big to fit in the creel, or Mackinaw in the 30-pound class from Granby Reservoir. Trout, wipers, crappies, black bass, walleyes, white bass-you name it and anglers were catching it in impressive numbers and sizes during 1987. The state smallmouth bass record fell in mid-October when Jamie Novak of Pueblo took a five-pound eight-ounce smallmouth from Pueblo Reservoir, just 12 miles west of the city itself. And more than a few anglers stopped Division officials to ask if their prized catch was a record. Colorado's " Fishing Is Fun" program proved to be a centerpiece of Division of Wildlife efforts to provide increased opportunities for the state's sportsmen. Fishing is Fun is a community assistance award program which matches federal funds administered by the Division with local monies to develop new fis h habitat and recreational opportunities in Colorado communities. 14 D cnverite J erry Bay caught this 22- plu s-pound cat in the South Platte River near the 20th Street bridge in downtown Denver. Though a lunker, Bay's catch was still well olT the state record for catfish (33 pounds) . Colorado Fis hing Licenses 550 500 450 / "' 400 ~ ~ 350 / ~ :, 300 / ~ 250 V ~ 200 - 150 _,. ... 100 50 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 8 1 , .. -· .. ... Residents Non- Residents•••••• -·•· 82 .... ... 83 84 85 550 500 450 400 2 350-< :c 300 g 250 ~ 200 150 "' 100 50 0 87 --· .... a 86 �Using Colorado's share of federal excise taxes on motorboat fuel, boats and fishing equipment, the Division was able to leverage $300,000 into almost $1.3 million worth of projects in 25 communities throughout the state during 1987. A sampling of some of the projects initiated in 1987 under the " Fishing Is Fun" program in 1987 includes a $74,000 award to the city of Montrose to renovate Chipeta Lake; $28,000 for a new fishing pier at Quincy Reservoir in Aurora; a $44,000 grant to Buena Vista public schools for the purchase and development of a riparian easement adjacent to the school; and a $ 16 ,000 grant to Boulder County Parks and Open Space for a boat ramp at a new reservoir. \ ,-~ \. , ' ~~ , All in all, the Fishing Is Fun effort added five and one-quarter miles of new or improved stream access and 439 surface acres of warm-water access to public fishing opportunities for sportsmen. That resulted in an estimated increase of 177,000 fishermen use days, bringing the total in Colorado to 7. 7 million fishermenuse days in 1987. The projection is that in 1988, $1 million will be available to match against local contributions under the "Fishing Is Fun" Program. But fishing in Colorado is not only fun; it's a business, and a big one. The Division of Wildlife estimates that the state's anglers now add about $700 million to the state' s economy annually. Up to 26,000 jobs may now depend on sport fishing in the state. --~". "1 ' ....... t • , - _,_, ~ Ul i:0 u. "::,:I:u u Colorado's high rockies provided prized fishing opportunities for more than one million anglers in 1987. Archie, Ernie and Harold Archu leta Fis h Cu lturists When Archie, Ernie, and Joe Archuleta first left their home in Rio Lucio, New Mex ico, and bounced into Colorado in their Model A Ford, they weren't aware the Colorado Game and Fish Department even existed. That was 193840 years of service to the people of Colorado ago! At that time, the three were moving to Pitkin " in search of a new adventure," according to Archie. The times have sure changed. Archie remembers using horses to feed the fish and clear the holding ponds after heavy winter snows. The fish food was made on sight out of carp, liver and blood-meal, then cooked in a big pressure cooker. Virtually all the work was done by hand and the total production of the unit was 12 to 15 tons annually. Today the Pitkin Hatchery handles about 80 tons of fish annu ally. Archie was the first of the Archuleta family to join the Division, starting to work in 1945. Joe followed in 1948 and Ernie in 195 8, though he had begun working parttime in I 950. Joe transferred to the Durango Hatchery in 1953 where he retired in 198 1; Archie and Ernie are still plugging away at the Pitkin .Hatchery. With over 42 years of service, Archie is currently the longest working employee in the Division, and it doesn' t sound like retirement is on his immediate horizon. Nevertheless, even after both retire, the Archuleta legacy will continue. Ernie's son Harold started working at the Pitkin Hatchery in 198 1 and Joe's son Ray is at the D urango Hatchery. 15 �Stocking program grows to meet demand Colorado is a great place to go fishing. But it is not necessarily a great place to grow fish. Turbulent streams flushed with spring run-off and fluctuating reservoirs can make natural reproduction difficult for many of the 27 species of sport fish found in the state's waters. To meet angler demands, the Division of Wildlife supplemented the natural reproduction of populations by stocking a total of more than I 12 million fish in the 1,565 lakes and reservoirs and 480 streams open to public fishing in 1987. That broke out to about five million catchable-size (eight-inch plus) rainbow trout, over seven million trout fingerlings, almost seven million salmon fingerlings and more than 93 million warm-water fry and fingerlings. F ifteen hatcheries, rearing units and planting base stations throughout the state raised and delivered the fish to anglers from Eads to Evergreen, from the North Fork of the South Platte River to Tincup Pond. F ish stocking begins in early February and continues into early fall. Popular lakes, reservoirs and streams are stocked several times during the year. In 1987, the average catch per fi sherman per day continued at 2.3 fish in Colorado, and the average angler spends IO days each year fishing. Some anglers fare better than others, of course, but this means that about 20 million fish were caught in Colorado in 1987 alone-pretty good for a place that has trouble growing fish. Continuing to provide these kinds of fishing opportunities in the face of a growing number of fishermen means that the Division will have to produce more fish. With that in mind, in 1987 the Division stepped up work on the new Pueblo fish hatchery on Fish Stocked by Colorado Hatcheries in 1987 , Brook Trout Brown Trout Cutthroat Trout Mackinaw Rainbow Rainbow (8 .. + ) Kokanee Salmon Bass Bluegill Catfish Crappie Tiger Muskie Walleye Wiper All cold-water species All wann-water species 462,528 891,631 1.287,414 74,838 4.508,978 5,383,696 6,488 ,48 7 284,442 646,876 582,628 19,853 29,813 9 1.987 ,590 426,000 19,092,572 93,977,202 .. t'· Denver District Wild life Manager Walt Schuett smiles as he stocks a metro area lake with catchab le sized rainbows. Once a "secret," information on where the Division stocked fi sh proved to be popular features in newspapers and on radio stations throughout the state in 1987. 16 �the Arkansas River in southeastem Colorado. As a result, this new hatchery, which incorporates the latest design features in order to produce a variety of species for lakes and streams, is expected to begin operations during the spring of 1988. With the new hatchery in operation, the Division will ultimately produce 43 million more fish each year, a step to ensure quality fishing experiences for years to come. Fish Introduced into Colorado Waters 1872 1879 1879 1879 1881 1882 1886 1888 1893 1895 1898 1908 1912 Brook trout, carp Black bass (largemouth) Lake trout (Mackinaw) Yellow perch Atlantic salmon (did not acclimate) Crappie Rainbow trout White bass Smallmouth bass Brown trout Grayling Golden trout Sunfish (bluegill) 1925 1941 1945 1949 1951 1956 1958 1964 1981 1984 1985 Silver salmon Kamloop trout Redeared sunfish Walleye pike, perch Kokanee salmon, drum Northern pike Brown bullhead Sacramento perch, grayling (re-introduced) White bass, striped bass hybrids (wipers) Tiger muskie Chinook salmon Paint the pond blue, the grass as green as an emerald a nd imagin e the trout ris ing. That's the picture most anglers enjoy while fi shing in the Centenni al state. 17 �Habitatcooperation is key to _success Colorado's wildlife depends more on private and local and federal government landowners than it does on the state of Colorado and its Division of Wildlife for the food, water and space it needs to live. In fact, the 250 properties managed by the Division comprise only about .5 percent of all of Colorado's land mass. Colorado's wildlife depends on Colorado's national forests, BLM lands, state parks and recreation areas, open space, and privately owned lands. Because almost all of Colorado's wildlife habitat is managed by someone else, the Division has been increasing its efforts to get other property owners to manage their lands and waters for the benefit of the animals, birds and fish that rely on them. Although not all people own the land, wildlife belongs to all the people of this state. Helping people understand their collective responsibility is the key to understanding the complex task of providing a place for wildlife to live and was a major goal of the Division's management of wildlife habitat during 1987. As a result, the DOW continued its strategy of working with and through others to improve wildlife habitat, and in 1987 participated in cooperative projects with state and federal agencies and private organizations such as Trout Unlimited. Joint projects included: stream habitat improvements along Trout Creek, the South Platte and the North Fork of the Big Thompson rivers and elsewhere; vegetation manipulation and restorations such as aspen regeneration in the White River and Uncompahgre National Forests; water improvements 18 "I am writing to let you know how pleased I am with the work your department has provided toward enhancing my outdoor experiences." Leslie Watts Colorado Springs, CO benefiting quail at the Commanche National Grasslands in southeastern Colorado and so on. Other joint public-private sector projects completed during 1987 included efforts to improve fishing access with the acquisition of 1.4 miles of the South Platte River near Spinney Mountain Reservoir from The Nature Conservancy. The Division also helped local residents and others improve fishing, parking and boating facilities, including the construction of a boat chute on the Arkansas River near Salida. Additionally in 1987, the Division initiated a joint wildlife habitat improvement venture that involved city and county governments and Ducks Unlimited at the new Brush Waterfowl Management Area. The Brush Waterfowl Management Area encompasses 1,600 acres of cropland and native grasses and, when finished, will include over 30 ponds and reservoirs for waterfowl production and sportsmen recreation. Such efforts involve complicated, timeconsuming negotiations but result in leveraging limited Division dollars to provide up to twice their buying power. In Colorado Springs, E l Paso and Teller counties, the Division took a progressive stance in providing wildlife inventory and mapping information to ensure that local planning processes include wildlife values. The goal was to increase cooperation at the local level so that wildlife resource issues are identified and addressed by city and county planners early in their process. In 1987, this cooperative approach carried over into successes with Concern over the disappearance of wetlands and its impact on nesting ducks and geese underscored the Divis ion's efforts to improve habitat at the 1,600-acre Brush Waterfowl Management Area. Local officials and Ducks Unlimited were also involved in the project. �home builders and in addressing environmental concerns associated with federal environmental permitting processes for E l Paso and Teller Counties. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Colorado falls under private ownership in farming or ranching enterprises and many key wildlife species reside on these private lands. In 1987, the Division again placed a priority on aggressive programs to work with the private landowner. The 1985 Farm Bill created new and beneficial opportunities for the farmer to reduce soil erosion while encouraging complimentary habitat enhancement programs. As part of that bill, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) removed from production highly erodible farm ground. This ground must be placed in a permanent ground cover for at least 10 years. Again in 1987, the DOW made federal dollars go further in enhancing wildlife habitat by making over one-half million dollars of state funds available to plant grasses, shrubs and trees especially suited to Colorado' s wildlife needs. By the end of 1987, a total of 1. 7 million acres had been signed-up for the CRP in Colorado. Under this multipurpose legislation, farmers benefit financially and wildlife habitat is enhanced or established. These habitat efforts are supplemented with an aggressive effort to improve sportsman/ landowner relations through the Landowner Recognition Program. In 1987, this effort helped ensure that access to private lands continued to be available to responsible sportsmen. Though the emphasis was on helping others improve wildlife habitat, the Division also leased or bought more than 17 miles of streams for fishing and 3,600 acres of big and small game habitat during 1987 . Adequate flows of clean water are the key to future fi s hing opportunities. During 1987, the Division continued the field work necessary to make in-stream flow water rights a ppropriations. Wildlife Biologists Alan Czenkusch and Bill Elmbl ad The guy from the Colorado Water Conservation Board claimed that Alan Czenkusch got involved with the Roaring Fork River Council after being chased around by a local landowner on a fu ll front-end loader. Division of Wildlife Biologist Chuck Grand Pre thinks it's more likely that Alan Czenkusch and Bill E lmblad just wanted to help solve an obvious community problem. Whatever the motivation, Czenkusch and Elmblad have been earning rave reviews for their roles in getting the Roaring Fork River Council going to help solve problems along one of the state ·s most beautiful water.vays. According to Grand Pre. the gradient, high sediment and other factors have combined to make erosion a major problem along the river between Aspen and Carbondale, and especially in the Basalt area. Until recently, the local solution was "to get in there with a bulldozer. The whole area is a problem and we've been getting beaten up on it," Grand Pre said. Enter Elmblad and Czenkusch. Sure that there was a better way. they got the Water Board. representatives from Pitkin and Eagle counties, FEMA, landowners and construction contractors together late last year to form the Council as one way of dealing with the river's problems. Since then, the group has been working with local authorities to identify issues relating to the erosion along the Roaring Fork. F irst step was a pilot project to erect check dams to control the river's flow and improve fish habitat. Now the group is working on a management plan to stabilize the river bank. Why the extra effort? "I think A lan and Bill just wanted to help solve a problem." G rand Pre said. Certainly the NW Region biologists have done that. 19 �Communication is key to public service More than 13,000 youngsters got a look at the state's wildlife close up in 1987. They were among those to visit the Division's Barr Lake Nature Center at Barr Lake State Park in Brighton. The center features displays of wildlife and guided tours on a nature trail around the I ,900-acre lake, an area nationally renown for its bird life. Nature trails at the Colorado Springs State Wildlife Area and at the Rifle fish hatchery, the thousands of school programs given by field officers, and the hatcheries themselves all added to the educational opportunities provided to school-aged youngsters as a public service by the Division during 1987. Denver Public Schools joined Boulder Valley, Cherry Creek and other school districts in adding wildlife to the curriculum through the Division's Project Wild Program. Project Wild taught 2,000 teachers about wildlife and its habitat in an effort to help them communicate with their students about Colorado's natura l resources. And that's just a sample of the variety of activities undertaken by the Division of Wildlife in an effort to serve the people of Colorado. A partial list of those activities in 1987 included: □ Publishing six issues of the state's conservation magazine, Colorado Outdoors, which completed its 49th year of serving Colorado citizens and visitors in 1987; □ E stablishing a hunter infor mation phone bank, which personally helped about 10,000 of the 134,000 big game hunters applying for Colorado's limited hunting licenses. 20 □ Providing hunter education programs for more than I 7,000 students hoping to obtain their first Colorado hunting license. For their part, a couple dozen hunter education instructors also contributed by donating their 1987 Memorial Day Weekend to ·,,; •-,,building a mile-long nature trail . ':' south of the Rifle fish hatchery; • □ Designing and fabricating Karen Hardesty more than 7,000 signs for the Barr Lake Nature Center Director state's 250 wildlife areas; D Conducting more than 70 It was hard to believe the transforworkshops in the use of steel mation could have happened so quickly and with such intensity. shot, for about 1,700 sportsmen; Barely 60 seconds ago the kids were □ Answering 50,000 phone frowning, absent-mindedly dangling and 7,500 written requests for the fish nets they had just been given information in the Denver office as they gazed into the swampy water. alone. Regional offices in Denver, But now, stretched out flat on their bellies across the foot bridge spanColorado Springs, Grand Juncning the swamp, they swooshed their tion, Fort Collins and Montrose nets through the muck, their eyes and area offices throughout the gleaming to see what new discovery state handled equal and perhaps each swipe would reveal. greater numbers of requests from Karen Hardesty , director of the Division of Wildlife's Nature Center citizens and served parking lots at Barr Lake, just leaned back and full of " walk-in" customers as smiled. It wasn't the first time she well during the year; had worked her magic on a group of □ Publishing and distributing city kids. IO regulatory and season infor"Did you notice," s he said later, "that the kids discovered everything mation brochures, totaling they needed to know to identify it. approx imately 2.5 million pieces; They described it fully. I just knew To be honest, 1987 was also a where to look." year in which one Division effort While Karen finds working directly with the 4,000-5,000 students from hit it squarely in the foot. T he the greater Denver Metro that visit Division learned just how many Barr Lake annually exciting, it is sportsmen hunt when it invited only one aspect of her many-faceted those who didn't draw one of the job. Her responsibilities also include li mited deer or elk licenses to call coordinating the day-to-day operain to get one of those left after tions of the Nature Center as well as planning long-term projects that can that drawing. At one point, the provide the widest educational and calls were coming in at rate of recreational experiences for visitors 1,000 calls per minute as to Barr Lake. sportsmen literally burned up the " People come out here in a real wires trying to get through. Live positive mood and get turned on by something that they didn' t expect. and learn. The early part of the They leave here feeling they've winter of 1987 was spent designdiscovered something amazing, and ing a second drawing- this time they're beaming...How could you not requiring applications to be be excited about this job!" mailed in- for 1988. - .~ �"I am writing to compliment the Division of Wildlife on the professional attitude and friendly demeanor of their field employees ... " Dick Gilman Orlando, FL Coloradans weren't very tolerant of people who ignored the state's natural resource laws in 1987. To wit, a South Carolina man, his son and two others paid a total of almost $33,000 in fines and served four months in jail as a result of a poaching conviction in southwestern Colorado. Two Buena Vista men faced fines totalling $21 ,000 after being charged with 60 violations of wildlife law. An Allison, Colorado man was sentenced to 15 years in federal and state prisons following his conviction for theft by receiving and illegal sale of wildlife. The overwhelming majority of the state's sportsmen are good sportsmen; but clearly, in 1987, the citizens of Colorado got tough with those who weren't. In all, Colorado Division of Wildlife officers issued 5,578 citations costing violators of the state's wildlife laws and regulations $530,000 in fines during 1987. Citations issued represented an increase of 578 or about 12 percent over the 5,000 citations issued during 1986; fines increased by almost $60,000 or 13 percent over the $471,000 in fines last year. Division of Wildlife law enforcement officials pointed to several reasons for the increase in fines and violations, including increases in the number of sportsmen in the field during 1987. About 80,000 more hunting and fishing licenses were sold during 1987 than during the previous year. The most common violations were fishing without a license, with almost 1,300 citations issued, and illegal possession of fish and possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, with over 400 citations written for those two offenses. Crime tips from the public provided through the Division of Wildlife' s Operation Game Thief (OGT) increased by 19 percent in 1987. Those tips resulted in the successful prosecution of 86 people accused of violating state game laws. The cases resulted in fines of more than $83,000. Both figures are increases over 1986, when 66 people were prosecuted and fines totaled more than $70,500. Begun in 1980, the OGT program is designed to encourage the public to call a special Division number when they suspect a wildlife-related crime has occurred or is likely to occur. The toll-free number is 1-800-332-4 155. In the Denver area, the number is 295-0164. People who provide tips to the Division can receive cash rewards for their efforts. In 1987, the Division paid out more than $ 11 ,000 in rewards for information that resulted in a citation being issued. Support for the OGT program among Colorado sportsmen continued to be strong during 1987 with groups as diverse as the Colorado Bowhunters Association the Northern Colorado Rod and G un Club, and the Metropolitan Wildlife Association and others making contributions to the reward fund. Bob Thompson District Wildlife Manager and Shadow, Wildlife Service Dog Kremmling District Wildlife Manager Bob Thompson and Wildlife Service Dog Shadow scored a total of 674 out of a possible 700 points to finish fifth out of 141 competitors at the 1987 National Police Dog Trials in Lakeland, Florida. " Shadow has been accepted as a valuable tool," Thompson said of the canine half of the Colorado Team, which incidentally was the only entry from a conservation department at the national competition. " One of the greatest advantages of the WSD (Wildlife Service Dog) team," said Thompson, "is the detection of fish and wildlife. Tllis is particularly true at check stations." In all, Thompson and Shadow have worked approximately IO major big game clleck stations, tllree major fish check stations, one major pheasant check station and numerous roving check stations throughout tile state, uncovering significant law enforcement violations at eacll. Shadow and T hompson have provided security cover in " Operation Falcon," a cooperative raid between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the DOW on a large-scale illegal raptor market in 1984, They've searched areas near hunting camps to uncover illegal deer. A couple of years ago, they were instrumental in stopping a big game poaching ring where five persons were apprehended and fined $ 11 ,000. 21 �Protecting wildlife is Division goal Wildlife is important to all Coloradans. It's important to the nearly 56,000 taxpayers who dug into their collective pockets and donated to the 1987 nongame income tax checkoff, and it's important to countless of other citizens who enjoy feeding birds watching o r photographing wildlife or just knowing it's out there. For those folks, I 987 produced dividends on past investments. For instance: D Residing only in Douglas County, plains sharp-tailed grouse have been classified as an endangered species in Colorado for over a decade. They were once plentiful enough on Raton Mesa, southeast of Trinidad, to provide an important food source for people in the area during the Depression. But when people returned after World War IL the birds were gone. In 1987. the plains sharp-tailed grouse returned to the mesa with the transplanting of 48 of the birds. D The Division also transplanted 54.000 fry of the endangered greenback cutthroat trout from Montana to waters on Colorado·s eastern slope. □ Three years of negotiations also reached fruition in 1987 when water developers, environmentalists and state and fede ral agencies agreed to a workable plan to document the needs of resident endangered fish and to mitigate the impact of development on four species of endangered fish in the Colorado River drainage. As a result, over the next 15 years, millions of dollars may be made available to provide habitat for the Colorado squawfish. humpback chub. bonytail 22 chub and razorback sucker as water development occurs in the river system. D The first resident river otters in over I 00 years were born on the Piedra River, at Windy Gap Reservoir and near Fort Collins. The river otters were trapped out, a casualty of the Rocky Mountain beaver trade of the 1800s. The re-introduction of the playful mammals began 10 years ago. The message of 1987 was that the otters are back to stay, and credit for the successes of the otter re-introduction effort belongs to those who made it possible by contributing to the nongame income tax checkoff fund-the first such fund in the country. In 1987, 55,900 people donated to the fund, reversing a five-year trend of declining revenues. D According to a Division count in mid-January. 565 bald eagles wintered in Colorado during 1987. As successful as 1987 was, 1988 seemed to promise that even new heights would be achieved with the announcement that from four to six peregrine falcon chicks would be placed atop the 23-story C ivic Center Plaza building in downtown Denver. The plan to bring the endangered birds to the state's largest city was a joint effort of the Division, the Colorado Wildlife Federation, the Denver Museum of Natural History, several downtown businesses and citizens, forming a coalition known as the Peregrine Partnership. Mark Konishi District Wildlife Manager Since 1976, biologists at the Division have planted more than 80 river otters in streams where they once were found. The river otter, though holding its own in some states, disappeared from Colorado early this century, the victim o f trapping, water diversions and pollution. As part of its ongoing effort to protect and restore threatened and endangered species to Colorado, the Division has made the river otter reintroduction an important goal. The project is supported by contributions from taxpayers who donate money by checking a box on the state income tax form. Though otters and their distinctive signs continued to be found along these waters, no young had ever been seen. And since the primary goal of the otter recovery program is to establish breeding populations, the reintroduction couldn't until now be called a success. That"s why Mark Konishi. a district wildlife manager in Pagosa Springs, began walking the banks of the Piedra regularly in 1987. '·When I was transferred to the Chimney Rock District (around Pagosa Springs), I began trying to monitor t he river on my own .• , Konishi explained ... And there ·s no effective way to do that except to walk it. .. :· In July, Konishi found what he was looking for. As he walked along the river bank, a small otter swam into view, too small to be an adult. It was the first confirmed sighting of a baby river otter. Buoyed by the birth on the Piedra. the Division now plans to pu t more otters on the Dolores River. �Division begins Watachable Wildlife Program Released in April of 1987, the draft of the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and W ildlifeassociated Recreation provided official confirmation of a trend that Colorado's wildlife managers were already aware of-namely that there are a lot of people in the country who are very interested in wildlife even though they themselves don't hunt or fish. According to the survey, every year over half of all Americans participate in some form of wildlife-related recreation other than hunting and fishing. In Colorado alone, more than 2.1 million adults are bird watchers; wildlife photographers; hikers who appreciate the opportunity to cross paths with deer, songbirds and other species. In July I 987, the Colorado Division of Wildlife formalized its efforts to provide educational and recreational opportunities for these " nonconsumptive" users by adding "watchable wildlife" to the list of Division programs which included hunting recreation, fishing recreation and endangered wildlife. The Watchable W ildlife Program includes all species and is intended to complement all other Division of W ildlife programs. Its goal will be to enhance wildlifere lated recreational opportunities for everyone who enjoys wildlife. The challenge will be to mainta in, and wherever possible increase, Coloradans' sense of pride and stewardship in the public wildlife resource. The first step is planning the breadth of activities that will be necessary to meet that challenge. In coming years, those activities may include development of a comprehensive viewers guide to watching wildlife in Colorado, establishing new "Adopt an Animal" and "Enjoy Wildlife at Home" projects, developing wildlife observation areas at state wildlife areas and more. Though much of the year was spent lining out future efforts, the Watchable Wildlife Program also managed to provide some practical help for wildlife enthusiasts in 1987 by sponsoring two very successful "how to" photograph nature classes. More than 50 people attended. As Colorado urbanizes, the ways in which we appreciate wildlife are expected to change. To meet that demand, the Division has estab· lished a Watchable Wildlife program to provide opportunities to enjoy birds and animals other than hunting and fishing. zUJ ..J 0 ~ UJ Q z ~ UJ z <-==========='--.....;;.:J~ ~ "' V, UJ ::;:: ::;:: ::, V, V, UJ ..J "' < .___ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___, :,: u 23 �Colorado's wildlifeWhere do we go from here? Wh~t does the future hold for Colorado·s wildlife? In 1987, the Executive Task Force on the Future of Wildlife released its fi ndings to Colorado Governor Roy Romer after 18 months of study. Following are the conclusions of this independent 19mem ber group of citizens and business leaders. Those conclusions provide food for thought as Colorado prepares for the 21 st century: "The Task Force finds conclusively that, because of powerfu l and ongoing changes taking place in o ur society and in our environment, the management of wildlife and the funding for that management must also change dramaticall y. " These changes call for increased skills and efficiency in wildlife management and a magnitude of expenditures for wildlife-related projects never faced before in Colorado. " P lanning for some of the necessary projects has already begun. But planning must be accelerated and expanded at once. " The people of Colorado must find ways to widely expand the funding base for wildlife. " The Division of Wildlife and the General Assembly s hould devise new patterns for licensing the recreational use of wildlife in Colorado. " The people of Colorado must come to understand through proper public information programs the plight of wildlife and the value wildlife holds as a base not only for a large indus try of its own, but as a vital component of the tourist industry and the Colorado lifestyle as well. " The Task Force divides the 24 F indin g new sources of fu nding to pay for the ma nagement of species like the bighorn sheep and o thers is o ne of the keys to the future of w ildl ife in Colorado. fiscal needs of wildlife into two sets of goals: short term and long term. Short term, the Task Force suggests that the General Assembly and the Division of Wildlife accomplish an agenda of the following items as rapidly as practical: " First, transfer the power to set license fees for wildlife activities from the General Assembly to the Wildlife Commission. " Second, empower the Commission to establish new types of licenses ( e.g., a habitat license plus specific species stamps) in order to broaden the funding base. " Third, renew the nongame checkoff provision on the Colorado state income tax fo rm which expires under the Sunset Act this year. " Fourth, explore any window of opportunity for wildlife participation in new revenues available through changes in the federal tax system. " Long term, the Task Force calls for a thorough study of a number of broad revenue- producing ideas which may produce funds of the magnitude needed by the next generation of wildlife. Among these are: " First, an excise levy on the issuance of motor vehicle licenses. " Second, legislatio n to provide restoration/ enhancement funds for projects built by the state which have an impact on wildlife. "Third, televisio n programs prepared and marketed by the Division of Wildlife. "Fourth, an excise levy (similar to Pittman-Robertso n and Dingell-Johnson) on collateral outdoor equipment purchased by passive users of wildlife. "Fifth, a Foundation for Wildlife funded by special activities and/or donations. '•Sixth, a new anti-litter program with fund-raising potential similar to one just started in California. " Finally, a broad charge to develop and implement a continuing public information program which will alert the people of Colorado to the irreplaceable values of their wildlife and what must be done to preserve and enhance those values. " �"Your staff ... deserves more credit ... for a job well done . . . There are a gbod number of us that think very highly of their efforts and are confident that their management of today will have a positive effect on our natural resources in the future." Audrey Barnett Pueblo, CO �\ � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/fbc3b4672aef0e0b280f076ac2c1513e.pdf 5e64d38d482dddd010485755e4f8ce48 PDF Text Text 1988 ANNUAL REPORT to the People of Colorado Colorado Division of Wildlife 6060 Broadway • Denver, CD 80216 303/297-1192 �Division Organized to Manage Wildlife and Serve Sportsmen To cover the Centenn ial state's more than 100,000 square mi les, the Division has allocated close to three-fourths of its 560-p lus staff to eith er field officers or support positions in local communities. For administrati ve purposes, the Divisio n has five regional operations and offices: Ft. Col lins, Grand Ju nction, Mon trose, Denver and Colorado Sprin gs. Area offices are maintained in smalle r communities from Glenwood Sprin gs to Lamar. The D enve r headquarte~ provides program direction for statew ide issues. The D ivision also maintains a research unit in Ft. Col lins and 15 fi sh hatcheries and/or rearing uni ts th roughou t the state. NORTHWEST REGION NORTHEAST REGION .,,J WRAY 1-70 'Q ·,, '\ A LM MONTROSE·~ ---........___,,\ \ 'i>O SOUTHWEST REGION Fish Hatcheries and Rearing Units \ \ SOUTHEAST REGION ( ~ Colorado Division of Wildlife Regional Offices Central Region 6060 Broadway Denver, CO 8021 6 303/291-7230 Southwest Region 2126 North W eber Colorado Springs. CO 8090 7 719/ 473-2945 Southwest Region 2300 S. Townsend /Ive. M ontrose, CO 81401 303/ 249-3431 Northwest Region 711 Ind ependent Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81505 303/248-7175 North east Regio n 31 7 W est Prosp ect Ave. Fo rt Col lin s, CO 80 52 6 30 3/484-28 36 Headquan ers Office 6060 Broadway DPnver, CO 802 1 6 30 3/ 297-1192 �1988 - The Year in Review ■ During 1988, huntin g and fishing contributed approx imately S1.2 billion to the Colorado economy. ■ Colorado attracted about 170,000 elk hunters and 215,000 deer hunters. ■ A new three-year big game season structure was implemented after public hearings were held throughout the state . ■ Colorado Outdoors magazine celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Fishing I s Fun program pr6vided fishing access piers for handicapped sportsmen al several Denver lakes and reservoirs. Th e "Fishing Is Fun" grant program initiated 30 projects to improve fishing opportun iti es w ith a value of more than $2 million. ■ More than 750,000 li censed fishermen tested their skills on Colorado lakes, rivers and streams . ■ Fish production began at the new Pueblo Hatchery; 93 million walleye fry from this hatchery were stocked in eastern Colorado reservoirs . ■ Production was increased at Division hatcheries while costs were reduced . Newer species such as tiger muskie and wipers (a hybrid bass) continued to be stocked. ■ The Division, in cooperation with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, recommended instream flow water rights for 68 stream segments (307 miles). The Division's cooperative trout rearing project at the Buena Vista Correctional Facility produced 30,000 catchable-sized cutthroat trout. ■ 2,085 teachers were tra ined by Project Wild to teach public school children about wildlife and related environmental principl es. ■ The Division cooperated with the Peregrine Partnership to release peregrine falcons in downtown Denver. River otters were introdu ced to the Dolores River as part of an ongoing program to return this native species to its former habitat. ■ Endangered squawfish were stocked in Kenney Reservoir on the Western Slo pe. Th e Watch- able W il d life Program, contin ued to provide more t han 2 mi ll ion Coloradans w ith opportunities to watch, photograph and enj oy wildlife . ■ SB 93, sponsored by Senator Dave Wattenberg and Representative Dan Wi lliams, was passed, allowing the Div ision to purchase land around Delaney Butte Lakes in Jackson County to be used for public recreation programs. ■ Legis lation was passed to allow fo r a special drawing for bighorn sheep or mountain goat hunt- ing licenses . ■ The non game checkoff on Co lorado's in come tax forms was ren ewed . ■ New publications were completed, including a harvest book for hunters, How to Catch Trout and a new fishing map for anglers. ■ Colorado Outdoors, the state's conservation magazine, celebrated its 50th year. ■ A Space for Wildlife, a half-hour, made-for-TV program that explains the chal lenge of maintain- ing wildlife habitat in the face of continued growth , was produced. ■ The Colorado Catch Cookbook, a 154-page, full-color cookbook for w ild game and fish, was published by the Division and the Colorado Wildlife Federation. ■ A future funding package and long-range plan detailing the Division's goals to ensure the viability of w ild li fe resources into the 21st century were completed. 1 �The Division of Wildlife Stewardship for the Present and Future Wildlife flourished in Colorado for thousands of years before w hite explorers and settlers appeared on the horizon. As their numbers increased, the buffalo and the beaver bore the brunt of indiscriminate pursuit of game in a land that seemingly had no limit. The Division of W ildlife was establ ished in 1892 because Coloradans recogni zed the need to tame themselves for the sake of wildlife, a natural resource belonging to everyone. Today, protecting w ildlife is more difficult than ever due to encroaching development and the growing numbers of people who want to use this valuab le resource. The Div ision 's mission is one of stewardship for all: perpetuating wildlife and providing citizens w ith the opportunity to enjoy it. The Division 's four major statewide programs are t ied to its goals for carrying out this mission: Hunting Recreation (Terrestrial Wildlife Management) provid ing hunting opportunities; Fishing Recreation (Aquatic Wildlife) - provid ing fishin g opportun ities; Watchable Wildlife - providing opportunities to see, photograph and learn about wildlife; Nongame Wildlife - preserving the ri ch w ildlife heritage (including endangered species) we now have for future generations. Law enforcement function s, publi c information and ed ucation, research and other activities are undertaken in support of these programs. 2 __....,,, 0=-@4W ~ Pam Schnurr Wildlife Biologist > >- 0 ~I 81 Computer technology has <( I swept into the w ildlife business in a big way since the o'i introduction of House Bill 1041 in 1973. Tha t bill west Colorado on a computer enabled Colorado counties to utilizing a 'Geographical I nforlook at impacts of developmation System ,"' Schnurr sai d. ment on w ildlife and other These include all threatened natural resources. and endangered species in In the 1970s, Division northwest Colorado, as wel l biol ogist Don Schrupp estabas most big game an imals, lished a computerized "wildsome small game animals, life distri bution information and oth er species of concern syst em ." It was to be used by such as the great blue heron counties for planning purposes. and Colorado River cutthroat In 1981 , the D ivision's trout. Northwest Region took that a With th is system, Schnurr step further. In an attempt to can put w ildlife distribut ion acquire accurate information info rmat ion in map form , on for the Division's use, as well any scale. as that of counties, private " It's just a tool," Schnurr compani es, private consaid. " These maps won't make sultants and other resource or break a develo pm ent since agencies, Division of Wildlife the Division has no regulatory Habitat Biologist Bill Clark authority. We can on ly comhired Pam Schnurr. ment. Peopl e don't have to Schnurr, a native of Grand listen to us. Nonethe less, if a Junction, graduated from the company knows up front, the University of Colo rado in conflicts development pose 1979 with a dual-degree in to wildl ife, they're usually Environmental Biology and willing to work with us to Environmen tal Conservation . minimize impacts or mitigate "Mapping wildl ife disfor them. I f this stuff is tossed tributions by county was a up to them late in the plangood start, but it has limited ning stage, wildlife always value," she said. "Wildlife comes out on th e short end." doesn't recognize politica l Thanks to the modern techboundaries. Instead , we nology of computers, and the decided to map b y herd, or creative use of that technology river drainage, or some by employees like Pam geographical boundary which Schnurr, w ildlife ca n maintain made sense biologically." a home in northwest Colorado " I keep track of the disinto the 21st century, and tribution of about 25 key won't come ou t on the short species of wildlife in northend. ~ ~ �Olson Assumes State's Top Wildlife Post By Ed Dentry Reprinted from the Rocky Mountain News with permission. Perry Olson sits comfortably in the director's office of the Colorado Division of Wi ldlife headquarters in Denver, looking terribly rel axed for a man w ho for only about three weeks has been in charge of 568 full time empl oyees and a strained $40 million budget. Something about him rem inds the visito r of actor Denni s Weaver. The wiry, athletic build expresses a down-to-earthness . The terms sin ce re and goodnatured come to mind. "What you see is what you get," Olson said. "I just view myse lf as one of 580-plu s employees. I' m not any different from the rest. " I just have a different job." Afte r 28 years w ith the Division, Olson, 50, became the agency's seventh director w hen the Colorado Wi ldlife Comm ission hired him O ct. 28. He replaced James Ruch, who resigned in June. His style of management, he says, wi ll be frank, honest and more relaxed than some director in the past, but make no mi stake, he can and w ill be decisive. Olson is popular and respected among his fellow workers. Born in Aspen and rai sed in Carbondale, he rose through t he ranks - from w ildli fe conservation officer to biologi st to Northwest Region manager in Grand Junction. O lson has worked viturally everywhere in Colorado, d o ing everything from planting trees and portraying "Ranger Don" on a ch ildren's TV show to serving a rec ent three-month stint as interim director of the Division . Perry O lson, Director He cons ide rs funding future wildlife programs his greatest chal lenge. Wildlife management in Colo rado has not been able to keep up w ith inflation, he says. So, his first major task was to carry the Division's new funding package, in cl uding proposed increases in hunting and fishing licenses, to the State Legislature. " I frankly think if the sportsm en and peop le w ho have a strong feel ing fo r wildlife don't embrace it and get behind it even if their little whistle or bell might not be there - then wildlife in Colorado will face se ri ous prob lems. [As the new DOW Director suggested, those w ith that strong feeling for w ild life did get behind the Division's fee bi ll, resulting in its enactment by the State Legislature and signing by the Governor in the spring of 1989.] Here are some of his thoughts on the DOW and wildl ife issues in Colorado: On management philosophy: " I've seen almost everything from militaristic to liberal. My style is somewhat in between. I feel the DOW should be more a family-type o rgani zat ion, one that cares abo ut each other and ca res about w hat they do for a livin g." On the DOW's di rection: " It has been said that the Division doesn't change directions very rapidl y. Because of the kind of busin ess we're in , it's a good thing we don't. Wildlife resources are long-term . If we change directio n, we will have to do it one ste p at a time ." On fundin g: "Sportsm en in this state and thi s nation have been very generous in supporting w ildlife programs. Now I think non-consumptive and Watchable Wildl ife-type programs need to be involved, because if you don't have some kind of investment monetarily, you just d on't have the involvement and the cari ng that you need to rea lly protect the resources. " On simpl ifyi ng regulations: "A lot of ou r regulat ions have succeeded at improvin g the quality of the outdoor experience . But we can go a lot furt her in terms of sim pl ifying them. We may have to change some regulations so t hey don't hassle people as much but w ill st il l get to the most important violatio ns." On recreatio nal access: "There is a tremendous amount of private land out there where sportsmen are not as welcome as they could be. I think we could do more to meet the needs of the landowner and the sportsman. I have some ideas along those lines, including the possibility of a computer "dating service" that might match up landowners and hunters or fishe rmen. 3 �Colorado Wildlife Commission Serves Its 51st Year The eight m embers of the Colorado W ild life Commission serve as the people's' voice on w ildlife management issues. By law, the comm issioners represent the state's five geographi cal regions: Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest and Central, wh ich includes the greater Denver metropolitan area. Three commissioners represent th e public-at-large, and five rep resent livestock produ cers, agri cultu ral growers, sportsme n or outfitters and boards of county commissioners. A ppointed by the gove rn or and confirmed by the Colorado Senate, the Comm ission is responsibl e for enactin g the regu lations that govern management and public use of the stat e's wildlife resources. During 1988, George VanDenBerg of Durango served as chairman. He is a rancher and landfil l owner/operator as we ll as a lifelong resident of the W est ern Slope. Appointed in 1985, VanDenBerg is a past chairman of the A ni mas Regional Planning Commission. As a p ilot, he has monitored wintering cond itions of Co lo rado's big gam e fo r many years . Eldon Cooper of Elizabeth, appo in ted in 1 987, is president of the Colo rado AF L/ CIO, a lobbyist and fo rm er state senator. H e has been active in the D emocrati c Party, serving as t he Adams County Democratic chairman; Rebecca Frank, appointed in 1985, is the former news editor of the Grand Jun ction D aily Sentinel . She served as chairwom an of the Commission in 1987; 4 Robert L. Freidenberger, appointed in 1985, is an electrician and co-owner of A-Z Electric in La Junta. A hunter safety instructor, he was honored as "Education Instru ctor of The Year" in southeast Colorado by the D ivision of Wildlife in 1985; William Hegberg, a Snowmass Village Realtor, was re-appointed to t he Comm ission in 1987. H e is a member of Ducks Un limited, the National Rifle Association, Trou t Unlimited, th e Colo rado Wildlife Federation and the Colorado Bowhunters Association; Dennis Luttrell of Divid e, appointed in 1987, is a m ember of the Tell er County Board of Commiss ioners and chief administrative office r for Telle r Co unty. He has supervised both th e budget-settin g process and mill levies as well as planning, zonin g and oth er land- use pol icies. As a business owner, Luttrell has comp leted the mapping of th e Lincoln County portion of the Colorado State Land Parcel Identification System; Gene Peterson of Snyde r, appointed in 1987, owns and operates a multifaceted dry land and irri gated farm ing and dairy ranching operation. He has worked to improve soil and wildlife conservation measures, including planting of extensive wi nd breaks, and has worked with the Division on the local level. Peterson serves on the Morgan County Farmers Protective Association and is president of the SnyderSmith Ditch, Milling and Reservoir Com pany; Larry Wright of Alamosa, appoin ted in 198 7, is a petroleum jobber and independent businessman. A charter member of the San Lui s Valley chapter of Ducks Unlim ited, he has been honored as t hat organ ization's "Sportsman of the Year." An avid hun ter and fisherman, Wright is a graduate o f Adams State Col lege in Alamosa. Robert L. Freid enberger L.ury Wright �Revenue Increases From Hunting and Fishing Licenses The D ivision of W ildlife receives no funding from Colorado taxpayers. Sportsmen pay for conservation by pu rchasing huntin g and fis hing licenses and by paying federal excise taxes on the purchase of hunting and fishing equipment. As a res ult, the Division depends on three sources fo r its operating capital: the sale of hunting and fish ing licenses, federal dollars generated by the excise tax and som e funds from the nongame checkoff on the state income tax form. In fiscal year 1987-88 Uuly 1, 1987-June 30, 1988), Division of Wildlife revenues were S40,734,673, an increase of $4,236,310 over 1 986-87. Revenues from the licenses, interest, other cash and federal aid were up; the nongame checkoff was down slightly from the previous year; federa l revenues were up. Expenditures for the fiscal year actually declined by S34,861. Total expenditures for 1987-88 were $40,231,689 compared to $40,266,550 for 1986-87. A decrease in capital construction cos ts offset slight increases in ope rating expenses and payments to other state agencies. The Division took in $502,984 more in revenue than it spent in this fiscal year. i:; / 0 0 v 0 0 ::, The Division relies on sportsmen for the bulk of its operating revenue, but as we become more urbanized, participation in hunting may level off. Deer and Elk Lead the Pack In 1988, revenue from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses rose by 8.2 percent ove r 1 9 8 7 to a record total of $34,303,557. Thi s continues the recovery in license sales that began in 1987 when income from license sales posted an 11.7 percent gain to finish at $31,696,962 . Revenue From License Sales CY 1988 Nonresident Huntin : $20,026,007 58.4% Resident Huntin : $ 6,346, 640 Resident Fish in : S 5,330,483 15.5% Nonresident Fishin S 2,600,427 Total Licen se Sales: $34,303.557 18.5% 7.6% The importance of deer and elk hu nting to t he Division is twofold: Deer and elk licenses account for over 70 percent of all license income and over half of th e Division's annual revenues . In 1988, revenues in thi s area increased over 1 3 percent over 1987. Secondly, when the increase from deer and elk licenses is subtracted, income from al l other licenses in 1988 actually declined. It is too soon to tell if increases in t he sales of deer and elk li censes wi ll continue, but reliance on license sales, in particular deer and elk, is a cause for concern as wildlife management in Colorado moves into the 1990s - 5 �Planning for the Future One of the important goals of the Colorado Wildlife Commission is to expand the Division's revenue base. "Wildlife 21," a blue-ribbo n panel of busi ness and civic leaders, rece ntly estimated that by t he turn of the century, t he Division will need an add itional $20 milli on a year over tod ay's revenue base to adeq uate ly manage Colo rado's wildl ife resource. That is a 50 pe rcent increase over th e FY 87-88 revenue total. The Co mm ission and others question whether license fees, even when increased, wi ll m eet the needs fo r the year 2000 and beyond. Where the Money Comes From FY 1987-88 Wildl ife Cash/Other: $33,539,105 82.3% Non ame Checkoff: $ Federal Aid: $ 6,820,570 16.7% To tal Revenu e: 540,734,673 374,998 1% Wildlife Cash in cludes license sales revenue, inte rest and other cash income. Federal Aid incl udes Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funds. grants and other federal monies. The Nongame Checkoff includes donations from Colorado taxpayers w ho give a portion of their tax refund or make a donation using t he state tax form. Where the Money Goes FY 1987-88 Huntin Fi shin Recreation: 520,588,404 51.2% Recreation: $77,443,433 Non ame Wild life: S 1,49 7,476 Watchable Wildlife: S Total Expenditures: $40,23 1,689 701,924 The Colorado Hunting and Fishing Industry's Model Economic Impact In July 1988, the D ivision of Wildlife retained t he fi rm of Browne, Bortz and Codd ington (BBC) of Denver to deve lop a computerized model for determinin g the economic impact of the huntin g and fishing industry on the state of Colorado and its individual counties . The BBC model balances and m easu res data related to huntin g and fi shing activity. The mod el then applied those activity measures to estimates of sportsmen's expenditures in 6 ord er to calculate the natu re, amount and location of related busin ess acti vity. The model recognizes fixed expenditu res (occas ional purchases such as camping equipment, firearms, etc.) and va riable expenditures (regular purchases associated direct ly with hunting and fishing such as lodging, food and gasol ine sales). D ifference in t he expend itures made by a Colo rado sportsman versus an out-of-state counterpart were also con- �sidered. Results were then produced for all 63 Colorado counties. Using 1987 license data, t he model indicates that hunting and fishi ng contributed more than $1 .2 bi llion to the state' s economy. Of that total, $548 mil lion was from d irect expenditures made by sportsmen (a combination of both the fixed and variable expenditures described above) . An additional $658.9 m illion in "secondary expend itures," the turnover of the sportsmen's direct do llars th ro ugh t he local econo my, was produced. In looking at specifi c cou nt ies, t he econom ic impact is most dramatic in two areas: the nine Front Range counties (which contributed 5 6 percent of the total) and 15 counties, including Chaffee, Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Jackson, La Plata, Mesa, Montrose, Park, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt and Summit , w hich contributed 29 percent of th e total. These latter counties all received at least 1 percent of the total money expended by hunters and fi sherm en. To put thes e figures in perspective, a rece nt estimate by t he U.S. Travel Data Center estimate s t hat tourism and b usin ess travel pumped $5 billion into Colorado's economy in 198 7. The ski industry contributed $1.7 billion to t his total, with other tourism and business travel another $2 .1 billion. The S1.2 bil lion from hunting and fish ing accounted for about a quarter of all tourismrel ated t ravel expenditures made in Colo rado in 198 7. Colorado Hunting and Fishing Economic Impact Resident and Nonresident Direct and Secondary Expenditures COUNTY ADAMS ALAMOSA ARAPAHOE ARC H ULETA BACA BENT BOULDER CH AFFEE C H EYEN NE C LEAR C REEK CONEJOS COSTILLA CROWLEY C U STER DELTA DENVER DOLORES DOUGLAS EAGLE ELBERT EL PASO FREMONT GAR FI ELD GILPI N GRAND GUNNISON HI NSDALE HUERFANO JACKSON JEFFERSON KIOWA KIT CARSON LAKE LA PLATA LARIMER LAS ANIM AS LIN COLN LOGAN MESA MIN ERAL MOFFAT M O NTEZUMA M O NTR OSE MORGAN OTERO OU RAY PARK PH I LLI PS PITKIN PROWERS PU EB LO RIO BLANCO RIO GRANDE ROUTT SAGUACHE SAN JUAN SAN MIG UEL SEDGWICK SUMM IT TELL ER WAS III NGTON WELD YUMA TOTAL POPULATION DIRECT EXP ($000) SECONDARY EXP ($000) TOTAL EXP ($000) PERCENT OF TOTAL 270,330 12,744 387,11 0 5,506 4,495 5,506 216,635 1 2,378 2,332 7,561 8,4 30 3,403 3,46 2 2,1 4 5 22,537 511,939 1,534 43,612 1 9,407 9,270 394,377 30,028 25,685 2,837 9,550 12,040 377 7,1 18 1,653 422,461 1,822 7,595 6,299 30,268 1 78,101 14,5 1 5 4 ,536 18,779 86,594 700 11 ,106 16,655 25,529 22,286 21,590 1,79 1 6,201 4,577 13,322 13,715 130,502 5,363 11,669 14,553 4,1 4 2 849 3,979 2,972 13, 55 6 1 1,481 5,14 7 140,200 9,608 3,296, 269 S22,903 4,223 39,261 6,214 977 2,858 22,603 6,853 278 2,858 1,553 1.462 52 1 1,233 7,546 56,618 1,805 2,5 50 14,530 1,765 28,991 3,171 14,493 1,001 19,533 26,598 3,055 2,393 8,20 5 36,462 1,107 1,560 6,352 9,752 32,793 1,554 738 3,957 14,5 13 3,818 6,137 5,712 7,160 4,177 2,500 473 18,622 50 7 8,766 2.467 12,795 9,680 4,031 12,996 2,197 1,078 3,519 816 10,233 2.472 664 1 1,856 1,893 5548,819 S36,676 3,903 61,216 4,656 895 2,175 35,109 5,854 3 15 2,175 1,496 1,147 539 925 7,338 91,833 1,262 4,812 1 2,744 1,682 50,308 4 ,1 11 13,802 814 14,224 20,643 2,007 1,966 5,429 60,485 769 1,530 4,492 9,54 9 38,1 55 2,004 822 4 ,171 17,335 2,33 1 5,244 5,245 7, 202 4,544 3,121 4 11 11 ,53 1 59 4 7,781 2,642 18,409 6,601 3,697 11 ,237 1,66 7 696 2,869 702 8,969 2,517 729 18,646 1,97 4 $658,583 S59,579 8,126 100,477 10,870 1,872 5,033 57,712 12,707 593 5,033 3,959 2,609 1,060 2,1 59 14,884 148,451 3,067 7,362 27,274 3,44 8 79,299 7,282 28,295 1,81 5 33,757 4 7,241 5,062 4,359 1 3,634 %,947 1,877 3,090 10,844 19,301 70,948 3,558 1,560 8, 128 31,849 6,149 11 ,381 10,957 14,362 8,721 5,622 884 30,154 1,100 16,54 7 5,109 3 1,204 16,281 7,727 24,233 3,863 1,774 6,388 1,5 1 7 19,202 4,989 1,393 30,502 3,867 $1,20 7,401 4.9 0.7 8.3 0.9 0.2 0.4 4.8 1.1 0.0 0.4 0.3 0 .2 0.1 0.2 1.2 1 2.3 0.3 0.6 2.3 0.3 6.6 0.6 2.3 0.2 2.8 3.9 0.4 0.4 1.1 8.0 0.2 0.3 0 .9 1.6 5.9 0.3 0.1 0.7 2.6 0.5 0 .9 0.9 1.2 0. 7 0.5 0. 1 2.5 0.1 1.4 0.4 2.6 1.3 0.6 2.0 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.1 1.6 0.4 0.1 2.5 0.3 100.0 7 �Improvements Made to Fishing Recreation Program 1988 will go down in history as one of those years of "mixed blessings." Fishi ng in Colorado continued to be excellent. However, a relative ly dry year, w hirlin g disease problems and a stagnant state economy presented new management challenges on a scale not seen for many years. On the positive side, 1988 began with excellent water levels in most of Co lorado's larger lakes and reservoirs. Adequate but not exceptional snowpack allowed for average to below runoff and excellent stream fishing most of the year. Trophy t rout were abun dant in t he Frying Pan, South Platte and Dolores ri vers, and stream fishermen flooded to t hose areas. On March 1, 1988, Alan Schneider creat ed head lines when he caught a monster, 30 lb., 8 oz. brown t rout from a pond at the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery. The catch broke the old record by almost 6 pounds. Two other state records were set in 1 988. The record for tiger muskie was set and reset four t imes as this sport fish, a membe r of t he pike fam ily, came of age . The current record fish, 9 lbs., 1 oz., was taken from Qu in cy Reservoir in t he metro Denve r area. Steve Hix, a Denver angler, set t he record for the w iper, a hybri d of w hite and striped bass, w hen he p ulled in an 1 1 lb., 7 oz. specimen from the Nee Grande Reservoi r in southeast Colo rado. Fishing was good during 1988 but, by the end of the year, 8 many eastern plains reservoirs had been drawn down to levels not seen since t he dry years of 1978-80 . Through t he Wall op-Breaux Motorboat Access Im provement Program, boat ramps and parki ng areas for fishermen were improved on more than a dozen lakes, including Bonny Reservoir, Dowdy Lake, Lon Hagler Reservoir, Julesbe rg Reservoir, Stalker Lake, Holbrook Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, Upper Queens Lake, Lower Queens Lake, Adobe Creek Reservoir, Horse Creek Reservoir, Thurston Reservoir, Nee Noshe Reservoir and Barr Lake. These proj ects totalled more than $500,000 in capital construct io n expenditu res. Alan Schneider with his record 30pound, 8-ounce brown trout that he ca ught in a pond near Roaring Judy H atchery. Ted Washington Federal Aid Coordinator Along w ith the field work, there is a host of administrative jobs at the Division of W ildlife. Federal Aid Coordinator Ted Washington, for example, oversees $7.6 mi llion in federal aid funds distributed annually among 50 different projects. He lives in the unive rsity town of Fl. Collins and commutes to the Denver headquarte~. Washington grew up in a small town in Michigan, hunting and raising pigeons. When he came across a pamphlet about being a game biologist in sixth grade, " I essentially knew what I wanted to be. That had to be it. I never wan ted to be anything else." He loved working in the field, and reca lls being in "absolute heaven" later as a senior w ildlife biologist for threatened and endangered species. Now his j ob is adm inistrative, coordinating among Division of Wildlife and federa l officials acros s a wide range of projects. That has its advantages, too. " I enjoy what I do," he says. " It's ve ry cha llenging, I work w ith good people, and I'm learning the ins and outs of how the agency run s." �'Fishing Is Fun' Proves Its Point In its encore year, Colorado's "Fishing Is Fun " program continued to be a produ ctive way for the Division and local communit ies to in crease recreational opportuniti es for Colorado angl ers. Fishing Is Fun was established in 1987 as a com mu nity grant program al lowi ng the Colorado D ivision of W il d life to join w ith commu nities and groups throughout the state to improve fish habitat and angler access . The program matches fed eral funds, administered by the Divi sion, with local monies. The federal dollars are generated from an excise tax on fishing ta ckl e, boats and outboard motor fuel. In 1988, 30 p rojects were approved w it h a cost of just over $2 mi llion; the federa l share was $89 3,5 00. Proj ects initiated in 1988 in cluded : ■ 563,500 to the City of Lyons to p rovide access for anglers on the St. Vrain Ri ve r; ■ $42,220 to Kiowa County for improving access to Q uee ns Reservoir; ■ $35,88 1 to the City of Ak ron for renovation of a fish ing pond; ■ $20,500 to the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies for work at Hallu m Lake. The p rojects mad e available to th e publi c 4 7,000 add it ional motorboat days, 165,800 angler days, 1,270 previously p rivate or non-existent acres of standing water and 3.9 miles of streams. Fish ing Is Fun projects also paid for develo pment of structures giving the hand icapped access to st rea ms and lakes with wheelchair-accessible piers, stream walkways and paths ~ z 0 ':I :£ > < 0 The Fishing Is Fun program matches federal funds with local monies and private donations to provide sport fishing to anglers. around the lakes. Addit ionally, through th e Fishi ng Is Fun project more than one million annual visitors w ill learn more about fish ecology whi le visi tin g the d isplays at the Denve r Natural H istory Museum, and 12,000 students w il l learn to fish and ga in a better understanding of aquatic ecosystems from volun teer instructors w ho were trained w ith funds provided by Fishing Is Fun. Colorado Fishing Licenses 600 550 500 450 c:, 400 ~ 350 '.:; 300 ~ 250 ; 200 / - 150 100 ,., 50 .J ,/ ., -- i..-- ./ ...- -- - --- -- -- -- 600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1950196019701980 81 0 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 Resident _ _ __ Nonresident _ ____ _ 9 �Fish Production Fish production and stocking is one of the most important management tools available to meet t he demands of Colorado anglers. Turbu lent streams fl ushed w ith annual snowmelt make spring spawn ing diffi cult for rainbow trout. Reservoirs that fl uctuate as much as 60 feet in depth cause similar problems for warmwater species. The resu lt is a need to suppl ement natural populations of fish with both catchable and fingerling-sized stockers. To maintain sport fi sh populations in Colo rado's lakes and streams, more than 1,600 waters were stocked in 1988 w ith approximately 4.6 million catchable size trout (8 inches plus in length) , 6. 11 million subcatchable trout (2-8 inches) of various species, 5.9 milli on kokanee salmon, 106 million walleye fry, 5 mi llion wiper fry, 1 mill ion large mouth bass from 2 to 6 inches in length and more than 800,000 fry of other warmwater species. Colorado's t rout hatcheries had to deal w ith w hi rli ng disease in 1988 . W hirling disease is a myxobacteria that affects young fish, especially in hatcheri es. But wh irling d isease is not really a disease, it is parasiti c infection that can produce a d eformity in the cartilage of young fi sh t hat is more like a pinched nerve than a disease. Although not fatal to large numbers of fish, the Division took steps to prevent spreading t he disease. Active efforts by the Division to control the disease resulted in a heavy workload for the fish pathologist and staff. A consid erable effort was 10 Success and Adversity Fish Stocked By Colorado Hatcheries in 1988 Rainbow Trout 18,830,576 Kokanee Salm on 5,92 4,080 1,547,648 Cutt hroat Trout Brown Trout 478,391 Brook Trout 439,829 Mackinaw Trout 209,687 Others 1 28,493 TO TAL COLDWATER SPECIES 27,558,704 Walleye 106,076,160 Wipers 5,713,749 Largemout h Bass 1 ,07 4,701 Channel Catfish 362,223 276,742 Bluegill 275,732 Striped Bass Saugeye 148,000 95,061 Tiger Muskie Others 94,558 TOTAL WARMWATER SPECI ES 114,116,926 More than 1, 600 waters were stocked during the year with a total of 141,675 ,630 warmwater and coldwater fish species. �The Pueblo Hatchery - the Division's newest - made to coordinate both private and state activities directed to controlling this disease. Ultimately, new policies and direction in fish disease control will result in healthier fish populations statewide. The Pueblo Hatchery began its fi rst year of fish production in 1988, raising walleye fry, tiger muskie fingerlings and a va riety of subcatchable trout. Final phases of construction are expected to be completed in 1 989. began operation in 1988. Although fish license sales declined slightly in 1988, about a 1 percent decrease, the Division remains optim istic about the future of fishing demand. By t he year 2004, an estimated 1 5 percent more anglers w ill be seeking the enjoyment of the Colorado angling experience. Continued growth will require innovative management of Colorado's aquatic resources. Our goal and challenge is to continue to provide quality angl ing opportun it ies for both t he cit izens of our state and our welcome visitors. Craig Receives Chevron Conservation Award Gerald Craig, a Division of Wildlife biologist who has played a key role in the recovery of the peregrine falcon in Colorado, received the 1988 Chevron Conservation Award, the nation's oldest privately sponsored conservation award. Nominated by officials from the U.S. Park Service and jointly endorsed by the U.S. Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management, Craig was recognized for his role as the leader of the peregrine recovery program in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region . When the effort began in 1975, it was the first endangered species recovery program for any species of wildlife. A graduate of Colorado State University, Craig said the award represents the efforts of a number of colleagues and agencies with w hom he has worked. 11 �Big Game Herds Healthiest Ever The combination of careful management and some help from mother nature in the form of mild winters has resulted in substantial growth in the state's big game population this century. In the first decade of the century, there were few er than 1,000 elk, 8,000 deer and 1,000 antelope. Today, there are more than 175,000 elk, 625 ,000 deer and 50,000 antelope - more than any time in the 20th century. As a result, Colorado's 1988 big game season was one of the best in years, reflecting the overall health of the state's big game herds. The number of elk taken by hunters set a Colorado record. A detailed survey of hunters conducted by the Division showed nearly 32,500 elk were harvested in 1988, an increase of nearly 1,900 over the previous record set in 1984 and 9,000 more than in 1987. Of those 32,500 elk in 1988, more than 19,000 were bulls. A record number of elk licenses, more than 158,000, were sold as well. The deer harvest also rose from 59,000 in 1987 to more than 70,000 last year. Whil e well short of t he record year of 1963, the 1988 total was the highest since 1983. M ore than 222,000 hunters app li ed for deer licenses last year. The record elk harvest was due to a combination of factors, including four consecutive mild w inters and an in crease in cow elk licenses availabl e t o sportsmen. More cow licenses were issued to keep the size of the herd stable. Antler restrictions, which have held down the bull harvest in recent years, had less impact in 1988. The restrictions require that bull elk have at least four antler points before they may be taken in many game management units. The restriction s have helped increase the percentage of branch-antlered bulls in Colorado's elk herds. An increase in th e number of doe deer licenses, again to control the size of the herds in areas where they have reached optimum levels, also contributed to the increase in the deer harvest. Even so, the number of bucks taken in 1988 also incr-eased from 47,800 to more than 52 ,000. A record elk harvest was set last year in mild winters. Colorado Antelope H 10,000 9,500 9, 000 / 8,500 8, 000 / 7,500 / 7,000 J 6,500 / 6,000 I/ 5,500 J 5,000 4,500 I 4,000 I 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,000 0 19601970 1980 81 82 ,, Colorado Elk Harvests Colorado Deer Harvests 115 110 105 100 \ 95 \ :S 90 \ \ ~ 85 \ ;'; 80 1 ~ 75 ; 70 \ / - 65 ~ 60 I/ 55 50 0 196019701980 81 ,, ., I'-. " ".... '' 12 82 83 84 I'-. 85 115 110 105 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 f 65 I 60 55 50 0 87 88 .,,, ~" 86 33 32 31 30 33 32 31 30 H 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 0 196019701980 81 H 82 83 84 85 86 87 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 0 88 ~ -- \ \ \ 83 84 8: �Colorado Antelope Hunting Licenses 19,000 19, 000 18,000 18,000 ,...-\ 17,000 17,000 / \ 16,000 16,000 / 15,000 15,000 / \. 14,000 14,000 I\,. / 13,000 13,000 12,000 12,000 .,,,,,,. ,-----/ 11,000 11,000 I/ 10, 000 10,000 9,000 9,000 / 8, 000 8,000 / 7,000 7,000 6,000 6,000 I 5,000 5,000 I 4,000 4,000 I 3,000 3,000 2,000 I, 2,000 ... 1,000 1,000 550 550 500 500 450 450 400 400 350 350 300 , 300 250 250 ~, ~' 200 200 ,... ~~ 150 150 Ii , 100 100 50 50 0 0 19501960 1970 1980 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 ' ' , ,~ -- -- ' __ Resident - - - - Nonresident - - - - - - Colorado due partially to four consecutive Colorado Deer Hunting Licenses arvests - ,_ 10,000 9,500 9,000 8,500 8,000 .J' 7,500 7,000 6,500 6,000 5,500 5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1, 000 0 86 87 88 150 145 140 135 130 125 120 115 110 105 100 95 is 90 2 85 :;; ::, 80 ~ 75 ,-. 70 ~ 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 / 150 145 140 I/ 135 130 125 --120 11 5 110 105 100 95 90 85 80 _# 75 70 ~65 ; 60 , 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 0 84 85 86 87 88 ' ", ~ ,, \ I/ / / I I ,/ f -- , , ,. ,, ,,- - .# ' -• ~# ' •' , ·' 0 195019601970 1980 81 Resident - - - Nonresident - - - - - - 82 83 Colorado Elk Hunting Licenses 150 145 140 135 130 125 120 115 110 105 100 95 j is 90 2 85 I ;;ii ::, 80 I I ~ 75 ,-. 70 I ~ 65 60 I 55 I 50 I 45 I 40 I 35 30 I I I 25 / ,. 20 15 _, 10 0 _.1950196019701980 81 .,,,,. ,~ - -' " ' '\. ' .-- ~- '·-" \ : ~-- ,, , '\. ' ,/ ,/ , ,, •• , i 150 145 140 135 130 125 120 115 110 105 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 0 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 Resident _ _ _ __ Nonresident - - - - - - 13 �1988 Hunting Seasons Safest Yet Colorado's 1988 hunting seasons were also the safest since the D ivision of Wildlife began keeping records on hunting accidents in 1961. There were no fatalities and only seven firea rm injuries. 1988 was the first year since 1960 t hat no one died as a result of a gun-related incident. Of t he seven inju ries, fou r were accidentally selfinflicted woun ds. The record of low accident rate is due to the success of t he D ivision's Hun ter Educat ion program which trained 16,430 new hunters in 1988. During the 1960s, there was an ave rage of 10 deaths and 24 injuries each year. In the 1970s, followi ng the implementation of t he regulations requiring that big game hunters wear fluorescent orange clothing and prohibiti ng carryin g loaded guns in vehi cles, th e average dropped to four deaths and 18 injuri es pe r year. In this decade, there has been a further d ecrease in accidents, with an average of two deaths and 16 injuri es a year. Controlled Hunt Held on Academy Grounds For t he first time in 18 years, th e Colorado Division of Wildl ife, in cooperation w ith the Air Force Academy, authorized d eer hunting on the Academy's grounds. The hunt was designed to red uce a d eer herd that had just grown too large for the habitat p rovided by academy lands. The academy deer herd was so large that animals had b egun to damage 14 In 1988, 16,430 new hunters were trained by the Hunter Education program. the habitat supporting t hem. Dangerous conflicts w ith people were also on the increase with nearly 150 dee r ki lled while crossing academy roads and another 50 dying on nearby Interstate 25 in 1987. Th e hu nt d id p rovoke protests from some an imal ri ghts' activists . Howeve r, managin g w i ldlife requires managing habitat so w ildlife can survive. Part of t hat equation includes removing surplus ani mals by hunti ng to ensure t here aren't too many in a given area. Since, w ildli fe management is paid for by the sale of hunting and fishi ng licenses, con t rolled hunting allows surplus an imals to be harvested each year while providing a source of funds to benefi t the entire w ildlife resou rces. Buckskin Network Assists Hunters for 30th Year The Buckskin Network, w hich notifies hu nte rs of emergencies at home, was in place for the 30t h cons ecutive year in 1988. Begun by the Colorado St ate Pat rol in 1959 to deliver information and eme rgency messages to big game hunters on the Western Slope, the network received 143 messages, of which 93 could be delivered in 1988. Seventy-six we re d elive red through t he cooperat ion of various radio stations and 1 7 were delive red by law enforcement office rs. The Grand Junction office of the State Patrol serves as t he clearinghouse for messages. After receiving a message from a friend or relative, t he Patrol notifies part icipating rad io stations w h ich then broadcast t hese message.s . �Jack LePlatt Named Landowner of the Year Along the Pine River just north of Bayfield, wi ldlife an d local sportsmen have found an advocate in Jack LePlatt. A semi -retired rancher and long-time area resident, LePlatt has sin gle-handedly turned an abandoned grave l pit and grazing land along the river into a w ildlife haven . Dozens of species, from bald eagles to rainbow trout, now th rive, pleas ing both LePlatt and local wi ldlife enthusiast s. For his efforts, LePlatt was honored by the Colorado Division of W ildlife as the 1988 Landowner of the Year. Jack and his wife, Jewe ll, own 180 ac res of land near Bayfield, including 100 acres along the Pine. Beginning in the mid-1950s, grave l was dug from the river bottom on their prope rty. Rather than leave an em pty hole in the ground, Jack directed that one pit be contoured and shaped as a fishing pond. Keep ing his catt le off the land most of the year o pens up the river bank habitat for w ildlife. Those decisions, along with LePlatt's continuing commi tment to w ildlife, have made the small w il dlife area popular w ith both the locals and residents from southeastern Colorado. In 1973 he entered into an agreement with the Division, wi th t he latter providing hatchery trout in return for publi c access to his fishing hole. The 11-acre pond rec laim ed from the gravel mining now has trout provided by the Division as wel l as largemouth and smal lm outh bass provided by LeP latt. Even vaca tion ers Jewell and Jack LePlatt were honored as wildlife landowners of the year in 1988. have discove red LePlatt's w il dlife area, taking advantage of the easy access, good f ish ing, and picnic tables and gri lls provided by LePlatt. The area is also avai lable to se rvice groups such as the local chapter of the Girl Scouts. The conveni ent access and gently sloped banks make the pond ideal for fishing by the handicapped. People who simply like to observe wild life can also take advantage of LePlatt's area. Mule deer are fo und t here most of the year and even use it as a fawn ing area. Elk take shelter in the dense vegetation near t he pond, while numerous waterfowl species make stopovers. Bald eagles like the area well enough to roost in the trees around the pond. Runne~up for Landowne r of the Year was Larimer County's Louis Swift, w ho owns 800 acres of agri cultural land. Ron Velarde Area Wildlife Manager Ron Ve larde, o ne of 17 area wi ld li fe managers in the state, is responsibl e fo r the w ildl ife in 18,000 square miles of southern Colorado surrounding the city of Pueblo. Con trary to some images of wi ldlife emp loyees, Velarde lives in the city itself and estimates he spen d s half h is time now in the office o n administrative matters - which is o ne of the hazards of promotion. When he is in the field, he may be trapping turkey, bighorn sheep, deer or elk, either to transport them or to fit them with markers for tracking. Or he may be in a plane or helicopter counting big game herd s, which helps determine the restrictions on hunting the next season. Or he may have what must rank as the best assignment in the state - stopping along country roads to listen to, and co unt bird calls (to detect t rends in bird populations). Part of his job is law enforcement, which ca n mean stopping a hunter fo r a casual license check o r fu l l-blown detective wo rk on possible poaching violations. 15 �Wildlife Ranching Opens More Lands to Sportsmen "Wil dl ife Ranchin g" completed its th ree -year pilot program in 1988. Without the state rel inqu ishing any of its authority over wildlife resources, the program provides economic in centives for landowners, on a cooperative basis wi th the Division, to practice w il dlife management on private lands, including habitat protection and improvem ent and population manipulation of game animals through harvest. Ten ranches participated in t he program last year. The reality of w ildl ife management in the f ield led th e Division to establishm ent of the pilot program. Increased public demand for w ildlifeoriented recreation, a declining wi ldl ife hab itat, difficulty in effectively impl ementing management plans by species, herd, etc. in some areas of the state, increasing game damage payments and less than desirable DOW-landowner relationships all led to efforts to encourage ranchers to participate in the wi ldlife program. Since its establishment, the program has resulted in opening nearly 800,000 acres of private land to public hunting w hil e providing recreat ional opportunities for almost 3,000 hunters. Not only was the harvest success rate for these hunters significantly higher than for hunters on public land, but valuabl e wild life habitat was saved by encouraging landowners not to subdivide their property for development. 16 The W ildlife Ranching program has opened 800,000 acres of private land to publi c hunting. Antelope and Wheat Growers A research project sponsored by the Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station and the Division of Wi ldlife and completed in 1988 provides strong evid ence t hat the argument between w heat growers and the Division ove r grazing antelope may be moot. Wheat growers have long contended that grazing of winter w heat by antelope reduces w heat yields. This has led to reduced antelope populations and harvests in the w heat growing areas of the state. The resea rch p roj ect results demonst rated that nutritional characteri stics of growing w heat and adjacent native grasslands interact ed to rotate antelope grazing. Antelope grazed wheat w hen it was not susceptible to grazing damage; by the time the w heat becomes vulnerable to grazing damage, native grasslands offer nutritionally superi or fo rages and the ante lope aba ndon wi nter w heat fields for native grasslands. Th us, wheat growers can capitalize on two money crops in the future: t he winter wheat and antelope hunter access fees w ithout conflicts between the two. �Outdoor Buddies Make Hunting 'Handicapped Accessible' H unting, a rugged sport that normally requires t he ability to hike through forests and fields, has traditionally been d ifficult, if not impossible, for the hand icapped. But thanks to veteran Colorado hunter and master hunter education instructor Sid Sellers, dozens of volunteers and the Division of Wildlife, hunting has been added to the growing list of activities that qualify as "handicapped accessible." In its first year, 1988, "Outdoor Budd ies" had 1 05 handicapped hunters and 115 "able buddies" register for the program. The figures for 1989 are already ahead of last year: 120 registered handicapped hunters and 140 able buddies. A retiree who has hunted for 56 years, Sellers came up with the idea while working as a volunteer with the Recreational Therapy Department at Craig Rehabilitation Center in Englewood. " I saw a real need for this kind of opportunity for handicapped people w ho wanted to hunt," Sellers said. Outdoor Budd ies was the answer. In 1988, there was an organized hunt on private land in Golden Gate Canyon, and another landowne r near Agate hosted an antelope hunt. In addition to opportunities offe red by landowners, t he Divis ion earmarked 1 0 deer, 1 0 antelope and five e lk licenses fo r mob ility-hand icapped hu nters. icapped hunter has to meet the same requi rements as other hunters. Licenses as well as hu nter safety cards are needed, and handicapped h unters must also obtain a free permit from the Division that al lows them to shoot out of a motor vehicle. Expansion of the program in the future may include such activities as exotic fishing t rips, scuba diving and wildlife photography. Construction of an upland b ird shooting preserve for year-round use by the handicapped is also in the planning stages, as are plans for hunter safety classes, bowhunting classes, shotgun practice and other educational courses as needed. To participate, hunters' disabilities must be evaluated to assure their ability to participate in the various programs. But a lack of mobility shouldn't dissuade anyone from inquirt;: - ing. One successful hunte r is a ~ quadriplegic. With the aid of a ~ sophisticated targeting device, u he was able to aim and shoot O utdoor Buddies provide outd oor experiences for the handicapped sportswith slight head movements man by matching them with able-bodied and the use of suction tubes. vo luntee rs. Efforts wi ll be made to enrol l any mobility-handicapped person into the p rogram . Donations to t he non-profit The key to the success of this effort is the volunteers O utdoor Buddies program are w ho are w il ling to give thei r tax-deductible and have been received from i nd ividuals as time to be able budd ies for handicapped h unters. "There well as sportin g organizati ons. And as Se llers says, " If you is no fee for any of this," Sellers emphas ized . "All the ever want a real high, be there handicapped h unter has to do w hen a hand icapped hunter bags his fi rst game!" is register." Once registered, the handOpportunities for waterfowl, doves, pheasants and upland game have been provided by landowners for free, un li m ited use by the handicapped. V, 17 �Programs Aimed at Improving Habitat for Wildlife z 0 ~ > ~ V\ z u 0 To date, Colorado has enrolled 1.7 million acres of highly erodible farmland in the Conservation Reserve program. The Colorado Division of Wi ldlife directly manages on ly .5 percent of the state's land mass. As a resu lt, Colorado's w ild life depends on private, local and federal government landowners for t he food, water and space - the habitat - it needs to live and thrive. With this in mind, the Division continued aggressive efforts in 1988 to convince these other property owne rs to manage their lands and waters for t he benefit of th e animals, birds and fish that rely on them . W it h much of Colorado's land used for farming and ranching, the Division once aga in p rovided match in g funds for landowners w ho enrolled in the 1985 federal farm b ill 's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The CRP removes highly erodible farm land from production and requires a cover crop to be placed on the land, allowing it to heal. The 1985 federal farm bill also gave w il dlife agencies the aut hority t o review foreclosed properties held by the federal gove rnm ent (FHA) as a way of protecting significan t w ildlife values. In 1988, 18 such properties were identified and deed restrictions were p laced on them. The Division also 18 requested that three river bank tracts be transferred to t he DOW from the U.S. government. These habitat efforts were supplemented with an enterprising effort to improve sport sman/landowner re lations through t he Landowner Recognition Program. To assist this effort, 50,000 copies of a new publication "Everythi ng You Wanted To Know About Asking Permission But Were Afraid To Ask," were distributed across the state. All eviating hazardous circumstances as well as preserving and protecting a liveable home for fish and w ildlife w hen new land uses are bei ng considered (such as water projects) were the prime purposes of House Bi ll 11 58, Colorado's "Wi ldlife M it igation Bill," passed in 1987. The Wild life Comm ission ado pted policy procedures and guid elines in 19 87 and regulations in 1988 to impl ement t his bill. An integral part of the Commission's policy gu id elines and procedu res is informational su mmaries on permits and li censes required by other agencies. Kathi Demarest Senior Wildlife Biologist Wildlife biologist Kathi Demarest supports Division field officers with research on birds and mammals. She lives in the foothills town of Golden, and works out of the Division of W ildl ife's Central Region office in Denver. Her work includes: advising how much medicine to give a trapped bighorn sheep for lungworm, reviewing applications from other scientists to gather species for research, computer modeling of game herds, constructing and placing an artificial nest for a pair of bald eagles, and personally checking killed bobcats, bear, mountain lions and mountain goats. Demarest spends 80 percent of her t ime in the office, wh ich she adm its was a big adjustment after beginning her career as a field officer. She also had to adjust to occasion ally being the target of questions from people who are emotionally involved in an issue or sus picious of government officials. She adds, " I was awfully naive about t he role people play in environmental issues. Not everybody thin ks wi ldlife is as important as we do." �Division Strives to Save State's Water Resources Nearly three years of effort by the Division to protect the Blue Rive r fisheri es above Dillon Reservoir in Summit County were rewarded in O ctober 1988 with the sign ing of agree ments among the state, the coun ty and the cou nty's three majo r ski areas. The agreem ents protect environ m ental val ues w hile allowing future development in the county. In additio n, the agreements allowed th e Colorado Water Conservation Board, in cooperation w ith th e Division, to o btain decrees for in-strea m flow water ri ghts on 23 stream s in Sum mit County, thu s avoi ding cos tly litigation. In ad dition to coordinating the D ivision's efforts to appropriate water ri ghts for in-strea m flows, the Division 's Water Resources U ni t was actively involved in the development of its vast water ri ght holdin gs. A comprehensive water m anagement plan for the San Luis Valley was also begun to improve wildlife habitat in thi s historic bastion of wat e rfowl production in Colorado. The Division was vigilant in t he protecti ng of the state's water rights - assets which are used to protect and e nhance wild life habitat and are ext remely criti cal fish hatche ry operation s. A nota ble success in th is area invo lved prot ecting water rights for the Division 's Mt. Shavano Fish Hatch ery on the Arkansas River near Sal ida and the Delaney Lakes in North Park. Water ri ghts and related habitat and fish eri es o n both these properties were threatened by actions initiated by other water rights owners. g j A fisherman enjoys the benefits of the Division's work to protect water rights. Good Water Quality Essential In 1988, the Division was also involved in the Com prehensive Environm ental Restoration Compensation and Litigation Act (CERCLA) lawsuits fil ed by the Colo rado Attorney General. The habitat sectio n participated in th e negotiation and settlement activities of the New Jersey Zinc CERCLA case on the Eagle River. As a resul t of th e settlement, the defendant in the case, Gulf-Western, purchased an easement in perpetuity on a three-mile section of the Eagle River in th e name of the Division fo r a cost of S160,000. In t he on going cases at the Telluride-Ouray and Leadvill e sites in Western Colorado, the habitat sectio n received $37,000 to perfo rm environmental studies at Ridgway Rese rvo ir and on the Arkansas River. Specific data obtained included : ■ A three-month intensive creel census of fo ur sections of the Arkansas River and two sections of the Fryi ng Pan River; ■ A stream survey of Fourmile Creek in Fremont County; ■ An analysis of metals concentration in the organs of trout in the Arkansas River and Rid gway Reservoir; ■ A mail survey to document fishing press ure in Colorado during 1988, Other activiti es to protect w ildlife habita t in 1988 included: ■ Habitat section personnel presented t estimony at five Water Quality Cont rol Commission hearings to estab lish stream standards and classificatio ns for variou s wate rs thro ugho ut Colorado; ■ A Division rep resentative from the habitat sectio n sits on t he Water Quality Control Commission 's 319 Non-point Pol lution Task Force; ■ Subm iss ion of 1 0 applicatio ns to the Water Quali ty Control Division for the discharge of p ermits whi ch regulate the effl u~nt quality from Division fish hatcheries o r rearing units. 19 �Interest in 'Watchable Wildlife' Program Grows People are demandin g more recreational and educational opportunities to watch wildlife. A recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey estimated that 87 percent of Colorado residents participated in some form of wildlife-related recreation other than hunting and fishing and that 28 percent of the publi c make at least one trip per year to observe and/ or photograph w ildlife. Adding wat ching w ildl ife to the Economic Impact Model, adds roughly $425 million to the Colorado economy each year. In response to this demand, in 1988, the second year of the Division's "Watchable W il dlife Program," was one of tremendous activity. Several projects were begun which w i ll come to fruition in 1989 and 1990. A Comprehensive Viewers Guide to Colorado Wi ldlife will be publi shed in the sprin g of 1990. Ten thousand copies of thi s guid e will be printed and sold. A carry-along book, providing wildl ife watchers w ith the who, what, w here, when and how for 125 to 150 sites in the state, w ill be publ ished simultaneously with t he viewers guide. A 30-minute video on wildlife viewing opportunities was begun . To be completed in August 1989, the video will be made available to commercial television and eventually to group s and the public at large . Brochures on watching bighorn sheep, wintering bald eagles and elk and birds were initiated as was "Viewing Wildlife in Colorado," a twopage brochure to be used as a companion to "Colorado Hunting and Fishin g." 20 Development of sites where people can view wi ldl ife was begun in eve ry region in 1 988. Chi ef among these is a cooperative effort with the State Highway Department, the City of Georgetown, Clear Creek County, the Forest Se rvice, Bureau of Land Management and t he Bighorn Sheep Society to build a viewing platform and in terpretive center on In te rstate 70 near Georgetown in Clear Creek County. Volu nteers or "c itizen scientists" are invaluable to the Watchab le W ildlife Program. Examples of volunteer activities were the much-pub licized peregrin e falcon program, w hi ch provid ed hack boxes for these raptors on build ings in downtown Denver last summer, and monitoring of bald eagles nesting at Barr Lake northwest of Denver. As part of the citizen scientists program, small amounts of funds are provided by the Division to persons who have a specific goal in mind to design their own proj ects for watch ing w il dl ife. ~ .. >to., :" r ..,. • --- The Watchable Wildlife program sponsors field trips and photography classes to promote ethics in nature photography. �Saving Wildlife for Future Generations In 1988, nearly 53,000 Colorado taxpayers used the checkoff box on their state in com e tax form to con tribute close to $375,000 to the nongame Wildlife Cash Fund. This fund is used for projects ben e• fittin g fish, amphibians and reptiles, the black-footed ferret and many other nongame species. Two proj ects captured the imagination of the citizens of the state: the release of six rive r otters into the Dolores River and t he peregrine falcon project in downtown Denver. As early as 1830, reports indicated that trapping had decimated Colorado's otter population. Water pollution fro m m ining activities in the late 1880s reduced fish populations w hi ch served as the otters' main food sou rce. The ri ve r otter was once fou nd throughout Colorado, but it's believed that the species became ext irpated from the state by 1900. In 19 88, five ot ters were flown to Colo rado from Oregon. It was the first step in a proj ect that w ill see a total of 30 otters released into the Dolores in an effort to establish a self-s ustaining population in southwestern Colorado . The Division has been releasing otters in Colorado rivers since 1976; previou s release sites have included the Gunnison and Piedra rive rs, Cheesman Reservoir and Rocky Mountain Natio nal Park. In 1988, the Peregrine Partnersh ip was formed by the D ivision of W ildlife, the Colorado Wildl ife Federation and Five river otters were released near the Dolores River in southwestern Colorado. ;; z ;:; 0 "' "' 0 "' ::, ,_ 0 z ~ The Peregrine Pa rtnership was formed with the goa l of releasing peregrine falcons in downtown Denver for three consecutive years to aid in the birds' recovery in Colorado. the Denver Museum of Natural History with the goal of funding releases of peregrine falcon~ in downtown Denver during the com ing three years. W ith all three groups donating time as we ll as money, five falcon chicks were released in the su mmer of 1988. Ranging in age from 33 to 3 6 days, the five arrived to great fa nfa re and publicity on July 13. By the end of August, 742 volunteers had spent 2,300 man-hours watching them grow up and leave their summer hack box homes atop the roof of the 23-story One Civic Cente r Plaza buildin g. The peregrine falco n has been on the federal endangered species list for many years. In Colorado, recovery efforts began in 1975. In 1976, only four breeding pa irs were known to be in Colorado. These four pairs successfully raised seven young (most peregrine falcons do not mate until their second yea r). Over the last decade, 500 falcons have been released in the wi lds of Colorado. 21 �Public Services Uses New Tools to Inform, Educate The overwhelming majority of sportsmen in Colorado respect the state's wildlife resource and the laws that govern that resource. The few who didn't found themselves in big trouble last year as Division of W ild life officers issued 5,961 citations for violations of state laws resulting in assessment of $582,613 in fines. That compares to 5,950 violations and $533,675 in fines last year. At a roadblo ck at Raton, New Mexico, during the second of Colorado's 1988 deer and elk hunting seasons, more than 1,100 hunters were contacted, resulting in more than $60,000 in fines assessed and 225 citations issued by wildlife officers from Colorado, New Mexico and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Colorado also sent two officers to a cooperative check station on 1-15 at Barstow, California. Numerous violations were detected and citations issued with fines in excess of $10,000. Several joint investigations between Colorado and various states and the federal government were also conducted in 1988. In most cases, charges are pending in Colorado state or U.S. District courts. Excellent coope ration has been received from other states when investigative leads have led out of Colorado. In some cases, prosecution was even handled by the violator's home state. While 324,000 sportsmen enjoyed hunting in Co lorado last year, 5,961 citations were issued for violations of state wildlife laws. 22 The Division's Operation Game Thief Program (OGT) , in its ninth year in 1988, took 189 calls from the public as compared to 174 in 1987. Th ese crime tips resulted in 61 citations being issued and a total of $59,246 paid in penalties. Total penalties paid in 1987 were $52,539. Begun in 1980, the OGT program is designed to encourage the public to call when they suspect a wi ldlife -related crime has occurred or is li kely to occur. The special toll-free number is 1-800-332-4155. In the Denver area, the number is 295-0164. People who provide tips to the Division under OGT can receive cash rewards for their efforts. In 1988, S5,950 was paid out for information that resu lted in a citation being issued. Operation Game Thief is a non-profit program administered by a five-person citizen committee. Funding comes from courtordered restitutions and from donations by individuals and citizen groups such as the Colorado Bowhunters Association, the Northern Colorado Rod and Gun Club and the Metropolitan Wildlife Association. Two new law enforcement programs were begun in 1988. OGT/Operation Livestock Thief signs were offered to landowners in Las Animas, Huerfano, Pueblo and Custer counties in cooperation with the Colorado Cattlemen 's As sociation, and a "unit watch" program was initiated in a portion of Moffat County, which �resulted in a 400 percent increase in OCT call s and $3,047 in fines. The unit watch program provides for posting of add itional informational signs, the direct mailing of 3,100 letters to lim ited hunting license holders and a higher level of enforcement in game management units w ith above-ave rage violations reported . Co lorado is f inite. There will never be more land in the state than there is today. However, t he population of our state is expected to double by the year 2040. W ill there be a place for wildl ife in Colorado in the 21 st century? If there is , it will be because Coloradans take the appropriate actions today. To help the public evaluate the choices before it, the Division of Wildl ife in 1988 prepared videotape and sl ide show programs entitled A Space for Wildlife. Accompanying them was a brochure provid ing questions and answers on the subject, including a questionnaire page which readers were encouraged to fill out and mail to the Division Di rector Perry Olson. People want to know about w ildlife. Providing public services and information was one of t he Division's b igger jobs in 1988. More than 250,000 peopl e called the Division for help last year. More than 92,000 calls were directly answered in Division offices and almost 158,000 calls were answered by Division informational recorded messages. _ - .. w Pam Pope Senior Secretary Despite th e noise of the crowd, the other riders warming up, the dust hanging like a veil over the arena and the smells that invariably follow a rodeo, Pam Pope was oblivious to it all. Quietly, mechanically walking her horse behind the arena, her mind was focused on the perfect run . She reigned her horse through the gate leading it up to the center of the arena. In three strides he crossed the starting line at full speed aiming for the first barrel. As if directed by a single intelligence, horse and rider melted into one energy flow as they leaned into the turn around the barrel. In 17 seconds it was over. She learned how to ride before walking. H er first competition was in the gymkhana at the age of seven and by high school she was barrel racing. Her dad always insisted on getting good horses and her response was to always try to get the best out of every horse she had. " It became a real challenge to see what I could get a horse to do at fu ll speed," she remembers. " It was a lot harder t han I expected." Nevertheless, her four hours a day of practice paid off. In 1986 she was Runner-up State Champion and in 1986-87 she took home S7,500 in prize money. Last year, however, she put her barrel racing on hold as she and her husband Greg (who was State Steer Wrestling Champion in 1987 and Runner-up in 1988 despite an injury that kept him out of several rodeos) had their first daughter, Larame. Pam, originally from Iowa, came to work for the Division of Wildlife in 1981 after moving to Montrose from Ft. Collins. As senior secretary for the Southwest Regional Office, her dut ies ran ge from running the switchboard, hand ling li cense sales, and typing for the regional staff to answering innumerable questions from the public. "Sometimes the questions can be pretty complicated and sometimes you have a hard time to keep from laughing out loud," she says. " Like the guy who wanted to know how long it takes a deer to turn into an elk. "But I like people and being able to help them is a very satisfying part of my job." And liking horses is a very satisfying part of her life. 23 �'Project Wild' Program Continues to Expand Th e award-winning, interd isciplinary wildl ife and envi ronmental education program, "Proj ect Wild," completed its fourth year in 1988. Designed by and for teachers, Project Wild has trained over 7,000 educators in workshops held around the state. In 1988, 2,085 teachers and citizens, such as Boy and Girl Scout leaders, participated in the program w hich complements regularly scheduled school cou rses. Over 90 percent of the teachers using the program say their students have an increased awareness of wildlife and habitat preservation and are now making better informed decisions about the environ ment. A hi gh ligh t of Project W il d activi ties last year was the agreement reached between Denver Public Schools and the Division through its Central Region which will result in Proj ect W ild ed ucational activities being integrated into the school system's curri culum. As a result, more than 40,000 elementary and middle school students will receive env ironmental education and informat ion in the coming years. Hayden Elementary School in northwestern Colorado and Heaton M iddle School in Pueblo were co-recip ients of Colorado's seyenth annual Conse rvation School of the Year award wh ich recognizes schools with exemplary conservation programs based on original ity and creativity in integrati ng conservation education into the t otal school curricu lum. Th e award is p resented by the Colorado Department of Education; the 24 The Division's Project Wi ld program training will help Denver Public School teachers communicate with 40,000 students about Colorado's natural resources. Division of Wildlife is a sponsor of the award. Hayden Elementary was selected because of both school and community involvement in teaching students the importance of Colorado's natural resources, conservation and environmental issues. The school uses Project Wild materia ls in the classroom on a daily basis. In 1 988, the school also re ceived a grant from the Project Wild Fund of Colorado to begin development o f a natu re area adjacent to the school. Everyone from students, teachers and citizens and busi nesses donated time, materi als and money to he lp get the program off the ground. Heaton has had an outdoor classroom since 1979. In 1986, the school added an archeolo- gica l outdoor class room that permitted cross-disciplinary use in archeological excavation by the science and social studies classes as well as cooperative const ru ction/instruction by the English, art, indust rial arts and math teachers. As with Hayden, the community also became involved with facu lty members from the Un iversity of Southern Colo rado and personnel from the Division of Wildl ife, Division of Parks and Outdoor Rec reation, the Soil Conservation Service and the Pueblo Greenway Nature Center assisting the students w ith their resea rch. In 1988, the middle-schoole rs used t heir experiences in the outdoor classroom to p repa re a videota pe incorporating their knowledge of excavation, site prese rvation and conservation . �As part of the Division's Watchable Wildlife program, a bighorn sheep viewing platform and interpretive center wi ll be built near 1-70 in Georgetown, Colorado. Covl'' photu5': Elk. (Jnada goose, m olrnt<w1 lion, ante lope and bass fisher 111 c.1 11 by Judd Coont.•y. Snowy pgrct by leondl'cl Lt•i~ Rtw Il l. �w z "' All considered nongame species: a Co lo rado sq uawfish, a young sandhill crane and a northern leopard frog. � https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/891cb0ce9c6d851c5567e3677cd37e24.pdf 913604a04c23687cad9c0798ad0b1024 PDF Text Text For Wildlife, For People 1991 Annual Report to the People of Colorado . -:-- ,,,-- -· . -- ~## ,· ~ :, -- f; I ' j Colorado Division of Wildlife• 6060 Broadway• Denver, CO 80216 • (303) 297-1192 �.. �Pnge 1 he Colorado Division of Wildlife's contract with the people of this state is spelled ou t in our long-range plan, "Colorado's Wildlife Legacy A Long Range Plan for the Division of Wildlife." T For Wildlife, For People 1991 Annual Report to the People of Colorado STATE OF COLORADO Roy Romer ........................................... Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Ken Salazar .......................... Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION Eldon W. Cooper, Chairman ............. Elizabeth Larry M. Wright, Vice Chairman ...... . Alamosa Louis Swift, Secretary .................... Fort Collins Felix Chavez ............................................ Weston Tom Eve ..................................................... Salid a Rebecca Frank ........................... Grand Junction William R. Hegberg ............. Snowmass Village George VanDenBerg ............................ Durango DIVISION OF WILDLIFE Perry D. Olson ....................................... Director Bruce McCloskey .................... Deputy Director MANAGEMENT STAFF Pete Barrows ......................... Administrative & Technical Services Len Carpenter ....... Terrestrial Wildlife Resources Bill Daley ............................... Financial Services Patsy Goodman ................... Habitat Resources Ed Kochman ........................ Aquatic Resources Jim Lipscomb ..................... Planning/Program Development Kris Moser .................................. Public Services Clyde Smith .................................... Engineering Perry D. Olson, Director This plan is our blueprint for the future. It represents a seriou s commitment, one that we must be accountable for. This annua l report is our report to the public, your opportunity to decid e whether we' re living up to the plan's goa ls. A firm commitment to protecting and enhancing the wildlife resource has never been more important because we have never faced greater challenges. Human population growth and development continue to encroach on w ildlife habitat, the space wildlife needs to survive. Fortuna tely, people care more about wildlife and the environment than ever before. That's why we' re eager to tell you about our work. What we do today will determine the wildlife heritage we leave for our children. We welcome your comments on this annua l report and our long-range plan. REGIONAL MANAGERS Bob Caskey ........................................ Northwest Ron Desilet .......................................... Southeast Walt Graul ........................................... Northeast John Torres .............................................. Central Bob Towry .......................................... Southwest DIVISION OF WILDLIFE INFORMATION (303) 297-1192 Colorado Divisio11 of Wildlife - A111111nl Report 1991 �Pnge 2 Colorado Division of Wildlife: For Wildlife, For People The mission of the Colorado Division of Wildlife is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state and provide people the opportunity to enjoy them . Wildlife makes a fundamental contribution to the qual ity of life in Colorado. The Division's mission is to enhance this quality of life through sound wildlife management. The Division is under the authority of the Colorado Wildlife Commission. This eightmember board is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Commission sets policy, promulgates regulations, determines licensing requirements and authorizes the land and water agreements for wildlife habitat. By law, each of the Wildlife Commission members represents one of the five geographical regions in the state and three represent the state at large. One member must be appointed from each of the follow ing categories: livestock producers; agricultural or produce growers; sportsmen or outfitters; wildlife organizations; and boards of county commissioners. Three members are appointed from the public at large. The Division has fou r major programs: Hunting Recreation, Fishing Recrea tion, Watchable Wildlife, a nd Nongame. The Division's internal p lanning and budgeting are oriented around these programs, as are the line item appropriations in the annua l state budget. The long-term goals and objectives for these programs are established in the Division's Long Range Plan, which is approved by the Wildlife Commission. The Division performs a number of functions, such as law enforcement, habitat management and development, surveys, research, fish rea ring and stocking, regulation drafting, and education of sportsmen and the general public. The specific mix of these activities nee- Colorado Division of Wildlife - A111111nl Report 1991 essary to accomplish program goals are spelled out in the biennial operations and annual work plans. For administrative purposes, the Division has five regional operations and offices: Fort Collins, Grand Junction, Montrose, Denver and Colorado Springs. Area offices are maintained in smaller communities from Glenwood Springs to Lamar. To cover Colorado's more than 100,000 square miles, the Division has allocated close to three-fourths of its 700-member staff to either field officers or support positions in local communities. The Denver head quarters provides program direction for s tatewide issues. The Division also maintains a research unit in Fort Collins and 15 fish hatcheries and/or rearing units throughout the state. Colorado has 113 species of sport game, 100 species of sport fi sh, and 747 species of nongame wildlife. Its rivers, lakes, plains, deserts, forests and mountains offer a variety of habitat supporting these species of w ildlife. Over 600,000 resident and nonresident hunters and 740,000 resident and nonresident anglers purchased licenses in Colorado in 1990. Several million people enjoy the state's game and nonga me resources in a variety of consumptive and non-consumptive ways. Hunters and anglers annually contribute over $1.2 billion to the state's economy. Others spend at least $30 million on special trips to enjoy wildlife and another $15 million for items to attract and enjoy wildlife in their communities. All information in this document is current as of December 31, 1991. �Page 3 1990-1991- The Year in Review Land Access, Property Acquisitions Provide New Opportunities for Sportsmen "Your offer of complimentary subscriptions for troops serving in the Middle East is absolutely wonderful." Joanie Tarapacki Longmont, CO Increased efforts to protect habitat and improve citizens' access to the state's w ildlife resources were among the major promises of the Division's Long Range Plan, and 1990-91 saw significant progress on both counts. Accomplishments during the year follow: ♦ During Fiscal Year 1990-91, the Colorado Wildlife Commission approved acquisition of 17 new properties, opening up more than 20,600 acres and 6.5 miles of streams for sportsmen. Most of the properties were acquired by lease or easement. The commission renewed lease or easement arrangements on another 10 areas totaling 650 acres. ♦ With revenue from the sales of the 1990 duck stamp, the Division initiated 10 waterfowl enhancement projects during the last year. Among the highlights of those were pond developments in Boulder County, two habita t improvement projects on the Pawnee National Grasslands in Weld County, a 48-acre pond construction project in the area open to hunting at the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge in Jackson County, the drilling of artesian wells to enhance and restore a total of 670 acres of historic and existing wetlands at the Blanca Wildlife Area in Alamosa County, development of 50 acres of w etlands at the BLM's Rio Blanco State Wildlife Area, and more. ♦ Ten young ospreys from Idaho were placed in their new homes in the Poudre River corridor near Fort Collins in an effort to establish a population there. The project is an effort of the Fort Collins Wildlife Coalition, which includes the Colorado Division of Wildlife, in cooperation with the Idaho Fish and Game Department. ♦ The Division undertook a feasibility study to learn whether expanding the trout rearing operation inside the Buena Vista Correctional Facility would be possible or economical. ♦ The Wildlife Commission approved a plan to compensate owners of exotic red deer as part of an effort to ensure that the European species doesn' t jeopardize Colorado's native elk herd. ♦ The Division gave away thousa nds of kokanee salmon to the Food Bank of the Rockies, which distributed the fish to groups serving needy fa milies throughout much of Colorado. ♦ The Georgetown Wildlife Viewing Area, the state's first designated site for watching Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, was dedicated by state and federa l d ignitaries. This marked a major step in the Division's new Watchable Wildlife Program. ♦ A new book, "Colorado's Wildlife Story," told the story of 130 years of wildlife management in Colorado, one of the most successful conservation efforts in Colorado history. The 450-page book covers the history of wildlife in the state from the firs t law in 1861 to protect fish, to the current computer-driven w ild life management. ♦ Hunters recorded the largest harvest of elk in the history of North America, as 193,000 hunters killed 51,000 animals for a 27 percent success rate. It was the third year in a row that the state's elk harvest was of record proportions. ♦ Deer hunters did well, too, as 247,000 hunters killed more than 90,000 deer - a 37 percent success ra te - during the fall seasons. That was the highest harvest in nearly 30 years. Colorado Divisio11 of Wildlife - A111111nl Report 1991 �Page4 ♦ Dis tribution Management Plans for two Habitat Partnership Program areas were developed by local committees of w ildlife, public land and private land managers and approved by the Wildlife Commission in September, 1990. Since that time, in the Middle Park area 900 acres of public land in four different areas were fertili zed. These projects were d esigned primarily to improve s pring distribution of elk by attracting them away from traditional concentration areas on private land. Damage resistant fences are being constructed to replace traditional fences in elk crossing areas tota ling about one mile. Elk d istribution hunt licenses were issued to 240 hunters, and 163 antlerless elk were harvested. ♦ In the North Fork area, 20 Habita t Partners hip Program projects were completed on private land and one on BLM land. These projects included 100 acres of seedings and 640 acres of fertilization. In addition, a 150-acre burn was carried out on Forest Service land . For this a rea 62 elk licenses and 10 d eer distribution hunt licenses were issued, w ith 48 elk and eight d eer being ha rvested. A two-person fence crew has " ... Your magazine helps to pass the time over here. It brightens up a lot of other people's days as well as mine." AIC Kurt Woodward Operation Desert Storm Saudi Arabia installed approximately 25 elk damage resistant fence crossings to replace damaged fence sections. ♦ The Division continued to urge precautions to residents living in mountain lion territory a fter the fata l attack on an 18-year-old jogger near Idaho Springs. It was the first time on record that a human has been killed by a lion in Colorado. ♦ The Division sponsored a professional symposium in Denver on mountain lions and human interaction. Experts from around the country attended. ♦ Colorado residents serving with the ar!lled forces in the Persian Gulf were offered free, one-year subscriptions to "Colorado Outdoors," the state's official conservation magazine, and were given refunds for hunting licenses they were unable to use in Colorado. ♦ A new anti-poaching button for shirts, jackets and caps helps fight poaching in Colorado by increasing the amount of reward money available to citizens who report poachers. The buttons display the telephone number for Operation Game Thief's toll-free hotline for reporting poachers: 1-800-332-4155. ♦ A new video, "Colorad o Elk Hunting," was added to the "Colorado Ou tdoors" collection. The 30-minute tape provides information for both novice and veteran elk hunters. The Division produced the video, with help from Division big ga me biologists a nd local experts. ♦ The Division's raptor biologist monitored 58 occupied peregrine falcon sites and banded Colorado Divisio11 of Wildlife - A111111al Report 1991 �Page5 than 4 million years ago in the Colorado River system, may be headed for extinction in the wild. three young peregrines on a rocky outcropping overlooking Boulder as part of the ongoing effort to recover the endangered birds. Ninetyone wild birds achieved independence this year. ♦ The status of Colorado's endangered greater prairie chickens received a major boost with the transplant of 93 birds to two new locations in northeastern Colorado. ♦ More than 1,500 classroom teachers were trained as part of the Project WILD program, which enables classroom teachers to pass information about wildlife and related environmental principles on to their students as part of the K-12 school curriculum. So far, almost 10,000 teachers have taken part in the program. "Local officials are very appreciative of the DOW's 'Fishing Is Fun' program ... It's a wonderful way to maximize people's awareness of wildlife." Sam Mamet Associate Director Colorado Municipal League ♦ Almost 58,000 Colorado taxpayers used the Nongame Income Tax Checkoff to donate $407,000 to fund the management of nongame and endangered species in the state. ♦ Division fish biologists found a rare razorback sucker, estimated at 35-50 years old, in a small pond next to the Colorado River near Rifle. The razorback, a fish that evolved more /F'.);':'.:,,\l?~}f; ,· .,, :)f~'{J,f;i~;uih}, 1 •·'' i,:i-,.> · ,' ...,.,,. ,_;'-._..., ;(:~(i)( __;_•·_:_;_t,_:_;:_':_.,:, : :',LU!mt -- ~:f:'T" ;;'.'.+.\'(';~·.~:\i~~~·:~-;:>{!Ji:ffh??·>· / 1 - ·"'F'l:,·~~s,i,1, ':,.: ·_ . . s~··F-·un·(; -->::. 1 ·_,N_:;,i_· ;_· ._: ,_~_'.·~,'.~;,' :_'._ . ;; •. ,: :}~H:\ ·:_-{_•_;:r__'j;f _ -.-... , -., • :/t;_~.~-'-:;_·_-,_-_!,_.·_?\r{i,:,.··:;: . ·J•:r;r_"_·:.·· ... ;•~ .f·;'F/\~/(.;,'. -- ;~ ':..'':){:1,1',tln{:'·-,::_<1::\:· ___ _ >:'·, • • :?i;:(C... _·: ,·:_...·?,·:_··· <:J .. · .,_:y::, · , .: \_;_,, , .- ._ :j~g:l99(Y~·ttt~):)ivisio119£ Wildlife's·fishing Is Fun program futided projectstqjmpro\7~; ?' • ·~g~ifJ~,'.~~pi~t{~~•iQppo~~C:?~•fo.r· &li~~I\Jn·1~. cqropt11lliti~J!1ro~ghotit .tq~)~~t~;,'};riJ)tify.: :. ·Ne'',; ·1\m.illibntm:ifederal funds· was·.mafcheff with'lo'·:, :1moriiesitd1/ ·roduce:$llf7Imillion· • ,.:,J,f.>7 ': ' ' ' · • ,., .<,., ... "'i" . ,,.,,;_,,,,,,,,,",;·:,,,,_._ · , ... ,,.,·,,-.:-:.· • ... , •-- .,,,, ..,,.,,; .. ,,;·· . . " :n,,,.,· ,.,,-.-;• •·.···"'"•·-'h;-•,•;;!R, .. : .• ;;;ii ·• .. W~.. • 1J\abi~t'1!p~vement .~~a fishen¥e~ access: ., C~- ' . .:,,,,,:...... ,··.,· ·•· •.. ···,. , . .. . . . .•... • · . ·. .• .• <,, , •• •• . • • -'.~t,~/resultoltho~e progratri~,- Coloradoi·a11glers ~m.~iiccess_,t.g1~~fe thanJ,86,{~urkfl,,,.f • acre~i~tffis~~-lVate~s and _ m~~ethan 3 ~~$:Of•_~treab:l:::~)'te>tal·of~~g}niles of _•c1ccess._ :./.·:{:ii: ,._. ,.• tt'ei;iv.i,A11f,~9-,~~;~-.•~e-_:.P~~j~~-,N~w. . f§,~~~C)!\_.-~~l~~.eci•_.·:~~o/i:~~Iµng; _ p~~:~1f/:RD~§PW~:~-•:,:·.,\,\: ;{:•;·•;;ip.g/;,_.:::;.•"" ;'gocks;•:fqj.J.,t],oatra:g1ps.iatid.··.five:9~;c.1ljl¢ restrtj'Pmt'''•_.·_,all',},1~11Gljcc1ppecl:ti~q~$$ible_~}:.:";1,inxf .n~f ' ; ,.·· ~ - • ' • - - ' '· < . ! ' •- •-•· 1'9gcfprojects ilicluded major public acdes,sacquisitibri•it Union;l{~servoir n~c1rtc>ngmontff: • • .• ·and~~eded access to the Arka,nsas River n~~i;-Buena Vista. Among:tli.e other projects: 1 ii\siii 1'"':'. 1Hk~H~~~1-~~.f~a?ltttete~~:,fw~t~~~t,ff·aq,1¥f~ii~li~fj~tl}t~~l~1~~li; 2 :,;.,(-~:. •••. •♦ -Nµ~a.·atsd:~i:gain afishillg'reservoir irrtown, ther~fo~eliminatillg:the need\9 drive ·.•.. lllf,,~40 xnif~:~o the nrt~rest.imPf(G(Ill\ent. >··• i . •.. T: ·. . . . :Ci ·. •.. •.. . . . . . . ♦ '. Li~\t\rumas wlli(d~velop a dty-ownectpbnd for use.by children a~d handicapped. ' . - ~ . . ,_- . -• ,, . . . +· • • Colorado Division of Wildlife - Annual Report 1991 �Page 6 Where The Money Comes From The Division of Wild life is an anomaly among Colorado agencies. Unlike other departments of the s tate, Wildlife doesn't d epend on tax money appropriated from the General Fund. Instead, the Division relies primarily on license fees paid by sportsmen to support operations. But the economic benefit to the state is far greater than the income brought in from license fees and federal excise taxes. Fishermen and hunters inject more than $1.2 billion annually into the state, a figure that is expected to rise into the next century. Expenditures by birdwatchers, wildlife photographers and other watchable w ildlife enthusiasts add another $300 million to the economy each year. Where the Money Goes FY 1990-91 ■ Hunting Recreation $24,077,992 51.1 % D Fishing Recreation $19,582,451 41.5% D Nongame Wildlife Total Expenditures $47,153,916 $2,214,047 4.7% □watchable Wildlife $1,279,426 2.7% Revenue From License Sales CY 1990 Where the Money Comes From FY 1990-91 D Resident Hunting IIWildlife Cash/Other $7,200,000 16% □ Resident Fishing $6,500,000 15% $49,392,940 86.8% I]Federal Aid $7,250,196 12.7% 0 Nongame Checkoff $276,844 .5% ■ Nonresident Hunting $27,300,000 62% Total Revenues $56,919,980 Wildlife Cash includes license soles revenue. interest and other cash income. Federal Aid includes Pittmon-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funds. grants and other federal monies. The Nongome Checkoff includes donations from Colorado taxpayers who give a portion of their tax refund or make a donation using the state tax form. □ Nonresident Fishing $3,100,000 7% Total Revenues $44,100,000 Colorado Deer Hunting Licenses In Thousands 160 140 120 100 c:;;;J;illl!ll..,~ - - - - - - - - - - - - :::::::3 80 ~ - - - - - - - - - - - . _ -:::::::-..:::::...60 t - -~~~;:::::-;::~::;::::::~- - 401-----::,,..,./"''---- - - - - - - - - - - 20 ~c,i:;...._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ - Colorado Division of Wildlife - A111111al Report 1991 '50 '60 '70 '80 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 Resident Year Nonresident = �Page 7 TABLE I: ESTIMATED SPORTSMEN EXPENDITURES* FOR HUNTING AND FISHING IN COLORADO Resident Nonresident TOTAL All Hunting $349,010,200 $178,180,200 $527,190,400 Deer Hunting per hunter $111 ,740,200 $ 756 $ 84,224,800 983 $ $195,965,000 Elk Hunting per hunter $120,201,400 1,041 s $ 87,527,000 $ 1,337 $207,728,400 All Fishing $425,891,400 $308,312,400 $734,203,800 • includes secondary eco nomic impact using a local service multi pl ier of 1.2 N ote: The above fig ures do no t include the S61, 162,200 contributio n made by DOW Colorado = S1,322,556,000 in 1989. Colorado Elk Hunting Licenses 140 Colorado Fishing Licenses In Thousands 600 120 1 - - - ~..-- - ---"""l~- - -- to tal economic impact for --:::;a- 500 In Thousands f-----~------~~!!!!al....~ 1001-------4~ - - - - --311111-=----=-- 80 1---_..- - - - - - - - - - -......,.._ 4001---~ E:....-- - - - - - - - - - - 60 t------::.1,__-:::::::::=:::::::::=::~ : : - - - - -~:::::-..:~ 40t---::.#---,'r -------"--'---..;;:::-=:::;;...:;..- - - 200 ~ -----::,,..::;:::::=--= - - - - - -- -- - - - 300 6-/-~--~~~~;: :; ;::;;;;;;;=====~ 20 ~ - - = : , ' , L - - - - - - - - - - - - 1001-,,--::;..::...- - - - - - - - - - -- - 0 c;.c:::"---...._...._....___.__.__.___.____.___.__.........___,_____.___. 0 ._.,___..,___...._...._....__......__._......___.___.____.____,___,_~ 'SO '60 '70 '80 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 Resident Year Nonresident = Colorado Antelope Hunting Licenses 20000 ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16000 1 - - - - - -120001--------::;;, ~ - " '- - - - - - - - - ---.31111....______ 80001---~ " ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 40001--~ ' - - - - - - - - -- ---- 0~=5============ - 'SO '60 '70 '80 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 Resident Year Nonresident = - 'SO '60 '70 '80 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 Resident Year Nonresident = FAST FACT ♦ The Colorado Division of Wildlife receives NO sta te tax funding from the General Fund. Its activities and operations are funded entirely from the sales of hunting and fishing licenses, from the fed eral excise tax on sporting equipment, and from donations through the nongame income tax checkoff program. Colorado Division of Wildlife -A111111al Report 1991 �Page 8 1990-1991 - A Year of Accomplishment Hunting Recreation Program The purpose of this program is to manage terrestrial w ildlife to provide hunting recreation benefits to the public. If the Division is successful in providing the kinds of services and opportunities desired by hunters, more people will choose to hunt in the state. Accordingly, the overall objective is to provide the kinds and level of opportunities that resu lt in an additional 46,000 people choosing to hunt in the state during the next 15 years. Initially, most of this growth w ill come from an increase in the number of elk hunters. Later, the growth will come from small game hunters. The Division aims to open more areas to small game hunting in the next 15 years and encourage grea ter use of under-utilized small game species. Colorado Deer Harvests 120 In Thousands 100 - -- - - - -- - - - - - -- - 80 t---lk-- -60 -:::::;;;ii1111111;;;:::--- - - - - - ::31t,C-- r ~~E:::....--~ ---~"-"'~-- 40~- -- - - - - - - - -- - 20 ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 .__.....___.___.____._.___.__...._____.____.____._.....__.....___, '60 '70 '80 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 Year ♦ Trapped and transplanted 190 antelope, 20 elk, 100 d eer, 150 bighorn sheep, 12 moose, 1,800 Canada geese, 200 turkey and 100 wood ducks. ♦ Completed a four-year research stud y on the impacts of elk density on cattle forage and livestock production. The results of that work are being incorporated into the state's game damage procedures. ♦ Treated 800 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep for lungworm disease. Spread through the feces of sheep crowded onto bedding grounds, lungworm is a parasite that attacks sheep's respiratory system. As late as the 1970s, this disease was capable of w iping out entire herds of the official state animal. Research by Division biologists has led to a cure and treatment procedures that have eliminated lungworm as a significant threat to bighorns. ♦ Added an additional 16 ranches to the Wildlife Ranching program. These additions have opened up 800,000 acres of land to hunting that would otherwise be closed . The program provides economic incentives for landowners to protect and improve habita t and manage wildlife and harvests on priva te lands in cooperation w ith the Division. Currently 30 ranches participate in the program. Colorado Antelope Harvests Colorado Elk Harvests 60 During the past fiscal year, the hunting recreation program has: 10000 ,-------:::::;- - -: - - - - - - - 90001--- - -~C:..----l.,___ _ _ _ __ In Thousands 501---- -- - - - - - - ------,# 3or----:;-_,,----.iiiiiij;:::::-- -~ L--- 8000 r - ---:.il~- - -~i;;;iiiiillllllllii;;:::.jjl,,,_~ = 7000t---~ ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6000t--~ <---- -- -- - - - - - - 5000 H ,____ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ 2oh' -- - -- -- ~~llll!!~ - - - 40oo i,-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 101'----- - - - -- - -- -- - 0 ..._....__......___,___,___,..___..___.___.____,,____._.__..._____. '60 '70 '80 '8 1 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 3000t----- - - - - - -- -- -- 2000L.-.....___.___.____._.___.__...._____.____.____._.....__.....___, '60 '70 '80 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 4 0 1 - - - - - - - -- -- -- - ----..l~- Year Colorado Division of Wildlife - A111111nl Report 1991 Year �Page 9 TABLE II: HUNTING RECREATION PROGRAM Indicators of Program Performance1 Elk Number of Hunters2 Elk Population (Post Hunt) Success Rate Harvest Deer Number of Hunters2 Deer Population (Post Hunt) Success Rate Harvest Other Big Game Number of Hun ters 2 Small Game Number of Hunters 2 Recreation Days Hunting Program Revenues4 Hunting Program Expenditures4 Revenue per Hunter Expenditure per Hunter Revenue per Dollar Expended FY 89- 90 Actual FY 90-91 Actual FY 91- 92 Appropriation3 or Estimate 180,885 183,778 23% 41 ,276 192,907 183,497 27% 51,595 200,000 172,000 20% 40,000 233,549 609,890 34% 79,749 246,797 600,560 37% 90,490 245,700 615,000 35% 85,000 18,728 18,462 19,000 184,465 1,072,000 $36,523,896 $22,987,507 59.1 4 $ 37.22 $ 1.59 $ 143,342 929,758 $40,841,580 $24,077,992 $ 67.89 40.03 $ 1.69 $ 185,000 1,100,000 $42,774,146 $42,774,146 $ 65.83 $ 40.21 1.65 $ 1 Revenue and expenditure figures are calculated on a fiscal year basis. All other figures are calculated on a calendar year basis. Figures for program expenditures include allocation of all agency expenditures (operating, capital construction, special purpose, payments to other agencies, etc.). 2 Defined as the number of licenses sold that permit the holder to engage in the specified activity. 3 In the appropriation or estimate yea rs, federa l aid revenue is calculated from federal appropriations to show revenu e available. Technically federal aid revenue is not earned until funds are expended. 4 From accounting reports of the Central Accounting System and COFRS. ♦ Completed acquisition of two properties a 45-acre parcel in Parks County and a 6,072acre parcel as part of the mitigation settlement for the development of Stagecoach Reservoir in Routt County. In addition, the Division obtained easements on four new p roperties that will benefit terres trial wildlife and hunters. POST HUNT POPULATION ESTIMATES Deer ..................................................600,000 Elk .....................................................185,000 Bighorn Sheep .....................................6,500 Mountain Goat .................................... 1,000 Mountain Lion .................................... 3,000 Black Bear .......................................... 15,000 Antelope ............................................ 47,000 Moose ..................................................... 250 Colorado Division of Wildlife - A111111al Report 1991 �Page 10 BLACK BEAR ♦ The Division spent a good deal of effort in 1990 and 1991 trying to understand the ways in which Coloradans value black bears. We learned that all wildlife enthusiasts value the contribution black bears make to a diverse and interesting environment. Some enjoy hunting them or the chance to occasionally see black bears in their natural setting. The Colorado Division of Wildlife's black bear management programs will be responsive to those values which are reflected in the Black Bear Management Plan. However, the public can expect the Division's black bear management efforts to: ♦ Maintain a stable, healthy bear population that provides for a sustainable annual harvest. We will endeavor to monitor black bear numbers to achieve this objective; ♦ Establish regulations and schedule timing of black bear hunting seasons to protect females with dependent nursing cubs; FAST Focus problem bear management efforts on individual problem bears and stress nonlethal management methods. At the same time we will effectively reduce the level of property and livestock damage inflicted by problem bears; ♦ Implement law enforcement activities that effectively deter black bear poaching; ♦ Work in concert with federal public land managers and private landowners to identify and protect critical black bear habitats throughout the state; ♦ Work with guides and outfitters to develop a nonconsurnptive black bear viewing and photography season; and ♦ Annually inform the public of our progress toward producing these management outcomes. Additionally, we will educate the public to increase knowledge and awareness of black bear conservation issues and what must be done to manage them effectively for the benefit of people and for the benefit of the bear resource. FACTS ♦ Wildlife management works. Between 1910 and 1920, the U.S. Forest Service and other government agencies reported that there were a total of 8,100 deer, 5,600 elk and less than 1,000 antelope in Colorado. today as a result of wildlife management techniques, there are 600,000 deer, 185,000 elk and 47,000 antelope in the state. ♦ Colorado reimburses landowners for damages done to their property by wildlife. Following the bad winter of 1983-84, game damages claims peaked at nearly $1 million a year. Since then, the Division has invested more than $300,000 a year to prevent game damage before it occurs. In FY 90-91 only $192,000 in game damage claims were approved. ♦ In 1990, the 234 calls to Operation Game Thief (OGT) resulted in 59 citations issued to people who violated the state's wildlife laws; the violators paid more than $54,000 in fines. OGT is funded by donations from private citizens and businesses and pays citizens who report poachers via an anonymous phone call. ♦ The Division manages 452 properties totaling about 495,000 acres. About 277,000 acres are owned with fee title, 72,000 acres are available as a result of easement agreements and 146,000 acres are leased. Of the total, 340,000 acres and 48 miles of stream controlled by the Division are open to public use. The remainder includes sensitive environments such as elk calving areas and are managed exclusively for wildlife habitat. Colorado Divisio11 of Wildlife - A111111nl Report 1991 �Page 11 j \ I\ /' SPECIES BREEDING GESTATION YOUNG BORN Antelope Black Bear Bighorn Sheep Deer Aug. / Sept. May/June Nov./Dec. Nov./Dec. Sept./Oct. Nov./Dec. year-round Sept./Oct. 8 months 7112 months 6 months 210 days 8½months 6 months 91 days 246 days May/ June Jan. / Feb./March May/June May/June May/ June April/May year-round May Elk Mountain Goat Mountain Lion Moose ANTLERS ARE SHED ANTLERS IN VELVET Antelope - Sheath (covering over permanent horns) are shed each year in November and December Bighorn Sheep - Horns are not shed J?eer - Antlers shed January through March Elk-Antlers shed March through April Mountain Goats - Horns are not shed Moose - Antlers shed in December Deer Elk Moose March through August May to early July Summer months Colorado Division of Wildlife - A11n11a/ Report 1991 �Page 12 Fishing Recreation Program The Division of Wildlife aims to manage the aquatic wildlife resource to provide fishing recreation benefits to the public. Fishery resources are a key componen t of the quality of life in Colorado. Nearly one million Colorad ans annually may take time to go fishing. The environmental, recreational, social, cultural and economic benefits associated w ith healthy fish populations contribute significantly to the state's economy. "If you're all wet when it comes to Colorado's best fishing holes, the Division of Wildlife is ready to throw you a line. Its free map . . . is quite the catch .. ." Colorado Fishing Map Best Free Sports Deal Westward The fishing recreation program encompasses all of the wide range of activities carried out by the Division to ensure the availability of sustained and varied opportunities. During FY 90-91, the fishing recreation program: For fishing, the Division's long-range plan assumes that the number of days anglers spend fishing will increase from 7.4 million in 1988 to 8 million in 2003. It calls for an emphasis on acquiring new access for anglers and a system to categorize the ability of each lake and stream to sustain fishing. The update also calls for continued fish stocking to provide fishing opportunities where need ed, and to use native trout species where possible to develop self-sustaining populations. FAST ♦ Stocked 1.8 million pounds of cold-wa ter catchable-size (9-12 inches) trout, 178,000 pounds of subcatchable-size trout and 47,000 pounds of warm-water fish in order to maintain a catch rate for anglers of 2.8 fish per day. ♦ Collected fish inventory information and surveyed 157 lakes and 148 stream segments. The inventory information is an important tool in analyzing the effectiveness of fish management practices including regulations, stocking and habitat manipulation. FACTS ♦ The Division of Wildlife stocks 100 million fish annually. Most are fry or fingerlings, w hich are stocked to help supplement natural reproduction or to take advantage of an available biological opportunity to provide increased diversity and more fishing opportunities. ♦ About 5 million catchable-size rainbow trout are stocked each year. ♦ Twenty-four species or strains of cold-water fish and 22 species of warm-wa ter fish are stocked each year. ♦ There are about 250,000 surface acres of water supporting fishing in Colorado. Twenty percent (20,000 miles or 54,000 acres) of those are streams; 5 percent (1,905 lakes or 12,000 acres) are naturally occurring lakes; and 75 percent (1,740 lakes or 184,000 acres) are manmade reservoirs, ponds and gravel pits. ♦ Almost 1,200 lakes and 500 miles of stream are regularly stocked by the Division; only those areas open to public fis hing are stocked by the Division. Co/omrlo Divisio11 of Wildlife - A111111a/ Report 1991 �Page 13 ♦ Built six boat ramps to improve access to lakes and reservoirs for fishermen and boaters. An additional 19 boat ramps were planned during the year. ~)_/ ;:~ -o- l ♦ Undertook habitat improvement projects designed to benefit the resource on 16 streams and lakes throughout the state. ~ -\ / ♦ Conducted 35 angler and youth education clinics for almost 1,000 children across the state. The clinics are d esigned to introduce children to fishing recreation. The Division also prepared a five-yea r master plan for aquatic education that was submitted to and approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Part of that plan, the Rivers of Colorado Waterwatch network, enabled a total of 300 students in 10 schools throughout the state to study water quality and aquatic habitats on local rivers during FY 90-91. TABLE Ill: FISHING RECREATION PROGRAM Indicators of Program Performance 1 Number of Anglers234 Recrea tion Days Catch per Day Fishing Program Revenues6 Fishing Program Expenditures6 Revenues per Recreation Day Expenditures per Recreation Day Expenditure per Fish Caught FY 89-90 Actual FY 90-91 Actual 731,744 7,320,000 2.8 $14,858,020 $19,869,776 2.02 $ 2.71 $ .97 $ 698,923 7,059,000 2.7 $15,160,857 $19,582,451 2.14 $ $ 2.77 .97 $ FY 91- 92 Appropriations or Estimate 884,800 6,980,000 2.8 $17,854,354 $22,104,460 $ 2.56 3.16 $ 1.13 $ 1 Revenue and expenditure fig ures are calculated on a fiscal year basis. All other figures arc calculated on a calendar year basis. Fig ures for program expenditures include allocation of all agency expenditures (opera ting, capital construction, special purpose, payments to other agencies, etc.). 2 Defined as the number of licenses sold that permits the holder to engage in the specified activity. 3 Figu res for CY 1990 exclude the num ber of additiona l-day license holders. H.B. 1187 (passed in 1989) cha nged the Division's licensed structure, and crea ted a one-day and five-day fishing license. Figures fo r remaining years include both one- a nd five-da y license holders. 4 umbers of anglers are based on a calendar yea r (i.e., 1989= FY 1989-90; 1990=FY 1990-91, 1991=FY 1991-92; 1992=FY 1992-93. 5 In the appropriation or estimate yea rs, federal aid revenu e is calculated from federal appropriations to show revenu e ava ilable. Technically, federal aid revenue is no t earned un til funds are expend ed. 6 From accoun ting reports of the Central Accounting System and COFRS. Colomrlo Oivisio11 of Wilrllife - A111111nl Report 1991 �Page 14 Watchable Wildlife Program Interest in the Division's Wa tchable Wildlife Program continues to grow. This past year marked a major step for the program when the Georgetown Wildlife Viewing Area, the state's first designated site for watching Rocky Mountain bighorn s heep, was dedicated by state and fed eral dignitaries. The Watchable Wildlife Program began in 1987. Since that time the Division has produced several brochures and guidebooks highlighting sites to view w ildlife, where to find particular species and how the animals live. The goal is to help the public understand the opportunities available for viewing wildlife. " .. . I appreciate all that you have done to ensure that Colorado has a healthy population of wildlife for everyone to enjoy." Larry D. Kennedy Jr. Security, CO ders of nature, the Division can serve them and blend their interests with those of other outdoor enthusiasts. Although hunters and fishermen long have been the most active supporters of wildlife programs, an increasing number of Americans head to forests and fields just to view, photograph or otherwise enjoy wildlife. Often this is an important part of hiking and camping in Colorado. By helping people discover the won- Currently the Watchable Wildlife Program is funded by no more than 5 percent of hunting and fishing license revenues until alternative funding sources are established. During FY 90-91, the Division's watchable wildlife program has: ♦ Develo ped wildlife observa tion sites at 10 Division properties throughout the sta te. The TABLE IV: WATCHABLE WILDLIFE PROGRAM Indicators of Program Performance1 Number of participants 2 Recreation Days Watchable Wildlife Program Revenues3 Watchable Wildlife Expenditures3 Expenditures per Recreation Day FY 89- 90 Actual FY 90-91 Actual FY 91-92 Appropriation or Estimate 2,286,300 19,662,200 $ 422,867 $ 761,091 $ .04 2,400,600 20,645,160 $ 336,293 $ 279,426 $ 0.06 2,646,700 22,761,620 $ 431,590 $ 834,095 $ .04 1 Revenue and expenditure figures are calculated on a fiscal year basis. All other figures are calculated on a calendar year basis. Figures for progra m expenditures include allocation of all agency expenditures (operating, capital construction, special purpose, payments to other agencies, etc.). Number of participants a nd recreation days based on 1980 and 1985 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation (USF&WS). Prior to 1989, objectives for this program were based on all non-consumptive recreation; beginning in 1989, this was changed to "Primary and Secondary nonresidential" recreation only (as defined in the 1985 National Survey of Hunting and Fishing). 2 3 Revenue and expenditure figu res are taken from accounting reports of the Central Accounting System and COFRS. Colorado Divisio11 of Wildlife -A111111nl Report 1991 �Page 15 "The DOW people were so nice and helpful. I have really shifted my attitudes toward their organization." Bert Dalton Aurora, CO ♦ Completed and distributed a home video tape production entitled "Life at the Top," which provides entertaining and educational information on wildlife species and alpine habitat. To date, 1,100 of these videos have been sold. facilities will enable people to watch and enjoy wildlife in its native habitat. ♦ Published and distributed 36,000 copies of two brochures, including the prototype of an urban wildlife brochure. The brochures provide interpretive and educational information for people interested in wildlife. ♦ Answered 1,000 requests for information about wildlife and wild li fe viewing opportunities through a new recorded phone information system. The phone number for this service is 291-7518. FAST ♦ Provided a series of biweekly articles on wildlife and wildlife viewing opportunities for The Denver Post. ♦ Published a quarterly newsletter covering watchable wildlife opportunities and nongame a nd threatened and endangered wildlife. The newsletter is distributed free to approxima tely 7,500 citizens. ♦ Published a comprehensive book d escribing most of the 960 species of wi ldlife in cooperation with Falcon Press. Approximately 5,000 copies were to be sold during FY 90-91. FACTS ♦ According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2.1 million Coloradans participate in nonconsumptive or watchable wildlife activities such as wildlife photography, birdwatching, feeding wild birds, etc. annually. ♦ Expenditures for those activities annually are about $300 million, according to the DOW. ♦ The DOW's own 1990 study ind icated tha t, among nonconsumptive w ildlife recreation, watching wild life other than birds (52 percent), birdwatching (35 percent) and feeding wild birds are the most popular activities for Coloradans. ♦ According to DOW surveys, of those w ho participate in wa tchable wildlife related activities, most d o so about half a d ozen times a year. ♦ The most frequently cited reason for watching wildlife was to observe the beauty in nature, according to the DOW survey. Colorado Division of Wildlife - A111111a/ Report 1991 �Page 16 Nongame and Endangered Wildlife The goal of this program is to preserve the rich and varied w ildlife heritage in Colorado and pass it on to future generations in as good or better condition. A primary goal is to ensure that a ll 750 nongame species in Colorado are viable and self-sustaining. Of the 750 nongame species, 454 currently are known to be viable, 16 are endangered, seven are threatened, nine are of special concern and 264 have an unknown status. Some of the 23 native Colorado species in trouble include the greenback cutthroat trout, arctic and American peregrine falcons, greater sandhill crane, whooping crane, bald eagle, black-footed ferret, wood frog, lynx, wolverine, river otter and Colorado squawfish. The objective of the next 15 years is to increase the number of viable species to 514, an increase of 60. During FY 90-91, the nongame w ildlife program: ♦ Released 93 greater prairie chickens and 33,000 greenback cutthroat trout. The releases were part of recovery efforts for these threatened species. ♦ Sent 30,000 Colorado squawfish, which were raised in the Division's Fort Collins TABLE V: NONGAME/ENDANGERED SPECIES FY 89- 90 Actual Indicators of Program Performance1 Species of Undetermined Status Species of Special Concern Species Threatened Species Endangered Species Recovered Recovery Plans in Place Nongame Progra m Revenues2 Nongame Program Expenditures2 261 9 6 17 0 10 $ 761,452 $1,481,632 FY 90-91 Actual 246 24 6 17 0 10 $ 581,250 $2,214,047 FY 91-92 Appropriation or Estimate 246 24 6 17 0 14 $ 531,250 $1,737,446 1 Revenue and expenditure figures are calculated on a fiscal year basis. All other figures are calculated on a calendar year basis. Figures for program expenditures include allocation of all agency expenditures (operating, capital construction, special purpose, payments to other agencies, etc.). 2 Actual revenue and expenditure figures are taken from accounting reports of the Central Account System and COFRS. Colorado Division of Wildlife - Annual Report 1991 �Page 17 FAST FACTS ♦ There are 960 species of wildlife in Colorado. Of that number, 750 are nonga me species, i.e. species that are not hunted, trapped nor fished for. Of the nongame species, 23 are classified as threatened or endangered. ♦ Since the late 1970s, more than 100 river otters have been reintroduced in the waterways throughout the state, including the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the Piedra, South Platte, and Dolores rivers. ♦ As of 1991, there were 49 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons nesting in Colorado. Prior to 1972, no peregrines were confirmed to be breeding in Colorado. ♦ More than 500 bald eagles winter in Colorado annually. The Colorado River west of Glenwood Springs and reservoirs on Colorado's high plains provide the most common habitat. ♦ More than 50,000 of the threatened greenback cutthroat trout - the only trout native to the Front Range - have been reintroduced to Colorado rivers and streams, mostly in Rocky Mountain National Park. hatchery, to a federal hatchery in New Mexico for research purposes. The squaw fish is a n endangered species that was once common in the American West. The Division, along w ith s tate agencies in Utah and Wyoming, several federal agencies and private sector developers, is participating in an effort to recover these and other enda ngered fi sh of the upper Colorado River Basin. ♦ Banded 61 of the 70 pelicans nesting at Antero Reservoir in South Park. A species of "special concern," pelicans were also discovered to be nesting at Macfarlane Reservoir for the firs t time. Until 1989, pelicans nested only at Riverside Reservoir near Fort Collins. "I think it is great that you are trying to help people understand that if we do not appreciate our wildlife it will not be here for long." Susan Volkar Loveland, CO ♦ Completed a population trend survey of least terns and piping plovers along the Arkansas and South Platte rivers in cooperation with the Colorado Bird Observatory. More than 25 pairs of terns but only two pairs of plovers were found nesting in the state. Both nesting pairs of plovers fai led. ♦ Initiated a project to determine the extent to which abandoned mines in Colorado are providing habitat for the state's 17 species of bats. The ex tent to which the mines are providing habitat for bats can affect the ways in which federal and s tate agencies close abandoned mines. Colorado Division of Wildlife - A111111nl Report 1991 �Page 18 The Best Is Yet To Come Though there will certainly be challenges, the next few years would seem to offer promise for the Division and all of those citizens with interests in the state's wildlife resources. Among the expected highlights: ♦ The Division will be working to close on its purchase of the Vand ermulen Ranch, adjacent to the Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area near Trinidad. Approved by the s tate legislature during the 1991 session, acquisition of this 8,900-acre property will increase sportsmen's access to public lands while providing habitat for a number of species including ducks, blue grouse, rabbit, turkey, elk and d eer. ♦ Improved access for sportsmen will also get a lot of emphasis during the coming years. The Division has prepared a list of 10 primary and five additional properties that it w ill propose for acquisition to the legislature beginning in 1992. Those properties are on the South Platte, Colorado, North Platte, Republican and Arkansas rivers. ♦ The Division will also be working to make it more convenient for license buyers and others with an interest in w ildlife to take advantage of DOW programs by developing a base license system. The system will record important information about license buyers - such as number of preference points, hunter education ca rd number, etc. - with an eye to making transactions wi th the Division easier and faster and increasing the services to constituents. ♦ Also on tap over the next few years is an increased effort in the area of what wildlife managers are calling "human dimensions." The effort is to create a system that will allow Division managers to include "people characteristics" - that is, a n understanding of the beliefs, values, attitudes, preferences, behaviors and socio-economic characteristics - of users in the decision-making process. ♦ The Division is also planning to make significant expenditures to improve and maintain existing w ildlife a reas. In FY 91-92 alone, the Division is proposing to spend over $1.3 million on 50 projects ranging from fertilizing big game range in the southeastern part of the sta te to constructing interpretive signs for the Mount Evans State Wildlife Area. ♦ The Division is a lso planning to spend more than $900,000 in the coming year to improve motorboat access and fishing opportunities on a baker's dozen worth of properties throughout the state. With approval by the state legislature, prime fishing areas like Pueblo, Bonny and Shadow Mountain reservoirs; Boyd and Crawford lakes and the Gunnison River will all see improved facilities and better angling access as a result. ♦ Division managers will also ask for legislative approval to spend $200,000 for projects to improve waterfowl habitat at the Yampa River State Wildlife Area in Routt County and at the Bob Elliott State Wildlife Area in Morgan County and at Walden Lake near Walden in Grand County. Colorado Divisio11 of Wildlife - A111111al Report 1991 �Pnge 19 fl .. ~#\~• ':. . . ,. •· i a· ,f 'fiq,..~ ,; -~:-: >:·;' ,:,,ft -~-" . , f' • To help you, the Division maintains a 24-hour-a-day recorded phone information system covering hunting and fishing season dates, fees, watchable wildlife opportunities and more. The "menu" number is 291-7299. This lists all the topics available. Other frequently asked questions are covered under the following: f Divisio11 of Wildlife artwork liy Wny11e Lewis big game ....................................... (303) 291-7529 small game ................................... (303) 291-7546 waterfowl ............................... ...... (303) 291 -7548 game birds .................................... (303) 291-7547 hunter ed classes/cards ............. (303) 291-7530 general fishing info ..................... (303) 291-7533 fishing cond itions reports .......... (303) 291-7534 watchable wildlife info ............... (303) 291 -7518 maps .............................................. (303) 291-7532 Colorado Divisio11 of Wildlife -A111111nl Report 1991 �Page 20 Colorado Division of Wildlife Regional Offices Central Region 6060 Broadway Denver, CO 80216 (303) 291-7227 Northwest Region 711 Independent Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81505 (303) 248-7175 Southeast Region 2126 N. Weber Street Colorado Springs, CO 80907 (719) 473-2945 Northeast Region 317 W. Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80526 (303) 484-2836 Southwest Region 2300 S. Townsend Avenue Montrose, CO 81401 (303) 249-3431 Headquarters Office 6060 Broadway Denver, CO 80216 (303) 297-1192 Colorado Divisio11 of Wildlife - A111111nl Report 1991 ~ -~ "" - ""~ ,._ ~, ~ ,' '. '( ~~ I~ ~ �® � 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 to the People of Colorado, 1986-1991 Description An account of the resource <p>Four reports covering 1986-1991. No report issued 1989, 1990.<br /><br />1986 report titled: Wildlife in the 1980s: Annual Report to the People of Colorado &nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</li> <li>Succeeding set: <a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/450">Annual Report, Colorado Division of Wildlife, 1992-2006</a></li> </ul> <p>Print copies in CPW Library: SH 11 .C58</p>