CPW BIG game

Colorado offers how many big-game species?

10

What is the mission of Colorado Parks and Wildlife?

To perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorados Natural resources.

How many state parks does CPW Manage? Wildlife areas?

41 parks and more than 250 areas

What does CPW do?

Issues hunting and fishing licenses

Conducts research to improve wildlife management activities

Protects high priority wildlife habitat through acquisitions and partnerships

provide technical assistance to private and other public landowners concerning wildlife and habitat management

Devolops programs to understand, protect and recover threatened endangered species

Six main goals for CPW

1. Conserve wildlife and habitat to ensure healthy sustainable populations and ecosystems

2. Manage state parks for world class outdoor recreation

3. Achieve and maintain financial sustainability

4. Maintain dedicated personnel and volunteers

5. Increase awareness and trust for CPW

6. Connect people to Colorado’s outdoors.

How is CPW funded?

Primarily through user fees, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grants, and federal and state

How was CPW created?

On June 26, 2011, Governor Hickenlooper signed into law Senate Bill 11-208 which urged the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and the Division of Wildlife to create (CPW).

Park Ranger Peace Officers

Park Rangers who serve as fully sworn peace officers are required to perform the duties of a general park ranger, although these park professionals are trained and certified to perform a wide variety of law enforcement activities, as well

Protection Ranger

Keeping park and monument visitors safe through law enforcement, emergency medical services, firefighting, and search and rescue.

Commission rangers are federal law enforcement officers who wear a Department of the Interior badge on their uniform, although not all protection rangers are commissioned

Many protection rangers are also certified as wilderness first responders, emergency medical technicians or paramedics.

Park Manager

Park Managers serve as the general managers of the state or federal park. They are responsible for directing the personnel, funds, materials and facilities required to carry out the parks programs and operations, as well as the public relations activities of the park.

CPW Director

Laura Clellan

What boats need registration?

All power boats and sail boats operating on Colorado waters

What do motorboats and sailboats need to launch as of 2019?

as ANS stamp prior to launching, purchased at time of registration

How many species of fish can you catch in CO?

35

What are annual fishing licenses valid through?

March 1st - March 31 (13 months)

What age do you need a fishing license?

16+, under can fish for free

Who must purchase a habitat stamp?

Anyone purchasing a hunting or fishing license

Where do habitat stamp funds go to?

Provide the core funds for the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program (CWHP), which provides a means for CPW to work with private landowners, local governments, and conservation organizations to protect important fish and wildlife habitat and provide places for people to enjoy our wildlife heritage

CWHP

Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program: statewide program that supports CPW’s mission by offering funding opportunities for private landowners who wish to voluntarily protect important wildlife habitat, and/or, provide sustainable wildlife-related recreational access to the public

How many campsites does CO state parks manage?

+4000 campsites

How far in advance can you reserve a campsite?

6 months

5 Life Zones

Alpine Lifezone (tundra above treeline)

Subalpine Lifezone (heavy forest)

Montane Lifezone (Spread trees, aspens, and grassy valleys)

Foothills Lifezone (most CO landscape)

Plains Lifezone (eastern CO, grasslands)

What’s considered Big Game?

Elk, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, bear

What’s considered Small Game?

Squirrel, beaver, bobcat, rabbit, hare, coyote, marmot, fox

Waterfowl?

Ducks, Geese

First Recreation Area

Cherry Creek, 1959

First State Park

Lathrop State Park, 1962

Minimum age to operate OHV

10 with Certification or Supervised by Adult 18+

Minimum age to operate boat/motorized watercraft

18+, or 14+ upon completion of a boating safety course and the issuance of a boating safety certificate

When did Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado Parks Merge?

June 26, 2011

Mackinaw

regional nickname for Lake Trout

Habitat Protection Program

Aim to reduce wildlife conflicts related to forage and fencing. Partnership between CPW, agricultural operators, and sportsmen

Keep Colorado Wild

Residents can get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild park pass upon registering a vehicle.

What does KCW pass fund?

State park management, wildlife conservation, local communities, search and rescue and avalanche safety

Cherry Creek Basin Fee

Help manage urban runoff and debris flowing into the watershed, and to reduce algae growth. The fee is to fund water quality protection and improvement projects.

What is the Aspen Leaf Pass?

Discounted annual state park vehicle pass for senior residents, 64+

Aspen Leaf Pass

$70 per vehicle, CO residents 64+

Towed Vehicle Pass

Free tow pass for their towed vehicles.

NO fee pass given to a vehicle by a camper if a camping permit or proof of campsite reservation is presented at entrance station.

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)

Program sponsored by the Colorado Lottery: portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds into protecting and improving the state parks, trails, wildlife habitats, rivers, and open spaces

Age at which a fishing license is required

16+

Colorado Natural Areas Program?

Program that conserves public and private property that possesses unique natural features important to Colorado

Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program

Program that offers financial incentives to landowners wishing to voluntarily protect important wildlife habitat, provide recreation access to public and sell property to CPW

Number of State Parks in CO

43

Habitat Partnership Program

Program that aims to reduce wildlife conflicts related to foraging and fencing, enhance migratory corridors, assist CPW with meeting population management goals, and support private land conservation.

North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

1. Wildlife resources are conserved and held in trust for all citizens.

2. Commerce in dead wildlife is eliminated. (markets)

3. Wildlife is allocated according to democratic rule of law.

4. Wildlife may only be killed for a legitimate, non-frivolous purpose.

5. Wildlife is an international resource.

6. Every person has an equal opportunity under the law to participate in hunting and fishing.

7. Scientific management for wildlife conservation. (science basis for wildlife protection)

Amount of orange/pink required for hunters

500 sq inches above waist and head covering visible from all directions

Which hunters are NOT required to wear orange/pink?

• Small game/Migratory bird

• Archers with archery big game license

• Archers hunting using limited rifle bear season (SEPT)

• Archers hunting private land through ranching for wildlife

MAX number of shells in shotguns

3 shells in firearm, including chamber

3 Violations that are felonies in Colorado

1. Killing and abondoning a big game animal without removing edible meat (wanton waste big game and endangered species)

2. Buying selling or offering to buy or sell a big game for commercial/monetary gain

3. Soliciting the illegal taking of big game or commercial gain, or providing outfitter services without proper licensing

Antler Point

Antler point must be at least 1 in long, and longer than the width of the base

Brow tine

first branch/point of elk antler that grows closest to forehead

Brow tine reg

Projection of antlers at least 5 inches long on lower half of antler

Evidence of sex: Bull / Buck / Ram

Head with antlers attached to carcass, or testicle, scrotum or penis attached to carcass.

Reproductive organs must be naturally attached to the quarter or major body part

Evidence of Sex: Cow/Doe/Ewe

Head, udder, or vulva naturally attached to caracass.

Reproductive organs must be naturally attached to quarter or major body part.

Antler size to qualify buck or bull as antler less

Antlers smaller than 5’’ in size

If an animal with a radio color is harvested, what information must be collected?

Harvest date, tag color, tag number, and location. Tag + collar must be returned to CPW.

Min rifle caliber for big game

Centerfire rifle: 85 grain bullet with impact energy ( at 100 yards) of 1000 ft-lbs.

Muzzleloader: concise. bullets must be .40 cal, round-ball bullets must be .54 cal

When must moose, big horn sheep and bear hunters submit a mandatory report form?

Hunters who did not hunt or harvest must submit a form within 30 days of season closing (MOOSE AND BIG HORN)

Hunters who harvested an animal must bring in the head (bull/rams/ewes/bears) and lower jaw (bulls and cow) alongside the mandatory report form with 5 business days of harvest

EWE

female bighorn sheep

Elk female

Cow

Elk male

Bull

How long must you wait to apply for a bighorn ram license after a harvest?

5 years (Sixth year after harvest)

How large must a male bighorn sheep be to be harvestable?

One or both antler tips complete at least a half circle, with the reference line bisecting the eye and base of the ear.

Which bears are protected in CO from hunting?

Members of a family unit (mother and cubs)

When must hunters report a harvest?

Hunters with a harvest must submit a mandatory harvest report form and unfrozen head/hide for inspection within 5 business days of harvest

During what season is bear baiting legal in Colorado?

Baiting bears or other big game is illegal in Colorado.

At min, what animal parts must be harvested as edible meat?

Four quarters, tenderloins, and blackstrap. Internal organs are NOT considered edible

Requirement to qualify for a mountain lion tag?

Competition of hunters education course, Mountain lion education certificate + mountain lion Exam

What law governs CPW Operations

Title 33, Colorado Revised Statue

Limited License

Limited Number of licenses allocated to each game management unit

Leftover Limited License

Limited licenses not claimed during the primary and secondary draw

Includes reissued licenses which were not returned, refunded or not paid for

Over-the-counter license

Hunting licenses available for purchase outside of primary/secondary draw. OTC licenses do not require buying/possesion a qualifying license or preference point

Landowner Preference Program

Hunting vouchers available to qualifying landowners for proving habitat for wildlife populations.

How many people may apply for a group license

Primary draw elk/deer/pronghorn/turkey → no limit

Rocky Mountain Bighorn & Mountain Goat → 2 people (residents + non residents may not apply together)

Secondary draw moose/Desert Bighorn → None

Length of stay allowed in a state park campground?

14 days, consecutive or non-consecutive, during any 28 day period

What law protects raptors?

Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

What did the Lacey Act of 1900 make illegal?

Trade of wildlife, plants, or fish that have been taken, sold, possessed or transported illegally

Pittman-Robertson Act 1937 did?

11% sales tax on firearms, ammunition and archery goods distributed to state governments for wildlife conservation

Dingell Johnson Did?

Exise taxes on fishing tackle, motorboat fuel and small engine fuel with proceeds distributed to fish research, AR education and motorboat access

State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP)

Status of wildlife species in Colorado, with emphasis on species of greatest conservation need.

Best time to see Dusky Grouse during mating

Late March to April

Snood

Elongated flap that hands from the forehead of a turkey. Males become more vibrant during mating season, attracting hens and asserting dominance over other toms. Also helps regulate temperature.