DENVER, Colo. – In preparation for the 2010 Spring Turkey Season, the Division of Wildlife is hosting seminars in Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction to help hunters learn more about hunting wild turkeys.  These classes are free.
 
"The classes are geared for the novice and first time turkey hunter," said Steve Lucero, an education coordinator with the DOW.  "It’s a great opportunity for an introduction to turkey hunting 101." 
 
The seminars will provide hunters with an overview of turkey hunting.  DOW biologists will discuss turkey habitat, locating birds, safety tips, current laws and regulations, as well as hunting tips and techniques for the novice hunter.
 
Wild turkey hunting is one of the fastest growing hunting sports in North America.  In most of Colorado, the Spring Turkey Season opens April 10.  Quite a few Units can be hunted with an over-the-counter license but some are totally limited so check the Colorado Turkey brochure for specifics in the area you’d like to hunt.
 
Class Schedule and Location:
 
Denver – March 25, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., Division of Wildlife Hunter Education Building, 6060 Broadway. Limited to 150 people. Call (303)291-7545 for reservations.

Pueblo – March 25, 6-9 p.m. at Pueblo State Park Auditorium. Call (719)227-5200 for reservations.

Colorado Springs – March 27, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., DOW Office, 4255 Sinton Road.  Limited to 50 people. Call (719)227-5200 for reservations.
 
Grand Junction – March 31, 6-9:30 p.m., DOW hunter Education Building, 711 Independent Ave., Event hosted by the National Wild Turkey Federation Western Slope Chapter.  Call (970)255-6181 for reservations.
 
 
TURKEY FACTS:
 
Colorado is home to two subspecies of wild turkey: the native Merriam’s and the Rio Grande, which was introduced to the state in 1980.  Merriam’s are primarily found in open meadows and in ponderosa, oak brush and pinion juniper stands in mountainous zones west of Interstate 25.  The Rio Grande species inhabit cottonwood and creek bottoms adjacent to agricultural lands in the eastern portion of the state. 
 
Consistently, successful wild turkey hunting requires a high degree of skill. Wild turkeys are extremely wary and possess keen color vision and very good hearing ability. Turkeys can see in a radius of 270 degrees.
 
Scouting for sign left by turkeys is a great way of increasing the odds of a successful hunt. Signs to look for include roost trees, droppings, feathers, tracks, and dusting areas and listening for gobbling.
 
The population of wild turkeys in North America reached a low point in the 1930’s, but conservation programs by state wildlife agencies and private partners have restored the birds throughout most of their historical range. 
 
Today, wild turkey populations are booming in Colorado thanks to transplant efforts, protection through game laws, and habitat improvement projects – funded in large part by sportsmen’s dollars.  "There are more turkeys in the state than ever before," said Lucero. 
 
Follow this link for more information about hunting wild turkey in Colorado, http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/Turkey/
 
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For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

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DENVER, Colo. — The Colorado Division of Wildlife is starting its 5-year review of statewide fishing regulations and is asking anglers throughout the state to provide comments and suggestions on regulations and possible changes.
       
Regulation planning will be discussed throughout Colorado at "Angler Roundtable" meetings that will begin in late March. Management and research for various waters will also be discussed at the meetings. Dates and locations of those meetings are still being scheduled and will be announced later.
       
Aquatic biologists continually evaluate fisheries, and every five years the Colorado Wildlife Commission looks at all fishing regulations to ensure that the DOW continues to meet fisheries management objectives and recreational needs of anglers. The regulations set allowable methods of take, season dates, size requirements and bag limits. The regulations include statewide rules that apply to individual waters throughout Colorado.
       
Besides regulations, DOW biologists will examine biological and social data from state waters. These include fish and creel surveys, research and trend information, water quality issues, stocking activity and angler-satisfaction surveys. That information will be considered in the decision-making process for setting new regulations.
       
"We actively seek input from anglers during this process," said Greg Gerlich, aquatic section manager for the DOW. "Colorado’s anglers represent a diverse group who enjoy angling for everything from trout to walleye. We enjoy hearing from anglers and also educating them on how they play a role in management and regulatory decisions."
       
Every year more than 600,000 people buy fishing licenses in Colorado. The state offers a wide variety of angling opportunities. Anglers can fish at warm- and cold-water lakes and reservoirs, in numerous big rivers, and in alpine streams and lakes. Every year, fishing in Colorado generates about $1.2 billion in economic benefits.
       
The DOW requests that angler comments be received by the end of April.
 
The DOW is also asking for comments from fishing organizations, sportsmen’s groups; water resource managers including ditch companies, conservancy districts, and state and federal government agencies; land management agencies, local governments and private landowners; and businesses and communities that have an economic stake in fishing activity.
       
In addition to specific suggestions for individual waters, the DOW also wants to hear suggestions on statewide "big picture" issues.
       
"Colorado has very active associations that are concerned about specific species, such as bass, walleye and trout. We want to hear from those groups. But it’s also important for us to receive comments from individual anglers to get a balance of opinions," Gerlich said.
       
After receiving input from anglers and an internal review, draft regulations will be prepared by July and presented for more public comment. The draft regulations will be sent to the wildlife commission in September for review; more public comment will be allowed at that time. New regulations will be adopted formally in November.
 
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is divided into four regions: northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest. Aquatic biologists in each region are responsible for maintaining waters.
 
Comments on regulations can be submitted to:
Dave Chadwick, statewide issues, (303)291-7174, dave.chadwick@state.co.us; Southwest Region, John Alves, (719)587-6907, john.alves@state.co.us; Northwest Region, Sherman Hebein, (970)255-6186, sherman.hebein@state.co.us; Southeast Region, Doug Krieger, (719)227-5202, doug.krieger@state.co.us; Northeast Region, Ken Kehmeier, (970)291-4350. ken.kehmeier@state.co.us.
 
 
  

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

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DENVER, Colo. –The Colorado Wildlife Commission will finalize falconry regulations and review draft regulations pertaining to Division of Wildlife properties at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 11 in Denver.

The meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Hunter Education Building at Division of Wildlife Headquarters, 6060 Broadway Denver.

The modification of falconry regulations began in October of 2008 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published revised federal regulations related to the possession of raptors associated with the practice of falconry. The Commission opted to review the regulations in order to ensure compliance between state and federal regulations, and to address internal and stakeholder issues associated with the practice of falconry. Division of Wildlife staff has conducted extensive outreach and public involvement with falconers. The final regulations to be approved by the Commission are a significant liberalization of regulations governing the practice of falconry in Colorado.

The Commission will also review draft regulations pertaining to the annual review of Division property regulations. This is the second step in the Commission’s "three-step process.”" Proposed changes include: prohibiting the launching of aircraft on all state wildlife areas, modifying regulations for properties managed with the Division’s hunting reservation system and extending closing dates on various state trust lands until May 31 annually to allow for spring turkey hunting. The Commission will approve the final version of these regulations at its May meeting.

The Commission will honor Sigrid Ueblacker, founder of the Birds of Prey Foundation, who recently passed away. The Birds of Prey Foundation has taken in more than 10,000 injured raptors since she founded the foundation in 1984.   

The Commission will meet with the Colorado Water Conservation Board from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. to discuss topics of mutual interest.

Constituents can listen to Commission meetings and workshops through the DOW’s Web site. This opportunity is provided to keep constituents better informed about the development of regulations by the Commission and how they and the DOW staff are resolving issues facing Colorado’s wildlife. 

People can listen to live audio feeds of the meetings by clicking on the "listen to audio" link on the "Wildlife Commission" Web page during the meeting. Broadcasts are only available during the meeting.

To view the entire agenda for the March Commission Meeting, please visit: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeCommission/

The Colorado Wildlife Commission is an 11-member board appointed by the governor. The Commission sets Division of Wildlife regulations and policies for hunting, fishing, watchable wildlife, nongame, threatened and endangered species. The Commission also oversees Division of Wildlife land purchases and property regulations.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

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Be part of a mission that benefits everyone.
Click Aquatic Nuisance Species Surveyors (7 positions) – Grand Junction and Denver to view the job announcement, and follow the instructions contained in the job announcement to apply.  (The deadline to apply is March 26, 2010. After this date the link to the job announcement will not function).
Visit Jobs for application forms, more job openings and complete info on benefits and career paths.
Let your friends know how to get the inside track on wildlife jobs!  Send them this link: http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/DOWInsider .
 
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is committed to workforce diversity.
###
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation.  The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

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DENVER, Colo. — In order to assist big game hunters, the northeast region service center (NERSC) customer service staff is always available to personally assist with hunting and application questions. However, this year, NERSC will also offer extended hours prior to the April 6 deadline at its 6060 Broadway, Denver office.  Regular business hours are Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The extended hours will be on Monday, April 5, and Tuesday, April 6, from 8 am – 7 pm (Please remember: We are closed Friday, April 2, for state furlough!)

Application Open House

Hunters that are new to the state, or who would like some help in learning about and applying for a license can join our customer service team Saturday, March 13th, 1 – 4 pm for an Open House at the NERSC.  Customer service representatives and wildlife officers will be on hand to answer questions, explain regulations, and guide hunters through the application process.  Please RSVP at 303-291-7228.

Online Tools

Lots of help is available online too!  Customers in need of computer access are welcome to use the NERSC computers so they too can apply online. Applying online can streamline your application by reducing mistakes that can result in application disqualification, and save hunters time and money.

Also, visit http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/PlanYourHunt/, a one stop shop web page packed with checklist and links to help you plan and organize your Colorado Big Game Hunt.

Happy Hunting!

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

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DENVER, Colo.–Big game hunters can now experience the excitement and adventure of Colorado elk hunting by immersing themselves in "Elk Camp Colorado,"the latest online video from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. 

Filmed in high-definition video and recorded in digital audio, "Elk Camp Colorado" takes viewers on an intimate journey deep into Colorado’s backcountry, capturing one of the most time-honored and cherished big game hunting traditions–the elk camp.

The 12-minute video also provides a wealth of information to assist hunters, including overviews of Colorado’s big game hunting regulations and license application process.  

"This video is a wonderful tool for helping people get started and teaching them to be more successful on their hunt," said Tyler Baskfield, DOW communications manager.  "It’s also highly entertaining and does a great job at getting people excited about hunting in Colorado."

From the haunting bugle of a wild bull elk to the unique camaraderie shared by friends exchanging hunting stories around a crackling campfire, "Elk Camp Colorado" encompasses the true essence of the hunt, laced with spectacular fall scenery and crystal-clear wildlife imagery.

In addition, the video introduces viewers to the Natural Diversity Information Source mapping system.  Available on the Colorado Division of Wildlife Web site, the NDIS incorporates statewide hunting statistics, up-to-date Game Management Unit boundaries, USGS maps and other "must-have" information for big game hunters.

With more than 23 million acres of public hunting access, over-the-counter licenses and the largest elk population in North America, there has never been a better time to experience the thrill of a Colorado elk hunt. Get started today by viewing "Elk Camp Colorado."

To play "Elk Camp Colorado" and other Division of Wildlife online videos, viewers need  high-speed Internet connections and the latest version of Adobe Flash installed on their computers.

Hunters may view "Elk Camp Colorado" on Page 14 of the DOW’s new "2010 Big Game Regulations" e-brochure.  The innovative and interactive brochure allows readers to access Colorado’s big game regulations and supplemental, embedded video content.  Hunters may access the DOW’s online brochure at the following link: http://www.flipseekllc.com/coloradodow2010biggame.html

Or, videos may be accessed directly at:
http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/Videos/

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

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Be part of a mission that benefits everyone.
Click Volunteer Coordinator (GP III) – Denver to view the job announcement, and follow the instructions contained in the job announcement to apply.  (The deadline to apply is March 5, 2010. After this date the link to the job announcement will not function).
Visit Jobs for application forms, more job openings and complete info on benefits and career paths.
Let your friends know how to get the inside track on wildlife jobs!  Send them this link: http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/DOWInsider .
 
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is committed to workforce diversity.
###
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation.  The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

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