STONEWALL, Colo. – The Colorado Division of Wildlife has reached an agreement with the Torres family of Las Animas County to protect 2,387 acres of valuable wildlife habitat.  Five parcels southwest of Stonewall have been placed in conservation easements that will permanently protect the land from being sub-divided and fragmented.

The Torres Conservation Easements will protect critical habitat for deer, elk, bear, turkey, and a multitude of other wildlife species.  The land includes elk calving areas, deer winter range, denning sites for bears, strutting grounds for wild turkey, and habitat for dozens of species of birds and other wildlife.

The Torres parcels are located in a transition zone between alpine, aspen, and Ponderosa Pine habitat; and will ensure preservation of an important elk migration corridor.

“This land is a prime area for wildlife.  We are pleased to know it won’t be chopped up by buildings and roads,” said Marvin ‘Glen’ Torres of Trinidad.  “Conservation easements are a great way to keep the land the way it is,” he said.

“The Torres family should be commended for the legacy they will leave to future generations,” said Bob Holder of the Division of Wildlife.  “It is particularly satisfying to know that JL (Louie), Kelly, Glen, and Robert Torres had the strength, courage, and foresight to establish these conservation easements.  Their efforts are a shining example to
other small landowners that conservation easements are a viable option to protect their land and legacy.”

By combining funds collected from habitat stamp sales with grants from Great Outdoors Colorado and other sources, the DOW has permanently preserved approximately 75,000 acres of critical wildlife habitat since 2007 – including nearly 21,000 acres opened to public access for hunting and fishing.

DOW acquisitions and easements have protected critical habitats for sensitive species like sage-grouse, and preserved important winter range and migration corridors for deer and elk.

Conservation easements allow people to continue to use the land they own for existing practices like farming or ranching, but in the event the landowner sells, the new owners are bound by the stipulations of the conservation easement as well.

A nine-member citizen’s committee appointed by the Governor oversees the DOW habitat stamp program.  Proposals are reviewed and ranked according to wildlife benefits, public access, and cost.

GEORGETOWN, Colo. – Few animals evoke Colorado’s rugged and unforgiving mountains like the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Yet the vertical terrain that keeps sheep safe from predators also limits opportunities for Coloradans to view and appreciate Colorado’s state animal.

A happy exception for wildlife watchers is Georgetown, where the Colorado Division of Wildlife is finalizing preparations for the 4th Annual Georgetown Bighorn Sheep Festival.  Sponsored by DOW, the Town of Georgetown and Great Outdoors Colorado, the festival is timed to coincide with the sheep’s head-banging mating season. This year’s event will take place the weekend of November 14-15.

Georgetown is one of the few places in Colorado you are almost guaranteed to see bighorn sheep, particularly during breeding season in November and December, said Mary McCormac, Education Coordinator for the northeast region at the DOW.  Every year we’ve been fortunate to introduce the public to the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, from our Wildlife Viewing Area.  The sheep always put on a good show and an educational and fun time is had by all!

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MEEKER, Colo- The Colorado Division of Wildlife and a private landowner in the Meeker area are teaming up to offer a special late season cow elk hunting opportunity in late November and December. Six hunters will be selected for this unguided elk hunt on the 2,900 acre Berryman property. Selected hunters must have a valid late season private land only cow elk license for unit 23 or an unfilled youth elk license from an earlier rifle season.

This hunt is open to anyone who is interested and eligible. Hunters interested in applying for the hunt must submit a letter of interest including their name, date of birth, contact information and CID number. Applicants must also submit a short note about why they should be selected for this special private land hunt opportunity. If a youth, the letter also needs to include the name and contact information for a parent or guardian who will attend the hunt with the youth.

Applications must be received at the Meeker DOW office by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9.  Applications should be mailed to Bailey Franklin/Special Late Season Hunt, PO Box 1181, Meeker CO 81641.

Six hunters will be randomly selected from all eligible applicants. The selected hunters will be notified by Nov. 16 with hunt details and specific dates for the hunt. Questions about the hunt or application process should be directed to the Meeker DOW office at (970) 878-6090.

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

DE BEQUE, Colo. – Three energy companies are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the poaching of a bighorn sheep ram north of De Beque.

On Friday, Oct. 30, investigators with the Colorado Division of Wildlife were notified that a quarter-curl bighorn ram had been poached on private land. Information from people in the area and evidence collected at the scene indicate that the bighorn sheep ram was likely shot between Sunday, Oct. 25 and Tuesday, Oct. 27 by a single shot to the neck. The poacher made no attempt to salvage meat from the animal or to take the head or horns.

“This is the worst kind of poaching case,” said Albert Romero, District Wildlife Manager for the De Beque district. “It appears that someone just shot and killed this animal for no reason at all.”

Chevron, EnCana and Williams have committed a total of $10,000 to the Division of Wildlife reward fund for information that leads to a conviction in this case. Additionally, Operation Game Thief has offered a $1,000 reward and Colorado’s TIPS program may provide tipsters with a bighorn sheep hunting license in exchange for testimony in the case.

The ram, which was part of the De Beque Canyon bighorn sheep herd, had recently wandered into the Kimball Creek area west of Roan Creek Road (Garfield County Road 204). The ram was frequently seen and photographed by area residents and energy workers who travel the road up Kimball Creek. The ram carcass was discovered on private property owned by Chevron.

Criminal charges in this case could include trespassing, illegal possession of wildlife, waste, felony willful destruction, and hunting in a closed unit. If convicted of all charges, the perpetrator in this case could face up to five years in jail and more than $100,000 in fines. Upon conviction the person would also face suspension of their hunting privileges in Colorado and 30 other states.

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are the official state animal of Colorado and they appear on the seal of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can qualify for up to $1,000 in reward funds; however tipsters must be willing to testify to qualify for energy company reward funds or TIPS licenses. Operation Game Thief is a program that works with the Division of Wildlife to provide rewards for information in poaching cases. TIPS is a DOW program that provides hunting licenses or preference points for sportsmen who provide information in poaching cases.

Editor’s note: A Chevron employee snapped a photo of the ram days before it was poached. A copy of the photo is available at http://wildlife.state.co.us/apps/ImageDB/ImageDownload.aspx?ImageId=25530&ImageSize=Print&ImageType=JPG

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

Variety, they say, is the spice of life.  And for hunters, no other state offers as much “spice” as Colorado.

From upland birds and waterfowl to majestic big game animals like elk and bighorn sheep, Colorado’s wild game species are as diverse as the Rocky Mountain landscape.

Colorado’s varied and distinctive hunting opportunities are now featured in “Hunt Colorado,” a new online video from the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Filmed in high-definition video and recorded in digital audio, “Hunt Colorado” takes viewers on an entertaining and concise tour of Colorado’s game species.  Featured in the seven-minute video are:  turkey, quail, grouse, pheasants, ducks, geese, squirrels, rabbits, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk and deer.

“‘Hunt Colorado’ provides a great overview of some of Colorado’s well-known and not so well-known hunts,” said Debbie Lininger, DOW marketing director.  “Colorado is famous for its exceptional elk hunting, but I don’t think people realize just how many other amazing opportunities exist right here in our own backyard.”

To play “Hunt Colorado” and other DOW online videos, viewers need a high-speed Internet connection and the latest version of Adobe Flash installed on their computer.

Videos may be accessed directly on the Division’s Web site at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/Videos/

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

LAMAR, Colo. – The Colorado Division of Wildlife will offer a free Shooting Instruction Clinic followed by an optional guided Dove Hunting Clinic east of Lamar on Sun., Sept. 13.

The clinic is geared toward women and youth who are new to hunting.  The event begins with an informal cookout at 1 p.m., followed by an instruction session, and then a guided dove hunt until around 6 p.m.  The DOW will supply all of the hunting equipment and host the cookout.

“A similar program was held last year near Las Animas, and the kids and ladies who attended had a blast — pun intended,” said Linda Groat, and outreach education specialist with the Division of Wildlife.

This year’s event will take place at the Mike Higbee State Wildlife Area four miles east of Lamar off Highway 50.

“The first portion of the afternoon is what we call a Bang ‘N Twang,” said Groat.  The focus is getting hands on experience shooting shotguns and archery equipment.  There is also an electronic big-game hunting simulation game.

Following the Bang ‘N Twang, participants have an option of going on a guided dove hunt with DOW instructors.  Participants must attend the Bang “N Twang and a shooting safety talk in order to go dove hunting.

Dave hunters must have a valid Hunter Ed card and a 2009 small game hunting license with a HIP number to participate.   Each youngster must be accompanied by adult, parent, or sponsor; and must pre-register.

The cost of a Colorado small game license for youth under 18 is $1.  The cost for resident adult annual license is $21.  A one-day small game license is $11.

Space is limited, so register early.  To register, or for more information, call: Linda Groat at (719) 336-6608.

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

The Colorado Division of Wildlife announced that all “leftover” big game and turkey licenses will go on sale Aug. 11.  Leftover licenses are limited elk, deer, pronghorn, bear and turkey licenses that did not sell during the spring drawing/application process.

“There are a good variety of licenses this year,” said Henrietta Turner, DOW license administration manager.  “We have over 9,000 deer, 3,000 pronghorn and over 42,000 elk licenses still available.”

Hunters may purchase leftover licenses on a first-come, first-served basis at statewide license agents, Division of Wildlife offices and by phone (1-800-244-5613).

Online purchases will be available at 8:00 a.m. Aug. 12, on the Division of Wildlife Web site.  Internet sales are postponed one day to eliminate competition with in-person sales. 

In order to expedite the purchase process, license buyers should bring the following items when visiting license agents or DOW offices:  A driver’s license or state identification card, hunter education card, customer identification number or conservation certificate number, and social security card.  

Hunters purchasing private-land-only licenses (PLOs) must obtain permission from landowners before they can hunt on any private land. 

Limited licenses are valid only in specific game management units (GMUs) and are available to resident and nonresident hunters.

A list of all available leftover licenses is now available on the Division’s Web site:
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/Leftovers/

The Colorado Division of Wildlife’s “Western Slope Big Game Hunting Guides” for the 2009-2010 Season are now available online.

Included in the guides are hunting statistics from the 2008 seasons, hunting tips, regulation advisories, important dates, phone numbers for DOW and federal agency offices, descriptions of terrain,  hunting outlook information, and more.

The Northwest Guide also includes information on bear and moose hunting.

The Guides are available online:

The Northwest Colorado Guide
The Southwest Colorado Guide

It’s not too late to pick up a big game tag for the 2009 Colorado hunting season!

Colorado has some great big game hunting available on public lands. General over the counter (OTC) tags for big game licenses and OTC bear licenses with caps went on sale this July 14th. You can purchase by telephone (1-800-244-5613), license agent in-state or on the Colorado Division of Wildlife website.

Get all of the information here.

Sue of Sitka Gear, went on a turkey hunt this past Saturday in Colorado. It was a women’s only hunt sponsored in part by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, National Wild Turkey Federation and EnCana. Sue congratulations on an awesome bird!

Read the full article here.