Do you want to see and hear about hunting mule deer in South East Colorado -  in “real-time?”  Then make sure and tune in to BowCast.com starting November 18th as Aneal Roney and Matt Hogue from BowCast tell us through semi-live audio and video podcasts what they are experiencing in the field.  BowCast is welcoming you in to join this hunt – for 5 days straight!

Tune in beginning November 18th on BowCast.com to see video of the animals they are seeing, tech tips along the way, and every other aspect of their hunt with guide Miles Fedinec from outfitter Outdoor Expeditions.

Aneal and Matt will be hunting during the mule deer rut in South Eastern Colorado.  This time of year the bucks are moving and Aneal and Matt will be talking to you about the equipment and tactics they are using to increase their success in the field.

These live feeds should make for an exciting week on BowCast.  Make it a point to check in, especially if you are thinking about hunting out west in the future for big game!

To learn more about where these BowCast Pro-staff will be hunting visit Atkinson Expeditions.

Important Links for “BowCast In The Field” beginning November 18, 2009:

The BowCast Blog

BowCast Video

The BowCast Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Chico Basin Ranch and the Colorado Division of Wildlife have collaborated to offer late season youth pronghorn hunters a unique hunting opportunity during the December pronghorn doe season.

Youth hunters who have an unfilled pronghorn tag from an earlier season are eligible to apply for one of a few limited opportunities to hunt this private ranch.

Chico Basin Ranch is an 87,000-acre property located southeast of Colorado Springs near Hanover in GMU 123.

The ranch will provide a limited number of access permits.

Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult during the entire hunt.

The late youth-pronghorn second-opportunity hunt is only available to youth hunters with unfilled doe or either-sex pronghorn licenses from earlier seasons.  Youth with unfilled pronghorn buck licenses are not eligible.

Young hunters, age 12-17, with unfilled doe licenses are automatically eligible for a second chance hunt.  Youth hunters with an unfilled either-sex pronghorn licenses must bring their license to a DOW office and get it converted to a doe license before hunting again in December.

The late pronghorn season dates are Dec 5-9.

Interested youth hunters should contact Jonathan Tullar at 719-683-7960 or email at Jonathan@ChicoBasinRanch.com no later than Nov. 23.  Available slots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

For a more detailed description of the ranch, you may visit their website at www.chicobasinranch.com

For more information about other late youth pronghorn opportunities, contact your local Division of Wildlife Office.

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

CRAIG, Colo. – By deferring an oil and gas lease in northwest Colorado that could have jeopardized native trout, the Bureau of Land Management has signaled a new day for energy development in sensitive fish and wildlife habitats, a sportsmen’s coalition announced today.

Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development was troubled by oil and gas development proposed for the 900-acre parcel due to its potential impacts on two populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout, a species of special concern in Colorado. The public land in the proposal, located 25 miles northeast of Craig, encompasses Cataract Creek and the Roaring Fork of Slater Creek. It was originally reviewed for leasing in 1991.

Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development is a coalition of more than 500 businesses, organizations and individuals dedicated to conserving irreplaceable habitats so future generations can hunt and fish on public lands. The coalition is led by the National Wildlife Federation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Trout Unlimited.

In the 18 years since the lease was proposed, much has been learned about balancing fish and wildlife habitat with energy development, but the decision to lease this parcel has not been updated. However, the BLM is revising its resource management plan for the area, and the sportsmen’s coalition expects the agency to establish measures to protect the fish.

“Deferring this lease was the right decision,” said Steve Belinda, energy policy manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Considering that the BLM is revising its Little Snake Resource Management Plan, which governs administration of the area’s natural resources, waiting to proceed with leasing these lands makes a lot of sense.”

The BLM’s action in Colorado has precedent elsewhere and indicates a revised approach by the agency in evaluating proposed energy leases on federally managed public land. In a special report issued earlier this month, the BLM identified similar cases of inappropriate decisions to lease land for development after reviewing 77 leases in Utah that were withdrawn.

“This lease was a victim of a broken process that’s in dire need of repair,” said John Gale, Colorado regional representative for the National Wildlife Federation.

“Secretary Salazar has recognized that a more balanced process is needed,” Gale added, “and the sportsmen of the West stand ready to help the BLM develop a process that works for fish and wildlife, sportsmen and for industry.”

“It made no sense to sell this lease now when old, outdated policies would have conflicted with a new direction in resource management,” said Corey Fisher, energy field coordinator for Trout Unlimited.

“By deferring this lease, the BLM is signaling that it is going to stop leaping before it looks,” said Fisher. “Sportsmen welcome this change and appreciate the BLM thoroughly reviewing this lease to make sure that multi-state and multi-agency efforts to conserve Colorado River cutthroat trout are not compromised.”

For more information about the SFRED coalition, visit www.sportsmen4responsibleenergy.org.

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.

Big game licenses are still available for the upcoming seasons. Leftover and general over-the-counter licenses, as well as over-the-counter bear licenses and turkey licenses (with caps), are available for purchase online (www.wildlife.state.co.us), by telephone (1-800-244-5613) and at statewide license agents and Division of Wildlife offices.   A list of all available leftover licenses is available at: 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

MISSOULA, Mont.—Twelve counties in Colorado are slated for wildlife habitat conservation and public education projects using $205,497 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Grand, Huerfano, La Plata, Mesa, Park, Rio Blanco, Routt, Saguache and San Miguel counties.

“Our volunteers across Colorado helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and its part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

Read more…

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced more than $57.8 million in grants to 27 states to support conservation planning and acquisition for the habitat of threatened and endangered wildlife and plants. The grants were awarded through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.

“The successful conservation of threatened and endangered species requires a partnership between the federal government and the states,” Salazar said. “These grants provide state agencies the resources they need to help protect and conserve listed species and to empower landowners and local communities to be good stewards of the vital habitat that makes the recovery of imperiled species possible.”

Read the full article here.