The Latest News from Colorado and Dark Timber Lodge

Hey everyone, Colorado’s Big Game Application season has started.  The dream of chasing elk is getting closer to reality as this time begins! You can apply online at the CPW website here.

First and foremost, make sure you hold your mouth just right when you go to hit the “submit” button on your application.  That’s critical to success.

On a serious note, remember this application period is not for those hunters doing an over-the-counter (OTC) hunt.  Those licenses go on sale in August.  This application period is for those hoping to go on a limited license hunt or wishing to purchase a preference point.

Please know you’ll need to purchase a “qualifying license” before you can purchase any big game license or preference point.  For residents you have numerous options for this including a turkey license and fishing license.  For nonresidents, the cheapest qualifying license is a small game license. 

For those of you who’ve booked a hunt with us for this fall you should’ve received an email providing the correct hunt code you’ll need to apply with for the hunt you’ve booked.  Look for that in your inbox as well as your junk mail if you don’t see it.  If it’s in neither of those places give me a call!  Another reminder is to make sure the credit card you enter for your application fees won’t expire anytime soon…particularly in April, May or June!  You have until April 5 to submit your application. 

In other news, CPW will begin a more detailed look at license allocations for big game.  While I don’t have all the details on what they plan to discuss, I think the conversation will definitely include how and if hunting pressure needs to be reduced on elk populations in OTC units.  There is growing talk of moving more OTC units to limited draw units to improve herd health if populations are not where biologists would like them, create a more quality hunt experience by reducing crowding on public lands, etc.  Again, nothing has been changed at this time but I would see these initial talks as probing conversations to see where the hunting public stands on some of these concerns. 

As members of the CPW Sportsperson’s Roundtable, both Ryan McSparran (who writes most of these blogs) and myself are able to get a front row seat on these discussions with CPW staff and the commissioners.  Participating on these boards is a great way to gain insight and make your voice heard and I would strongly encourage any and all of you to get involved at whatever level and capacity you can with your state wildlife agencies.  Decisions are made by those who show up. 

Additionally, Colorado’s Wolf Management Plan continues to get developed.  The recent relisting of wolves on the Endangered Species list will create some additional layers of complexity in developing the plan but CPW staff and the advisory boards working on the management plan knew this relisting was a possibility and they’re getting their ducks in a row so reintroduction efforts can move forward as dictated by the law.  At this point, the livestock compensation component has been pretty thoroughly discussed and we’re moving into the management component currently.  The Stakeholder meetings are open to the public.  The next meeting is in Montrose on Wednesday, March 23rd.  Please contact me for details if you’re interested in attending.  It would be great to have some hunters show up for public comment during these management discussions.  To be honest, the only people that show up for public comment are predominantly hard-core pro-wolf folks and a rancher or two.  It’s discouraging that more hunters and/or outfitters don’t speak up.

Lastly, the Colorado legislature has introduced House Bill 1168 for hearing which is a bill that would allow Hunters Ed to be taught in Colorado public schools.  As a former high school science teacher, this is an idea that I’ve been speaking to our local schools about for years and am very supportive of the idea.  As citizens of this country we all have the right to bear arms.  But with that right comes the responsibility to own and operate those arms safely, respectfully and when appropriate.  This requires education.  I’m of the opinion every kid in this country should have Hunters Ed or Firearm Safety or whatever you want to call it.  It’s an issue that’s bigger than just hunting.

So if you’re a Colorado resident, please take a moment to send a quick email to your state representative for where you live and let them know you support this bill (unless you don’t support this bill and that’s cool too).  Either way, you can find your state representative at this link.

As always, feel free to call or email if you have any questions on anything pertaining to a hunt you’ve booked with us, a hunt you’d like to book or just general elk hunting questions. 

Best of luck to everyone if you’re putting in for a limited license.  Stay positive and be open-minded in these ever-increasingly strange and troubling times and remember how lucky we are to get to hunt for food we feed to our families and friends on public land we all own!  Thanks for reading.