Women who are interested in taking up hunting and fishing should sign up for a special upcoming weekend workshop sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

This women’s-only event will be held June 22-24 at the Jim Olterman/Lone Cone State Wildlife Area in Dolores County.

“This is a great event for women who are curious about hunting and fishing but have never had a chance to give them a try,” said Kelly Crane, district wildlife manager in the Ouray area. “No experience is necessary and we have a lot of fun.”

At this workshop women will learn the fundamentals of archery, fly fishing and shotgun shooting. Participants will also learn about the basics of wildlife biology and wildlife management. Expert instruction will be provided by Parks and Wildlife staff.

The weekend is especially designed for novices. All equipment and ammunition will be provided. Participants can bring their own fishing rods, bows and shotguns. Those bringing guns must provide their own ammunition.

Participants age 16 and older must have a current Colorado fishing license.

Food will be provided; but those with specific dietary requirements should bring their own.

A cabin and camping are available on site. Participants must bring their own sleeping bags and can bring their own tents if they wish.

The registration deadline is June 4, but call early as this event usually fills up quickly. The workshop is limited to 15 women, ages 14 and older. A $40 refundable deposit is required.

The event will start at 5 p.m., June 22, and conclude at noon on June 24. The state wildlife area is located 25 miles south of Norwood.

To register, or for more information, contact Dawn Bresett at the Parks and Wildlife office in Montrose at 970-252-6000, or by e-mail, dawn.bresett@state.co.us.

To learn more about hunting and fishing in Colorado, see: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Pages/Home.aspx

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Women’s Outdoor Skills Workshop to be Held in Montrose, Colorado

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved big game hunting license numbers on Thursday for the upcoming fall hunting seasons. Agency staff utilized herd population estimates to recommend reductions in license numbers for mule deer, elk and pronghorn while recommending increases in licenses to manage growing populations of moose and black bears. According to a 2008 study, big game hunting in Colorado provides more than $430 million per year in economic impact to the state and supports 4,660 jobs in the state.

Colorado is a national leader in big-game hunting opportunity. This year, Colorado will issue more than 240,000 limited licenses for the state’s ‘big three’ species – elk, deer and pronghorn. Wildlife managers and biologists around the state recommended the issuance of 139,461 limited elk licenses, 79,800 limited deer licenses and 23,862 pronghorn licenses for the 2012 fall seasons.

Statewide, mule deer license quotas declined 5.8 percent from 2011.

“Mule deer populations are being intensively monitored and we’ve seen some declines, especially in the northwest part of the state,” explained Andy Holland, Statewide Big Game Manager. “Between severe winters, increased development, habitat decline, migration corridor fragmentation and predation, most western states are seeing declines in mule deer populations. We adjusted license numbers accordingly.”

In addition to issuing nearly 140,000 limited elk licenses, Colorado plans to issue an unlimited number of over-the-counter bull elk licenses in the archery, 2nd rifle and 3rd rifle seasons. The number of unlimited licenses available makes Colorado the top destination in the U.S. for elk hunting opportunity. The 2.2 percent decline in the number of limited elk tags offered this year is mostly related to elk populations reaching management objectives after several years of intentional efforts by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to reduce elk damage on private lands. Despite the elk license number reduction, Colorado remains the destination state for elk hunters, offering more elk licenses by far than any other state.

Black bear hunting license numbers will be increased in the state after biologists determined that the statewide population is larger than previously believed. New estimates show that approximately 16,000 to 18,000 black bears live in the state.

“The emergence and increased affordability of things like DNA, tooth cementum analysis and GPS tracking collars have given us new tools to know that Colorado’s current black bear population is robust and larger than previously believed,” said Jerry Apker, Carnivore Biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Apker further explained to the Commission that the agency’s black bear knowledge exceeds some other species because every hunter-harvested bear in Colorado is required to be checked by Parks and Wildlife personnel and significant historical harvest information about black bears is maintained by the agency. The historical harvest information coupled with new technology led to the increased population estimate and the increased number of hunting licenses approved for this coming fall.

In other business, the Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to deny a petition that would have allowed rock climbing on property at the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery. Commissioners based the decision on concerns about an active golden eagle nest in the immediate area and concerns regarding diversion of wildlife funds, safety issues, parking problems and potential damage to sensitive hatchery and water equipment in the area. The Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery was built in 1955 and was the largest trout hatchery in the world at that time. The hatchery raised about 3.7 million fish last year and is responsible for about 40 percent of the catchable trout in the state hatchery system.

Commissioners also approved regulations to grant military veterans and active duty members of the military free entrance to all state parks on Veteran’s Day each Nov. 11. The Commission ruling makes permanent the previous tradition of the former Parks Board passing a “free day” for veterans and active duty service members each year.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife is honored to be able to support our service members with this action,” said Ken Brink, Assistant Director for Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is a 14-member board, appointed by the governor, which sets regulations and policies for Colorado’s state parks wildlife programs. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meets monthly and travels to communities around the state to facilitate public participation in its processes. For the remainder of 2012, the commission will travel to Craig, Sterling, Gunnison, Glenwood Springs, Durango, Yuma and Colorado Springs.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Colorado PWC Hunt License Numbers for 2012

The Parks and Wildlife Commission will establish license numbers for most big game species for the 2012 hunting season and consider a petition to allow rock climbing at the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery during its monthly meeting in Grand Junction on May 10.

During the meeting commissioners will also be asked to set or modify property regulations at several state wildlife areas and formalize an annual tradition of granting military veterans free admission to state parks on Veterans Day. The meeting will be held at the Courtyard Marriott, located at 765 Horizon Drive in Grand Junction.

Colorado remains a destination for big-game hunters from across the world and May is the month when the commission sets limited license numbers for deer, elk, black bear, moose and pronghorn for the upcoming hunting seasons. CPW biologists estimate the state’s post-hunt elk population at slightly more than 265,000, which is the largest herd anywhere in North America. With an estimated 418,000 deer and 71,000 pronghorn to boot, Colorado offers hunters a wide array of options for season, species and method of take.

For 2012, wildlife managers recommend a quota of 139,000 limited elk licenses, which represents a drop of about 2 percent from 2011. With elk herds in parts of the state nearing objective, biologists are adjusting license numbers to maintain population levels. Wildlife managers are proposing a quota of 80,000 deer licenses and 24,000 pronghorn licenses, which also represent slight declines. Meanwhile licenses for the state’s growing moose population are recommended to rise by 12 percent, while bear licenses will jump by 25 percent, as managers look to stabilize growing bruin populations in many hunt units.

Commissioners will also receive an informational presentation on a proposal to open a limited hunting season on sandhill cranes in northwestern Colorado and consider changes to property-specific activity regulations at several state wildlife areas.

Also on the agenda is consideration of a citizen petition to allow rock climbing at the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery. In January, commissioners first discussed a request by the Rifle Climbers Coalition and the Boulder-based Access Fund to open the lower portion of Box Canyon on the Rifle Falls State Fish Hatchery to recreational rock climbing. Commissioners deferred action on the petition to allow time for staff evaluation.

Commissioners are scheduled to vote on a proposal to implement provisions of a law passed in 2011 granting free admittance for military veterans to state parks on one day each year. The change formalizes an annual tradition of the former Parks Board, which voted each year to provide veterans free entry to state parks each November 11 to commemorate Veterans Day.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is a 14-member board, appointed by the governor, which sets regulations and policies for Colorado’s state parks wildlife programs. To view the complete agenda for the May Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting, please see the commission web page: http://wildlife.state.co.us/ParksWildlifeCommission/Archives/2012/Pages/May10-11_2012.aspx.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meets monthly and travels to communities around the state to facilitate public participation in its processes. For the remainder of 2012, the commission will travel to Craig, Sterling, Gunnison, Glenwood Springs, Durango, Yuma and Colorado Springs.

Members of the public who are unable to attend Parks and Wildlife Commission meetings or workshops can listen to the proceedings through an Internet link.  The commission provides this opportunity to keep constituents better informed about the development of regulations and how it is working with Parks and Wildlife staff to guide the management of parks, wildlife and outdoor recreation programs.

To access the live audio feed during the meeting, click on the “listen to live audio” link at the bottom of the commission webpage at:http://wildlife.state.co.us/ParksWildlifeCommission/Pages/Commission.aspx.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Colorado PWC to Consider License Numbers, Climbing Petition

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is inviting  women interested in learning the basics of fly-fishing, shotgun shooting and archery to attend the popular Cast, Blast and Twang seminar to be held in Collbran, Saturday, May 19.

Taught by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers and volunteers, the three-part class is designed specifically for those who have an interest in learning about these popular outdoor activities in a comfortable, women-only class.

“Some women may not have a mentor or an experienced person to teach them these skills, and this class is perfect for them,” said Education Coordinator Kathleen Tadvick.

Cast, Blast and Twang is part of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Women Afield Program. Through workshops, clinics, seminars, and educational hunts, the program focuses on teaching the skills, ethics and traditions of hunting to novice women.

The clinic begins at 8:30 a.m. and is scheduled to conclude mid-afternoon of the same day.

For additional details, or to register for the class, please contact Kathleen Tadvick at 970-255-6181.

Space is limited and the seminar is expected to fill quickly. A $20 deposit is required to hold your space.

Who: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

What: Cast, Blast and Twang – Women-only seminar

When: Saturday, May 19, 8:30 a. m. to mid-afternoon

Where: Collbran, Colo.- Directions to event provided after registering

Contact: To register, call Kathleen Tadvick – 970-255-6181, or email, Kathleen.tadvick@state.cous

For more information about novice and youth education and seminars, please visit: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/HunterOutreach/Pages/HunterOutreach.aspx

Colorado Parks and Wildlife was created by the merger of Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, two nationally recognized leaders in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado’s wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs.

To learn more about Colorado’s state parks, please see: http://www.parks.state.co.us

To learn more about Colorado’s wildlife programs, please see: http://wildlife.state.co.us

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Colorado Women are Invited to Learn Shotgun, Fly-Fishing and Archery Skills

Three lucky young hunters from northwest Colorado bagged their first turkeys after being selected to participate in Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s 2012 Hunter Outreach Program’s Youth Turkey Hunt. The trio found success after spending some chilly, late April weekends enjoying a private land hunt and learning hunting strategies from their Colorado Parks and Wildlife mentors.

Ten-year-old Henry Musser of Meeker, 13-year-old Antoinette Dorris of Rangely and 10-year-old Tagerty Poole of Rifle were selected from a group of novice youth hunters that had recently completed their hunter education classes.

“To see the smiles on their faces and the fun they were having was fantastic,” said District Wildlife Manager Bailey Franklin, who coordinates the turkey hunt each year. “It’s truly a highlight of my career as a Colorado game warden.”

The focus of the Hunter Outreach Program is to pair young hunters with experienced veterans to help build knowledge and confidence, which is critical for beginning hunters. District Wildlife Managers Jon Wangnild, Mike Swaro and Terry Wygant were the primary guides for the youth participants again this year. The skilled wildlife officers taught the youngsters various hunting techniques including the use of calls to locate “gobblers” and how to identify turkey sign in the field.

Hunting access was provided by the Jensen Family Ranch properties, which are leased and managed by Rocky and Sparky Pappas and Travis Flaherty, K/K Ranch owners Bill and Ross Wheeler, Seven Lakes Lodge owner and professional golfer Greg Norman and landowners Lonnie and Todd Shults.

“We had increased interest and support from several landowners from Meeker this year which is very encouraging,” said Franklin. “Without them, these once-in-a-lifetime hunting opportunities would not be possible, and we are very grateful.”

In addition to the landowners, ranch employees donated their time to help make the hunts successful. Travis Flaherty of Jensen Family Ranch properties/Nine Mile Guest Ranch scouted and located turkey flocks and served as a guide for Swaro and one of the young hunters.  Brett Harvey and Rich Krauss of K/K-Wheeler Ranch, along with Tony Decker and Robert King of Seven Lakes Lodge, also provided valuable assistance.

To ensure that they received the best information and training, the aspiring turkey hunters were required to go through an additional half-day orientation where they learned more about hunter safety and ethics, state laws, wild turkey biology and hunting techniques

They received additional firearm training at the Meeker Sportsman’s Club shooting range, where they honed their shotgun shooting skills. The time and facilities were donated by the club, a long-time supporter of the Hunter Outreach Programs.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife loaned the young hunters youth model shotguns and turkey hunting equipment to participants that did not already have their own. The kids also received hunting gear, prizes and food for the hunt.

After successfully harvesting their mature gobblers, the youngsters learned how to properly field dress and care for their birds.

Although turkey hunting has seen a rapid growth in popularity across the country, the overall number of hunters and anglers nationwide has declined every year since 1990, according to research conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The reasons include a lack of places to hunt and fish busy lifestyles and a lack of mentorship from an older, experienced hunter.

The Hunter Outreach Program provides skills seminars, clinics, mentored hunts and online articles and information as a means to encourage the public to learn and apply their new skills in hunting and angling.

“Our goal is to expose novice hunters of all ages to a quality experience and give them basic skills so they will continue with the sport into the future,” said Statewide Hunting Outreach Coordinator Jim Bulger. “Without the help of private landowners and other stakeholders, we’d be unable to provide that experience.”

Landowners who are interested in supporting Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s 2013 youth turkey hunting program or any other  youth hunting program in northwestern Colorado are encouraged to  call the Meeker office at 970-878-6090.

Youth and parents interested in learning more about youth hunting opportunities can also call the Meeker office and request an application for upcoming youth hunts.

For more information about the Hunter Outreach Program, please visit: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/HunterOutreach/Pages/HunterOutreach.aspx

Colorado Parks and Wildlife was created by the merger of Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, two nationally recognized leaders in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado’s wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs.

To learn more about Colorado’s state parks, please see: http://www.parks.state.co.us

To learn more about Colorado’s wildlife programs, please see: http://wildlife.state.co.us

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Colorado Program Helps Young Hunters Bag First Birds

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is inviting sportsmen to attend a town hall meeting with agency director Rick Cables on Thursday May 10 to discuss proposed improvements to the Landowner Voucher Program.

The meeting is scheduled to be held in the Hunter Education Building at the agency’s Grand Junction regional office, located 711 Independent Avenue. The meeting is scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All members of the public are invited to attend.

The landowner voucher program offers hunting licenses to private landowners whose farms and ranches provide habitat for big game.  The program has evolved over the course of five decades and today enrolls approximately 5,000 properties across Colorado that allow hunting for deer, elk and pronghorn.

“The landowner voucher program helps us manage Colorado’s wildlife by building relationships with private landowners, encouraging good stewardship practices and providing additional hunting opportunity,” said Cables. “Because private lands play such a key role in supporting Colorado’s wildlife, we all have a stake in strengthening this important program.”

Two years ago, the former Division of Wildlife convened a committee of landowners, sportsmen, outfitters and wildlife managers to address concerns that had built up through the years. The committee held more than 20 public meetings and dozens of informal meetings across the state. Members developed a package of recommendations which include tightening enforcement of the program’s rules and providing a stronger connection between the voucher program and the habitat value of participating ranches.

Under current rules, up to 15 percent of deer, elk and pronghorn licenses in each totally limited hunting unit are made available through a draw process for landowners who own at least 160 contiguous acres of agricultural land. The licenses are valid throughout the entire game management unit where the private land is located and can be sold or transferred to any eligible hunter.

The recommendations for improving the program include changing the proportion of licenses set aside for landowners and tightening up program eligibility rules to ensure that participating properties are used by big game animals. The recommendations also call for closer enforcement of program rules, including eligibility requirements and bans on “brokering” of hunting licenses.

“We’ve worked for a long time to understand the concerns sportsmen and landowners raised about the program and how it is currently operated,” said Cables. “We believe these changes will improve the program and strengthen the partnership between landowners and sportsmen that we need to best manage big game populations that depend on private lands.”

Sportsmen, landowners and interested members of the public are asked to call the committee’s facilitator, Dave Chadwick at 303-291-7174 to reserve their spot. You can also send an email to dave.chadwick@state.co.us.

Who: Director Rick Cables, Colorado Parks and Wildlife

What: Town Hall discussion - Landowner Voucher Program

When: May 10, 2012 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Where: Hunter Education Building, 711 Independent Ave., Grand Junction. For more information about the Landowner Voucher Program, please visit:http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/PriorityLandowner/Pages/PriorityLandowner.aspx

For more information about the committee, please visit:http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/LandownerVoucherReviewCommittee/Pages/LandownerVoucherReviewCommittee.aspx

Colorado Parks and Wildlife was created by the merger of Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, two nationally recognized leaders in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado’s wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Colorado Landowner Voucher Discussion on tap May 10

Hundreds of petition signatures have been gathered in opposition to a sandhill crane hunting season in Colorado according to Steamboat Today. Opponents to the proposed season say the birds are a symbol of Colorado’s respect for wildlife.

On April 25 the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) held discussions over a new limited autumn hunting season for sandhill cranes in Routt and Moffat counties. PWC officials say no more than 20 to 50 licenses with a limit of one bird per hunter would be issued to hunters in the two counties.

PWC is scheduled to make a decision on the proposal during a meeting July 12 and 13 in Sterling. Area Wildlife Manager Jim Haskins told Steamboat Today that his staff has found no biological reason the crane population could not sustain limited hunting pressure.

Though the bird is historically known to be overhunted, its populations have seen a fairly dramatic recovery since the mid-20th century, according to Parks and Wildlife Avian Research Leader Jim Gammonley. He said that the number of birds staging to migrate in Northwest Colorado has been estimated to be greater than 20,000 for the past five years. Still, there would only be up to 50 permits issued in the first two seasons with the number of permits increasing modestly over the seasons to account for hunter success ratios (it’s rare that hunters enjoy a 100 success rate).

Although cranes have been hunted in North America for a long time, the idea is always met with opposition from a lot of people. “A lot of people just don’t like the idea, and for others, they are a pretty prized game bird,” Gammonley said. “In every case that new hunting has been proposed, it has been highly emotional and controversial.”

Sandhill cranes were listed by the state as endangered in the late 1970s, but delisted in the 1990s, but they are still a species of special concern. It’s partially because cranes hatch no more than two eggs every year, and often one of the chicks, or colts, does not survive.

“It’s easier to over-harvest cranes through hunting than other birds,” Gammonley said. “The cranes can sustain hunting pressure, but most populations that are hunted are always carefully managed.”

A poll on Steamboat Today shows that out of 141 total votes (as of 1:30 pm April 30), 102 people (72 percent) are against the proposed crane hunting season. Thirty-five people (or 25 percent) of voters are in favor; four people, or approximately 3 percent are undecided.

Sandhill cranes are hunted in Kentucky as of December 2011, while Wisconsin is also debating whether to allow a hunting season, but does face some opposition. Whooping cranes, on the other hand, are endangered and highly protected.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Proposed Colorado Sandhill Crane Hunting Season Faces Opposition

Wildlife managers from Colorado Parks and Wildlife are inviting the public to a roundtable discussion concerning a proposed greater sandhill crane fall hunting season. The discussion is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in the CPW Steamboat Springs Service Center at 925 Weiss Drive.

The idea of a crane season was first raised by Yampa Valley waterfowl hunters and submitted to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission earlier this year. The proposal includes details about the how the species is to be managed and how local hunters could benefit from opening a hunting season. Also within the proposal is a mention of several complaints made to hunters by local landowners indicating that they have experienced crop damage when cranes trample wheat prior to harvest.

“Among the topics up for discussion include the various points made in the proposal, how the public can make comments, as well as the process that the commission will use to make a final determination,” said Jim Haskins, Area Wildlife Manger.

If the proposal were approved by the commission, hunters in Routt and Moffat Counties would be allowed to harvest a portion of the quota established annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The sandhill crane is a migratory bird managed cooperatively by the state and the federal management agency.

The range of this population of cranes – known as the Rocky Mountain population – includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico. Colorado is the only state that does not have a hunting season for this population and each year the allowable harvest is allocated among states based on approximate sandhill crane abundance and seasonal distribution. Colorado’s allotment is currently re-allocated among the remaining states.

“One important point the public should know is that hunting quotas for these cranes is more highly regulated, monitored and analyzed than any other small game species found in Colorado, including sage- grouse,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist Jeff Yost.

There is a current hunting season for Colorado’s other crane population, the Mid-Continent population, typically found in the San Juan Valley during fall and spring migrations. The Mid-Continent population is hunted in eastern Colorado.

Colorado Parks and Wildife routinely invites the public to provide input and participate in managing the state’s wildlife.

The proposal is slated for a hearing during the CPW commission’s May 10 meeting in Grand Junction.

What: Public discussion about a proposed sandhill crane hunting season
When: Wednesday, April 25 – 7 p.m.
Where: CPW Steamboat Springs Service Center at 925 Weiss Drive
Contact: Steamboat Springs CPW office – 970-870-2197

For more information, please go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Birds/Pages/SandhillCrane.aspx

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Sandhill Crane Hunting Discussion in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Pheasants Forever is hosting its Third Annual Colorado State Habitat Meeting on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 at the Phillips County Events Center in Holyoke, Colorado. This event is rescheduled from a weather related cancellation in February.

During Friday’s portion of the event, Pheasants Forever’s Colorado State Council will host a Pheasants Forever Chapter Member workshop to discuss chapter outreach and youth conservation education programs. Friday will also include a Leopold Education Project teacher workshop. On Saturday, the event is a cooperative effort with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency and the Colorado Natural Resources Conservation Service targeted toward landowners interested in improving wildlife habitat on their properties.

“We are excited about the third annual state meeting, to build on past events and to continue to educate the public about Pheasant Forever’s mission to develop wildlife habitat in our region and reconnect youngsters with the land,” said Bob Hix, Pheasants Forever Regional Representative in Colorado. “The seminar speakers for our third event come from a variety of different organizations, and attendees are sure to gain valuable insight to successful wildlife habitat management and organizing their own outdoor youth events.”

The weekend kicks off with the Pheasants Forever Chapter Member Workshop from 4PM to 8:30PM on Friday, April 20. This event will include presentations on:

• Youth conservation education outreach
• Chapter organization
• Pheasants Forever’s Leopold Education Project

If interested attending the workshop, please RSVP at Colorado Pheasant Forever or with Bob Hix via Email. The Leopold Education Project Workshop will run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Please contact Janine Kohn, Pheasants Forever Education Specialist, via Email to register.

Saturday seminars run 8:00AM – 4PM and will cover pheasant ecology, pheasant habitat opportunities for pheasants and quail, and mid-contract management for CRP acres. There will be dialogues from the Colorado State Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Regional Manager, Pheasants Forever Vice President of Governmental Affairs Dave Nomsen, and Pheasants Forever Education Specialist Janine Kohn. Presenting organizations include Pheasants Forever, the CPW, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Phillips County Events Center is located on North U.S. Highway 385 in Holyoke. For more information regarding the Colorado Pheasants Forever 2012 Habitat Meeting, visit Colorado Pheasants Forever or contact Bob Hix at (303) 743-8957 / Email Bob.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Third Annual Colorado Pheasants Forever State Habitat Meeting Rescheduled in Holyoke

So far in 2012, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has allocated $1,258,888 for habitat stewardship and protection projects in six key elk states. The figure represents a significant increase from 2011. More than 139,000 acres should be conserved for elk and other wildlife in 2012 as a result of these initial allocations. Affected states include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.  RMEF will announce funding allocations for additional states later this year.

The combined allocation for the initial six states is $181,562, or 16 percent, higher than their total from 2011. The increase is based on a strong upward trend in banquet-based memberships and fundraising performance by RMEF chapters and volunteers in the respective states.

“Thanks to RMEF volunteers and supporters and a wave of momentum, our organization is positioned to pump more money than ever into crucial habitat work in six major areas of elk country,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

Allocated amounts and acres expected to be conserved in 2012:

• Colorado—$251,451 and 42,030 acres
• Idaho—$82,710 and 31,984 acres
• Montana—$257,011 and 21,658 acres
• Oregon—$165,000 and 11,483 acres
• Washington—$184,460 and 10,454 acres
• Wyoming—$318,256 and 21,555 acres

Combined, 112 different conservation projects will receive RMEF funding.
Projects are selected for RMEF grants using science-based criteria and a committee of RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and universities. Examples of projects include habitat stewardship such as prescribed burning, forest thinning and management, weed control, water improvements and more, mostly on public lands. Also included are research projects to improve management of elk, habitat, predators and other factors that influence conservation.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - RMEF Allocates $1.2 Million for Habitat Work in Six States