I would just add a small correction to Dick’s excellent and very informative post about the new rule from CPW. I do not think a Habitat Stamp is required for those over 65 and/or disabled residents.
"For individuals aged 18 through 64, a $10 Habitat Stamp is required with the first license purchase for the year (March 1 - March 31 annually). For more information, read about the Habitat Stamp <https://cpw.state.co.us/buyapply/Pages/HabitatStamp.aspx>. If you are disabled, you may not need a Habitat Stamp. See disability information <https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/Accessibility.aspx>." While a small game license may be less expensive than a fishing license, but there are more requirements to purchase one including proof of hunter education. Check here for more information: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/SmallGame.aspx <https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/SmallGame.aspx> And there is a reduced cost for fishing licenses for those 65 and older. Also, click the link below to see if you qualify for the Senior Low Income Lifetime Fishing License: Senior Annual (65+) Colorado residents only $9.85 Senior Low Income Lifetime Fishing <https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Senior-Low-income-Lifetime-Fishing-License.aspx> (65+) Colorado residents only $9.85 Here is the link to the page with all of the fees for fishing: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/FishingSeasonDatesFees.aspx <https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/FishingSeasonDatesFees.aspx> And finally, here is the link for small game fees: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/SmallGameDatesFees.aspx <https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/SmallGameDatesFees.aspx> R. ------------------------------ Rachel Hopper rkhphotography.net <http://rkhphotography.net/> [email protected] Ft. Collins, CO Hi all, Be informed... For anyone entering a Colorado State Wildlife Area for any reason, a dramatic and potentially expensive change was announced by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in a News Release last Friday, May1st. To quote the CPW announcement: “A valid hunting or fishing license will be required for everyone 18 or older attempting to access any State Wildlife Area or State Trust Land leased by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, beginning July 1.” “...We want to curtail non-wildlife use of these properties and return them to their original intended purpose.” The CPW website shows that Annual Fishing Licenses are currently $35.17 for residents, and $97.97 for non-residents Small Game Annual Licenses are a few dollars less than the Fishing licenses. PLUS - in order to get any hunting or fishing licence you will additionally need a $10.13 Annual Habitat Stamp There is currently no permit available for “Watching” Wildlife in SWAs. There is an SWA permit – but that is neither a Hunting nor a Fishing License - $43 annually There is a “Waterfowl Stamp” $10.13, but that is not a Hunting license. The CPW website says of the Waterfowl Stamp: “The collector "gumback" stamp is currently available for purchase in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife online store <https://www.cpwshop.com/pos.page?_PageParam.repurchasePrdID=56350>. This stamp is for collector purposes only. It is not the duck stamp validation and it does not afford hunting privileges. Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required by Colorado law to buy a Colorado hunting license <https://cpw.state.co.us/BuyApply/pages/hunting.aspx> (either a small game or a combination license) along with a Colorado duck stamp verification, in addition to the federal duck stamp.” “The Colorado Waterfowl Stamp program was implemented in 1990 and provides funding to conserve wetlands for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife. The Colorado Waterfowl Stamp Program is designed to conserve wetlands for waterfowl and water birds. All revenue generated from the sale of the hunter version of the Waterfowl Stamp is used to fund wetlands projects throughout the state. Several thousand acres of wetlands have been protected with Waterfowl Stamp funds. Participation in the Waterfowl Stamp Program by hunters and non-hunters alike is an effective way to contribute to the conservation of this precious resource. Wetlands conservation efforts of the Waterfowl Stamp Program improve habitat for ducks, geese, and more than 500 other species of shorebirds, songbirds, amphibians and reptiles.” It is not clear to this reader at this time if say a Fishing License would be considered valid for visiting an SWA that has no fishing areas, or if a Small Game Hunting License would be valid at all SWA’s throughout the entire year. However, seeing as this does not come into effect for a few weeks, and was only announced last Friday, there is plenty of time for clarification. For the full News Release you can view it on the CPW website here https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=7346 <https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=7346> Or, to save you the effort of going to the CPW website – here is the full content of that News Release: 5/1/2020 CPW Commission requires a valid hunting or fishing license to access all State Wildlife Areas and CPW-leased State Trust Lands DENVER – A valid hunting or fishing license will be required for everyone 18 or older attempting to access any State Wildlife Area or State Trust Land leased by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, beginning July 1. The rule change was adopted unanimously April 30 by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. “By policy, state wildlife areas are acquired with hunter and angler dollars, and are intended specifically to provide wildlife habitat and wildlife-related recreation,” Southeast Regional Manager Brett Ackerman told the commission at its meeting. “This rule is aimed at curtailing non-wildlife-related use of these properties. At the meeting, Ackerman presented examples from across the state of the increasing use of state wildlife areas inconsistent with their purpose, including set up of temporary residences, vehicular use on big game winter range, vandalism, and other uses detrimental to wildlife and wildlife-related uses. “There’s certainly an impact on staff and resources, potential public health impact, degradation of habitat and displacement of wildlife,” Ackerman told commissioners. “There is a pattern of non-wildlife related issues we’re seeing out there.” Beginning on July 1, 2020, anyone entering a state wildlife area or state trust land leased by CPW must hold either a valid hunting or fishing license in Colorado. Ackerman emphasized that, “As with all new regulations, especially one as far reaching as this, our policy is to first educate. Especially when talking to constituent users of state wildlife areas, we want to help people understand why we’re taking this action. We’re not seeking to catch people off guard and write them tickets. We want to curtail non-wildlife use of these properties and return them to their original intended purpose.” End of CPW News Release That’s all folks! Good birding Stay safe Dick Filby Carbondale, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/828B9DE0-DF60-41D5-ADBF-FFC70C89A599%40comcast.net.
