Commissioner's Corner

Commissioner's Corner by Dennis Buechler

  Wildlife Commission Workshop February 10, 2011

 

In the morning, the project proponents of the Windy Gap and Moffat Tunnel Firming Projects (Northern Colorado Water Conservation District (NCWCD) and Denver Water Board (DWB), respectively) made presentations on their current and future water conservation efforts.This was done at the request of the Wildlife Commission because it was pointed out at previous meetings that avoidance and minimization of impacts are the first two steps of mitigation. I recommended that they be prepared at a future meeting or workshop to discuss how these conservation efforts mesh with the operations of the proposed projects. For example, could they be used to reduce the amount of water taken in July when we already have water temperature issues regarding stress on trout? Other Commissioners also indicated that reducing runoff to the Fraser and UpperColoradoRivers was of serious concern to landowners as well as anglers and GrandCounty. At the March 10 Commission meeting NCWCD and DWB will present additional hydrology information. At the April workshop, the Commission and public will have the opportunity to ask questions of the Division of Wildlife staff. At the May meeting, the Commission will decide what to recommend to the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The Wildlife Commission's review is pursuant to the Corps of Engineers and EPA permitting processes for each project.

(continued from print newsletter)

The session included an update from Division of Wildlife (DOW) staff on the effort to bait elk away from private-land ranch operations on the YampaRiver in northwest Colorado. Although elk had begun to disperse off the bait sites, sub-zero temperatures and additional snowfall have led to increasing numbers of elk making their way towards private lands. In many areas, vegetation could not be seen. Commissioners also were updated on deer herd management plans for the Maroon Bells and Sweetwater areas.

DOW staff provided an overview of its spring marketing campaign, designed to promote elk license sales. The campaign is being launched nationwide on outdoor television channels and online. "We have to do something to address declining participation in hunting," said Director Tom Remington. "It's important to this agency and to the economies of many communities in rural Colorado. We're excited to roll this out next week."

In a joint afternoon session the Wildlife Commission and the State Board of Land Commissioners (SLB) agreed work together on public access and energy development issues. SLB Commissioners were updated on Division of Wildlife's successful program of developing voluntary wildlife mitigation plans with the energy industry and discussed ways in which a similar cooperative approach might be created for State Trust Lands. The SLB and their staff assured that consulting with agencies to gather important information was an important part of how they conduct energy leasing, e.g., consulting with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program to ensure they would not impact rare plants. However, last fall SLB staff did not consult with DOW staff on leases in SouthPark that could have future impacts on the James Mark Jones State Wildlife Area and theworld class trout fisheries in the middle fork of the South Platte River and in Antero Reservoir. I asked if SLB was using some sort of filter process to determine which proposed lease sales needed to be coordinated with DOW. Their response validated my concerns that they were only using the sensitive wildlife habitat map and the restricted surface occupancy map incorporated in the Colorado Oil and gas Conservation Commission to decide when to consult with DOW. I pointed out that there are many species and habitats of great concern to DOW that are not on those lists. SLB President Bloom then indicated perhaps staff should coordinate more closely and a fellow SLB commissioner agreed. I followed up their comments by suggesting the respective staff should get together and develop a memorandum of understanding that delineates a consultation process. SLB and the Wildlife Commission agreed to undertake this effort.

SLB expressed a desire to get some larger StateTrustLand properties involved in public access as a way to generate revenue for program beneficiaries. These properties, largely in eastern Colorado, are too large for DOW to accommodate in the current program, but could provide additional wildlife recreation opportunities if an agreement can be reached. SLB and DOW staff will explore development of a program that would meet the DOW's public access goals while generating revenue for SLB.

 

Wildlife Commission Meeting Jan. 5, 2011

The Wildlife Commission directed the Division of Wildlife (DOW) to draft a regulation that would prohibit the hunting of bears in their dens. Commissioners were asked to consider adopting a regulation following an incident in the fall in which a hunter near Craig said he tracked a large black bear to a cave, entered the cave and killed the bear. Colorado hunting regulations currently do not prohibit hunting a bear in a den. DOW Regulations Manager Brett Ackerman told the Commission that den-hunting is apparently not common among bear hunters. However, DOW monitors issues which Colorado citizens may find do not meet public expectations of fair chase and this incident has provoked significant negative public feedback. Ackerman said numerous other states have banned den-hunting on the grounds that it does not meet public expectations of fair chase. NOTE: DOW staff has prepared a draft regulation for consideration at the March 10 Commission meeting. The draft provides: "No person shall hunt, take or harass a bear in its den." To listen to the March 10 Commission meeting, go to www.wildlife.state.co.us and click on Wildlife Commission. At the bottom of the Commission home page, click on Listen to Live Audio.

Commissioners agreed to reconsider the existing ban on dog-walking at two Loveland-area state wildlife areas (SWAs). The ban was established last summer in response to complaints about conflicts between sportsmen and dog owners. During the Commission meeting, commissioners heard from local dog owners who argued that the closure of Lon Hagler and Lone Tree SWAs to dog-walkers unfairly penalized dog-walkers who kept their pets leashed and under control. They also argued the rule was adopted without sufficient public input. In particular, they said no notice of the pending change was posted at either of the two properties.

Director Tom Remington said the Division did have public hearings on the proposed prohibition in January, March and May of 2010, but acknowledged many locals remained unaware of the pending decision. The Commission asked

DOW proposed steps to address public safety and user conflict issues stemming from unregulated access to Jumbo Reservoir along the lower South Platte. DOWstaff is proposing to institute an annual "SWA permit" for Jumbo and possibly other nearby SWAs that would be required for everyone ages 19 to 64 who does not have a valid hunting or fishing license.

DOW to institute a working group comprised of all users to examine and propose alternatives for addressing the requests of dog-walkers. Remington also said that he had directed staff to begin posting notices at SWAs whenever the DOW considers changes that might impact non-sportsman users.

Commissioners approved two requests by DOW staff to engage in temporary predator management to support species conservation projects. The acting Terrestrial Section Manager told commissioners that each of the projects met the requirements of the commission's predator control policy, adopted in 1999 and updated in 2007. The Commission then approved aproject to control coyotes and other mammalian predators that are threatening to wipe out an important population of Gunnison sage-grouse which is centered on the Dan Noble SWA. The Gunnison sage-grouse was designated a candidate for the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

Evidence collected by the Division showed that 75 percent of sage-grouse nests in the area failed and no young survived to adulthood. In addition, biologists recovered radio transmitters researchers placed on sage-grouse chicks inside coyote scat. Commissioners approved the Division's plan to control coyotes and other nest predators for five months a year, for two years. Division biologists will monitor the impact of the program to determine if sage-grouse production increases. The Commission also gave DOW biologists authority to kill individual mountain lions if they begin to prey on a small band of desert bighorn sheep relocated to the MiddleDoloresCanyon in mid-December. This is the third time the DOW has attempted to establish desert bighorn in the area. Two other attempts, in 1990 and 2001, did not result in the establishment of a new herd. Biologists believe that mountain lion predation played a primary role in the outcome. Commissioners said that if a mountain lion kills more than one sheep, it should be removed. If a lion kills only one sheep, biologists would have the option to remove it. There has been no known mortality among the radio-collared sheep since their release three weeks ago, but that is not a long period of time. I said they should initiate action as soon as the first sheep is killed. The final motion that was adopted gives the DOW that option.

 

 

Commissioner Buechler’s Minutes

Wildlife Commission Meeting July 7. 2010

Gunnison, CO

 

• Despite testimony by CWF opposing it for several reasons including possibly setting a bad precedent for public hunters and because it would be appropriate that the Voucher Committee address the matter first, new elk hunting regulations were approved for GMU 1 because the Division of Wildlife believed it was needed to help manage the herd overpopulation in this area that has very limited access to public land.
  • Allowing landowner vouchers licenses to be valid throughout the GMU (as opposed to GMU 10 where they can only be used on private land).
  • Allowing landowner voucher licenses to be valid during archery, muzzle loading, or early rifle.
  • Allowing public anterless elk hunters access to private land enrolled in the program during the second, third, and fourth elk season. Creation of a new public late anterless hunt.
  • Establishment of a habitat project requirement for participating landowners.
• Approved new regulations allowing a small amount of nonresident falconry take of live raptors in reciprocity with states that would allow our falconers to do the same.  Excludes peregrine and gyre falcons, as well as a number of hawks.
• Approved moving ahead to consider draft regulations providing special hunting opportunities for big game hunting for veterans who have suffered severe combat-related injuries.
• Approved moving ahead to consider revising regulations pertaining to disposition of birds admitted by rehabilitation facilities and later deemed to be “non-releasable”, which would include their use for education.
• Will consider a citizen petition limiting the hours of operation on the Basalt State Wildlife Area shooting range to 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.  The complainers who live in the area wanted more including closing operation on Sundays, but the Wildlife Commission was not going to go there.  The Forest Supervisor for that area was appreciative because he doesn’t want more uncontrolled shooting on the public lands he manages. 

Commissioner Buechler’s Minutes

Wildlife Commission Workshop on June 10, 2010

 

• Ute Mountain Utes asked the Division of Wildlife to modify their existing wildlife management agreement to make it similar to the good management plan that was agreed to with the Southern Utes last year.  The one exception is they would like to hunt bear because it is not sacred to their tribe.
• GOCO is supportive of spending $30 million to help set up the new Regional Office in Gunnison.
• Jim Gammonley handed out a paper and gave a thorough presentation on the complications involved with setting waterfowl seasons.   I asserted that there must be a way we can provide more hunting opportunity in October and November before the ponds freeze as well as take into account those folks that like to hunt mallards in January, especially private clubs and hunters in the southeast.  I tried to reach that point at the last July meeting but was unsuccessful.  However, this time Commissioner Singletary, who represents the southeastern area, offered to work with me to try to find a reasonable compromise.  Therefore, we all agreed to stay with the same waterfowl seasons this upcoming fall as the last 4 years when we vote on waterfowl seasons at the July meeting.  However, beginning this fall, we will be looking at different options in preparation for possibly submitting recommended adjustments to the upcoming 5-year federal framework for waterfowl hunting.
• Harvest and the number of hunters have greatly declined in the last decade.  There was a drought in the mid 80’s and mid 90’s.    While most of the waterfowl production areas have recovered and done well the last couple of years, habitat conditions have not been good in central Montana and southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, which historically have provided most of our birds.  Also, some of the migration patterns have shifted to the east.  Another problem is vegetation has taken over the South Platte River so they are less inclined to stay when the ponds are frozen or in nasty weather.
• I suggested in the future that Jim provide the Commissioners information on what seasons and splits we have used historically, and their relative pros and cons, recognizing we also have to provide for mountain and foothill hunting.  He agreed to do so. 
• Will continue the studies this fall to determine if resting areas will induce ducks to hang around longer along the South Platte.
• We cannot open dove season any earlier because the Migratory Bird Treaties only allow take between Sept. 1 and March 10.  Mallards, green and blue winged teal, gadwall, and widgeon compromise about 90% of our harvest.

 

Commissioner Buechler’s Minutes

Wildlife Commission Meeting May 6, 2010

 

• Increased bear tags from 630 to 1035, i.e., 64%.  However, hunters only kill about 5% of the tags issued, which amounts to about 81 bears.  Expect to kill about 800 bears next year if conditions are normal. (Poor forage results in more harvest.)
• Despite efforts on the part of the town, Division of Wildlife (CDOW)  and others, there were 713 bear-human conflicts last year in Aspen alone.  CDOW will be testing whether can actually help with the problem.  However, several generations of bears have now been taught to eat human food.
• About 30% of bear mortality is non-hunting related (e.g., road kills, and euthanizing problem bears).
• Last year income from big game licenses dropped about 8%, but it did not become worse this year.  There was a 1.5% drop in interest in elk, which is similar to recent years.  This warrants the major increase in funding for out-of- state recruitment the Commission approved previously.
• Deer harvest and participation has dropped a bit in recent years.  Several mule deer populations are at or just below objective, and buck to doe ratios as well as bull to cow ratios are very good for the most part.
• Dramatic increase in whitetail northeastern area of the state prefer mule deer.  CDOW will implement different means to try to increase whitetail deer harvest.
• Rule restricting raccoon relocations to 2 miles to help prevent rabies was postponed pending more discussions with rehabilitators.
• Ron Velarde proposed allowing use of all vouchers in unit GMU 1 to all lands, but GMU 10 would continue to restrict landowner vouchers to the ranch who sells them.  His reason is that the private landowners control most of the access to this unit.  There is an access point from the national wildlife refuge and one from a bridge in the Monument, but the adjacent BLM land is a wilderness study area so roads in there cannot be used by vehicles.  He also said the herd is over population objective, and this would enable more access to harvests cows.  Furthermore, he was hopeful this would encourage the landowners to allow CDOW to conduct more active monitoring and management of greater sage grouse, as this is the biggest population in Colorado. 
• I asked that a detailed map showing the limited access be included on the website before the July meeting.  I also stated I had major concerns with going forward with this without having first discussed by the voucher committee and SAG.  I stated that most of the public land hunters I had talked to were strongly against this sort of proposal.  The Chair asked me what I wanted to do, and I said the proposal could be discussed further as I would like to hear from the public.
• Tony Apa, Brad Petch, and other researchers gave an update on grouse studies. They are using GPS to improve knowledge of winter and nesting habitat and to test the reliability of established buffers (e.g., 0.6 mile).  They have information on all the major leks.  Apparently, the grouse move around a lot more than previously thought (e.g., from breeding areas to wintering habitat).  They will be focusing on moving from planning to action with the state-wide local groups, which will be evaluated on how they can best implement their plans and prioritize their issues such as oil&gas development, urbanization, range fires, etc. 
• We looked at the latest commercials being promoted by PEAC.  They do a good job of linking sportsmen to the funding of fish and game management.
• On the following day, several of the commissioners visited the proposed location of a new location for the Glenwood Springs Area Office and the Basalt Shooting Range.  A few folks are complaining about the noise.  However, I thought it is a nice safe facility, and it is important to many sportsmen who are experiencing a decline in public shooting ranges.