On this introductory episode of CPW’s podcast – Colorado Outdoors – we go in-depth with Director Dan Prenzlow on conservation and balancing that with the explosion in population and thirst for outdoor recreation in Colorado. Prenzlow mentions how the outdoors have been an outlet during COVID and how CPW focused on ‘managing to yes’ to be open to the citizens of Colorado during the pandemic. With that, CPW has seen park visitation hit record numbers and fishing and hunting license sales are up. Wildlife topics are discussed, as is the opening of Fisher’s Peak, the newest state park in Colorado.
Topics Discussed
- 2:57 – background on Dan Prenzlow and how he became Director of CPW
- 5:45 – his perspective on being the Director
- 7:37 – talking about conservation – the “wise use” of our natural resources
- 8:42 – wildlife that we manage and restoring wildlife species
- 12:45 – ballot initiative on the restoration of Gray Wolves
- 14:45 – balance between conservation and outdoor recreation
- 21:37 – the outdoors have been an outlet during COVID in the state of Colorado
- 24:47 – fishing and hunting license sales are up
- 26:20 – a hunting story on how it took him 20 years to draw a mountain goat license
- 30:10 – why it is so important that people do not feed or try to domesticate wildlife
- 32:03 – bear conflicts and management
- 34:06 – Fishers Peak State Park opening
CPW is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado’s 960-plus wildlife species, more than 350 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs from hunting and fishing to the state’s trails program, boat registrations, snowmobiles, off-highway vehicles and more. All of its management is in perpetuity for the enjoyment of Coloradans and its visitors and this podcast is dedicated to telling the stories and happenings in Colorado’s great outdoors!