Doug Skinner, Author at Colorado Outdoors Online

Author Archives: Doug Skinner

Trophy Trout of Cheesman Canyon

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Doug Skinner Leave a comment

VIDEO: A crew of 15-20 people, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife, US Forest Service, and CPW volunteers, conducts an annual stream electrofishing survey. CPW biologists use surveys to monitor fish health and population for the scenic segment of the South Platte River just below Cheesman Reservoir dam.

Each year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologists conduct fishery surveys of many of our rivers and reservoirs. Periodic monitoring allows CPW to collect and record the biological data needed to guide fishery management in Colorado. CPW biologists can choose from a wide variety of techniques to survey the different types of waters across the state. For the Gold Medal stretch of the South Platte River just below Cheesman Reservoir dam, however, the survey method of choice is electrofishing.

Field Notes of a Rookie Sportsperson: All-day Upland Adventure

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Doug Skinner Leave a comment

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer Aaron Berscheid gives last-minute instructions to a group of novice hunters who are members of the Rookie Sportsperson Program.

One of the things my daughter, Natalie, and I have enjoyed about learning to hunt is the friends we’ve made during the process.

For the past 10 months, we have attended Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Rookie Sportsperson Program (RSP) offered by CPW’s Southeast Region headquartered in Colorado Springs. The RSP takes people like Natalie and me, who have little or no outdoor experience, and teaches them outdoor skills. Hopefully, attendees are inspired to get outside and sample all the adventures available in Colorado’s great outdoors.

Chasing Colorado’s Cottontails

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Doug Skinner 3 comments

Rabbit hunter — All photos by © Doug Skinner/CPW.

Colorado’s rabbit hunting season opened in early October, as leaves, grasses and even pumpkins were turning from green to autumnal oranges and yellows. Moving into November, an increasing frequency of cooler nights brings the expectation of morning frost and summer quickly gives way to the fall hunting seasons. For most, thoughts of Colorado hunting conjures up images of high elevation elk herds or majestic mule deer out on the plains. But for many, the splendor of fall reminds us of our first trips afield – hunting small game.

Reservations Accepted at 18 Colorado Public Hunting Areas

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Doug Skinner Leave a comment

There are few things worse than waking up early to be the first hunter at your favorite hunting spot and finding that someone has beat you to it. One way to avoid that frustration is to use Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s new hunting reservation system (hint: the government loves acronyms, so you may see the system identified as HRS). The new hunting reservation system allows licensed hunters to make reservations at 18 different locations around the state. This system is used primarily for waterfowl and small game hunting reservations, but several of the properties will offer turkey hunting reservations as well.

The 2019 Colorado Outdoors Hunting Guide is Now Available!

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Doug Skinner Leave a comment

2019 Colorado Outdoors Hunting Guide cover

Buy your copy today!

This special edition of Colorado Outdoors magazine features articles that will help you make the most of your fall and winter out in the field. Learn how elevated temperatures affect the animals and those who hunt them. Discover small-game hunting tactics for scaled quail and snowshoe hare. And prepare a trophy meal with a venison tamales that are sure to be a hit at your next game dinner. Enjoy these articles and much in the 2019 Colorado Outdoors Hunting Guide. Purchase your copy or an annual subscription today.

10 Tips For Colorado Bear Hunters

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Doug Skinner One comment

Colorado Black Bear — Although called black bears, they can be honey-colored, blond, brown, cinnamon or black.

The fall bear hunting season is quickly approaching and there are still some great opportunities for hunters to pick up a 2019 license. The map below highlights some of the archery, muzzleloader and rifle bear hunting opportunities that were recently available on the Leftover Limited License List and Over-the-counter (OTC) with Caps License List and do NOT require hunters to have a concurrent deer or elk license. If you already have a 2019 deer or elk license, the lists may provide even more options for purchasing a 2019 bear license.

Livin’ the Wildlife: Colorado Mountain Goats

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Doug Skinner Leave a comment

It’s a species that lives in a land of sheer cliffs and perpetual snows. Colorado’s alpine tundra is home to the mighty mountain goat. These natural mountaineers are one of the state’s most unique and cherished species. This video offers an intimate look at the mountain goat in its natural habitat where it spends most of the year at 13,000 feet!

2019 Colorado Big Game Leftover License Tips

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Doug Skinner 39 comments

What and When is Leftover Day?

Leftover day is the day when Colorado Parks and Wildlife makes all remaining big-game hunting licenses available for purchase. This year, leftover licenses go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m (MDT).

At 9 a.m., licenses will be available for purchase online (CPWshop.com), in person at CPW offices and license retailers (sporting goods stores, hunting and fishing supply stores, etc.), and by phone at 1-800-244-5613. While there are no guarantees that you will get a license on leftover day, there is a great deal of opportunity for big-game hunters looking to get a license to hunt in Colorado this year.

A QUALIFYING LICENSE is NOT required to purchase a leftover limited license, reissued license or an over-the-counter license.

2019 Colorado Outdoors Fishing Guide

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Doug Skinner Leave a comment

The 2019 Colorado Outdoors Fishing Guide is now available!

Anglers can fish for rainbow trout in a cool Rocky Mountain stream or troll for walleye on a sunny plains reservoir. With more than 6,000 miles of rivers and some 1,300 lakes and reservoirs, Colorado is an angler’s paradise. This year’s guide features interesting and informative articles geared toward helping you make the most of your time on the water. The 2019 issue includes articles on bass-fishing rigs, perch hot spots, and backcountry adventure for brookies and cutts. From rivers to reservoirs and graylings to tigers, you’ll find all the tips and tricks you need to make the most of your Colorado fishing season.

101 Places (and Ways) to Take a Kid Fishing

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Doug Skinner 2 comments

Getting started is often the toughest part – learning to walk as a baby, learning to ride a bike, driving a car, and yes, even learning to fish. Beginners may think they’ll just go to a sporting goods store or a bait and tackle shop, pick up a fishing rod, and head out to a local pond or stream. But when they get to the store, they are faced with aisles filled with rods, reels, hooks, sinkers, bait and lures in every imaginable shape and color. So many choices can make it seem easier to walk away than face the nearly limitless choices. Sound familiar? If this has happened to you, or you haven’t yet made it to the store for fear that this would be your experience, don’t worry! We are ready to help you get started.

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