The annual Photography Issue always closes out the year at Colorado Outdoors and we are thankful and appreciative of the support of our hunters, anglers, park visitors and so many others who understand that conservation work is at the core of what we do at Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
Read moreEach 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.
Read moreWeighing up to 1,000 pounds and towering 6 feet high at the shoulder, moose are Colorado’s largest wild mammal. While moose sightings are fairly common today, moose were quite rare in Colorado throughout most of the 20th century. But, thanks to successful reintroduction and management by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado’s moose are now one of the fastest-growing herds in the lower 48 states.
Read moreEach year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) fishery biologists set up a spawn-take operation at North Delaney Butte Lake. During the operation, biologists will capture brown trout and collect more than a million eggs, which will be fertilized at the lake and then shipped to CPW fish hatcheries. Once hatched and raised, the brown trout are restocked in rivers and lakes throughout the state. And while brown trout are non-native, the hard fighting fish are some of the most popular among Colorado’s anglers.
Read moreIn mid-September Biologist Dan Cammack walked slowly along the edge of a boggy pond in the San Juan Mountains high above the San Luis Valley and peered into the mud and black water looking for a camouflaged critter the size of a dime.
Read moreFor the 2019-20 Colorado pheasant hunting season, hunters can expect a year similar to, but probably somewhat better than last season, which was a decent year. This season, we had relatively good moisture conditions over the summer, so we can expect more birds in the fields. In terms of quail hunting, the outlook is a little different. Bobwhite quail numbers in the southeast region looked pretty good, while scaled quail are a bit down from the heyday of a few years ago. In the Northeast, bobwhite quail have mixed results – some properties have good covies and good size to the covies, while other properties, not so much. It’s looking like a spotty hit or miss quail hunting this season.
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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.
Read moreTeaching youth about wildlife, conservation and safe hunting is a primary focus for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Youngsters who learn about the importance of wildlife will carry that value with them throughout their lives. In addition to a variety of youth hunts and programs throughout the state, three annual multi-day youth camps occur in the San Luis Valley every summer. This video, by CPW’s Jerry Neal, highlights the Costilla County Youth Camp organized by Conrad Albert, a district wildlife manager in the San Luis Valley. This year was the 26th annual camp and Conrad continues to share his passion for hunting, wildlife and conservation.
Joe Lewandowski is the public information officer for CPW’s Southwest Region. He’s based in Durango.
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!
Read moreGetting 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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