Conservative Libertarian Outpost

Outdoor enthusiasts who purchase a Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp are beginning to see a return on their investment.  The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) announced today that more than 19,000 acres have been set aside for wildlife and wildlife-related recreation since the DOW started selling Habitat Stamps two years ago. 
 
“What we have seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Dan Prenzlow, a DOW liaison on the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee.  By combining money collected from habitat stamp sales with grants from Great Outdoors Colorado (GoCO) and other sources, the DOW is working on dozens of other projects that could protect up to 65,000 more acres of wildlife habitat in the near future.
 
Some of the wildlife habitat was purchased by the DOW, but most of it is preserved through permanent conservation easements that protect important winter range and migration corridors for deer and elk.  Other acquisitions and easements have set aside critical land for sage grouse and opened up fishing access for anglers.
 
The habitat stamp program was started in 2006 as a way to preserve and enhance wildlife habitat.  Sales averaged $3.5 million in the first two years. That money was used to match a variety of grant programs to leverage more than $38 million for habitat protection efforts in Colorado.
 
The habitat stamp program is overseen by a nine-member citizen’s committee appointed by the Governor.  The committee has reviewed dozens of proposals to protect critical wildlife habitat.  Each proposal receives a thorough review and is ranked according to its merits.  Final approval comes from the Colorado Wildlife Commission.
 
“The habitat stamp program was set up to benefit the wildlife of Colorado for future generations,” said committee chairman Mark Smith of Center, Colo.  “Our selection process is designed to protect the greatest number of species possible. As stewards of our resources, the committee’s goal is to ensure our grandchildren and their grandchildren will be able to enjoy Colorado’s natural resources.”
 
Properties protected though the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program as of April 10, 2008:

• Conejos County: Kendrick Parcel, 200 acres, fee title, in-holding at existing La Jara Creek SWA, big game winter range and trout fishing. $400,000.
• El Paso County: Ramah Reservoir, 158 acres, fee title in-holding at existing SWA, warm-water fishing and waterfowl access. $120,000.
• Grand County: Wolf-Taussig, 3,140-acre easement, big game winter range. $3.5 million.
• Gunnison County: Miller Ranch, 1,604 acres, fee title, big game winter range and migration, Gunnison sage grouse habitat and public access. $6.5 million.
• Lake County: Hardeman Property, 1.25 miles of Arkansas River, perpetual fishing access and bighorn sheep winter range. $99,000.
• Moffat County: Raftopoulos Two Bar Ranch, 3,184-acre easement for big game winter range and greater sage grouse protection, including 2,400 acres hunting access and fishing stream access in the Cold Springs Mountain area. $1.7 million.
• Rio Blanco County: Berryman Ranch, 2,905-acre easement, big game winter range and migration. $2.5 million.
• Rio Blanco County: Lunney Mountain, 2,027-acre easement, big game winter range and sharp-tail grouse habitat. $1 million.
• Rio Blanco County: Wenschoff Ranch, 525-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, greater sage grouse habitat. $1.2 million.
• Routt County: Adobe Ridge, 561-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, sharp-tail grouse habitat. $480,000.
• Routt County: Circle 8 Ranch, 637-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, sharp-tail and greater sage grouse habitat. $472,000.
• Routt County: Wolf Mountain, 2,711-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, sharp-tail and greater sage grouse habitat protection, and trout fishing. $1.75 million.
• San Miguel County: Baker Ranch, 1,249-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, Gunnison sage grouse habitat.  $850,000.
• San Miguel County: Elk Creek Ranch, 350 acres, fee title, big game winter range and migration, Gunnison sage grouse habitat. $924,000.

 
The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp was created by House Bill 1266 during the 2005 legislative session.  The bill authorizes the sale of the stamp from 2006 through 2010, with an option to continue past the 2010 deadline with authorization from the Colorado Legislature. 
 
HB 05-1266 mandates that 60 percent of the money collected must be spent on big game winter range and big game migration corridors. The remaining money can be used on other habitat types critical to wildlife in Colorado, including wetlands, riparian, shortgrass prairie, and forest land projects.
 
“There are many wildlife species that benefit by protecting big game habitat,” said Prenzlow. “Bears, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, hawks, eagles, and a variety of grouse, waterfowl songbirds and other mammal species will benefit from the habitat stamp program.  Protecting the land that is used by big game goes well beyond just helping the deer and elk herds in the state.”
 
The habitat stamp costs $5 with the purchase of each hunting or fishing license up to a maximum of $10 per year. People who do not hunt or fish can purchase a stamp for $10.25 which includes the Colorado Search and Rescue fee.  Anyone between the ages of 19 – 64 is required to have a valid Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp to enter a DOW managed State Wildlife Area.
 
Habitat stamps can be purchased wherever hunting or fishing licenses are sold, as well as on the DOW’s Web site at www.wildlife.state.co.us or by phone at (800) 244-5613.
 
 
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and wildlife habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation and maintaining a balance between human activities and wildlife.  Funding for the Division of Wildlife comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and the habitat fees collected in conjunction with those sales.  The Division does not receive tax dollars from the Colorado general fund.