Re: [cobirds] Re: Access to State wildlife areas

Fantastic info!

I agree... I also strongly believe ALL birders should purchase a duck stamp. Many of us spend lots of time around and in the NWR's.

Appreciate your insights!

Lori 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 13, 2020, at 7:31 AM, Mike Hensley <mikedh1980@gmail.com> wrote:



I actually think a watchers license that parallels the hunting/fishing license and whose cost contributes to the maintenance of SWA's is a great idea. It simultaneously broadens the base of people who are financially contributing AND provides a way to measure the number of people who are using SWA's for non-hunting/fishing purposes. Have any conservation organizations (Audubon?) proposed this change to state lawmakers?

On Saturday, July 11, 2020 at 11:39:16 AM UTC-6, Polly Reetz wrote:

Lots of discussion going on about the change in policy by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) about accessing State Wildlife Areas.    While buying a fishing license, especially a senior license, is not a big financial burden for many birders, there is a general feeling, at least among the Audubon folks I've talked to,  that we want to be counted as wildlife watchers, not fishermen or hunters, so that CPW is more aware of this audience and listens to us on other policy issues.  

 

     No one has yet come up with a method to do this that doesn't result in a reduction in Colorado's  federal Wildlife Aid in Restoration grants which come from the excise tax on hunting and fishing equipment  (although we could argue that a lot of that money in fact does NOT come from hunters - you pay it if you buy a handgun too).    The Parks and Wildlife Commission is still discussing this question - it is on their agenda for Thursday morning, July 17 at 9:25 am.   You can listen in from the CPW website (About Us - Commission - Meetings).  And offer comments by email before the meeting.

   Suggestions have been: a wildlife watchers license, a maintenance fee dedicated to SWAs, a checkoff on the fishing or hunting license application for wildlife watchers/photographers so CPW can take count of us.... your ideas??   Send them to the Commission.  Some of this would take legislative action.

Polly Reetz

Denver Audubon COnservation Committee chairperson

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