The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and eight non-profit wildlife conservation organizations have selected more than $480,000 in wildlife projects that will be funded this year with proceeds from the sale of special auction and raffle hunting licenses in Colorado.

Everybody, it’s been said, talks about the weather and Colorado big-game hunter are no exception. And though nobody, hunters included, does anything about it, as the 2008 seasons for elk, deer and pronghorns are beginning, discussions of the weather remain a vital part of the anticipation and planning for this year’s hunts.

Over the past century we have witnessed a remarkable wildlife turnaround. When the 20th century was young, it was estimated there were fewer than 50,000 elk left in the U.S. Today the estimated population exceeds 800,000 elk. Hunting is allowed over much of elk country and some states have surplus populations.

In one of the most unusual emergency operations in Colorado this year, three cow elk that fell through the ice of a private pond south of Pagosa Springs were rescued by Division of Wildlife officers, a local volunteer fire fighter and ten other law enforcement workers. The rescue occurred on Dec. 15.

Another elk, a young spike bull, died in the pond during the effort.