Wildlife commission to vote on waterfowl, small game seasons at Durango on Thursday

The Colorado Wildlife Commission will meet Thursday at the Double Tree Hotel, 501 Camino Drive in Durango for its regular July meeting. The meeting will begin at 8:30 am and adjourn at 3:30 pm.

Small game and furbearer regulations and season dates will be in front of the Commission for final adoption along with migratory bird regulations and season dates. These regulations will include the recent proposals to improve waterfowl hunting on the South Platte River.

The Commission will also begin its three-step process on Chapter 1, fishing regulations. Scheduled issues include a proposed bag and possession limit for Mountain whitefish on the upper Yampa River and a Citizen Petition requesting that the Commission impose a statewide regulation requiring that all trout caught using bait be counted toward the angler’s applicable daily bag and possession limits, whether kept or released.

Updates will be given to the Commission from Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) staff on the Big Game 5-Year Season Structure Process and the Lynx Reintroduction Program. Staff will also give an update on how the DOW will assist the Commission with the memorandum of understanding with the Southern Ute Tribe as they exercise their Brunot Agreement hunting rights.

For a copy of the complete agenda please visit: www.wildlife.state.co.us/wildlifecommission/.

Constituents can now listen to Commission workshops and meetings through the DOW Web site. This opportunity is being provided to keep constituents better informed about development of regulations by the Commission and how they and DOW staff are resolving issues facing Colorado’s wildlife.

People can listen to the meetings by visiting the Wildlife Commission Web page (www.wildlife.state.co.us/wildlifecommission/) and clicking on the “listen to audio” link that will be available during meetings for live audio feeds.