Big Game License Allocation

 

                                                     Big Game License Allocation
A Resolution of the Colorado Wildlife Federation
                                                           
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.           WHEREAS, Colorado Wildlife Federation understands that Colorado wildlife is a public asset owned by all Coloradoans.
 
WHEREAS, hunting opportunity in Colorado ought be maximized and made most affordable to the average public hunter, which we as CWF define as public hunter interests . In fact, average hunter interests in Colorado drive the American model of wildlife management, which is built upon maximizing hunter opportunity for all citizens.    It is our assessment that average hunters need to have the most access and most direct control over their hunting licenses.   This equates to protecting the highest absolute percentage afforded hunters in terms of limited licenses in the General Draw (100% less the 15% committed since the 1980s to landowners in terms of Landowner Preference).   Indeed we see a defined limit of tolerance the public hunters will allow in Landowner Preference, that being 15%. Any allocation greater than 15% for Landowner Preference works against public hunter interests, e.g., maximizing hunter opportunity, and affordability in hunting.          
 
WHEREAS, the Colorado Wildlife Federation does recognize that private landowners play a special and unique role for wildlife in Colorado.  In this we recognize the importance of agricultural lands and their necessity for healthy, diverse wildlife and wildlife habitat. That is why we support game damage payment programs and other special programs for landowners such as the Habitat Partnership Program, Game Damage Hunts, Private Land Only licenses, and conservation easements. In fact, Colorado’s Game Damage Program alone pays out substantial funds each year as compensation for crop damage by big game on private lands. Few states pay for such damages and Colorado pays the most of any state for game damage.
 
            WHEREAS, the Colorado Wildlife Federation believes that passage of HB -1098 in 2000 was a major mistake for Colorado, and that changes to Landowner Preference are needed.    Number one in terms of needed changes is to limit landowner hunting licenses/vouchers for use on private lands only.   A basic axiom here is that no person has any authority over who would hunt public lands, and landowner vouchers do exactly that. In fact, to quote one constituent, “Having the privilege to hunt on public land should not ever be a privilege bought, sold, or bartered. It really and truly goes against the very foundation of American hunting heritage.” 
 
            WHEREAS, the Colorado Wildlife Federation has ascertained that although the landowner Preference system has an intended limit of six vouchers per species per landowner, in 2005, 2 landowners received over 100 vouchers each while over 1000 received none.     
NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED that the Colorado Wildlife Federation believes that Colorado landowners enjoy adequate preference within the first 15% of limited licenses. The CWF does not support increasing this amount in the future. In fact, this 15% allocation is the maximum that Colorado hunters should be asked to tolerate in landowner preference.   
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED for the record that the Colorado Wildlife Federation believes that licenses obtained through a private land voucher should be valid for private land only – as the name indicates. The Colorado Wildlife Federation does not support the use of voucher-issued licenses on public land .
 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Colorado Wildlife Federation recommends a complete review of the landowner preference system to establish a better allocation process than currently exists. CWF believes the system limit of 6 vouchers per species per ranch application ought to be strictly applied.
 
            Executed on this 19th day of April, 2007.
            Pat M. Kenney, Secretary, Colorado Wildlife Federation
 
 
 
           

 

 

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