A round-up of outdoor news

    Most big-game hunters have been advised of their application draw results, but not all have received their refund checks. Refunds will be minus the $3 application fee and each refund will be issued separately for a specific species.
    Preference points should be monitored carefully by hunters, because they enhance one’s application success in future years. Preference point status can be checked on the DOW website “Hunting/Big Game Page.”
    Wildlife artist Richard Clifton has done it again. Clifton won his first Colorado waterfowl stamp art contest in 2010 and again his work was selected in 2011. His rendering of three green-winged teal will grace this year’s waterfowl stamp. The state stamp program was initiated in 1990 to help fund Colorado wetlands conservation. The $5 stamp is required along with a state small game hunting license and the federal migratory waterfowl stamp, or “duck stamp” as it has become to be known. Clifton, a Delaware artist who has also been featured on 32 other state waterfowl stamps, as well as the 2007-08 federal duck stamp.
    Small-game hunters including waterfowlers and anglers are reminded to purchase new 2011-12 licenses. Small game and fishing licenses are issued annually between April 1 and March 31. The annual Harvest Information Program, HIP number is required as well, and can be obtained online at www.colohip.com. The purchase of the $10 habitat stamp with the first license purchase is required to access state wildlife Areas during the hunting seasons.
    The Colorado Legislature authorized the combining of the Division of Wildlife and the State Parks into the new agency to be referred to as the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife. There is a fear among sportsmen that the new organization will rely on the stronger wildlife revenues to support the weaker funded parks operations.
    Hunters and fishermen license fees provide the bulk of the funding for wildlife management. Sportsmen are urged to be watchful of the impact on the historically sound wildlife management program in Colorado. Rick Cables was named the new director of the combined division. Cables comes to Colorado from his position as regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Region and wide experience nationwide in conservation management.

Contact the author at Ron-Hellbusch@comcast.net