Here is what the CBA has to say about this so is any one in support well other than CJ and commissioner Bray?
Anyone?
The CBA will have representation at this meeting. This meeting will take place at the address and dates below. You may participate and contact them via the web site:
http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/CommissionMembers.aspx
Meeting Location:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission
Subcommittee on Big Game License Allocation
5:00 ? 6:00 PM, Thursday, September 11, 2014
Ramada Inn
124 W. 6th Street
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Letter Sent to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission by the CBA BOD:
September 7, 2014
Chairman Bill Kane
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO
Re: In Regards to Big Game License Allocations and the BGSS
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commissioners:
The Colorado Bowhunters Association would like to express their concern regarding the decision to reassess the allocation of big game licenses between resident and nonresident hunters . The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is responsible for making policies and decisions that protect the wildlife of this great State, and protect the interests of resident hunters. At the August Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting, a subcommittee was formed to evaluate the reallocation percentages of highly desirable elk and deer tags from residents of Colorado to nonresidents. The CBA believes that this process is not justified, and that Colorado is already more than fair to nonresident hunters compared to other western states.
In addition, the Parks and Wildlife Commission recently approved a 5% increase in landowner vouchers which will become effective in 2015. Some of that reallocation will be coming from what is now the resident draw. Until sportsmen and other interested parties in Colorado have an opportunity to see the effects of that change, other compounding changes are unwise.
We ask that the Parks and Wildlife Commission Public terminate any consideration of changing license allocation at this time. If the Parks and Wildlife Commission does choose to proceed in this review, a full public involvement in this process is vital and that a working group of all affected parties should be convened to consider this issue. The development of a subcommittee to develop allocation options without complete constituent representation could be viewed as an attempt to circumvent the outcome of the last Big Game License Allocation Work Group process. In the event of a public involvement process, the CBA would like to participate.
The Parks and Wildlife Commission is in a unique position in its responsibility to guide policy for wildlife management and conservation. There is no biological or wildlife management goal to be reached by increasing nonresident percentages. Current statistics show that in most years the current 35% allocated to nonresidents is not fully utilized. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the majority of nonresident hunters are satisfied with the current availability of licenses to nonresidents that hunt in Colorado. Colorado already has the highest percentages of licenses available to non-residents of any western state. Nonresidents can hunt elk every year if they choose with an over the counter license. Left over tags are available but underutilized by nonresidents. We recommend that the reallocation of licenses to nonresidents be removed from consideration because it is an unwarranted change.
Protecting our resident hunters should be a priority and not secondary to nonresident interests. The current percentages for allocation of licenses to nonresidents are under utilized on a yearly basis. An increase is not needed. For these reasons, we recommend the proposal for reallocation of nonresident licenses be removed from consideration and the current license allocation percentages be kept at the status quo.
Respectfully,
Mike Yeary
Chairman
Colorado Bowhunters Association