DURANGO - Colorado Parks and Wildlife is looking for hunters and anglers who wish to participate in a "Regional Sportsmen's Caucus" for southwest Colorado and to serve on a statewide "Sportsmen's Roundtable" that will address wildlife issues.
These new public participation programs for hunters and anglers will be explained at two meetings in the southwest region. The first meeting is at 6:30 p.m., March 4, in Montrose at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office, 2300 S. Townsend Ave.; and, 6:30 p.m., March 6, at the Ross Aragon Community Center, 451 Hot Springs Blvd., in Pagosa Springs.
At the meetings, hunters and anglers are invited to talk about wildlife issues and concerns. Participants will also select representatives to serve as members on the statewide Sportsmen's Roundtable. Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff will be available to answer questions.
"It's important that we listen to hunters and anglers," said Patt Dorsey, southwest regional manager. "These meetings will provide a forum for a general discussion of wildlife issues and to help the agency formalize the process of getting input from sportsmen and sportswomen."
Although any member of the public can attend and provide input at the local meetings, those selected to serve on the statewide Sportsmen's Roundtable must have a hunting or fishing license, and be active in those activities. Those chosen for the roundtable must commit to attend the bi-annual regional caucuses and Sportsmen's Roundtable meetings and serve a two-year term.
The Sportsmen's Roundtable will consist of 24 members with 16 statewide members and two delegates from each of the four regions.
Anyone unable to attend the local meetings and who wants to serve on the statewide panel, can apply online at http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/Pages/Roundtable.aspx.
For more information, contact Joe Lewandowski, southwest region public information officer, at 375-6708 or email joe.lewandowski@state.co.us.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, more than 300 state wildlife areas, all of Colorado's wildlife and a variety of outdoor recreation. For more information, go to cpw.state.co.us.
For more news about the Division of Wildlife, go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases.
For more general information about the Division of Wildlife, go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.