Hunting licenses are on sale now
Colorado Parks and Wildlife suspended sales of over-the-counter licenses until July 21 to ensure an equitable and fair application process.
The vendor, Active Network, had technical difficulties, and sales were halted until the issue was resolved and the system was fully operational.
The current licensing system is more than 10 years old and efforts are underway to build a more robust system to handle growing demand.
Thousands of over-the-counter-with-cap licenses for bear hunting are available. Customers should refer to the 2015 Big Game Brochure for season participation requirements.
Unlimited over-the-counter license sales at Parks & Wildlife offices will continue from now until the start of the selected season and after the season begins.
For more information, visit http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/BigGame.aspx or call (800) 244-5613.
Free park entrance offered to military
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers free park entrance to active-duty military and veterans during August as a result of House Bill 15-1045, signed into law May 27.
“We invite Colorado’s military community to enjoy all of the beauty and recreational opportunities Colorado State Parks have to offer,” said CPW Parks and Recreation Assistant Director, Margaret Taylor.
CPW encourages eligible individuals to get their pass in advance at any CPW office or state park to avoid delays at the gate on a planned recreation day.
Veterans and active-duty military personnel (including active-duty, Reserve and National Guard members) can obtain a military hang-tag pass valid for free admission during August, by showing the CPW parks staff one of the following: active or retired military identification; DD Form 2765, DD214; Veterans Affairs medical card; a current Colorado driver’s license or state issued identification card with the veteran seal printed on it.
Once eligibility is confirmed, the military hang-tag pass is issued to the service member. The hang-tag pass is valid when hung from the rear-view mirror of a service member occupied vehicle, and admits all passengers of that vehicle.
Activities like fishing and camping will still require a valid license and permit.
Farmers can be paid for conservation
Beginning Sept. 1, farmers and ranchers can apply for financial assistance to help conserve working grasslands, rangeland and pastureland while maintaining the areas as livestock grazing lands.
The initiative is part of the voluntary Conservation Reserve Program, a federally funded program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance.
The initiative will provide participants who establish long-term, resource-conserving covers with annual rental payments up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land. Cost-share assistance also is available for up to 50 percent of the covers and other practices, such as cross fencing. Participants may still produce hay, mow, harvest for seed production, conduct fire rehabilitation, and build firebreaks and fences.
Applications will be accepted beginning Sept. 1. The ranking period will occur at least once per year and be announced at least 30 days before its start. The end of the first ranking period will be Nov. 20.
For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/crp or consult with the local Farm Service Agency county office.
To locate an agency office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
Staff