The Colorado General Assembly in the past week reached resolution on certain key measures related to wildlife. Others continue to make their way through the legislative process while others remain in limbo.
A key decision involving the ability of the Colorado Division of Wildlife to acquire property for wildlife protection or recreation was defeated 7-6 in conference committee.
SB 1137, sponsored by Sen. Greg Brophy and Rep. Jerry Sonnenburg, would have required the wildlife agency to surrender land or water of equal value to any new property it might acquire. The measure was widely viewed as a punitive measure by agricultural interests hostile to any DOW presence in their vicinity.
HB 1069, a measure embraced by DOW and widely supported by wildlife interests and major elements of the hunting community, sailed through the House of Representatives on Thursday by a 44-22 vote. The measure gives DOW officers authority to write citations for illegal off-road vehicle use on federal land.
The bill gained the support of certain off-highway vehicle groups weary of having their reputation tarnished by the minority who choose to violate posted travel regulations.
Maverick OHV users naturally oppose any restrictions on their activities.
In addition to protecting the resource from the vehicular abuse, the bill has one important advantage. Illegal off-road use serves to push deer and elk farther back into the wilds, pushing them away from law-abiding hunters who proceed on foot.
The measure also contains certain concerns. It places pressures on wildlife officers who now have added duties in enforcing regulations for federal agencies that are woefully understaffed.
It also contains exemptions for agricultural interests that ostensibly could use OHVs to herd livestock at considerable damage to the resource.
HB 1096, a volatile measure that would have eliminated “canned” hunts, the shooting of big game animals in fenced enclosures, was postponed indefinitely, effectively killing it for this session.
SB 28, a Brophy-sponsored measure to divert South Republican River water past Bonny Reservoir, effectively drying up the impoundment, will have a hearing Thursday in the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee.
SB 38, a Jack Taylor-sponsored measure that would mandate extension of a pilot program providing additional preference licenses for landowners in extreme northwest Colorado, received no action.
Charlie Meyers
