The turn of the calendar page carries with it a reminder or three for Colorado outdoorsmen and women, along with a few new regulations that kicked in Wednesday.
Maybe the most relevant as spring weather induces fluctuating swings between the itch to cast a fishing line and the desire for a good pair of gloves to regain sensation in your scratching finger is Wednesday’s required purchase of a before hitting the water.
The calendar for Colorado fishing resets annually April 1, with standard annual fishing licenses costing $26. License buyers between the ages of 18-64 also must buy a $10 Colorado Habitat Stamp. Money collected from stamp purchases is used to preserve and protect wildlife habitat throughout the state.Youth 15 and younger are not required to buy the annual license, and resident senior annual licenses for those 64 or older cost just $1. A resident combination fishing-small game license is available for $41. A resident small game license costs $21, but only $1.75 for those under 18.
Some new fishing regulations kick in with the April reset, including a new bag and size limit for Arctic char in Dillon Reservoir. In a nod to the and successful reproduction of Arctic char in the reservoir, the new bag, possession and minimum size limit for char is one fish, 20 inches long.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks about 20,000 4-inch-long Arctic char a year in Dillon, and char now account for about 4 percent of the reservoir’s overall fish population. Aside from Dillon, a reservoir in Maine is the only other place in the Lower 48 where Arctic char can be found.
Also noteworthy, closures at Chatfield and Cherry Creek reservoirs are now in effect through April 15 or until CPW walleye-spawning operations are complete.
Big game application. The one-week window for big game hunting applications opened Wednesday. Hunters have until 11:59 p.m. next Wednesday to apply for limited licenses for elk, deer, pronghorn, moose and bear. In recent years, the online licensing system has been inundated with last-minute license applications, making a solid case for before the deadline.
“It should be an excellent hunting season,” said Ron Velarde, manager of CPW’s game-rich northwest region. “With light harvest from last year, the mild winter we’ve had this year and the excellent fall as far as moisture goes, we’re anticipating a good calf crop and fawn crop this spring.”
CPW is hosting several seminars assisting hunters with big game applications statewide in the coming week. Check out cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/PlanYourHunt.aspx to find all the resources CPW has to offer hunters to complete their applications.
Turkey time. starts April 11. A resident license is $21, just $11 for hunters under 18. Over-the-counter licenses are now on sale. Visit bit.ly/coloradoturkey for details.
Mountain lion. Mountain lion hunters now have an extra month — through April — for hunting, but they must buy a new license for the season as of Wednesday. That license will be valid for all mountain lion seasons through March 31, 2016. Learn more at cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/MountainLion.aspx.
Off-highway vehicle and boat registration. Annual OHV registration renewal also resets Wednesday. The $25.25 registration is valid from April 1 through the following March 31 and cannot be prorated for a partial year’s registration or refunded if the vehicle is sold or stolen. Learn more at cpw.state.co.us/buyapply/Pages/RegistrationsOHV.aspx.
Any boat with a motor or sail operated on public waters in Colorado also must be registered with CPW. Resources for boaters can be viewed at cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/boat.aspx.
Parks pass. Now is also a good time to buy a Colorado State Parks pass. A pass, good for entry at 42 state parks, costs $70 and is good for a year from the date of purchase. Available at any state park, CPW office or online at parksstore.state.co.us.
CPW is purely an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales and park fees to support operations at state parks covering more than 220,000 acres, big game management, hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and nonmotorized trails, boating and outdoor education.
