Prairie chicken applications available

Prairie chicken applications available

June 19, 2001

BY THE COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

DENVER — Permit applications for greater prairie chicken hunting are now available at Division of Wildlife Service Centers statewide, on the Internet at wildlife.state.co.us/hunt/gpc.pdf or via phone at (303) 297-1192. The deadline for submitting an application for the totally limited hunt is June 30. Shotgun, archery and falconry hunters can apply for a single, two-bird permit to hunt the birds during either a Sept. 15 to Sept. 30 firearms/archery season or a Sept. 15 to Oct. 31 falconry-only season. A total of 300 two-bird permits will be available through the drawing, which will be completed by Aug. 15.

"This is only the second hunt for greater prairie chickens since 1937," said Ed Gorman, wildlife biologist for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. "Landowners efforts in creating and improving habitat during the past decade have enabled the birds to make such a great comeback that these limited seasons are possible."

Last year 47 hunters received greater prairie chicken permits, with 44 shotgun/archery permit holders taking 19 birds and 3 falconry hunters killing none. This year – as was the case last fall – all hunting for greater prairie chickens will be on private land in Yuma County north of U.S. Highway 36. Prior to submitting applications, hunters must obtain permission from private landowners in this area and provide contact information for the landowner on the application form. A $3 non-refundable application processing fee and refundable $20 permit fee are required with applications.

Between 1973 and 1993, Colorado’s greater prairie chickens were listed by the state as an endangered species. In 1993, the birds were delisted to threatened and in 1998 they were delisted to a special concern/non-game status. Through Division of Wildlife recovery efforts, which included cooperative habitat projects with eastern Colorado landowners, greater prairie chicken numbers have grown from a low of 600 birds in 1973 to an estimated fall population of 10,000 to 15,000 birds, which can easily sustain a limited harvest.