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October 4, 2001 BY THE COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE DENVER — For the first time in 10 years, nonresident hunters are going to see an increase in the price of big game licenses. Even with the increase, hunters shouldn’t expect to see a major change in the amount of hunters in Colorado. If the number of applications for limited big game licenses is an accurate barometer, there will be only a slight decrease in licenses sold this fall. Big game applications for limited licenses were down by 15 percent. People with fewer preference points were able to get licenses in some cases. Hunters will also have the opportunity to buy over-the-counter bull elk licenses throughout three of the combined big game seasons. Henrietta Turner, license service manager for the Division, has seen the effects of past increases on the number of hunters and said she doesn’t expect the impact will be significant. "Logically, I think there should be a decrease in the number of hunters," Turner said. "What historically happens is that there is one year of protest where there is a small decrease in the number of hunters. Over the next couple of years, the number of hunters recovers but hunters can expect to see a little less hunting pressure this year." These are the increases for nonresident licenses that went into effect this year: Antelope: $270, up from $150 Deer: $270, up from $150 Elk: $450, up from $250. Mountain goat: $1,500, up from $750 Moose: $1,500, up from $1,000 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep: $1,500, up from $750. Youth big game (deer, elk and antelope): $100 each, up from $75 each. Bear and mountain lion license fees will not increase through the 2002 hunting season. Currently, out-of-state fees for bear and mountain lion hunting licenses are $250 each. There are several reasons that the impact of license fees is expected to have minimal effects on the number of out-of-state hunters who practice their craft in Colorado. One reason is that even with the increase in fees, Colorado remains competitive with other western states as far as the cost of nonresident licenses. Colorado is the only state to offer an over-the-counter bull elk license. Other states force their hunters to apply for all elk licenses. The average nonresident hunter who comes to Colorado spends $3,000 dollars during the course of their trip. A $200 increase in the cost of a license isn’t enough to deter a hunter who was already prepared to spend that amount of money. A Colorado resident is anyone who has lived in the state continuously for at least six months immediately before applying for a license, a full-time student at a state college or university, or any member of the U.S. armed services stationed in Colorado or a Colorado resident serving elsewhere. |
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Copyright © 2001 the Cortez
Journal. All rights reserved. |
