Huntsonora, I think you're treading on some thin ice looking at wildlife management of any type on a purely economic level�.
I think its foolish and irresponsible to look at every program from a simple dollar value assigned, just like you did in your post above. While your numbers are accurate, you didnt take into account the benefit of spreading pressure around, giving hunters a place to hunt, and the CDOW getting the management (via access) they need in those areas�.
The number one reason why people either dont start hunting, or quit hunting, is because they dont have a place to go and/or access. Thats a fact well documented in various USFWS reports conducted nation wide.
BuzzH, in the words of Ricky Bobby, with all due respect, and remember I'm sayin' with all due respect, those comments ain't worth a velvet painting of a whale and a dolphin gettin' it on
I'm kidding but I was about to open my comments with "with all due respect" and I thought about Ricky Bobby and had to laugh
First of all, I will answer the questions and statements you expressed that I feel educated enough to speak on. I simply do not know enough about our fisheries program to be able to make an educated comment and as for outfitters, they are not regulated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife but by DORA which stands for Department of Regulatory Agencies.
I don't know if you read my entire post earlier and maybe you just got caught up in the numbers I was posting but a big, and I mean BIG, reason I am against BGAP is because of the quality, or lack thereof, of the hunt it provides. As I mentioned earlier the good, huntable habitat available is just a portion of the actual acreage leased. An archery hunter might be able to get away from the masses due to lack of guys hunting but I have literally been shocked on numerous occasions that I didn't see somebody get hurt or worse due to all of the people crammed into small areas during the rifle hunts. I am sorry but when you see 10 people hunting a creek bottom that is less than a mile long or when you see 10 people in a 320 acre field, all firing at the same animals I think you would agree. You would be stunned if you had seen some of the actions and behaviors I have seen in these BGAP areas. You claim that the BGAP program spreads pressure around" and I can tell you from firsthand experience that it does the exact opposite, it actually focuses the pressure to just a few areas. I have seen entire age classes of deer wiped out during a season. Its sad really. You also claim that the number one reason people don't start hunting is due to lack of opportunity yet a significant portion of the land area of Colorado � over 35% � is public land. These public lands include forests, wildlife refuges, monuments, wilderness areas and lands managed by the BLM and there are OTC elk tags available to anybody that wants one and there are always leftover tags available after the draw. Opportunity abounds here in Colorado
The value in wildlife resources is only realized if the public has access to them...both consumptive and non-consumptive access. If the CDOW has to pay to get that access in some cases, so be it.
I think you need to pull away from your tunnel vision and think big-picture.
Also, you can blow smoke all you want, but the days of walking up and knocking on doors and gaining access for free are largely OVER
Buzz, I gain access by knocking on doors all the the time. Landowners are receptive to letting people hunt in a lot of the areas I frequent. All it takes it time to get out there to meet people. I know a number of people on this website alone that hunt ground they don't have to pay for and they got permission by working for it, not by waiting around until Colorado Parks and Wildlife leased ground for them. I assure you that I am not blowing smoke here and that you may be the one with blinders on if you feel that obtaining access is impossible.
Instead of whining about a program, why not try to improve it?
At least I post facts and figures when I state my case as to why I feel BGAP is a failed program. There are some here that have nothing to focus on other than the fact that I guide hunts for a living and they feel I simply don't like the competition. Thats almost comical considering I have literally gone out and found deer in these units I guide in for 24HCF members in the past and will happily do so in the future. I have always given my honest opinions and not blown smoke up anybodies arse to further my own agenda. Some guides might, I don't.
