Statistics
Apr
26
Colo Hunters and Fishers fund 98% of Habitat Stamp Projects
April 26, 2008 | Tagged Colorado Habitat Stamp, conservation groups, hunting and fishing, wildlife | 1 Comment
According to information provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife at a noon Sportsmen’s Caucus meeting on April 24th at the State Capitol, hunters and fisher folk pay about 98% of the cost for wildlife projects funded by the Habitat Stamp Program. You may remember, when the stamp fees were added to hunting and fishing license fees, the “non-consumptive” conservationists and nature lovers pushed the program as a way for bird watchers, hikers, etc., to get involved in the funding and management of wildlife habitat.
The Habitat Stamp money pays for wildlife easements on private land and outright purchases of other parcels to provide winter range and migration routes for Colorado animals. The program also allows some access for hunters and fishers to recreation areas, usually on state-owned property.
The board set up to adminster the fund is made up of a combination of hunters, fishers, and “non-consuptive” users. The “non-consumptive” users have much more than a 2% representation on the board.
Senator Tochtrop, a long-time friend of hunters, fishers, and gun owners, expressed her disappointment at the low level of participation in the program by the conservationists and nature lovers who do not hunt and fish. She urged them to “step up to the plate” and pay their fair share to support game and non-game animals in Colorado.
I agree. If these folks are going to have a say about how the money is spent, they need to pay their part of the freight. If gun owners and hunters don’t monitor this situation, we could have the “non-consumptive” users calling the tune for this program, while we pay the piper.
Def Mech
Comments
1 Comment so far
I used three of your posts in two posts to “The Unarmed Citizen” today, and added you to my list of “recommended sites.” Looks like you consistently have good information and know how to use it.
Ray Thomas’s last blog post..I Knew It!