Wednesday, July 28, 2010
When the 2010 Small Game Hunting brochure hits the stands in early August, it is sure to raise a few eyebrows. In addition to a fresh new design that simplifies the rules and regulations, the brochure will include a free DVD titled, “Pheasant Hunting Colorado.”
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is breaking new ground for a state wildlife agency, hoping the DVD will inspire new hunters to discover the many facets of Colorado’s excellent upland bird hunting, beginning with the ring-necked pheasant.
Although “Pheasant Hunting Colorado” is an entertaining, action-packed DVD filmed in stunning high-definition on Colorado’s Eastern Plains, it offers the viewer much more than just a taste of exciting pheasant hunting. The half-hour DVD is a comprehensive guide that leads both new and experienced hunters alike through the steps of planning and pulling off a successful hunt.
“The section on identifying the various types of pheasant habitats and how they can determine a pheasant’s daily movements is easy to understand and goes way beyond the typical advice given to hunters,” said Dennis McKinney, video specialist for the DOW and long-time pheasant hunter in eastern Colorado. “And the scouting and hunting strategies are dead on.”
More good news for small-game hunters this year is the Division of Wildlife’s decision to make its Walk-In-Access Program free to small-game license holders. The popular program provides access to more than 220,000 acres of private land to small game and waterfowl hunters. Hunters will find more details in the Small Game Brochure and in the Walk-In-Access Atlas due out later this fall.
“Teaching and recruiting future hunters is an effort that all wildlife agencies across the country are working on,” said Tyler Baskfield, communications manager for the DOW. “Providing an entertaining and educational DVD with every small game regulation brochure allows us to recruit pheasant hunters on a mass scale. It dovetails with our other recruiting efforts and the state’s wildlife and economy will benefit in the long run.”
Hunting and fishing bring an estimated $1.8 billion dollars into Colorado’s economy, and sportsmen pay for the majority of wildlife management. Money from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses accounts for more than 70 percent of the DOW’s annual budget. Pheasant hunting specifically benefits the many small-town economies on the Eastern Plains.
“Pheasant hunting is a great way to introduce new and especially young hunters to the sport of hunting,” said Tom Remington, Director of the DOW and avid pheasant hunter. “With this DVD, a pair of boots and the Walk-In Program Atlas, anybody can try their hand at hunting what looks to be a plentiful crop of roosters this fall.”
Pheasant hunters enjoyed great success last year due to increased numbers of birds on Colorado’s Eastern Plains. Pheasant crow counts on the Eastern Plains this spring were up over last year by 27 percent. Barring any massive weather events or other impacts on the pheasant population between now and the opening day of pheasant season, hunters should enjoy a banner year for pheasants.
To view a preview of “Pheasant Hunting Colorado” please visit:
YouTube – Pheasant Hunting Colorado – Introduction
To view an electronic copy of the 2010 Small Game Regulation Brochure please visit:
Small Game – Colorado Division of Wildlife
For more news about Division of Wildlife go to: News – Department of Natural Resources
Additional Information: Members of the media, who would like an electronic image of the cover of the 2010 Small Game Regulation Brochure and the Pheasant Hunting Colorado DVD, should contact Tyler Baskfield.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
Contact:
Tyler Baskfield (303) 291-7468
I just picked up a choc lite 4 finger and really wanted to give that a try, but without thinking(again)….what am I going to do for hunting in MN when it becomes cold and I need a face net/face mask and gloves? This choc lite just might not be the best for hunting even though I really wanted to give it a go.