SPORTSMEN'S ROUNDTABLE MEETING IN GUNNISON, AUG. 29

GUNNISON, Colo. – All hunters and anglers who are concerned about wildlife and related issues are invited to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southwest Region "Sportsmen's Roundtable" meeting, Aug. 29 in Gunnison.
      
The meeting is part of the statewide "Sportsmen's Roundtable" process set up by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to assure that hunters and anglers statewide can provide input, concerns and discuss issues with leaders of the agency. The Gunnison meeting will be the third in the southwest region related to the roundtable process.
     
In January, a panel of 24 sportsmen was elected and appointed to the statewide roundtable panel. Members represent every corner of Colorado. That group has met twice this year.
     
The Gunnison meeting will be attended by several southwest region Parks and Wildlife staff members and by at least four of the six southwest representatives to the statewide panel.
     
The roundtable members will talk about the work of the statewide group, the issues it is discussing and future plans. Agency staff will also talk about current issues and projects, and take questions from the public.
     
"The roundtable process is being led by hunters and anglers," said Patt Dorsey, southwest region manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "It's important that sportsmen and sportswomen in the southwest region provide input to their representatives and to the agency."
     
Anyone who is unable to attend but has specific questions or concerns can send that information to Joe Lewandowski, southwest region public information officer at joe.lewandowski@state.co.us, or call him at 1-970-375-6708.
     
The southwest region includes, roughly, the area from the Four Corners to the San Luis Valley, the Gunnison Basin, the North Fork Valley, and the Montrose-Delta area west to the state line.
     
The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29 at the Parks and wildlife office in Gunnison, 300 W. New York Ave.
     
For more information about Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Sportsmen's Roundtable, see: wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/Pages/Roundtable.aspxý.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

CPW OFFERS "MULE DEER 101" CLASS IN GRAND JUNCTION

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Every hunting season brings novice mule deer hunters into the field, eager to learn and have a successful hunt. For new hunters that may not have a mentor, or experienced hunters that are looking for an edge, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will host a free, Mule Deer Hunting 101 class, Tuesday, Aug. 27 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Building, 711 Independent Avenue in Grand Junction.

The seminar will cover mule deer habitat, biology, animal distribution, hunting strategies and hunting equipment. Regulations, field dressing techniques and recipes will also be discussed.

"In addition to the material covered, conversations and sharing of information is a beneficial part of the class," said Dick Severin, assistant Hunter Outreach Coordinator for CPW. "Students will have an opportunity to learn from hunting experts and from each other."

Colorado Parks and Wildlife believes many hunters don't participate due to a lack of mentors that can teach them the finer points of hunting. Through the agency's Hunter Outreach Program, seminars like Mule Deer 101 helps introduce hunting knowledge and traditions to a new generation of Colorado's sportsmen, including women and youth.

Registration is required and space is limited. To reserve your spot, call 970-255-6100 , or go to www.register-ed.com/events/view/35688

Who: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
What: Mule Deer Hunting 101 course
When: Tuesday, Aug. 27, 6 - 9 p.m.
Where: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Building, 711 Independent Ave., Grand Junction
Registration: Call 970-255-6100, or visit www.register-ed.com/events/view/35688

Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. To learn more, please visit cpw.state.co.us.###

WEST RIFLE CREEK SWA SHOOTING RANGE WILL CLOSE FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS

RIFLE, Colo. - Colorado Parks and Wildlife is planning major improvements to the shooting range at the West Rifle Creek State Wildlife Area beginning Monday, Aug. 12. When completed, the improved range will provide Garfield County hunters and firearm enthusiasts with a safe, high-end public shooting area.

Scheduled work will improve access, parking and walking areas and includes the construction of several new rifle and pistol lanes. To allow for construction equipment and user safety, the range will be closed for approximately five to six weeks. The rest of the SWA will remain open to the public during the construction phase.

"The current range is not in the best shape and these improvements are needed," said Area Wildlife Manager JT Romatzke. "We are constantly working to provide the public with clean and safe shooting facilities and anyone who has used this range in the past will greatly appreciate the upgrades."

In addition to hunters sighting in their scopes and target practice for firearms enthusiasts, the improvements will aid local law enforcement agencies by providing an appropriate and safe area for firearms training.

Romatzke adds that minor delays pushed the construction start date close to the approaching hunting seasons, but says the overall goal will be worth any inconvenience.

"If construction proceeds as scheduled, we expect that shooters can resume using the facility by the end of September," he said.

The majority of the $150,000 project is funded with sportsmen's dollars in addition to a small percentage coming from federal excise taxes on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment.

During the temporary closure, shooting enthusiast can find an alternate range by visiting wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/ShootingRanges/Pages/NWRanges.aspx

Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. To learn more, please visit cpw.state.co.us.