I had a neighbor for many years, who spent as much time as he could get away with, in the high country. He knew the Uncompahgre Plateau as well as any person I have ever met. He hunted elk and deer, traveled every ATV trail he could find, and hiked to corners previously undiscovered.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has selected specific deer and elk hunts for mandatory chronic wasting disease testing in 2021 to inform how and where to fight the spread of CWD.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife celebrated National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 to celebrate and honor all the valuable contributions Colorado’s sportspeople make to conserving our wildlife populations and state lands.

Declining water levels have forced Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s managers at Rifle Gap and Harvey Gap state parks to announce the closure of boat ramps a month early. The boat ramps at the state parks will close at the end of the day on Sept. 30 this year instead of the normal closure date o…

By Mark Rackay

As the aspen trees start to change colors, Colorado’s “leaf-peeping” season is kicking into high gear. While the stunning display of fall foliage is worthy of the annual crowds drawn to the state’s most scenic trails and parks, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds people searching for autumn …

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has lifted the voluntary afternoon fishing closures of the Dolores River and Tomichi Creek effective immediately.

It can be a bit daunting to choose an area to explore with kids in our nearby national forests, to mention anything of deciphering maps and determining appropriate trails for youngsters. Between the White River, and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, there are over 5 …

By Mark Rackay

Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Wednesday relocated a young bull moose to the San Juan National Forest after it had spent a few days in Durango and eventually wandered into a downtown neighborhood.

By Mark Rackay

National Forest managers, partners and volunteers in northern Colorado have been hard at work this summer tackling fire and flood recovery work across the vast landscape of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Tens of thousands of burned hazard trees have been mitigated. Hundreds of m…

Anglers at Blue Mesa Reservoir who participated in the lake trout harvest tournament aided Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s management goals for kokanee salmon and lake trout in the renowned fishery.

Shawn Williams fired up with his chainsaw on April 13 ready to take down a tree to make room for a new parking lot at the Wonderland Nature School in Gunnison. He looked up to the tree and saw nothing except the eyes of a large owl as it swooped past his head.

My family owned a summer home in the north woods of Wisconsin during my early years. I was fortunate to spend around 20 summers there. Most of my time was spent in the woods or on the water. Only when the hunger pains got to me, would I be indoors.

As drone use becomes increasingly popular, Colorado’s state parks and wildlife agency urges the public to help protect wildlife, even from the air. Although technology increases access in many positive ways, it can also pose a threat to wildlife by causing increased stress and even death for…

The effort by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to restore San Juan Cutthroat Trout in the San Juan River Basin will continue with a key project to remove non-native trout in the headwaters of Wolf Creek in the San Juan National Forest.

By Mark Rackay

When it comes to quality trout fishing, our state’s signature Gold Medal waters are a magnet for both resident and non-resident anglers. But those waters face challenges on many fronts. In an effort to change the way the angling community thinks about Colorado’s Gold Medal trout waters and t…

By Mark Rackay

Black bears in Colorado are entering hyperphagia and will spend up to 20 hours a day trying to eat more than 20,000 calories to fatten up for winter. As bears start to prepare for hibernation and hunt for food, Coloradans may see more bear activity in urban areas.

We are so fortunate to live in a place surrounded by public lands here in Western Colorado. Lands open to the public include national forests, Bureau of Land Management areas, national parks, portions of national wildlife refuges and Colorado State Parks and Wildlife Areas. Within most of th…

By Mark Rackay

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has awarded $650,000 to eight Fishing is Fun (FIF) projects, all geared to improve angling opportunities in the state of Colorado. The approved projects include improved angling access, habitat improvement, and trail and boat access. Funding recipients include pro…

By Mark Rackay

By Mark Rackay

For the third consecutive year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and its partner Colorado fishing companies are encouraging anglers to take a friend fishing. As a reward for anglers sharing their expertise and love of fishing, CPW has created a contest for mentors who take the time to pass on the…

By Mark Rackay

Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Keystone Policy Center announced recently the launch of an Online Open House and detailed Comment Form available on Colorado’s Wolf Restoration and Management Plan Public Engagement Website. The online open house and comment form offer the same information…

By Mark Rackay

Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Colorado State University are partnering on a research study about the public and stakeholder engagement process associated with wolf reintroduction in the state. The research will be funded by a RAPID National Science Foundation (NSF) grant from the Decision,…

By Mark Rackay

If you like fishing and would like a shot at winning as much as $5,000, head over to Ridgway State Park starting in July and cast a line to participate in the 7th annual Smallmouth Bass Fishing Tournament sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

By Mark Rackay

Due to extremely low flows and concerns about warm water temperatures, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking anglers to self-regulate their fishing activities. Effective immediately, CPW is placing a voluntary fishing closure on the Dolores River from noon through the remainder of the day.

By Mark Rackay

By Mark Rackay

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are issuing their annual warning to avoid elk, moose and deer that have newborn calves and fawns this time of year.

By Mark Rackay