elk_hunter
Active member
Just got this response from Senator Gail Schwartz... 
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Jason,
Thank you for contacting my office regarding SB13-188 as your input is critical in strengthening our democratic process and helps me to better represent our district.
SB13-188 is a result of a two year stakeholder process in order to address wildlife habitat on private lands, reward landowners for providing habitat, and provide more opportunity for all hunters. The committee of nine members represented hunters, landowners, outfitters, and CPW managers.
The voucher program leads to more available permits by increasing landowner tolerance for big game populations. The program encourages owners of farms and ranches to view wildlife as an asset by providing tangible benefits to landowners. These higher populations mean more opportunities for public hunters across the state on public and private lands. On the whole, public hunters benefit from larger populations. By comparison we have more big game than we did 30 years ago due to private land owner participation.
The bill makes several changes to the Landowner Preference program, which is the process that allocates big game hunting licenses to agricultural landowners through a system of transferable vouchers.
This SB188 tightens the eligibility requirements for participating landowners. It requires that smaller properties have their applications verified prior to enrolling, and that larger properties are subject to audits. Existing properties, under the program, will be grandfathered in for the first three years. Another change is that vouchers will no longer only be based on total acreage. Instead, the bill incorporates a proportional scale providing for one application for every 600 acres with maximum of 11,400acres. The Division of Colorado Parks and Wildlife will also collect data about prices paid for vouchers to address potential concerns regarding a high-price “market” for these vouchers. While there is currently no data that shows people paying for vouchers, SB13-188 protects ordinary hunters and safeguards against any misuse. With enforcement in mind, the bill prohibits brokering of vouchers and requires a landowner to give access to the entire parcel for which the voucher was issued. CPW has the authority to disqualify any landowner or hunter that violates any rule for up to five years.
Again, thank you for sharing your input regarding SB13-188 and I hope this information will be helpful. You can use the general assembly website to track the bill and listen to testimony when it is in committee. Please continue to contact me with feedback, input and questions in the future.
Link to SB-188 http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/cl...B8B123187257AEE00571B65?Open&file=188_eng.pdf
From the office of:
Gail Schwartz, Colorado State Senator
Senate District 5
office: 303-866-4871
State Capitol Building, Room 332
Denver, CO 80203
fax: 303-866-4543
www.gailschwartz.org
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Jason,
Thank you for contacting my office regarding SB13-188 as your input is critical in strengthening our democratic process and helps me to better represent our district.
SB13-188 is a result of a two year stakeholder process in order to address wildlife habitat on private lands, reward landowners for providing habitat, and provide more opportunity for all hunters. The committee of nine members represented hunters, landowners, outfitters, and CPW managers.
The voucher program leads to more available permits by increasing landowner tolerance for big game populations. The program encourages owners of farms and ranches to view wildlife as an asset by providing tangible benefits to landowners. These higher populations mean more opportunities for public hunters across the state on public and private lands. On the whole, public hunters benefit from larger populations. By comparison we have more big game than we did 30 years ago due to private land owner participation.
The bill makes several changes to the Landowner Preference program, which is the process that allocates big game hunting licenses to agricultural landowners through a system of transferable vouchers.
This SB188 tightens the eligibility requirements for participating landowners. It requires that smaller properties have their applications verified prior to enrolling, and that larger properties are subject to audits. Existing properties, under the program, will be grandfathered in for the first three years. Another change is that vouchers will no longer only be based on total acreage. Instead, the bill incorporates a proportional scale providing for one application for every 600 acres with maximum of 11,400acres. The Division of Colorado Parks and Wildlife will also collect data about prices paid for vouchers to address potential concerns regarding a high-price “market” for these vouchers. While there is currently no data that shows people paying for vouchers, SB13-188 protects ordinary hunters and safeguards against any misuse. With enforcement in mind, the bill prohibits brokering of vouchers and requires a landowner to give access to the entire parcel for which the voucher was issued. CPW has the authority to disqualify any landowner or hunter that violates any rule for up to five years.
Again, thank you for sharing your input regarding SB13-188 and I hope this information will be helpful. You can use the general assembly website to track the bill and listen to testimony when it is in committee. Please continue to contact me with feedback, input and questions in the future.
Link to SB-188 http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/cl...B8B123187257AEE00571B65?Open&file=188_eng.pdf
From the office of:
Gail Schwartz, Colorado State Senator
Senate District 5
office: 303-866-4871
State Capitol Building, Room 332
Denver, CO 80203
fax: 303-866-4543
www.gailschwartz.org
