Steamboat Pilot & Today

Answers available on limited licenses

DENVER As the April 2 deadline for big-game limited license applications nears, Colorado Division of Wildlife staff will host evening open houses.

Staff will assist hunters with applications and answer questions. There are several changes for the 2002 season that hunters should be aware of, such as an increase in additional cow elk licenses and participation rules for deer hunters. In Denver, open houses will be held at 6060 Broadway from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Hunters who can't attend one of these open houses can have their limited license application questions answered by a customer

service representative at

any DOW service center,

via the Internet at askdow@state.co.us, or by calling (303) 297-1192.

Tax breaks can assist wildlife

DENVER Lynx, bald eagles and black-footed ferrets don't have annual incomes. But Coloradans can help support such threatened and endangered species by donating to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund during tax time.

Taxpayers can contribute to the fund by checking off a line item on their 2001 state income tax forms. Colorado was the first state to institute a tax check-off program after DOW officials won legislative approval to place the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund on tax forms in 1977. Since then, more than 1.5 million Coloradans have donated $11 million.

Species supported this year include the boreal toad, Preble's Meadow jumping mouse, Gunnison's sage grouse, burrowing owl, swift fox, lynx, and several species of endangered fish such as the pikeminnow, razorback sucker, bonytail and humpback chub.