09-19-2007, 02:10 PM
The Colorado Wildlife Commission met Thursday, September 14th in Pagosa Springs and approved the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) staff's recommendation for the 2007-2008 mountain lion harvest limit quota.
The mountain lion quotas are developed for specific geographic areas of the state called Game Management Units (GMUs). The statewide harvest limit quota was raised from 556 lions in 2006-2007 to 559 lions during the 2007-2008 season.
The commission also voted to change the name of the Lone Cone State Wildlife Area to the Jim Olterman/Lone Cone State Wildlife Area. Jim Olterman was a DOW biologist and pilot. Olterman died when his plane crashed due to unexpected wind currents while he was stocking fish in high country lakes in southwest Colorado in 2002.
"Throughout his life, Jim was a good friend to many at the Division," said Mark Konishi, Acting DOW Director. "He was also a dedicated biologist whose actions were always centered on propagating the state's wildlife resource. It is certainly fitting that such a beautiful place that supports so much wildlife will help us to remember Jim for years to come."
In other commission action, facilities possessing big cats (lions, tigers, etc.), bears and wolves will now be required to submit a contingency plan regarding the disposition of the animals. These facilities will also need to post financial security for the plan. The commission voted to approve the new regulation in an effort to protect the safety of the public and the DOW financially in the event of an emergency closure, abandonment of the facility or termination of the facility's license.
The Commission will meet next at a workshop in Sterling on October 11-12.
The mountain lion quotas are developed for specific geographic areas of the state called Game Management Units (GMUs). The statewide harvest limit quota was raised from 556 lions in 2006-2007 to 559 lions during the 2007-2008 season.
The commission also voted to change the name of the Lone Cone State Wildlife Area to the Jim Olterman/Lone Cone State Wildlife Area. Jim Olterman was a DOW biologist and pilot. Olterman died when his plane crashed due to unexpected wind currents while he was stocking fish in high country lakes in southwest Colorado in 2002.
"Throughout his life, Jim was a good friend to many at the Division," said Mark Konishi, Acting DOW Director. "He was also a dedicated biologist whose actions were always centered on propagating the state's wildlife resource. It is certainly fitting that such a beautiful place that supports so much wildlife will help us to remember Jim for years to come."
In other commission action, facilities possessing big cats (lions, tigers, etc.), bears and wolves will now be required to submit a contingency plan regarding the disposition of the animals. These facilities will also need to post financial security for the plan. The commission voted to approve the new regulation in an effort to protect the safety of the public and the DOW financially in the event of an emergency closure, abandonment of the facility or termination of the facility's license.
The Commission will meet next at a workshop in Sterling on October 11-12.