RBC I Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be conducting an audit of registered properties in the Landowner Preference Program, formerly the Priority Landowner Preference Program.
Some landowners may receive letters to clarify or confirm details of their registered properties. If issues are found, these landowner registrations will be corrected or removed from participation.
Colorado Senate Bill 13-188, changed the CPW Priority Landowner Preference Program to the Landowner Preference Program, effective July 1, 2014. The new program replaces all previous landowner preference systems.
The program was created to give landowners a preference for hunting licenses to encourage private landowners to provide habitat that increases wildlife populations for the benefit of all hunters, discourage the harboring of game animals on private lands during public hunting seasons and relieve hunting pressure on public lands by increasing game hunting on private lands.
“One of the more significant changes made between the old and new program is increased oversight,” said Steve Znamenacek, the CPW district wildlife manager overseeing the program and its implementation.
Participating landowners should keep in mind:
All grandfathered properties will be audited by July 1, 2016; all properties will be audited at least once every five years; if during the audit issues with the registration are found, landowners will be notified and registrations corrected or removed from participation.
CPW began audits of all registered properties in fall 2014.
In order to apply for the program, private landowners must register deeded property of 160 contiguous acres or more with CPW by Dec. 1 to be eligible for the following year draw.
All Priority Landowner Preference registrations that were active as of June 30, 2014, were automatically transferred into the Landowner Preference Program.
More information about CPW’s Landowner Preference Program as well as how to apply is now available at cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/ LandownerPreference.aspx.
