Division of Wildlife

Walk-In Access Program Expanding to Western Slope

The popular Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) “Walk-In Access Program” is expanding to western Colorado. The program was originally designed to give small game hunters in eastern Colorado increased opportunity for harvesting pheasants and other small game. It also gives landowners an opportunity to harvest some financial gain during the early winter by allowing public hunting on their property. In western Colorado, the DOW will focus Walk-In Access on waterfowl, primarily, Canada goose hunting opportunities in Mesa, Montrose, Garfield, Delta, La Plata, Archuleta, Dolores and Montezuma counties.
 
Landowners can earn from $5 to $20 per acre, depending on the amount of goose hunting land they own. Fields will be evaluated on their potential for goose hunting opportunity prior to their acceptance into the program. Parcels including corn stubble fields, green winter wheat, alfalfa and hay meadows and other areas that provide goose hunting opportunity are prime examples of the type of fields the DOW is looking to enroll, but any type of habitat that has potential for good goose hunting will be considered. At this time, State Land Board holdings cannot be accepted into the program.
   
Enrolled properties will be clearly marked with Division of Wildlife “Walk-in Access” signs and their locations published in an atlas available to Walk-In Access hunters. Landowners will not be personally identified in the atlas. In western Colorado, the Walk-In Access Program provides access for only goose hunting but does not provide access for pheasant, quail, or other hunting.
 
Properties enrolled in the program will be available for foot access only. No vehicles or horses will be permitted. The public access period for 2006 will run from Nov. 1 through Jan. 28, 2007. The program is funded through sales of a mandatory walk-in access program permit which will be available for $20 at all DOW offices and all hunting and fishing license vendors. Enforcement against hunters who do not possess a license or walk-in access program permit will be the responsibility of the DOW. All normal hunting regulations apply on Walk-In Access properties.
 
Interested landowners should contact their local DOW office for more information. Landowners in Mesa and Garfield Counties should contact the DOW Northwest Region office in Grand Junction at (970) 255-6100. Interested landowners in Delta and Montrose Counties should contact the DOW Montrose Area office (970) 252-6000. For La Plata, Archuleta, Dolores and Montezuma counties contact the Durango area office at (970) 247-0855. The deadline for interested landowners to enroll in the Canada goose program for this fall is Sept. 1.
 
Walk-In Access Program expansion will continue in upcoming months as the DOW works to implement an access program in western Colorado for spring turkey hunting. Interested landowners with wild turkey flocks can contact the closest DOW office to receive additional information as it becomes available.
 
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