Colorado Parks and Wildlife - Steamboat Springs

10/11/2024

1st Rifle season opens on Saturday. Hunters, are you ready?

Hunters, with rifle season opening this weekend, here are some things to keep in mind as you make your plans. You should always let someone who is staying at home know the following about your hunt. This way they can call for help and give authorities pertinent information if needed.

🎯 Destination: the area you are hunting (be specific) and the general route you plan to take in and out. Include how familiar you are with the area.

🎯 Campsites: if staying multiple days, list a campsite location for each night or where your main base camp is.

🎯 Times: the hunting party will leave the trailhead/camp at ______ a.m. / p.m. on _______________ (date), Planned return to trailhead/base camp ______ a.m. / p.m. on _______________ (date)

🎯 Transportation: make/model and license of car(s) and OHVs your group is driving and which trailhead you will park at. If you have stock, include how many and a description of the animals.

🎯 Gear: survival gear the hunters will carry and what you are using to navigate. You are carrying the 10 Essentials, right?

🎯 Communications: type of communications device you are carrying (cell phone, satellite messenger) and radio channel if using a radio. If you have the ability, you should update your contact if plans change or get extended to prevent a false alarm.

🎯 Emergency plan: How will the hunters notify someone if they need help? When is the estimated time you expect to return from the hunt. Also include the names and phone numbers of your partners and their emergency contacts. Consider a “yellow-red” system of times: “We plan to call to check in with you by 3:00 pm. If you don’t hear from us by sunset, call the sheriff”. To contact the Routt County Sheriff's Office to initiate a SAR response, call 970-879-1090, or 911 if it is an emergency.

🎯 Medical: any pertinent medical issues and medications you are taking, as well as how long of a supply you brought.

🎯 Description: Name and age/height/weight/sex of each hunter. Also add what kind of clothing each hunter is wearing (especially anything unique) and what type of bow or rifle. If camping: what kind of tent.

Search and Rescue is always free of charge in Colorado, so do not hesitate to call for help right away if someone needs help in the backcountry.

10/08/2024

The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland entered Stage 1 fire restrictions today.

So what is not allowed during a Stage 1 fire restrictions?
* Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire in public lands. This includes charcoal barbecues and grills;
*Fireworks sales, use , and possession, including permissible fireworks;
* Shooting or discharge of fi****ms for recreational purposes on public lands EXCEPT for hunting with a valid and current hunting license on public lands;
*Smoking, EXCEPT in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials;
* Operating a chainsaw or any internal or external combustion engine without aUSDA or SAE approved spark arrester properly installed and in effective working order, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher kept with the operator and one pound point shovel with an overall length of 35 inches readily available for use;
* Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame EXCEPT in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter and in possession of a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher;
* Using an explosive or doing any kind of blasting work
*Parking motorized vehicles in the grass or vegetated area that can come in contact with the underside of the vehicle
* Fireworks and exploding targets
Fires are allowed in a constructed, permanent, fire pits or fire grated within developed Forest Service camp and picnic grounds or recreation sites and petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns or eating devices that meet the factor underwriter’s specifications for safety. Fires that are maintained or attended within a device that has a spark arrest or where the fire is fully enclosed within a screen at all times is allowed.
The recent heat wave has raised wildfire concerns in Colorado

All Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland to enter Stage 1 fire restrictions https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mbr/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1208913

02/16/2024

The 2024 Big Game Brochure is now available online.
https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/BigGame.aspx

There are some changes that may effect your hunt in NW Colorado, so be sure to look over the new brochure and watch this short summary of WHAT'S NEW.
https://youtu.be/x7nhct65gsw?si=30V4ZTZ7D4DBrs15

This video provides an overview of some of the changes that affect the upcoming 2024 Colorado Big-Game seasons. Please read the "what's new" pages in the big...

09/29/2023

Attention waterfowl hunters:

With the waterfowl hunting season set to begin tomorrow (Sept. 30), Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Steamboat Springs Area Office is notifying waterfowl hunters that the ponds located at Yampa River State Wildlife Area will not be open for opening day.

The ability to maintain a constant water flow from the Brock Ditch has delayed refilling the ponds, which were previously drained in preparation for future work on the SWA.

In collaboration with Ducks Unlimited, CPW is working to replace valves on the Brock Ditch. The ponds were drained to allow heavy equipment easier access to the property. Work on replacing the valves will continue next spring.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife would like to thank waterfowl hunters for their patience as CPW staff work to refill the ponds.

Waterfowl hunters are encouraged to contact the Steamboat Springs Area office at 970-870-3333 with questions or for updates on hunting conditions.

08/24/2023

We want your input!

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking input on a draft management plan for Steamboat Lake and Pearl Lake State Parks, located near Steamboat Springs.

Public comment is open starting Thursday, Aug. 24, and ends Saturday, Sept. 30. Visitors can read the draft plan and comment by visiting Engage CPW.

More information can be found at https://cpw.info/3OLEfCx.

08/21/2023

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Northwest Region is seeking input on elk management as we draft Herd Management Plans (HMPs) for 15 elk herds in northwest Colorado. The Northwest Region will host a series of open house public meetings over the coming months where members of the public will be able to provide feedback on the future of elk management in the NW Region.

Upcoming Public Meetings
Area 9, Kremmling (open house)
Tuesday, August 22 from 6 - 8 p.m.
Kremmling CSU Extension Hall
210 11th St, Kremmling, CO 80459

Area 8, Roaring Fork (open house)
Wednesday, August 23 from 6 - 8 p.m.
Eagle County Community Center
20 Eagle County Dr., El Jebel, CO 81623

Area 7, Grand Junction (open house)
Monday, August 28 from 6 - 8 p.m.
Mesa County Fairgrounds
2785 U.S. Hi 50, Grand Junction, 81503

For more information please visit cpw.info/3Kurknb.

08/07/2023

No plans today? Head on out to a State Park, and enjoy free entry!

08/04/2023

Why is the Yampa River so dirty today?

Rain on the burn scars in Southern Routt County has caused Morrison Creek to be dirty, running into the Yampa River and causing the low water clarity.🤓

07/19/2023

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced an emergency public fish salvage is in effect at Sheriff Reservoir, approximately 12 miles west of Yampa in Rio Blanco County.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. - Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced an emergency public fish salvage is in effect at Sheriff Reservoir, approximately 12 miles west of Yampa in Rio Blanco County.

07/03/2023

Our office will be closed today and tomorrow (July 3rd and 4th) in observation of the July 4th holiday.
If you have a wildlife emergency please contact Routt County Dispatch at 970-879-1090.