Southwest Colorado Hunting & Fishing Guide 2023

HUNTING & FISHING

A REGIONAL RESOURCE FOR HUNTING & FISHING ADVENTURES

Services

TRAVEL PLANNING resources

Durango Service Center

(970) 247-0855

San Juan National Forest (970) 247-4874

BLM Southwest Center (970) 240-5300

Pagosa RD Pagosa Springs (970) 264-1500

CHIEF

Carrie Cass

Gabriel Glenn

Pagosa FO Pagosa Springs (970) 264-2268

Tres Rios FO Dolores (970) 882-7296

Gunnison FO Gunnison (970) 641-0471 *RD

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Jamie Opalenik director of multimedia sales

Ballantine Communications uses reasonable effort to include accurate and up-to-date information for its special magazine publications. However, all information comes from a variety of sources and may change at any time for any reason. To verify specific information, refer to the organization or business noted. To view the online version of this guide, visit: www.durangoherald.com

Hunting season dates for 2023-2024

COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE

Big Game

DEER

Archery Sept. 2-30*

Muzzleloader Sept. 9-17*

Second Rifle Oct. 28-Nov. 5

Third Rifle Nov. 11-17

Fourth Rifle Nov. 22-26

Plains Rifle Oct. 28-Nov. 7

ELK

Archery Sept. 2-30

Muzzleloader Sept. 9-17*

First Rifle Oct. 14-18

Second Rifle Oct. 28-Nov. 5

Third Rifle Nov. 11-17

Fourth Rifle Nov. 22-26

Small Game

SMALL GAME

Abert’s Squirrel Nov. 15-Jan. 15

Beaver

Oct. 1-April 30

Bobcat Dec. 1-Feb. 29

Badger, Fox, Mink, Muskrat, Pine Marten, Opossum, Raccoon, Ring-Tailed Cat, Skunk, Weasel Nov. 1-Feb. 29

Common Snapping Turtle April 1-Oct. 31

Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Jackrabbit black-tailed, white-tailed) Oct. 1 - Feb. 29

Coyote Year-Round

Marmot Aug. 10-Oct. 15

Prairie Dog June 15-Feb. 29

Prairie Rattlesnake June 15-Aug. 15

Squirrel: Fox and Pine Oct. 1-Feb. 29

Squirrel: Wyoming Ground Year-round

PRONGHORN

Archery Aug. 15-Sept. 20*

Muzzleloader Sept. 21-29

Rifle Oct. 7-15*

MOOSE

Archery

Sept. 9-30

Muzzleloader Sept. 9-17 Rifle Oct. 1-14*

BEAR

Archery Sept. 2-30

Muzzleloader

Sept. Rifle (limited)

Sept. 9-17

Sept. 2-30*

Sept. Plains Rifle Sept. 1-26

First Rifle Oct. 14-18

Second Rifle Oct. 28-Nov. 5

Third Rifle Nov. 11-17

Fourth Rifle Nov. 22-26

Private Land Only Rifle Sept. 2-Nov. 26*

SHEEP & GOATS

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Aug. 1-Dec. 31*

Mountain Goat Sept. 5-Oct. 31*

Desert Bighorn Sheep Nov. 1-30

MOUNTAIN LION

Fall season Nov. 27-March 31

* Indicates that hunt seasons vary by license type and hunt location. Please see detailed hunt tables and maps for additional guidance online at www.cpw.state.co.us.

MIGRATORY & GAME BIRDS

Band-Tailed Pigeon Sept. 1-14

Chukar Patridge Sept. 1-Nov. 30

Crow Nov. 1-Feb. 29

Dove: Mourning, White-Winged Sept. 1-Nov. 29

Dove: Eurasian Collared Year-Round

European Starling, House Sparrow Year-Round

Greater Prairie Chicken Oct. 1-Jan. 31

Grouse: Dusky (Blue) Sept. 1-Nov. 26

Grouse: Greater Sage* Sept. 9-15

Grouse: Mountain Sharp-Tailed Sept. 1-17

Pheasant* Nov. 11-Jan. 31

Quail: Northern, Bobwhite, Scaled, Gambel’s* Nov. 12-Jan. 31

Rail: Sora, Virginia Sept. 1-Nov. 9

Sandhill Crane Sept. 30-Nov. 26

White-Tailed Ptarmigan* Sept. 9-Oct. 1

Wilson’s Snipe Sept. 1-Dec. 16

Duck, Coot and Teal Sept. 30-Nov. 26

Central Flyway Dec. 25-Jan. 31

Duck, Coot and Teal Sept. 30-Oct. 17

Pacific Flyway Nov. 6-Jan. 31

Dark Goose Sept. 30- Oct. 18

Central Flyway Nov. 18-Feb. 11

Dark Goose & Light Goose Sept. 30-Oct. 8

Pacific Flyway* Nov. 6-Jan. 31

Light Goose Oct. 28-Feb. 11

Central Flyway Feb. 12-April 30

Turkey Sept. 1-Oct. 27* Dec. 15-Jan. 15

Editor’s Note: Hunt seasons, as well as bag limits, vary by license type and hunt location. Please see hunt tables and maps for details online at www.cpw.state.co.us.

Hunter safety education

CONNIE BYERS

Hunting is one of Colorado’s favorite outdoor recreational activities for natives and visitors alike. With over one million Colorado hunting license holders, it’s a lifestyle, sport, way of obtaining food and sometimes, a source of income.

However, before you can apply for a Colorado Hunting Licence and embark on a hunting adventure, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1949, must get their Hunter Safety Certification. The good news for visiting hunters is that Colorado accepts approved hunter education certificates from all U.S. states, Canadian provinces and several foreign countries. For would-be hunters who still need certification, here’s a breakdown.

WHY IS HUNTER SAFETY EDUCATION IMPORTANT?

A Hunter Education class aims to teach hunters to be safe, legal and responsible. It helps prevent hunting and hunting-related accidents, injuries and fatalities, improves hunter behavior, and increases compliance with hunting laws.

While Hunter Education classes encourage safer hunting, they also help hunters to be more successful in their hunts. More than 18,000 hunter education students in almost 700 classes are certified each year in Colorado, according to

Cortez-based CPW officer and District Wildlife Manager Andrew Brown.

“Since Hunters Education became mandatory in 1970, hunting-related shooting incidents have dropped from an average of ten fatalities a year to an average of less than one per year,” Brown said.

I ALREADY KNOW FIREARM SAFETY. WHAT ELSE WILL I LEARN?

Beyond firearm safety, the Hunter Education course covers wildlife identification for key game species. Educates hunters on wildlife conservation and habitat management and teaches hunting ethics, laws and regulations. Other subjects, when time allows, will include basic survival, game care, basic field dressing and an introduction to bow hunting and muzzleloading. Through these lessons, the hunter’s education course strives to instill responsibility, improve skills and knowledge, and encourage responsible, ethical behavior.

ENROLLING IN A HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE

There are currently two options for the hunters education course, traditional in-person classes or an online course with an in-person conclusion.

THE TRADITIONAL COURSE:

The traditional classroom course is a minimum of ten hours of in-person instruction and includes skill exercises, a review, a final exam and a live-fire exercise. These courses are typically held in range halls, CPW offices, schools or other indoor venues, with the live-fire exercise at a nearby gun range or shooting club.

THE ONLINE COURSE WITH IN-PERSON CONCLUSION:

The online course, combined with the in-person conclusion course, has two parts: an online course that must be completed first and then a field course that typically takes 4-6 hours to complete. The field course contains a presentation on ethical and responsible hunting, participation in a hunting skills trial, a live-fire exercise, a review of regulations, and

a final exam. The approved provider for Colorado online Hunter Education is Hunter-Ed available at www.hunter-ed.com. Note that you will need to register for a conclusion class before you can enroll in the online course.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO CLASS?

Most of the materials needed will be provided, but it’s always a good idea to bring a pen or pencil and a pad for taking notes. Your course instructors will provide all firearms, ammunition and safety gear for the live-fire portion of the course. If the range where your livefire exercise will take place is outdoors, be sure to be prepared for all weather conditions.

WHO TEACHES THE HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES?

The traditional and in-person conclusion classes are taught by Colorado, a combination of certified volunteer hunter education instructors and CPW Officers. A series of certified instructors in prefilmed videos teach online courses.

HOW OLD DO YOU NEED TO BE TO TAKE HUNTER EDUCATION?

According to the CPW site, there is no minimum age requirement for the course, but “students ten or older are more likely to be successful.” This stipulation is put in place because students must be mature enough to understand the information presented, pass the written test and safely participate in the live-fire testing.

WHAT IS THE COST OF THE COURSE?

The maximum charge for the traditional Hunter Education course is $10. According to the Hunter-Ed website, the current price for the online course is $29.50. There will be an additional charge of, at most, $10 to take the in-person conclusion course.

For more information, visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife site. www.cpw.state.co.us/learn/pages/huntereducation.aspx

Poaching is a problem

Poaching continues to be a major issue in Colorado. Some national studies indicate that poachers kill almost as many animals as legitimate hunters do during legal seasons.

If poachers kill even half that number each year, the problem is serious because they are stealing game from licensed hunters, robbing businesses and taxpayers of revenues generated by hunting, and depriving us all of a valuable resource–our wildlife. And it’s not just game animals that poachers steal, they also kill threatened, endangered and non-game species.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife warns that most poachers are not poor people trying to feed their families. Some kill for the thrill of killing, others for trophies. Some kill for money, because trophy heads, antlers and bear gall bladders can be worth thousands of dollars.

Poaching is the illegal taking or possession of any game, fish or non-game wildlife. Hunting out-ofseason or outside of the game management unit for which you have a valid license, hunting at night with a spotlight or taking more animals than the legal limit all constitute poaching. A non-resident who buys a resident license can also be convicted for poaching. Flock shooting big game is also poaching, since it usually leaves multiple dead and wounded animals.

Hunters who witness such violations should report them to wildlife officers, local law enforcement or call Operation Game Thief, a nonprofit organization that pays rewards to people whose tips lead to an arrest being made or a citation being issued to poachers. The number to call is (877) 265-6648, which also is printed on carcass tags. Or send tips to CPW via email at game.thief@state.co.us.

Rewards are paid for information which leads to an arrest or a citation being issued: $500 in cases involving big game or endangered species, $250 for turkey and $100 for information on other wildlife violations; although awards of up to $1,000 may be given in significant poaching cases.

Since 1981, Operation Game Thief has received more than 5,000 reports of poaching, resulting in more than 900 convictions. These convictions netted more than $800,000 in fines, and have resulted in the seizure of more than 1,300 illegally-taken animals. During this time period, rewards of more than $150,000 have been paid to citizens who reported suspected illegal activity.

For more information: www.cpw.state.co.us.

2022 big game harvest statistics

DEER

Estimated population: 427,000 in Colorado

Diet: grass, forbs, twigs, vegetation

Average life span: 5-8 years

Average size: 3-3.5 feet tall, 4.5-7 feet long (females usually smaller than males)

Average weight: 100-300 pounds (females usually smaller than males)

Run speed: 30 mph

BEAR

Estimated population: 17,000-20,000 in Colorado

Diet: berries, grass, herbs, vegetation, insects, fish, meat

Average life span: 20-30 years

Average size: 50-80 inches long (females usually smaller than males)

Average weight: 100-500 pounds (females usually smaller than males)

speed: 30 mph

ELK

Estimated population: 301,190 in Colorado

Diet: grass, forbs, tree bark, twigs, vegetation

Average life span: 10-13 years

Average size: 4-5 feet tall, 6-8 feet long (females usually smaller than males)

Average weight: 500-700 pounds (females usually smaller than males)

Run speed: 35 mph

*ARCH–all archery, MZL–all muzzleloader, RIFLE–all rifle seasons

SOURCE: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Preparation for mountain hunting

GARETT DICKINSON

The majestic San Juan range in the Rocky Mountains is a paradise for outdoor activities. A vast, 12,000-square-mile expanse of land stretches from the Gunnison River Valley down to northern New Mexico, the San Juans are home to 13 of Colorado’s 56 14,000-foot peaks. It is a stunning, yet challenging environment.

Naturally, the remote wilderness is a utopia for hunting and fishing. According to the Colorado Wildlife Council, the state generates over 3.25 billion dollars annually from hunting and fishing revenue.

Considering this, visitors and locals alike should respect the environment in regards to leaving no trace and personal safety. The altitude and terrain create risks for recreationists, but staying prepared helps people in the great outdoors manage the risks that inevitably come with enjoying wild places.

ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

The high altitude is a concern for backcountry camping and hunting, especially for those unaccustomed to it. While fishing, hiking and hunting, outdoor recreationists should take the elevation into account when preparing for their time in the high country.

Exposure to UV is more intense at altitude. It can lead to sunburn and dehydration, which can quickly progress to emergencies like heat stroke and hypothermia. Protection from the sun should include sunscreen, sunglasses and protective clothing like billed hats and layers that protect the skin from UV rays.

In addition, the reduced oxygen can take a toll, especially for those with concerns such as cardiac issues. Any person with health challenges, no matter how insignificant, should consult a physician prior to an adventure to arm themselves with potentially life-saving knowledge in emergency situations.

Prepare to acclimate with a plan and an understanding of altitude sickness. Although often minor and treatable by returning to lower elevation, altitude sickness can progress to potentially lethal conditions, like high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE)

and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).

One way to adjust to altitude is by allowing for gradual acclimatization. This is important regarding exertion and the elements. A simple approach is to take day hikes to successively higher altitudes before returning to lower ones. Watch for symptoms of altitude sickness like headaches, nausea and related concerns, such as dehydration.

BACKCOUNTRY NAVIGATION

Before you go, let someone know where you are and when you should return. Leaving a map or note in your camp or vehicle, or sending texts about your location and plans can be lifesaving in the event rescuers begin a search. Once you make a plan, don’t deviate. It’s also important to practice orienteering skills with a traditional map and compass, because GPS devices can fail users.

Be sure any vehicles used in the backcountry are well maintained, have adequate fuel and are not a potential fire hazard. In addition, adhering to proper safety etiquette both on and off the road will keep an individual and those around them safe. Drive slowly on dirt roads and adhere to the hunting safety fundamentals, like the adequate adornment of blaze orange, properly identifying the target and knowing what is behind it.

WELL-EQUIPPED

Survival skills and equipment are also vital. Although many tools exist to help outdoors recreationists make it safely back to camp or home, experience with a tool is as important as the tool itself. Familiarize yourself with your equipment and how to use it before you need it, an emergency is not the time to learn how to build a fire or use first aid supplies.

Water is one of the most important considerations and should be prepared for with an adequate daily supply of water and the ability to purify water with a pump, iodine tablets or other methods should the need arise. A person can survive for around three days without water.

However, dehydration will take its toll on the body long before that and contributes to altitude and temperature-related illnesses. Dehydration also causes confusion, a potentially lethal symptom when navigating the backcountry.

Shelter and warmth are also paramount, and preparation includes the appropriate clothing and weather gear like rain shells or ponchos, and quality footwear like water-resistant boots. Cotton is not a good choice as it loses its ability to insulate when wet, so opt for fleece, wool or other rain-resistant choices.

In the event of an unplanned overnight stay, shelter and fire-starting supplies are critical. Pack fire-starting supplies, including tinder and a reliable lighter or waterproof matches, as well as shelter preparations, like a mylar emergency blanket. These lightweight items can make the all the difference in an emergency.

Other essential equipment includes light sources and a quality knife or multitool. Headlamps are best to leave the hands free and remember that any critical equipment that uses batteries means backup batteries should also be carried. A headlamp or GPS device is worthless without power.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

A first-aid kit suitable for the wilderness is also essential. A person will likely need more than band aids in the wilderness, and a proper survival kit will contain items that provide immobilization for fractures or sprains, tools to control bleeding, like pressure dressings or a tourniquet, basic medications and consumables like rehydration salts. Though often overlooked, bug spray or netting is also essential to prevent discomfort and illness.

Finally, remember when in doubt don’t go out. No outing is worth dying for or risking the well-being of search and rescue teams. By erring on the side of caution you can guarantee there will be another fantastic season of Colorado hunting and fishing in your future.

GEAR CHECKLIST

Preparing for a hunting trip is a major effort. Listed below are a few common items that hunters often forget as they get ready to go into the backcountry.*

• First aid kit

(include mole skin/duct tape for blisters)

• Compass and high-quality maps

• Fire starter for use in the field

• Knife and sharpener

• Extra batteries

• Rain gear

• Blaze orange vest and cap

• Extra fuel for camp-stove

• Tire chains

• Cleaning supplies, trash bags

• Flashlight/lantern/head lamp

• Game bags

• Sunscreen

• Toilet tissue

• Hunting license

• List of family/friends phone numbers

• Extra water bottles

• Water purification pump or tablets

• Latex gloves for field dressing animals

For more information, see: www.cpw.state.co.us

Lone Wolf Cabins would like to invite you to stay with us this hunting season. We offer

Thirty years on Hermosa restoration project

JOHN LIVINGSTON, COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE

It has been five years since the last treatment was conducted to remove non-native fish on the main stem and East Fork of Hermosa Creek. Anglers today now come from all over the country for the chance to catch a Colorado River cutthroat trout.

Once found widely across the Colorado River drainage in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, the Colorado River cutthroat is found in less than 15% of its historical range. But thanks to an effort now more than 30 years in progress, a pristine 23-mile stretch of restored cutthroat trout water nestled in the southern San Juan Mountains behind the popular ski destination of Purgatory Resort is now home to not only stocked pure Colorado River cutthroat trout, but also wild fish now spawning on their own.

“The idea that we do have these 23 miles of cutthroat trout water that we can point anglers to and they can catch these fish, it’s really remarkable,” said CPW aquatic biologist Jim White. “We’re seeing naturally reproducing fish and large adult fish that anglers are excited to catch. I get tons of reports of people really pleased with the whole project and their success on Hermosa.”

The 23-mile stretch remains the largest continuous stretch of native Colorado River cutthroat trout water in all of Colorado.

“These cutthroat trout belong here,” said Ty Churchwell of Trout Unlimited in Durango. “This is their home, and it’s incredibly rewarding for all involved in the program to now sit back in confidence knowing a threatened trout species is recovering in waters where their ancestors thrived before human-induced extirpation.”

A BEAUTIFUL FISH RESTORED

Colorado River cutthroat trout are considered one of the most beautiful fish in all of

North America. They average eight inches in length once mature, and are a goldish brown or olive in color with black spots that increase in size and number further toward the caudal fin (tail). They feature the telltale red marking behind their gills that will extend to their bellies during spawning season in March and April.

These trout thrive in isolated headwater streams, which helped biologists quickly identify Hermosa Creek as an ideal habitat when restoration efforts began in earnest in the early 1990s as part of a push across the Colorado River cutthroat’s historical range to keep the fish off the endangered species list.

The population had been fished to near extinction in the late 1800s. With streams barren of cutthroat trout, early fish managers introduced other trout species such as brown, brook and rainbow trout which also led to declines in the remaining cutthroat populations, as the other species outcompeted the cutthroat and led to hybridization.

As populations in Colorado have recovered through the conservation work of CPW and its partners at the U.S. Forest Service and Trout Unlimited, the work on Hermosa Creek has been held up as an example of what is possible in restoring Colorado River cutthroats to its historical range.

“The work to recover Colorado River cutthroat trout in the Hermosa Creek watershed didn’t end with the reintroduction of fish,” Churchwell said. “Public land protections were needed to ensure their habitat remains largely unaltered and therefore productive.”

In 2014, President Barack Obama signed into law the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act to provide the U.S. Forest Service with clear direction for land management tactics to make certain this program was ultimately successful and sustainable.

“The law protects the basin as a Special Management Area with native cutthroat trout as one of the primary protection objectives,” Churchwell said.

The San Juan National Forest built two rock barriers and one final concrete barrier on Hermosa to help prevent non-native fish from regaining access to the restored stretches of the creek. Those barriers have proven to be critical in creating and maintaining a pure Colorado River cutthroat population.

“The confluence barrier, in particular, was a monumental task getting that barrier into place,” said White. “The Forest Service has been such a huge partner when it comes to those barriers to secure and restore the area.”

‘THAT’S HOW WE EARN OUR PAYCHECK’

Of course, all restoration projects come with a fair share of challenges. During annual surveys of Hermosa Creek, the rare rainbow or hybrid fish has been found. That has led to a new regulation proposal that White and CPW expect to take effect in 2023.

The proposed regulation change would prohibit angling 100 feet upstream and downstream of the confluence barrier. The area will be well marked with signage, and a post and rail fencing system will be implemented to indicate

John Livingston/CPW

that fishing in that area is now allowed. It’s all in an effort to prevent anglers from inadvertently reintroducing a nonnative trout to the restored cutthroat waters by losing a fish over the barrier.

“Hermosa Creek is not without its challenges. One is the potential of anglers moving fish on us,” White said. “We want the anglers to refrain from fishing there so we don’t see hybridized fish or non-native fish having an impact on the restored population.” Other challenges over the years have included sediment, booming non-angling recreational use in the area and livestock congregating on the streambanks and in the creek.

“But none of that is unusual,” White said. “That’s how we earn our paycheck –managing around all these pressures.”

PERSISTENCE IN OUTSTANDING WATERS

What has continued to hold true since the first Colorado River cutthroat trout were restocked into Hermosa Creek is the natural beauty found both from the perspective of an angler as well as the fish.

“Hermosa Creek is really a beautiful thing,” White said. “There are no challenges with the water supply. Probably the biggest indicator of a quality water or outstanding water is the presence and persistence of cutthroat trout. In the headwaters, we now see a wild population of these cutthroats, and we don’t have to stock fish up there anymore. We have multiple year classes of wild fish. It looks really good up there, and that’s really helping us meet our goal of what we wanted to see with this restoration.

“And for the anglers, it’s somewhere we can point them to and say, ‘Go here and chase these cutthroat trout,’ and they don’t have to be standing elbowto-elbow with other people while doing it. You’re in this beautiful place with beautiful fish to match it.”

White and a team of volunteers, including partners from Trout Unlimited and the San Juan National Forest, once again relayed Colorado River cutthroat trout into Hermosa Creek during the summer of 2023. As the creek mellows and meanders directly behind Purgatory Resort, 500 broodstock fish found their new home.

“We look forward to seeing how well they’ve done when we return to monitor the population in subsequent years,” White said. “When it comes to Hermosa and this restoration effort, it’s not done. It’s never done. The work always continues.”

To learn more about CPW’s work to restore native cutthroat trout throughout the state, go to: http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/ResearchCutthroatTrout.aspx

John Livingston/CPW

Casting locally-designed flies to native trout

JOE NELSON

Years ago I enjoyed a fishing trip in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. The first day on the river I experienced local fishermen nailing one trout after another in an area that I had recently flailed into a froth with my line. I asked, “What are they biting on?” The other guy said “The end of my line!”

In town that evening, I saw a gentleman tying examples of an unfamiliar fly at a table in a tavern. It was called a “Yallerhammer,” and there were a lot of opinions on the history of the pattern.

Some said the Cherokee used it before contact, others said the Scotch-Irish who settled that area in the mid-18th century modified a fly from the Scottish Highlands. One fellow told me it was invented by Daniel Boone himself before he left the area to explore what is now Kentucky.

I love a good story, and I was hooked! (Pun intended.) After trading a couple of rounds in exchange for six Yallerhammer flies, I enjoyed more success the next day.

It stands to reason that traditional time-tested flies are still common for a reason. Because they work. If they didn’t, people would stop fishing with them and they’d soon be forgotten. For example, the fly patterns developed and described by Izaak Walton 400 years ago in his book Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth an Angle (sic) are still used on the River Lea in Hertfordshire, England, UK. Most flies used in Tenkara fishing in Japan are just as old, if not older.

The following seven flies have similar backstories from Southwestern Colorado and the Four Corners. And they almost always produce fish. Keep in mind original materials derived from endangered animals, such as the polar bear, jungle fowl, bird of paradise, etc, and now have eco-friendly substitutes.

WESTERN COACHMAN

The original Royal Coachman pattern was developed in England in the 1820s by a man who literally was the Royal Coachman for two British kings and a queen. The Western Coachman is a version modified by Buz Buszek in the 1940s for use in the American West. It is traditionally tied with peacock and pheasant feathers and calf tail hair.

SAN JUAN WORM

The San Juan Worm is so simple it defies logic. A two-inch length of red chenille tied onto a scud hook. It was first tied by an unknown angler in Farmington, New Mexico in the 1950s for use in the San Juan River. Often used in a two fly set up with the following, WD40.

WD40

Developed in 1982 by Durango’s own Mark Engler. A general midge emerger made with brown thread, mallard flank and hare dubbing.

DAVE’S HOPPER

Dave Whitlock designed the Dave’s Hopper in the 1950s with suggestions from Jackson, Wyoming guide Jay Buckner. This design is a go-to fly for mid-to late-summer when grasshoppers are blown into water.

COPPER JOHN/BRASSIE

Developed by John Barr of Boulder, Colorado in the early ‘90s as an improvement of the Brassie from the 1950s tied for use in the Poudre and Platte rivers. The design is a general imitation of the larvae stage of the mayfly made with brass wire, (no lead) copper bead, peacock and goose.

YELLOW DOUBLE HUMPY

The all-time general attractor fly, the Humpy’s origin is in dispute. Claimed by Northern California, Montana and Wyoming, this fly, first developed in the 1940s, has been known as the Horner Deer Hair and the Goofus Bug. In the 1950s, the double variation was created by Jack Dennis in Jackson, Wyoming to appear as two insects on their honeymoon, a compromising position that fish often exploit. The double pattern, in yellow, is by far the best, no question. Try it and see!

SAKASA KEBARI

Yes, this one’s from Japan. However, it dates back at least 400 years. Simple to tie: Thread and pheasant feather. The hackle faces forward, unlike most Western fly patterns. From lakes above tree lines, to stocked ponds in city parks with your kids, it never fails!

Essentials for your tackle box

COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE

They say even the worst day fishing is better than the best day at work. And more people than ever are enjoying the sport nationally. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that there was an 8% increase in anglers between 2011 and 2017, while expenditures by anglers nationwide rose 2% during the same time, from $45 billion to $46.1 billion.

If you’re eager to get into freshwater and fly fishing, you should know that the right gear is essential. For fishing enthusiasts, that gear starts with a rod and reel. Afterward, it is important to fill a tackle box with other essentials.

• Extra fishing line: Lines get snagged, torn or snapped when reeling in a big catch, so extra fishing line is essential.

• Extra hooks: The traditional J-hook can snag many types of fish, but some anglers like a French hook. No matter which hook you prefer, make sure you have a variety of sizes on hand so you can switch if need be.

• A set of fishing pliers: Purchase pliers specifically made for fishing. Most come in aluminum so they will not corrode due to the elements. Also, if you’re using braided fishing line, be sure the pliers have a cutter made for cutting braid.

• Bobbers in various sizes: Bobbers, also called floaters, help anglers know when a fish is biting. Round clipon bobbers are popular and widely available. Slip bobbers will slide up and down the line, enabling anglers to get the hook into deeper water.

• Sinkers: The yin to the bobber’s yang, sinkers are weights that help weigh down a worm or artificial lure to reach the right level to attract fish.

• Fishing regulations/ruler: A variety of rules govern when and where you can fish. Also, you’ll need to know which size fish are keepers and which need to be tossed back. Keep a regulation ruler in the tackle box to avoid fines.

• Pocket knife: Keep a sharp knife for cutting lines and bait. Reserve a special filet knife for cleaning fish.

• Selection of lures: Research which fish you’re angling for and then purchase a variety of appropriate lures. Some lures will attract a wide array of fish.

• Stringer: A stringer is a device that is used to hold several caught fish through their gills. It anchors to land and the other end with the fish on it is placed in the water to keep the fish alive until you’re ready to pack up and go. It’s a good alternative to a cooler or bucket filled with water.

• Fishing license: Many conservation or fish and wildlife departments require a license for fishing for anglers of a certain age. Be sure to have it on hand or you may be susceptible to fines or other penalties.

A tackle box with the right gear can help novice fishing enthusiasts get off on the right foot.

Game Management Unit (GMU)

Map 2023 STATEWIDE GAME MANAGEMENT UNIT (GMU) MAP

Please check the 2023 Big Game Hunting brochure for unit-specific regulations. ■ Colorado Parks and Wildlife ■ cpw.state.co.us ■ 303-297-1192

Editor’s Note: Map boundaries are approximate. The map is an aid to apply for the correct unit, and not to be used in the field as an indicator of unit boundaries. Use an official map to determine unit boundaries.