Major WIA Rule Change

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Obsession

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Hello Gang,

I recently bought my 2010 small game license in preparation for grouse season. As I do every year, I set the new 2010 small game regulations brochure on my nightstand for evening reading. The major changes to the WIA program were my main point of interest so I focused the majority of my study time on that section......It is a good thing I did.

I am not sure how I did not hear about this, or am surprised no one else has caught it, but the hours in which you are allowed to access WIA properties has been REDUCED BY 4 HOURS!!!

Direct quote from 2009 Small Game Walk-In Atlas, page 2:

"1. Public access is permitted from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset."

Direct quote 2010 Small Game Brochure, page 2 (Walk-In Access Program):

"For small game hunting, lands are open one hour after sunrise until one hour before sunset."

No I am not math genius, but that is 4 hours of hunting access we will be loosing every day this year! Now I know delayed starting times are nothing new in other states, and area a great conservation technique, but I am surprised the DOW slipped this in there without really telling anyone!
 
WTF!!! Seriously?!? That's really sneaky. You would think that a rule change with such a major impact would be listed front and center (in the "New in 2010" section) along with the free WIA policy change. I wonder how many people are going to get busted for this one. Weak sauce.
 
YIKES, if true that sure is gonna mess up some of my best late-season crack of dawn tactics!!! :mad:

Not really much reason to be waltzing around a stranger's property in the dark & no need whatsoever for life-threateningly bustin/keepin birds off the roost at the tail end of a bitterly COLD winter's day going into a hard nite, but sunrise to sunset (at least to be in or out of the property) would have been a much better option. On some bigger chunks of land it can be a LONG walk to be off the premises an hour be4 legal shooting light ends, making deep interiors practically untouchable except mid-day!!!

I agree with winchester - such a huge change should have been put BLARING front & center in the "New For 2010" section. Putting it in the secondary fine print sounds sneakier than an intentionally-designed speed trap to me!!! :eek:
 
I am a little confused! Page 2 of the 2010 Small Game Walk-In Atlas states the legal shooting hours as such: " Public access is prohibited from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, except when hunting waterfowl public access is prohibited from two hours after sunset to two hours before sunrise. Then on page four of the Atlas under the title "Hunting Hours" it states: " One-Half hour before sunrise to sunset, except furbearers, which can be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Looks like I'll be making a trip to the local DOW office for further clarification.
 
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I noticed that as well. I interpret that to mean that the limited hunting hours only apply to walk-in properties, and that hunting hours for private and state lands remain unchanged.

Again, that is only my interpretation and a clarification from the DOW is needed!
 
If this is true, I foresee a major impact on hotels out east.

If there is no advantage to getting there early or staying late, then everyone will simply drive back home!
 
I think you mis read this!!! It says" Public access is prohibited from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, except when hunting waterfowl public access is prohibited from two hours after sunset to two hours before sunrise":thumbsup:
 
parman said:
I am a little confused! Page 2 of the 2010 Small Game Walk-In Atlas states the legal shooting hours as such: " Public access is prohibited from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, except when hunting waterfowl public access is prohibited from two hours after sunset to two hours before sunrise. Then on page four of the Atlas under the title "Hunting Hours" it states: " One-Half hour before sunrise to sunset, except furbearers, which can be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Looks like I'll be making a trip to the local DOW office for further clarification.
Click to expand...

You can legally hunt 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset!!!! You can't enter the Walk in properties until 1 hour before sunrise. You have to be out of the walk in properties 1 hour after sunset. Everything is O.K.
 
That is not what the 2010 Small Game Brochure states. Did you have a chance to read the "Walk-In Access Program" section on page 2 of the brochure?
 
I am looking at it now! What are you seeing different than me? I know the DOW brochures are Horsec#$@ and are challenging at best! Let me know if yours is different!
 
I saw the walk in and it is different than the small game! It must be a mis-print! Thanks for posting this!!!!!!:10sign:
 
2010 Colorado Small Game Brochure
(The one with the rooster on the cover that came with a free DVD)

Page #2

"Walk-In Access Program" in the bottom right corner of the page.

3rd Paragraph:

"Properties are open to foot access only. For small game hunting, lands are open one hour after sunrise until one hour before sunset..."

IMG_2808.JPG
 
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So, which book is right then?

As a graphic designer, I can not believe such an error would get all the way to print! Especially in the WIA section this year!
 
There are errors all the time! You can look on the web page and they will have corrections! I will look on there now and if not I will call and let them know!!! I am sure the walk in is the correct one!! If not they will get a ear full!! Thanks again for posting this, it makes them look real good!!!!
 
Talked to a dwm and it is wrong so we are o.k. I guess the big game has a ton of corrections coming!!!
 
BleuBijou said:
You can legally hunt 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset!!!! You can't enter the Walk in properties until 1 hour before sunrise. You have to be out of the walk in properties 1 hour after sunset. Everything is O.K.
Click to expand...

+1 ; That's the way I see it.

2010 Small Game Walk-In Atlas

Page 2 states:

1. Public access is prohibited from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, except when hunting waterfowl
public access is prohibited from two hours after sunset to two hours before sunrise.

Page 4 clearly states:

HUNTING HOURS
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except furbearers, which can be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. See sunrise/sunset chart below.

Edit - I just got off the phone with the DOW Office here in Colorado Springs & the lady I talked with said ;

" to use the information printed in the 2010 Small Game Walk-In Atlas because it is the most up-to-date information. "
 
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From a strictly legal perspective, one could always point to the information on page 4 if confronted. I can't imagine that there is any way the CDOW can renege on the conflicting information.
 
They couldn't write you up! There are some people up here shooting Eurasians right now!! DOW messed up and did not give a start date for the new year round season!!!! DWM's were told do not write anyone up!!! :thumbsup:
 
BleuBijou said:
They couldn't write you up! There are some people up here shooting Eurasians right now!! DOW messed up and did not give a start date for the new year round season!!!! DWM's were told do not write anyone up!!! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Does the start date really matter?? Looks to me like you can shoot Eurasians all day, every day, until the DOW tells us to stop!

Straight from the 2010 Small Game Brochure:

EURASIAN COLLARED
SEASON: Year-round
AREAS: Statewide
DAILY BAG LIMIT: Unlimited
POSSESSION LIMIT: Unlimited
NOTE: See â??Species Identificationâ?� on page 4
for transit requirements.
NEW: If taken Sept. 1-Nov. 9, fully feathered
Eurasians will not be counted toward mourning
and white-wing bag and possession limits. If
Eurasians taken at this time are not fully feathered,
they count toward all dove bag and possession
limits. Eurasians must be fully feathered if
taken at times other than Sept. 1-Nov. 9.
 
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