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By Dennis Smith
The restoration of the wild turkey in North America is considered one of the greatest storybook comebacks in the history of wildlife management. Only a few decades ago they were nearly extinct, virtually wiped out by a century of habitat destruction and commercial slaughter. But thanks to the combined efforts of dedicated hunters, conservation groups and cooperating landowners, wild turkey populations have rebounded dramatically across the country, and huntable populations have been established in almost every state where suitable habitat exists.
Colorado is one of them.
Rough estimates from Colorado Parks and Wildlife terrestrial biologists put Colorado’s current wild turkey population at between 10, 000 and 15,000 birds and growing steadily. Some estimates range as high as 24,000, but even with those encouraging numbers, bagging a gobbler here is no cakewalk. In states with five to 10 times that number of turkeys, the big birds are rated by hunters as the most difficult and challenging of all wild game. 
Two subspecies of wild turkey are hunted in Colorado. The Merriam’s is primarily a mountain bird, native to the state and found most often in scrub oak and ponderosa pine foothills, though they will sometimes filter into the lowlands and take up residence on the plains. Their tendency to wander makes them extremely difficult to hunt. Good numbers can be found along the Front Range, in the southwest quadrant of the state near Pagosa Springs, in the San Juan River Basin and on the Uncompahgre Plateau. Most, but not all, of these units can be hunted with over-the-counter unlimited licenses. A select few may require special permits.
The Rio Grande subspecies, originally found in the central and southern plain states, is a recent transplant to Colorado. They inhabit the woods and brushy river bottoms adjacent to agricultural fields and pastures. The best populations are found along the South Platte, Republican and Arkansas river drainages on Colorado’s borders with Kansas and Nebraska. These are some of the most popular areas to hunt, and they require special limited licenses, which must be applied for in advance.
The Colorado spring turkey season opened on April 13 and runs through mid-May, varying according to region. Naturally, the number of hunters applying for permits exceeds the supply, and you’re not likely to be awarded one until you’ve accumulated anywhere from one to four preference points (a preference point is awarded each time an applicant fails to draw his or her first choice for a permit).
The accepted strategy is to apply for the permit even though your chances of drawing it are slim. If you fail to draw, your money will be refunded and you’ll be awarded a preference point to be used on your next application. In the meantime, while you’re waiting to be awarded a limited license for the Colorado turkey hunt of your dreams, you can buy an over-the-counter unlimited tag granting you hunting access to a tremendous amount of unrestricted public land.
The hunting may be more difficult, but there’s no such thing as an “easy turkey” no matter where you hunt, and your chances of bringing home a gobbler are zero if you don’t get out there and try. A couple of decades ago, you wouldn’t have even had the opportunity, never mind a choice. |
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Expand Beyond Your Garden’s Boundaries
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By Eva Rose Montane
It’s finally time to dig into your garden again. If you are debating about creating additional space for more garden goodies, here are some advantages to trading in lawn or bare earth for garden beds that could convince you to expand:
• Most grass lawns are monocultures, meaning only one species of plant is grown. Introducing more diversity is beneficial to wildlife, including pollinating insects that are crucial to life as we know it.
• Most garden plants flower, fruit or offer fall color and textures. • Your new garden bed can be planted as a lush, floriferous Xeriscape with mulch that will result in much less water use and more durability through the season.
• Your new space could be a vegetable bed used to feed your family and keep the grocery and farmers market bills down.
Location, location, location
 Think about exposure. Most vegetables want full sun, but spinach, lettuce and other salad greens do best in the cooler spring and fall seasons or with some shade. Tomatoes and their relatives, such as eggplant, peppers and tomatillo, along with cucurbits including summer and winter squash, cucumbers and melons, have a difficult time growing in our climate, especially in the higher elevations. If you are determined to try them, make sure their bed is on a sheltered south-facing exposure, perhaps near a sidewalk or wall that absorbs a lot of heat during the day then releases it at night, keeping your veggies warm. If you choose ornamentals, your options are greater since there are perennials that grow happily in the shade, even dry shade, as well as in the sun and somewhere in between.
If you live in an area with deer, think about how you’re going to keep them from eating your delicious new plants. Try using a fence as a barrier or plant your garden bed in an area your pet patrols.
Avoid planting your new garden in areas that are difficult to get water to or in a location that is too far away for anyone to appreciate the bounty of your efforts. Additionally, planting your garden up against your house is not recommended; our characteristic clay soils expand and shrink, which means continuous watering of the garden could eventually devastate your house’s foundation.
Use your garden bed and its eventual plantings to screen unsightly views, such as a shed, or frame it with lower plantings if you have nothing to hide. A rise in your bed could help plants. Simply bring in extra soil to create a mound or berm on which you can plant plants. They will appreciate the extra drainage.
Get planting now while you’re inspired and before summer’s heat starts, and focus on your garden with fresh eyes.
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For quite a few years, our church congregation had been getting older and older. We had few young children, sometimes as few as three or four. Then we started some new programs and our congregation began to grow. Our pastor was delighted and encouraged us to invite our neighbors to church. One morning, his exuberance got the better of him. Having just toured the newly renovated nursery, he spoke about it from the pulpit, going into great detail about its large size and amenities.
“I’m concerned that it isn’t full,” he said. So what I’d like for all of you to do this afternoon is get together with your neighbors and work on filling the nursery.”
Liz Ackerman, Cheyenne Wells
One day an old German shepherd starts chasing rabbits and before long, discovers that he’s lost. Wandering about, he notices a hungry-looking panther heading rapidly in his direction.
The old German shepherd thinks, “Oh, oh! I’m in deep doo-doo now!” Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on them with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the panther is about to leap, the old German shepherd exclaims loudly, “Boy, that was one delicious panther! I wonder if there are any more around here?” Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid strike, a feeling of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees.
“Whew!” says the panther. “That was close! That old German shepherd nearly had me!”
Meanwhile, a squirrel that had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the panther. So, off he goes.
The squirrel soon catches up with the panther, spills the beans and strikes a deal with the panther. The young panther is furious at being made a fool of and says, “Here, squirrel, hop on my back and see what’s going to happen to that conniving canine!”
Soon, the old German shepherd sees the panther coming with the squirrel on its back and thinks, “What am I going to do now?” But instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn’t seen them yet. Just when they get close enough to hear, the old German shepherd says, “Where’s that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another panther!”
Anonymous |
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Glenwood Hot Springs Celebrates 125 Years
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Festivities for Glenwood Hot Springs’ 125th birthday kicked off March 1, but guests can expect to celebrate throughout 2013. The lodge’s representatives have planned all kinds of exciting events and specials for the year, including reduced pool admission prices, historically themed events, the crowning of a queen, music and entertainment. What’s more, guests can receive free pool admission for their birthdays.
The official birthday celebration will take place on May 18. Guests will enjoy watching the “125 Years of the Bathing Suit Fashion Show” featuring swimwear throughout the ages; a rooftop beach ball drop with 1,000 colorful balls; free goody bags for the first 500 families to arrive; poolside music; and an outdoor movie after dark.
Check out historical photos, read or share a story and find out what exciting things will be happening at Glenwood Hot Springs by visiting hotspringspool.com/125th. For more information, call 800-537-7946. |
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Chimney Rock National Monument kicks off its 2013 season on May 15 and several events are on the horizon, including the Life at Chimney Rock Festival. This family-friendly event highlights Puebloan and Native American crafts and skills through hands-on activities, demonstrations and tours. Guests can make their own clay pot, throw an atlatl (a type of spear), pound yucca leaves to release their fibers, carve a petroglyph and more. The festival is scheduled for June 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Other events scheduled for 2013 include a Puebloan pottery workshop, moon viewing programs, solstice and equinox programs and a Native American cultural gathering.
In years past, more than 12,000 people visited Chimney Rock in Pagosa Springs every year. However, since President Obama declared the historic site as a national monument in September 2012, that number is expected to grow.
For more information, call 970-883-5359 or visit chimneyrockco.org. Events, programs and tours are listed on the website with brief descriptions of each. |
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