2. Maintain the existing regulatory language use of dogs to locate lost or wounded game would continue to be prohibited.

Transcription

1 ISSUES SUBMITTAL FORM Date: 09/24/14 ISSUE: Should Chapter W-0 regulation #004.A.2.a. be modified to allow limited use of leashed dogs to recover wounded game? DISCUSSION (FACTS AND FIGURES, EXPLANATION OF ISSUE): A substantial number of harvested big game animals are wounded and lost each year due to a hunter s inability to locate the animal and recover the carcass. Dogs can be effective in locating lost carcasses that would otherwise go to waste. While CPW has long prohibited the use of dogs as a method of take for big game, we believe that there is an opportunity to reduce the loss/waste of wounded big game wildlife through the controlled and limited issuance of permits allowing the use of a leashed dog or dogs to locate the carcass in an expeditious manner, without permitting widespread disturbance of wildlife by dogs that would detract from the hunting experience or result in undue harassment of wildlife. We propose that a new subsection (2) be added to Chapter 0 Regulation #004.A.2.a. The existing subsections (2) and (3) would become subsections (3) and (4) respectively. Revised #004.A.2.a.(2) would read: Leashed dogs may be used as an aid in locating the carcass of wounded or lost big game wildlife, except for black bears, through the acquisition of an annual big game season permit from a Colorado Parks and Wildlife office. Permits may be purchased by the hunter or by an outfitter/handler any time prior to or during the big game seasons, but must be purchased prior to the use of dogs. A $40.00 fee will be charged for each permit. Prior to using the permit, the hunter or handler must notify a Colorado Parks and Wildlife office, DWM, or AWM and provide the following information: hunters name and CID#, handler/outfitter s name (if different than the hunter), location of use, species to recover, and time of use. Within 48 hours of using the permit, the hunter or handler must also notify the Division regarding whether they recovered the carcass. Dogs may only be used to locate wounded or lost carcasses during daylight hours. If recovery is required after daylight hours, the hunter or handler must receive permission from a Wildlife Officer prior to releasing or using dogs. Dog(s) must be leashed at all times and may not be used to kill, chase, or harass the wounded or lost wildlife. The hunter is required to be present while dogs are tracking the animal. WHO ARE THE INTERNAL/EXTERNAL PUBLICS IN THIS ISSUE? WHAT INPUT PROCESS HAS OCCURRED? CPW Regional and Terrestrial Section staff statewide, sportsmen, outfitters. No formal input process has been undertaken regarding this issue. ALTERNATIVES: (POSSIBLE OUTCOMES or POSSIBLE REGULATIONS): 1. * Preferred Alternative *: Add a new subsection (2) to Chapter 0 Regulation #004.A.2.a as described above. 2. Maintain the existing regulatory language use of dogs to locate lost or wounded game would continue to be prohibited. Issue Raised by: Ron Velarde Author of the issue paper (if different than person raising the Ron Velarde, Brad Petch issue): CC: NW Regional Staff APPROVED FOR FURTHER RON VELARDE CONSIDERATION BY: REQUIRES NEW SPACE IN THE BROCHURE? 1

2 ISSUE PAPER HAS BEEN ED TO REG REVIEW MGRS GROUP? RECOMMENDED FOR CONSENT AGENDA? 2

3 ISSUES SUBMITTAL FORM Date: 10/03/14 ISSUE: Should the existing regulation #007-D-1-b requiring all captive ungulates imported into Colorado to test negative for bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis using USDAapproved testing procedures be amended to allow seropositive ungulates to be imported into Colorado for research purposes or for immediate slaughter? DISCUSSION (FACTS AND FIGURES, EXPLANATION OF ISSUE): Existing import regulation (#007-D-1-b) requires without exception that all captive ungulates imported into Colorado, test negative for bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis using USDA-approved testing procedures. However, in rare circumstances there may be a legitimate need to allow importation of a small number of test-positive individuals in order to facilitate bona fide scientific investigations. Similar scientific needs occasionally arise that justify the importation and possession of species otherwise prohibited in Colorado, and consequently regulatory language allows the Director or a designee to make exceptions to a species prohibition on a case-by-case basis. Such flexibility is not presently included in import regulations on disease testing. As a recent example of this need, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been working on developing vaccines to protect elk and bison (and thereby protect cattle) from brucellosis and thus protect livestock markets in areas where brucellosis is enzootic. Advances in vaccine development have been limited by lack of a reliable and realistic experimental model of brucellosis infection in elk. To begin developing this model, the USDA-APHIS-VS have proposed a study to determine if and what percentage of seronegative elk become infected while comingling with seropositive, pregnant females during late winter and spring. Although the proposed study is scientifically legitimate, has been carefully planned, and appears to pose minimal risk to Colorado s wildlife and livestock resources, doing this work at a secure Colorado State University-USDA facility in Fort Collins is currently precluded by the existing import regulations. The CSU-USDA wildlife facility is one of the few facilities in the western U.S. that is capable of conducting this type of study, and because Colorado is a brucellosis-negative state, seropositive elk would need to be imported into the state. Consequently, USDA has requested that CPW staff consider modifying existing import regulations to allow their study to proceed. WHO ARE THE INTERNAL/EXTERNAL PUBLICS IN THIS ISSUE? WHAT INPUT PROCESS HAS OCCURRED? Internal State wildlife veterinarians, Terrestrial section and biologists, the Regions Areas DWMs, Special Licensing Coordinator, Policy and Planning section, External Publics USDA-APHIS, Dept of Agriculture, CCA, ranchers, hunters. The Dept of Agriculture has informed the Colorado Cattleman s Association of the proposal, and thus far, the CCA supports the proposal. ALTERNATIVES: (POSSIBLE OUTCOMES or POSSIBLE REGULATIONS): 1. * Preferred Alternative *: Modify existing regulation as follows: #007 Importation of Terrestrial Wildlife D. Except as authorized in writing by the Director for research purposes or for immediate slaughter, all wildlife imported into Colorado must be examined by an accredited veterinarian prior to importation and must be accompanied by a valid, preapproved health certificate certifying disease-free status. Minimum specific disease testing results and/or health statements must be included on health certificates for: 2. Status quo Issue Raised by: Author of the issue paper (if different than person raising the issue): CC: USDA (via NE Region staff) Mike Miller, Tom Kroening Steve Yamashita, Jeff Ver Steeg 3

4 APPROVED FOR FURTHER STEVE YAMASHITA CONSIDERATION BY: REQUIRES NEW SPACE IN THE BROCHURE? ISSUE PAPER HAS BEEN ED TO REG REVIEW MGRS GROUP? RECOMMENDED FOR CONSENT AGENDA? 4

5 ISSUES SUBMITTAL FORM Date: 10/06/14 ISSUE: Should the reporting requirement for stocking information by private aquaculture operations be removed except for specific non-native warmwater sportfish in private waters west of the continental divide? DISCUSSION (FACTS AND FIGURES, EXPLANATION OF ISSUE): Release of aquatic wildlife is regulated under Colorado Parks and Wildlife Regulations, Chapter 0. A private aquaculturist receives a letter of stocking authorization from the Division upon renewal of their aquaculture license (through Department of Agriculture), provided that they release fish species in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 0 regulations #011, #012, #013 and #014. Further, they are required to submit an annual report containing information regarding the facility of origin, date, species, size, number and stocking location of all fish released by their operation in the previous calendar year. The reporting requirement was originally put into place due to concerns about tracking non-native fish species stocked into private waters that may negatively impact the federally listed fish species in some of Colorado s west slope waters. However, the final regulation wording didn t make that distinction and thus the private aquaculture reporting requirement became a state-wide reporting requirement. Subsequently, there have been a number of updates to Chapter 0 further refining the regulations governing stocking of fish in Colorado waters by private aquaculture operations. Also, the Non-native Fish Stocking Procedures were updated in 2009 and Chapter 0 regulations were changed to align with these stocking requirements which guide non-native fish stocking in agreement with the USFWS, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. Further, private aquaculture operations are required to retain stocking records for three years under state law. The CPW state-wide reporting requirement for private aquaculture programs stocking data is no longer necessary. However, tracking any private stocking of warmwater fish species into west slope waters is still desirable to assist in ongoing management and recovery efforts for the federally listed fish species. WHO ARE THE INTERNAL/EXTERNAL PUBLICS IN THIS ISSUE? WHAT INPUT PROCESS HAS OCCURRED? Aquatic Section Staff, Policy, Research and Planning staff, Regions and other Regulation Review Managers. Colorado Fish Health Board Colorado Aquaculture Association ALTERNATIVES: (POSSIBLE OUTCOMES or POSSIBLE REGULATIONS): 1. Change regulation #013D to read: #013 - RELEASE OF AQUATIC WILDLIFE D. Licensed aquaculturists may release any species listed in #013.B of these regulations into waters of the state (flowing or standing), upon receipt of an annual letter of authorization from the Division to be sent upon issuance or renewal of the aquaculture license, provided that such release is in accordance with the provisions of regulations #011, #012, #013 and #014, and provided that aquaculturists submit an annual report on a form provided by the Division, containing information regarding the facility of origin, date, species, size, number and stocking location of all non-salmonid fish, other than grass carp and fathead minnow, released into waters west of the Continental Divide fish released by the aquaculturist in the previous calendar year. Provided further, however, that the stocking of the following species is allowed only if the owner or lessee of the property first obtains a stocking permit, or private or commercial lake license, for that purpose from the Division: 2. Status Quo. Issue Raised by: Greg Gerlich 5

6 Author of the issue paper (if different than person raising the issue): CC: Senior Aquatic Staff APPROVED FOR FURTHER CHAD BISHOP CONSIDERATION BY: REQUIRES NEW SPACE IN THE BROCHURE? ISSUE PAPER HAS BEEN ED TO REG REVIEW MGRS GROUP? RECOMMENDED FOR CONSENT AGENDA? 6