grasshopper
Active member
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2010
- Messages
- 150
Released this yesterday, response has been terrific so far
Colorado Bowhunters Association Member Survey - August 2018
CBA members tend to be serious, committed hunters, so I'm sure it is old news that the change from the traditional upfront license fee application process of the past to this year's "$3 application fee/pay later" process created a significant spike in the number of applicants.
When this change was adopted by the Commission last November, it was in an effort to reduce CPW expenses. At that time, CBA Parks & Wildlife Liaison, Steve Hilde testified before the Commission and warned them of unintended consequence of this decision: inflated preference point creep, and the introduction of preference point creep that in some cases didn't even exist before. This is not solely a bowhunting issue, but an issue for all Colorado Hunters. Commission Chairman Howard noted our concern, and committed to monitor it closely.
The 2018 data shows that our concerns were not hyperbole, but real:
Deer Applicants - up 14.4% from 185,539 to 212,217, but tags increased only 3.0%
Elk Applicants - up 13.7% from 202,229 to 229,995, but tags decreased by 4.2%
Pronghorn Applicants - up 36.3% from 56,394 to 76,874, but tags increased only 7.9%
Bighorn Sheep Applicants - up 131.1% from 17,739 to 40,993, tags increased only 0.7%
Desert Sheep Applicants - up 133.8% from 1,950 to 4,559, but tags remained flat
Mountain Goat Applicants - up 176.2% from 12,095 to 33,411, tags increased only 5.0%
Bear Applicants - up 86.4% from 17,149 to 31,969, but tags increased only 16.6%
Moose Applicants - up 130.0% from 25,723 to 59,157, but tags increased only 11.1%
What can be done about it? That is the question the Board has been contemplating and central focus of many questions we have received from the membership.
As a membership driven organization, the CBA takes positions on topics that are consistent with the position of the majority of the membership. At our August Board meeting on Friday, August 3rd, the Board devoted considerable time to discussing the issue caused by this "pay later" application change, and unanimously agreed on a preliminary resolution that we intend to advance in discussions with the CPW.
Attached is a very important survey that outlines not only this application process issue, but other important issues including future application fees, preference point fees, and initial input on the upcoming 5 year Big Game Season structure.
As you will see in the survey, the Board's preliminary resolution is as follows:
Revert back to the prior process of requiring the entire license fee and application fee at the time of application; and,
Support an increase in the application fee to cover only the actual costs to administer the draw in this manner; and,
Require non-residents to pay by cash equivalent to avoid excessive credit card merchant fees; and,
Oppose any mandatory nonrefundable fees for preference points, unless one is not purchasing any annual licenses and thereby not contributing annually to wildlife conservation in Colorado through license purchases.
If you agree with this position, let us know. If you disagree, let us know that too. This is the preliminary position of the Board pending membership input. If a majority of the membership have a different point of view, we will do exactly what we are asking of the CPW, and that is change our position to support the majority interests.
There are many critical issues facing hunters in Colorado, and we feel this issue has the potential to be lost in the shuffle if we don't address it now! Please take the time to read the background information thoroughly. Discuss the issue with your hunting buddies, and please reach out to any Board member if you have additional questions. The solutions can be complex, and the wrong solution may lead to unintended consequences. Consider not only today, but the growth trends in bowhunting. The number of Colorado archery hunters for elk has doubled over the past 15 years from 24,000 to 48,000. In the past 5 years that growth has been 20% growing from 40,000 to 48,000. At the same time our resource is at risk as critical habitat shrinks with our significant population growth. Keep these facts in mind when considering your answer, because the solution you see for today may create unintended consequences in the future.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful input. If you have bowhunting friends who are not CBA members, please share this information with them, and encourage them to join. There is strength in numbers, and now more than ever our voice must be strong. Remember, if we are not part of the solution, then we are part of the problem.
Take the survey by clicking here:
Colorado Bowhunters Association Member Survey - August 2018
CBA members tend to be serious, committed hunters, so I'm sure it is old news that the change from the traditional upfront license fee application process of the past to this year's "$3 application fee/pay later" process created a significant spike in the number of applicants.
When this change was adopted by the Commission last November, it was in an effort to reduce CPW expenses. At that time, CBA Parks & Wildlife Liaison, Steve Hilde testified before the Commission and warned them of unintended consequence of this decision: inflated preference point creep, and the introduction of preference point creep that in some cases didn't even exist before. This is not solely a bowhunting issue, but an issue for all Colorado Hunters. Commission Chairman Howard noted our concern, and committed to monitor it closely.
The 2018 data shows that our concerns were not hyperbole, but real:
Deer Applicants - up 14.4% from 185,539 to 212,217, but tags increased only 3.0%
Elk Applicants - up 13.7% from 202,229 to 229,995, but tags decreased by 4.2%
Pronghorn Applicants - up 36.3% from 56,394 to 76,874, but tags increased only 7.9%
Bighorn Sheep Applicants - up 131.1% from 17,739 to 40,993, tags increased only 0.7%
Desert Sheep Applicants - up 133.8% from 1,950 to 4,559, but tags remained flat
Mountain Goat Applicants - up 176.2% from 12,095 to 33,411, tags increased only 5.0%
Bear Applicants - up 86.4% from 17,149 to 31,969, but tags increased only 16.6%
Moose Applicants - up 130.0% from 25,723 to 59,157, but tags increased only 11.1%
What can be done about it? That is the question the Board has been contemplating and central focus of many questions we have received from the membership.
As a membership driven organization, the CBA takes positions on topics that are consistent with the position of the majority of the membership. At our August Board meeting on Friday, August 3rd, the Board devoted considerable time to discussing the issue caused by this "pay later" application change, and unanimously agreed on a preliminary resolution that we intend to advance in discussions with the CPW.
Attached is a very important survey that outlines not only this application process issue, but other important issues including future application fees, preference point fees, and initial input on the upcoming 5 year Big Game Season structure.
As you will see in the survey, the Board's preliminary resolution is as follows:
Revert back to the prior process of requiring the entire license fee and application fee at the time of application; and,
Support an increase in the application fee to cover only the actual costs to administer the draw in this manner; and,
Require non-residents to pay by cash equivalent to avoid excessive credit card merchant fees; and,
Oppose any mandatory nonrefundable fees for preference points, unless one is not purchasing any annual licenses and thereby not contributing annually to wildlife conservation in Colorado through license purchases.
If you agree with this position, let us know. If you disagree, let us know that too. This is the preliminary position of the Board pending membership input. If a majority of the membership have a different point of view, we will do exactly what we are asking of the CPW, and that is change our position to support the majority interests.
There are many critical issues facing hunters in Colorado, and we feel this issue has the potential to be lost in the shuffle if we don't address it now! Please take the time to read the background information thoroughly. Discuss the issue with your hunting buddies, and please reach out to any Board member if you have additional questions. The solutions can be complex, and the wrong solution may lead to unintended consequences. Consider not only today, but the growth trends in bowhunting. The number of Colorado archery hunters for elk has doubled over the past 15 years from 24,000 to 48,000. In the past 5 years that growth has been 20% growing from 40,000 to 48,000. At the same time our resource is at risk as critical habitat shrinks with our significant population growth. Keep these facts in mind when considering your answer, because the solution you see for today may create unintended consequences in the future.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful input. If you have bowhunting friends who are not CBA members, please share this information with them, and encourage them to join. There is strength in numbers, and now more than ever our voice must be strong. Remember, if we are not part of the solution, then we are part of the problem.
Take the survey by clicking here:
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