Bioenergy farmers receive permits to spotlight deer, elk
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Bioenergy farmers receive permits to spotlight deer, elk
San Juan Bioenergy farmers receive permits to spotlight deer, elk
Farmers growing crops for the new San Juan Bioenergy facility in Dove Creek have received state permits to spotlight deer and elk damaging the plants.
Spotlighting involves using a spotlight to target an animal at night and then shoot it.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife issued the permits. Matt Hammond, a Division of Wildlife district wildlife manager who covers the Dove Creek region, said the permits are a last resort for farmers experiencing crop damage from wildlife.
Although wildlife live on private and federal lands in most of Colorado, the Division of Wildlife manages the state's wildlife.
Deer and elk often come out after night to feed, Hammond said, referring to the use of spotlights to help kill the animals.
Even as a last resort, Hammond does not enjoy issuing the permits and looks forward to the day he won't have to anymore.
"Farmers don't like them either," he said. "They are farming by day and protecting their fields at night. They aren't sleeping."
In the Dove Creek area, more farmers are growing sunflowers for the San Juan Bioenergy facility, which is slated to open this fall. Crop damage can be quite extensive and is detrimental to farmers' earnings.
Farmers who experience crop damage from wildlife are eligible to receive payments from the state, Hammond said.
Dan Fernandez, Dolores County extension agent for Colorado State University, said crop damage is not as bad as it was in the past, but the jury is still out on alternative methods used to keep game off crops.
"We are using a liquid fence application, which is a biological product formulation of garlic and rotting eggs," Fernandez said.
The application is getting mixed reviews so far, which might account for the handful of permits given to farmers to kill the extra game in the area.
Permits mainly are used as a game damage tool to encourage elk and deer to move from private farms to public lands. Hammond performs nightly patrols of the farmers with permits to make sure spotlighting operations are conducted by the book.
After an animal is shot, it is considered public property and is taken in by a district wildlife manager. The meat is then given on an as-needed basis to families in the community. A doe hunt will be held in September on private lands to relieve farmers and to give youths an opportunity to try their hand at hunting.
"We are using everything at our disposal to help the farmers," Hammond said.
Although farmers can receive permits in some cases, spotlighting, also called shining, is illegal as a hunting method. Using a high-powered spotlight to canvas a field for deer or elk at night, then shooting the animal when it is caught unaware, has serious penalties for hunters, farmers and anyone else thinking of picking up the activity.
"We emphasize that violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the Colorado law," Hammond said.
Hunters who use artificial light without a permit can face multiple violations, including 20 violation points on their hunting license, a $274 fine and a loss of license up to five years, Hammond said.
"They are considered poachers," he said.
With hunting season coming up, Zach Holder, a district wildlife manager in the Cortez area, warns it's not worth it for hunters to take things into their own hands. Last year Holder wrote 10 illegal possession of wildlife citations, with fines as high as $25,000 to start.
"We can take anything used in the commission of a crime, including guns, ATVs and trucks," he said.
Farmers growing crops for the new San Juan Bioenergy facility in Dove Creek have received state permits to spotlight deer and elk damaging the plants.
Spotlighting involves using a spotlight to target an animal at night and then shoot it.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife issued the permits. Matt Hammond, a Division of Wildlife district wildlife manager who covers the Dove Creek region, said the permits are a last resort for farmers experiencing crop damage from wildlife.
Although wildlife live on private and federal lands in most of Colorado, the Division of Wildlife manages the state's wildlife.
Deer and elk often come out after night to feed, Hammond said, referring to the use of spotlights to help kill the animals.
Even as a last resort, Hammond does not enjoy issuing the permits and looks forward to the day he won't have to anymore.
"Farmers don't like them either," he said. "They are farming by day and protecting their fields at night. They aren't sleeping."
In the Dove Creek area, more farmers are growing sunflowers for the San Juan Bioenergy facility, which is slated to open this fall. Crop damage can be quite extensive and is detrimental to farmers' earnings.
Farmers who experience crop damage from wildlife are eligible to receive payments from the state, Hammond said.
Dan Fernandez, Dolores County extension agent for Colorado State University, said crop damage is not as bad as it was in the past, but the jury is still out on alternative methods used to keep game off crops.
"We are using a liquid fence application, which is a biological product formulation of garlic and rotting eggs," Fernandez said.
The application is getting mixed reviews so far, which might account for the handful of permits given to farmers to kill the extra game in the area.
Permits mainly are used as a game damage tool to encourage elk and deer to move from private farms to public lands. Hammond performs nightly patrols of the farmers with permits to make sure spotlighting operations are conducted by the book.
After an animal is shot, it is considered public property and is taken in by a district wildlife manager. The meat is then given on an as-needed basis to families in the community. A doe hunt will be held in September on private lands to relieve farmers and to give youths an opportunity to try their hand at hunting.
"We are using everything at our disposal to help the farmers," Hammond said.
Although farmers can receive permits in some cases, spotlighting, also called shining, is illegal as a hunting method. Using a high-powered spotlight to canvas a field for deer or elk at night, then shooting the animal when it is caught unaware, has serious penalties for hunters, farmers and anyone else thinking of picking up the activity.
"We emphasize that violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the Colorado law," Hammond said.
Hunters who use artificial light without a permit can face multiple violations, including 20 violation points on their hunting license, a $274 fine and a loss of license up to five years, Hammond said.
"They are considered poachers," he said.
With hunting season coming up, Zach Holder, a district wildlife manager in the Cortez area, warns it's not worth it for hunters to take things into their own hands. Last year Holder wrote 10 illegal possession of wildlife citations, with fines as high as $25,000 to start.
"We can take anything used in the commission of a crime, including guns, ATVs and trucks," he said.
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From: Montana
When I used to have to shoot them to protect crops the wildlife guys wanted me to give the deer to the Salvation Army, butchered by me of course.
There were times when we would shoot up to ten a night.
I said screw that and started bringing them the fresh carcases. I know darn well that after I started doing that the meat went to waste.
Oh well, that's what it took to stay legal...
Have more problems with birds in the biofuel crops than deer now.
Not much you can do about birds that works, they get used to everything you try in a couple of days.
There were times when we would shoot up to ten a night.
I said screw that and started bringing them the fresh carcases. I know darn well that after I started doing that the meat went to waste.
Oh well, that's what it took to stay legal...
Have more problems with birds in the biofuel crops than deer now.
Not much you can do about birds that works, they get used to everything you try in a couple of days.
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