MOFFAT COUNTY – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials are confirming they have additional evidence that a group of wolves is now residing in northwest Colorado.
On Jan. 19, CPW wildlife officers investigated the discovery of an animal carcass surrounded by large wolf-like tracks in the northwest corner of Moffat County. While conducting their investigation in the field, wildlife officers were surprised when they heard distinct howls within the area.
“This is a historic sighting. While lone wolves have visited our state periodically including last fall, this is very likely the first pack to call our state home since the 1930s. I am honored to welcome our canine friends back to Colorado after their long absence,” said Governor Jared Polis. “It’s important that Coloradans understand that the gray wolf is under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. While the animals have naturally migrated to our state and their presence draws public interest, it’s important that people give them space. Due to their Protected status, there are severe federal penalties for anyone that intentionally harms or kills wolves in our state.”
“Right after our two officers heard the howls from the wolves, they used binoculars to observe approximately six wolves about two miles from the location of the carcass,” said JT Romatzke, Northwest Region Manager for CPW. “After watching them for about 20 minutes, the officers rode in to get a closer look. The wolves were gone but they found plenty of large tracks in the area.”
A trail of wolf tracks observed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers in Northwest Colorado on January 19, 2020
According to the officers, the tracks measured approximately 4.5 to 5.5 inches and appear to have been made by at least six animals.
“As we have made clear, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will not take direct action in these cases,” said Dan Prenzlow, Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “We have the leading experts on wildlife management and species recovery working for our agency, but while wolves remain federally protected, they are under the jurisdiction of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. We will continue to work with our federal partners and monitor the situation.”
According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, killing a wolf can result in federal charges, including a $100,000 fine and a year in prison, per offense. The public is urged to contact CPW immediately and fill out a report if they see or hear wolves or find evidence of any wolf activity in Colorado. The Wolf Sighting Form can be found on the CPW website.
Former U.S. National Security Advisor and UN Ambassador Susan Rice will keynote Colorado State University’s Founders Day celebrations on Feb. 11. Her conversation with Greg Myre, NPR national security correspondent, will take place at 6 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public as well as CSU faculty, staff and students, but tickets are required. Tickets are now available online at CSUtix.com.
The event is part of the Global Engagement Distinguished Speaker lecture series presented by the Office of International Programs and the Provost’s Sesquicentennial Colloquium Series, celebrating the 150th anniversary of CSU’s founding in 1870.
Ambassador Rice began her work in politics in 1993 under the Clinton administration and was appointed Ambassador to the United Nations by President Barack Obama. She was later appointed National Security Advisor by Obama, a position she held until 2017. In 2019, she published Tough Love: My Story of The Things Worth Fighting For, a memoir about her life and diplomacy work.
In the book, she writes about lessons learned while working on foreign policy during the Obama administration: “Failure, as I discovered early, is an inevitable result of policy making. We did fail; we will fail. Our aim must be to minimize the frequency and the prices of failure, while learning from our mistakes — and hopefully not the wrong lessons.”
Only clear bags will be allowed into the event. Tickets are limited, so reserve yours at CSUtix.com soon to be part of this historic event.
DENVER – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday, January 21 that they reached a settlement with K.P. Kauffman Company, Inc. (KPK), an oil and gas firm headquartered in Denver.
The settlement, which includes a $1 million civil penalty to be split between the federal government and the State of Colorado, resolves allegations in a complaint filed in October 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado that the company failed to adequately minimize emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from its exploration and production operations in the state’s ozone nonattainment area.
“The department expects oil and gas companies operating in the State of Colorado to follow the law,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the Department of Public Health and Environment. “Our laws and regulations exist to protect the health and well-being of everyone who calls Colorado home. This settlement demonstrates our commitment to holding companies accountable for their violations and taking the decisive steps necessary to minimize volatile organic compound emissions.”
Under Colorado’s Regulation 7, oil and gas companies are required to design, operate, and maintain their operations in a manner that minimizes emissions to the maximum extent practicable. Starting in 2012, the department and the EPA launched a joint investigation using advanced infrared cameras to determine if oil and gas operations were meeting their obligations under Regulation 7.
Today’s settlement with KPK is the department’s 10th settlement, either working on its own or in conjunction with the federal government, to result from this investigation. In addition to a civil penalty, KPK has agreed to implement tank control measures that will reduce volatile organic compound emissions by an estimated 424 tons per year. The company committed to completing new storage tank design and operation and maintenance procedures that will fulfill its obligations under Regulation 7 within no more than two years. KPK will also install pressure monitors on all tanks subject to the settlement. This technology will allow KPK to continuously monitor the pressure in its storage tanks to ensure the tanks do not over pressurize and release excess emissions.
In addition, the settlement requires KPK to conduct more frequent inspections and to respond promptly to observed volatile organic compounds emissions and conduct a root cause analysis if the company’s operations experience multiple volatile organic compound emissions within a given time period (three or more instances in any rolling six-month period). If the analysis determines that the emissions are the result of a flaw in the company’s procedures or design, KPK will be required to address the root cause to prevent a recurrence.
KPK has also agreed to complete three environmental mitigation projects that will reduce volatile organic compound emissions in the state by an additional 131 tons per year.
The department, working both on its own and in conjunction with the U.S. EPA and DOJ, has now reached settlements that cover 93 percent of the well production facilities with condensate storage tanks in the state’s ozone nonattainment area (as well as the portions of Weld County not within the nonattainment area).
Attorneys from the Colorado Department of Law’s Natural Resources section advised the department on the settlement.
Minimizing volatile organic compound emissions is a crucial component of the department’s efforts to bring Colorado back into attainment with the EPA’s national ozone standard. When volatile organic compounds interact with oxides of nitrogen in sunlight, they create ozone pollution. The department recognized that improperly designed and maintained storage tanks at oil and gas operations represented a significant source of volatile organic compound emissions, and Colorado has taken the initiative in pioneering innovative and cost-effective storage tank regulations.
“Colorado has pursued a vigorous all-of-the-above strategy when it comes to storage tanks,” said Garry Kaufman, director, Air Pollution Control Division. “Whether it’s holding oil and gas companies accountable through appropriate legal action or approving new tank controls under Regulation 7 through the Air Quality Control Commission, the state has demonstrated that it will continue to seek out effective and scientifically supported means for reducing emissions and making Colorado’s air cleaner and healthier.”
New AAA research finds electric cars are becoming cheaper to own, “range anxiety” diminishing.
DENVER (Jan. 22, 2020) – New research from AAA finds that over five years and 75,000 miles of driving, the annual cost of owning a new compact electric vehicle is only slightly more expensive – about $600 annually – than its gas-powered counterpart, despite steeper sticker prices and higher depreciation costs. Importantly, the study also revealed that the most significant concern surrounding an electric vehicle – range anxiety – eases considerably after purchase.
Per new AAA survey data, prior to owning an electric vehicle, 91 percent of owners said they had at least one significant concern about these vehicles generally – including insufficient range, inability to plan for long-distance trips, and difficulty finding a place to charge. Many of these worries disappeared after purchase. This suggests a perception problem: If consumers have a better understanding of the actual cost and experience of owning an electric vehicle, the gap between expressed interest and adoption should begin to close.
“While 40 million Americans have signaled an interest in buying electric for their next car, the actual adoption of these technologies is happening much, much more slowly,” said AAA Colorado spokesman Skyler McKinley. “With this research, we’ve begun to explore what the experience of owning an electric vehicle has on perception of these cars and, perhaps more importantly, whether consumers would choose to go green again.”
By the Numbers
AAA’s survey of electric vehicle owners, 71 percent of whom had not previously owned an electric car, revealed some interesting results:
The majority (96 percent) say they would buy or lease another electric vehicle the next time they were in the market for a new car.
Two in five (43 percent) say they drive more now than when they owned a gas-powered car. On average, electric vehicle owners drive 39 miles per day.
Three quarters (78 percent) also have a gas-powered car in the household, although they report doing the majority of their driving (87 percent) in their electric vehicle.
Perhaps the most surprising result of the survey was the impact ownership has on commonly held fears about electric vehicles, particularly those that have deterred consumers from making the leap to green. Previous AAA research has found that the top two reasons why Americans shy away from electric vehicles are not enough places to charge (58 percent) and the fear that they will run out of charge while driving (57 percent).
Almost all owners surveyed (95 percent) report never having run out of a charge while driving . On average, they do 75 percent of their charging at home. As a result, those who were originally concerned about insufficient range said they became less or no longer concerned post-purchase (77 percent).
Still, Colorado drivers take note: Hilly and mountainous terrain and cold weather can significantly reduce an electric vehicle’s potential range – and Colorado has plenty of both. Prospective electric vehicle buyers should evaluate how often they face these conditions in the understanding that advertised ranges may not accord with Colorado’s unique motoring landscape. For this reason, AAA Colorado was proud to introduce the nation’s first dedicated electric vehicle charging truck in 2015.
Driving Costs
Employing the same methodology used for its annual Your Driving Costs study, AAA calculated the costs for owning a new compact electric vehicle as they compared to those of a comparable gas-powered vehicle. While the study found that the overall cost of electric vehicle ownership is eight percent more per year, individual categories such as fuel and maintenance/repair are lower.
Fuel – The electricity required to drive 15,000 miles per year in a compact electric vehicle costs an average of $546, while the amount of gas required to drive the same distance costs $1,255 (or 130 percent) more.
Maintenance/Repair – Electric vehicles do not require as much maintenance as gas-powered ones, as they do not need oil changes or air-filter replacements. If maintained according to the automakers’ recommendations, electric vehicles cost $330 less than a gas-powered car – at a total of $949 annually.
Vehicle ownership, whether electric or gas-powered, is a personal choice that should take many factors into consideration. For consumers who are interested in electric vehicles, AAA recommends visiting a dealership, test driving one, and asking as many questions as possible to make an informed decision.
Methodology
The electric vehicle and internal combustion engine driving costs in this study were established using the proprietary methodology employed for AAA’s Your Driving Costs (YDC) project. The 2019 electric vehicle models selected for this study were: Chevrolet Bolt (LT), Hyundai Ionic Electric (Base), Kia Soul EV (+), Nissan Leaf (SV) and Volkswagen eGolf (SE). The 2019 internal combustion engine vehicles selected for the comparison were: Chevrolet Cruze (LS), Honda Civic (LX), Hyundai Elantra (SE), Nissan Sentra (SV) and Toyota Corolla (SE). This methodology models the purchase of a new vehicle for personal use over a period of five years and 75,000 miles. A copy of the 2019 AAA Your Driving Costs brochure with the latest study results is available at https://bit.ly/35I5GG8.
The survey of electric vehicle owners was conducted using a consumer panel maintained by a third-party electric vehicle research firm. The online panel consists of more than 40,000 electric vehicles owners, weighted to balance drivers by vehicle type, make and model. In total, 1,090 surveys with plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) owners were completed during a 24 hour period on October 1, 2019.
Walker received 76.6% of votes in 10th and final year on ballot
DENVER — It was announced this evening that Larry Walker has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame after receiving 76.6% of the vote in his 10th and final year on the ballot. The announcement was made by National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum President Tim Mead live on MLB Network.
Walker becomes the first player in Rockies history to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He is the seventh player in the modern voting era (since 1966) to be elected in his final year of eligibility and the third player over the past four years to be elected in his 10th and final year on the ballot (also Tim Raines in 2017, Edgar Martinez in 2019).
Eligible candidates must be named on 75% of the ballots from voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America in order to be elected. Walker received 54.6% of the vote in 2019, marking an improvement of 22.0% in his final year on the ballot. That is the largest year-to-year percentage increase to earn election to the Hall of Fame in the modern voting era.
The Class of 2020 also includes shortstop Derek Jeter, catcher Ted Simmons and executive Marvin Miller. They will be inducted on Sunday, July 26 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Born on December 1, 1966 in Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada, Larry Walker played parts of 17 Major League seasons from 1989-2005, including parts of 10 seasons with the Rockies from 1995-2004. In his career, he batted .313 (2,160-for-6,907) with 1,355 runs, 471 doubles, 62 triples, 383 home runs, 1,311 RBI, 230 stolen bases and 913 walks. As a Rockie, Walker batted .334 (1,361-for-4,076) with 297 doubles, 44 triples, 258 home runs, 848 RBI, 126 stolen bases and 584 walks. He ranks first in Rockies history in batting average, on-base percentage (.426) and slugging percentage (.618). He ranks second, behind Todd Helton, in runs, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI.
In 1997, Walker became the only player in Rockies history to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award after leading the Major Leagues with a .720 slugging percentage, a 1.172 OPS and 409 total bases. His 49 home runs that season led the National League, and remain tied with Todd Helton’s 2001 total for the most single-season home runs in Rockies franchise history.
He was named a National League All-Star five times (1992, 1997-99, 2001) and earned seven Gold Gloves in right field (1992-93, 1997-99, 2001-02) in addition to his three Silver Sluggers (1992, 1997, 1999). Additionally, he was a three-time National League Batting Champion (1998-99, 2001) as a member of the Rockies.
Prior to signing with Colorado before the 1995 season, Walker played parts of six seasons with the Montreal Expos (1989-94) and batted .281 (666-for-2,366) with 368 runs, 147 doubles, 16 triples, 99 home runs, 384 RBI across 674 games. He concluded his Major League career with parts of two seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals (2004-05), where he batted .286 (133-for-465) with 95 runs, 27 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs, 79 RBI, six stolen bases and 65 walks across 144 games.
“I know I speak for the whole Rocky Mountain Region in congratulating Larry for his election into the Hall of Fame,” said Rockies Owner/Chairman & CEO Dick Monfort. “Larry blessed our region for parts of 10 seasons and we feel extremely fortunate to be a part of his incredible career. Congrats, Larry.”
On March 3, 2020, Arapahoe County will hold a Presidential Primary election, which will determine the presidential nominees for each political party. All active voters will receive a ballot the week of Feb. 10, 2020. There are recent changes to Colorado’s presidential primary process, so read on to make sure you’re ready for the election on March 3.
The most comprehensive voter information for Arapahoe County can be found at arapahoevotes.com.
Update your voter registration
Make sure your voter registration is active and your mailing address is current by visiting www.govotecolorado.gov. The County uses this information to mail your ballot to you. Please note that ballots are not forwarded even if you have submitted a Change of Address form to the U.S. Postal Service.
Watch your mailbox
Ballots will be mailed to active registered voters the week of Feb. 10, 2020. Please allow one full week for your ballot to arrive.
If you do not receive your mail ballot, please visit www.govotecolorado.gov and verify your voter registration address is correct. Update your address, if necessary, and a replacement ballot will be mailed to your new address. Ballots cannot be forwarded by the U.S. Postal Service. If you have any other issues, please contact our office at 303-795-4511.
After Feb. 24, we can no longer send ballots by mail. Instead, you must go to a Voter Service and Polling Center to update your registration and request a ballot.
Who is on the ballot?
The Colorado Secretary of State maintains candidate information. Please visit the Secretary of State website for a list of candidates who have been certified to their respective Democratic and Republican party ballots.
Which ballot will I receive?
Colorado has not held a presidential primary election since the year 2000. In 2016, Proposition 107 recreated and reenacted state laws allowing for presidential primaries. As noted above, all active voters will receive a mail ballot for the Presidential Primary to be held on March 3. The ballot you receive is based upon your party affiliation. In brief:
If you are registered with a major party, you will get that party’s ballot.
If you are unaffiliated and have elected to receive a specific party ballot, you will get that party’s ballot. Visit www.govotecolorado.gov to declare a major party ballot preference.
If you are unaffiliated and have no preference, you will get both major party ballots. Please note: you may only return a ballot for one party. If two voted ballots are returned, neither will count.
There are no minor party candidates for the March 3 Presidential Primary. So, if you are unaffiliated and have indicated a preference of a minor party, you will get both major party ballots. Please note: you may only return a ballot for one party. If two voted ballots are returned, neither will count.
If you are affiliated with a minor party, you will not get a ballot.
Perhaps! The Colorado Votes Act (HB 19-1278), which took effect in August 2019, allows 17-year-olds to vote in state and presidential primary elections as long as they’ll turn 18 by the general election, Nov. 3. Seventeen year olds who turn 18 after Nov. 3 cannot vote in this year’s primary elections.
How to vote
There are two ways you can vote:
Complete your mail ballot and return to a 24-hour drop box, Voter Service Polling Center or U.S. Postal Service. You can find available Voter Service Polling Center locations near you on our website. Ballots must be received no later than 7 p.m. on March 3, 2020.
You can vote in person at a Voter Service Polling Center. Be sure to check VSPC open hours before you go. VSPCs will be open on Tuesday, March 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
How to return your mail ballot
Once you’ve made your selections and sealed and signed your envelope, it’s time to return your ballot to Arapahoe County Elections. You have three options:
You can return your sealed ballot to any of our drop-off locations by 7 p.m. on March 3. No postage is required to use a 24-hour ballot box. Ballot boxes are open Feb. 10–March 3, 2020 at 7 p.m. MST.
You can return your sealed ballot to any of our Voter Service and Polling Centers by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.
Send your sealed ballot back by mail. You’ll need to include postage, which should cost .55 cents.
Want to track your ballot?
You can now track your ballot through the counting process by visiting our website. Ballot Track gives you the status of your mail ballot in any election. The system uses the barcode on the outside of your ballot envelope, so your actual ballot and voting selections remain anonymous. You can also sign up to receive free messages by text, email or phone when your ballot is:
Mailed to you
Received by the Postal Service
Received by Arapahoe County Elections
You would also receive a message if your ballot is returned as undeliverable by the Postal Service.
Privacy of voter information
Arapahoe County and the State of Colorado are required by law to maintain a variety of information about registered voters. Some of this information is considered public record and must be provided to people who ask for it. Voter registration records are public records, although some personal information contained in voter registration records remains private. To learn more about your privacy selections, visit our website.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) released the following statement recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and his tremendous legacy as a civil rights icon and role model:
“Today we celebrate the life and legacy of an incredible man who altered the course of history forever,” said Senator Gardner. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s powerful teachings of love and tolerance in the face of fierce hate echo through time and serve as an example we should all aspire to follow. Today as we reflect on Dr. King’s inspirational life and leadership, I hope we can all strive to find the common good that unites us and dream of a more perfect Union together.”
Lakewood, CO: In the Fire Service, we often speak of the 5 E’s of Community Risk Reduction. The 5 E’s are Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Economic Incentives, and Emergency Response.
These 5 E’s form the foundation by which we plan, establish, and measure our CRR activities and programs. Each of them is valuable and essential to a successful program.
The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) declares January 20-26th, 2020 as Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week. Fire departments are encouraged to promote fire and life safety interventions.
CRR is a process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by the integrated and strategic investment of resources to reduce their occurrence and impact. In other words, it is a process to help communities find out what their risks are and develop a plan to reduce the risks viewed as high priority.
Thank you Governor Polis and our partners for your continued support!
More information about National CRR Week can be found at http://crrweek.org
‘Taking my gun for a walk’ plus learning to butcher and prepare deer like a gourmet
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Ten months of classroom study, days of target practice at the shooting range and hours of immersing myself in the ethics and strategies of hunting all built to a climax on the weekend after Christmas: my first big game hunt.
The anticipation was almost overwhelming as, on Dec. 28, my daughter, Natalie, and I embarked on our first big game hunt as members of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Rookie Sportsperson Program (RSP).
The RSP is a free program offered by CPW’s Southeast Region headquartered in Colorado Springs. It takes novice outdoors enthusiasts like Natalie and me and teaches them outdoor skills. Hopefully, attendees are inspired to get outside and sample all the adventures available in Colorado’s great outdoors.
We are learning about hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and much more. We became certified in the safe handling of firearms through a Hunter Education course and have been out on a couple small-game hunts with our mentor, District Wildlife Manager Logan Wilkins.
Along the way, Natalie and I began to understand why people hunt. We learned how hunting provides perhaps the most organic, natural protein one can find. And we learned how CPW uses hunting to protect big game animals from starvation and disease that result when herds grow too large, leaving no food for them on over-grazed habitat.
Way back on March 30, in anticipation of my hunt, Wilkins helped me decide which hunting license to buy so I could join him on a mentored pronghorn hunt near his district in Limon. Ever since, I’ve had the license in my wallet, just waiting to use it.
Every once in a while, I would take it out and read it: “Resident Pronghorn License. Doe Late Rifle. For Units 110, 111, 118, 119, 123, 124. Season Dates: 12/01/19 – 12/31/19.”
On the big day, Natalie and I met Wilkins at 6:30 a.m. in Limon. It was a cold Saturday morning, but I was burning with the Big Game Fever. Wilkins had gotten permission from a landowner in the area to let a couple novice hunters come try their luck at pronghorn hunting.
As we stepped out of the truck, the wind blew bitter cold in our faces and would continue to blow throughout the day. I was proud of my daughter: she never complained.
My first good chance to get a pronghorn came early in the day. We found a position in a field around 150 yards away from a group of pronghorn and sat down to keep from drawing attention to ourselves.
I positioned my lefty Savage Rifle, loaded with .243 Winchester ammunition, on a set of shooting sticks and tried to aim as the wind whipped us. Out in the field were two does and one antlerless buck, “all legal” with my license, Wilkins told me.
I took a deep breath and found them in my scope. But I couldn’t get the crosshairs to hold still long enough to feel comfortable taking a shot. We had practiced on targets at 100 yards and these pronghorn, at 150 yards, were just out of my range.
As I struggled to calm my sights, I sat back on my butt and we adjusted the shooting sticks. But I still couldn’t get the scope to remain still long enough to feel comfortable taking a shot. We decided to get up to try to get cover behind a nearby hay bale.
“We’ll see what they’ll tolerate,” Wilkins said.
Turns out they didn’t tolerate much from us. As soon as we got up and began walking, the three pronghorn took off, moving so quickly out of range that their speed seemed almost supernatural.
“They say they evolved alongside big cheetah-like cats,” Wilkins said. “Myself, I like to say God was just showing off.”
He told me pronghorn will stand facing into the wind so that the scent of predators is blowing toward them. And I read online later that windy days on the plains can dry a pronghorn’s eyes, impairing their sight and making them skittish.
They certainly were jumpy the day we were hunting them. We spent the rest of the morning trying to spot and stalk them. Many times we saw a herd and crossed freezing fields hoping to sneak up only to pop up over a small hill and find the herd had disappeared.
We broke for a late lunch around 1 p.m. Wilkins offered to get a hunting blind – essentially a camouflage tent – that we would sit in until dark. But bad weather was moving in and news of cars sliding off nearby Interstate 70 convinced me to call it a day.
When we got home, I fell asleep sitting on the couch while my girlfriend was talking to me about how our hunt went. The next week, when people asked me how my hunt went, I told them what I’d heard others say: I ended up just taking my gun for a walk.
But the day was much more than just a cold hike with my gun. As with my small-game hunts, I got to experience with my daughter an adventure we will never forget. Sure we didn’t even get off a shot. But we enjoyed the preparation, the anticipation, the quest, the shared experience of trying to feed ourselves the way our ancestors did a century ago.
Like many things, it’s more about the journey than the actual destination.
A week later, I was back in class, learning more about how to cook wild game from professional wild game chef Jason Nauert.
Wearing a black Prosper Meats hoodie and a hat with a Colorado logo and a forearm loaded with tattoos (are you even a chef without them?), Nauert told us about his background.
He attended the Rocky Mountain Institute of Meat after leaving a career in law enforcement due to an ankle injury. In 2014, he began working with Special Forces units to develop a program teaching soldiers how to harvest, field dress and prepare animals in the field. Now, when he’s not traveling around the country teaching these skills at U.S. military bases, Nauert imparts his knowledge at classes like this one.
Nauert showed us how to process a deer, demonstrating different cuts and explaining his techniques as he went.
It was incredibly helpful to see how a professional breaks down an animal into its different cuts of meat. He had great tips for cutting and preparing every part of the animal, such as the deer’s legs or “shanks.”
“With shank meat, a lot of people waste their time cutting all that connective tissue, the silver skin, apart,” Nauert said. “Don’t waste your time. If you braise these in tomato sauce, or something with acidity, they’re fantastic. And you’re not wasting your time trying to cut all that silver skin off. You can tie butcher’s twine around a shank, then let it braise for six to eight hours. The meat falls off, you’ve got a beautiful dish.”
Nauert also dispelled the myth that some cuts of meat have to be tough.
“Some of the biggest reasons people end up with tough cuts of meat are, one, they cook it too long,” he said. “Two, they don’t use the right marinade if they’re trying to marinate it. And three, they cut it wrong.“
Another trick is cutting across the grain of the meat.
“If you cut with the grain, you’re screwed,” he warned. “If you cut against the grain, it’s going to be beautiful. Try not to cut super thick cuts either. It’s wild game. It’s not a cow. You can’t get away with three-inch pork chops or something like that. You want it thin.”
Nauert had prepared a few dishes ahead of time to show the class what the results of cutting and cooking wild game could be. The delicious smell of venison carne asada and venison chili wafted around us and we all dug in to the delicious dishes.
At the end, Nauert wrapped up the different cuts of meat from the deer and everyone was able to take home a cut of their choosing. My girlfriend, Jamey, and I chose a roast.
For dinner the next evening, we took chopped carrots, potatoes and onions and put them in a slow cooker with salt, pepper and garlic. Then we added broth and water to the pot and cooked it on high for about eight hours. The result was a delicious dinner for our family for the next two evenings.
For our final month of RSP, we’ll be participating in an ice fishing class and then have a final banquet consisting of wild game prepared by participants in the program. You’ll be able to read all about it in the next installment of Field Notes of a Rookie Sportsperson.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Logan Wilkins, district wildlife manager in Limon area, scans for pronghorn as Travis Duncan aims his rifle.
Professional wild game chef Jason Nauert teaches members of CPW’s Rookie Sportsperson Program how to properly butcher and prepare wild game.
Deer steaks cook in a class to teach members of CPW’s Rookie Sportsperson Program how to properly prepare wild game.
Colorado State University and Nutrien, the world’s largest provider of crop nutrients, inputs and services, have entered into a strategic partnership with a primary goal: feeding the world in the most sustainable, inclusive and innovative way.
Nutrien is providing CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences $1 million each year over the next 10 years. This $10 million gift will fund state-of-the-art research and teaching initiatives on campus and provide scholarship support to students, elevating CSU into a position of leadership in developing a diverse, highly skilled agricultural workforce and boosting Nutrien’s ability to deliver industry-leading products.
“We are grateful for this incredible support from Nutrien,” CSU President Joyce McConnell said. “Both Nutrien and CSU share a vision of using high-tech agriculture to help sustainably feed the world. We face immense challenges to accomplish this task, and it is through improved research capabilities and training more students to bring their innovative ideas forward that CSU will make a bigger impact on the future.”
Nutrien, a global company with offices not far from campus in Loveland, Colorado, has been providing crop inputs and expert agronomic services for more than 50 years. The company has operations and investments in 14 countries and 20,000 employees, including more than 600 CSU alumni.
Mike Frank, Executive Vice President and CEO of Retail at Nutrien, said studying strategic plans put together by CSU and the College of Agricultural Sciences that look 10 years into the future inspired his company to seek a partnership with the University. He said CSU’s commitment to sustainability, diversity and inclusion, global research, and high-tech agriculture perfectly fit with Nutrien’s vision.
“We’re extremely excited about our partnership with CSU – the University itself and in particular the College of Agricultural Sciences,” Frank said. “When we talk to CSU and the folks in the ag school about their strategic vision, it really aligns with what we’re doing.
“We have an incredible responsibility and opportunity in agriculture to feed a growing population around the world. The American farmers have embraced that, and the programs and research at CSU and the tools and knowledge that CSU imparts to its students really fits with where agriculture is going.”
Numerous impacts
Nutrien’s gift – the largest in the College of Agricultural Sciences’ history – will impact the college in numerous areas:
Scholarships for students in the college, focusing on education and success of women and students from diverse backgrounds.
Program enhancements to help students become career-ready in the field of agriculture, and ensuring they persist in their studies through graduation and placement in the industry.
Funding to attract top talent in the application of technology to agricultural problems including food safety, security and sustainability.
Sponsorship of high-impact engagement and educational events at the nexus of technology, innovation and agriculture, such as CSU’s AgInnovation Summit.
Sponsorship of the Nutrien Ag Day BBQ each fall, held annually to coincide with a home football game.
In recognition of this transformational gift, the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Shepardson Building will be renamed the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building. This building is undergoing a radical remodel of its 1938 structure and a 41,000-square-foot expansion with funds from the State of Colorado and CSU. The Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building will house the impactful programs and people supported by the Nutrien gift, and the building will become a home for Colorado agriculture, student aspirations and agricultural innovation for a global impact.
A rendering of the proposed Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building
“We have a long-term vision in mind and a partner (Nutrien) who wants to be part of that, which is tremendously exciting,” said James Pritchett, interim dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. “I’m especially excited for our students. Nutrien’s gift is transformational for attracting, retaining and placing talent in agriculture. Students respond with enthusiasm and boundless energy when we show our confidence in their future, and that is exactly what this gift does. Our students will be working in state-of-the-art facilities, and that means we will be teaching and they will be learning better. We invite all to come to the table and be partners in this future vision.”
The college has more than 120 faculty and more than 2,200 undergraduate student majors and minors – 65 percent of them female – plus 298 graduate students. Nearly 30% of agricultural sciences students are the first in their family to attend college.
About Nutrien
Nutrien is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services, playing a critical role in helping growers increase food production in a sustainable manner. Nutrien produces and distributes 27 million tons of potash, nitrogen and phosphate products worldwide. With this capability and the leading agriculture retail network, Nutrien is well positioned to supply the needs of its customers. Nutrien operates with a long-term view and is committed to working with stakeholders to address economic, environmental and social priorities. The scale and diversity of Nutrien’s integrated portfolio provides a stable earnings base, multiple avenues for growth and the opportunity to return capital to shareholders.
About State Your Purpose
The Campaign for Colorado State University: The University’s first $1 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign has attracted transformative philanthropic support for people, programs and places at CSU. The campaign surpassed its original goal 21 months ahead of schedule and continues through June 2020, coinciding with the conclusion of a yearlong celebration of CSU’s 150th anniversary. Read more about the campaign’s impact at giving.colostate.edu.
