Wildlife officer hunts 'em down

By Stephen Clearheart Johnson
North Forty News

Jim Jackson has been the wildlife district officer for the Colorado Division of Wildlife in the Red Feather area for 37 years. Jackson loves his job, despite always working weekends, and could have retired seven years ago.

On a crisp October morning, investigating a report of a dead moose, Jackson headed north from Red Feather Lakes to Boulder Ridge, with the spectacular panoramic view of the Laramie Plain. Other days might find him giving educational school talks, doing wildlife inventories to track populations, conferring on land-use proposals, or working with landowners who have problems with game or hunters.

He found the moose lying next to the road where it had been shot, mercifully, behind the ear. One antler had old damage, so perhaps that was why the shooter hadn't taken the trophy head.

Jackson towed the carcass off the roadway and removed the good antler to further discourage a return by the shooter. Moose are a particular passion for Jackson, as he was a prime mover in introducing them into the Laramie River Valley. He also created the first deer decoy program to catch hunters shooting from roads.

At the moose scene, Jackson noted carrion birds such as magpies beginning to gather. "The only good that will come out of this," he said, "is that the carcass will feed many small creatures. In nature, nothing is wasted."

Jackson followed some faint and crisscrossing ATV tracks, hoping to find a hunting camp, but to no avail. He headed west to check on duck hunters at Hohnholz Lakes in the Laramie River Valley.

Along the way, he stopped to inspect a barbed wire fence with posts so far apart that the sagging wires could entrap an animal by catching a leg between two twisting wires. "These are potential death traps for deer, elk or moose," he noted sadly.

Jackson pointed out that the DOW has a free pamphlet for homeowners illustrating how to build a game-safe fence.

Finding no duck hunters, Jackson pointed with pride to Lake #1. Last spring was the first time in 22 years, he said, that enough water was available to fill the lake. He promptly had the lake stocked, knowing that these nutrient-rich waters would lead to fast growth of the trout. Stopping to inspect a fisherman's catch of four fine trout, he concluded they were "not quite fat enough."

Heading up to Chambers Lake, he encountered an oncoming convoy of Jeeps led by an off-road motorcycle, or dirt bike. Dirt bikes are illegal on Colorado roads. After a brief high-speed chase, the biker finally pulled over, unable to outrun a big Dodge engine driven by a determined man who knows the roads intimately.

The rider was from Wyoming, where there are virtually no rules on dirt bikes. Jackson released him after ensuring that the bike was loaded into an accompanying Jeep.

At Chambers Lake, Jackson advised two fishermen that their shore-side fire was in violation of county fire bans. He checked their catch and licenses. An RV pulled over to ask his advice on camping spots.

Nearby, at Lost Lake, Jackson carefully scanned the shoreline with binoculars. Sensing something suspicious with one group, he moved around the lake to stealthily come up on them from behind, through the woods.

Finding one disabled man entitled to free fishing, Jackson advised him to go to the office in Fort Collins to obtain the license. A father vouched for a young man who claimed he left his license at home. A young woman without a license had been seen handling poles, but not fishing. No citations were issued.

Jackson likes to treat people as his clients. After all, the DOW is funded by sportsmen's fees, with no tax funds involved. "I may come on strong at the start," said Jackson, who stands an intimidating 6 feet, 8 inches and weighs 280 pounds, counting pistol, "but when I retire I'd like to be remembered as fair and firm, and if you deserved a break, you got it."

Coming down the Poudre Canyon, Jackson spoke briefly on the radio with another district officer, who was also heading out to investigate a report of a dead moose. "Lots of dead moose this year," he said, explaining that causes include rogue shooters, natural causes or mistakes by hunters who shoot the wrong animal.

He noted that DOW rules require the mistaken hunter to field dress the animal, then report the incident. Jackson then reclaims the meat and gives it to needy families who have a tag for that type of animal, or he gives it to medically challenged individuals who cannot risk eating hormone-laden commercial meat.

It fits in with his philosophy: "In nature, nothing is wasted."