Monte Vista

Monte Vista NWR https://www.fws.gov/refuge/monte_vista/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Vista_National_Wildlife_Refuge Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is located in the San Luis Valley south of the town of Monte Vista, Colorado in southeastern Rio Grande County in the watershed of the Rio Grande. It provides a habitat for wildlife, particularly waterfowl, in the San Luis Valley.

­­­ San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex 9383 El Rancho Lane Alamosa, CO 81101 719 / 589 4021 719 / 587 0595 fax alamosa@fws.gov http://www.fws.gov/refuge/alamosa For State relay service TTY / Voice: 711 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov For Refuge Information 1 800 / 344 WILD Reprinted November 2019 White-faced ibis Dave Menke / USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alamosa and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges Sandhill cranes silhouetted against a morning sky Dave Menke / USFWS In a high mountain valley in south-central Colorado, the sun rises above a tapestry of wetlands and agricultural fields. The sounds of cranes, geese, and ducks fill the air as the sun rises in the sky. An elk herd feeds on grasses in a meadow. This blue goose, designed by J.N. “Ding” Darling, is the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Canada geese rise off frozen wetlands on Monte Vista NWR. Welcome to Alamosa and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges (NWR), two of the three refuges in the San Luis Valley NWR Complex. These Refuges are places for people and wildlife. The San Luis Valley has long been a sanctuary for humans and wildlife. The valley was once inhabited by the Ute Indians who lived off an abundance of elk, deer, pronghorn, small game, and waterfowl. Comanche parties occasionally came into the valley to hunt. In 1694, an early Spanish explorer, Diego de Vargas, was the first recorded European in the San Luis Valley. Lieutenant Zebulon Pike’s 1806-1807 expedition traveled through the valley when it was still a Spanish territory. At the conclusion of the Mexican War in 1848, the valley became American territory. A “ditch boom” in the 1880s sent irrigation canals fanning out through the valley, making it agriculturally productive. The development of mines, ranches, farms, and railroads soon led to the establishment of small communities throughout the valley and surrounding mountains. USFWS A Crossroads for People and Wildlife Hollingsworth / USFWS High Mountain Valley Refuges Swainson’s hawk Realizing the urgent need for a place for waterfowl and other wildlife in the valley, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission created Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in 1952. Alamosa NWR was established in 1962 as another haven for migratory birds and other wildlife in the valley. In 1979, the two Refuges were combined administratively into the AlamosaMonte Vista National Wildlife Refuge Complex. In 2003, an area to the north of these two refuges became Baca NWR. While Baca NWR is not currently open to the public, all these refuges are now managed as part of the San Luis Valley NWR Complex. Alamosa and Monte Vista NWRs are two of over 565 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System – a network of lands set aside and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specifically for wildlife. The Refuge System is a living heritage, conserving wildlife and habitat for people today and generations to come. Alamosa NWR The 12,026 acres that make up Alamosa NWR include upland areas, riparian corridors, wet meadows, and river oxbows. The wetland and river habitats provide a wildlife oasis in this dry region. These habitats support a variety of wildlife, including songbirds, water birds, raptors, deer, beavers, coyotes, and more. Monte Vista NWR The artificially created wetlands on Monte Vista NWR’s 14,804 acres are intensively managed to provide habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl and other water birds. Mallards, pintails, teal, and Canada geese are common, as are American avocets, killdeer, white-faced ibis, egrets, and herons. Irrigation canals and wells provide precious water to maintain the important wetland habitat. Managing Habitats for a Variety of Wildlife The mission of both Alamosa NWR and Monte Vista NWR is to provide food, cover, migration, and breeding habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Both Refuges conserve and enhance the mixture of wetland and desert habitats found in the area to accomplish these goals. Habitat management tools used on the Refuges include water and wetland management, farming, grazing, and prescribed fire. Water – A Vital Substance Water is the lifeblood of the San Luis Valley and the Refuges within it. While only 7 inches of precipitation falls annually in the valley, spring snow melt from the Sangre de Cristo Range and San Juan Mountains provides essential water to the valley. The melting snow feeds the Rio Grande and valley streams and replenishes underground water. This inflow of water creates a unique mosaic of wetland and desert habitats, each with its own plant and animal community. When water is in short supply, as in drought years, migratory birds sometimes are forced to pass by the Refuges and private and State-owned wetlands in search of wetter areas. Locally nesting birds may fail to nest, and other wildlife may decline. Dave Menke / USFWS Killdeer Dave Menke / USFWS Cinnamon teal Water Manage

National Wildlife Refuge 160 U.S. highway 15 State highway Public road Service roads (non-motorized use) Restroom Elk hunt area Information Bureau of Land Management land Parking Rivers/Waterways 1 CR 3S 0 Parking area and information Wetlands To Monte Vista 1 2 Kilometers 2 3 7 5 CR 5S 15 Miles 1 0 CR 3E Wildlife Drive Hunt area for all permitted species CR 6E Refuge boundary N CR 5E Monte Vista 8 1 CR 6S Stanley Road CR 2E 285 CR 8S ran 17 de nal 15 Not to scale 160 CR 7S Ca CR 8S RIO GRANDE CO. ALAMOSA CO. CR 3E Monte Vista NWR Alamosa El Rancho Lane 160 370 368 CR 6E CR 7S 2 CR 6E 6 re Raptor Road 3 pi CR 2E CR 7S Em Mo Lark Lane 285 Monte Vista G Rio n t e Vi s ta Cana l 4 285 Alamosa NWR 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Monte Vista Hunting Regulations Table Hunting is in accordance with State regulations. In addition, Refuge-specifc regulations must be followed and are listed in the table below. National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Activity Season Dates and Harvest American coot, State season and regulations dove, duck, apply goose, merganser, Wilson’s snipe Other Regulations Eurasian collared-dove hunting only allowed during the mourning dove season. Method of take includes shotguns, handheld bows, and hawking/falconry. The use of dogs for hunting and retrieving is permitted. Dogs must be under immediate control and may not interfere with other hunter’s activities. Decoys and blinds cannot be left unattended and must be removed from the hunting area daily. Non-toxic shot is required for all shotgun hunting. Possession of lead shot while in the feld is prohibited. Hunters may access areas open to hunting from parking areas 1-5. Access from parking areas 6, 7, and 8 is prohibited. Cottontail, jackrabbit State season and regulations apply Method of take includes shotguns, rifes fring rimfre cartridges less than .23 caliber, hand-held bows, pellet guns, slingshots, and hawking/falconry. Non-toxic shot is required for all shotgun hunting. Possession of lead shot while in the feld is prohibited. Hunters may access areas open to hunting from parking areas 1-5. Access from parking areas 6, 7, and 8 is prohibited. Elk Special Refuge Access Elk Permit required Hunters must have a valid State elk hunting license, and apply for and receive a Special Refuge Access Elk Permit through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Contact 719-587-6900 or email: montevista.wildlife@state.co.us. See map for areas open to hunting. The Blue Goose is the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a network of lands and waters managed for the beneft of wildlife and people. Welcome Welcome to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Established in 1952, Monte Vista NWR contains 14,804 acres of wetland and upland habitat to provide food, cover, migration, and breeding habitat for birds and other wildlife. A large portion of the Refuge is designated as a wildlife sanctuary and is closed to public access. General Information Activities are permitted one hour before legal sunrise until one hour after legal sunset. This brochure contains information for limited migratory birds and small game hunting on the Monte Vista NWR. If you would like information about elk hunting, only allowed with a Special Refuge Access Elk Permit, contact Refuge staff at 719-589-4021. Safety Be aware of and courteous to other hunters, visitors, and staff while hunting. Prohibited Activities • Camping and fres. • Possession or consumption of alcohol while hunting. • Possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia. • Unmanned aircraft systems, including drones. • Littering, including spent shell casings. • Searching for or removing cultural artifacts, fossils, or animal parts, including antler sheds. Firearms Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying frearms on National Wildlife Refuge System lands must comply with all provisions of State and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) frearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specifc refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32.) Possession of frearms in Federal facilities and buildings is prohibited under 18 USC 930(a). Vehicles Off-highway vehicles, such as snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), or utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) cannot be used on the refuge. The use of game carts or other non-motorized methods to transport hunting equipment to and from the hunting area is allowed. Hunting Regulations Hunting is permitted in accordance with Federal regulations governing public use on National Wildlife Refuges as set forth in Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Hunting is allowed on the Refuge in accordance with State regulations and the Refuge-specifc regulations in this brochure. Turn in Poachers - TIPS 1-844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477) or 1-877-COLO-OGT (265-6648) Hunters may access hunting areas by foot from public roads. All vehicles on the Refuge must be parked in designated parking areas. Access to the non-motorized portion of the hunting area is limited to walking, horseback, and bicycling, including e-bikes. Bicycles and e-bikes are restricted to established roads/trails. E-bikes are bicycles with a small electric motor (less than 1 horsepower). The operator of an e-bike may only use the small electric motor to assist pedal propulsion. The motor may not be used to propel an e-bike without the rider also pedaling, except in locations open to public motor vehicle traffc. Accessibility Equal opportunity to participate in and beneft from programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available to all individuals regardless of physical or mental ability. For more information please contact the U.S. Department of the Interior, Offce of