craigdailypress.com

Craig — An "institution," as Craig City Councilor Terry Carwile termed the Buckskin Network, is behind the times and being cut loose.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Patrol made the decision recently to cease the Buckskin Network program, an AM/FM radio broadcast to transmit emergency messages to hunters in the brush.

But that's old technology.

"The reality is that cell phones, in so many cases, are taking over," DOW spokesman Randy Hampton said. "If we're only getting two to three calls a year, it's just not practical to continue the program."

In addition to cell phones, hunters have started using "family band" radios, Hampton said, which allows hunter base camps to communicate with hunters venturing out a few miles away.

Hampton said in his interaction with hunters, many say they use cell phones often while out in the wilderness to call home.

"They say they just climb to the top of a hill, usually, and get a hot on a tower nearby and use their cell phones," he said.

Ken Fleming, 65, has lived between Moffat and Routt counties since he was born in 1943. He now works at Outdoor Connections, a hunting and fishing goods store at 34 E. Victory Way.

He agreed with Hampton that many hunters these days can use their cell phones and usually may be able to find signals on tall hills during clear days.

However, he said he doesn't want the Buckskin Network to go away for good.

"There's still people that don't have that stuff, yet," Fleming said.

He added there are some places he hunts where cell phones are useless.

"I have a lot of places I go hunting on Great Divide that cell phones can't be reached," he said. "And I wonder, what does it cost them? If nobody is calling, then it doesn't cost them anything to offer it, does it?"

Hampton said cost was not a major factor in the decision to stop the Buckskin Network, though it did cost some to pay staff who filled out the reports and maintained contacts with media outlets.

"I think government agencies have to look at the amount of time and resources they put into programs, and where there isn't a need they should look at reducing those programs," he said. "For this, there just wasn't a need anymore."

The DOW still will help people contact hunters in the field, Hampton said, there just won't be a scheduled Buckskin Network message broadcast.

Residents who need to communicate with hunters can call any DOW office; the Meeker office covers the Craig area and can be reached at (970) 878-6090.

Residents may also call the State Patrol office 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 824-6501.

Collin Smith can be reached at 875-1794 or cesmith@craigdailypress.com