Colorado Parks and Wildlife have awarded Mike Nottingham with the Landowner of the Year Award at the 2023 Colorado Cattlemen’s Annual Convention on June 19.

Nottingham is the owner of Nottingham Land and Livestock as well as the primary owner of Blue Sage Ranch, and has worked closely with CPW as a part of their Ranching for Wildlife Program. The program has allowed the CPW to carry out several projects involving wildlife management, monitoring and research. The access has also been crucial as CPW terrestrial biologists work to understand the potential impacts of last year’s heavy winter.

In addition, Nottingham also leaves an invitation every year to host CPW-sponsored youth and novice adult elk hunts on the ranch’s property.

The Landowner of the Year award is used to recognize outstanding contributions from private landowners in providing habitat and public access to Colorado’s wildlife. It also works to improve the relationship between landowners, sportspeople and the CPW.

The conference honored several individuals who made contributions to the organization’s success over the year. Additional awards included Public Service Aware, CCA Honorary Life Member and the Leopold Conservation Award. The convention also featured committee meetings and the Ranching Legacy Symposium.

For more information about the RFW program, visit the Ranching for Wildlife page on the CPW website.