15Mar

Snake River Cutthroat Trout

Snake River Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii ssp are a sub-species of the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri. They are native to the Snake River in Wyoming and Idaho. Even though these colorful fish are not native to Colorado, there’s a good chance of catching one.

Above photo by Mark Hudson

The Colorado Division of Wildlife’s fish hatchery system produces a significant amount of Snake River Cutthroat trout each year

These fish do really well in hatcheries. They have a high survival rate and once stocked they have the potential to grow to trophy size

Snake River Cutthroats are defined by their fine spots and reddish orange coloring

The “Dream Stream” stretch of the South Platte River below Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Eleven Mile Reservoir holds a healthy population of Snake River Cutthroats

10Jan

Turkey Hunting Colorado

[column width=”47%” padding=”6%”] Colorado boasts a healthy turkey population that continues to thrive years after the the Colorado Division of Wildlife started the turkey re-introduction program in the early 1980’s. Whether its Merriam’s Meleagris gallopavo merriami (found in the Mountains) or Rio Grande Meleagris gallopavo intermedia (found along river bottoms on the eastern plains), turkey hunting provides an exciting challenge for beginner and experienced hunters alike. This video provides a wealth of information valuable in becoming a successful turkey hunter.

The chapters include:
-The Mating Season
-Gearing Up
-Calling all Toms
-The Scouting Game
-Playing the Game.

If you’d like your own copy of the DVD Call 303-297-1192 or email: wildlife.dowinfo@state.co.us
[/column] [column width=”47%” padding=”0″] [/column]


Music by Little Kenny and Neargrass Junction

The deadline to apply for Spring Turkey is February 10, 2011

More Helpful links:
Turkey Hunting 101
2011 Turkey Brochure
Apply Online
National Wild Turkey Federation

28Dec

Colorado River Cutthroat Trout

With winter in full effect and ski season well underway the cold has settled into the Rocky Mountain high country. When you’re out there making turns remember that somewhere below all that high alpine snow there are flowing waters that hold endemic fish that have lived there for a million years. In Colorado we have three subspecies of native cutthroat trout: Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis, Greenback Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias and the Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus. Highlighting pleuriticus, here is the 9th episode of am Colorado:



To see more episodes of am Colorado visit the CDOW VIDEO PAGE

01Dec

Pheasant Hunting Colorado

Pheasant hunters in Colorado are well into what has been said to be the best year for hunting ringnecks in the last decade. Reports from Brush, Yuma, and Burlington have all said the same thing: more birds than they’ve ever seen. The consensus is that 2010 is a banner year for pheasants in the Centennial State. Good timing for the Colorado Division of Wildlife releasing a new DVD titled Pheasant Hunting Colorado. An informative yet entertaining view at how, when, and where to hunt Pheasants in Colorado.

The prelude:

If you’re interested in hunting roosters in Colorado but never have, this DVD can be of great value to you. Part one explains the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Walk-In access program, which for the first time this year is free for anyone with a small game license. Part one also takes you through a pheasant’s daily feeding routine and stresses on the most important things you can do to successfully hunt pheasants: learn how to scout and identify habitat … CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) or grasslands are the most desirable for pheasants.

Part one:

Part two continues on with CRP and how its specific stages are valuable to pheasants in different ways. We then move on to talk about wheat fields and why they can be the wild card in Colorado pheasant hunting.

Part two:

Part three continues the lesson on wheat habitat and how thicker and taller wheat stubble means more pheasants. We also learn why some sprinkler corners and transitional areas can produce an impressive density of birds.

Part three:

Don’t forget to visit your local Colorado Hunting and Fishing
license dealer to pick up your free copy of Pheasant Hunting
Colorado which is included in the 2010 Small Game brochure.


To see more pretty pictures and music watch the ENDING which features music from a good friend of mine: Little Kenny and Neargrass Junction

29Nov

Welcome to the new Escape

You may or may not have seen the old escape(s), one (the old reelesapefilms.com) was a flash site while the other was a wordpress blog I updated with stories, photos, videos and information from recent hunting, fishing and production trips. These two sites have now come together into one ultimate escape.

Please feel free to browse around and check back for periodic updates. From here on I plan to bring you everything from Reel Escape Films and the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s video production unit. To receive an email every time I post something new enter your email HERE and become a fan on Facebook

14Jun

In the Land of the Cutthroats

  • By reelescapefilmsAuthor /
  • June 14, 2010 /
  • In Projects /
  • Last Update June 14, 2010 /


“In the Land of the Cutthroats” tells the story of three native trout species that evolved along the Continental Divide in Colorado. From ancient beginnings in tepid coastal waters, the wayfaring cutthroats found their way to the loftiest slopes of the Rocky Mountains and into the hearts of modern fly fishers. After a medley of outstanding mountain scenery, cutthroat trout, mayflies, and cutting-edge time-lapse photography, the film takes viewers to a high-mountain lake for action-packed angling for greenback cutthroat trout.

The film was an official selection of the 2010 Fly Fishing Film Tour and is now available on DVD. Visit the Reel Escape Store to purchase yours today.

14Jun

Fly Fishing Colorado

Fly-fishers dreaming of the days ahead on Colorado lakes and streams can amplify their visions by immersing themselves in “Fly Fishing Colorado,” a feature-length DVD from the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

More than two years in the making, “Fly Fishing Colorado” takes viewers on a year-round tour of fly-fishing adventures spanning the entire state, from the loftiest reaches of alpine lakes to warm-water reservoirs and all points between. Anglers will get a firsthand look at the best fly-fishing that Colorado has to offer, as seen through the lenses of DOW’s revamped video production unit.

Fly-fishers can scroll through the pages of a weathered journal to find finicky trout rising to dry flies or high-speed wipers ripping line from screaming reels. Experience the thrill of catching all three native trout species against a backdrop of high-mountain scenery. Share the underwater haunts of northern pike, and take a ride on a jet boat for a lazy drift down a gentle river.

The journal also reveals when and where to find a multitude of the famous and not-so-well-known insect hatches that occur on major rivers and backcountry streams. Be in the right place at the right time to find trout rising to green drake, blue-winged olive, red quill and pale morning dun mayflies.

What to expect

Explore the stages of the Mother’s Day caddis hatch from start to finish, and discover the importance of widespread and prolific summer caddis hatches. Travel to mountain park reservoirs for famous still-water hatches and trophy-sized trout. Be there for the action when kokanee salmon, brown trout and native mountain whitefish make spawning runs up golden corridors of rivers cloaked in the dazzling colors of autumn in the Rocky Mountains.

The journal also is packed with fly-fishing instruction for anglers of all skill levels. There are techniques for fishing nymphs, dry flies and streamers. Proven fly patterns are listed for all events.

“Fly Fishing Colorado” is a useful tool for anglers making plans and scheduling trips to coincide with fly-fishing events.

The DVD also is designed to recruit anglers. Anglers spend nearly $1.5 billion dollars a year in Colorado, which is considered to be one of the premier fly-fishing destinations in the world. Showing anglers what the state has to offer will help add to Colorado’s prestigious fly- fishing reputation. Additional anglers in Colorado will mean more dollars for local economies, more license dollars for wildlife management and the continuation of the conservation ethic.

“Fly Fishing Colorado” is available for $20 HERE and at DOW service centers and at fly shops and sporting-goods retailers.

22Jan

In the Land of the Cutthroats-2010 Fly Fishing Film Tour

Fishing for me has always been about getting away; away from the busy city life of course, but even getting away from crowded tail waters and frequented man made bodies of water. Fortunately, a certain native trout thrives in places that are a far from these.

There is something special about the allure of a high mountain ridge casting a shadow over an alpine lake as the sun shining through the clouds paints the sky with colors. Could there be a better place to fish? Not only a place with breathtaking scenery but also one where you have a chance to catch a trout species that has lived there for more than a million years. To think about that is simply mind blowing. Imagine the Rocky Mountains untouched 1 million years ago, wild creatures all across the land living amongst each other in a land untouched by man except for a few Anasazi native americans. Untapped lakes and streams ran clean and clear while native cutthroat trout flourished in the mint condition waters. Today, back country wilderness areas are about as close as you can come to how it was long ago. The pristine wild, which is exactly why I treasure spending time in these places.

I’ve always wanted to portray this concept in a film. So I started documenting my high mountain excursions a few years back. This year, with the help of a friend who is a seasoned outdoor writer, we produced “In the Land of the Cutthroats.” The film tells the story of three native trout species that evolved along the Continental Divide in Colorado. From ancient beginnings in tepid coastal waters, the wayfaring cutthroats found their way to the loftiest slopes of the Rocky Mountains and into the hearts of modern fly fishers. After a medley of mountain scenery, cutthroat trout, mayflies, and cutting-edge time-lapse photography, the film takes viewers to a high-mountain lake for action-packed angling for greenback cutthroat trout.

Here is a trailer for the film:

This trailer features the music of Drew Goldstone from Reel to Reel Records Also featured in the film is music from the talented Johnny Martin out of Buffalo NY, and Andy Mass with Mass Destruction Entertainment

Check out another trailer for the film HERE This trailer and the film features fly tying from Brian Yamauchi

We were fortunate enough to have the film accepted into the 2010 Fly Fishing Film Tour. If you get a chance come check out “In the Land of the Cutthroats” along side an incredible line up of films.

The tour officially starts next week, Thursday January 26th at the Patagonia store in Ventura, CA and then comes to Fort Collins, CO Thursday January 28th and then to Denver Saturday January 30th. Also, there is an independent show put on by The Angler’s Covey Saturday January 23rd at 7pm in Colorado Springs.

The tour will make stops all across the country over the next couple of months. Check out the tour schedule HERE

One last thing … the film featured in the film tour is a modified short (8 min) version of the full (14 min)”In the Land of the Cutthroats” film. Stay tuned for information about a screening in Denver of the full length version of the film.

10Jan

Elk Hunting Colorado

Successfully hunting elk in Colorado may seem to be a daunting task. It requires a lot of preparation, scouting, and most importantly a lot of hard work. Fortunately at the DOW, we produced a series of videos not only to get people excited about going after one of the most elusive big game mammals in the forest, but also to assist them in preparing for a hunt.

The first video is my personal favorite, more or less a promotional video to get people excited about coming to Colorado to hunt Elk:



The second can be used as a helpful tool to assist you in planning your elk hunt in Colorado. It includes basic information on where to find harvest statistics, big game migration maps, regulations, and various information helping you have a successful hunt:

The third video is a seminar given by a DOW mapping specialist. It explains in detail how to use the interactive mapping software called MapIt! available for free on the National Diversity Information Source (NDIS) site. This presentation may come across a bit boring at first… but I highly recommend you to open the MapIt! database on your computer, and follow the explanations and give them a try on your own:


14Dec

Hard Water Fishing

I’m pretty sure almost every lake in the state froze after last weeks frigid temps. This does not mean to go putting away your rod and reel … if you’re a fly fisherman buck up and hit some of Colorado’s reputable tailwaters. Winter time may be cold on the water but trout still eat throughout the winter … even fish under a thick layer of ice need to eat.

So get out and drill some holes to drop a line in for some “Hard Water Fishing.”

My nephew Trace, who caught his first trout this summer, is quickly becoming an accomplished angler

Check out the full story:
LINK (Via “Team Klondike“)