Female hunter walking through field.

How Are Regulations Created?

Wildlife management objectives such as determining the numbers and types of wildlife taken, and providing opportunities to hunt, fish, or engage in other wildlife and outdoor-related recreation are realized through the creation of regulations by the Parks and Wildlife Commission. ​The Commission meets six scheduled times a year to consider changes in CPW regulations. Public comments are welcome at any point, but are most effective early in discussions about proposed changes.

Our annual Regulatory Schedule details when regulations chapters are both heard and finalized by the Commission.

Parks and Wildlife Regulations

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is charged by Title 33 state statutes to protect, preserve, enhance and manage the wildlife resources of the state and to provide a quality state park system. Regulations created by these Title 33 state statutes are linked below. ​​​​Colorado Parks and Wildlife is charged by state statute to protect, preserve, enhance and manage the wildlife resources of the state and to provide a quality state park system. Regulations created by the Parks and Wildlife Commission are linked below. The regulations include but are not limited to season dates, bag limits, license requirements, off-highway vehicles, boating and park rules.

Parks Regulations

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Chapter P-01

Parks and Outdoor Recreation Lands

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Chapter P-05

Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations

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Chapter P-07

Passes, Permits and Registrations

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Chapter P-08

Aqua​tic Nuisance Species​ (ANS)

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Chapter W-16

Parks and Wildlife Procedural Rules

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Wildlife Regulations

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Chapter W-03

Furbearers and Small Game, Except Migratory Birds

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Chapter W-05

Small Game - Migratory Birds

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Chapter W-08

Field Trials and Training of Hunting Dogs

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Chapter W-11

Wildlife Parks and Unregulated Wildlife​​​

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Chapter W-13

Wildlife Possession, Scientific Collecting​ & Special Licenses

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Chapter W-16

Parks and Wildlife Procedural Rules

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Chapter W-17

Damage Caused by Wildlife​

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Rulemaking Petitions

State statutes provide opportunities for members of the public to propose modifying Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations. Local governments may also petition the Commission for state park access fees. Information and submission packets for these petitions are found below.

Get Involved

Citizen Petitions

Are you interested in creating a new Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) regulation or modifying or removing an existing rule? Colorado State Statute 24-4-103(7) gives any interested person the right to petition for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of any state rule. A written citizen petition is required to initiate such a process.

Please note, the CPW Commission updated its policy on citizen petitions, and accompanying regulations, in April 2020. ​

Get Involved

Local Access Funding Petitions

Local governments may petition the Parks and Wildlife Commission to initiate rulemaking pursuant to SB23-059, codified in § 33-10-117, to impose a state park access fee on daily vehicle passes for visitors to a state park located within the local government’s geographic boundaries. The local government shall use any fee revenue received to support access to state parks. A written Local Access petition is required to initiate such a process. 

​For more information regarding these petitions, please see the Local Government: State Park Access Fee Petition packet.

    None at this time.

    None at this time.

    None at this time.

    For more information regarding Local Access Funding, please see the Local Access Funding Study and Grant Roadmap.

    Regulations Brochures

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      2024 Colorado Fishing Brochure

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      ​​​Folleto de Regulación de Pesca en Colorado (En Espa​ñ​​ol)​​

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      2024 Colorado Fishing Brochure

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      ​​​Folleto de Regulación de Pesca en Colorado (En Espa​ñ​​ol)​​

      ​Big Game Brochure cover

      ​Big Game Brochure Corrections

      Updated 2/20/24​​​​

      ​Big Game Brochure cover

      2024 Colorado Big Game Brochure

      ​Folleto de Regulacíon de Caza Mayor (En Español) cover

      ​Folleto de Regulacíon de Caza Mayor (En Español)

      ​​​​Bighorn Sheep/Mountain Goat Brochure cover

      ​​​​Bighorn Sheep/Mountain Goat Brochure

      Folleto de Regulacíon de Borregos y Cabras (En Español) cover

      Folleto de Regulacíon de Borregos y Cabras (En Español)

      ​Mountain Lion Brochure cover

      ​Mountain Lion Brochure

      ​Season: November 25, 2024 - March 31, 2025

      ​Folleto de Regulación de Puma (En Español) ​​​​cover

      ​Folleto de Regulación de Puma (En Español) ​​​​

      ​Temporada: 25 de noviembre de 2024​ - 31 de marzo de 2025​

      Small Game and Waterfowl​ Brochure​ cover

      Small Game and Waterfowl​ Brochure​

      ​​​​Folleto de Regulación de Caza Menor y Aves Acuáticas (En Español) cover

      ​​​​Folleto de Regulación de Caza Menor y Aves Acuáticas (En Español)

      Turkey Brochure Cover

      ​Turkey Brochure Corrections

      ​Turkey Brochure cover

      ​Turkey Brochure

      Folleto de Regulación del Pavo (En Español) cover

      Folleto de Regulación del Pavo (En Español)

      ​Big Game Brochure cover

      ​Big Game Brochure Corrections

      Updated 2/20/24​​​​

      ​Big Game Brochure cover

      2024 Colorado Big Game Brochure

      ​Folleto de Regulacíon de Caza Mayor (En Español) cover

      ​Folleto de Regulacíon de Caza Mayor (En Español)

      ​​​​Bighorn Sheep/Mountain Goat Brochure cover

      ​​​​Bighorn Sheep/Mountain Goat Brochure

      Folleto de Regulacíon de Borregos y Cabras (En Español) cover

      Folleto de Regulacíon de Borregos y Cabras (En Español)

      ​Mountain Lion Brochure cover

      ​Mountain Lion Brochure

      ​Season: November 25, 2024 - March 31, 2025

      ​Folleto de Regulación de Puma (En Español) ​​​​cover

      ​Folleto de Regulación de Puma (En Español) ​​​​

      ​Temporada: 25 de noviembre de 2024​ - 31 de marzo de 2025​

      Small Game and Waterfowl​ Brochure​ cover

      Small Game and Waterfowl​ Brochure​

      ​​​​Folleto de Regulación de Caza Menor y Aves Acuáticas (En Español) cover

      ​​​​Folleto de Regulación de Caza Menor y Aves Acuáticas (En Español)

      Turkey Brochure Cover

      ​Turkey Brochure Corrections

      ​Turkey Brochure cover

      ​Turkey Brochure

      Folleto de Regulación del Pavo (En Español) cover

      Folleto de Regulación del Pavo (En Español)

      Late Cropland Brochure

      Late Cropland Brochure

      ​Atlas Walk-in de Cultivo Tardío/Late Cropland Walk-in Atlas Brochure (En Español)

      ​Atlas Walk-in de Cultivo Tardío/Late Cropland Walk-in Atlas Brochure (En Español)

      ​​Regular Walk​-in Atlas Brochure

      ​​Regular Walk​-in Atlas Brochure

      ​​Atlas Walk-in Regular/Regular Walk​-In Atlas Brochure (En Español)

      ​​Atlas Walk-in Regular/Regular Walk​-In Atlas Brochure (En Español)

      ​​Recreational Lands Brochure

      ​​Recreational Lands Brochure

      ​​Tierras de recreación del estado de Colorado (En Español)​

      ​​Tierras de recreación del estado de Colorado (En Español)​

      ​​State Parks Land and Water Regulations Brochure

      ​​State Parks Land and Water Regulations Brochure

      Late Cropland Brochure

      Late Cropland Brochure

      ​Atlas Walk-in de Cultivo Tardío/Late Cropland Walk-in Atlas Brochure (En Español)

      ​Atlas Walk-in de Cultivo Tardío/Late Cropland Walk-in Atlas Brochure (En Español)

      ​​Regular Walk​-in Atlas Brochure

      ​​Regular Walk​-in Atlas Brochure

      ​​Atlas Walk-in Regular/Regular Walk​-In Atlas Brochure (En Español)

      ​​Atlas Walk-in Regular/Regular Walk​-In Atlas Brochure (En Español)

      ​​Recreational Lands Brochure

      ​​Recreational Lands Brochure

      ​​Tierras de recreación del estado de Colorado (En Español)​

      ​​Tierras de recreación del estado de Colorado (En Español)​

      ​​State Parks Land and Water Regulations Brochure

      ​​State Parks Land and Water Regulations Brochure

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      ​​Boating Handbook with Regulations and Statutes Brochure​​​

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      ​Boater’s Guide to Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Inspections​

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      ​​Boating Handbook with Regulations and Statutes Brochure​​​

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      ​Boater’s Guide to Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Inspections​

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      ​Depredating Animal Regulations Brochure

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      ​Depredating Animal Regulations Brochure

      Request a Brochure

      Did you apply for a limited license last year? If so, CPW will mail 1 regulations brochure per household to you this year. Residents are encouraged to pick up brochures at any CPW office or park location. ​They are also found at nearly 650​ sporting goods stores and other retail outlets​ throughout the state.

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      Request a Copy by Mail

      If you do need a hardcopy mailed, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will mail 1 copy of a brochure per household. Complete the form below to request 1 copy per brochure be sent to you. Be aware that the Postal Service can take up to 10 days to deliver a brochure to your home.

      Find out more