Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting recap for March 9 - 10, 2022
Travis Duncan
DENVER, Colo. - At its March 9 - 10 meeting, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission heard proposed changes to regulations as follows. All final regulations approved at the March 9 - 10, 2022 meeting will go into effect on May 1, 2022 unless otherwise noted.FINAL REGULATIONS
Agenda Item 11: Chapter W-0 – “General Provisions” – 2 CCR 406-0 (Step 2 of 2)
The Commission adopted regulations, including, but not limited to:
- Allowing the release of privately-owned game birds during an established season for falconry training under specific conditions.
The Commission approved corrections and administrative clean-ups to previously adopted regulations for the 2022 big game seasons, including, but not limited to, game management unit boundaries, season dates, limited license areas and manner of take provisions for bighorn sheep, mountain goat, deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and mountain lion, and regulations otherwise necessary for implementation of the 2022 big game seasons.
Agenda Item 13: Chapter W-3 – “Furbearers and Small Game, except Migratory Birds” 2 CCR 406-3 (Step 1 of 1)
The Commission adopted annual changes to game bird seasons, excluding turkey, and other small game seasons and related provisions, including season dates, bag and possession limits and manner of take provisions.
Agenda Item 14: Chapter W-5 - “Small Game - Migratory Game Birds” - 2 CCR 406-5 (Step 2 of 2)
The Commission adopted final regulations in its annual review of waterfowl and migratory bird hunting seasons and related provisions, including season dates, bag and possession limits and manner of take provisions.
Agenda Item 15: Chapter W-6 – “Raptors” – 2 CCR 406-6 (Step 2 of 2)
The Commission adopted regulations including, but not limited to the following:
- Adding a means by which leftover peregrine falcon capture permits could be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Commission adopted final regulations in its annual review of generally applicable and property-specific requirements for, or restrictions on use of, wildlife properties controlled by the Division of Parks and Wildlife, including State Trust Lands leased by the Division. Specific considerations include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Updating regulations for Creede State Wildlife Area (SWA).
- Creating a seasonal closure on Fish Creek SWA from December 1st – June 30th annually.
- Clarifying how to obtain an access permit for Higel SWA.
- Clarifying regulations on John Martin Reservoir SWA and Queens SWA.
- Updating regulations for San Luis Lakes SWA.
- Changing regulations for the Big Springs, Brett Gray Ranch, Karval, and Punkin Center State Trust Lands (STLs) to prevent overcrowding and provide consistency with other STLs.
- Changing the opening dates of recently enrolled STL properties in Moffat County to August 15th.
The Commission adopted final regulations including, but not limited to, the following:
- Setting the price of the Keep Colorado Wild annual pass.
- Updating the reference to the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines applicable to the Centennial Pass to correspond with the requirements of other low-income licenses and passes offered by the Division.
Agenda Item 18: Chapter P-8 – “Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)” – 2 CCR 405-8 (Step 1 of 1)
The Commission adopted final regulations including, but not limited to, the following:
- Amending the definition of “vessel or other floating device” and exempting vessels or other floating devices that are “hand-launched and human-powered” from mandatory aquatic nuisance species (ANS) inspections.
ISSUES IDENTIFICATION
Agenda Item 19: Chapter W-0 – “General Provisions” – 2 CCR 406-0 and those related provisions of Chapter W-11 (“Wildlife Parks and Unregulated Wildlife” 2 CCR 406-11) necessary to accommodate changes to or ensure consistency with Chapter W-0 (Step 1 of 2)
The Commission considered regulations including, but not limited to, the following:
- Updating the disease testing requirements for cervids in commercial parks to maintain consistency with the revised requirements of the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
The Commission considered regulations including, but not limited to, the following:
- Piloting a timed entry reservation system at Eldorado Canyon State Park.
Agenda Item 23: Chapter W-2 - “Big Game” 2 CCR 406-2 and those related provisions of Chapter W-11 (“Wildlife Parks and Unregulated Wildlife” 2 CCR 406-11) necessary to accommodate changes to or ensure consistency with Chapter W-2 (Step 1 of 1/2/3)
The Commission adopted the Director’s written recommendation to DENY a petition for rulemaking related to big game, as follows:
- A Citizen Petition requesting that bison be reclassified as a big game species.
- The Director committed to utilizing CPW staff resources to look into the possibility of a dual management structure for bison and returning to the CPW Commission to present options.
CONSENT AGENDA (Agenda Item 26)
Citizen Petition
Agenda Item 26.1 - Chapter W-2 - “Big Game” 2 CCR 406-2
The Commission adopted the Director’s written recommendation to DENY a Citizen Petition for rulemaking requesting a prohibition on harvesting a cow moose with a calf.
PWC Policy Update
Agenda Item 26.2 – Naming CPW Properties (removed from the Consent Agenda)
The Commission adopted an updated policy for naming CPW properties.
Agenda Item 28 – Federal Relisting of Gray Wolves
The Commission received an update from Assistant Director, Aquatic, Terrestrial, & Natural Resources Reid DeWalt and First Assistant Attorney General Lisa Reynolds on the Federal Relisting of Gray Wolves.
Proposition 114 - now state statute 33-2-105.8 - directs the CPW Commission to restore and manage gray wolves in Colorado no later than December 31, 2023. Enacting the restoration and management plan will require close partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will be subject to their approval based on the February 10, 2022, ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
That ruling vacated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s (USFWS) 2020 rule delisting gray wolves across the lower 48 states. The ruling returns management authority of gray wolves in Colorado to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
While CPW will continue its planning efforts to meet the deadlines directed by statute, reintroduction will require close partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and will be subject to their approval. Their permitting requirements and processes will need to be followed as they now have management control of the species in Colorado.
CPW has received guidance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on permissible hazing methods for wolves in Colorado:
Wolves can pose a threat to human safety and property, and in an opportunistic and non-injurious manner, they should be discouraged from using areas near homes and other human-occupied areas. Hazing discourages undesirable behavior in wildlife, and when properly conducted, does not create a likelihood of injury to wolves to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns. Appropriate hazing methods and techniques minimize conflict risk and discourage wolves from the immediate vicinity of livestock, a human-occupied residence, or other human-occupied area on both public and private lands. Some methods that may be used include, but are not limited to, carcass management, physical barriers (i.e., fencing and electrified fencing), guard animals, auditory and visual scare tactics (i.e., fladry, lights, sirens, cracker shells), increased human presence/vigilance, or any combination of these measures. This list is not exhaustive, and we recognize that novel methods to minimize wolf-conflict risk continue to be developed and tested; thus, we encourage you to refer any questions you may have to our Office of Law Enforcement, Special Agent in Charge in Lakewood, CO at (303) 236-7540 or the Resident Agent in Charge in Littleton, CO at (720) 981-2777.
The full letter from USFWS is available here.
About CPW Commission Meetings
A complete agenda along with all materials for public review for this meeting can be found on the CPW website. The public is encouraged to email written comments to the commission at [email protected]. Details on providing public comments for virtual meetings are available on the CPW website.
The commission meets regularly and travels to communities around the state to facilitate public participation. Anyone can listen to commission meetings through the CPW website. This opportunity keeps constituents informed about the development of regulations and how the commission works with Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff to manage the parks, wildlife and outdoor recreation programs administered by the agency. Find out more about the commission on the CPW website.
The next commission meeting is scheduled to take place on May 4 and 5.
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.