Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to meet Nov. 14-15, 2024

11/07/24

Joey Livingston
Statewide Public Information Officer
303-345-4658 / [email protected]

LAMAR, Colo. — Next week, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission will convene for a hybrid meeting in Lamar scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, and recess at 2 p.m. The commission will reconvene at 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, and adjourn at 3:30 p.m. 

A complete agenda along with all materials for this meeting is available on CPW’s website for public review. The meeting will be streamed live on CPW’s YouTube page.

Summary of agenda items
The commission will open for an annual review of Chapter W-2 (Big Game) to consider changes to deer, elk, moose and bighorn sheep seasons, and consider removing the ability for a hunter with an unfilled big game license to take coyotes statewide. A detailed list of Chapter W-2 considerations is available online.

The commission will also consider changes to big game draw methods, preference points, and the reissue process, as well as adding GMU 63 to the valid units for the over-the-counter fall turkey hunting opportunity and a cleanup to the Harvest Information Program phone number.

The commission will open for an annual review of Chapter W-1 (Fishing) and consider changes regarding season dates, bag and possession limits, licensing requirements, manner of take provisions and special conditions or restrictions applicable to waters of the state. A detailed list of Chapter W-1 considerations is available online. 

The commission will hear an East Slope Mountain Lion Plan update from CPW and convene for a discussion and vote on the East Slope Mountain Lion Plan. The commission will also open for consideration of changes to the harvest limits and group compositions for mountain lion hunting to implement the East Slope Mountain Lion Plan.

The commission will discuss increasing the daily vehicle pass fees for Golden Gate Canyon and State Forest State parks, pursuant to SB 23-059, and Chatfield State Park, pursuant to SB 23-267. The commission will also open for final consideration of changes to commercial use on state parks and state wildlife areas.

The commission will consider adjusting license fees to the statutory cap and adjusting license agent commission rates according to the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Consumer Price Index. The commission will also consider a cleanup to align regulation with the changes from SB 24-161 - Parks & Wildlife Licenses & Passes. 

Final consent agenda items include: consideration to implement an out-of-state permit program for snowmobiles in accordance with SB 24-056, a cleanup of the Landowner Preference Program disqualification section to align with statutes, a cleanup of the antlerless moose licenses that “float” between seasons to exclude the late seasons, an amendment to a commission policy titled “Providing Public Comment to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission,” and rescinding the commission policy on Drawing License Limitations for Non-Residents. In addition, the commission will consider the director’s recommendation to deny a citizen petition on spearfishing.

Additional agenda items include:

• Department of Natural Resources update
• Department of Agriculture update
• Financial update
• Wolf update
• Annual Capital Development Program update
• GOCO update
• John Martin State Park update
• Lesser Prairie Chicken update
• Local Access Funding study results (SB 23-059)

The public is encouraged to email written comments to the commission at [email protected]. Details on providing public comments for hybrid meetings are available on CPW’s website.

The commission meets regularly and travels to communities around the state to facilitate public participation. 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. 

Learn more about the Parks and Wildlife Commission on CPW’s website.

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