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​Uncompahgre Habitat Partnership Program

The Uncompahgre Habitat Partnership Program Committee was formed in 1996 to help resolve big game conflicts with fences and forage on private and public lands around the Uncompahgre Plateau. The area has experienced a steady increase in conflicts due to changing numbers and distribution of deer and elk, the impacts of human population growth and changing agricultural practices, degraded winter habitat, and declining habitat diversity across the committee area.



Impact areas have been identified in partnership with affected landowners and the local District Wildlife Managers. The committee has developed strategies for conflict resolution in these areas, including habitat improvement projects, special hunts, fencing assistance, land protection approaches, population control, and purchase of forage. Target budget allocations reflect the desired ratio of project types.

​State Council Habitat Partnership Program

The Habitat Partnership Program State Council was established in 1990 to oversee local habitat partnership committees. These committees help carry out program goals at a local level with local representation. Since its inception, the Habitat Partnership Program has experienced exponential growth and the Council now provides guidance to 19 HPP Committees across the state. The Council is responsible for larger projects, including those that are statewide or extend beyond committee boundaries. Additionally, the Council is involved in upholding the integrity of the program through developing new guidelines and allocating budgets. Meetings are usually held quarterly in alternating regions.

Montelores ​Habitat Partnership Program

The Montelores Habitat Partnership Program committee was formed in 1997 to help implement strategies that support healthy wildlife populations while minimizing big game conflicts with agriculture, which is a key part of the local economy. The committee area includes significant agricultural operations on a mix of private, federal, and state lands; and consists of a variety of habitat types. Over the last several decades, the area has experienced human population growth and its associated activities, including residential development and recreation. These changes have impacted big game population numbers, distribution, and the quality and connectivity of big game habitat, resulting in ongoing and new wildlife conflicts with agriculture on public and private lands.





The committee has identified impact areas where the majority of conflicts occur; however, projects may be implemented wherever the committee believes they will reduce or eliminate big game conflicts and assist CPW in achieving management objectives. Operating guidelines have been established to help direct funding decisions and project implementation, and to ensure that the committee’s policies and procedures are clear and consistent for all applicants. Management strategies relative to the committee’s objectives have been developed, and most projects will fall into the prescribed categories for big game conflict resolution or management objectives. The updated budget guidelines reflect the desired funding allocation and prioritization of projects.

Larimer County​ Habitat Partnership Program

The purpose of the Habitat Partnership Program (HPP) is to reduce wildlife conflicts, particularly those associated with forage and fences, to assist Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in meeting game management objectives, to assist with private land conservation efforts, and enhance migratory corridors. HPP efforts are primarily aimed at agricultural operators, and focus on problems and objectives for deer, elk, pronghorn and moose.​

North Park​ Habitat Partnership Program

The North Park Habitat Partnership Program committee (NPHPP) continues to be concerned with establishing short-term management actions to resolve immediate fence and forage conflicts caused by big game and to identify adaptive, long-term strategies that resolve those impacts. The committee strives for healthy and sustainable rangelands as well as assisting Colorado Parks and Wildlife in achieving big game management objectives.



The committee works in a historic agricultural area and deals with the typical issues of hunting access, refuges or limited hunting access and elk damages to stackyards. However, the North Park area is currently facing new issues involving Greater Sage Grouse, oil and gas exploration and development plus increased public recreation demands.

Grand Mesa​​ Habitat Partnership Program

The Grand Mesa Habitat Partnership Program Committee (GMHPP) was formed in 1995 to help resolve local wildlife conflicts with agriculture, and serves the western and northern slopes of the Grand Mesa. The committee area includes a mix of private, federal, and state lands; and consists of a variety of habitat types and land use patterns. Wildlife conflicts with agriculture in the committee area are attributed primarily to elk and mule deer, and occur mainly on lower elevations on pasture land, hay stacks, and fences. Agricultural operations and the loss of habitat for residential, recreational, and energy development have resulted in specific impact areas that the committee has identified as high priority zones. However, projects will be implemented wherever the committee believes they can effectively reduce or eliminate big game conflicts and assist CPW in achieving management objectives.