Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to Meet in Sterling November 13-14
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission will convene November 13-14 in Sterling for a hybrid meeting addressing hunting regulations, park fee increases, wildlife management rules and administrative updates affecting outdoor recreation across the state.
The commission will begin at 8:30 a.m. November 13 and recess at 4 p.m. before reconvening at 8:30 a.m. November 14 and adjourning at 11:35 a.m.
The meeting will be streamed live on CPW's YouTube page, with a complete agenda and materials available on the agency's website.
Vehicle Pass Fee Increases Under Consideration
The commission will consider final approval of regulations increasing daily vehicle pass fees at Elkhead Reservoir, Pearl Lake, Stagecoach and Steamboat Lake state parks under Senate Bill 23-059 Local Access Funding.
The legislation, signed into law May 19, 2023, allows local governments to request CPW collect an additional vehicle entry fee of up to $2 per vehicle for daily passes at specific state parks within their boundaries. The local access fee would be transferred directly to the requesting local government for access route maintenance and operations, according to the bill text.
Current daily vehicle passes at the four parks cost $9. The proposed increase would raise the fee to $11 per vehicle per day.
SB 23-059 was enacted to reimburse local governments for access route maintenance, construction, service and operational work resulting from increased visitation to state parks and wildlife areas. Eligible uses include local road repair, shuttle operations, non-motorized trails and access improvements directly serving the parks.
The new fee structure took effect for collection starting January 1, 2025, with fees adjusted every five years for inflation.
License Fee Adjustments and Search and Rescue Changes
The commission will open for final consideration of regulations adjusting license fees and license agent commission rates according to the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Consumer Price Index. The changes also include an increase to the backcountry search and rescue fee.
CPW operates as an enterprise agency funded primarily through license sales, state parks fees and registration revenues. The agency manages 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, with operations contributing approximately $6 billion annually to Colorado's economy.
Turkey Hunting and Wild Bison Regulations
The commission will finalize regulations for the 2026 turkey hunting seasons, including license areas, season dates and manner of take provisions.
Commissioners will also review regulatory changes implementing Senate Bill 25-053, which establishes rules differentiating between wild bison as big game and domestic bison. The regulations address future regulated hunting of wild bison and payment of compensation for damage caused by wild bison.
Annual Big Game and Fish Management Updates
The commission will conduct annual review of Chapters W-0 and W-2, covering game management unit boundary modifications, fish management regulations, health standards, importation rules, prohibited species and other annual changes.
Annual changes to season dates, limited license areas and manner of take provisions for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mountain lion and bear will be reviewed. The commission will also consider changes to limited license application and drawing processes.
The review includes final regulations for Chapter W-1 Fishing.
Administrative Updates and Reports
Additional agenda items include updates from the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Great Outdoors Colorado, CPW financial status and the Annual Capital Development Program.
The commission will receive a bighorn sheep status update and a North Sterling State Park report. An award presentation for "At Home in Nature: The History of Colorado's State Parks" is scheduled.
The consent agenda includes State Trails Committee member appointments and issue stage regulations for Chapter W-2 Big Game and related provisions of Chapter W-0 General Provisions.
Public Participation Options
The public can email written comments to the commission at [email protected]. Details on providing oral 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, keeping constituents informed about regulation development and how the commission works with CPW staff to manage parks, wildlife and outdoor recreation programs.
Additional information about the Parks and Wildlife Commission is available at cpw.state.co.us.