Colorado Grants Wildlife Status to Bison for First Time Since 1897
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved regulations November 13 establishing a dual legal classification for bison, marking the first time since 1897 that wild bison will receive legal protection as wildlife in Colorado.
The regulations implement the 2025 Protect Wild Bison Act, which takes effect January 1, 2026. Under the new framework, privately owned and fenced bison herds will continue under Colorado Department of Agriculture oversight as livestock, while free-ranging bison that naturally enter the state from neighboring jurisdictions will be managed as big game wildlife by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Wild bison were extirpated from Colorado by 1897, with the last recorded herd in South Park, following the mass slaughter of bison across the West during the late 1800s. Colorado currently has no confirmed wild bison herds, though animals from Utah's Book Cliffs herd occasionally cross into the western border area near Rangely and Grand Junction.
Book Cliffs Herd Drives Protection Need
The Book Cliffs bison herd in Utah numbers just under 600 animals and roams remote canyonland on Bureau of Land Management lands adjacent to Colorado. Over the past 20 years, approximately 25 bison from this herd were killed after crossing into Colorado, where they lost legal wildlife status at the state line, according to CPW records.
"Colorado's last native wild bison were killed in the late 1800s, but as restoration efforts expand across the West, wild bison are moving into Colorado from the Book Cliffs herd in Utah," said Andy Holland, CPW big game manager.
The new regulations prepare Colorado for expanded wild bison presence by establishing management tools while CPW develops a comprehensive Book Cliffs Bison Herd Management plan. That plan will establish the bison management area and population objectives through an 18-month stakeholder process expected to conclude in early 2027.
Management Licenses and Hunter Registration
CPW is not proposing regular bison hunting seasons at this time. The regulations add director-approved management licenses to be used on a case-by-case basis for situations including game damage, disease control or population management.
The agency is developing a registration process for interested hunters to join a management roster. If management action becomes necessary, names from the roster will be used for a random draw to issue licenses. Successful applicants will be notified directly by CPW.
The registration process, including a public application form and drawing system, is expected to be available in January 2026 through the CPW website.
"These regulations prepare Colorado for when wild bison once again roam here," Holland said. "Our goal is to ensure we have the management tools available while we are engaging stakeholders to create a Book Cliffs Bison Herd Management plan."
Regulatory Updates for Big Game Classification
Adding bison to the list of animals CPW manages and protects as big game required several updates to existing regulations. Changes include new definitions distinguishing wild and domestic bison, adoption of license fees comparable to other big game species, and expanded management authority for CPW.
The dual classification recognizes both the cultural and ecological importance of bison while providing regulatory tools to address potential conflicts with private property, livestock operations and disease management.
Utah and Wyoming already manage wild bison as wildlife on public lands, with regulated hunting programs and population objectives. Utah manages the Book Cliffs herd as a huntable wildlife population in coordination with federal land agencies, with animals routinely tested for diseases including brucellosis.
Private Bison Operations Unchanged
The regulations do not affect privately owned bison ranches in Larimer, Weld or other Colorado counties. Domestic bison raised commercially remain classified as livestock under Colorado Department of Agriculture authority.
The distinction clarifies liability and compensation for damages if wild bison enter private land. Senate Bill 25-053 includes compensation mechanisms for landowners affected by wild bison that cause property damage.
Colorado hosts only privately owned bison and experimental herds within fenced areas, such as at Rocky Mountain Arsenal, not true wild herds. The state currently has no active wild bison reintroduction plans for Northern Colorado counties.
Stakeholder Engagement Process
CPW will engage stakeholder groups, tribal and Indigenous peoples, local producers, private landowners and the general public during the management plan development. The Book Cliffs plan will address population objectives, management strategies for animals that migrate outside designated areas, and protocols for damage compensation.
The habitat assessment will examine food sources, water availability, potential competition with other wildlife and livestock, and interactions with free-roaming horses. The assessment will guide staff in developing sustainable population levels and management triggers for regulatory action.
The planning process aligns with broader wildlife management initiatives CPW has undertaken in recent years, including partnerships with counties and state agencies to protect stream ecosystems and wildlife habitat across ownership boundaries.
Information about bison management in Colorado is available at cpw.state.co.us. Colorado Parks and Wildlife operates as an enterprise agency funded primarily through license sales, state parks fees and registration revenues, managing 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres.