AS APPROVED - 09/10/2009
FINAL REGULATIONS - CHAPTER 2 - BIG GAME
ARTICLE I - GENERAL PROVISIONS
#206 - APPLICATIONS AND DRAWINGS FOR LIMITED LICENSES
B. Application and Drawing Provisions and Restrictions.
4. Preference Systems
Note: see also §33-4-103, C.R.S.
g. Preference Points and Chances
1. Preference will be given for qualifying applications for first choice hunt codes only and shall be subject to the following provisions:
aa. Deer, Elk, Pronghorn, and Bear: one preference point will be awarded to each person who qualifies for and fails to draw a limited license for deer, elk, pronghorn, or bear as a first choice in the regular drawing or who applies using a first choice hunt code established for the purpose of accumulating a preference point only. Preference points will be used in future drawings for the same species and will accumulate until the applicant obtains a first choice license. When an applicant obtains a first choice license or fails to apply for a species at least once during a three-year period, all accumulated preference points for that species become void. If an applicant both fails to apply for a species and has not purchased a license for that same species during any given 10-year period, all accumulated preference points for that species become void. In those hunt codes requiring 10 or more resident preference points to draw, 20 percent of available licenses for deer, elk, pronghorn and bear shall be issued through a random drawing. The number of preference points required to draw shall be determined by no more than a three-year average. A minimum of five individual preference points is required for an applicant to participate in the random drawing. Group applications shall not be eligible to participate in the random drawing.
5. Drawing Processes
e. Nonresident hunter drawing limitations (first choice applications only)
1. Nonresidents hunters shall receive no more than 10% of available moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat licenses for all hunt codes. In the event there are an insufficient number of nonresident applications for the allocated number of moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat licenses in any hunt code, the excess nonresident licenses will be issued to residents through the regular drawing process.
2. Unless there is an insufficient number of resident applications, nonresident hunters shall receive no more than 35% of available deer and elk licenses for hunt codes requiring fewer than five six preference points for resident hunters to draw in the regular drawing, and no more than 20% of available deer and elk licenses for hunt codes requiring five six or more preference points for resident hunters to draw in the regular drawing. The number of preference points required to to draw shall be determined by a three-year average ending with the 2005 limited license draw. These drawing limitations do not apply to the issuance of Private Land Only and Ranching For Wildlife licenses.
ARTICLE VI MOUNTAIN LION
#242 RIFLE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS MOUNTAIN LION SEASONS
A. General and Extended Seasons
1. Dogs may be used to hunt mountain lion. However, the pack size shall be limited to no more than eight (8) dogs.
2. After a mountain lion has been pursued, treed, cornered or held at bay, a properly licensed person shall take or release the mountain lion. No person shall in any manner restrict or hinder the mountain lion’s ability to escape for the purpose of allowing a person who was not a member of the hunting party to arrive and take the mountain lion.
3. Without regard to harvest limit quotas, unit boundaries or season dates, the director or his designee may authorize the taking of any problem lion by any lawful means designated, including but not limited to methods permitted under Article XVIII, Section 12b, of the Colorado Constitution, when such lion are causing damage to livestock or property or are frequenting areas of incompatibility with other users as may be necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare. The taking of lion under this section shall be by licensed hunters, houndsmen, or trappers who shall be bound by all other statutes and regulations regarding the taking and possession of mountain lion.
4. The director shall establish a statewide list of hunters, houndsmen, and trappers to take problem lions taking into consideration the ability to respond, skill, experience, location, and the ability of the hunters, houndsmen, or trappers who have applied to participate in removal operations; and, in selecting participants from that list for any particular removal operation shall further take into consideration the urgency dictated by the situation and the environment in which the removal will occur.
5. Research Closure Areaand Restrictions on Take of Designated Lions:
a. Mountain lion hunting and take shall be prohibited from November 11, 2004 through March 31, 2009 in the southern half of GMUs 61 and 62 and the northern portion of GMU 70, unless a lion is a threat to human safety, is in the act of depredating livestock, or prior written approval has been provided by the Division. The closed Research Area area is defined as the area bounded on the east by S.H.Colo 348 at Delta, on the north by 25 Mesa Road and F.S. RoadUSFS 503 to Nucla, on the south and west by S.H.Colo 97 to S.H.Colo 141 and S.H.Colo 145 to Placerville and on the south by S.H.Colo 62 to Ridgeway and on the east by U.S.US 550 to Montrose and by U.S.US 50 to Delta.
b. The take of collared lions or lions with orange or yellow ear tags shall be prohibited in all of GMUs 61 and 62 and that portion of GMU 70 described in subsection 1 above, from November 11, 2004 through March 31, 2009 unless the lion is a threat to human safety, is in the act of depredating livestock, or prior written approval has been provided by the Division.A free permit is required to hunt lions in the Research Area. Permits are valid for 14 consecutive days, and are unlimited, Permits are available at the Montrose Service Center at 2300 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401. Permits may be obtained beginning 14 days prior to the opening of the season through January 31 or filling of the Research Area harvest limit quota, whichever comes first.
6. Hunt Type, Dates, Units (as described in Chapter 0 of these regulations), and Harvest limit Quotas.
a. Mountain Lion, Either-sex Season and Harvest Limit Quota – In Game Management Units, as follows, the day after the close of the final combined rifle season through March 31 annually (through April 30 annually for GMU 40 only) (through January 31 for GMU 61, 62 and 70 within the Research Area):
Units / Lion Harvest Limit Quota /1, 2 / 5
3, 301 / 5
4 (north of Co Rd 27 and USFS 110), 5 / 8
4 (south of Co Rd 27 and USFS 110), 441 / 5
6, 16, 17, 161, 171 / 3
7 / 1
8 / 4
9 / 3
10 / 10
11 / 12
12 / 14
13 (west of Hayden Divide Road) / 12
13 (east of Hayden Divide Road), and 131 / 5
15 / 64
18, 27, 28, 37, 181, 371 / 78
19 / 5
20 / 9
21 / 8
22 / 13
23 / 10
24 / 3
25, 26, 34 / 108
29 / 2
30 / 11
31 / 8
32 / 5
33 / 13
35 / 3
36 / 5
38 / 7
39, 391 / 7
40 / 7
41 / 3
42 / 10
43 / 25
44 / 3
46 / 4
47 / 1
48, 49, 50, 481, 500 / 6
51, 104 / 7
52, 411 / 10
53, 63 / 8
54, 55, 551 / 7
56, 561 / 5
57, 58, 581 / 19
59, 591 / 8
60 / 5
61 (subject to the limitations set forth in #242(A)(5)north of Delta-Nucla Rd / 7
61, 62, 70 Research Area (subject to the limitations set forth in #242(A)(5) / 8
62 (subject to the limitations set forth in #242(A)(5)north of Delta-Nucla Rd / 7
64 / 6
65 / 4
66, 67 / 8
68, 681, 682 / 5
70 east of Colo 141 (subject to the limitations set forth in #242(A)(5), except the area between Colo 145 and the San Miguel River north of the Norwood Bridge / 10
70 west of Colo 141 / 6
71, 711 / 11
72 / 3
73 / 7
74, 741 / 56
75 / 24
76, 79, 791 / 5
77 / 4
78 / 4
80 / 3
81 / 2
82 / 6
83 / 7
85, 140, 851 / 24
123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147 / 14
191 / 8
201 / 5
211 / 17
421 / 8
444 / 45
461 / 7
501 / 4
511 / 4
521 / 6
751, 771 / 3
Total: / 564576
B. Licenses and GMU Harvest Limit Quota Status
1. A valid mountain lion license is required to hunt any mountain lion.
2. Except as provided in 33-3-106 C.R.S., it is unlawful for any person to purchase or obtain a mountain lion hunting license or hunt mountain lions unless the person obtains a mountain lion education certificate issued by the Division attesting to the person’s successful completion of the Division’s certified mountain lion education and identification course. Any person required to obtain such a certificate shall have the certificate on his or her person while hunting or taking mountain lion.
3. Prior to each hunting trip in any game management unit, but not earlier than 5:00 p.m. of the day before hunting, lion hunters must contact 1-888-940-LION (1-888-940-5466), or any Division office and determine which game management units have not reached the unit harvest quota and are open to hunting. It shall be unlawful to hunt in a unit after it is closed.
C. Special Restrictions
1. Reporting and Sealing
a. The taking of mountain lions by licensed hunters shall be reported to the Division within 48 hours after the taking thereof, and except as provided in these regulations, the lion shall be personally presented by the hunter for inspection and sealing within five (5) days after the taking thereof. Mountain lion heads and hides must be unfrozen when presented for inspection. If not unfrozen, the Division may retain heads and hides as necessary for thawing sufficient to extract a premolar tooth. A mandatory check report shall be accurately completed by the hunter at the time of inspection, which shall include certification that all information provided is accurate
b. At the time of the mandatory check, the Division shall be authorized to extract and retain a premolar tooth.
2. The legal possession seal when attached to the mountain lion skull or hide shall authorize possession, transportation, tanning or mounting thereof. No fee shall be required for the inspection and issuance of a legal possession seal which shall remain attached to the skull or hide until processed. Mountain lions shall not be transported, shipped or otherwise taken out of Colorado until the hide and skull are inspected and sealed.
3. All mountain lion taken or destroyed under Commission regulation #1702 or §333106(3) C.R.S., as amended, shall remain the property of the state and shall be delivered to an officer of the Division of Wildlife within five (5) days. A report shall be given to an officer of the Division at the time of delivery which contains the following:
1) Name(s) of person(s) who killed the animal(s).
2) The county and the specific location of the kill.
3) The species and number of animals killed.
4) The reason for such action.
4. Lions With Kittens – No person shall kill a mountain lion accompanied by one or more kittens or kill a kitten.
5. “Kitten” shall mean a lion with spots.
AS APPROVED - 09/10/2009
Basis and Purpose
Chapter 2 - Big Game
Basis and Purpose:
These regulations are the result of extensive public involvement. They amend Chapter 2 – Big Game – of the Wildlife Commission regulations, and implement portions of the 2010 - 2014 Big Game Season Structure policy decisions of the Wildlife Commission. Other portions of the 2010 - 2014 Big Game Season Structure have been adopted by the Commission, and corresponding regulations are scheduled for final adoption in January 2010. The following Commission-approved guidelines provided overarching direction in the development and implementation of the 2010-2014 Colorado big game season structure.
1. Female animals will not be hunted earlier than 15 August or later than the end of February. Limited exceptions can be made to address unusual game damage problems or to achieve a justifiable biological outcome.
2. Seasons that occur prior to regular rifle seasons will be largely to enhance the variety of hunting opportunities, including opportunities by method of take, rather than to achieve a particular management or biological outcome. However, exceptions can be made to address specific management needs and biological objectives.
3. Regular deer and elk rifle seasons will begin no earlier that the first Saturday after October 9th. Limited exceptions can be made on a game management unit basis when all male or either-sex licenses are very limited or for justifiable management reasons. There are multiple regular rifle seasons rather than one continuous season for the following reasons:
a. to reduce crowding without significantly decreasing hunting opportunity;
b. to allow deer and elk to redistribute during breaks between seasons;
c. to enable better harvest management; and
d. for hunters and associated service providers to transition during breaks between seasons.
4. Regular rifle seasons will not extend beyond mid-November.
5. Late seasons that occur after the regular rifle seasons will be used primarily to achieve management objectives that cannot be effectively achieved during the regular rifle seasons and to address game damage issues.
These regulations address only those Big Game Season Structure alternatives pertaining to customer service. They include: