AS APPROVED - 11/12/2009

FINAL REGULATIONS - CHAPTER 5 – MIGRATORY BIRDS

ARTICLE I – GENERAL PROVISIONS

#503 – LICENSE AND STAMP REQUIREMENTS

D.Walk - In Access

Any person 18 years of age or older hunting small game, furbearer or waterfowl on any lands enrolled in the Division of Wildlife Walk-In Access Program must purchase an access permit through the Total Licensing System from the Division of Wildlife or a license agent prior to hunting. The Walk-In Access permit fee is $20.00. Hunters must carry a valid permit on their person when hunting on these properties. Hunters under 18 years of age are also required to have an access permit. However, such permits will be provided free of charge by the Division.

1.Public Access is prohibited from 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise, except that when hunting waterfowl public access is prohibited from two (2) hours after sunset to two (2) hours before sunrise.

2.Species of take will be restricted as follows:

a. Lands enrolled and posted as Regular, Late Cropland or Extended Season Walk-In Access Properties are open for the take of all small game, furbearers, migratory game birds and Eurasian collared-doves, except Gambel’s quail, Gunnison’s sage grouse and Greater sage grouse.

3.Public access is permittedallowed:

a. From September 1 through the end of February annually for lands enrolled and posted as Regular Season Walk-In Access properties;

b. From the opening day of pheasant season through the end of February annually for lands enrolled and posted as Late Season Cropland Walk-In Access properties, and;

c.From the opening day of pheasant season through the end of March annually for lands enrolled and posted as Extended Walk-In Access properties.

4.Access shall be by foot only. Entry by horseback, motorized vehicle, or other means is prohibited.

5.Access is permitted allowed for hunting only; all other activities are prohibited. Individuals may accompany hunters without obtaining or possessing a Walk-In Access permit provided they do not hunt.

6.Walk-in Access permits are not transferable to any other person, nor do they confer hunting privileges to any person other than the purchaser of the permit.

See also: walk-in access program provisions in Chapter 3 (regulation #303(H)) of these regulations for small game species.

AS APPROVED - 11/12/2009

Basis and Purpose

Chapter 5 – Migratory Birds

Basis and Purpose:

These regulations discontinue the requirement to purchase and possess a Walk-In Access stamp to access properties enrolled in the Walk-In Access Program. Previously, some costs of the program had been offset by requiring the hunter to acquire a permit prior to hunting. The requirement for a user permit is a significant difference between Colorado’s program and neighboring states, all of which offer similar access programs at no additional cost to the user. Neighboring access programs are funded by general license and habitat stamp dollars, in an effort to keep hunter out-of-pocket cost to a minimum to further encourage participation. Colorado follows this model (no user fee) for other access programs for hunters/anglers, via the State Trust Land Program and in some cases, leased SWA’s, including some reservoirs. Discontinuing the Walk-In Access stamp requirement is intended to increase recruitment and retention, which is an integral objective of the program. It is also noted that there may be opportunities to replace income generated by sale of the permit by participating in the federal farm bill Open Fields Program, the purpose of which is to assist states with funding WIA-type programs.

The statutory authority for these regulations can be found in §24-4-103, C.R.S., and the state Wildlife Act, §§33-1-101 to 33-6-209, C.R.S., specifically including, but not limited to: §§33-1-101, 102, 104, 105, 106-108, 115, and 121; §§33-2-104, 105, 106, and 107; §33-3-104; §§33-4-101, 102, 102.5, 103, 116, 116.5, 117, and 119; §33-5.5-102; and §§33-6-107, 109, 112, 113, 113.5, 114, 114.5, 117, 119, 120, 121, 124, 127, 128, 129, 131, 205, 206, 207, and 208.

EFFECTIVE DATE - THESE REGULATIONS SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2010 AND SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNTIL REPEALED, AMENDED OR SUPERSEDED.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE WILDLIFE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO THIS 12thDAY OF NOVEMBER, 2009.

APPROVED:

Brad Coors

Chairman

ATTEST:

Dennis G. Buechler

Secretary

1