As the new year rolls in, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission isn't wasting any time getting down to brass tacks. Mark your calendars on January 8 and 9, they're setting up camp in Denver for a hybrid meeting that promises to tackle a sweeping array of environmental and wildlife issues. Angling to keep transparency afloat, they're streaming the whole shebang live on CPW’s YouTube page for public viewing, starting at 8 a.m. each day.
What's on the docket, you ask? The commission will zero in, according to CPW, on hunting and wildlife management strategies that will shape the coming years. They'll deliberate on final regulation modifications for a smorgasbord of wildlife including deer, elk, moose, and who can forget, bears. Not to mention, they're eyeing changes to game bird, and waterfowl seasons alongside bag and possession limits, it's a lot to unpack.
But they're not stopping there. Other hot topics include tweaking season dates and licenses in line with the 2025-2029 Big Game Season Structure policy changes, and potentially pulling the plug on coyote hunting under an unfilled big game license. They're also set to mull over modifications to the mountain lion hunting quotas to align with the East Slope Mountain Lion plan. Snowmobile enthusiasts should watch out too for proposed fee hikes, and the Wolf Citizen Petition is up for discussion, stealthily stalking the agenda's perimeter.
Even as the commission juggles these heavyweight issues, they're not losing sight of the financial and conservation goals. A slew of updates from the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Agriculture are in store along with a glance at the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program's latest RFPs and the Species Conservation Trust Fund. Then, there's the energized segment from the Colorado Energy Office, sure to spark some dialogue. But it's not all about the wild and the woolly; the Outdoor Equity Grant Program's report is also on the table, ready to champion diversity in the great outdoors.
