As Colorado grapples with the management of wild bison that sporadically roam into the state from Utah, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has established a new system for managing these occurrences. In a move outlined by recent legislation, the agency has announced that it is opening up a hunter registration process for a bison roster, which will be used for the potential issuance of special management licenses.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this roster is part of a proactive approach to deal with free-roaming, wild bison that trek into Colorado from the Book Cliffs range in Utah, potentially causing property or agricultural damage. Hunters who wish to be considered for these special licenses can sign up through January in the year of 2026. Each hunter is allowed one sign-up after creating an account with a unique login on the CPW website.
The process entails a random drawing from the hunter roster if and when CPW determines that management actions are needed. Beneficiaries who have their name drawn will be notified and must respond within 24 hours to accept the license. Once the license is obtained, the hunter is given one week to fulfill the objective of harvesting a bison. The idea behind these short-notice, short-duration licenses is to address urgent management concerns as they arise, and not to institute regular hunting seasons for bison.
The legislation, known as Senate Bill 25-053, creates a dual classification for bison within the state. Free-roaming wild bison are now designated as wildlife and will be managed by CPW, while those in private herds remain classified as livestock, with oversight by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Amidst this development, CPW is also in the midst of crafting the Book Cliffs Bison Herd Management Plan, which remains an open topic for stakeholder engagement, to ensure the sustainable and responsible oversight of bison populations crossing into Colorado.
