Public comments collected on 2025-2029 Big Game Season Structure plan until March 13 - potential big changes to OTC archery elk
Hunters, pay attention: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) just released its preliminary alternatives and staff recommendations for the 2025-2029 Big Game Season Structure (BGSS). Once approved, these recommendations will help guide big game hunting regulations for the next five years, including annual license recommendations, hunting opportunities and more – all to help the state keep wildlife populations healthy and thriving for years to come.
According to the agency, to put together the BGSS, CPW considered biological, social and economic factors as well as additional input received during its extensive public outreach process. The main goal of the BGSS is to “determine what, when, and where various types of big game hunting opportunities are available, and to determine how the timing of opportunities are divided among hunters.”
The BGSS will be presented to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission during their March commission meeting on March 13 and 14 in Denver. Once presented, CPW will move toward a three-step approval process with a final decision on season structure occurring in June. If you want to weigh in, you can email the commission at dnr_cpwcommission@state.co.us ahead of the meeting or sign up to provide a verbal comment during the meeting here.
Change to the previous season structure (2015-2019) for regular deer and elk rifle seasons.
Maintain the status quo for season structure for early seasons (archery and muzzleloader) for deer and elk west of I-25 and GMU 140; in addition, there shall be an additional stand-alone limited archery antlered deer season that runs Aug. 15 through Sept. 1, annually. This season would be optional and determined on a herd-by-herd basis (DAU/GMU), allowing for regional flexibility. This optional antlered deer season would not replace existing antlered, either-sex and antlerless deer archery seasons.
Over-the-counter (OTC) archery: Limit all resident and nonresident archery licenses. Limited licenses to be available through the draw by management area (Data Analysis Unit (DAU) or Game Management Unit (GMU)).
OTC rifle: Maintain the status quo; keep unlimited licenses available for antlered elk during the second and third general rifle seasons in OTC units. Keep limited either-sex or limited antlered elk licenses available in remaining limited units. All antlerless elk licenses remain limited. Limited licenses issued by GMU/DAU.
Addition of an optional rifle deer hunt during the first regular rifle season (currently elk only).
Addition of an optional second regular rifle buck and doe antelope season.
A change to the BGSS cycle length was considered. CPW recommends maintaining the status quo of conducting a review of the BGSS every five years.
Administrative topics (cow moose): Optional late cow moose season that would be additional to the regular moose rifle season, and would be valid for all regular rifle deer and elk seasons (with no hunting during the breaks between seasons) when necessary to meet management objectives for moose.
Administrative topics (private-land-only (PLO) black bear): Modify the existing language to clarify that PLO rifle bear licenses are not required to be unlimited OTC for every population/DAU (managers could still choose an unlimited PLO OTC strategy).
