Bill Introduced to Limit Nonresident Licenses

SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 33-4-122 as follows: 33-4-122. Big game licensees – reserved requirements for Colorado hunters. WHEN CONDUCTING A LIMITED LICENSE DRAW FOR A BIG GAME LICENSE, THE DIVISION SHALL NOT ISSUE TO NONRESIDENT APPLICANTS MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BIG GAME LICENSES AWARDED IN THE LIMITED LICENSE DRAW.FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO IS STATIONED AT A MILITARY FACILITY LOCATED IN COLORADO IS DEEMED A RESIDENT.THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO BIG GAME LICENSES LEFT OVER AFTER THE INITIAL LIMITED LICENSE DRAW AWARDS BIG GAME LICENSES TO APPLICANTS.

The wording is a little ambiguous. Which draw? All draws together? It sounds like all species combined, but then, sometimes wording is intentionally ambiguous, especially if you have friends in the courts.

Here’s the thing. In 2020 nonresidents only drew 25% of the limited elk licenses (26% counting nonresident youth) and only 17% (18%) of deer licenses. They drew only 3% of pronghorn, 10% of moose, 9% of sheep and 9% of mountain goat. So why is this necessary?

This seems to be like passing a bill that no one can drive over 100 mph in your town when the highest posted speed limit is 55. What is really going on here?

Well, for one thing, the current allocation is 65/35 on most hunts, 80/20 on very high demand hunts, so this does cut into the limits, but as I say, the actual allocations are far lower.

This is probably a first foot in the door to legislate more of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s business, just as a referendum passed last fall ordered CPW to come up with a plan to reintroduce wolves to CO against CPW’s objections. Think of the national interference in grizzly bear and wolf management in Wyoming and elsewhere.

Maybe this year it is 33% of licenses. Do I hear 30% for next year? Anyone want to bid 20%? Or maybe this year it is total licenses and next year it is licenses in any hunt. 

No, I think you need to step as hard as you can on this foot. 

Politics has no business interfering in wildlife management. Yes, I know it has an influence, whatever you do, but let’s keep politicians and big money referenda as far away from CPW as possible.

On March 25 this bill SB21-150, has a hearing in the CO Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Here are the committee members:

Sen. Kerry Donovan, Chair (D) 303-866-4871 [email protected]
Sen. Jessie Danielson, Vice Chair (D) 303-866-4856 [email protected]
Sen. Don Coram (R) 303-866-4884 [email protected]
Sen. Rhonda Fields (D) 303-866-4879 [email protected]
Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg (R) 303-866-6360 [email protected] 

You can sign up to testify in person, by Webex or in writing by going to https://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf/signIn.xsp 

Sponsors of the bill are Sens. R. Woodward and L. Garcia

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