Hello, I'm Dan Prenzlow. I'm the director of Colorado Parks & Wildlife,
and today I want to thank you for hunting in the great state of Colorado.
Your license purchases help us support wildlife management and conservation in
this state. We have a strong hunting heritage. We want to make sure that
that's available for future generations, and without your support we could not
get that done. So again, thank you for that. In the last few years we've had
several changes on our online sales. We've had some hiccups. We've had some
successes. We're going to continue to work on that. It's a process and
improving. We're not static on that, and we appreciate your support and your
patience while we've gone through that. I look forward to getting out this fall.
Hopefully I see some of you out in the field. I have 40 plus years of hunting
under my belt and look forward to when I can do it even more. This short video is
also the precursor to what's upcoming in the brochure and what's new. And so, I
would appreciate you take a quick look at that, and always read that brochure.
There's always a lot of information on there. Good luck on your 2020 hunts.
The 2020 Colorado big game brochure is now available, and if you plan to hunt
this fall, you need to be aware of some important changes that affect this
year's limited license drawing and fall hunting seasons. Continuing this year
hunters must purchase a qualifying license to participate in the big game
draws. Qualifying licenses include spring turkey licenses and small game licenses.
Residents may also choose combination small game and veteran lifetime
combination licenses. New for this year, for residents, a first responder
lifetime combo and senior combination licenses are now offered. All qualifying
licenses are available beginning March 1st and must be purchased prior to
applying for all big game licenses. All annual small game, fishing combination
licenses and habitat stamps are now valid for 13 months, from March 1st
through March 31st of the following year. The application deadline for the primary
license drawing is 8 p.m. Mountain Time on April 7th. Hunters are encouraged to
submit their applications early to avoid complications or delays. CPW will begin
to accept applications March 1st.
Beginning this year, CPW is offering a secondary draw that now replaces the
leftover draw and removes the unsuccessful options from the
application process. The secondary draw is open to anyone, even if you miss the
deadline for the primary draw. Most elk, deer, pronghorn and bear licenses not
issued through the primary draw will be made available here. The secondary draw
does not use reward preference points. However, application fees and qualifying
licenses are still required. In addition, youth hunters are given first preference
on all hunt codes. CPW will accept applications online or by phone for the
secondary draw beginning June 5th. The application deadline is July 7th at
8 p.m. Mountain Time. Please see page 4 of the big game brochure for more
details.
CPW is offering expanded bear hunting opportunities and reduced license fees
for both resident and non-resident hunters for the 2020 seasons. New for
this year, all archery and muzzleloader elk and deer hunters can purchase an
add-on over the counter bear license. These licenses are valid only for the
same seasons and method of take. For more information on bear hunting, look for the
bear paw symbol in the big game brochure and visit our website. Chronic wasting
disease, or CWD, testing is required for all deer hunters who harvest a buck in
the following game management units. If you harvest a buck in these GMUs, you
must submit your deer head to a CPW office for testing. Mandatory testing is
free and it helps wildlife biologists monitor the health of Colorado's deer
herds and better track the spread of chronic wasting disease. For more
information, please visit our website.
Hunters in the southwest region should be aware that archery elk licenses are now
fully limited for antlered and antlerless elk. CPW has reduced license
quotas to address declining elk populations in some GMUs.
If you have questions about setting up your account, planning a hunt or
applying for licenses, call center agents and hunt planners are available Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A list of hunting resources is also
available on our webpage. Be sure to read the "What's New" pages in the big game and
sheep and goat brochures to see a full list of changes that affect the upcoming
seasons. Colorado Parks and Wildlife thanks you for hunting Colorado and encourages
you to have a safe and successful fall season.