Colorado Parks and Wildlife will hold a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 9 in Bayfield to discuss the agency’s declining budget and how it’s affecting wildlife management.
Both a rising state population and agency costs have pressured Parks and Wildlife to cut 50 positions and $40 million from its budget over the past six years. As a remedy, the agency wants to raise the price of in-state hunting and fishing licenses and is holding meetings throughout the state to appeal to Colorado hunters and anglers.
Resident anglers pay $26 for an annual license; non-residents pay $56. Local elk hunters pay $46 for a license, while an out-of-state elk hunter pays $649. Non-resident hunting fees are adjusted annually based on the consumer price index.
The department’s budget primarily relies on hunting and fishing license sales, excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment, and grants from Great Outdoors Colorado.
The meeting will be at 6:30 Tuesday at Bayfield Public Library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive.
Over-the-counter hunting licenses with caps and over-the-counter unlimited licenses are available for purchase online, by phone at 1-800-244-5613, or at CPW locations and license agents.
Leftover limited licenses (after primary and leftover draws) went on sale in person and by phone at 9 a.m. Aug. 2. These licenses became available online starting at midnight on Aug. 3. The list of leftover licenses available for purchase is available at cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/BigGame.aspx.