Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting recap for September 2-3 2026
September 10, 2026
La Junta, Colo — At its September 2-3, 2026 meeting, the Parks and Wildlife Commission heard proposed changes to regulations as follows. All final regulations approved at the meeting will go into effect on Nov. 1, 2026 unless otherwise noted.
Updated chapters include P-01.
Issues Identification
Agenda Item 12: Chapter W-1- “Fishing” 2 CCR 406-1 and those related provisions of Chapter W-0 (“General Provisions” 2 CCR 406-0) and Chapter W-7 (“Herpetofauna” 2 CCR 406-7) necessary to accommodate changes to or ensure consistency with Chapter W-1 (Step 1 of 2)
Open for annual review of the entire chapter including, but not limited to, consideration of regulations regarding season dates, bag and possession limits, licensing requirements, manner of take provisions and special conditions or restrictions applicable to waters of the state. Specific considerations include:
- Require aquatic nuisance species (ANS) inspection and management for aquatic wildlife production facilities in Chapter W-0, Article VII, #014 Aquatic Wildlife Health Management.
- Amend regulations to prohibit the use of any amphibian (alive or dead) as fishing bait.
Open for consideration of preference point fees for bear, elk, deer, pronghorn, and turkey.
Citizen Petition
Agenda Item 13: Chapter W-3 “Furbearers and Small Game, Except Migratory Birds” 2 CCR 406-3
- The Commission discussed the division recommendation concerning potential regulatory changes related to the avocational take of prairie dogs on public land and approved the related citizen petition to move forward to initiate rulemaking.
Agenda Item 14: Chapter W-0 - “General Provisions” 2 CCR 406-0, and those related provisions of Chapter W- 2 (“Big Game” 2 CCR 406-2), Chapter W-3 (“Furbearers and Small Game, Except Migratory Birds” 2 CCR 406-3), Chapter W-11 (“Wildlife Parks and Unregulated Wildlife” 2 CCR 406- 11), Chapter W-16 (“Parks and Wildlife Procedural Rules” 2 CCR 406-16), Chapter P-1 (“Parks and Outdoor Recreation Lands” 2 CCR 405-1), Chapter P-4 (“Snowmobile Regulations” 2 CCR 405-4), Chapter P-5 (“Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations” 2 CCR 405-5), and Chapter P-7 (“Passes, Permits, and Regulations” 2 CCR 405-7) necessary to accommodate changes to or ensure consistency with Chapter W-0 (Step 1 of 2)
- Open for consideration of regulations to implement the new licensing and registration system in June of 2027.
- Open for annual consideration of regulations including, but not limited to, adjusting license fees and license agent commission rates according to adjustments to the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Consumer Price Index.
Final Regulations
Agenda Item 23.1: Chapter P-1 – “Parks and Outdoor Recreation Lands” 2 CCR 405-1
The Commission finalized changes necessary to:
- Update property-specific regulations for Cameo Shooting and Education Complex.
- Update property-specific regulations for Fishers Peak State Park.
Agenda Item 23.2: Chapter P-3 - “River Outfitters” 2 CCR 405-3 (Step 1 of 2)
- Open for consideration to update river outfitter regulations to implement HB 26-1197, which revised the statutory definition of “vessel.” Allowing the limited use of single-chamber vessels on regulated trips.
Open for annual review of the entire chapter including, but not limited to, consideration of regulations regarding season dates, bag and possession limits, licensing requirements, manner of take provisions and special conditions or restrictions applicable to waters of the state. Specific considerations include:
- Modifying bag and possession limits for walleye and saugeye, removing the restriction limiting angler harvest to a single walleye or saugeye exceeding 21 inches at Boyd Lake.
- Updating regulations at Buttonrock Reservoir and removing regulations not directed by CPW.
- Modifying property-specific fishing regulations at Golden Park Ponds for largemouth and smallmouth bass for the use of artificial flies and lures.
- Updating Lutz Reservoir regulations to establish a 10” minimum size limit on crappie, establish catch and release fishing regulations for largemouth and smallmouth bass, and establish an artificial fly and lure only regulation.
- Restricting harvest and manner of take regulations for cutthroat trout at Mill Creek.
- Updating regulations at Willow Bend Natural Area Ponds (Willow Bend, Kingfisher, and Turtle) to implement special regulations for largemouth and smallmouth bass.
- Establishing catch-and-release regulations for largemouth and smallmouth bass at the following Front Range locations: Arapahoe Bend Natural Area, Riverbend Ponds, Dixon Reservoir, Prospect Ponds, and Kyger Reservoir.
- Open for consideration to add game management unit 26 to the over-the-counter turkey hunt code.
Agenda Item 23.5: Chapter W-1 - “Fishing” 2 CCR 406-1:
- The Commission adopted the Director’s written recommendation to DENY a petition for rulemaking related to prohibiting feeding fish on state waters.
The public is encouraged to submit comments to the PWC at engagecpw.org/pwc-public-comment. Details on providing public comments for hybrid meetings are available on CPW’s website.
The commission meets regularly and travels to communities around the state to facilitate public participation. This opportunity keeps constituents informed about the development of regulations and how the commission works with Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff to manage the parks, wildlife and outdoor recreation programs administered by the agency.
Learn more about the Parks and Wildlife Commission on CPW’s website.
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