BURLINGTON – This past week, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission met in Burlington to discuss the passage of Senate Bill 18-143 this past Spring.
Senate Bill 18-143, known as the “Hunting, Fishing, and Parks for Future Generations Act,” was signed into law in May of 2018. The bill gives the CPW Commission authority to review and approve fee changes for licenses and park fees within limits set forth in the bill.
At the meeting in Burlington Thursday, the Commission approved fee increases to hunting and fishing licenses and camping, daily, and annual park pass fees.
The following is from CPW and explains the fee increases by category.
Wildlife License Changes
With a few exceptions, resident license fees will increase by $8.
The commission also approved new licenses or license fees as follows:
- A qualifying hunting license purchase for the current year must be made in order to apply for any big game license. A qualifying license includes: 1) an annual resident or nonresident small game hunting license; 2) an annual resident or nonresident spring turkey license; or 3) resident small game/fishing combination license (only available to residents).
- Preference points fees will be charged for sheep, moose and goat applicants in 2019. Preference point fees for each of these species will be $50 for residents and $100 for nonresidents.
- The application fee for the limited license drawing will increase to $7 for residents and $9 for nonresidents.
- A new resident fishing license for youth ages 16 & 17 was created and will be priced at $8 (instead of full price).
- Resident senior annual fishing licenses (ages 65+) will cost $8 (instead of free).
- This allows the agency to collect federal matching funds
- The wildlife education fee, assessed on most wildlife licenses, will increase from $0.75 to $1.50.
- The Colorado State Waterfowl Stamp fee will increase to $10.
Nonresident license fees will not be increased in 2019. Resident and nonresident license fees will be reviewed and considered for adjustment based on annual Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Consumer Price Index changes beginning in 2020.
Nonresident bear licenses for all seasons will be reduced to $100.
Parks Passes Changes
Fee increases for daily and annual parks passes are noted below:
- The price of an annual pass will increase to $80 for a standard annual affixed vehicle pass, $40 for a multiple annual affixed vehicle pass, and $70 for an aspen leaf annual pass.
- The price of daily vehicle passes will increase by $1, increasing to $8 for most parks and to $9 for Cherry Creek, Chatfield, Boyd Lake and Eldorado Canyon state parks.
- The price of an individual daily pass (for access outside of a motor vehicle) will also increase to $4.
- This fee now applies for any person entering Barr Lake, Crawford, Colorado State Forest, Eldorado Canyon, Elkhead Reservoir, Harvey Gap, Highline Lake, James M. Robb – Colorado River, Lory, Pearl Lake, Rifle Gap, Rifle Falls, Stagecoach, Steamboat Lake, Sweitzer Lake, Sylvan Lake, Trinidad Lake, Vega and Yampa River State Parks
- The Commission also established a pilot program for a new hangtag pass that does not need to be affixed to a vehicle windshield, which has been frequently requested by park visitors. It will be priced at $120.
- The annual hangtag pass is issued to an individual, not a vehicle. Only one vehicle at a time can use an annual hangtag pass, as the hangtag pass owner must be in the vehicle using the pass. Only one lost or stolen replacement hangtag pass will be offered annually for $60, or 50% of the full pass price.
- The price of daily dog off-leash passes will increase to $3 and the price of annual dog off-leash passess will increase to $25.
Camping/Facilities Permit Changes
The Commission has also opted to implement camping fee changes for the first time since 2015. The Commission has approved eliminating the $10 reservation fee previously charged for camping permits, instead increasing campsite base pricing statewide.
- Fees for camping permits will increase between $8 to $13, depending on the type of campground site.
- The fees for cabins and yurts will increase by $10.
- Park managers have the ability to discount camping permit fees annually; modifications must be made by March 1 for the following reservation year.
- It is important for camping customers to check individual park pages to learn fees for each specific park and site.
- The price of group picnic areas will increase between $20 to $60 depending on the park and the type of group picnic area.
- Park Managers have the ability to discount facilities fees annually; modifications must be made by March 1 for the following reservation year.
- The group facility reservation fee will remain at $10/facility.
According to CPW, the Future Generations Act outlines 10 key goals to be met by 2025. The agency said they are responsible for reporting the impact of fee increases and expenditures in meeting those goals to the Colorado legislature each year.
A list of these 10 goals, as well as all approved fee changes, can be found here: cpw.state.co.us.
