On January 1, 2026, Colorado Senate Bill 25-053 went into effect. The new law distinguishes between wild bison and domestic bison. The new framework aims at addressing bison crossing into Colorado from the Utah Book Cliffs herd, providing a proactive way to manage potential conflicts with landowners and other wildlife. The new rules include several updates to existing regulations, including adding new hunt code classifications, updating definitions, and adopting license fees.
Instead of immediately opening a general hunting season, the regulations establish a measured and controlled process for issuing licenses as the need arises. Hunting licenses will only be issued in three specific situations: property or agricultural damage, disease, or population movement control.
Since no diseases of concern have been detected in the Book Cliffs herd, these regulations are currently a preventative measure, ensuring that any future issues can be addressed with an established procedure.
It’s likely that no licenses will be issued for many years; however, if you want a chance at a bison license when one becomes available, you must sign up on the bison roster. Hunters on the roster will be randomly selected if the need for a license arises. The selected applicant will be notified and given twenty-four hours to respond and accept the license. Hunters will have one week to hunt once a license has been issued. Hunters must follow all legal methods of take and harvest requirements. You can apply to be on the roster between January 1 and 31 of the given calendar year. You can learn more here: https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/hunting/big-game/bison.
