Come January 2026, bison will be classified as both ‘livestock’ and ‘wildlife’ in Colorado, making it possible for Colorado Parks and Wildlife to manage the species amid a restoration effort taking place in the American West.

An iconic U.S. species, American bison are believed to have once numbered around 60 million in the 1700s, with that number cut down to around 500 by the end of the 19th century. The last native wild bison in Colorado were killed in the late-1800s, but now, there’s a chance they could make a return.

Thanks to species restoration efforts, it’s now estimated that around 30,000 to 40,000 wild bison are found in the United States, with at least 420,000 Plains bison in commercial herds, as well.

While there are currently no wild bison herds in Colorado, wild bison from Utah’s Book Cliffs area do occasionally cross into the state.

Under the new dual-legal classification policy that was approved by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, bison that are privately owned and fenced will still be considered ‘livestock,’ while free-ranging bison that end up in the state will now be considered to be a big-game species of ‘wildlife.’ Despite the ‘big game’ designation, there aren’t plans to establish any sort of wild bison hunting season in Colorado at this time.

“These regulations prepare Colorado for when wild bison once again roam here,” CPW Big Game Manager Andy Holland said. “Our goal is to ensure we have the management tools available while we are engaging stakeholders to create a Book Cliffs Bison Herd Management plan, which will establish the bison management area and population objectives.”

Believe it or not, bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, making them the largest animal species in Colorado. Despite their massive size, they’re very fast and agile, capable of running up to 35 miles per hour (Find more bison fun facts here).

Additional information about the Book Cliffs Bison Management Plan can be found here.

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