It’s official – 2026 is here and free-roaming bison that naturally enter Colorado are now managed as a ‘big-game species’ by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the result of a dual-classification system that also allows bison to be considered as ‘livestock’ in other scenarios.

A factor in the implementation of this new policy is how bison residing in Utah’s Book Cliffs area will occasionally cross state lines. Previously, bison were only classified as livestock and managed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), thus Colorado Parks and Wildlife had no authority over the species as a wild animal. Privately-owned bison continue to be managed by the CDA.

Over the process to implement this new approach toward management, hunting of the bison species was a topic that was discussed. Regulated hunting is a key means of species management in Colorado, with this sport used to keep populations at ideal levels while also bringing in revenue that can be applied to various programs – land preservation and search and rescue efforts being two examples.

With the passage of Senate Bill 25-053 formally re-classifying bison on January 1, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced that hunter registrations were being accepted for a “bison roster” on the same day.

This “bison roster” is described as “a list that may be used if special management licenses are needed to manage free-roaming wild bison that travel into Colorado.” It’s crucial to note that at this time, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is not proposing regular bison hunting seasons, rather that those on the list may be issued special management licenses on a case-by-case basis for time-sensitive management needs.

One concern addressed in the press release on the matter that may prompt species management via hunting would be the prevention of property or agricultural damage. The potential spread of disease has also been a concern with inbound bison that’s been mentioned in the past.

The sign-up period for hunters to be placed on the bison roster is January 1 through January 31. Sign-ups take place on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website. After that, if a need for use of the roster arises, selected applicants will be notified and will have 24 hours to accept the license. Hunters will then have one week to harvest a bison.

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.

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

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