The decision is part of the state’s new five-year Big-Game Season Structure
Beginning next year, out-of-state bowhunters will have to apply for all Colorado archery elk licenses. (Photo by Kerry Hargrove)
On Wednesday, June 12, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted 9 to 1 in favor of ending the purchase of over-the-counter archery tags for non-resident hunters.
According to THE DAILY SENTINEL, this decision comes on the heels of extensive input from resident hunters concerned about overcrowding and limited opportunities.
Parks and Wildlife says nonresidents currently purchase a higher proportion of the combined number of OTC and limited elk archery licenses than residents do.
During the June 12 meeting, Christian Tenerowicz with the Colorado Resident Hunter Association told the commission, “The numbers that I’m seeing, nonresident archers are the reason we have overcrowding. Resident archer numbers have been going down.”
The new system will still allow nonresident elk hunters to apply for archery tags in an annual draw.
The change will be implemented next year as part of Colorado’s new BIG-GAME SEASON STRUCTURE, which will go into effect in 2025 and run through 2029. Colorado is using the Big Game Season Structure as a framework for annual big game hunting regulations.