LEGAL HUNTING METHODS
1. GAME MAMMALS
a. Rifles or handguns.
b. Shotguns cannot be larger than 10 gauge.
Shotguns cannot be capable of holding more
than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined.
c. Hand-held bows and crossbows.
d. Pellet guns and slingshots.
e. Hawking.
2. GAME BIRDS (EXCEPTMIGRATORYBIRDS)
a. Rifles or handguns allowed for blue (dusky) grouse and ptarmigan.
b. Shotguns cannot be larger than 10 gauge not firing a single slug.
Shotguns cannot be capable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine
and chamber combined.
c. Hand-held bows and crossbows.
d. Pellet guns and slingshots allowed for blue (dusky) grouse and
ptarmigan.
e. Hawking.
3. CALIBER RESTRICTION
a. It is illegal to hunt game birds, small game mammals or furbearers
with a centerfire rifle larger than .23 caliber in regular rifle deer and elk
seasons west of I-25, unless you have an unfilled deer or elk license for
the season you are hunting. Asmall game license is required.
4. AIDS IN HUNTING SMALLGAME
a. Dogs are allowed to hunt small game, waterfowl and furbearers but
only to pursue, bring to bay, retrieve, flush or point. It is illegal to use dogs
to hunt cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hares and tree squirrels during regular
rifle big game seasons.
b. Artificial decoys are permitted.
c. European ferrets are permitted for hawking. Ferrets must be neutered,
tattooed on left inguinal area and dyed along one-fourth of their body for
easy field identification.
d. Mechanical devices designed to call wildlife are allowed.
FURBEARER LEGALMETHODS OFTAKE
1. The following methods of take are legal to hunt furbearers:
a. Any rifle, handgun, shotgun, handheld bow or crossbow.
b. Live traps, limited to cage, box or Snead-design colony traps.
2. If wildlife (except Canada lynx) is accidentally captured alive when
trapping season is closed or is illegal for that species, you must release
the animal immediately. You cannot kill it. If you find a dead animal in
your trap, you must bring its carcass to a DOW officer or office within 5
days. Failing to do so is evidence of illegal possession of wildlife.
Trappers who comply won’t be charged with illegal possession.
3. If you accidentally capture a live animal for which the trapping season is
open, you must kill or release it immediately when you check the trap.
4. You must check traps at least daily. In Canada lynx recovery area or
where lynx are, you must check traps every 24 hours.
5. If you accidentally capture a Canada lynx but it’s not injured, you
must release it immediately and report the incident to the DOW within
24 hours. If a lynx is accidentally injured, but not in your possession,
you must report it to the DOW within 24 hours. If you capture a lynx
accidentally and injure it, take the lynx to the DOW or licensed veterinarian
and report it to the DOW within 24 hours. If you accidentally kill
a lynx, you must report it to the DOW within 24 hours and take the carcass
to the DOW within 3 days after the report. Failing to follow these
rules is considered unlawful take and possession. You won’t be charged
if you comply with these requirements, are registered in the DOW’s
lynx conservation plan or use the plan’s best management practices to
avoid accidentally taking a lynx.
6. Except when legally placed on private property by permit, it is illegal
to set traps or snares within 50 feet of either side of the travelled part of
state or federal highways or county roads.
7. Hunting furbearers with bait is legal. When permitted, bait must be
made solely of plants or animals. Bait cannot contain metal, glass,
porcelain, plastic, cardboard or paper. Wildlife used as bait can be carcasses
or parts of legally taken furbearers, carp, shad, white and longnose
suckers, and inedible parts of legally obtained game mammals,
birds or game fish.
8. Electronic calls are legal to hunt furbearers.
9. On private land, artificial light is allowed at night to hunt beavers, raccoons,
coyotes, bobcats, striped skunks and red foxes with permission of
landowner or agent.
10. On public land, artificial light is allowed at night with permit from local
district or area wildlife manager, to hunt raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, striped
skunks, beavers and red foxes. Permits are valid for time and place specified.
a. Permits are not valid 24 hours before or during deer, elk, or pronghorn
rifle seasons, nor opening weekend of grouse, pheasant, quail
and waterfowl seasons.
b. It is illegal to hunt with a light permanently attached to a vehicle or
to project light from inside a vehicle.
c. It is illegal to take furbearers within 500 yards of a dwelling, building,
campground or other structure, or in areas that jeopardize human
safety.
d. You must carry the permit while hunting and show it if requested
by a law enforcement officer.
e. The DOW can deny a permit for management purposes.
f. Night hunting permits are not issued for bobcat on public land in
Canada lynx recovery areas or where lynx are. If a bobcat hunter kills
a Canada lynx during bobcat hunting season, the DOW will not issue
any more night hunting permits for bobcat for the rest of the calendar
year in the recovery area or where the lynx was killed. The DOW
also will revoke all night hunting permits previously issued for bobcats.
11. It is illegal to destroy or damage beaver or muskrat houses, dens or
dams, except to maintain water flow or prevent property damage.
ILLEGALHUNTING METHODS
SMALLGAME, FURBEARER
1. It is illegal to use toxicants, drugs, explosives or stupefying
substances to hunt, kill, capture, injure or harass
wildlife except with permits issued by DOW or Colorado
Department of Agriculture.
2. Electronic devices and electronic calls are illegal,
except as in “Furbearer Methods of Take.”
3. It is illegal to use any artificial light as an aid in hunting or taking wildlife,
except as in “Furbearer Methods of Take.”
4. It is illegal to use bait to hunt small game mammals, game birds and
migratory birds. You can hunt migratory game birds over standing crops or
feed used in the course of agricultural planting, harvesting or other normal
agricultural practices.
5. It is illegal to use visual lures, fresh meat baits, fish oil and anise oil lures to
attract felids in lynx recovery areas or where lynx are.