Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission bans wildlife contests

With a vote of 8-3, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved a ban on organized wildlife contests during its virtual meeting April 30. The decision prohibits contests for black-tailed, white-tailed and Gunnison’s prairie dogs, Wyoming (Richardson’s) ground squirrels and all furbearer species. The estimated effective date of this ban is June 30.  

The motion was the result of a process that began at the November 2019 commission meeting in Wray when the commission directed Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff to provide information about how other state wildlife agencies regulated such contests.

Wildlife contests are privately organized competitive contests where participants compete for cash or other prizes for taking animals in a specified location during a specified time period, often to alleviate damage caused by the animals.

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