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The public comment period is closed. Thank you for providing your feedback!
At its June 22, 2023 meeting, the Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved the proposed changes to regulations related to State Wildlife Areas. Please see the adopted regulations and summary of public input received.
General provisions are regulations that are applicable to all State Wildlife Areas (SWAs), except for State Trust Lands (or if explicitly allowed or disallowed in property-specific regulations). CPW is proposing revisions to the general provisions for SWAs, including important changes listed below.
While the important changes below include proposed restrictions, some restrictions may not apply to all SWAs (e.g., allowing camping at certain properties). Please refer to the property-specific regulations to learn more about how proposed changes affect SWAs you visit. Please refer to the regulation changes document to view all of the proposed changes (beginning on page 6).
We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts on the proposed regulation changes before May 24th in the feedback section below. Proposed changes include, but are not limited to, the following:
Updated Definitions
The definition of a vessel was modified and the use of vessels on state wildlife area waters has been restricted to those being actively used for fishing and/or hunting.
Updated definition of vehicle use to include: operating any form of vehicle, or bicycle (motorized or non-motorized) except on established roads open to public motor vehicle use or within designated camping or parking areas.
Updated General Prohibitions
Updated prohibitions on water contact activities and allowing water contact activities only where authorized by property specific regulations.
Updated prohibitions on dogs on state wildlife areas. Dogs are only allowed while actively hunting, training for hunting or during Division licensed field trials.
Updated camping regulations to include a prohibition on camping recreationally and to occupy a state wildlife area as a residence. Allowing camping only where authorized by property specific regulations.
Updated language on fires to include a prohibition on tending a fire and allowing a fire to burn in a careless manner, a prohibition on unattended fires and a requirement to fully extinguish a fire.
New General Prohibitions
Prohibiting the permanent fixing of climbing hardware.
New prohibitions that address the launch, land or operation of any unmanned aerial vehicle including, but not limited to, drones and model airplanes.
The public comment period is closed. Thank you for providing your feedback!
At its June 22, 2023 meeting, the Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved the proposed changes to regulations related to State Wildlife Areas. Please see the adopted regulations and summary of public input received.
General provisions are regulations that are applicable to all State Wildlife Areas (SWAs), except for State Trust Lands (or if explicitly allowed or disallowed in property-specific regulations). CPW is proposing revisions to the general provisions for SWAs, including important changes listed below.
While the important changes below include proposed restrictions, some restrictions may not apply to all SWAs (e.g., allowing camping at certain properties). Please refer to the property-specific regulations to learn more about how proposed changes affect SWAs you visit. Please refer to the regulation changes document to view all of the proposed changes (beginning on page 6).
We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts on the proposed regulation changes before May 24th in the feedback section below. Proposed changes include, but are not limited to, the following:
Updated Definitions
The definition of a vessel was modified and the use of vessels on state wildlife area waters has been restricted to those being actively used for fishing and/or hunting.
Updated definition of vehicle use to include: operating any form of vehicle, or bicycle (motorized or non-motorized) except on established roads open to public motor vehicle use or within designated camping or parking areas.
Updated General Prohibitions
Updated prohibitions on water contact activities and allowing water contact activities only where authorized by property specific regulations.
Updated prohibitions on dogs on state wildlife areas. Dogs are only allowed while actively hunting, training for hunting or during Division licensed field trials.
Updated camping regulations to include a prohibition on camping recreationally and to occupy a state wildlife area as a residence. Allowing camping only where authorized by property specific regulations.
Updated language on fires to include a prohibition on tending a fire and allowing a fire to burn in a careless manner, a prohibition on unattended fires and a requirement to fully extinguish a fire.
New General Prohibitions
Prohibiting the permanent fixing of climbing hardware.
New prohibitions that address the launch, land or operation of any unmanned aerial vehicle including, but not limited to, drones and model airplanes.
Let us know what you think about the proposed regulation changes for State Wildlife Area (SWA) General Provisions. This comment period will close May 24th, 2023. Share your comments with CPW and see what others are saying (Note: all comments are public and subject to review). Please direct all site-specific comments and feedback to the Property-Specific Provisions page.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
I hold a SWA/Fishing License pass and have been a resident of CO since 1977. I disagree with the change in restricting non motorized water craft to only craft used for hunting or fishing. RE: The definition of a vessel was modified and the use of vessels on state wildlife area waters has been restricted to those being actively used for fishing and/or hunting. I believe that canoes, kayaks, and SUP should be allowed.
Virginia Winter
about 1 year ago
I am very concerned that CPWs is creating a serious wild life problem in our thrust for "inclussion". I totally certainly agree everyone is welcome & should feel comfortable & belong in our projects & wild ares. BUT the concern is we are literally "loving our wildlife to death". We have to enforce limited, if any access for everyone, during the critical life cycles of breading, nesting & young wildlife maturing.
Tom Brossia
about 1 year ago
It's important that the lands paid for by license fees are reserved for the activities associated with the licenses and also for the folks who are paying for the areas.
dmuldoon23
about 1 year ago
I agree with these changes. I would like to see something done to reduce the congestion that happens at boat ramps because of all the paddleboarders and kayakers that use the ramp to launch. Many of them have no regard for a person backing a trailer down. I feel they may not realize that there are blind areas where the driver may not be able to see them do to the inclination of the ramp until the tow vehicle is on the same inclination as the trailer. Possibly a separate launch area for non trailered watercraft would help. Thanks for this opportunity to express my concerns.
dafrerichs
about 1 year ago
The updates appear to be fair and reasonable to me.
DPS
about 1 year ago
Hi, The changes being proposed seem reasonable with one exception that I wish to comment about. Considering the camping changes, I might mention the following: - Prohibiting camping to occupy as a residence is an obviously good/correct change to make. - I think that CPW should be "liberal" when considering where camping would be allowed recreationally and within as many SWA's as could possibly accommodate this by property specific regulations. - In addition to the comment just above about camping. Just like the other proposed changes like the proposed changes related to vesseles and dogs which opens up a much more liberal use related to hunting activities. Traditionally, and like is the case when hunting on other federal lands like USFS and BLM, hunting activities inherently are such that dispersed camping is a natural and traditional part of hunting activities. Alas, SWA's should be even more liberal in accommodating camping when the camping is in relation to hunting activities.....
Proposed regulations are open for public comment through May 24th, 2023. Draft regulations are being discussed at the May PWC Commission Meeting.
Review
General Provisions has finished this stage
Public comment is complete, and feedback is being reviewed by CPW staff and considered by the PWC in advance of the June PWC meeting.
Complete
General Provisions is currently at this stage
At its June 22, 2023 meeting, the Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved the proposed changes to regulations related to State Wildlife Areas. Please see the adopted regulations and summary of public input received.
I hold a SWA/Fishing License pass and have been a resident of CO since 1977. I disagree with the change in restricting non motorized water craft to only craft used for hunting or fishing. RE: The definition of a vessel was modified and the use of vessels on state wildlife area waters has been restricted to those being actively used for fishing and/or hunting. I believe that canoes, kayaks, and SUP should be allowed.
I am very concerned that CPWs is creating a serious wild life problem in our thrust for "inclussion". I totally certainly agree everyone is welcome & should feel comfortable & belong in our projects & wild ares. BUT the concern is we are literally "loving our wildlife to death". We have to enforce limited, if any access for everyone, during the critical life cycles of breading, nesting & young wildlife maturing.
It's important that the lands paid for by license fees are reserved for the activities associated with the licenses and also for the folks who are paying for the areas.
I agree with these changes. I would like to see something done to reduce the congestion that happens at boat ramps because of all the paddleboarders and kayakers that use the ramp to launch. Many of them have no regard for a person backing a trailer down. I feel they may not realize that there are blind areas where the driver may not be able to see them do to the inclination of the ramp until the tow vehicle is on the same inclination as the trailer. Possibly a separate launch area for non trailered watercraft would help. Thanks for this opportunity to express my concerns.
The updates appear to be fair and reasonable to me.
Hi,
The changes being proposed seem reasonable with one exception that I wish to comment about. Considering the camping changes, I might mention the following:
- Prohibiting camping to occupy as a residence is an obviously good/correct change to make.
- I think that CPW should be "liberal" when considering where camping would be allowed recreationally and within as many SWA's as could possibly accommodate this by property specific regulations.
- In addition to the comment just above about camping. Just like the other proposed changes like the proposed changes related to vesseles and dogs which opens up a much more liberal use related to hunting activities. Traditionally, and like is the case when hunting on other federal lands like USFS and BLM, hunting activities inherently are such that dispersed camping is a natural and traditional part of hunting activities. Alas, SWA's should be even more liberal in accommodating camping when the camping is in relation to hunting activities.....