Small Game - Colorado Division of Wildlife

The majority of small game seasons will start back up in September. 2010-2011 season dates will be approved at the July Wildlife Commission meeting and will be updated online soon afterwards. The new Regulations Brochure will be available mid-August.

Licenses

New License Year Starts April 1 - Beginning March 15, 2010 you can purchase your annual 2010 license valid 4/1/10 - 3/31/11 for small game, furbearer, combination fishing and hunting and habitat stamps at any license agent, DOW office, online or by phone at 1-800-244-5613.

Be aware, the Harvest Information Program (HIP) year ends on March 31 annually, requiring hunters to register before they hunt on or after April 1.

For more information, refer to the License Requirements section of the regulations brochure (1.2MB pdf).

South Platte Property Restrictions

Starting in 2008, several state wildlife areas adopted new regulations to help the DOW evaluate whether they help improve hunting success: Atwood, Bravo, Brush, Jackson Lake, Jean K. Tool, Overland Trail and Red Lion. These new regulations may impact small game hunters. For more information, please read the South Platte Research State Wildlife Areas 2009 Brochure (2.7MB PDF), also available at Denver, Brush and Fort Collins DOW offices, and at the check stations at the SWAs listed above.

Obtaining 2009-2010 HIP Numbers

A white-tailed ptarmigan. The only ptarmigan (of three species in North America) that lives in Colorado. Resides year-round on or near the alpine tundra. Brian Dreher/DOW photo.

The Harvest Information Program is designed to give wildlife managers a better handle on the number of birds and small game that are taken each year in their states. In short, a HIP number validates your small game hunting license.

Starting April 1, hunters can go directly to the HIP Web site or call 1-866-COLOHIP (265-6447) to begin the online registration process to obtain a new number. Basic informational questions will be asked about hunting; including how many birds were taken the previous season and what species will be hunted this year.

Reporting Birds Found with Metal Federal Bands

If a person recovers a banded bird, it is asked that the individual report the information online at www.reportband.gov. This Web-based system, created by the U.S. Geological Survey, helps provide important wildlife research data. Bird Bands. Photo credit USGS.

Species Profiles and Hunting Tips

Small game species profile information is conveniently linked off of the Small Game Dates and Fees page by clicking on the specific species names. In addition, a few of these species have hunting tips provided by biologists (towards the bottom of their profile pages). Tips are provided for:

Migratory Baiting Regulations

Mourning doves and other migratory birds are a national resource protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The mourning dove is the most hunted migratory game bird in North America, and dove hunting is a popular sport in many parts of this country. Federal and state regulations help ensure that these birds continue to thrive while providing hunting opportunities.

There are regulatory changes adopted by the federal government in 1999 defining key terms for hunters and landowners with respect to baiting, and clarifying conditions under which you may hunt doves and other migratory game birds. See the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Dove Hunting and Baiting Web page for more information.

Last Updated: 3/3/2010